Debunking Skincare Myths With Dr. Susan Stuart

By Susan Stuart

Some myths are older than our great grandmothers and some seem to have arisen from new technology and skincare products. Whatever the origin, they can derail our best intentions when it comes to taking optimal care of our skin. We asked La Jolla, California dermatologist Dr. Susan Stuart to give us definitively debunk skincare myths.

Myth: There's no difference between SPF 30 and SPF 60

This isn't completely true. The percentage of increase may not be proportional to the number on the sunscreen, but a higher SPF does in fact offer greater protection.

Using larger quantities of a product will yield better results.

Less is more. Normally, a pea-sized amount of facial product will do the trick. Excessive amounts can cause skin problems and waste money.

Myth: My makeup has SPF, so I don't need sunscreen

Even if the SPF is in your tinted moisturizer and not just a concealer, you're not applying enough of it to get the full degree of SPF that's stated on the bottle. So, from spring to winter, you should be applying a generous layer of sunscreen each and every day.

Myth: Chocolate gives you blemishes

Unfortunately, evidence suggests chocolate causes acne-prone individuals to break out.

Myth: Toothpaste is a great pimple cream

Toothpaste is great for taking the itch out of a bug bite, but doesn't seem to work when trying to get rid of a blemish. Try a real acne-fighting formula.

Myth: Baby wipes make perfect makeup removers

They may be convenient, but baby wipes as well as makeup remover wipes include very harsh chemicals. The idea behind such wet clothes is that the packaging requires added preservatives to increase shelf life; therefore, your skin is being exposed to extra formaldehyde-releasing chemicals commonly used as preservatives. Plus, since you're not rinsing away the cleansing ingredients from the wipes, there's a residue that's left behind that exposes your skin to solublizers, surfactants and emulsifiers. This can lead to irritation, hives, dry skin, breakouts, and other unpleasant reactions.

Myth: Switching to skim milk is better for your skin

Wrong! Skim milk actually contains even more hormones than both 1 percent and 2 percent milk, which causes breakouts. Dr. Stuart advises that high-glycemic foods (that is, white foods like bread, pasta, rice, and sweets) are super skin-enemies since they trigger the body to produce insulin, causing age-accelerating inflammation. The solution is easy: load up on colorful fruits and vegetables-particularly green and yellow veggies-which help prevent wrinkles.

Hot water opens pores.

Despite cleansers, scrubs and other skincare products claiming to have pore-opening powers when paired with warm H2O, this advice just doesn't hold water. Skin's openings neither change in size nor operate like train doors, says Dr. Stuart. In reality, hot water loosens hardened dirt, oil and makeup within pores, allowing for better cleansing

Your skin will age just like your mom's.

Your mother's wrinkle-free, so that means you're destined for complexion perfection, right? Even though genetics play a big part in the aging process, external factors, like sun exposure, facial expressions, smoking, pollution and diet, affect how skin looks over time. So if Mom turned her nose up at tanning and you eschew shade, you may not grow old as gracefully. The bottom line: Good genes aren't a free pass to flawless skin.

Sun is Good for Acne

Although a little sun can give skin a nice glow and may even clear up a few pimples, major acne will only be aggravated by prolonged sun exposure. For one thing, the drying effect that sun has on skin will only cause the sebaceous glands to be overstimulated to produce more oil. Overstimulated sebaceous glands are the cause of acne, so it is not advised to provoke these sensitive glands anymore with too much sun exposure.