Skincare Myths vs. Facts

Skincare Myth 1: Tanning booths are safe as long as they don't contain UVB rays.

We all know that tanning is unhealthy and can lead to skin cancer and premature aging. But what about tanning booths? Tanning booth companies often say they are filtering out the so-called "sunburn" UVB rays, says Jenny Kim, MD, an assistant professor of medicine and dermatology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles. But when you go to a tanning booth, you're still exposing your skin to UVA rays, which penetrate deeper into the skin and cause damage that can lead to premature aging and the development of skin cancers.

Skincare Myth 2: The higher the SPF, the better the protection.

There are three kinds of ultraviolet (UV) rays: UVA, UVB and UVC. UVA rays penetrate the skin fairly deeply, altering our pigmentation to produce a tan. UVB rays are the primary sunburn rays. These rays also damage our skin's DNA and cause photoaging, pigment changes and carcinomas (cancerous tumors). UVC rays are absorbed by the atmosphere and don't make it to the ground.

The SPF on a sunscreen refers to the amount of protection the product offers from UVB rays. Sunscreens, therefore, need to offer protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Look for an SPF of at least 15 and one of the following ingredients: mexoryl, oxybenzone or avobenzone (Parsol 1789) for UVA protection, or titanium dioxide or zinc oxide (which block both UVA and UVB).

Skincare Myth 3: You don't need sunscreen on a cloudy day.

Kim says that even on a cloudy day, UV radiation from the sun reaches the earth's surface. So make sure you use sunscreen every day, and reapply every two hours and after swimming or sweating.

Also, don't fall prey to the myth that just because you're wearing makeup with an SPF, you're protected. According to Leslie Bauman, MD, director of the University of Miami Cosmetic Group and author of The Skin Type Solution, you would have to put on 14 or 15 times the amount of makeup that a normal person would wear to reach the SPF on the label of powdered makeup. The same thing goes for foundation and liquid makeup. Make sure you use sunscreen in addition to your makeup.

Skincare Myth 4: Scrubbing your face with soap will keep your skin healthy and acne free.

"When you scrub your face, you're taking off some of the protective oils and barriers, which tends to lead to rashes and even burns," says Sandy Johnson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with Johnson Dermatology Group in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Instead, she says, use a gentle cleanser followed by a moisturizer or sunscreen.

Skincare Myth 5: It's better to get the pus out of a pimple by popping it.

"The truth is, even though it feels really good to release [the pus], a lot of it just goes in deeper," Johnson says. "When it goes in deeper, it causes more inflammation that can lead to scarring and spread under the skin. That's why you'll get another one a few days later, close to the first one."

Johnson says it's crucial that people stop picking at their faces. But if you absolutely cannot resist, she says, be sure and do it right. Don't squeeze and pop the inflammation. Instead, use something called a comedone extractor—an inexpensive tool that can be purchased at most beauty supply stores. Apply firm pressure with the extractor, then roll across the pimple to take it out.

Skincare Myth 6: Facials and microdermabrasion are good for your skincare routine.

This is a popular myth, says Bauman, especially with the proliferation of day spas. But a recent study from India concluded that facials actually cause acne breakouts in 80 percent of people, Bauman tells WebMD.

"They feel good but have no long-term skin benefit beyond relaxation," she says. "Like microdermabrasion, which merely sloughs off the top layer of skin, they are a "complete and total waste of money."

Skincare Myth 7: Expensive skincare products work best.

"This is simply not true," says Bauman, who uses popular drugstore moisturizers and sunscreen for her own skincare regimen. "Many mass-market products are better than expensive ones."

Kim agrees. Most active ingredients found in anti-aging creams are similar, she says, whether they are sold by a local store or a fancy boutique. Expensive skincare products can be good, of course. It's just that you can usually get something similar for a lot less.

"If you want to pay for the feel, smell and package," she says, "that's up to you."

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