Is sleeping in your makeup bad?
We separate fact from fiction.
1. Going to bed without washing your face leads to breakouts. We can’t blame everything on dirt. While it’s true that it worsens acne, dysfunctional cells — those that don’t slough away readily or that produce too much sebum are the root of acne. Not washing your face before bed causes congestion due to accumulation of dead skin cells.
2. Cheeseburgers cause breakouts. This one is kind of true, but the burger isn’t the problem. It’s the cheese and high-glycemic foods (white carbs such a flour, rice, and potatoes) correspond with acne occurrence. Loading up on foods with low-glycemic ratings (legumes, whole grains, fruits, vegetables) has been shown to clear up breakouts.
3. Prescription products are not better than over-the-counter ones. They’re not similar and much stronger. If over-the-counter cleansers, retinoids, and spot treatments don’t help alleviate breakouts after eight weeks, see a skin care specialist, who can offer non-irritating solutions.
4. Toothpaste can double as zit cream. This myth persists; the baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, menthol, and triclosan found in toothpaste do dry up excess oil, but the harsh combination of ingredients cause peeling and irritation. If you’re looking for a guerilla solution, crush a tablet of aspirin, add a drop of water, and apply it to the pimple overnight. It’s a powerful but gentle anti-inflammatory.
