Beauty Myths EXPOSED!!

“Don’t eat peanuts, it will make you breakout, stay clear of fried food and chocolate”, you’ve heard them, you’ve shared them; but do you really know the truth behind some of these beauty matters? To help shed light on this subject, below are some truths surrounding some current ubiquitous beauty myths:

Myth 1: Peanuts make you breakout: FALSE!

We’ve all heard this, especially from our mothers, aunts and friends, but research shows that there are no direct correlation between peanuts (groundnuts) and acne. There are many reasons for acne such as genetics, hygiene, hormones, medication, cosmetics and diet; however depending on the individual’s allergy, certain types of food (nuts especially) CAN trigger rash and breakouts when consumed. If you have ever had any type of adverse reaction after eating peanuts, chances are that you might be allergic, for further information on this, visit your doctor or dermatologist.

Myth 2: Chocolates cause Pimples- FALSE!

This is probably one of the most common beauty myths around, but according to medical experts; chocolates and acne have very little causal link. It is true that a poor diet (lacking in vitamins and nutrition) can help aggravate acne; however, most breakouts are caused by overactive oil glands, hormones and dead skin cells that block the skin’s pores. Also depending on one’s genetic disposition, certain individuals are more likely than others to breakout regardless of how much chocolate they consume or not.

Myth 3: Do not wash your face with Bar Soap- DEPENDS

The normal balance for our skin usually sits at midlevel(5.0-5.6) between acidic and neutral, for those of us with oily skin, the number is usually higher. Most bar soaps and hand soaps have a ph level of 8.0 (and higher) and contain strong alkaline that dry the skin and cause irritation (remember how dry your hands become after using bar soap). Washing your face with normal bar soap is NOT advisable because it leaves the skin dry and dehydrated, instead use soaps with moisturizing agents like Dove beauty soap, that help restore moisture to the face. When choosing a face wash, it is very important to pick one that meets your skin’s demand, if you are prone to acne look for soaps that contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.

Myth 4: Don’t sleep with your makeup on, it causes Acne- TRUE!

Most cosmetics products, unless proven otherwise, are comedogenic or pore-clogging. When left on for too long, clogs the pores, aggravates it, often leading to a breakout. If you wear makeup every day, be sure to thorougly wash your face at night before going to bed.

Myth 5: Don’t share your makeup tools- TRUE!

This is particularly true for eye makeup items like eyeliner and eyeshadow brushes, sharing makeup tools can often result in skin irritation and eye infections.

Myth 6: You can get rid of stretch marks with a cream- FALSE!

The good news about Stretch marks is that 80% of women have them, and they are a result of rapid change in one’s weight (either from pregnancy, stress, hormones, medication, puberty, etc). For some women, stretch marks disappear after a while, but for those with persistent stretch marks, very little can be done about them. Although there are products in the market that claim to fade or completely cure them; however, these products are not backed up by a consistent 100% success rate. When it comes to stretch marks, prevention is the key, and you can achieve this by avoiding rapid weight gain and weight loss. You can also help reduce (not erase) the appearance of stretch marks through microdermabrasion and laser surgery from a dermatologist.

Myth 7: Deodorants cause Cancer- FALSE!

Thanks to the popular email message linking deodorants to breast cancer, this beauty myth has come to stay. Information on the email contain reports that show how deodorants contain certain harmful substance that can be absorbed through the skin and enter the body through shaving cuts, but according to the National Cancer Institute, researchers do not have conclusive data linking deodorants/antiperspirants to the development of breast cancer. (For more information, check out: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/risk/ap-deo)

Myth 8: Toothpaste gets rid of Pimples- DEPENDS

We’ve all heard this, “dab a bit of toothpaste on your pimple to reduce swelling and make it disappear”, even though the menthol in the toothpaste gives you the sensation that something is happening, depending on the kind of skin you have, toothpaste might actually make the situation worse. Ingredients like Hydrogen peroxide found in toothpaste, have the ability to dry your skin, while triclosan helps in killing bacteria; so in essence, toothpaste can help absorb the oil within and dry out the pimple. But this does not mean that you should substitute your acne creams for toothpaste, be careful about using toothpaste because ingredients like Hydrogen peroxide are known to excessively dry the skin; causing irritation.

Myth 9: If your skin is Oily, you don’t need to moisturize- FALSE!

Oil on the face has to do with one’s sebum production, and is not related to the level of one’s skin hydration; meaning that hydration is still necessary. Instead of using moisturizers that are laced with oil that can clog pores, be sure to choose those that are oil-free which will help bring moisture to your face, and remember to use astringents that help get rid of excess oil after washing your face.

Myth 10: Black women don’t need Sunscreen- FALSE!

It is true that Black women are less susceptible to sun burns due to large amounts of melanin; however, black skin is not protected from the damaging effects of the sun’s UV rays. Some of the harmful effects of the sun include wrinkles, hyper-pigmentation, and in worst case scenarios skin cancer. To help protect your skin against premature ageing, make sure that the application of an SPF 15 cream is part of your beauty regimen. A sunscreen with SPF15 helps block 90% of the sun’s UVB rays, when shopping for sunscreens be sure to look for those that matte or shine free.

via bellanaija.com