Everyone wants good skin — and there’s plenty of advice out there about how to make that happen. But, not all of that advice is necessarily good advice. Read on for some of the biggest skincare myths out there.
1. Pores Open and Close.
You hear all of the time about how such-and-such magic serum or treatment will open up or shrink stubborn pores. In reality, though, that’s just not how it works — pore size is pretty much a matter of genetics. Pores neither open and close nor shrink and expand. There’s nothing you can do to change that. You can, however, minimize the appearance of pores, just not the actual size. You can also, by sticking to a skincare routine, prevent your pores from getting clogged.
2. Citrus is a Great DIY Skin Treatment.
Citrus is an oft-recommended ingredient in DIY facial cleansers and scrubs. But that doesn’t mean it’s good for your skin. Citrus is a mild bleaching agent, and, because it’s so acidic, it can harm your skin’s natural pH balance. What’s more, it can cause irritation and even chemical burns if you use it before going out in the sun. Skip it!
3. Dry Skin is a Sign of Dehydration.
Dry skin and dehydrated skin are two totally different issues. Dry skin is a skin type that means your skin doesn’t produce enough oil, in contrast to other skin types like oily and combination. It’s genetic. Dehydrated skin, on the other hand, is a condition that can impact people with any skin type, and has more to do with factors like water consumption, weather, and irritating makeup. To treat either, you need to know what you’re dealing with first.
4. Pore Strips Are Good For Blackheads.
Those little black dots you see after you pull off a pore strip are just the surface of the blackhead, and they'll pop back up on your face in no time. Pore strips rip up sensitive skin, cause irritation, and don’t help prevent future blackheads. Bottom line? Stick to a consistent skincare routine with gentle cleansers and exfoliants to get rid of blackheads, and don’t rely on pore strips as a quick fix.
5. You Outgrow Acne.
Your awkward teenage years are behind you, so why hasn’t your skin caught up? Acne can be a problem for some people well into adulthood. Stress, hormone changes caused by menopause and some medications can all be the culprit behind adult acne. Acne in adults is also quite different than acne in teenagers. For one thing, as you age, your skin thins out and becomes more sensitive, so the harsher products that treat teen acne well are usually too harsh for adult skin.
6. You Should Shower Every Day.
Many of us don’t feel clean if we don’t hit the showers every day, but washing your body that often isn’t always the best way to keep your skin healthy. Soap and long, hot showers strip your skin of the oils it needs to keep itself clean. Certain particularly smelly areas of your body should be washed every day, but your arms, legs, chest and back don’t need as frequent of a scrub.
7. You Can Banish Cellulite Forever.
There’s no permanent fix when it comes to cellulite. Topical creams may reduce the appearance of cellulite for a few hours, and laser treatments may diminish the stuff for a few years. But the reality is, there’s no cure for the stuff, and, considering that most women have it, perhaps its time for us to reconsider why we want to fix it in the first place.
This article was originally published on www.Care2.com. Read the original here.
*Image of “woman“ via Shutterstock
