Debunking Common Skin Care Myths

By Kate Dee, MD

Every day, I spend time educating my patients about skin care and often have to debunk commonly-believed myths. Here is a rundown of my top five.

Myth #1: Retinols make your skin sun-sensitive. In fact, retinoids (retinols and Retin-A) act as anti-oxidants, protecting your skin from sun damage and decreasing your risk of skin cancer. The reason we recommend retinols be applied at night is that sunlight breaks down and renders them ineffective.

Myth #2: Retinols and Vitamin C are ineffective at stimulating collagen in older people. In fact, these compounds are great at stimulating collagen production at any age, as long as the collagen-producing cells are active. Those cells, the fibroblasts, go dormant at around age 30. This is why we recommend microneedling and laser procedures around 3x/year to wake them up and keep them active all year round.

Myth #3: Skin care products don’t work. In fact, you can completely change the way your skin looks and feels with great products. It does take the right combination of products, specifically catered to your skin type. Because the skin is always turning over, you can change every cell of your skin over time, but it generally takes months. I recommend trying a new regimen for at least 3 months to start showing results.

Myth #4: It doesn’t matter what you put on your skin, only BOTOX and lasers can help. In fact, using a medical skin care regimen is critical to the success of any aesthetic treatment, whether it is BOTOX, laser or anything else. As a matter of fact, doing BOTOX or laser without a good skin care regimen is like joining cross fit but eating at McDonald’s every day. Your skin needs a steady diet of quality exfoliating cleansers, anti-oxidants, ceramides, vitamins, moisturizers and sun block.

Myth #5: Diet does not affect the skin. What you eat has a dramatic effect on overall health, and the skin is no exception. Certain foods like grains, refined sugar and polyunsaturated fats (like vegetable oil and margarine) are potent stimulators of inflammation and make skin conditions like acne and rosacea worse. These foods should be avoided. Occasionally, allergies to cow milk can trigger severe cystic acne. It is best to eat lots of vegetables, protein and sources of good saturated fats (olive oil, ghee, coconut and avocado oil) and Omega-3 fatty acids (like in salmon and walnuts).

Questions about how best to care for your skin? We are always here to help. Call us at Glow Medispa for a consultation or click on the Book Online button at the top of this page.