1. How your skin is aging is mostly genetic.
False. The way your skin ages is 90% under your control. That means, wear your sunscreen every day, have a healthy diet and manage your stress.
2. Your skin loses more water while you sleep than when you’re awake.
True. Losing water from the skin is called trans epidermal water loss and it happens at the end of the day and into the night. Overnight, when you don’t have a protective layer of natural oils on your skin, you lose more water.
3. When using skin care products, “natural” products are less irritating than “chemical” ones.
False. The word “natural” just means the skincare product is made from ingredients that originate from plant flowers, roots, seeds, or leaves. There is no evidence that shows botanicals are better than synthetic ingredients but there is plenty of research that indicates that many so-called natural ingredients are sensitizers and cause rashes and other allergic reactions. Let me remind you: Poison Ivy is 100 percent “natural.”
4. Eating greasy foods makes your skin breakout.
False. Unless you are rubbing the grease on your skin there could be other culprits behind your acne breakouts.
5. Having dry skin means that you are dehydrated.
False. The outer layer of your skin is made up of dead skin cells. Drinking plenty of water is good for you, but since our skin is the last organ to absorb hydration, topical moisturizers need to be applied directly to the skin.
6. Apply “toothpaste” to shrink a pimple.
False. Toothpaste may have a drying effect on the pimple and may decrease the size. The problem is that the concentrations that work for your teeth are harsher on your skin. Toothpaste today has added whiteners, mouthwash or colors all of which can irritate your skin.
7. Popping a zit will help it go away faster.
False. Randomly squeezing pimples can lead to infection and scarring. It is best to keep skin clean and hydrated and use products with either benzoyl peroxide, retinol, or salicylic acid to clear the skin overall.
8. A base tan will protect my skin from burning.
False. Your skin cells see every tan or burn as damage to the cellular network, which signals your skin cells to repair the damage. Repeating this over and over can ultimately lead to skin cancer.
9. My skin is so oily, I need to wash it more.
False. Washing your face any more than twice a day can dry out the skin, causing it to produce more oil to compensate.
10. I already damaged my skin too much as a kid, it’s pointless to start wearing sunscreen now.
False. This is definitely not true. It’s never too late to start wearing sunscreen and protecting your skin from the cumulative damage that can lead to skin cancer and premature skin aging.
11. Tying a string tightly around a skin growth will make it die and fall off.
Not a Good Idea. This was a very common old wives’ tale, especially among older generations. While this may work for certain benign skin tags, this is an old-fashioned treatment. Not only can this cause excessive bleeding, it may also cause incomplete removal and permanent scarring. Even worse, it may delay the diagnosis by a board-certified dermatologist.
Bluewater Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center is a full-service dermatology practice. Whether you have a cosmetic, medical concern or you are needing Mohs skin cancer surgery, the most effective surgical procedure for removing skin cancer, now is the time to call us. When it comes to your skin health, there is no substitute for experience. Dr. Braza received his medical degree from Emory University and his Dermatology training at Emory University, which is ranked as one of the top 5 Dermatology Residency Programs in the USA. He is also fellowship trained in the study of Mohs Surgery and Advanced Facial Reconstruction. Contact us today for your comprehensive dermatology treatment.