Carlson Laser Aesthetics

This list is not meant to be all-inclusive, but hopefully it will inspire thinking about what is real and how you know it is real and also inspire you to question those making a variety of claims about products, ingredients and the science behind them.

1. Facial exercises tone facial muscles and make a person appear younger:

The face is the only part of the body where muscles are attached directly to the skin; there are no facial ligaments and tissue. Constant facial exercise and tugging contribute to additional lines. Actually, wrinkles often form along expression lines caused by facial movements.

2. Vitamin E minimizes scarring:

Vitamin E is an antioxidant and helps build skin, but there is no evidence that it does anything to help with scarring. There is even some research that suggests it may have a negative effective on scarring.

3. Cucumbers help reduce puffiness around the eyes:

The principal ingredient in cucumbers in 90% water with the balance being inert fiber. They can be soothing and, with moisture, hydrate skin temporarily. The same results can be a negative effect on scarring.

4. Skin pores open and close:

Pore are openings in the skin that allow oils (sebum) to reach the surface. If pores are larger, this can be due to dead cells, genetics or scarring from squeezing blemishes.

5. The higher the skin protection factor (SPF) rating, the better:

SPF ratings, soon to be revised by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), only refer to protection from UVB rays. A person needs sun protection that has chemical and physical blockers, plus, an SPF also gives a false sense of security and introduces more potentially harmful chemicals to the body. Plus, an SPF of 50 is only marginally more protective than an SPF of 15; an SPF 15 of 30 has only 2% more protection than an SPF of 15, and a 40 has only 1% more than a 30. Sunscreens to be reapplied every 90-120 minutes.

6. Mineral oil is bad for your skin:

Mineral oil is a far cry from the industrial type that was previously used on skin. It is a very effective  ingredient in helping remove excess oil from the skin. Oil attracts oil, and the modern mineral oil formulated for use in skincare has a different molecular weight and will not harm skin or clog pores. Mixed the Kaolin-fine clay-it makes a potent cocktail to assist in controlling oil production in problematic skin. Vitamin A is the best ingredient to normalize skin.

7. Chocolate and greasy foods cause acne:

Eating chocolate does not cause acne. Hormonal factors, bacteria and skin cells are at the root of problematic skin, and stress can exacerbate flareups. Some individuals may have allergic reactions to food that can cause inflammation, as well.

8. 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.

9. Drying problematic or oily skin clears up acne:

The opposite is true. When skin becomes overly dry, an environment is created in which the skin is signaled that is too dry and produces more oil. Using dry products sparingly, and look to lightly moisture oily skin. The goal is to keep skin balanced.

10. Sun exposure will improve acne:

Yes, sun exposure can hide the appearance of acne for a while, but will lead to skin damage, pigmentation and drying that signals the skin to produce more oil.

11. Antioxidants reverse wrinkles:

Antioxidants are essential in fighting free radicals formation and are important in helping prevent skin damage, but they cannot make wrinkles go away.

Article Written By: Carol and Rob Trow, SkinInc. Magazine