Busting 5 Major Skin Care Myths!

All the nonsense people are led to believe about skin care and makeup could fill volumes. From the internet to old wives tales, there is a whole lot of skin care guidance being thrown around – and not all of it is good. Some of this “information” can actually be detrimental to your skin and wellness. (Do you remember the one telling you to put toothpaste on zits? Well, don’t do that. Trust me on this one)

Below are FIVE common skincare myths that continue to persist–and we’re going to try to take them down once and for all!

1. “You don’t need sunscreen when it’s cloudy out”

Even on a cloudy day UV radiation from the sun reaches right on down to the Earth’s surface. So make sure you use sunscreen every day and reapply it about every two hours if possible. Also make sure to reapply it after swimming or intense exercise that causes lots of sweating.

Even if your makeup has an SPF – that doesn’t mean it makes up for you not wearing sunscreen. You would have to put on 14 or 15 times the Quantity of makeup that a typical person would wear to reach the SPF on the tag of powdered makeup. The same thing goes for base and liquid makeup. So be sure to wear sunscreen in addition to your makeup if you’re going to be spending the day outside.

2. “Getting a base tan will ensure you don’t burn in the sun”

The foundation tan myth, which claims that hitting up a tanning bed before going someplace tropical, can help ward off a sunburn has existed for decades. And while it’s true it does supply some protection, that protection is very minimal. If you were to look at it in sunscreen conditions – a “base tan” would be similar to wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 3 at best.

So while it’s definitely better than nothing, that SPF 3 is nowhere near the sunlight protection needed to protect your skin from sun damage, with most experts advocating a daily sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15.

3. “Crossing your legs will cause varicose veins”

There are a range of risk factors for varicose veins, but crossing your legs isn’t among them. Heredity is among the top indicator of whether or not someone will develop varicose veins with an estimated 80 percent of people with varicose veins having at least one parent with the condition.

Other items which make a person more prone to varicose veins include life events such as pregnancy and childbirth, as well as lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity, or working a job which requires prolonged standing. There is no evidence that crossing your legs will cause varicose veins.

If you already have varicose veins, elevating your legs and utilizing compression stockings may be helpful. But maintaining your thighs “uncrossed” will not stop or enhance the status.

4. “If it burns, it means it’s working”

This is one of the most dangerous myths out there because it sounds believable–directly alongside “no pain, no gain” or “beauty is pain.” When it comes to skin care, just a tiny tingling is normal (with some products); sharp stinging or burning, however, isn’t.

This type of reaction may signify that you have sensitive skin, or it could be something more serious like an allergy to a component you’re using. If something feels like its burning you, it best to wash it off right away. And if the pain or annoyance doesn’t subside in a couple of minutes, contact your dermatologist straight away.

5. “Pop your pimples to get the puss out”

The reality is, even though it feels really good to release the puss, a great deal of it will be pushed deeper below the surface of your skin when you do this. If it goes in deep, it causes more inflammation which could result in scarring. That is why you are often get another pimple just a couple of days later near the initial one.

You shouldn’t pop pimples or pick at your face. But in the event that you absolutely cannot resist do it as safely as possible; do not pop and squeeze the pimple. Rather, use something called a comedone extractor. Apply firm pressure with the extractor; then roll it round the pimple to take it all out.

Skin Care Myths Busted

Taking care of your skin is incredibly important for your well-being, but getting lost in all the hoopla of these common skin care myths can lead you in the wrong direction and sometimes do more damage than good. You can find easy skin care tips that work here.