Despite continued efforts to treat patients with acne and educate them about its known causes, the disease and its misconceptions persist. As a result, people with acne sometimes experiment with misguided behavioral changes in an attempt to clear up their skin. To assess the overall prevalence of acne misconceptions and quantify acne myths, we conducted a survey on acne beliefs in 103 college students at Stanford University in California. The results revealed that many acne myths continue to be popular with young adults. Belief in the influence of external factors is not inherently problematic; how-ever, many of the popular misconceptions about acne are based on anecdotal evidence. Although
these beliefs are straightforward and easily studied, our review of supporting scientific evidence revealed a paucity of quality research in this area. Nevertheless, familiarity with popular beliefs about acne is integral to its proper management. Once we, as clinicians, understand what patients may be doing outside of our recommendations, we can counsel them about practices that may be harmful and redirect them to proven therapies.