The quest for an acne remedy is a story built upon the shifting sands of fact and myth.
And whether we ever discover a true acne remedy is, as the title of this article states-a myth-story.
When myths are debunked, it usually means that Jane and John Q Public get slapped around a little by science for holding on to some belief that cannot be proven using scientific principles.
Jane and John Q get into trouble by saying that such-and-such is true after a little casual observation-this is how myths are born.
You might consider the number of myths claiming to be an acne remedy, a population explosion.
Science on the other hand is quite reluctant to say a thing is true without gobs and gobs of proof.
However, this does not mean that science does not participate in the merriment of myth making.
For our topic; "an acne remedy", we are interested in one specific myth put forward by science.
I dare say that this is this most wide spread scientific myth (hmmm, 'tis an oxymoron for sure).
It is the myth of "...
hasn't been proven to be a factor in ...
" I'll call this the NAPF myth (for Not a Proven Factor).
The really cool thing about the NAPF myth is that it in itself is not the myth.
Remember, science is pretty good at not saying things are true when they aren't.
This myth uses a subtle force called "inference" to work its magic.
In the case of an acne remedy, inference might sound something like this: "Diet has not been proven to be a factor in causing acne.
" Part 1-The hook for the NAPF myth has now been set.
Here comes the inference: Therefore it is very unlikely that diet or vitamin supplementation will yield an acne remedy or have any acne healing or preventative effects.
If faulty logic was a home-run, that puppy'd be right out of the ball park! This kind of logic puts a real burr under my blanket.
Failure to prove something is true does not give validity to something else.
Failing to prove a ball is red does not make it black.
Failing to be able to pronounce a person dead does not mean that the person is alive.
And failing to prove diet can cause acne does not prove that there is not an acne remedy in the world of diet and nutrition.
This then is science's myth-that the inability to prove one thing; proves another.
In all fairness, this is really a common myth spread by many individual scientists and not a feature of science itself.
And lest you get the notion that I am anti-science-not so.
Analysis and logic are my life's blood; I use both in almost everything I do.
But this also makes me sensitive to their weakness and abuses.
And when it comes to looking for an acne remedy, there's lots of room for abuse.
If you are an acne sufferer, I think you must be prepared to do some experimenting in the food and supplementation department.
By all means, protect yourself by seeking appropriate medical advice but you need to also keep in mind that acne causes and cures are complex and not well understood.
That means that you may have more success by choosing a professional who shares your views on health and nutrition or who is open to experimenting in that area.
It may not be an acne remedy, but common sense (that's the stuff that's always getting debunked) would suggest, that if acne is a state of ill health, then a healthy and fit body would stand a better chance of finding a more positive outcome.
And whether we ever discover a true acne remedy is, as the title of this article states-a myth-story.
When myths are debunked, it usually means that Jane and John Q Public get slapped around a little by science for holding on to some belief that cannot be proven using scientific principles.
Jane and John Q get into trouble by saying that such-and-such is true after a little casual observation-this is how myths are born.
You might consider the number of myths claiming to be an acne remedy, a population explosion.
Science on the other hand is quite reluctant to say a thing is true without gobs and gobs of proof.
However, this does not mean that science does not participate in the merriment of myth making.
For our topic; "an acne remedy", we are interested in one specific myth put forward by science.
I dare say that this is this most wide spread scientific myth (hmmm, 'tis an oxymoron for sure).
It is the myth of "...
hasn't been proven to be a factor in ...
" I'll call this the NAPF myth (for Not a Proven Factor).
The really cool thing about the NAPF myth is that it in itself is not the myth.
Remember, science is pretty good at not saying things are true when they aren't.
This myth uses a subtle force called "inference" to work its magic.
In the case of an acne remedy, inference might sound something like this: "Diet has not been proven to be a factor in causing acne.
" Part 1-The hook for the NAPF myth has now been set.
Here comes the inference: Therefore it is very unlikely that diet or vitamin supplementation will yield an acne remedy or have any acne healing or preventative effects.
If faulty logic was a home-run, that puppy'd be right out of the ball park! This kind of logic puts a real burr under my blanket.
Failure to prove something is true does not give validity to something else.
Failing to prove a ball is red does not make it black.
Failing to be able to pronounce a person dead does not mean that the person is alive.
And failing to prove diet can cause acne does not prove that there is not an acne remedy in the world of diet and nutrition.
This then is science's myth-that the inability to prove one thing; proves another.
In all fairness, this is really a common myth spread by many individual scientists and not a feature of science itself.
And lest you get the notion that I am anti-science-not so.
Analysis and logic are my life's blood; I use both in almost everything I do.
But this also makes me sensitive to their weakness and abuses.
And when it comes to looking for an acne remedy, there's lots of room for abuse.
If you are an acne sufferer, I think you must be prepared to do some experimenting in the food and supplementation department.
By all means, protect yourself by seeking appropriate medical advice but you need to also keep in mind that acne causes and cures are complex and not well understood.
That means that you may have more success by choosing a professional who shares your views on health and nutrition or who is open to experimenting in that area.
It may not be an acne remedy, but common sense (that's the stuff that's always getting debunked) would suggest, that if acne is a state of ill health, then a healthy and fit body would stand a better chance of finding a more positive outcome.