Common Skin Care Myths
Author: Marcia Cox

With an increasing emphasis on beauty and age defiance in North
American society, everyone seems to be seeking ways to make
themselves appear younger by taking better care of their skin.
While it is true that skin is one of the keys to a healthy,
youthful appearance, not all skin care treatments that are
proposed, or even that are popular, are effective. Here are
some of the top myths when it comes to skin care.

1) Acne. Acne is the bane of everyone from their teenage years
and onward. There are so many false rumors out there concerning
acne that an article could be written on them alone. To start
with, acne does not cease miraculously when you are out of your
teens. In some people, acne is a perpetual problem and will
continue throughout their lives. Many of the false ideas about
acne are extremely detrimental to people who are afflicted with
the condition. Acne is not a sign that an individual does not
wash their face. In fact, many individuals with acne will be
told this by their peers and the result will be extremely
counter-productive; they end up washing their faces too much.
The dryer skin does not clear out the acne problem, instead it
exacerbates it. Acne may be aggravated by certain foods in an
individual's diet, but rarely are the "suspect foods"
(chocolate, French fries, or pizza) the main trigger. Finally,
remember that acne can be treated by several types of medicine
on the market today-and effectively- so it is all right to go
to your doctor and consult her about acne treatments.

2) Tanning. Tanning is often advertised as adding a warm,
healthy glow to your skin. The truth is, nothing is worse for
your skin than direct exposure to the harmful ultraviolet rays
that are necessary to tan, whether you are on a bed or in the
sun. Tanning may help to get rid of formed acne, but it will
not prevent new pores from clogging. Tanning has little
benefits beyond immediate aesthetic appeal, and in the long run
it will prove harmful to your skin. It is best to use sun block
whenever you are out in the sun.

3) Moisturizers. Many people think that moisturizers will help
in making their skin appear more youthful by getting rid of
wrinkles. This is not the case. Moisturizers will help to
lubricate the skin and lessen dryness, but they will not serve
to repair the microscopic damage at the cell level that
wrinkles represent.

4) Skin Care ingredients. For many years, top beauticians have
placed slices of cucumber over the eyes of their clients in
order to reduce skin damage and swelling. Today, you will find
many products on the shelves that depict a cucumber or slice of
cucumber and claim to include cucumber extracts that will help
rejuvenate your skin. The fact is that it is not any particular
mineral in the cucumber that is beneficial to the skin, it is
the fact that cucumbers are mostly made of water, which leeches
into the skin during the process and gives the appearance of
re-invigoration.

All of these myths are used today to help sell products via a
method known as scare tactics. In fact, if you follow the
advice of your doctor most of your skin care needs will be
resolved, and they will not require a lot of home grown methods
and wives tale rumors.


About The Author: Marcia Cox is a beauty consultant and
maintains the website: http://skincaretruths.com