TEST YOUR ACNE KNOWLEDGE
Would Your Dermatologist Approve… Or Call it Complete Baloney?
TikTok has become the unofficial skin care pharmacy, dermatology office, chemistry lab, and rumor mill of the internet. Some trends are surprisingly solid. Others probably should have stayed in someone’s bathroom mirror experiment.
Before you scroll to the bottom for the answer key, see how many of these you can get right.
1. TRUE or FALSE: A heavier, natural moisturizer like beef tallow may work better for acne prone skin because it avoids synthetic ingredients.
2. TRUE or FALSE: When starting retinol or acne medication, temporary breakouts can sometimes happen before improvement.
3. TRUE or FALSE: The tighter and drier your skin feels after cleansing, the cleaner your pores probably are.
4. TRUE or FALSE: Pimple patches mainly work because they stop people from touching and picking at blemishes.
5. TRUE or FALSE: If an acne treatment burns or tingles, it usually means the active ingredients are doing their job.
6. TRUE or FALSE: Some adults who never struggled with acne as teenagers can still develop acne later in life.
7. TRUE or FALSE: Ice rollers can help calm redness and swelling, even if they do not actually treat acne itself.
8. TRUE or FALSE: Changing pillowcases regularly may make more difference for acne than most people realize.
9. TRUE or FALSE: Natural DIY spot treatments like lemon juice or toothpaste are often gentler than prescription acne products.
10. TRUE or FALSE: Stress can influence oil production and inflammation in the skin.
11. TRUE or FALSE: People with oily skin should avoid moisturizer whenever possible.
12. TRUE or FALSE: Some viral skin care trends become popular long before there is good scientific evidence behind them.
Now before you score yourself, let’s talk about why some of these are trickier than they sound.
One of the biggest misconceptions online right now is that “natural” automatically means safer or better for acne prone skin. Ingredients like beef tallow have exploded in popularity because they sound simple and old fashioned, but acne does not really care whether an ingredient is natural or synthetic.
Beef tallow is essentially rendered animal fat. While it may help soften very dry areas such as elbows, knees, or heels, it is still a rich, oily product being applied directly to the skin. For patients who are prone to clogged pores and breakouts, adding more oil is generally not the direction dermatologists recommend. There are far better options available for moisturizing acne prone skin without increasing the risk of congestion and breakouts.
Another place social media gets people into trouble is the idea that stronger always means better. If your skin feels painfully dry, tight, red, or burning after cleansing or treatment, that is usually not a sign that your products are “working harder.” In reality, irritated skin barriers often lead to even more inflammation and breakouts.
Some trends online are rooted in truth, though. Pimple patches really can help, mostly because they protect blemishes from picking and irritation. Ice rollers may temporarily calm swelling and redness. Stress absolutely can play a role in acne flares. Even something as simple as changing pillowcases regularly may help more than people realize.
Think about it. Pillowcases collect oil, sweat, skin cells, hair products, and whatever else your face encounters while you sleep. Keeping them clean can help reduce some of the buildup that comes into contact with your skin night after night. The same goes for your phone screen, which spends a surprising amount of time pressed against your face. If you cannot remember the last time you cleaned it, your skin probably remembers.
One of the biggest myths we still hear? That acne is just a teenage problem. Not even close. Adult acne is incredibly common, especially in women, and often involves hormones, inflammation, stress, skin care products, and genetics all working together.
The tricky part about social media skin care advice is that it usually takes one tiny grain of truth and stretches it into a miracle cure. Unfortunately, your skin is a little more complicated than a 30 second video.
ANSWER KEY
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If acne has become frustrating, confusing, or just plain exhausting, you do not have to sort through all of the internet advice alone.
The physicians, physician assistants (PAs), and nurse practitioners at Midwest Dermatology treat acne every day and have immediate appointment availability at most office locations. Whether you are dealing with occasional breakouts, persistent acne, hormonal acne, or acne scarring, our team can develop a treatment plan tailored to your skin, your lifestyle, and your goals.
Many patients are surprised to learn that some of our quickest appointment availability is with our physician trained PAs and nurse practitioners. Working closely with our board-certified dermatologists, these providers offer expert acne evaluation and treatment and are ready to help you get started.
For patients with mild acne or those looking to build a stronger skin care routine, licensed aesthetician Kimberly Niebur is also available at both our Lakeside and Dodge locations. Kimberly works closely with our dermatology providers and can recommend products and treatments that support your overall acne treatment plan and help keep breakouts under control.
Schedule your appointment by calling (402) 933-0800 in Omaha or (402) 371-3564 in Norfolk. You can also schedule online at midwestderm.com. In just a few clicks, you can choose your provider, office location, and a convenient time to get started.
Because your skin deserves better than random internet advice.
