How to Get Rid of Acne For Good—According to Science

Most of us have dealt with annoying acne during puberty, or maybe even during adulthood. You probably wanted to pop or pick them in order to remove them, but there's a good reason why you shouldn't! Join Michael Aranda for a new episode of SciShow and learn more about what Science has to say about acne and learn how to banish it for once and for all!

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[ScrubTheNub]

Who's the 20% of people who don't get acne??? MUST BE NICE

[crackythepirate]

All my friends have baby faces and smooth skin, but I however have acne and a damn sharp jawline!

[merubindono]

You don't need to worry about acne if you remove your face

Taps temple

[arielle]

Ah, that good cystic acne. Painful, can't pop them, swollen, long lasting. Very fun. You should try em sometime.

[SCRedstone]

The last time I was this early the iPhone still had a headphone jack

and a home button.

[amelianannette]

Wait... 20% of people don't have acne?!! HOW?!! I'm 13 with breakouts all over my forehead and my mom is 45 and still has minor acne.

[thedarkstar]

Anyone else has a galaxy of blackheads on their nose?

[davidbuschhorn]

You know what heals a zit fastest? Popping it. For me, it's nearly invisible in 20 minutes. If I leave it, it'll be red, hot and inflamed for a week.

[raemckay]

I teach skin sciences as an Esthetics instructor at a beauty college, and I've worked as a skin therapist in spas, helping clients with their skin concerns. This video is about a week's worth of lessons, summed up and illustrated beautifully. You can bet I'll be screening this vid in my classes. Thanks, SciShow!

[Angelbby]

my acne is just a few pimples like probably two at a time but I have acne scars and blackheads ripppp

[DirtMerchant]

Huh, didn't know acne was considered a skin disease

[sogerc]

There was an episode on SciShow about the probability that you actually have breast cancer if a mammography test is positive. Anyone remembers it? I can't seem to find it.

[leannyly]

My skin has been terrible since I was like 9. I've tried all the face washes and creams to prescription creams, meds and antibiotics. Nothing works. I'm almost 19 now and have learned to accept myself and focus on the more important things in life instead!

[Palitato]

If I don't pop the few pimples that show up, they go away after a few days and then will come right back again. Same spot, over and over and over.
I had one that was constant and incredibly annoying, and it never seemed to clear up no matter how much I left it alone, or tried various creams or medicines... until I finally got so frustrated with it I just messed with it until I could finally pop it and squeeze out that little 'seed' of a core right in the center.. and it FINALLY WENT AWAY. Hasnt' come back. After over a year of that damn thing recurring, it's GONE. Haven't seen a sign of it in years.

[bb-xlur]

I really appreciate how this video actually detailed the scientific aspects of how to prevent acne instead of giving vague advice like "drink more water, " "eat less greasy foods, " and "wash your face more"

[zippedydoo]

Hormone induced stress? There must be a dolphin making popping noises nearby and I must be a toadfish.

[teagankarly]

Why do I feel the urge to pop these even if I know it is bad?

[jwhalstrom]

I work in a dermatology office and this is a very good and thorough explanation of acne and it's treatment options. Great video!

[marylancelot]

Just a tip for fellow acne sufferers! Never try to pop a cystic pimple, or a pimple that isn't ready! Also remember, that if your pimple doesn't bleed after being popped, you didn't get all of the gunk out so don't be surprised when the pimple fills up again.

And always, always, use disinfectant after popping a zit.

[lukegonnella]

I understand that he says in the video that there isn't enough solid proof that your diet affects your acne, but I've been thought horrid cystic acne that has left deep scars all over the back of my neck and regular acne on my face, chest, and shoulders that has also left smaller scars, and I can say that removing milk from my diet helped me so much.

I'm not completely vegan, I simply swapped cow milk for plant based alternatives like almond and soya milk (I still eat eggs occasionally and will sometimes eat products with cow milk in) so I'm not doing this just to promote veganism. I just want to make people know that it really can help. Just try it 😊. It helped me more than my accutane treatment.