Our skin care journey is much like our fitness journey — it takes time and it varies from person to person. Some people lose weight faster than others and for some, it would take longer. Much like with achieving clear skin; some people are able to achieve clear skin faster than others, and some find it more difficult to do so because of certain factors such as eating habits, skin type, and skin care mistakes. On top of that, there are also misconceptions that keep you from making the right decisions in choosing the right products and going through the process without haste in getting good results.
In this article, we’ll be listing down skin care misconceptions according to dermatology experts that you just have to stop believing. So without further ado, let’s start!
1. Not Washing Your Face Will Cause Acne
This is probably one of the most common misconceptions about skin care that just has to be made clear. Not washing your face is not the reason why you develop acne. Yes, practicing good hygiene is essential, but it doesn’t have anything to do with the development of acne. There are various causes of acne, and some of them are:
- Stress
- Fluctuating hormone levels
- Air pollution
- Genetics
- Picking at scabs and bumps
- Use of oily or greasy skin care products
Overwashing your face is in fact, one of the skin care mistakes you shouldn’t be making because it damages your skin, even more, stripping away the good moisture from your face, which results in an acne-prone and oilier skin. That’s why if you have acne, it’s best to only wash your face twice a day. This is enough to remove makeup, dirt, and excess oil on your skin that can potentially cause acne breakouts. Keep in mind as well that the skin on your face is delicate, so don’t use any harsh soaps or other skincare products on it. The more sensitive your skin is, the more careful you should be, and opt for a gentle cleanser instead.
2. If You Have Oily Skin, You Don’t Have to Moisturize
Moisturizers aren’t only exclusive to people with dry, normal, and sensitive skin. We know that it can sometimes feel a bit iffy to apply moisturizer, especially when your skin feels a bit oilier than on other days. You may feel the urge to not apply moisturizer just to avoid seeing and feeling the grease all over your face, but you have to try and avoid that.
Even oily skin types get dehydrated — and when it does, it can lead to more oil production which may result in breakouts. Your skin overproduces oil in order to compensate for the lack of hydration, and you don’t want that happening to your face. So it’s advisable to apply a moisturizer regularly as it helps regulate the oil production on your skin. You can opt for lightweight and oil-free moisturizers such as water-based gel moisturizers since they are less likely to leave a greasy feel on your face and they absorb right up.
3. The Higher the SPF, The Better
When you’re into practicing proper skin care, you may often be led to believe that opting for sunscreens with higher SPF is better than those with lower SPF. Don’t get us wrong, high SPF can protect your skin — but it doesn’t mean that it’s the best option out there. Take note that there are no sunscreens that offer 100% protection against UVB rays since SPF 15 only blocks 93% of UVB radiation, SPF 30 blocks 97%, SPF 50 blocks 98%, and SPF 100 stops 99% of UVB rays from setting foot on your skin.
While you’re used to going for higher SPF in sunscreens, you can see here that there’s not much difference between the percentage of UVB protection they offer. Choose a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and ones that have a broad-spectrum formula. Take note that it’s vital to go for broad-spectrum sunscreens because they have protection for both UVA and UVB rays. Basically, UVA rays are responsible for premature aging, skin damage, and wrinkles, while UVB rays cause sunburn to the skin.
In addition, to get the right amount of protection on your skin, don’t just rely on the number of SPF your sunscreen contains; make it a habit of applying a good amount of sunscreen so that it covers every exposed area of your skin. You can also use sunscreen with a higher SPF if you’re going to be out in the sun for most of your day.
4. Drinking Large Amounts of Water Hydrates Your Skin
Drinking water has a lot of health benefits, and it’s an absolutely good way of refreshing and hydrating your body when you’re feeling dehydrated and exhausted from the heat and intense exercises. However, it doesn’t really have a direct effect on your skin. The nourishment and hydration of your skin ultimately come from your lifestyle, a.k.a your food choices, how much alcohol you consume, and the kind of skincare products you apply.
5. Retinol Can Irritate Your Skin, So You Have to Stop Using It
Retinol is known for working wonders on the skin by reducing fine lines and wrinkles, improving skin texture, boosting cell turnover, and more. However, it can have displeasing side effects such as irritation, redness, sensitivity to the sun, and acne breakouts that cause some people to discontinue using it. Retinol is the standard and one of the strongest ingredients found in over-the-counter retinoid products, so you can expect that side effects are considered normal. And since it increases the sensitivity of your skin, it’s best not to use it during the day. Rather than stopping using retinol, you should just lessen how often you use it — you can opt to use it once or twice a week, then gradually increase its usage until you achieve your desired results. See to it as well that you do not apply more than a pea-sized amount on your face.
6. Eye Creams Don’t Work
Aging is inevitable and there is no exact formula that can stop it — you can only delay it. And contrary to what some people believe, eye creams work. Eye creams aid in the reduction of dark circles and puffiness. They also help make your eye look brighter while eliminating wrinkles and fine lines.
7. Expensive Skincare Products Always Do a Great Job
It’s not always about the price tag, but it’s more about the quality of the skincare product. Yes, there are some expensive skincare products that are worth every single penny because of the results they deliver. Yet, of course, there are also a lot of very affordable skincare products available in the market that produce promising results for the skin. This is because, at the end of the day, skin types vary and you can’t always guarantee that the same product would work for everyone. So it’s still important to get to know what your skin needs rather than just putting up with the price.
8. Sunscreen is Meant to Be Worn Only in the Summer
Sunscreen is a must no matter what season it is, whether you’re going outdoors or just staying indoors, rain or shine — it should be worn every day. Many people make the mistake of not wearing sunscreen despite its importance because of the misconception that it should only be worn during the summer or when you’re out in the sun. But it shouldn’t be like that. This is because UV radiation can penetrate through window glass. Yes, you read that right. While UVB rays which cause sunburn can be blocked by window glass, UVA rays which cause skin aging and potentially lower your body’s ability to fight illness can still pass through windows such as ordinary clear glass, reflective glass, and tinted glass. Although tinted windows are able to block UVA rays, it would depend on the type of tinting.
To avoid further skin damage, here are some of the things you can do:
- Always wear sunscreen. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and above. Make sure to apply it 20 minutes before you go out and reapply every 2 hours.
- Avoid too much sun exposure during the hours of 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. since almost half of the UV radiation is received between those times.
- Don’t use tanning beds as they can lead to skin cancer and wrinkling.
At times, it can be frustrating to wait for the results you’ve been hoping for, especially when you think you’ve made a great effort to improve the condition of your skin. But misconceptions about skin care, no matter how small you think they are, contribute to the results you want. They can either delay the good results or worsen the condition of your skin, so be sensitive to what your skin needs. Keep in mind that the results you expect won’t come in an instant and they will take time.
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