Men's Skin Care Myths: Separating Fact from Fiction

With the abundance of skin care tips on the Internet, in the media and even from friends and family, it's hard to distinguish men's skin care facts from the skin care myths.

Debunking Skin Care Myths: The Facts

The most popular men's skin care myths mostly center around improving the appearance of your skin. These myths include tips for clear skin, men's grooming advice and how to stop oily skin. Some top skin care myths are:

1. A razor with the most blades works best. Not all razors are created equal. For the best in men's grooming, you need to know what type of hair you have, and choose the razor that will shave it the best. Multiple blade razors are good for a close shave, but for men with very curly hair, the blade can cause razor burn or ingrown hairs.
2. Blackheads are the result of not washing your face. Blackheads actually aren't caused by a buildup of dirt; rather, they're the result of cellular debris. They can often be cleared up using an exfoliator in a skin care regimen.
3. Chocolate and other high-fat foods make you break out. While a healthy diet can help you on the path to clear skin, it's not your diet that makes you break out.
4. Expensive men's grooming products are always the best. Expensive men's skin care products aren't always the best choice. Many dermatologists use drugstore products in their own skin care routines. Sunscreens and many anti-aging products have the same active ingredients whether you buy them at an upscale boutique or at a neighborhood drugstore.
5. Tanning is a good way to clear acne. While there is some scientific evidence that UV light can clear up bacteria-causing acne, the risks of tanning (including deadly skin cancer) far outweigh the benefits. Tanning can also cause premature aging of the skin. For optimum skin health, it's best to avoid tanning entirely.
6. Wash your face with bar soap to prevent acne. When washing your face, always choose a gentle cleanser made for your specific skin type, whether you have clear skin or oily skin. Using a bar soap made for the body can dry out the skin and rid it of the oils it needs. If you must use a bar soap, choose one that has contains moisturizing agents, such as vitamin E or jojoba oil.
7. Wear a sunscreen with the highest SPF you can find for the best protection. A sunscreen's SPF level isn't the most important factor. Your sunscreen should have a SPF of at least 15, but the most important factor is to apply it 30 minutes before you go into the sun, apply enough and reapply often. The sunscreen should include mexoryl, oxybenzone or avobenzone to protect against the UVA rays, which penetrate deeper into the skin and are responsible for increased signs of aging. It should also include titanium dioxide or zinc oxide to protect against the UVB rays, which cause sunburns. Look for sunscreens that are broad spectrum or use the word photo-stable or photo-stabilized for better coverage. Don't forget to put it on your neck and chest, a receding hair line or other exposed areas.
8. Wear sunscreen only when going out in the sun. Even if it's not sunny out, it's still important to wear sunscreen every day as the sun's harmful rays can still reach your skin.

Resources

Grooming Lounge Staff. (n.d.). Debunking common grooming myths. Retrieved March 18, 2010, from the Grooming Lounge Web site: http://www.groominglounge.com/grooming-myths.html.

Men Essentials Staff. (n.d.). Basic training handbook. Retrieved March 18, 2010, from the Men Essentials Web site:www.menessentials.com/oxid.php/