No matter what skin care advice you've gotten in your life, we're sure that the one thing that you've certainly heard consistently was to stay out of the sun. After all, there isn't a skin care product in the world that can completely undo the damage that the sun does to the skin. However, while that basic fact is true, there are some myths about the sun and your skin that we'd like to set straight. Here are five of the most common.
The Sun is a Great Acne Treatment: It is true that getting a tan will temporarily lesson your breakouts, or at least the appearance of them. This is for two reasons. Firstly, the sun makes you tan, and the discoloration of acne breakouts are less visible underneath a tan. Secondly, the sun dries out your skin. This will temporarily clear breakouts up. However, when your skin returns to its normal state the breakouts will return, and in the meantime you will have subjected your skin to sun damage. Don't use the sun to get rid of acne, use some recommended acne treatment products.
Skin Care Secret
You Should Stay Out of the Sun at All Times: This isn't true! Getting no sun is just as bad as getting too much sun. Your skin (and your body) need the healthy rays of the sun and the Vitamin D that they provide. However, you need to be protected from the sun's harmful UV rays whenever you do indulge in the sun. No matter what else you do, do not get a sunburn!
As Long As You Have Sunscreen On, You're Fine! This isn't true either. As we've all learned recently, not all sunscreens are created equally - or healthily. Do your due diligence research and make sure that you're using a sunscreen that doesn't incude ingredients or chemicals that are linked to cancers or other scary developments. No sunscreen is better than a sunscreen that damages your skin more quickly than the sun.
A Sun Tan Makes You Look Younger and Healthier: This may be true in the minute that you have the sun tan, but in reality nothing works to age the skin more than the sun. From drying it out so that fine lines and wrinkles appear earlier and more obviously to causing sun spots and age spots, which are often the earliest signs of aging on your skin. You may look healthier in the moment, but in the long term your skin will simply look more aged and less healthy because of the sun.
The sun isn't your enemy, but it isn't your skin's best friend either. Simply be responsible about where and how you enjoy the sun and you'll get to enjoy warmth and healthy looking skin for years to come.
Skin Care and the Sun: Myths and Facts
Luci Plavent is a freelance writer specializing in skin care products, including skin care product reviews, advice on beautiful skin and anti aging skin treatment products. She believes that beautiful skin and healthy skin are the same thing.