Caring for our complexions and bodies can sometimes be trial and error. With so many products and opinions out there, it can be tough to decipher what’s actually right for your skin. There are a lot of myths circulating about skincare that we’d like to address. Even professional opinions can vary on this topic, but these are 7 myths we’d like to debunk according to not just personal experience, but advice from professionals and our own dermatologists.
Scrubbing Gets Rid of Acne and Blackheads
Actually, scrubbing too much can aggravate your skin, overstimulate your oil glands, and cause more acne and blackheads. It’s a myth that you can simply scrub away blackheads and acne. Blackheads and congested pores typically do not clear on their own and require extraction, so it’s best to visit a professional and get regular extractions and facials to clear your pores. While you should exfoliate 2-3 times per week, over-scrubbing will only make things worse, so it’s best to avoid daily scrubs.
You Don’t Need Sunscreen If It’s Not Sunny
Even if it’s overcast outside, UV rays still come through the clouds and can damage your skin and even give you a sunburn. Don’t be fooled by cloudy days and always wear sunscreen when going outside for extended periods of time. Period.
Oil Is Bad For Your Skin
First, stripping your skin of its natural oil is always a bad idea -even if you’re oily. Drying oily skin out will only make it produce more sebum. The best solution for oily skin is balancing it. Natural oils are actually very good for your skin and can help unclog pores, balance sebum, and treat acne. Based on the fact that oil breaks down oil, using a proper oil for your skin type can greatly improve your complexion. However, it can be trial and error. Some oils work better than others, so you may want to try a few out before you may know if oil cleansing and treatments are right for you. Our favorite skin oils are black cumin seed oil and jojoba oil. Extra virgin olive oil is also very popular. Check out our article on the Oil Cleansing Method for more info.
You Don’t Need To Wash Your Face If You Don’t Wear Makeup
Even if you don’t wear makeup, your skin still attracts impurities, environmental toxins, bacteria, and dirt. You’d be surprised how dirty your face gets even when you go bare! It’s important to wash morning and night with a proper cleanser to keep your complexion clear and healthy.
Occasional Sun Tanning is Not Harmful
Did you know just one sunburn can cause permanent damage to your skin? Sun damage often doesn’t show up on the surface and can sometimes only be seen using a skin diagnostic tool. So we often think that if our skin doesn’t look damaged, that it must be ok. This is far from the truth. Sun damage can show up later in life when your skin starts to break down more rapidly due to aging. That means sun damage you received as a teen or twenty-something can start to show through as you age. Sure, none of us like wrinkles, but the real problem here is that 1 in 5 people will get skin cancer in their lifetime. That’s why it’s important to take care of your skin from an early age to avoid residual sun damage from rearing its ugly head as you get older.
Acne Requires Aggressive Products
Again, stripping your skin will only make it worse. I cringe when I see infomercials touting heavy duty benzoyl peroxide based products. Though it seems those products may work for some extreme cases, most moderate to mild forms of acne should be managed with a gentle hand. It’s best to see a dermatologist to get a proper diagnosis before heading to your local drugstore aisle and stocking up on harsh acne products. You can easily overdo it and make your skin worse. See a professional and be gentle. Bottom line.
Aging Is Not A Concern If You’re Young
The choices we make when we’re young affects what happens to us when we get older. So, if you lay out regularly, smoke, drink alcohol excessively and have a poor diet, the affects of unhealthy lifestyle choices can show up later in life in the form of damaged skin, digestion issues, weak hair and nails, and major diseases like cancer. When we’re young our skin and bodies repair themselves rapidly, but as we age everything slows down and bad choices can catch up to us. Be kind to your body now and reap the benefits when you get older.
