[Sarah Luftman MD FAAD]

You may have heard one or more of the following suggestions for preventing or removing wrinkles. Unfortunately, they’re simply wishful thinking.

#1. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. The thought was that drinking that much water would plump up skin, so wrinkles wouldn’t show as much. While drinking plenty of fluids is generally considered beneficial for your overall health, don’t expect it to keep your skin smooth.

#2. Skin massage can smooth away your wrinkles. It’s just not so. You may also have heard that massaging the scalp makes hair grow. Neither claim is true.

#3. Hard scrubbing can rub away wrinkles. Using an abrasive cleanser or facial sponge to scrub away wrinkles is a waste of time. Wrinkles are caused by damage below the skin surface, not on the top.

#4. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. We all think that moisturizing is the answer to all ills. But if you’re acne-prone and your skin is oily, moisturizer could hurt the situation. If you have oily skin, avoid any product with the word “oil” in it. This counts for that new wonder-oil, Oil of Oregano. Tea tree oil, too. Any oil will clog your pores.

#5. Expensive creams work best. This is so NOT true. In my experience I’ve seen much better results in my patients, using $63-$89 skincare creams and serums, than the $500 jar of Crème de la Mer. It depends on the type of skin and the type of condition you have.

What other myths have you heard recently?

Also, what works for you? Only easy to do, natural remedies please.

 

[periwinkle]

You may have heard one or more of the following suggestions for preventing or removing wrinkles. Unfortunately, they’re simply wishful thinking.

#1. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. The thought was that drinking that much water would plump up skin, so wrinkles wouldn’t show as much. While drinking plenty of fluids is generally considered beneficial for your overall health, don’t expect it to keep your skin smooth.

#2. Skin massage can smooth away your wrinkles. It’s just not so. You may also have heard that massaging the scalp makes hair grow. Neither claim is true.

#3. Hard scrubbing can rub away wrinkles. Using an abrasive cleanser or facial sponge to scrub away wrinkles is a waste of time. Wrinkles are caused by damage below the skin surface, not on the top.

#4. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. We all think that moisturizing is the answer to all ills. But if you’re acne-prone and your skin is oily, moisturizer could hurt the situation. If you have oily skin, avoid any product with the word “oil” in it. This counts for that new wonder-oil, Oil of Oregano. Tea tree oil, too. Any oil will clog your pores.

#5. Expensive creams work best. This is so NOT true. In my experience I’ve seen much better results in my patients, using $63-$89 skincare creams and serums, than the $500 jar of Crème de la Mer. It depends on the type of skin and the type of condition you have.

What other myths have you heard recently?

Also, what works for you? Only easy to do, natural remedies please.

I would argue that water does play a role in keeping your skin smooth/hydrated. Obviously it alone will not keep the skin smooth.
Quite a few here and elsewhere would argue that massage does have a beneficial effect on your skin. Not necessarily wrinkles though. I agree with all the rest except that $63-$89 is WAY more than I would ever spend on a skin serum or cream.

 

[fawnie]

Welcome Sarah!

Thanks for sharing and we look forward to your posts here! that's what we're all about!

I have to agree with Peri though - massage can rev up the circulation and help whatever actives I use to be used better! Using Retin-A, Vit C serum and facial resistance training + massage has just about conquered my crows-feet!

What do you think about Facial Resistance Exercise and Massage? I'd love to hear your thoughts about it!!!

I have to disagree with the notion than "any oil will clog your pores". There are many light, easily absorbed oils that don't clog the pores, such as rosehip seed oil and seabuckthorn oil and hazelnut oil, that work well on oily skin also! I think the trick is to use a high-quality organic oil and use only a few drops warmed between the fingers on your skin while it is damp. No need for any other moisturizer! Have you tried this?

I don't mean to discount your considerable medical knowledge, but there are many alternative theories too! Welcome! and I look forward to some lively discussions here!!

 

[Freddy]

I'm going to go with the rest and add my two cents.

Water is important for normal bodily functions. I'd rather remove toxins via urine rather than the skin. To highlight the importance of water, try not drinking anything for a day or two and see how you feel.

Like Fawnie said, skin massages can increase circulation, also depending on the type of massage you can also stimulate a healing response from the skin and encourage it to produce collagen.

For number three, Microdermabrasion is a form of "scrubbing" hence the name. In my experience it helps with wrinkles, although the lenght of the results is debatable.

I know for a fact that not all oils clog the pores, its molecular weight and the degree of absorption of the skin will dictate where the oil goes.

For the last one, I'm just going to laugh at that one since I don't think anyone falls for the hype of overpriced products in the first place.

I also do not mean to discount your medical knowledge, but there is always a flipside to everything. At a bare minimum we've got something to continue the discussion on and elaborate.

 

[IluvNY]

Fawnie i agree with you about the facial massage and excerise and thanks for letting us know about crows feet it will give me hope! Im gonna go out today and try get face massage video actually!

However though as far as overpriced products are concerned for example someone like me who has green cream shipped over now this was not cheap but hopefully it will be worth it otherwise il be screaming i think!!

Freddy what about skin doctors at home micro derm kit have you heard of it if so any good i was thinking about buying one at one point but then thought it would prob ruin the whole thin skin issue!!

Welcome to the sight though sarah

 

[helpwithskin]

I also have to debate on the beneficial effects of water. I've been really dehydrated for weeks and my skin has gotten bad. When I was younger I only drank soda, and my skin was horrible. I don't believe it will help the skin by its affect alone, but water removes toxins from the body and if you don't drink enough they will stay in your body, causing you to get bad skin, and to feel bad overall.

 

[pumi]

Welcome on board, Sarah!

Thanks for sharing these information but I disagree about the fact that water does not help plump skin because drinking 8 glasses or more of water will improve skin texture, keep our cells hydrated and flush toxins from our bodies.
Drinking not enough water will certainly leave the skin dehydrated , scaly and taut with superficial lines and lead to premature aging.

 

[IluvNY]

Pumi water is good for hydration reasons and helps soften skin but however as far as premature aging, everyone does at some point all you can do is pre vent by using ret, vit c and excersise and massage!! Premature aging is happening more and more these days due to enviromental factors, sitting on comp for too long, not eating well etc, but once you start getting lines you start getting lines, the more you use your face too ie squinting the more the muscles will move and hence frown lines appear!! All you can do is prevent as much as poss!