Myth: Sunlight will dry out acne

Fact: This is true to some extent. When acne influenced skin is directly exposed to small amounts of sunlight, it can destroy bacteria that are responsible for acne. Also it may may give the pores a tighter appearance and a suntan can make acne blemishes much less visible  While you may end up thinking that sunlight is treating your acne, the  effect is only temporary and superficial. Even though mild sun exposure could prove helpful for certain stages of the pimple resolution process and dry out existing acne, it simply won't help prevent new ones!  In effect, such exposure can also be counter-productive. Sunlight directly stimulates the oil producing glands under the skin to secrete more sebum. Thus, your skin tends to get oilier which leads  to further clogging of skin pores, which result in new pimple formations.

Furthermore, the inherent heat will make you perspire and the concomitant sweat that has various body reject salts will come in touch with acne, only to make matters worse and your skin will feel irritated and itchy. Besides if you are using common acne medications like the antibiotic isotetracycline and topical creams containing retinoids and glycolic acid, it can make your skin extremely sensitive to the sun, leading to bad burns if your skin is unprotected.
 
Bottom line: The long-term damage to the skin caused by the sun far outweighs its initial treatment of acne. For starters, it can induce premature indications of skin ageing. It can render your skin saggy, dull and dry draining away its natural youthfulness or freshness. In depth sunlight exposure has additionally been linked to more severe conditions such as skin cancer.Whether you have acne or not, it is a wise idea to use sunscreen of SPF 30 or more, to protect your skin from further damage.

(Guest Post by Smitha)