Skin care is the collection of practices that support skin health, improve its look and alleviate skin disorders. Skin care includes the assessment, prevention and treatment of skin disorders including acne, wrinkles, rosacea, psoriasis, age spots, dullness and other pigmentation disorders, acne scarring, sun damage and dermatitis. There are many myths associated with skin care. They are all usually either false or misleading.
A good example is that chemical peels are the only skin care techniques used by estheticians. Chemical peels involve applying a combination of chemicals in a controlled environment. One chemical is alpha hydroxyl acid (AHA) and the other is beta hydroxyl acid (BHA). Both acids have alpha hydroxyl acid and they cause peeling which exfoliates the top layer of dead cells and rejuvenates the skin. However, estheticians perform chemical peels under strict orders from dermatologists to avoid causing further harm.
Another myth is that it takes weeks or months to develop a pimple and a dermatologist will be able to tell if you have developed one. This is absolutely false. A simple swab test can easily tell whether you have developed a pimple or not. You simply take a small amount of your skin and send it to a laboratory for testing. The result will reveal any signs of acne, rosacea or other skin disorders. If you have received a tip from a dermatologist and have never been tested for skin cancer, then there is no need to worry about it.
Another common tip is that it is important to keep your hands away from your face. Unfortunately, this tip is completely false. In fact, a common cause of wrinkles and fine lines is from long-term exposure to hands. Therefore, you should use gloves when doing manual labor or gardening. By doing so, you protect your hands from potential contact with skin and reduce your risk of developing skin cancer.
Yet another tip that is often given out is to apply sunscreen only at the beach. Although this tip makes some sense, it actually has its disadvantages. First of all, very young children who love going to the pool often forget their sunscreen and go nude in the water. This can result in skin damage due to the sun’s ultra violet rays. Moreover, most moisturizers used at the beach contain heavy oils that are ineffective on sensitive skin and can lead to premature aging.
A common problem that many women have is that they use moisturizers and toners every time they clean their face but forget to remove make-up before bedtime. Although this sounds like common sense, it is actually just bad habit. It is best to remove make-up and Toners before going to bed. Make sure that you remove your moisturizers and toners right after you wash your face. This ensures that your skin does not suffer any adverse effects after using the product.