Skin Myths Debunked: What You Really Need to Know

Skin myths are notorious for spreading like wildfire. Between old wives’ tales to crazy TikTok trends, misinformation is everywhere — and it can be super hard to discern facts vs. fiction in skincare. 

Here at Vargas Face & skin, we don’t want to see your skincare goals get derailed by common myths that are making the rounds online. That’s why we’re going to address some of the most common skincare misconceptions, ranging from myths about skin rejuvenation to popular ingredients you should actually avoid. Read below to discover what you really need to know.

Myth 1: Skin Rejuvenation Procedures Only Work if They’re Invasive

Here’s the real truth about skin rejuvenation: You don’t need surgery or the downtime that comes with it in order to see real results. These days, there are many non-invasive options, including LED light therapy, radiofrequency, and customized facials designed to stimulate collagen production and boost skin’s radiance over time.

What You Need to Know

The professionals at Vargas Face & Skin can create a tailored, non-invasive care plan designed to address your concerns without resorting to extremes. Ask us about rejuvenation plans that align with your skin type and goals.

Myth 2: Burning Means it’s Working

Burning or stinging sensations are often red flags, not signals that a particular product is working. When something burns or tingles, many assume that this means the product is deeply penetrating your skin — but in reality, it’s probably actually causing irritation or doing damage that can compromise your skin’s natural protective barrier.

What You Need to Know

Strong active ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), and retinol are among the most common skincare products that can cause burning or irritation, especially when used in high concentrations. Certain products or treatments may cause mild tingling, but if these products or any others cause anything more than that, listen to your skin and discontinue use.

Myth 3: Sunscreen is for Sunny Days

Any day in which the sun rises — in other words, every day — is a good day for sunscreen. Even during the winter or cloudy weather, the sun’s UV rays can still damage your skin. In fact, if you stay indoors or spend a lot of time in vehicles, it’s important to remember that windows won’t offer a lot of protection, either.

What You Need to Know

Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30, even when you’re indoors, it’s cloudy outside, or it’s wintertime. Protecting your skin from sun damage can help you stave off signs of premature aging like fine lines or sun spots.

Myth 4: You Shouldn’t Moisturize Oily Skin

Adding a layer of moisturizer to oily skin is like adding another layer of oil, right? Actually, wrong! If you have oily skin, skipping moisturizer can actually make it worse by causing dehydrated skin to overcompensate by producing even more oil.

What You Need to Know

Choose a lightweight formula that features hydrating ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid. This will help you balance hydration, which often results in less oil production, not more.

Myth 5: Natural Ingredients are Always Better

The truth? Natural ingredients aren’t always the best ingredients. Some of them can be downright harmful. Consider poison ivy: The urushiol that it produces is perfectly natural — and the rash that it can cause is a disaster for your skin.

That’s an extreme example, but there are other ingredients, like lemon juice or baking soda, that are touted as safe and natural for your skin. In reality, lemon juice can cause burns or irritation, and baking soda can irritate or abrade the skin.

What You Need to Know

When it comes to skincare ingredients, you don’t need a team of skin myth busters to help you find what works. Just follow the science. Whether created in a lab or by nature, good ingredients will be backed by multiple rigorous studies proving their efficacy.

Myth 6: Dirty Skin Causes Acne

This myth often leads people with acne to suffer from shame in addition to the painful breakouts. The truth is, acne isn’t about cleanliness. It’s a complex condition that can be caused by hormones, oil production, genetics, and other factors. In fact, overwashing your skin or scrubbing too hard can actually make breakouts worse by causing inflammation and irritation.

What You Need to Know

Start with gentle cleansing and proven acne treatment products like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. If that doesn’t produce the results you want, come and see us at Vargas Face & Skin so that we can evaluate the causes behind your acne and explore treatment options.

Myth 7: You Can Shrink Your Pores

Pore size is actually mostly determined by genetics, which means that there isn’t much you can do to physically change their size.

However, that doesn’t mean you should lose hope! There are actually lots of things that can help you minimize the appearance of pores.

What You Need to Know

Clogged pores stand out more, so make sure that regular exfoliation is a part of your routine. Aestheticians can also offer treatments like microneedling or professional-grade exfoliation to help you minimize the look of pores even more.

Crucially, you should also make sure that your skin stays plenty hydrated. Dehydrated skin can make pores look so much larger, but plump, hydrated skin is fuller, which helps reduce the look of pores.

Myth 8: Anti-Aging Products are for Mature Skin

While we’re debunking beauty myths, this is a big one. In reality, anti-aging products are for all skin — not just mature skin. Ingredients promoted as anti-aging, such as retinol or antioxidants, can actually help you prevent early signs of aging.

Many of these products work by supporting skin health and stimulating collagen production. Keeping skin plumper, firmer, and healthier helps to prevent fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging.

What You Need to Know

Don’t think of it as anti-aging. Instead, approach these types of products and treatments from a perspective of prevention. Starting a proactive skincare routine in your 20s or 30s can deliver major benefits later on.

Visit Vargas Face & Skin for Science-Backed Skincare

We’ve debunked some of the biggest skin myths out there — but new fads emerge all the time. When in doubt, you can always ask the experts at Vargas Face & Skin. We’re devoted to providing evidence-based skincare. 

To learn more or to discover what we can do to improve your skin’s health, be sure to schedule a consultation.