MYTH GIVINGS

MYTHGIVINGS
Sometimes half-truths develop about how medical conditions originate. Acne is no different:
* All stress causes acne. Stress from minor situations -- like losing your car keys or forgetting to bring a book to school -- isn't acne-inducing. But extreme stress, the kind brought on by final exams, holiday plans and newspaper deadlines, can be enough.
"Stress ... can significantly increase the severity of existing acne for students," says a recent report by the department of dermatology at Stanford University School of Medicine.
* Diet causes acne. There is no definitive study to show whether food and acne are directly related. However, for certain people, various foods can cause outbreaks. Ironically, this condition can go with the extreme stress, because stressed out people tend to eat less-than-healthy things such as potato chips, chocolate and other fatty foods.
* Lack of hygiene causes acne. A gentle washing with soap and water twice a day helps keep the skin clean and aids the medication. But forceful scrubbing can actually damage the skin and worsen the condition.
* All cosmetics cause acne. "Oil and grease from certain cosmetics can lead to clogged pores," says John Rupp, a dermatologist in Kansas City, Mo. Oil-free lotions, soaps and moisturizers are recommended. If a product is marked "nonacnegenic" or "noncomedogenic," it's not supposed to create pimples or cause irritation, according to www.acneguide.com.