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9 Skin Care Myths

A lot of skin care products and treatments come with a lot of hype. How do you know what's best for your skin? Experts reveal 9 skin care myths.

By Annabelle Robertson
WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD

Skin care tips and skin care products are everywhere these days. "Use this cream." "Exfoliate." "Drink more water." "Buy this acne cure."

Amid all the hype -- and the influx of antiaging products -- it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. How can anyone know what's true?

With the help of several leading dermatologists, we've got some answers. Here, in no particular order, are some of the top skin care myths they encounter in their practices.

Skin Care Myth No. 1: Tanning booths are safe as long as they don't contain UVB rays.

We all know that tanning is unhealthy and can lead to skin cancer and premature aging. But what about tanning booths? Tanning booth companies often say that they are filtering out the so-called "sunburn" UVB rays, says Jenny Kim, MD, an assistant professor of medicine and dermatology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California at Los Angeles. But when you go to a tanning booth, you're still exposing your skin to UVA rays, which penetrate deeper into the skin and cause damage that can lead to premature aging and the development of skin cancers.

Skin Care Myth No. 2: The higher the SPF, the better the protection.

There are three kinds of ultraviolet (UV) rays: UVA, UVB and UVC. UVA rays penetrate the skin fairly deeply, altering our pigmentation to produce a tan. UVB rays are the primary sunburn rays. These rays also damage our skin's DNA and cause photoaging, pigment changes, and carcinomas (cancerous tumors). UVC rays are absorbed by the atmosphere and don't make it to the ground.

The SPF on a sunscreen refers to the amount of protection the product offers from UVB rays or sunburns. Many sunscreens, therefore, need to offer protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Broad spectrum means protection against UVA and UVB. Look for an SPF of at least 15 and one of the following ingredients: mexoryl, oxybenzone or avobenzone (Parsol 1789) for UVA protection, or titanium dioxide or zinc oxide (which block both UVA and UVB).

Skin Care Myth No. 3: You don't need sunscreen on a cloudy day.

Kim says that even on a cloudy day, UV radiation from the sun reaches the earth's surface. So make sure you use sunscreen every day, and reapply every two hours and after swimming or sweating.

Also, don't fall prey to the myth that just because you're wearing makeup with an SPF, you're protected. According to Leslie Bauman, MD, director of the University of Miami Cosmetic Group and author of The Skin Type Solution, you would have to put on 14 or 15 times the amount of makeup that a normal person would wear to reach the SPF on the label of powdered makeup. The same thing goes for foundation and liquid makeup. Make sure you use sunscreen in addition to your makeup.