Let’s debunk some skincare myths
So this is technically true. However, there a few caveats. Very rarely is sunscreen applied with 100% perfection (I’m including myself here), so chances are, somewhere on the body, skin is getting a hit of sunshine and vitamin D. Additionally, sunscreen itself has limitations; SPF 30 blocks 97% of UV rays and SPF 50 blocks 98%. Two percent may not sound like much, but it’s enough for the body to get what it needs. Also, the sun is also not the only source of vitamin D — foods such as fish and egg yolks contain it, as well as supplements (my husband likes the Maxi-Health liquid gels). In the end, it’s more important to protect skin from cancerous damage than depend on getting vitamin D from the sun alone.
As a recovering pop-aholic, don’t make my mistakes. Popping pimples can shove bacteria deeper into skin, causing more redness and swelling, and potentially infection. In turn, this can also lead to scarring. Further, there is the “The Triangle of Death” — a facial zone that runs from the bridge of the nose down to the corners of the mouth. Popping a pimple in that territory can have a terrifying (albeit rare) consequence: The blood vessels in the “triangle” connect nearly directly to the brain, so pimple bacteria could end up in the brain and sinus cavities and cause drama.
So don’t do it.
Alternative options: A hot compress for ten minutes to draw the pus to the skin’s surface and kickstart healing. Spot treatments with sulfur or salicylic acid to dry them out, such as De La Cruz Acne Treatment with 10% Sulfur (love it!) or CeraVe Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment Control Gel. Hydrocolloid patches to draw out the pus like Neutrogena Stubborn Acne Pimple Patches, or Starface Hydro-Star + Salicylic Acid Pimple Patches (they have salicylic acid built right in!). If there’s a monster pimple along with a major event, a dermatologist can inject cortisone to shrink it.
That’s how I scorched my skin off right before a family wedding with a too-high-percentage chemical peel. Okay, granted, I do get some tingling when I use a 10% glycolic serum, but it shouldn’t be throbbing. If skin is mad, listen to it.
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