What are some of the skincare myths that you have ever heard of? Let me share with you some skincare myths regarding acne-prone and oily skin! Are you ready?!

Myth 1:

Oily skin is horrible because it causes breakouts and shine!

Fact:

FALSE! For decades, the oily skin type has been wronged as the cause of nasty breakouts and glaring scars. 

The TRUTH is that if you have oily skin, your skin has the potential to look more youthful and supple than other skin types, as long as it receives the right kind of care.

This is because oils are essential in helping to protect and nourish our skin, giving it a smooth radiant glow! 

Shine on the face is a result of excess oil that has been produced onto the skin's surface. 

When that happens, pores are more likely to become clogged and inflamed, causing a breakout.

However, contrary to popular belief, it is not true that oily skin types are fated to producing excess oil! 

In fact, excess oil production mostly occurs when the skin is dehydrated - Lacking Moisture.

Treatment:

Oily skin types should be treated with a good moisturizer that hydrates the skin, regulates its oil production, and also treats imperfections.

Myth 2:

Some people just have eternally bad skin that gets worse with products on!

Fact:

FALSE! There are many reasons for "bad skin", or skin that isn't ideal. 

For example, blemished skin may be a product of genes, diet, harsh environmental conditions, etc. Whatever these reasons are, skin conditions can usually be treated in one way or another. 

However, if your skin tends to react and worsen when treated, you most probably have sensitive skin and not "bad" skin.

Even though sensitive skin is often referred to as a skin type. It is actually a condition that can exist with any of the normal, oily, combination or dry skin types. 

This is important to note because many individuals with sensitive skin give up entirely on using skin care products, only for their skin to remain untreated and unprotected from other external agents such as the environment.

Treatment:

Here are some skincare tips for blemish-prone, sensitive skin types:

• Avoid exposure to harsh environments such as the sun or strong winds.
• Consult a dermatologist on whether you have allergies to ingredients often used in skincare products.
• Use only products which are dermatologically certified as suitable for sensitive skin.

Myth 3:

Pimple cream is sufficient for blemish-prone skin.

Fact:

FALSE! An effective spot treatment is certainly helpful in com-batting the blemishes. 

However, while a spot treatment can treat a spot, it is not formulated to treat the cause of the spot, such as excess sebum production.

As the saying goes, "prevention is better than the cure". Hence, a comprehensive skincare regime is required to effectively cleanse and rebalance the skin. 

Over time, oil production is regulated, and blemishes occur less often.

Treatment: 

A basic skincare regime for blemish-prone skin should include cleansing, toning, moisturizing, and a targeted spot treatment.

Myth 4:

I need to pop my pimple to release the toxins inside.

Fact:

FALSE! While squeezing or popping a pimple might seem like the most immediate option, you should never try to do it unless you have been trained in proper extraction, lest you worsen the condition of the pimple.

When a pimple is incorrectly squeezed, the infected material can be pushed deeper into the skin, intensifying the inflammation; this is also the beginning of many hard nodules/cysts. 

That's not all! Pimples aren't just made of toxins - they are full of bacterial! 

When a pimple is popped, the pores open, releasing bacteria out, and spreading it to other areas of the face. 

These open pores are also now more susceptible to external bacteria in the air. How do you deal with a pimple then? 

The best solution is to apply a spot treatment that can help to treat the pimple, and then allow your face to drain it off naturally. 

If a pimple happens to pop accidentally,  gently cleanse your face with an anti-imperfection cleanser, pat it dry with a clean piece of tissue, ad then apply the spot treatment.

Treatment: 

Blemish prone skin should always be conditioned with a strict skincare routine. 

At the very least, cleansing, toning, and moisturizing religiously will help your face to regulate its oil production by keeping it clean, well-balanced and hydrated. 

Remember, good skin cannot be magically attained in a day or two. 

With patience and discipline, your face will break out less frequently and blemish scars will begin to fade.

Myth 5:

Toothpaste cures my zit.

Fact:

TRUE & FALSE! Conventional toothpaste contains fluoride, alcohol, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, etc which are ingredients that can dry out a pimple. 

However, because toothpaste is formulated for the teeth, the proportions of these drying agents are often too harsh for the skin. 

As a result, when toothpaste is used on a pimple, the surface of the skin is also stripped of its moisture, and irritated; this is why many who have experimented with toothpaste on their pimples reported itching, peeling, redness, and even burns after! 

In some cases, certain toothpastes can even aggravate the condition by encouraging the growth of acne.

Treatment: 

While toothpaste might seem like an excellent and budget friendly quick fix for pimples, our advice is to stay off it for your skin's long term good. 

Instead, invest in a treatment which contains Salicylic Acid that stops inflammation, and heals the skin to prevent scarring.

Myth 6:

Eating junk food causes my face to breakout!

Fact:

FALSE! There is no scientific evidence yet to proof that "junk foods" (eg. Chocolates and potato chips) alone can cause outbreaks!

However, it is true that a poor diet full of such foods leads to poor health, which is susceptible to the various causes of outbreaks. 

Oily foods also cause the skin to produce more sebum, which feed into clogged pores and pimples.

Eating in moderation and satisfying that inner junkie once in a while shouldn't do harm to the skin. 

Just make sure to drink sufficient amounts of water, and stick to a basic skincare regime in order to regulate your skin's oil production.

Treatment:

If your skin is susceptible to outbreaks, ensure that you stick to a basic skincare routine. 

At the very least, cleansing, toning, and moisturizing religiously will help your face regulate its oils production by keeping it clean, well-balanced, and hydrated. 

Remember, good skin cannot be magically attained in a day or two. 

With patience ans discipline, your face will break out less frequently and blemish scars will begin to fade.

Myth 7:

My face is dull because it has become too reliant on makeup!

Fact:

FALSE! Healthy skin naturally glows - Even if one applies makeup on daily! 

If your face loos dull and lacking color when it is bare, this is most likely due to an insufficient cleansing routine that has led to a build-up of dead skin cells on the surface.

Treatment:

Here are some tips that might help!

• Always remove your makeup before you go to bed. The night is a time for your cells to repair; it is not a time for your pores to interact with the environment pollutants that were accumulated in the day. Long term accumulation generates harmful free radicals that age the skin and break down its natural ability to rejuvenate.

• Don't skip the toner. This steps removes any remaining traces of makeup, and preps your face to better receive skincare products.

• Exfoliating your face or applying a purifying mask 1-2 times a week should help to remove the dead skin cells and unclog pores.

• Eat healthy and drink lots of water. Diet is the number one contributor to your skin's health, and no skin care products can ever replace the effectiveness of a healthy diet.

Myth 8:

 Toner is just a useless marketing gimmick! 

Fact:

FALSE! Of the three steps in a basic skincare regime (cleanse, tone, moisturize), toning is the most often skipped due to a lack of understanding on what it can do for the skin! 

Think of the toner as a behind-the-scenes worker; Even though its effects may not be felt as instantly as cleansing and moisturizing, the toner is likened to a stage manager who helps to prepare the platform for its comrades to perform. 

It does this by balancing and refining the skin - a benefit especially needed for oily and imperfection prone skin types.  

I will be introducing some of the products that I have recently tried and is targeted and specially for acne-prone skin, even to the most sensitive skin on my next post/next 2 post! Stay tune! :) 

Written by Michelle 황현이

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