With the influx of new skin-care products, anti-ageing treatments, and constant advice on how to treat your skin, it can be hard to know what really works. But fear not, for the following are a list of five skin-care myths, and the reality behind them.

Myth 1: Expensive skin care products work best.Not true at all. Most of the active ingredients found in an off-brand skin cream are identical to the ones sold in fancy boutique. Not that the expensive products are any less effective, mind you. But you can purchase a product of a similar quality for much less.

Myth 2: Your age is an important consideration when shopping for skin care.Notice how most “mature” skin products are marketed to women over fifty? Is a 45-year-old woman’s skin dramatically different from a 50-year-old’s? As much as we would like to think so, no it isn’t.

A woman’s skin does not automatically shrivel and dry up the day she turns fifty. Almost all products are designed for dry skin, so there is no marked difference between the products designed for women below or above fifty.

Myth 3: You don’t need sunscreen on a cloudy day.Just because you can’t see the sun through the clouds doesn’t mean that UV radiation isn’t reaching the earth’s surface. So if you’re going to be outside for any length of time, be sure to apply sunscreen.

Also, don’t think you’re fully protected because your makeup says it has SPF protection. Makeup in powder or liquid form is very thin, and just can’t reach the level of protection that a regular sunscreen can.

Myth 4: It’s better to get the pus out of a pimple by popping it.Though it may feel good to pop that sucker, the reality is a lot of the pus actually just goes deeper into your skin. This can lead to inflammation that spreads under the skin. This is why new zits can pop up next to the last one.

The simple solution: stop picking your face. But this may not always work in the real world. For an alternative to picking your face, use a comedone extractor. This inexpensive little tool is sold at most beauty stores, and can remove a pimple without inflaming your skin.

Myth 5: There’s a product out there that eliminates wrinkles.Sadly, this too is just a myth. There’s no magic bullet for removing wrinkles. The best you can do is preventative measures, such as sunscreen and moisturizing products. Of course there are products that minimize the appearance of wrinkles, but unfortunately they’re here to stay.

With mass-marketing, women are constantly bombarded with “truths” on skin care. For the most up-to-the-minute information on proper skin-care, it’s always best to consult a trusted Tucson dermatologist like the ones at Specialists in Dermatology before doing anything else. This can help you sort out the truths from the myths.

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