6 Skin Myths Debunked

A pimple has erupted on your nose (oh, horrors). Family members and friends are quick to give you well-meaning advice, while the internet abounds with ‘effective’ tips and solutions. But how do you know if any of that information is true?

- Tee I-Wei and Mok Shi-Lynn

Have you tried different ways of getting rid of blackheads, pimples or even freckles on your face? Do you wash your face frequently to keep it clean and oil-free? Are you bewildered by the huge array of skincare products available on the shelves and wondered which would be good for your skin type?

At the launch of Hiruscar Anti-Acne skincare range, Dr Ch’ng Chin Chwen, consultant dermatologist at the University Malaya Medical Center, sought to set the record straight by debunking some common myths about our skin.

Myth #1: Choose skincare products based on your ‘skin type’.

The common classification of ‘skin types’ that we all know about include ‘T-zone’, ‘oily’, ‘dry’ or ‘combination’. So it might surprise you to know that this classification is neither accurate nor useful.

According to Dr Ch’ng, who said that she is asked “what is my skin type?” by her patients almost every day, this classification was likely created by skincare and cosmetic companies to sell more products. “If you look at our dermatology textbook, we divide skin according to how easily it gets damaged, how quickly it gets sunburnt and the colour of the skin. We don’t use the dry/oily/ combination classification.”

The dry/oily classification looks at how much water is held in the skin, how greasy the surface is and how sensitive skin is. According to Dr Ch’ng, there are many factors that will affect these qualities. “The no.1 factor is age: most children will have ‘normal’ skin, which is supposed to be the most ideal. As we grow older, we might get T-zone or combination skin. This is normal because we have more sebaceous glands in those areas. As you age, you might have drier skin,” she explained.