Skin Care

Looking young is an obsession in our society. Miracle skin care products claim to eliminate signs of aging, erase fine lines and achieve a perfect complexion for your skin. Cosmetic procedures, such as botox and skin peels, are now common place and accessible to many. But should we believe everything we hear about skincare?

It's time to dispel some of the misinformation about skin care. Here are ten of the most common myths surrounding skincare:

1. Tanning won't harm my skin
Not true. Any exposure to ultraviolet light, whether UVA or UVB, is harmful to your skin. In fact, sun damage causes a whopping 90% of the signs of premature skin aging. The sun causes wrinkles, skin disorders during the aging process and a number of forms of skin cancer.

2. A suntan will improve my skin problems
Not only is tanning dangerous, it will not improve acne or other skin conditions. Although a tan may make your acne less noticeable, it can actually make problem skin worse by thickening the skin.

3. 'Natural' skin care ranges are not as effective as products created in a lab
You may achieve positive results from using cosmetics and skin care products created in a lab, but there are many people who find that using natural products is much kinder to their skin. If you suffer from skin irritation, dermatitis or eczema, or you find that your skin feels sore and dry after washing your face, you may benefit from using one of the great New Zealand natural skin care ranges. Living Nature creates a range of natural skin care products which contain no synthetic preservatives, no mineral oils, no animal ingredients and no ingredients they consider to be potentially harmful. These NZ natural skin care products are no more expensive than top shelf chemical concoctions.

4. Applying an antioxidant cream will reverse the signs of aging
Wrinkles are brought about by sun damage to the skin and the activity of free radicals, so antioxidants are important in retaining a youthful appearance and keeping your skin healthy. But before you rush out to buy the latest antioxidant fuelled skin care product, there's no scientific evidence that topical creams containing antioxidants improve the appearance of skin. Retin-A has been shown to be effective in reducing the signs of aging, but testing is still being done.

5. Acne is caused by bad diet or dirty skin
This is one of the most frustrating myths. Acne is caused by a number of factors: hormones, genetics, bacteria, excess oil production and stress. Although some foods can have an impact on the production of oil in your body, the usual culprits are not amongst them. But beware! A diet packed with non-nutritious foods will cause deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals, which can result in various skin conditions. Surface dirt is not the cause of acne either; make sure you give your skin a gentle wash twice daily, as washing too much can actually make your skin more irritated.

6. Using a moisturiser will make wrinkles disappear
Maybe for a few minutes. Advertising imagery plays on the fact that skin looks fresh, lush and glowing when it has just been moisturised. There is no evidence that moisturisers have any long-term effect on wrinkles or repair sun damage, or that wrinkles are caused by having dry skin. Using a moisturiser can be beneficial though, especially as they often contain a sun screen.

7. The more expensive the product, the better it will be for my skin
Not true. Advertisers use terminology that makes each new product appear to have made a breakthrough in the science of skin care, but really there is often little difference between expensive and inexpensive products. Find something that works for you. Everyone has a slightly different skin type, so it's a good idea to try a sample before buying a whole bottle of a product. There are usually tester products on display at New Zealand pharmacies.

8. Skin conditions can be treated quickly
Even when you have decided to make changes to your lifestyle or have been prescribed medication to improve your skin condition, there's no guarantee that the same thing will work for everyone. Success, when it comes, will be gradual. Your skin will take some time to recover and return to normal, or improve significantly. If you suffer from a severe or chronic skin condition, it's a good idea to consult a professional New Zealand dermatologist.

9. The best treatment for oily skin is to dry it out
Not true. Keeping your skin in a good condition is about achieving a balance between dryness and oiliness. The best way to do this is to keep your skin clean, without drying it out. It is important to hydrate your skin, to keep it supple and to reduce the extremes of dry and oily. Many cleansers created for oily skin will dry out the skin. Ask a skin care expert or try a range of natural skin care products to cleanse and moisturise without leaving your skin feeling stretched and stinging.

10. It's okay to wash my face with soap
Not true. Commercial soaps contain ingredients (such as antibacterial compounds and deodorant elements) that are extremely harsh on the face's delicate skin. Using soap to wash your face, unless it's specially formulated for use on the face, can result in dry, irritated skin. Soap can make your face feel super-duper clean, but you will have stripped the skin of all oil and moisture on your skin's surface. Use a water-soluble cleanser for a good clean that is kind to your skin.

Looking for more information? Find a New Zealand skin care in the NZS.com directory.

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Lifestyle images from Flickr: Purple Flowers, Yoga and Wine.