Recently, while researching the latest Australian health and beauty news, Team Costhetics made a surprising discovery. We were surprised to learn that a large number of people are getting it wrong when it comes to the right way to care for the skin they’re in.
These myths keep many men and women from giving their skin what it needs to stay supple and youthful. More disturbingly, these nuggets of misinformation can delay people seeking a professional evaluation of dangerous skin conditions that could lead to cancer.
In this article, Costhetics separates fact from fiction in skincare.
Do Skin Cancers Only Appear on Skin Exposed to the Sun?
This is one of the most dangerous skincare myths out there. Exposure to ultraviolet light rays emitted by the sun is assuredly the major cause of skin cancer. However, even skin that is rarely or never exposed to the sun is at risk:
- Between the toes
- On the soles of the feet
- Around the genitals
Research from the American Cancer Society reveals that about 10% of melanomas, the deadliest kind of skin cancer, occur in people whose family has a history of skin cancer and who have inherited genes that predispose them to the disease.
Only a dermatologist is qualified to diagnose skin cancer. Team Costhetics recommends that everyone have a yearly check-up, especially here in Australia where, according to Cancer Council Australia:
- An estimated 126,800 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Australia this year, with that number set to rise to 150,000 by 2020.
- 1 in 2 Australian men and 1 in 3 Australian women will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85.
- Cancer is a leading cause of death in Australia – more than 43,000 people died from cancer in 2012. Cancer accounted for about 3 in 10 deaths in Australia.
Costhetics Says, Stop! Butter Doesn’t Help a Burn to Heal
It was once believed that oily substances like butter or oil were helpful in treating burns because they made the burn feel better. In truth, butter and oil may contain bacteria that can cause an infection. Additionally, a greasy substance holds the heat of the burn in, which can make it more difficult for the burn to heal.
Better than butter is simple cold water. Running cold tap water over burned skin for 20 minutes aids in healing and can help prevent scarring.
Costhetics Says, Don’t Believe It: Sea Water Doesn’t Heal Skin
With Australia’s abundance of shoreline, many people have come to believe that the saline property of salty ocean water is a great way to heal sores on the skin. Not so. Several factors make this the dead-wrong approach:
- The state of the ocean – salt water is not sterile and is filled with bacteria.
- The state of your immune system – if you are not in good health, you are more susceptible to infection.
Team Costhetics recommends a visit to a dermatologist or skincare professional to ensure that skin sores heal and don’t scar.
Costhetics Examines the Myth: A Red Face is Due to High Blood Pressure
Facial redness is the result of activities in your veins, while high blood pressure is a problem that starts in the very tiny arteries going away from the heart. Facial redness that comes and goes may be the result of:
- Sunburn
- Medications
- Alcohol consumption
- Exercise
- Emotions
- Fever
Facial redness that lingers and may require the attention of a dermatologist or skincare specialist can be caused by:
- Rosacea – a skin condition that causes red, hot and swollen facial skin.
A doctor can offer a wide range of rosacea treatments, including IPL and BBL.
Skincare Fact: Only Your Doctor Knows for Sure
Your skin is the largest organ in your body. Just like your liver, your heart, and all your other essential organs, it needs and deserves the very best of care, provided by a specialist.
In Australia, a licensed doctor specialising in skin has the training and experience to diagnosis skin problems and prescribe a course of treatment that is ideally suited to your unique needs.
Run – don’t walk – to a dermatologist if:
- You’ve never had a skin exam
- You spot a growing freckle or mole (it could be skin cancer)
- You develop a rash (it could be an allergy)
You’re plagued by excessively dry skin (it could be a hormone imbalance)
Team Costhetics wants you to look your best for as long as you can!