26 Sep Debunking Skin Care Myths

Sometimes, misconceptions get repeated so often that we take them as facts. No. You can’t actually see the Great Wall of China from space. Coffee beans are actually seeds. And you can tell your friends on Facebook that Einstein never said that quote about geniusness and judging a fish’s ability to climb up a tree.

Sure, none of these misconceptions are going to have a major impact on your life, but faux-facts still make their way into skincare. It’s these types of misconceptions that could keep you from getting the results you desire. Read below for common skin care myths, the reality behind them, and what we recommend.

Myth: You don’t need sunscreen on a cool or cloudy day.

Reality: In St. Pete, we get about 248 days of sunshine on average. You may already be accustomed to putting on sunscreen almost everyday, but don’t put away that bottle when the sky gets murky. About 80% of the sun’s rays penetrate through clouds. Even when the temperature drops a bit in the winter months, the sun is still as strong as ever. If you’re under an umbrella at the beach, the sand still reflects about 17% of UV radiation.

Takeaway: Always wear and reapply sunscreen regardless of weather conditions.

Myth: You’ll eventually outgrow acne.

Reality: Tell that to those rogue zits that pop up here and there. Regardless of age, anyone’s face is prime real estate for acne. It is true that we tend to get a surge of whiteheads during our teenage years. This is because of a rise in hormones. Still, your face is always vulnerable to bacteria, dirt, oil, and dead skin cells clogging up tiny hair follicles on your face. Pregnancy and hormonal changes later in life can also cause a spike in acne.

Takeaway: Cleanse and exfoliate as if you were a teenager again. Also, never, NEVER, pop a pimple.

Myth: Facial exercises keep the skin tight

Reality: So maybe your yoga teacher recommended doing facial exercises to help you look younger. If you exercise your facial muscles, they’ll go through hypertrophy, and soon you’ll see those wrinkles vanish. Although these results may come quick…they won’t last. In fact, it will only make your face age quicker.  Think about those lines that come from furrows on your face. They come from years and years of facial muscles flexing. Doing these types of exercises will exacerbate these types of lines.

Takeaway: Consult a skin care specialist about anti-aging treatments and getting into an appropriate skin routine.

Myth: Early wrinkling is entirely caused by genetics

Reality: Stop blaming your parents for your wrinkles. How fast your skin ages is mostly due to lifestyle choices such as smoking and how much time you spend in the sun. Scientists have found that about 40% of the factors that age us are non-genetic. That’s less than half, but still plenty that’s in your control!

Takeaway: Exercise, eat healthy, get enough sleep, and maintain a healthy skin routine.

Myth: Creams can turn back the clock on your skin

Reality: Wouldn’t it be nice to get rid of wrinkles with just a squirt of the bottle? Sadly, that’s not the case. A natural part of your body aging includes your bones shrinking and you lose fat under your skin. This isn’t a problem that a cream could fix. With most “anti-aging” creams, you might just only temporarily hydrate your skin.

Takeaway: If you want to see results for your anti-aging efforts, consult a skin care specialist about available treatments.

The Final Takeaway

You can browse online, read through forums, and jump on the bandwagon of the latest trends, but wouldn’t it be a lot easier and effective to consult an expert? At Skin Deep, we’ve got you covered. Not only do we offer a variety of treatments and sessions, but we can also get you on a path toward a skin routine for your specific needs. Proper treatment, with the right advice will get you the results that you need.

Contact us today to set up an appointment and let’s see what we can do for you! After all, it all begins with healthy skin.