By Dana DeMercurio
Ladies, it’s time to wisen up once and for all. Everyone’s fallen victim to senseless acts of beauty BS over the years, so it’s beyond time to lay some of the most outlandish myths to rest.
You’re So Vein: If you’ve ever seen a person’s legs with what looks like a roadmap of blue and purple lines running from their knees all the way down their legs, those are called varicose veins (aka spider veins). These unsightly bulges can single handedly devastate swimsuit season and even keep you from sporting your favorite shorts in the summer. While the cause of varicose veins isn’t entirely known, medical professionals have debunked the myth that they are caused by crossing your legs. According to University of Arkansas vascular surgeon Dr. John Modrall, “Crossing your legs does not cause varicose veins. They result from an intrinsic problem with the veins themselves. Standing for long periods of time is another habit that has been questioned as a cause of varicose veins. In truth, standing may exacerbate existing problem with veins but should not cause them.” So it seems we can all continue on with this ladylike etiquette our mother’s taught us without the threat of these painfully unpleasant protrusions.
Hangover Hang-ups: A few glasses of wine here, and few Cosmopolitans there…before you know it, you’re waking up with a gnarly hangover, a bad case of morning breath and a board meeting in less than 2 hours (going up on a Tuesday, it would seem). Think you can sweat out the alcohol from the night before with a short sauna session? Think again. Researchers from the Finnish State Alcohol Company’s Research Laboratories in Helsinki advise against using the sauna while hung over, as it can cause serious cardiovascular issues, including dangerous drops in blood pressure and arrhythmia. So how can you feel a lot less miserable the morning after heavy drinking? Chugging some good ol’ h2o.
Pore-Favor: If you’re like us, you’re guilty of buying expensive creams and serums with advertising claiming it will actually shrink your pores. Well we hate to burst your bubble, but it’s all a ruse. Pores can’t actually be shrunk, no matter what the product packaging says. Pore size is genetically determined, so no amount of egg-white, oatmeal or other cockamamie facial masks will ever physically shrink those bad boys. But it’s not all bad news. You can definitely minimize the appearance of pores with certain solutions and treatments, especially those with retinol. Just don’t expect them to magically disappear overnight. Consider them a permanent facial feature, because that’s exactly what they are!
It’s Not All About the Base: Summer will be here before you know it, and chances are you’ll be looking to get that essential “base-tan” in the hopes of deterring any sunburns later on. If only that were the case. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), a base tan “only provides a sun protection factor (SPF) of about 3 or less, which does little to protect you from future UV exposure.” This common misconception that a low-grade tan acts as a defense to a sunburn is one that we will definitely remember the next time we think about skimping on the sunblock.
Gray, Gray, Go Away: Do you remember that miserable day when you found your first gray hair? (My hand’s raised). Do you remember instantly sobbing, the frantically rummaging around for a pair of tweezers and ferociously plucking it from your scalp to remove all evidence that time has graced your hair with its presence? (My hand is still raised). Furthermore – if we share the same friends – you might have heard the same discouraging threat that ‘plucking one only causes two more to grow in its place.’ Well, we couldn’t be happier to debunk this myth! We can’t add to the number of follicles we already have, so chalk this one up to an old wives’ tale. But just be careful, over-plucking can lead to bald patches (which are more unsightly than even the ugliest of gray hairs!)
