Busting myths

One of the most important things pharmacy teams can do to help acne sufferers is to dispel some common myths. These can affect how people view their condition and how they choose to treat it:

• Acne is not caused by poor hygiene or sweating
• Acne is not contagious
• Acne is not caused by a poor diet – experts state that there is no evidence that diet and acne are linked. Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet should be recommended to all customers for their general health
• Squeezing blackheads and pimples won’t improve acne. In fact, this can irritate the skin, make symptoms worse and may lead to scarring
• Sun exposure, or the use of sunbeds or sunlamps won’t improve acne. Many acne medications can make the skin more sensitive to light, so prolonged UV exposure could damage the skin, as well as increasing the risk of skin cancer
• Acne is not seasonal – it is a year-round condition
• Acne is not just suffered by people with oily skin – people with dry skin can get acne too
• Toothpaste does contain antibacterial ingredients, but it should not be used on spots as it also contains substances that can irritate and damage the skin.

Signposting

For more information you can see:

• Your Counter Intelligence Plus training guide
• The NHS website
• The British Skin Foundation
• The British Association of Dermatologists  
• The charity Acne Support.