Skin Myths That Could Cost Us Money and Health.
There are two types of processes responsible for skin aging :
- Internal factors are related to genetics, cellular metabolism, and hormonal changes. These include collagen breakdown , gravity, facial muscle activity, and fat loss and redistribution. All of this causes wrinkles, loose skin, sagging skin, and changes in facial contour and shape.
- External ones are based on the influence of the environment, such as sunlight , chemicals, adverse weather conditions, smoking. UV radiation is considered the most harmful to the skin. It damages DNA, while several forms of free oxygen are formed, which destroy collagen – a protein, the amount of which determines the elasticity and flexibility of the skin.
The cosmetic industry offers an incredible selection of creams that are supposed to prevent aging. However, the effectiveness of these products is questionable because the aging process is quite difficult to influence.
In one review, scientists noted that only vitamin C , alpha hydroxy acids, and pentapeptides have any reliable evidence of anti-aging properties.
Topical vitamin A may also be effective, but these are prescription drugs that can have side effects such as burning, dryness, and redness. Over-the-counter wrinkle creams contain far fewer active ingredients, so any results that do occur will not last long.
Moreover, simple physics prevents success. Not all cream ingredients pass through the epidermis, the upper layer of skin consisting of horny scales. Only substances with a molecular weight of less than 500 Da can penetrate the dermis to affect the skin.
Thus, the cream can only slightly improve the appearance, but will not stop the loss of collagen and subcutaneous fat, and will not prevent the appearance of wrinkles and sagging .
Perhaps the best anti-aging cream is sunscreen. It will do nothing against the internal causes of aging, but it will help to avoid external ones. It is better to use a cream with a UV protection level (SPF) of at least 30.
2. To keep your skin hydrated, you need to drink more water
There are many tips online to drink more water to avoid dry skin. However, this connection is not well-proven.
The only systematic review devoted to this topic was published in 2018. Scientists found six studies that confirmed that an additional 1–2 liters of water per day can increase the hydration of the stratum corneum, reduce dryness and roughness , and increase elasticity. Especially in those who usually drank little.
However, the authors of the review noted that the mechanism for this relationship is unclear, and in another scientific paper they noted that the evidence is weak because there is not enough research, it is not particularly high-quality, and the risk of error is very high.
In addition, skin hydration largely depends on transepidermal water loss.
The epidermis has a special lipid barrier that prevents moisture loss. If it is destroyed, for example due to illness, polluted air, sunburn , then the moisture quickly evaporates and the skin becomes dry.
In this case, drinking more water does not make sense, because it will evaporate from the skin surface just as quickly. But using moisturizers that retain moisture in the skin can help.
3. Antibacterial soap is good for your skin
This soap may be useful during an epidemic, but it cannot be said that it has a good effect on the skin. Quite the contrary.
The fact is that our skin is inhabited by a huge number of bacteria . Together with immune and skin cells, they are responsible for the protective barrier. A violation in the microbiome can lead to diseases such as acne, atopic and seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff.
Using soap or other antiseptics too often can disrupt the microbiome and reduce its diversity, as well as damage the skin’s surface and impair its protective function.
4. Acne is caused by dirt.
You often hear that acne occurs because environmental pollutants settle on the skin, mix with sweat, clog pores and cause pimples. In fact, this is not true.
There is no evidence that acne is linked to poor hygiene, and thorough skin cleansing can help eliminate or at least reduce acne .
Acne is a condition that occurs when hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells. It is treated with topical medications and antibiotics, usually in combination.
But frequent washing can injure the skin and only worsen the condition.
5. Pores can open and close
You often hear that pores in the skin can open , for example, under the influence of steam or hot water, and then close. This is not true.
What we call pores are tiny openings in the surface of the skin through which sebum produced by the sebaceous glands and sweat from the eccrine glands are released.
Scientists don’t fully understand why pores have different diameters. Some suggest that their width is affected by the amount of sebum, gender, and age. Others believe that pores don’t get wider over time, and that sebum production simply makes the skin oilier and shinier, making the pores visible.
However, these holes cannot expand or contract arbitrarily, for example due to temperature, but they can become clogged with a mixture of sebum, dead skin, and other environmental pollutants, making them more visible.
To prevent this from happening, you should avoid comedogenic cosmetics with added oils and wash your face twice a day with warm water. But hot water can cause irritation, so the pores will become more visible.
