Top 8 Skin Care Myths

How do you know what’s best for your skin? There is a lot of hype and misinformation pertaining to skin care that needs to be avoided in order for you to make the best decisions about anti-aging treatments and products. With information you can trust, you’ll be able to discern the best prevention and treatment plan for you.

Allow us to dispel some of the Top 8 Skin Care Myths:

1. You don’t need sunscreen in the shade.

The suns harmful UVA and UVB rays can damage your skin even in indirect sunlight or in the shade. It is always recommended to wear SPF 315 every day and wear protective clothing and hats as often as possible. Be sure your SPF includes one of the following ingredients: mexoryl, oxybenzone or avobenzone (Parsol 1789) for UVA protection, or titanium dioxide.

2. The harder you scrub, the cleaner the skin.

Scrubbing your skin can actually result in more damage to the skin, especially around the sensitive eye, nose and mouth areas. Gentle exfoliation is recommended on a regular basis, but please be gentle on your face. When you scrub your face, you are actually removing some of the protective oils and barriers which can lead to rashes and burns.

3. Once sun damage is done, it can’t be undone.

Sun damage can be very hard to treat once the damage is done. However, there are many new advanced treatments that can greatly reduce the appearance of sun damage including IPL photo facials, laser resurfacing and microdermabrasion. Results will depend on the extent of your sun damage, but ask your aesthetician or skin care professional which procedure may work best for you.

4. If you have acne, it’s best to squeeze out the pus.

Maintaining a regular skincare regime, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and drinking lots of water can help prevent acne. If you do experience acne it is crucial that you do NOT pick at your face. Picking out pus actually drives it in deeper to the skin causing more damage. To remove pus from acne, apply firm pressure with an extractor and gently roll out the pus. Please- schedule an appointment with an aesthetician or skin care specialists for an acne treatment plan to prevent scarring and severe damage.

5. Tanning booths are safe.

Many people mistakenly think that tanning beds are a safe alternative to getting a golden bronze tan from the sun. This is simply not true. Tanning beds filter out UVB rays, but they still expose your skin to UVA rays which can lead to premature aging and even skin cancer.

6. Age spots are simply a byproduct of getting older.

While age spots are a byproduct of getting older, they are mostly preventable by using a skin care routine that includes regular application of sun protection lotion. And by “regular” we mean applying sunscreen at least 2 times a day.

7. Your skin will adapt to products you use and eventually stop working.

For the most part, your skin does not build up an immunity to skin care products over time. What happens is that your skin type may change. For no apparent reason, dry skin can become oily or oily skin can become dry or combination. If you are using products for dry skin and your skin has become oily, it will not work as effectively. That is to be expected and shouldn’t be blamed on the products. Things that can cause your skin to change include: age, climate change, and skin care confusion. If your products are no longer working, ask your aesthetician to help you identify your new skin type and new treatment and care plan.

8. Products don’t reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

There ARE steps you can take and products you can use to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water and being well rested is our number one tip for reducing fine lines and wrinkles. A high quality moisturizer, SPF and skin care treatment plan is also recommended. In addition, injectables like BOTOX cosmetic and fillers can help get rid of the more stubborn lines and wrinkles. Well hydrated, moisturized, protected skin is the first step to reducing the signs of aging.