CLEARING UP SOME CONFUSION ON SKIN

CLEARING UP SOME CONFUSION ON SKIN

Suspicious spots, stretched-out pores and pesky pimples can befuddle even the most skin-savvy people. Read on to clear up some confusion about your skin—your biggest organ that covers your entire body will, no doubt, thank you.

#1: Popping a pimple

If you have pus in the pimple, then it's OK. But don't over-squeeze—you could end up with an infection and scarring. It is best doing the deed after a shower, when skin is cleansed and pores are more open. Place cotton between fingers (to prevent bacteria under the nails from spreading) and squeeze very gently. Afterward, apply a topical antibiotic to help it heal.

#2: Drinking water and skin hydration

Drinking water doe s not hydrate the skin any more than taking a bath quenches the thirst. Of course drinking water is good for your body overall, but it's not going to directly affect your skin's hydration the way that a good moisturizer does.

#3: Shrinking enlarged pores

Like skin and eye color, the size of your pores is based on the genetic cards you were dealt. While you can't change that, you can reduce the appearance of pores. Anything that gets the dead skin and debris out of pores will make them look better. To permanently minimize pores, tightening and

resurfacing lasers remove skin's top layers, getting down to a level where cone-shaped pores are naturally smaller.

#4: Greasy foods

Greasy foods can cause break outs. Pretty much all high-glycemic foods—basically anything you might order during happy hour—can result in acne flare ups. This is because such foods are packed with carbohydrates and simple sugars that increase levels of insulin in the blood, which in turn revs up hormones that cause breakouts.

#5: Too much lotion

You can never have too much lotion on the body, but you can over-hydrate your face and clog pores. To get the most out of any moisturizer, it's best to apply it after showering or bathing. If you're acne-prone, then look for a lotion that's oil-free.

#6: White spots on the arms

If they're scaly, then they could be a fungal infection. Your dermatologist can prescribe a wash or cream to clear up the skin condition. Although no one wants a fungus, it's actually preferable to the alternative: permanent sun damage caused by blasted melanocytes (skin's pigment-producing cells).

#7: Why are some people plagued by recurring pimple

That pimple may in fact be a cyst, which may subside but never fully goes away. (And pinching and prodding it can only make things worse.) A lot of times people brake down the collagen underneath, which interferes with healing and causes scarring. A dermatologist can treat the persistent spot with a cortisone shot.

#8: SPF-What does it actually mean

SPF determines how much time you can spend in the sun before burning. For example, if you normally burn in 10 minutes without sunscreen and you've slathered on lotion with SPF 15, then you should be protected for 150 minutes (a multiplication factor of 15). Up until this year, SPF only covered UVB rays, the ones responsible for sunburns. But new FDA regulations will require sunscreens to be broad-spectrum, protecting against both UVB and skin-aging UVA rays.

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