Dr. Jegasothy and The Healthy Bust Skin Care Myths
It’s time we set the record straight on all the various skincare rumors out there. In this article “The 37 Worst Pieces of Skin Care Advice Dermatologists Have Ever Heard” by Charlotte Hilton Andersen, Dr. Jegasothy dishes out the facts on several of these skincare “tips.”
On Using Toothpaste on Acne
“Many people use toothpaste as a home remedy to quickly reduce the size of the cold sore or pimple, but there is no real evidence that toothpaste can help either of these conditions. Some toothpaste contains hydrogen peroxide, which is in fact an antiseptic, so skin bacteria and virus levels may temporarily go down from its application. But other ingredients in toothpastes can irritate the skin and cause further breakouts.”
On Tying a String Around A Skin Growth to Make it Die or Fall Off
“This was a very common old wives’ tale, especially among older generations. While this may work for certain benign skin tags, Dermatologists shudder at this old-fashioned treatment. Not only can this cause excessive bleeding at the site, requiring a doctor’s attention, it may also cause incomplete removal of the lesion and permanent scarring. Even worse, it may delay the diagnosis of something more serious, such as skin cancer, which requires diagnosis by a board-certified dermatologist.”
On Botox? Making You Numb
“This misconception is so popular it was even part of a comedy bit on the TV show “Frasier?” but the truth is that all neurotoxin injections, including Botox?, Dysport?, Xeomin?, and Jeuveau? only block the nerve that leads to the muscle fiber, not the sensory nerve that mediates touch and sensation. If you are experiencing a mild degree of numbness after getting Botox?, that may be related to the numbing cream and/or the ice pack. If severe or prolong numbness persists, that may be a signal of a more serious, unrelated condition to your Botox? treatments, and I would recommend proceeding to the nearest ER immediately to rule out the possibility of something more serious.”-
And there you have it. While some of these rumors sound plausible, there’s no real truth behind these tips or misconceptions, especially in the case of Botox?. In fact, it’s possible that some of this “advice” could even cause damage or harm in the future if you’re not careful. Luckily, board-certified dermatologists like Dr. Jegasothy can get the right information out to those who need it. As always, we suggest you see a board-certified dermatologist for individualized attention to your skincare problems.