People use a lot of different types of products for their skin. A quick internet search will yield skin care regimens and products that are claimed to treat a variety of skin-related conditions. Cures and treatments for age-related wear, uneven pigmentation, dry and oily skin, and many others can be found everywhere you look. But the main problem with many of these products is that they aren’t clinically proven or backed by scientific evidence. When dermatologists and skin care specialists rely on actual medicine, it’s easy to see why they get frustrated at a market that’s filled with questionable homeopathic remedies.
Continue reading to learn more about some of the skin care products currently on the market and why they aren’t favored by healthcare professionals.
Charcoal face masks
Charcoal face masks have become quite popular over the years because of charcoal’s supposed ability to absorb impurities from the skin. Charcoal can also be found in many facial cleansers, soaps, shampoos, and lotions. Aside from skin care, charcoal has been used for centuries to detoxify the stomach of people who had ingested poisons or overdosed on drugs. But simply because charcoal has been documented as a detoxifying agent inside the body doesn’t mean it has the same effects for the skin, and there is no evidence to support that it does. In fact, charcoal face masks may be doing the opposite of what they are intended to do—stripping the face of its natural sebaceous oils. These natural oils on the skin are what protect it from bacteria and harmful free radicals, so it isn’t advised to use a product that will remove it from where it’s most needed.
Jade facial rollers
Jade facial rollers have become popular on Instagram and social media as a cool and fun way to help reduce swelling and inflammation on the face and around the eyes. These rollers are available in a variety of styles and you can choose one that rocks (pun intended) your favorite crystal type—jade, amethyst, quartz, and others. Jade rollers can be placed in the freezer and used for a cool, soothing effect on the face or simply used as it comes to apply pressure to inflamed or painful areas. While jade rollers may seem like a holistic and calming experience, there’s no data to support that it does anything beyond that. Changing your diet would likely have a much greater impact on swelling and inflammation than you could hope to achieve with one of these rollers.
CBD Skin care products
CBD oil products have surged dramatically in the marketplace since the legalization of marijuana in many states. CBD (cannabidiol) is a natural, non-psychoactive compound extracted from the cannabis plant. Because CBD is not psychoactive, the user who consumes it will not experience a high like he would by consuming THC. CBD has many purported effects in the body when consumed, and evidence has shown that it can help people with a variety of diseases. However, application of CBD to the skin is a different story, and there isn’t much data to back up its anti-inflammatory effects as a topical agent. Some people have gone so far as to say that CBD can treat skin cancer when applied as an oil or ointment. These claims are worrisome for dermatologists who specialize in treating skin cancer because their patients may be forgoing treatment for CBD homeopathy.
Ingestible and topical collagen supplements
Collagen is the most abundant structural protein in the human body and gives integrity to our bones, muscles, skin, and tendons. The breaking down of collagen in the skin is responsible for many of the signs of ageing that occur as we get older—wrinkles, fine lines, uneven pigmentation, and more. Because the elasticity and overall vitality of our skin relies on support from collagen, the use of collagen supplements is exploding in the nutrition and beauty markets. However, the collagen that our body uses and synthesizes is different than the collagen found in supplements. If the collagen found in nutritional and topical products aren’t biocompatible with the human body, they won’t be utilized by our bodies in any meaningful way.
Continue reading to learn more about some of the skin care products currently on the market and why they aren’t favored by healthcare professionals.
Charcoal face masks
Charcoal face masks have become quite popular over the years because of charcoal’s supposed ability to absorb impurities from the skin. Charcoal can also be found in many facial cleansers, soaps, shampoos, and lotions. Aside from skin care, charcoal has been used for centuries to detoxify the stomach of people who had ingested poisons or overdosed on drugs. But simply because charcoal has been documented as a detoxifying agent inside the body doesn’t mean it has the same effects for the skin, and there is no evidence to support that it does. In fact, charcoal face masks may be doing the opposite of what they are intended to do—stripping the face of its natural sebaceous oils. These natural oils on the skin are what protect it from bacteria and harmful free radicals, so it isn’t advised to use a product that will remove it from where it’s most needed.
Jade facial rollers
Jade facial rollers have become popular on Instagram and social media as a cool and fun way to help reduce swelling and inflammation on the face and around the eyes. These rollers are available in a variety of styles and you can choose one that rocks (pun intended) your favorite crystal type—jade, amethyst, quartz, and others. Jade rollers can be placed in the freezer and used for a cool, soothing effect on the face or simply used as it comes to apply pressure to inflamed or painful areas. While jade rollers may seem like a holistic and calming experience, there’s no data to support that it does anything beyond that. Changing your diet would likely have a much greater impact on swelling and inflammation than you could hope to achieve with one of these rollers.
CBD Skin care products
CBD oil products have surged dramatically in the marketplace since the legalization of marijuana in many states. CBD (cannabidiol) is a natural, non-psychoactive compound extracted from the cannabis plant. Because CBD is not psychoactive, the user who consumes it will not experience a high like he would by consuming THC. CBD has many purported effects in the body when consumed, and evidence has shown that it can help people with a variety of diseases. However, application of CBD to the skin is a different story, and there isn’t much data to back up its anti-inflammatory effects as a topical agent. Some people have gone so far as to say that CBD can treat skin cancer when applied as an oil or ointment. These claims are worrisome for dermatologists who specialize in treating skin cancer because their patients may be forgoing treatment for CBD homeopathy.
Ingestible and topical collagen supplements
Collagen is the most abundant structural protein in the human body and gives integrity to our bones, muscles, skin, and tendons. The breaking down of collagen in the skin is responsible for many of the signs of ageing that occur as we get older—wrinkles, fine lines, uneven pigmentation, and more. Because the elasticity and overall vitality of our skin relies on support from collagen, the use of collagen supplements is exploding in the nutrition and beauty markets. However, the collagen that our body uses and synthesizes is different than the collagen found in supplements. If the collagen found in nutritional and topical products aren’t biocompatible with the human body, they won’t be utilized by our bodies in any meaningful way.
Biodermis is an innovative market leader with 30 years of expertise in the medical silicone industry. Visit Biodermis.com today to explore a complete range of clinically-proven scar management and post-operative care solutions.
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