Chocolate makes pimples, without plaster wounds heal faster and yogurt helps with sunburn? Surely you also know these folk sayings. But what is really true? Here you can find out what is really true about these myths about the skin.
Myth 1: “Yogurt helps with sunburn.”
Sure, yogurt‘s cooling effect can briefly help with the pain of sunburn, but beware! Yogurt for sunburn – this can also end badly. The burned skin is very dried out by the sun and vulnerable.
“Yogurt does not contain any ingredients that promote healing,” explains Dr. Beatrix Grohn from the BKK Bundesverband. “On the contrary, the germs present in it can exacerbate inflammation and even cause allergic reactions.”
Better for soothing a sunburn is a burn and wound gel with a cooling effect and cell-renewing panthenol. For mild sunburns, you can also use a well-tolerated aftersun product.
Or even better, avoid intense sun exposure and take precautions with appropriate clothing and sunscreen to prevent sunburn in the first place.
Myth 2: “Chocolate makes pimples”.
One thing is a fact: chocolate tastes good! But that it causes pimples is wrong! A connection between chocolate consumption and impure skin has not been scientifically proven.
Pimples are caused by clogged skin pores and excess sebum production. Acne has nothing to do with wrong diet. “Hormone balance is more responsible for pimples,” says Dr. Grohn. “However, an unhealthy diet, such as too much fat, sugar and alcohol, as well as too few vitamins and minerals, can have a negative effect on the skin’s appearance. But that’s only one factor influencing healthy skin.”
The expert of the prevention campaign skin therefore advises, in addition to a healthy diet, plenty of fresh air, sufficient sleep and daily care of the skin for a fresh complexion. Stress, smoking and extensive sunbathing, on the other hand, should be avoided.
Myth 3: “Without plasters wounds heal faster”.
This myth is also not true. “There is no real acceleration of wound healing, neither in the fresh air, nor under a plaster,” says Dr. Grohn. “Wounds heal on their own a short time after they occur. The body’s own defense and self-healing functions normally ensure rapid healing.”
For small wounds, a band-aid is not absolutely necessary. However, wound dressings protect against physical, chemical and mechanical influences from the outside. Often, wound dressings have an antibacterial coating to prevent further infection of the wound. Larger wounds, or chronic, poorly healing wounds, even close particularly well under special moist wound dressings.
A strong immune system is a basic prerequisite for rapid wound healing. Vaccination against tetanus is also highly advisable to prevent wound infections.
