Dr. Germain was asked to give her take on age old Acne Myths for an upcoming freelance article on Health.com.  Here is a sneak peak of her contribution. Make sure to visit Health.com in the next few weeks for the full article written by Germain Dermatology friend and women’s health writer, Keira Aaron.

Can Chocolate cause acne?“Yes. However, it is not the chocolate itself (not the cocoa powder) but all the other stuff that is added to make the chocolate taste good. Sugar itself, or any food with a high glycemic index, can increase acne. High glycemic index food increases insulin-like growth factor 1 which cause increased keratinization in the follicles and also is an inflammatory which has detrimental effects on acne prone individuals.” 
Can Sunscreen clogs your pores?“Yes. Many people say that sunscreens make their acne worse. They can clog pores, but usually it is the chemical sunscreens that increase acne due to irritating the skin. Look for products that have physical blocks (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) in a sheer base.  Look for ingredients such as dimethicone, cyclomethicone and glycerin and look for added antioxidants like green tea. Green tea can actually decrease the keratin build up in the follicles which can improve acne.”Can Toothpaste heal a zit?“Toothpaste can dry out a pimple because it has some ingredients (like baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, menthol, triclosan) which are antibacterial and drying.  That being said, I would not recommend it because it can be irritating if left on the skin for long periods of time and there are acne preparations and blemish creams that are designed for spot treatment that are much more effective.”
Can Your period make you breakout?“Yes. Your hormones change over the month and right before your period, ratios of hormones change in a way the increases the probability of acne.  Also, 15% (a surprisingly high percentage) of the female population has polycystic ovary syndrome which can cause severe fluctuations in acne lesions and formation of nodules and huge cysts.” 
Don’t forget to visit Health.com for the full story on Acne Myths, contributed to by our own Dr. Germain, as well as many other great articles for your health and skin. And thank you to Keira Aaron for thinking of us for the feature!