Popping pimple myths: Are these skin care practices doing you more harm than good?
With the barrage of information out there on how to get rid of pimples, it gets tricky weeding the myths from the facts. Sometimes, the only way to know which ones are truly effective is to try it yourself which can be a hit or a miss. There's really no way of telling.
To make things (and your skin!) clear, Pinoy MD talked about the truth behind pimple myths in their recent episode.
According to dermatologist Jean Marquez, a person gets pimples when there is an inflammation on the hair follicles and oil glands of the skin.
“When there's excess production of the oil, the bacteria spread, then, it will cause inflammation. When there is inflammation, there will be swellings or clogging on the pores.”
Dr. Marquez said that if the oil can't get out of the oil glands, “it gets trapped inside until the oil glands break out under the skin and eventually cause further redness.”
There are four causes of acne: genes, hormones, food with high-glycemic index, and cosmetics.
While there are plenty of skincare products, routines, and tutorials on the Internet that swears to make the annoying little red dots on your face disappear, there are also some "myths" that a few people swear to be true and effective. Here's three of them:
White toothpaste as a spot treatment for pimples
Some people claim that the white toothpaste can quickly dry the pimples when dabbed directly on the affected areas, left overnight, and rinsed with cool water in the morning.
According to the Chair of the Philippine Dermatological Society Dr. Zharlah Gulmatico-Flores, toothpaste contains hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, menthol, essential oils, and triclosan - all of which have “the drying effect.”
“Sometimes the irritation or the dryness can make the acne go. However, these contains very drying substances, that instead of really treating the main cause of the acne, later on, it can irritate the skin.”
Femine wash as pimple remedy
Because it is gentle on the skin and contains anti-bacterial properties, some people believe that it can be used to treat pimples.
Dr. Marquez explained that since the feminine wash is being used only as a toner, it will not totally target all the acne problems.
“So, in a way, it is only removing the oil, dead skin, or excess oil on our skin. So, it is still not a treatment for acne,” she said.
Rice water on the face
Also used as a toner, some people make use of rice water as it contains many natural antioxidants.
Dr. Gulmatico-Flores relates, "It's gaining popularity right now because people are claiming that when you use the rice water wash your face, it can really cause dryness of pimples, and since it has essential vitamins - vitamins C and B, it can really help the skin.”
She recommends consuming the rice water within two to three days because it may harbor bacteria and cause or aggravate the pimples later on.
Skin experts agree that there is nothing wrong with trying alternative treatment with scientific studies to soften the skin, especially when it comes to acne. But, it is still strongly advised to consult with dermatologists first to be sure.
Learn more about how to achieve your #SkinGoals in this episode of Pinoy MD:
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