Skin Knowledge: Is it Really True? Correcting Misconceptions About Skin Care

Hello. I am dermatologist Jung Ji-in. You've probably heard various things about skin care. Among the pieces of information like 'this is good' or 'this should not be done,' there are many common misconceptions. Today, we will take some time to correct these misunderstandings about skin knowledge.

Celebrities often say that 'drinking a lot of water' is their secret to good skin. However, surprisingly, the amount of water you drink is not deeply and directly related to your skin condition. The hydration of the skin is supplied by the blood flowing in the deep dermal layer of the skin. Drinking a lot of water does not suddenly make the dermal layer rich in moisture.

Conversely, when skin becomes dry in a dry environment, it's because moisture is lost from the upper part of the epidermis rather than the dermal layer. Even in this case, drinking a lot of water makes it difficult to prevent moisture loss. Our body's internal organs, such as the kidneys, heart, and blood vessels, regulate the amount of water needed for each organ, including the skin. Therefore, unless you are not drinking enough water to become dehydrated, it is difficult to say that the amount of water you drink directly reflects your skin's moisture content.

Everyone wishes for baby-like skin. Especially those with sensitive skin sometimes use baby products because they are gentle. However, if adults use baby products, it may cause other skin troubles.

Baby skin is about 90% as thin as adult skin, and sebum secretion is very low. Also, baby moisturizing products typically use natural ingredients, are gentle, and generally have a high oil content. Therefore, for adults with oily skin, excessive oil can clog pores and cause acne.

However, recently, many baby moisturizers containing non-comedogenic lipid ingredients have been developed, reducing these problems. Mildly acidic baby body cleansers are also known to be generally fine for adult skin, and many dermatologists recommend them.

Many people carefully check the UV protection factor when buying sunscreen. Recently, there was controversy over some products manipulating their UV protection factors (SPF, PA). Products with high numbers often contain many blocking ingredients that can cause acne.

Rather than the various protection factors themselves, it is more important to reapply sunscreen multiple times and apply it thoroughly.

• Daily Life: For daily life, mainly indoor activities and commuting, an SPF of 15 or higher and PA++ is sufficient for UV protection.
• Appropriate Amount: To achieve the efficacy of a high protection factor, you should apply about two finger-lengths of sunscreen to your face. Many people apply less than this, making it difficult to achieve full effectiveness.
• Labeling Regulations: In Korea, only SPF 50+ is allowed to be labeled. Even if products with SPF 80 or 100 are brought from overseas, they are labeled as 50+ according to domestic regulations, and there is often no significant difference in actual efficacy. This is regulated by Korean cosmetics law to prevent blind faith in high numbers.

Of course, in situations where UV sensitivity is particularly high, such as after laser procedures, it is emphasized to apply a high SPF sunscreen sufficiently. For outdoor activities, SPF 30 or higher and PA+++ are generally sufficient for UV protection. However, because sunscreen can easily break down or be wiped off by sweat, it is necessary to reapply a sufficient amount every 2-3 hours to effectively protect the skin from UV rays.

After sweating in a jjimjilbang, you might feel your skin is hydrated and smooth. However, this is not because the skin has truly improved, but rather because the skin surface temporarily swells and dead skin cells loosen and fall off, making it appear better.

Of course, warm water baths are not entirely bad. They have benefits such as relaxing muscles to relieve fatigue, improving muscle and joint pain, and promoting peripheral blood circulation.

Today, we looked into the truth about common skin misconceptions. If commonly known skin information is incorrect, it could actually make your skin worse. Therefore, please make sure to verify that the information is correct before attempting any skin care methods.

If this video was helpful or if you want to know more useful skin tips, please subscribe, like, and turn on notifications. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments. This has been dermatologist Jung Ji-in. Thank you.