For the same reason, dermatologists do not recommend getting carried away with scrubs. Too harsh products can cause inflammation, and instead of a clean face, you will get irritation and even more noticeable enlarged pores.
6. Vitamin E helps with scars
Topical vitamin E preparations are marketed as a treatment for scars and stretch marks, but the scientific evidence is mixed.
A 2016 review of scientific papers found six high-quality studies looking at the vitamin for scar treatment. While three found that vitamin E products helped, the other three found no significant difference.
Moreover, among the experiments in which vitamin E helped, only one used the drug as the only treatment method, and that was on children. In the other two, topical application of tocopherol was combined with other methods.
But in the experiments where vitamin E did not help, it was used as the only treatment method.
Furthermore, two of the six studies reported adverse effects from topical use: contact dermatitis, itching, and rash.
7. Scratches need air to heal.
You can often hear that scratches and wounds should not be covered with a bandage because they need fresh air to heal. In fact, this is not true.
A sterile, moist environment significantly accelerates the formation of new epithelium, reduces inflammation, necrosis and the rate of subsequent scar formation.
So don’t rush to remove the bandage from a wound or cut – in the early stages of healing, it definitely doesn’t need air.
8. Sunscreen is only needed on the beach
Exposure to ultraviolet radiation is considered one of the main external causes of skin aging. UV rays reduce the content of hyaluronic acid in the epidermis and dermis, causing the skin to become drier, and cause oxidative stress, which damages skin cells.
Moreover, exposure to ultraviolet radiation, and especially sunburn, increases the risk of melanoma.
Using sunscreen helps reduce the risk of skin cancer and also greatly slows down the signs of aging .
Research confirms that daily use of a cream with SPF 30+ helps reduce pigmentation and dry skin, and slow down the appearance of signs of aging.
So if you want to protect your skin from aging and cancer, apply sunscreen to exposed areas of your body every day. Especially if you go out between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun is at its strongest.
We would recommend that you avoid relaxing on the beach during peak sun hours and visiting a solarium altogether.
9. Moles should be covered in the sun to prevent cancer
Since moles can degenerate into melanoma, a malignant neoplasm, some people worry that if the sun shines on a mole, it can trigger the process of degeneration. They are especially worried about large and convex formations, since they seem to be the most vulnerable.
UV rays do increase the risk of skin cancer, but it’s not just moles that are a concern. Melanoma develops from moles only 25-33% of the time; otherwise, it appears on the skin without any marks . What’s more, even degenerated moles are usually flat rather than raised.
To reduce your risk of melanoma, you need to protect all of your skin from the sun, and do it correctly.
When going out in the sun, cover your skin with clothing as much as possible, wear a hat, and apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to exposed areas. And renew it every 2 hours of exposure to the sun.
10. Skin rash is an allergy
Skin rashes can indeed be caused by allergies, such as to certain foods or pollen. However, there are other conditions that can cause redness and itching:
- Contact dermatitis (irritant) is an inflammation that occurs in response to irritants, such as alkalis, acids, soaps, abrasives such as scrubs.
- Prickly heat is a condition in which sweat is difficult to drain due to a humid and hot environment.
- Intertrigo is an inflammation that occurs when skin rubs against skin, usually in folds – on the stomach, under the breasts, in the groin, in the armpits. Sometimes an infection can accompany the irritation.
- Rosacea is a chronic, inherited disorder that causes reddening of the skin (erythema), pimples, and dilation of small blood vessels in the skin. Rosacea comes and goes, and can be triggered by spicy foods, hot drinks, exercise, cosmetics, extreme heat or cold, alcohol, stress, wind, and sun.
- Shingles (herpes) is a viral disease that can cause a rash with blisters.
- Insect bites – itchy red spots on the skin can be caused by bed bugs or sand fleas. The latter are not found in Russia, but can be found on beaches in Asia, Central and South America.
Most rashes are not life-threatening, but you should see a doctor immediately if:
- the rash spread all over the body;
- the temperature rose;
- the rash appeared suddenly and spread quickly;
- bubbles appeared;
- the areas of the rash feel painful;
- yellow or green discharge, swelling, pain, crust formation, increased temperature at the site of the rash – these signs may indicate the onset of an infection.