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BODY LOOK THE TRUTH BEHIND 10 COMMON BEAUTY MYTHS

WRITER: RUTH ANN BYRD

1. MYTH: Shaving makes hair grow back thicker and darker.

TRUTH: Scientific studies have shown shaving has no effect on hair growth, color or coarseness. However, as shaved hair regrows, the tip will feel blunt because it has been cut. Notice how the hair on your head appears thicker after a haircut. Heredity and hormones do affect hair density and color. Puberty, pregnancy and menopause are the three stages of life when hair growth patterns are most likely to change. Hair growth can also be affected by some medical conditions and medications.

2. MYTH: Regular waxing will eventually cause hair to stop growing.

TRUTH: Waxing can sometimes damage hair follicles to the point where they stop producing hair. But in many cases waxing will make hair grow back thicker and deeper because of the healing process that takes place in the traumatized follicle once the hair is ripped from its root. Waxing is the exact same treatment to your hair follicles as tweezing. Has anyone ever told you tweezing would eventually stop the hairs from growing? I mean, really?!

3. MYTH: Tweezing a gray hair makes two come back in its place.

TRUTH: There is no scientific data to back this one up. Sorry, but if you are caught in the downward spiral of graying hair, no amount of tweezing (or not) will change things.

4. MYTH: Nothing will make your pores smaller; you are stuck with them for life.

TRUTH: Skin gradually loses collagen and elastin with normal aging, causing it to stretch and sag. This laxity makes pores appear larger. Retinols and beta and alpha hydroxy acids stimulate exfoliation and collagen production, which will gradually increase collagen and elastin and thus tighten skin and pores. Even better, there is new technology with lasers that will reduce pore size. See your local cosmetic surgeon or dermatologist for more information.Yes baby, we’ve come a long way!

5. MYTH: Everyone needs daily unprotected sun exposure to get enough vitamin D.

TRUTH: According to the Skin Cancer Foundation (skincancer.org), our body produces vitamin D when exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) rays (the sunburncausing rays), which are only present midday. Our bodies produce only a limited amount of vitamin D from UVB rays. Further, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays is linked to skin cancer, immune suppression, photoaging, cataracts and other health issues. Therefore the

Skin Cancer Foundation recommends obtaining vitamin D largely from food or supplements, while protecting skin from excess sun exposure.

6. MYTH: Caffeinated coffee causes rosacea flare-ups.

TRUTH: While this seems to be the case for many people, according to the National Rosacea Society, medical studies show it is not coffee or caffeine that causes exacerbation of symptoms, but rather the heat from this beverage.

7. MYTH: Blackheads are caused by inadequate cleansing.

TRUTH: Blackheads occur when the opening of a pore becomes clogged with dead skin cells that fail to shed normally. The normal shedding process is hindered by enzymes, which cause dead skin cells to cling to the lining of the pores. This problem is often coupled with overproductive sebaceous glands. The sebum cannot exit the pore so it oxidizes, turning black. Surface debris can be scrubbed off but the pore remains clogged until the malfunction in the pore is resolved. The best way to prevent clogged pores is to apply topical salicylic acids to dissolve the enzymes that cause dead skin cells and debris to cling to the lining of the pores. Excess sebum production is best controlled by the use of topical retinoids.

8. MYTH: Expensive cosmetics work better than inexpensive cosmetics.

TRUTH: The price of a cosmetic has absolutely nothing to do with quality. There are many high-quality inexpensive products and many worthless expensive products and vice versa. It all boils down to the ingredients and formulation of the products, not the price.

9. MYTH: There are miraculous skin creams that work as well as Botox.

TRUTH: Unfortunately, there is currently no topical beauty cream that can begin to compete with Botox, which is injected directly into the offending muscle, causing it to physically relax wrinkles and smile lines. Please note: I am wording this gently because Botox contains botulin toxin, which temporarily paralyzes muscles. Eek! Try not to think about this too much or you will never try it. My point is, if Botox were applied directly to the skin it could not penetrate sufficiently to cause muscle relaxation. The toxin must be injected directly into the correct muscles in the correct amount.

10. MYTH: Never use a facial cleanser because it strips your face of natural oils; just splash your face with water twice a day.

TRUTH: High-quality facial cleansers are specially formulated to dissolve and exfoliate makeup, oils and dead skin cells while preserving the skin’s protective barrier. This paves the way for good penetration of serums and moisturizers.

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