beauty

'I'm a dermatologist. Here are 7 of the biggest myths I hear from patients.'

If there's one thing we really love doing, it's busting silly beauty myths

Thanks to social media and the seemingly endless slew of products, ingredients and devices that launch every day, it can be awfully hard to know what's legit and what's, well, utter nonsense.

Sigh.

Watch: Here are seven ways to improve your skin while sleeping. Post continues below.


Video via Mamamia

So, when we spotted this two-part Instagram video from Melbourne dermatologist Dr Shammi Theesan from ODE Dermatology (who goes by Dr Shammi), we knew we had to share some of her pearls of wisdom. Because there were MANY.

From hair loss shampoo to skincare ingredients that actually work, we look at seven of the biggest myths a dermatologist has officially ruled out.

So, pull up a chair - you're going to want to read this.

1. You can't wear sunscreen if you have acne.

Let's start with quite possibly the most harmful myth out there, shall we? 

Because if you're a person who stays away from sunscreen because it makes you break out - you're using the wrong kind of sunscreen. 

"When you've got acne, you've actually got inflammation in your skin," explains Dr Shammi. "So when you throw in UVA and UVB, you're going to get more inflammation and break out more."

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Read: Ditching sunscreen will only make your skin a hundred times worse on the breakout front. Not to mention it will also ramp up your chances of skin cancer and premature ageing.

So, just find a sunscreen that works for your skin. 

These days, there are heaps of amazing SPF brands that make it really easy to want to wear sunscreen - there's seriously something out there for everyone. No excuses.

2. Hair loss shampoos can help your hair grow back.

You've tried it all. Every shampoo with the word 'hair growth' slapped on the front. But it just ain't working.

Hair loss is a complicated game. But here's the thing - no shampoo will actually make your hair grow back. 

As Dr Shammi says, "Firstly, they're not growing back more hair. They're prolonging the growth phase of your hair."

Instead of wasting your money on products that might not be right for you (remember, hair loss isn't a one-size-fits-all concern and can be influenced by many different factors), Dr Shammi recommends seeing your dermatologist to "actually treat hair loss at the root."

3. You can't dissolve filler without losing volume.

Injectables can be mighty confusing - especially when it comes to fillers. There are a lot of crazy myths floating around, this being one of the most common.

These days the aesthetics industry is seeing more and more people requesting to 'hide' adverse results from fillers, or have their fillers completely dissolved. 

One of the main concerns people have, though, is that dissolving filler will mean you lose some of your natural volume.

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But according to Dr Shammi, this is another sneaky myth. "You can totally dissolve filler in your skin without losing volume."

"Dissolving filler is like putting it in the first place," she said. "It's a real art."

There you go.

4. You have to take supplements for life.

If you're anything like us, the whole supplements space is confusing as hell.

So many brands! So many products! So many different benefits!

And, how long are you actually supposed to take them? Do you just take them for... life?

Dr Shammi's answer? "Hell no."

"Take it for short courses, [support] your gut and work out the right food for you, so your body absorbs all those micronutrients without you having to supplement forever."

Makes sense.

5. Topical peptides are the superior skincare ingredient.

Chances are you've heard of peptides in skincare - you might even have them kicking around your beauty cupboard.

They're a buzzy, innovative ingredient, promising to support hydration and collagen production, improving the elasticity, firmness, and smoothness of your skin.

But according to Dr Shammi, there are other topical ingredients out there that are more beneficial for the skin.

"Peptides are great molecules - but I still think they're better off injected to get the full benefits," she shares.

"Look into traditionally proven actives like retinol, vitamin B3, [or] vitamin C."

6. You can't dye your hair if you suffer from hair loss.

Yeah, you can! Contrary to what you might've been told before, according to Dr Shammi, it is actually safe to dye your hair if you have hair loss or thinning.

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"When you've got hair loss, it's due to something going on internally," she explains.

That's because there are so many factors that are involved with hair loss and hair thinning - and it's different for everyone. 

For starters, your genetics and hormones play a massive role, but it can also be attributed to things like diet, medications, illness, and even stress. There are also things like low iron and thyroid imbalance, as well as postpartum hair loss.

So, you don't have to freak out when it comes to colouring your hair. "If you do a gentle dye, there should be no issues," said Dr Shammi. 

Just make sure you take a trip to your doctor or a dermatologist to find the cause and help you find a solution.

7. You only get hormonal acne if you have irregular periods.

Wrong. You can get hormonal-based acne, even if you have regular periods. 

And Dr Shammi said there are a few things you need to do. "Work out if you've got polycystic ovarian syndrome, if you've got endometriosis or adenomyosis - look at the clinical signs as opposed to purely relying on a blood test."

From here, you'll be able to work out the best treatment for you.

Keen to hear more from Dr Shammi? Follow her on Instagram.

Did you believe any of the above myths? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Feature: Instagram; @drshammi.

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