Don't Fall For These Skin Myths
As the largest organ of our body, our skin is something we need to take care of. Sure, we all want to fight the signs of aging, but there’s much more to taking care of our skin than just warding off fine lines and wrinkles. In the world of skin care, there are many myths commonly spread that tell us what to do to help retain our youthful appearance and maintain a healthy epidermis. The problem is many of these common myths are just wrong.
Let’s look at a few of the most commonly repeated myths and find the truth behind them.
1. Frowning and smiling cause fine line
This is one common myth that’s made its way up to Hollywood. Many A-listers and influencers live by this much. While cracking a smile now and then can cause some lines and wrinkles to begin, it’s too hard to live with no expression, especially when doing so doesn’t have much of an effect on your aging process.
2. Once signs of aging start, it’s too late
Never give up on your skin! Even though skin damage and signs of aging are somewhat inevitable, there are always ways to improve the health and look of your skin. Finding the right skin routine and living a healthy lifestyle are paramount in any improvement.
3. Collagen is the answer to staying youthful
This is a strong claim to make. Collagen can be helpful in building stronger bones and aiding in a more youthful complexion. That being said, the jury is still out on all the benefits that collagen is claiming. What we do know is that it can plump the skin, temporarily reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
4. Diet doesn’t impact your rate of skin aging
This is one myth that is definitely false. One of the biggest rules you can follow for healthy, beautiful, ageless skin is to avoid foods with a high glycemic index. Think white bread, pasta and potatoes. These are quickly converted to sugar in your bloodstream, along with producing Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEPs) that cause collagen and elastin to become stiff and less springy. This will eventually lead to sagging skin, a clear sign of aging.
5. Stress is the leading cause of your wrinkles
Statistically, sun damage will be the primary cause of wrinkles, along with age spots and other skin discolorations. However, the hormone cortisol is released under stress and can often cause a breakdown in collagen in the skin, so stress does play a role in skin aging.
6. Anti-aging creams will reverse your fine lines
Trying an anti-aging cream is a rite of passage. Once you hit a certain age, you will be tempted to try every cream on the market. The fact is “reverse” might be the wrong word. Many anti-aging creams have retinol and other vitamins that can smooth and brighten your complexion. Some can even temporarily reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. However, completely undoing skin damage and signs of aging is not something you can count on from a cream you buy in the beauty aisle.
7. Moisturizers reduce wrinkles
Just by slathering on moisturizer, you aren’t magically making your wrinkles disappear. Rather, you could say water or moisture reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Plus, many moisturizers now have ingredients meant to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles but the effect is temporary.