Anti-aging is always a trending topic with the influx of anti-aging treatments, claims of new, must-have products, and skin-care advice from multiple random sources. But how much of what you hear is true and helpful?

Common Anti-aging Skin Care Myths – Debunked

Myth: Dry skin causes wrinkles.

Wrinkles are caused by collagen breakdown; not dry skin. Dry skin tends to make wrinkles more obvious. That said, hydrating your skin has no effect as to whether or not you will develop wrinkles.

Myth: Since my mother looks very young for her age, I will also not show signs of aging when I get older.

There are many factors that affect how you age, including genetics and lifestyle habits, though in different measures. So, compared to genetics, your lifestyle habits will affect how you age to a greater extent. If you smoke, don’t use sunscreen, and eat a poor diet, your genetics, no matter how good they are, will not help you look younger for longer.

Myth: Moisturizing helps prevent wrinkles.

Applying moisturizer regularly does not prevent wrinkles, though it helps your skin stay hydrated. It does not matter what ingredients are in the moisturizer. It simply has no effect on wrinkle prevention.

Myth: I don’t need sunscreen on cloudy days.

Your skin is exposed to UV radiation, including the UVA aging rays, every day irrespective of the amount of cloud cover or precipitation. Solar radiation is the primary cause of aging, and you should never go outside without applying sunscreen.

Myth: Smiles and frowns are the primary source of wrinkles.

This is not entirely false since wrinkles can occur when muscles are used to create facial expressions. That said, the biggest cause of wrinkles is the loss of volume in the face due to the natural breakdown of fat and collagen. Fortunately, this process can be counteracted through the application of topical treatments containing peptides that enhance the ability o the skin to produce its own collagen.

Myth: The more expensive a skin-care treatment, the more effective it is.

In many cases, it is not the actual science that makes a product expensive, but the packaging and possibly inclusion of perfume. Some people prefer to buy expensive skin-care products in department stores assuming that they work better, which is not necessarily true. It is better to go for tried-and-tested brands that spend more on research and development than packaging.

In Conclusion

You should always be careful of product advertisements that claim to make you look younger in days. Everyone wants to prevent and correct any signs of aging, but you cannot simply trust every advertisement, especially since they are not monitored by the FDA. Exercising your facial muscles is also counterproductive. Instead, avoid bad lifestyle habits that cause you to age faster, like excess consumption of alcohol and smoking. Also, increase your intake of foods that boost collagen production.