Debunking Skin Myths

We often hear or read things that are not always necessarily true when it comes to the skin, so we decided to choose a couple of the most common myths and share them with you:

Food does not affect Acne

An excessive intake of dairy products and a diet high in refined carbohydrates can aggravate acne.

Small amounts of milk in tea or coffee are not a problem but avoid drinking large glasses of milk or eating large amounts of dairy products or refined carbs.

You can’t use Vitamin A during the day or in summer

More modern skin care products that contain a low percentage of Retinol, especially those that are encapsulated for slow release into the skin, are safe to use during the day and in summer, provided you protect the skin with a high-factor, broad-spectrum sunscreen – if you are outdoors for prolonged periods re-apply the sunscreen and wear a UV-filtered hat. If you are using a high percentage of Retinol then it is advisable to use it only at night and avoid sun exposure during the hottest time of the day.

The stronger prescription Retinoids like Tretinoin should be avoided during the day as they can make the skin more photo-sensitive to the sun. They are also best used at night.

Parabens are dangerous in skincare products

Parabens have been demonized over the years but, the US FDA, the watchdog that protects consumers in the USA, has found no reason for consumers to be concerned about parabens in skin care products.  Parabens are preservatives that protect product degradation from bacteria and fungi which can ultimately cause harm to the skin and shorten the shelf life of the products.

To date no studies have shown a direct link between parabens and health issues, especially breast cancer, although their presence in cosmetics and skin care products remains a contentious issue because of their weak estrogen-like properties – there are other estrogens produced in the body or found in the environment that are stronger.

Parabens are derived from para-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA) which occurs naturally in many vegetables and fruit. Most medical-grade cosmeceutical products avoid using parabens, even in low concentrations, because there is a small risk of allergy and also because of strong but unfounded public opinion that they cause health issues.

Shaving makes hair grow back thicker

There is a strong belief, especially in women, that shaving hair on their body makes their hair grow thicker and darker. This is simply not true.

You can’t use Vitamin A & Vitamin C together

The combination of Vitamin A and Vitamin C to address skin ageing concerns cannot be underestimated. These two vitamins form the cornerstone of any serious anti-ageing regimen. They are found in multi-ingredient formulations but then they are usually in lower concentrations. Both vitamins do need to be introduced slowly for skin tolerance if used separately and in higher concentrations.

To avoid any potential for irritation when using these two vitamins in your skin care regimen, especially in higher concentrations, we always suggest using them separately: Vitamin C in the morning as an antioxidant to help protect the skin from UV radiation and free radicals that cause oxidative stress and Vitamin A at night to repair any damage from UV radiation.

You only need to apply sunscreen once a day

Most people only apply sunscreen in the morning in the belief that this will protect their skin throughout the day. If they are indoors all day this is not a problem.  If they work outdoors are in and out of their vehicles during the day, or spend prolonged periods outdoors for leisure or sporting activities, sunscreen needs to be re-applied during the day.  Sunscreen should always be reapplied immediately after swimming, heavy sweating or towel drying.

You don’t need to wear sunscreen when the sun isn’t shining

Even when it is overcast and cloudy, UV radiation still penetrates the clouds and reaches the earth’s surface so wear sunscreen every single day.

Oily skin warrants more cleansing

People with oily skin often over-cleanse their skin in the belief that it will reduce their acne but in fact, this strips the natural fats from the skin causing dehydration and irritation.

An oily, acne-prone skin requires a mild foaming cleanser that gently cleanses the skin – harsh scrubbing of the skin should be avoided at all costs.