How
do you know the information and advice you get about your
skin is true? Skin care product companies are trying to
sell you their product. Your friends probably have as much
medical knowledge as you do. Unfortunately, there are more
than 10 skin myths that confuse people, but these are the
most popular myths I've seen.
1)
Tanning is harmless
False:
Exposure to ultraviolet light, UVA or UVB, accounts
for 90% of the symptoms of premature skin aging. Both
UVA and UVB radiation can cause skin damage including
wrinkles, lowered immunity against infection, aging skin
disorders, and cancer. The amount of damage to the skin
caused by the sun is determined by the total lifetime
amount of radiation exposure and the person's pigment
protection.
More: Effects of Sun
on the Skin
Cellular Skin Changes Caused
by UV Radiation
Sunlight has a profound effect on the skin causing premature
skin aging, skin cancer, and a host of skin changes. Exposure
to ultraviolet light, UVA or UVB, from sunlight accounts
for 90% of the symptoms of premature skin aging. Many
skin changes that were commonly believed to be due to
aging, such as easy bruising, are actually a result of
prolonged exposure to UV radiation.
2)
Acne is caused by what you eat
False:
Acne is caused by over production of sebum (oil) and obstruction
of the pores. The amount of sebum produced by the skin
is regulated by hormones only, not food. This includes
chocolate, greasy food, soda, and fast foods. These foods
do not have any effect on the hormones that regulate sebum
production.
More: What Causes Acne
All acne is a disorder of the pilosebaceous unit, which
is made up of a hair follicle, sebaceous gland, and a
hair. These units are found everywhere on the body except
on the palms, soles, top of the feet, and the lower lip.
The number of pilosebaceous units is greatest on the face,
upper neck, and chest. Sebaceous glands produce a substance
called sebum, which is responsible for keeping the skin
and hair moisturized. During adolescence sebaceous glands
enlarge and produce more sebum under the influence of
hormones, also called androgens. After about age 20, sebum
production begins to decrease.
3)
Dermatologists can diagnose any skin condition
False:
Medicine is an art, not an exact science. Dermatologists
spend at least 3 years learning about various skin disorders.
Unfortunately, some people have rashes that fit several
different disease profiles. Dermatologists are trained
to diagnose a rash by giving a prioritized list of possibilities.
Sometimes the response to treatment helps determine the
diagnosis.
4)
Topical antioxidants reverse wrinkles
False:
Free radicals play an important role in creating wrinkles.
Therefore, it makes sense that antioxidants will make
skin more youthful. Unfortunately, there are no good scientific
studies that show what type of topical antioxidant is
effective. This research is being conducted now, but it
is still too early. Right now the only topical product
that has been proven to improve wrinkles is Retin-A.
More: How to Use Retin-A
Tretinoin (Retin-A, Avita, Renova) is a derivative of
Vitamin A and is the treatment of choice for comedonal
acne, or whiteheads and blackheads. It works by increasing
skin cell turnover promoting the extrusion of the plugged
material in the follicle.
It also prevents the formation of new comedones. Tretinoin
is also the only topical medication that has been proven
to improve wrinkles.
5)
"All-natural" skin care products are best
False:
What exactly does "all-natural" mean? Unfortunately,
this term can mean just about anything, and cosmetics
companies use it any way they want. All cosmetics and
skin care products have synthetic ingredients in them.
Because a skin care product is made from a plant does
not mean that it is better for the skin than a product
created in a lab.
6)
I can't get herpes from someone who doesn't have a rash
False:
Understanding how the herpes simplex virus works is crucial
to understanding how it causes lifelong infection. Viral
shedding can occur before a rash develops, making it possible
to be infected after contact with normal appearing skin.
More: How the Herpes Simplex Virus Works
The herpes virus is one of the most difficult viruses
to control. Scientists study how the virus works in order
to understand how to combat it. It is also important for
the general public to understand how this virus works
because 85% of the world has been infected with one of
the herpes viruses.
7)
Dry skin causes wrinkles
False:
Wrinkles are caused by many factors as the skin ages.
The microscopic changes are distinct and unmistakable.
Even though wrinkled skin looks better when it is moisturized,
there is no evidence that moisturizer has any effect on
the microscopic skin damage. In other words, moisturizers
do not have any long-term effect on wrinkles.
8)
Expensive skin care products are better than inexpensive
ones
False:
The cost of a skin care product or cosmetic is absolutely
NOT an indicator of effectiveness. The cosmetics industry
would like people to believe that an expensive product
has some special ingredient in it that makes it more effective.
However, there are many products in every category that
are effective and don't come with a high price tag.
9)
Skin conditions can be cleared up quickly
False:
Some skin conditions such as bacterial infections start
improving as soon as you use the right medications. However,
many skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis,
and seborrhea are chronic, meaning they get better slowly
with treatment and reoccur when the treatment stops.
10)
Men don't have as many skin problems as women
False:
Men wrinkle as much as women and they get skin conditions
such as acne, seborrhea, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis
just like women. Men also have additional concerns surrounding
facial hair. While men don't spend as much money as women
on wrinkle creams and other skin care products, they also
don't use sunscreen and protect their skin enough.
