With the vast amount of information and products available, it’s easy to get caught up in product claims and skincare myths. So, let’s clear the air on the most commonly misunderstood skincare myths that circulate in the beauty community according to Healthshots.
1. Natural skincare is better
Absolutely not! Nature is a beautiful thing, but it can also be dangerous and irritating to the skin. Lemons, which naturally contain vitamin C, are a great example of a fruit that can be used to brighten the skin. Although this is true, the amount of vitamin C in lemons varies, and lemons can actually be very irritating to the skin. It is far safer and wiser to use a specially formulated vitamin C product.
2. Black people don’t need sunscreen
This is completely untrue! Everyone needs to protect their skin from the sun, and while natural melanin provides some sun protection, it is insufficient. UVA and UVB rays from the sun are responsible for photoaging and sunburn. While skin cancer is often used to scare people into wearing sunscreen, other skin concerns, such as hyperpigmentation and an impaired skin barrier, benefit from regular use of sunscreen. Sun protection is important when using products to treat hyperpigmentation because it helps to maintain your skin’s barrier.
3. Eating chocolate or oily foods causes oily skin and acne
The truth is that an oily substance called sebum causes acne. It’s made and secreted by the skin. In fact, there’s no evidence that any specific food causes acne.
4. Your pores open and close
False again! Unfortunately, your pores cannot open and close like a mouth; instead, they can dilate under certain conditions; however, pore size is largely determined by genetics. Pores can appear larger when there is debris within them, so products containing exfoliating acids, such as BHAs, can help to reduce the appearance of enlarged pores.
Written by Ncumisa Lerato Kunana.
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