We all know how annoying and embarrassing acne can be, not to mention how hard it is to get rid of for most people. It affects millions of folks worldwide, especially those under the age of thirty, but even adults are affected. But, why does it keep coming back? Well, do not believe everything you read or hear.

Here are the top seven Acne Myths :

1. Popping pimples gets rid of them - no, sorry, that just does not work. When you pop a zit the germs and bacteria that cause it go under your skin. This can

cause pain, redness, swelling and even infection. If you keep doing it, another possible problem that can develop is scaring which can be permanent.

2. Chocolate and fried foods cause pimples - although this sounds logical, it is also not true, which is a good thing if you love eating chocolate and the occassional hamburger or fried chicken. No studies have proven this and it may be only a psychological belief that this is true. Of course, it sure will not help if you have greasy hands and wipe them on your face while eating - that will not help.

3. Stress causes blemishes - not true either. Stress is a part of life, more now than likely anytime in history, and certainly a growing up and for that matter, all your life. Do you worry about tests at school, or your performance in sports events, or problems at home ? Will these things cause your body to explode with skin flare-ups ? No, fortunately, this is a falsehood - a good thing too, or we would all be visiting a dermatologist on a regular basis.

4. Exposure to the Sun will eliminate acne - I have to tell you that I too believed this one. The sun will damage your skin and cause it to become dry, burned

and irritated and can even put you at risk for skin cancer later in life. This myth came about mostly because as your skin gets a tan, it becomes darker and

pimples and zits are less noticeable.

If you need to be out in the sun, use sunscreen with an SPF factor of at least 30 and do not forget to wear sunglasses and a hat.

5. Washing your face as much as possible will clear your skin - not a bad idea to wash your face and the rest of your body on a regular basis too (your family,

friends and co-workers will be happy you did - just kidding of course) too, but, this will not by itself do the trick.

Washing your face will remove excess oil, dirt and even dead skin cells, but over-doing it or rough scrubbing will irritate the skin and dry it out, which makes things worse. Wash your face once or twice a day using a mild cleanser and dry your skin with a soft towel.

6. Do not wear makeup - using noncomedogenic (will not clog pores and does not contain perfumes) makeup products in moderation should not be a problem.

These products will not clog pores and some even contain contain acne fighting ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.

7. Using more medicine is better - too much acne medicine can irritate and cause your skin to turn red, and may dry it out. Using more over the counter or

prescription medication than is recommended will cause more harm than taking none at all. Also, drugs do have side effects like nausea, headaches, and other

unpleasant reactions if you overdo it. Best to stick with the directions provided.

As these seven myths have indicated, many things you might have imagined causing acne, actually do not. To get clearer skin, eat a well balanced diet and exercise. If you need to take something to help you clear your skin faster, talk to your physician or try one of the safer over the counter products first.