Just in time for Skin Cancer Awareness AND Mental Health Awareness month - let's knock out a few misconceptions that may be plaguing your skin and your mind or dare I say, miSKINceptions- too much of a strecth? Yes. JUST LIKE my bad jokes- these skincare rumors are basically contortionists if we're relating how much of a stretch they are to the truth, and no one wants to buy their skincare at the circus. So, let's nip these in the butt so you don't have to worry about covering your own down the line - but actually keep your butt covered nonetheless, unless you're at my Memorial Day party, in that case, what's your nameeee.... ok back to the task at hand...cracking these rumors in half and helping you sleep better at night knowing you know what's real and what isn't in this dystopian land of online brain dumping and marketing we are fed on the daily with or without consent... did you know the average person consumes 7 hours and 54 minutes of online content a day? I know.
Ok so let's all take a moment to inhale the truth and exhale bullshit together on 1...2...
1. BASE TANS ARE NOT HEALTHY
One persistent misconception is that getting a “base tan” can help with sun protection and preventing burns down the line. This is not true. A base tan affords almost no protection against future uv exposure. Only sunscreen and uv protective clothing can do that. Studies have shown that a "base tan" protects you about as much as a sunscreen with an SPF 3 or less.
2. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A HEALTHY GLOW - (sorry for this.)
There is no such thing as a healthy tan/glow and all tanned skin is harmed and healing skin. I hate to write it - but don't shoot the messenger! For all the reasons above, there is just no way to safely tan your skin unless it is with sunless tanner.
3. SUNSCREEN IS NOT TOXIC
Don't let these wackadoos tell you that sunscreen is toxic. This is a very dangerous and selfish message to relay if you're an influencer reading this that communicates this falsity. The most dangerous risk of sunscreen - is not wearing it.
4. THERE IS NO HEIRCHY BETWEEN MINERAL AND PHYSICAL SUNSCREEN
Just like pop singers and female politicians, why are we pitting these two beautiful beings against each other? There is nothing wrong with either. There are pros and cons to wearability depending on your skin tone and lifestyle preferences, but there is no physical health benefit to one vs. the other.
5. TANNING DOES NOT HEAL YOUR ACNE
No, tanning does NOT heal or speed up the healing of any acne. Your skin is already working hard on healing the acne most likely - so, if you add harm from the sun on top - you actually create more for your skin to heal and actually elongating the healing time and process. You may feel as if tanning diminishes and/or "dries up" acne as I often hear and need to correct in my treatment room, but I can assure you it does not address the acne and unfortunately just adds something else for the skin to deal with. Isn't life hard enough??
6. YOU DO NOT MISS OUT ON VITAMIN D BY WEARING SPF
Good golly one does not become Vitamin D deficient by wearing SPF. You need sun protection as much as you need vitamin D. Clinical studies have never found that everyday sunscreen use leads to vitamin D insufficiency. In fact, the prevailing studies show that people who use sunscreen daily can maintain their vitamin D levels. So just get the D, but use proetction. Life truly mocks us with it's redundancy sometimes, doesn't it.
Remember, beauty is an action, beauty standards are bullshit, you are so SO much more, skincare is healthcare, and skincare should be inclusive to all - so, let's keep pushing and you can always count on me to just, tell the truth! :)
Vitamin C ya next time!!!!!!!! (sorry not sorry)
Kenzie