It’s not exactly the game that many used to play when they were younger but, when it comes to taking care of our body, even the smallest rumor can trigger tragic consequences. There are a lot of lies in the Beauty industry and here we unravel the most common ones.
It’s not exactly the game that many used to play when they were younger but, when it comes to taking care of our body, even the smallest rumor can trigger tragic consequences. There are a lot of lies in the Beauty industry and here we unravel the most common ones.

Your diet has a direct impact on acne. It depends.
Have you ever eaten chocolate and woke up the next day with a pimple? It may have been a simple coincidence. According to Teresa Pinto de Almeida, dermatologist at ClinOffice, in Porto, "there is no proven scientific evidence that establishes a direct connection between certain foods and the development of acne." However, the specialist states that "foods with a high glycemic value, such as refined cereals and sweets, can alter the differentiation mechanisms in the deep layers of the skin and favor the development of acne related injuries." For Ana Filipa Duarte, dermatologist at Centro de Dermatologia Epidermis, "foods that are rich in fats" should also be included in that list but, she stresses, it's important that one knows their skin to understand which foods cause acne by coincidence or by consequence. Even so, Teresa Pinto de Almeida communicates a transversal message: "A varied and cautious diet is fundamental for the maintenance of your skin's health." And there is no greater truth than that.
Pores open and close. Myth.
In some corners of the Internet, you can read advice like this: “Run your face through warm water before applying the cleansing gel, as higher temperatures cause the pores to open, deepening the cleansing process." But that's not quite true, pores don't “open” and “close”, they can simply be more or less visible. Ana Filipa Duarte explains that "at times when the sebaceous glands are more active, (...) the pores may be more dilated and even darkened." Sometimes, the pores even "clog," since they are "drainage holes for the glands that produce glands," as Teresa Pinto de Almeida explains. However, the best way to reduce the appearance of dilated pores is by "applying suitable creams and exfoliating” or, in more difficult cases, "oral anti-seborrheic medication or seborregulating vitamins," advises the dermatologist at Centro de Dermatologia Epidermis.
Cutting your hair more regularly makes it grow faster. Myth.
Teresa Pinto de Almeida starts by explaining that "hair has a cycle (it is born, grows and falls)" and that this cycle is "regulated by hormonal, genetic, physiological, pharmacological and environmental factors" among others. In turn, the act of cutting the hair involves "removing the end of the hair shaft" and, although, as Ana Filipa Duarte points out, a regular cut is "important for hair quality," it has no impact on the hair growth cycle. That role is performed by the root of the scalp, which ”doesn't change with the haircut.”
You shouldn't pop pimples. Truth.
The two dermatology specialists agree that popping pimples is counterproductive and point out several reasons to explain why. In the words of Teresa Pinto de Almeida, "when you force a pimple to burst, its contents are externalized outwards and also inwards, spreading deep into the skin. This generates local inflammation (redness, warm sensation, swelling) and favors the development of progressively larger injuries." Ana Filipa Duarte adds that there is a risk of over-infection, "because hands carry many microorganisms." Certain larger skin injuries may eventually "require surgical drainage,” and this should be done "in an appropriate environment and by a skilled physician, ideally a dermatologist.”
Products with natural ingredients are generally safer. Myth.
This is a common thought, often used to promote Beauty products with a high percentage of natural ingredients. However, this is not enough to guarantee the safety of a formula. As confirmed by Ana Filipa Duarte, "many molecules used in creams are extracted from natural products and they too can be irritating or allergic to the skin." It is true that "natural products are generally more minimalistic, with fewer ingredients," but that also means that "they may be more subject to oxidation or even contamination because they have no preservatives." Thus, each product must be analyzed on a case-by-case basis, as there are both formulas that can be trusted and others that are not recommended.
It is possible to train the hair to be not so greasy. Myth.
Raise your hand if you have used the quarantine to train your hair so you don't need to wash it as often. Some people swear by this technique, but dermatologists say it's just a myth: "Washing [your hair] more frequently doesn't make it fall more, or get oilier", explains Ana Filipa Duarte. Teresa Pinto de Almeida shares this opinion. The dermatologist at ClinOffice indicates that greasiness is a sign that the hair "should be washed" and that "it is less harmful to wash it than to walk around with it dirty." There are, however, ways to combat hair greasiness. According to Ana Filipa Duarte, "an oily hair benefits from shampoos and lotions that control oiliness. In such cases, if the hair is long, it is important to moisturize the tips, because shampoos for oily hair dry and damage the hair shaft. There are also medication and vitamins that help control oiliness when needed.”
You don't need to use at home. Myth.
"Even when we're at home, it's common to be at the window, go to the garden or to the balcony, so there can always be unnoticed and unconscious sun exposure" starts by saying Teresa Pinto de Almeida. Because of this, few are the cases in which applying sunscreen is not necessary. Even those who live between the darkness of four walls can benefit from products with a high level of SPF, especially if they spend a large part of their time in front of a screen. "If we spend hours on a computer, tablet or phone, we should also apply sunscreen to protects us from visible light, namely blue light, which is also harmful to the skin," clarifies Ana Filipa Duarte. Let us be reminded that applying sunscreen should be done about 30 minutes before exposure to sunlight (or blue light) and the product should be renewed several times a day. This is the only way to maintain a long-lasting protection.
Drying your hair naturally is healthier than blow-drying. It depends.
There are assumptions that can both be a myth and truth, as it depends on how we execute them. Most of the time we can say that drying our hair naturally is actually healthier than using a hair dryer to get the same effect. As Teresa Pinto de Almeida explains, "the use of hair dryers, especially at high temperature, damages the hair's protective outer cuticle, causing it to become more fragile and break more easily." However, Ana Filipa Duarte believes that, "especially during cold seasons, it is important to dry the hair root (...) as it takes many hours to dry, which will damage and weaken it." The professional at Centro de Dermatologia Epidermis adds that, for the same reason, one should not go "to sleep with wet hair" and puts forward some recommendations for a healthy use of the hair dryer, such as drying "at a distance of 20 or 30 centimeters” and with the dryer “in mild temperatures.”
Oily skin does not need to be moisturized. Myth.
Oily skin and hydration are two distinct components that, although may influence each other, should be treated separately. "Oily skin doesn't dehydrate so easily, but it needs adapted hydration, with more fluid formulations, in gel or gel-cream, oil free, that provide the hydration that the skin needs and help control oiliness," explains Ana Filipa Duarte. Teresa Pinto de Almeida completely demystifies this idea, reminding us that "if the skin is not moisturized, the sebaceous glands, through a feedback mechanism, increase their production of sebum, making it even oilier." For the dermatologist, the secret is to "use seborregulating and matifying products so that sebum production decreases and, consequently, oiliness does too."
Shaving with a razor makes the hair grow thicker. Myth.
Perhaps one of the most common myths concerning the female body, this is just one of several disadvantages that are associated with the use of razors for hair removal. However, the two dermatologists offer explanations that deny this assumption. "As hair grows, its tip gets thinner," says Teresa Pinto de Almeida. This end is "thinner than the root," according to Ana Filipa Duarte, adding that "if we cut [the hair] with a razor, the tip will be as thick as the root." This means that the hair doesn't thicken but, "as the thin tip that was previously visible disappears, you get the illusion that the hair is stronger,” concludes Teresa Pinto de Almeida. It's just one more proof that, sometimes, appearances can be deceptive.
Translated from the original on The Gossip Issue of Vogue Portugal.Full credits and stories on the print issue.
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