The Derma Corner: Five common skincare myths - do you believe any of them?
Hi everyone, today I’ll be discussing some skincare myths I’ve come across my practice or from people I know. There’s a great deal of misinformation being spread from one person to another about skin and skincare thru either word of mouth or from skincare forums. There are a lot of myths out there but here the ones I’ve read and heard recently.
MYTH: Oily skin types do not need a moisturizer.
FACT: Having oily skin does not mean having constant source of hydration because the skin’s sebum cannot provide it. What sebum does is lock moisture in and prevent any loss. When you have dehydrated skin, your oil glands will overcompensate and produce more oil. Moisturizers also help in maintaining a healthy skin barrier and is beneficial to acne-prone skin. If stickiness or greasiness are your reasons for avoiding a moisturizer, look for gel types because they don’t leave any residue on the skin and they’re easily absorbed. You can also opt for a hydrating serum instead.
MYTH: Pores open after steaming and close after applying ice.
FACT: Pores are largely determined by genes and their size is influenced by skin type (the oilier you are, the more likely that your pores are noticeable) and by skin aging. They do not open with steaming nor do they close when you apply anything cold. Your pores seem bigger when they’re congested, meaning there’s a build-up of dead skin cells and sebum in them. The best way to make your pores look more refined and less noticeable is by exfoliating regularly, hydrating your skin and never forgetting to apply sunscreen – FYI, sun damage causes photoaging.
fact: pores don’t open or close
MYTH: Skin becomes thinner when you over-exfoliate.
FACT: Our skin is very resilient. It’s the largest organ in the body and it acts as a barrier against a lot of harmful agents, like microorganisms, toxins, and pollution. As a barrier, it’s prone to receiving damage so if you ever over-exfoliate, your skin may experience breakouts, stinging, redness or flaking. The idea that your skin is peeling, which happens in the epidermis, may be the reason why people think it’s becoming thinner. Exfoliating, no matter how much of it, will stimulate collagen production in the dermis to actually thicken and make the skin plumper.
MYTH: Natural ingredients are safer.
FACT: Just because some ingredients are natural doesn’t mean they’re safer. They can also cause a variety of irritating or allergic reactions especially if you have a sensitive skin. What we want is for everyone to approach all skincare ingredients, whether natural or synthetic, with an equal amount of caution. If they work well for you then great but remember, everyone reacts differently to products. And don’t get me started on the fact that “chemicals” are bad for the skin. FYI, water is a chemical. In fact, everything you will see on the ingredients list of every skin/body/hair product, whether they claim to be natural, organic or otherwise are all chemicals.
MYTH: The SPF found in makeup is enough to provide sun protection.
FACT: The recommended amount of sunscreen that should be applied is 2mg/cm2 of skin or ½ teaspoon for the face. So if you apply an SPF-laden makeup the same way you apply sunscreen, by using these recommended amounts, then I might allow you to it but I seriously doubt that. No one likes a cakey-looking base so when you put on only a little bit of the makeup, the amount of SPF you’re applying to your face becomes less too. And, how sure are you that it can provide protection from both UVA and UVB rays? In short, I highly advise that you apply a separate broad-spectrum sunscreen before putting on any makeup.
Do you know any other skin or skincare myths? Let us know in the comments below and let’s discuss those too!
Dr. Nikki Paderna is currently available for online consultations thru the HealthNow and Medifi app on Google Play for Android devices and on the Apple store for iOS devices, or thru the FB page, Vivestrata Dermatology Clinic.
