Common Skin Care Myths (and the Truth)

In the world of beauty, wellness and skin care, there are more than a few misconceptions and myths floating around. Some are “old wives tales,” handed down through the ages but without any verifiable sources. Others have come about due to a misunderstanding of how skin care works.

So what’s fact and what’s fiction when it comes to taking care of your skin? We’ve rounded up some of the most common myths about skincare to reveal the truth.

Eating Greasy Foods Makes You Break Out

You’ve probably heard this myth since you were a teenager. Eating fried foods, pizza, or chocolate is going to make your skin oilier and make you more likely to get pimples and acne.

Fortunately for the chocoholics out there and for anyone who enjoys a slice of pizza or some fries from time to time, oily foods won’t increase the oil production in your skin. That doesn’t mean you should eat a lot of pizza, chocolate and so on, though.

Fried foods and candies tend to be high in calories and tend not to have much in the way of usable nutrition. Enjoy a treat now and then without worrying that it will give you pimples, but don’t make a habit of indulging in unhealthy foods.

You Only Need Sunscreen When it’s Sunny

When should you wear sunscreen? Anytime the sun is up, between sunrise and sunset. The sun’s UV rays can reach your skin, increasing the risk of wrinkles, spots, and skin cancer, even on the cloudiest of days.

It’s also important to wear sunscreen even if you’re only going to be outside for a short period of time. Your walk to and from the office is long enough to expose you to some UV rays.

Make it a habit to wear sunscreen every day. For best results, use a sunscreen that’s separate from your makeup. Foundations and powders that contain SPF usually don’t have enough to offer much protection. It’s also a good idea to reapply your sunscreen often throughout the day. 

You Should Wash Your Face With Hot Water

A hot shower on a cold day can feel comforting and refreshing. People also think that hot water is best because it helps to open up the pores, increasing the effectiveness of a cleanser.

But hot water usually isn’t ideal from a skin health standpoint. Water that’s too hot can zap the moisture from your skin, making it more sensitive and prone to irritation.

For best results, use lukewarm water instead when washing your face and other areas of your body. The water will open your pores and help you get a deep clean, without contributing to irritation or dryness.

You Can’t Cleanse Your Skin Too Much

You can have too much of a good thing when it comes to skincare. Just as washing with hot water can irritate your skin, so can washing your face too much.

How much cleansing is too much? Your skin will likely let you know. If you wash your face more than once or twice a day and you notice redness, flakiness, or other signs of irritation, you are probably over-cleansing. Try washing your face just once a day and see if your skin improves.

Another thing to keep in mind is that how you cleanse can also affect your skin. If you use products with scrubbing ingredients or an exfoliating brush and you see signs of irritation, it can be a good idea to cut back. 

Tanning Helps to Clear Up Acne

People often claim that tanning helps to clear up their pimples and breakouts. The truth is that there is no proof that getting a tan helps to banish acne. In fact, tanning is doing more harm than good to your skin in the long run.

One reason why people might believe that tanning is good for pimples is that getting a darker complexion might help to hide their blemishes. Tanning isn’t making the pimples go away, it’s just making them harder to see.

It’s also important to note that sun exposure can actually trigger oil production in the skin by drying it out. So if you’re dealing with oily skin and pimples, lying in the sun might make your problems worse, not better.

There are many treatments available for acne that don’t involve increasing your risk of wrinkles or skin cancer. Dr. Vitenas and the staff at Mirror Mirror Beauty Boutique can discuss acne treatment options with you if you’re not sure where to start.

It’s a Good Thing if Your Skin Care Products Hurt

If it burns, it must be doing something, right? Not quite. Some skin care products might tingle slightly when you apply them or might make your skin a little red or sensitive initially. But you shouldn’t feel pain when you put on a cream or use a mask. If you do, you might be having a reaction to an ingredient in the product. 

One way to make sure you’re using the best products for your skin is to get a complexion analysis. The analysis will show you what’s going on beneath the surface and help you choose the products that will give you the results you want, without any burning or pain.

Want to learn more about how to care for your skin to protect it from the effects of aging and the sun? Call 281-810-9083 to schedule an appointment at Mirror Mirror Beauty Boutique in Houston, Texas today.