Don’t believe everything you hear when it comes to skin care. Here are 7 major skin care myths, debunked.
Myth: Your skin gets better protection with higher SPF.
Three kinds of ultraviolet rays exist: UVA rays, UVB rays, and UVC rays. That being said, SPF in sunscreen generally only offers protection from UVB rays, which cause sunburn. For this reason, it is important to purchase a sunscreen that is broad spectrum protection, or protection from both UVA and UVB rays.
Myth: Forget sunscreen on a cloudy day.
Ultraviolet radiation from the sun still reaches the earth’s surface on a cloudy day. For this reason, be sure to use sunscreen every day.
Myth: Tanning booths can be safe under specific conditions.
It is widely known that tanning in the sun can lead to premature aging and skin cancer. However, some people are under the impression that tanning booths are healthier as long as they don’t contain UVB rays. Tanning booths use this to their advantage in order to advertise, but using a tanning booth still exposes your skin to UVA rays. These types of rays penetrate deeper into the skin, which also causes premature aging and skin cancer.
Myth: “Age spots” are inevitable as you grow older
Actually, the term “age spot” isn’t entirely accurate. Brown spots that develop on the skin result from years of environmental exposure and damage. In turn, this leads to the skin accumulating visible imperfections. Because age spots result from environmental exposure, they are preventable or can at least be minimized. Using broad spectrum SPF everyday, keeping skin hydrated, and taking vitamin C regularly are helpful in age spot minimization.
Myth: You can’t over cleanse your face.
Contrary to popular belief, scrubbing your face frequently with soap keeps skin healthy and acne free. While it is important to cleanse regularly, scrubbing your face still removes protective oils and barriers. Thus, over-scrubbing can become detrimental, leading to rashes and even burns.
Myth: Popping a pimple is the best way to remove it.
While it may feel satisfying to pop a pimple, doing that actually makes a lot of the contents just go deeper into your skin. Consequently, you’ll likely get another pimple a few days later nearby the original pimple. The best way to remove a pimple is to cleanse your face regularly and let the pimple go away on its own.
Myth: You get what you pay for with skincare products.
Companies use interesting ingredients and fancy marketing strategy to sell their expensive products, but in reality many mass market skin products are better. In fact, many active ingredients are the same across most skin care lines. While expensive products can be great, it is likely you can get something similar for much less of the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
SPF in sunscreen primarily protects against UVB rays, which cause sunburn, but does not protect against UVA rays that penetrate deeper into the skin. For comprehensive protection, it is important to use a broad spectrum sunscreen that shields against both UVA and UVB rays.
Yes, ultraviolet radiation from the sun still reaches the earth's surface even on cloudy days. Therefore, applying sunscreen daily is important to protect your skin from UV damage regardless of the weather.
No, tanning booths expose your skin to UVA rays, which penetrate deeper and can cause premature aging and skin cancer. Despite claims that they are safer, tanning booths still pose significant risks to skin health.
Age spots are actually caused by years of environmental exposure and skin damage, not just aging. They can be prevented or minimized by using broad spectrum SPF daily, keeping skin hydrated, and taking vitamin C regularly.
Yes, over-cleansing or scrubbing your face too frequently can strip away protective oils and skin barriers, leading to rashes, burns, and irritation. It is important to cleanse regularly but gently to maintain healthy skin.
Popping pimples can push the contents deeper into the skin, causing more pimples nearby and potential scarring. The best approach is to cleanse your face regularly and allow pimples to heal naturally.
Not necessarily. Many mass market skincare products contain the same active ingredients as expensive brands. While pricier products can be effective, similar results can often be achieved with less costly options.
