By Dr. Nirupama Parwanda
Dermatologist, Founder – Zolie Skin Clinic
With so many skin care hack videos getting popular on the internet and garnering so many views; it really becomes difficult for the viewers to fathom what to follow. There is no denying in the fact that there a plethora of myths lying all over the internet which people continue to follow rigorously unless someone breaks them.
Myth: The higher the SPF, the better the protection.
There are three kinds of UV rays- UVA, UVB & UVC. All these rays are harmful for our skin, however when it comes to SPF, it protects our skin from UVB rays which can cause sunburns and photoaging. When we talk about a sunscreen with a broad spectrum we refer to a cream which has the potential to protect the skin from all kinds of UV rays. Henceforth, SPF alone cannot ensure better protection.
Myth: You don’t need sunscreen on a cloudy day.
The sun’s harmful rays are reaching the earth even on a cloudy day. Hence, it is important to wear a sunscreen even on a cloudy day. It is also important that you reapply it after every 3-4 hours for a better protection.
Myth: Expensive skin care products work best.
Just because certain products are expensive doesn’t mean that they are going to work great for your skin. The price of any product doesn’t ensure its credibility and effectiveness on your skin. So don’t be blinded with the price tag and look carefully at the ingredients which have been used in it.
Myth: You’ll age faster if you wear makeup regularly.
Honestly, this is the myth that I was eager to bust. With a good skin care routine, there is nothing on the face of this planet which can make you age faster. One needs to ensure that they are using good quality products and then removing them all before they call it a day. These two things will go a very long way.
Myth: The harder you scrub/exfoliate, the better.
Seriously, you need to stop this before it gets any worse. Your skin is way more sensitive than your body and thus, you cannot scrub it harshly. Not only will it strip your skin off from all the essential oils but will also make it crack if you don’t stop anytime soon.
Myth: Blackheads relate to cleanliness and can be scrubbed away.
Blackheads actually relate with your hormones and not with your cleanliness. No matter what the products in the market claim, you cannot just get rid of your blackheads by cleaning or scrubbing your face with a cleanser.
Myth: The more it burns, the better
This is a very common theory which is followed by the beauty parlors around us. However, it is not true, the reason why a product is giving you a burning sensation on your face could be because of its harmful chemicals or simply because it doesn’t suit your skin, nevertheless, it does not mean that it will make your skin look brighter or better.