Busting 8 skin care myths you always believed in!

You thought anti ageing creams were a boon while make-up products harmed your skin? What if we say its just the opposite!

Debjani Arora | Published: December 25, 2015 9:17 am

When it comes to your skin, you are always a tad bit cautious. This is one reason you start believing all the myths revolving around skincare and hygiene. However, not everything that you hear about skincare is true, like eating chocolates and fried foods is not going to harm your skin in a big way, as you think it would. Here Dr Apratim Goel, dermatologist, Cutis Skin Studio, Mumbai busts some skincare myths that you had believed for years without assessing the truth.

Myth 1: Make-up is bad for your skin

Now if we tell you make-up is good for your skin, this doesn’t mean you sleep with your make-up or paint yourself red with a blush 24/7. However, avoiding make-up to keep your skin safe isn’t mandatory. In fact, good quality make-up that is fortified with moisturiser, vitamins, essential oils and sunscreens keeps your skin safe from harsh sun rays and keeps it hydrated. So, if you want to use make-up, go ahead and indulge. Just make sure to use products after doing a patch test and clean it before going to bed. Also, avoid these beauty mistakes that lead to early ageing of the skin.

Myth 2: Acne will go away on its own

This myth is common among teenagers and young adults who believe that refraining from eating fried foods, chocolates or by not applying any moisturiser or creams will clear acne on its own. In most cases, acne outbreaks are hormonal and settle soon. But in severe cases like pus-filled and blood clot acne, it would need medical attention. Also, while diet plays an important role in skincare, it is the lack of vitamins and minerals in food you should worry about, rather than your occasional indulgences. Ignoring your acne altogether could also lead to damages to your skin that can be irreversible. Here are six home remedies for acne scars that work wonders.

Myth 3: Herbal or organic products are good for skin

Remember every product has chemicals in some form or the other. So choose products carefully, only if it complies with your skin type (take help of a dermatologist if required). Everything organic or herbal isn’t always good for your skin. On the other hand, chemicals present in the conventional beauty products are not always unsafe for your skin. Here are five reasons why herbal products might not be safe for you.

Myth 4: Higher the SPF factor, better the sunscreen

No sunscreen is 100 percent safe; this is not to say that you shouldn’t apply a sunscreen at all. Ideally, choose a sunscreen with an SPF factor of 26 or high and apply it evenly all over your face. Even if you choose an SPF factor below that number, just make sure you keep reapplying it every two hours while you are outdoors. Here are 11 sunscreen mistakes you must avoid.

Myth 5: Threading or shaving increases facial hair growth in women

Facial hair growth is usually triggered by hormonal imbalances that could be either due to drug abuse or other physiological conditions like dysfunctional thyroid, menopause, etc. Threading or shaving doesn’t increase or decrease facial hair growth. In fact, it can be one of the most inexpensive ways to get rid of facial hair. However, a more effective way would be to go for a diode laser treatment for a permanent solution. Know about more options of getting rid of unwanted body hair.

Myth 6: Scrubbing keeps skin healthy and free of blackheads

Blackheads are a result of blockage in oil glands due to dirt and grime. This also says a lot about your ignorance towards proper skin care. While scrubbing can keep skin healthy and fight blackheads too, making it a daily chore can deplete skin moisture and make skin more sensitive.

Myth 7: Facials are best for skin rejuvenation

This is only partially true. In the case of acne prone skin, facials can aggravate acne due to stimulation of oil glands. Medi cleanups under the supervision of a dermatologist are better as they are customised and double up as a treatment procedure.

Myth 8: Anti ageing creams can prevent wrinkles

Remember they don’t work like Botox so stop fooling yourself, there are no creams that can prevent wrinkles. However, following a proper skincare regimen and proper diet can delay its onset.

Image source: Shutterstock

Published: December 25, 2015 9:17 am

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