When it comes to skincare tips, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction – especially online! As we all know there are skincare myths that have lingered around for what seems like forever. While new skincare tips are now coming directly from social media. 

It can be easy to think that you can solve your skin problems with various products and seemingly magic routines, but skincare isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Your skin is unique to you as genetics and lifestyle factors play an important role in managing clear and beautiful skin. 

To prevent you from falling victim to the dangerous misconceptions, we’ve decided to debunk five common skincare myths.

FACT: People can get acne at any age. Acne occurs when oil (known as sebum) clogs pores on the skin, which then becomes infected and inflamed. These infections can occur at any point in a person’s life. However, they are more common when hormone levels are increased, as is the case during puberty as well as in conjunction with a woman's menstrual cycle.

FACT: Cleansing the skin more than the recommended twice daily and/or using harsh soaps cause the skin to produce more oil. The skin automatically works to keep itself balanced so when the beneficial natural oils are stripped, its response is to create more oil to compensate.

No matter what your skin type is —oily and acne-prone, dry and dehydrated, or a combination—you need to be using a moisturizer to keep your skin balanced and nourished. The differences lie in the type and amount of moisturizer your skin needs.

Oily skin is rich in oil (sebum) production, but not necessarily in water content. When the oil layer is stripped off by cleansing or other oil reducing treatments, it could still lose water and become dehydrated. Which then tells your skin to produce more oil to compensate. It is best to use a water-based or gel-based moisturizer to satisfy the hydration needs of your oily skin and to help prevent breakouts.

FACT: Misting the face with water actually causes your skin to become more dehydrated. As shocking as it sounds, using water on the face pulls the surface moisture, and the skin’s surface ends up getting dehydrated.

It also leads to clogged pores, because of which you cannot blend your makeup properly. When you add in environmental factors and stressors, it leaves your dehydrated skin open for some serious skin concerns such as acne, rosacea, dark spots, and inflammation.

FACT: When it comes to visible pores, there is a lot of advice about using hot water or steam to open pores and cold water to close them. Although hot water and steam can help melt any hardened sebum in pores-making them appear more open and less full of sebum (oil). But pores themselves lack the muscles to truly open and close. How visible they are can depend on a few factors - your skin type, if they’ve been stretched or damaged, and how clean they are.

FACT: The original intent of retinoids was actually used to treat acne and prescribed to many young people. Today it is common for retinoids like "Tretonin" to be prescribed by physicians to help clear their skin. "Differin" is another notable over the counter retinoid that is often recommended to teens to help clear persistent acne.

It is best to start using retinol in your 20's and 30's. Because it is around this time that your body starts to produce less collagen than it did in your younger years. Additionally, it is much easier to "prevent" skin concerns than it is to try to remove them.  What’s more important than age when it comes to using retinol in your skincare routine is to use it properly. Meaning that you should introduce your skin slowly to this powerful ingredient and increase its frequency over time.

The Takeaway

Most people want the newest and latest quick fix for great skin. Which is why it can be very difficult to separate skincare fact from fiction. Especially with the explosive growth of the cosmetics and skincare industry. It seems that every skincare brand can promise you the skin of your dreams.

Luckily thanks to the internet, you can now learn everything you need to know to make educated decisions for your skincare purchases. Ironically, the prevalence of myths and misconceptions are a fact of life—particularly online. So, before you jump on any skincare or beauty bandwagon, check your facts first. If you are still unsure, then ask a skincare professional.  Trust us, your skin will thank you for it.