Written by: Ansley Phan
With the rise of social media, myths about healthcare have become rampant. Specifically, with the rise of TikTok, misinformation about skin and skin health is everywhere. In this blog post, common skin myths will be debunked.
1. Sunscreen causes cancer
From this list, the myth that sunscreen causes cancer is the most contradictive of all. Sunscreen PREVENTS cancer. Sunscreen is a certified anti-cancer drug by the FDA. Many studies have shown that sunscreen prevents skin cancer and no data supports sunscreen causes cancer.
2. Those with oily skin don't need moisturizer
A myth abundant among teens, the myth that oily skin doesn't need a moisturizer is wrong because everyone needs moisturizer. Oftentimes, no application of moisturizer can lead to the skin’s overproduction of oil to compensate for the dryness.
3. Teenagers need personalized skincare routines
The myth that teenagers need personalized skincare routines is wrong because teenagers can mostly use the same products as adults. There is nothing remarkably different about teen skincare marketing versus adult skincare marketing. There are ingredients relevant to teenagers, such as sulfur and salicylic acid for acne - the most common skin condition teenagers deal with.
4. The skin needs to be washed at least twice a day
The myth that the skin needs to be washed at least twice a day is wrong because the frequency of skin-washing is subjective. Everyone’s skin is different; some benefit from washing twice a day, while others benefit from washing once a day.
5. Chocolate causes acne
The myth that chocolate causes acne is a tricky one because there are a lot of conflicting data, none of which are strong. Food and skin studies are extremely difficult to execute properly and many factors can go into the results. The process between what is eaten and what is shown on the skin is very lengthy and there is not a large amount of merit between skin problems being directly targeted to food.
6. Being tan creates an extra layer of “protection” against the sun
The myth that being tan creates an extra layer of “protection” against the sun is false because the amount of sun protection provided by tans is much less than the minimum SPF number. The damage caused by tanning is worse than the single-digit sun protection factor.
7. Natural is better
The myth that natural products are better for the skin is incorrect because natural is not always better. Common natural treatments include apple cider vinegar toner, toothpaste spot treatments, and lemon juice-baking soda masks - how you BURN your skin.
According to Dr. Fatima Fahs, "Skincare is so subjective: What works for your skin might not work for your best friend’s skin or even your mom’s skin. Because of this, no product is “better” than another. It’s all about what works for you. While some people find true love with non-toxic, 'clean' beauty, others might require those highly-studied ingredients like retinol and vitamin C to get their skin to the same place."
8. Drinking more water prevents acne
The myth that drinking water prevents acne is not only harmful but has the implication that those with acne are unhealthy - which is false. This myth is wrong because drinking water directly helps the body, however, it does not directly impact acne.
9. If you can’t pronounce the name of an ingredient, don’t use it
The myth that the inability to pronounce the name of an ingredient must mean to stop using an ingredient or product is false because everything has a long list of chemical compounds which make them up, yes even bananas. Using the subjectivity of the ability to pronounce ingredients is biased and also nonfactual because everything is a chemical, and there are scientific names for everything.
10. The skin needs to be scrubbed every day
The myth that the skin needs to be scrubbed every day is incorrect because daily physical exfoliation can lead to an increased risk of skin irritation. Because of how fast teenage skin is going through the skin cycle, exfoliation is not needed unless for a specific skin concern.
Sources:
“Can Drinking Water Improve Your Acne? | Harley St Dermatology Clinic.” Harley Street Dermatology Clinic, 21 June 2021,
https://www.theharleystreetdermatologyclinic.co.uk/acne/drinking-water-improve-acne/. Accessed 4 February 2022.
“Don't eat it if you can't pronounce it? 'Avoiding scary-sounding ingredients' won't make you healthier.” Genetic Literacy Project, 2 November 2020, https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2020/11/02/dont-eat-it-if-you-cant-pronounce-it-avoiding-scary-sounding-ingredients-wont-make-you-healthier/. Accessed 4 February 2022.
“The efficacy and safety of sunscreen use for the prevention of skin cancer.” NCBI, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7759112/. Accessed 4 February 2022.
“The efficacy and safety of sunscreen use for the prevention of skin cancer.” CMAJ, 14 December 2020, https://www.cmaj.ca/content/192/50/E1802. Accessed 4 February 2022.
“5 Mistakes You're Making With Exfoliation That Could Wreck Your Skin | Dr. Sam Bunting.” YouTube, 20 February 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HkAGkD6PlM. Accessed 4 February 2022.
GILLETTE, BETH. “We Asked a Dermatologist To Debunk The Internet's Biggest Skincare Myths.” The Everygirl, 7 November 2021, https://theeverygirl.com/skincare-myths-dermatologist/. Accessed 4 February 2022.
“The Importance of Moisturizing - UTMC.” UT Medical Center, 1 January 2018, https://www.utmedicalcenter.org/the-importance-of-moisturizing/. Accessed 4 February 2022.
MD. “SIX THINGS YOU ARE GETTING WRONG ABOUT SKIN CARE @Dr Dray.” YouTube, 28 December 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF9QbuyPWHQ. Accessed 4 February 2022.
“The Risks of Tanning | FDA.” US Food and Drug Administration, 26 April 2019, https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/tanning/risks-tanning. Accessed 4 February 2022.
Spector, Nicole. “The best way to wash your face, according to dermatologists.” NBC News, 9 March 2020, https://www.nbcnews.com/select/lifestyle/best-way-wash-your-face-according-dermatologists-ncna1147956. Accessed 4 February 2022.
“A Study to Evaluate of Cosmetic Benefit of a Moisturising Cream in People With Blemish Prone Skin - Full-Text View.” ClinicalTrials.gov, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03093181. Accessed 4 February 2022.
“The Truth About Food, Diet and Acne | Lab Muffin Beauty Science.” YouTube, 22 December 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVUL0bk9TiU. Accessed 4 February 2022.
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