I had no idea how badly I'd been treating my skin until I finally became a beauty writer. For years I considered sunscreen optional, assuming that the extra melanin in my brown complexion would protect me from burning, discoloration or worse, cancer. Boy was I wrong! Apparently everything I thought I knew about sun protection, hyperpigmentation, manchas and even aging was false. I blame my Latina mother for all these crazy beauty myths I believed!
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Your abuelita and your mamá might look amazing for their age, but that doesn't mean all the beauty advice they've passed down to you is actually true. In fact, not being properly educated on your skin could do more harm than good. Take some of the common beauty myths surrounding Latina skin for instance, like how we supposedly can't get skin cancer or how we don't need to anti-age. I've spoken to many derms and experts over the past few years and it's time we finally put some of these untruths to rest. Here are five bogus Latina skin care myths we all need to stop believing!
We can't get cancer. Latinas for years have had the misconception that if you have darker skin you don't need to wear sunblock. Wrong! According to Dr. Maria Patricias Rivas, Hispanic board certified dermatologist for Lubriderm, the percentages in melanoma among Latinas has actually increased because of lack of sun care. "The recommendation is to use at least SPF 30, which blocks 97 percent of the rays. Higher number SPFs block slightly more of the sun's rays but no sunscreen can block 100 percent," says Dr. Rivas who suggest wearing protective clothing like wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses.
We don't get wrinkles. Latinas with olive or darker complexions are actually less prone to lines and wrinkles because of the extra melanin and overproduction of collagen found in our skin. BUT that doesn't mean we can completely neglect our beauty regimens either. Make sure to cleanse your face every morning and night, don't leave the house without applying sunscreen and moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! I suggest a two-in-one, like Elizabeth Arden Flawless Future Powered by Ceramide Moisture Cream Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 ($50).
We have even skin. Quite the opposite, most Latinas–especially those with darker complexions–often deal with hyperpigmentation, a.k.a manchas. To keep those dark spots at bay make sure to always apply a moisturizer that contains at least SPF 30. Use a brightening treatment, like Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair Dark Spot Corrector ($20) too.
We get the worse stretch marks. Stretch marks have more to do with your genes and how hydrated your skin is rather than skin tone. However, they do tend to show more on olive skin tones and darker. Luckily, there are formulas out there that can help reduce its appearance. Try Bio Oil Scar Treatment ($11).
We can't get laser hair removal. Darker skin is more susceptible to scaring when it comes to laser treatments but that doesn't mean you have to avoid it all together. Make sure to book your session with a technician who has experience with different skin tones and at a place that works with lasers such as Candela's GentleYag. This doesn't burn and reduces your risk of hyperpigmentation.
Image via Corbis
