Beauty Myths, Busted
What to put on your face for clear skin?!
By Maui V. Reyes for Yahoo! Southeast Asia
Is there something in chocolate that can cause you to break out? Can brushing your hair a hundred times before going to bed make it shinier? And will applying menstrual blood (eeew!) on your face give you clear, healthy skin? With dermatologist, Anna Palabyab, M.D., we debunk five of the most popular beauty myths:
Putting your menstrual blood on your face will help clear your skin. According to a 2009 study done by a sanitary napkin company, this old wives' tale is, sadly, still believed by about 38% of Filipinas. Not only is this practice gross, but it's highly unhygienic, too. "There is no medical basis for this," says Palabyab. "Blood is actually good culture media for bacteria so it might even aggravate your condition."
Putting your menstrual blood on your face will help clear your skin. According to a 2009 study done by a sanitary napkin company, this old wives' tale is, sadly, still believed by about 38% of Filipinas. Not only is this practice gross, but it's highly unhygienic, too. "There is no medical basis for this," says Palabyab. "Blood is actually good culture media for bacteria so it might even aggravate your condition."
Clear skin can be achieved by adopting a good skin care regimen. Wash your face twice a day with a skin cleanser that's formulated for your skin type. Apply a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 before stepping out of the house during the day. At night, apply an alcohol-free toner before applying moisturizer on your face. And please, keep your menstrual blood away from your face.
Eating chocolate can cause acne. A study done by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine found that young men who ate eight ounces of pure, 100% chocolate a day for a week saw an increase in acne from four to as may as 70. The study, however, doesn't prove cause and effect. While scientists pinpoint chocolate's caffeine and theobromine (which has pore-clogging properties) content, it seems unlikely that people will be munching on 100% pure chocolate every day—and eight ounces of it, at that! Plus, there's the fact that a person's overall diet has more to do with a zit attack than a single type of food.
Pimples are caused by genetics, hormones, one's diet, and skincare habit. So if you find yourself breaking out after eating a Hershey bar and just happen to be on your period, chances are your monthly visitor is the culprit. If you think your chocolate-eating habits are causing you to break out, then maybe it's time to rethink what you eat. Eat a balanced diet consisting of antioxidant-rich foods like mangoes, spinach, and oranges.
You can zap a zit with toothpaste. Only if you're in a bind. Otherwise, keep oral care products away from your skin. "Some people may use toothpaste as a quick fix to dry up a pimple, but there is no medical basis for this," says Palabyab. And since toothpaste is formulated to be used on teeth, you'll be exposing yourself to chemicals that aren't normally applied on the skin.
"You run the risk of making [the pimple] worse because of all the other ingredients in your toothpaste that can irritate the skin." Next time, just stick to your normal skincare routine and get rid of your zit by applying a benzoyl peroxide 5% gel on the spot.
Brushing your hair a hundred times before bed will make it shinier and healthier.It may have worked for Marcia Brady, but that's the magic of Hollywood at work. "The whole idea of this is to bring the oil from the scalp to the ends by brushing," explains Palabyab. "But excessive brushing can also cause breakage." In fact, over-brushing will only dull your hair by destroying the cuticle, as well as cause split-ends.
Brushing your hair a hundred times before bed will make it shinier and healthier.It may have worked for Marcia Brady, but that's the magic of Hollywood at work. "The whole idea of this is to bring the oil from the scalp to the ends by brushing," explains Palabyab. "But excessive brushing can also cause breakage." In fact, over-brushing will only dull your hair by destroying the cuticle, as well as cause split-ends.
Want shinier hair? Use leave-on conditioners once a week, and brush your hair just enough to keep it from becoming tangled, which can be a few strokes once or twice a day.
You can shrink your pores. If you're unhappy with the size of your pores, blame your parents. Pore size is genetic. And an inadequate skin care regimen can also make them look even bigger. "Comedones, like blackheads or whiteheads, can make pores appear even bigger than they already are," says Palabyab.
Cleansers and astringents do help the skin contract (thus making pores look smaller)—but don't go overboard and think that the more times you apply it to your face will make them pores smaller and smaller. (That's just a recipe for skin going haywire.) Topical medications that can also help rid the skin of dead skin cells and other dirt. "Application of retinoic acid, salicylic acid and glycolic acid as directed by your dermatologist can help make your pores appear smaller."