Dr Halliday Answers Skin Myths for West Sussex

Truth: SPF 50 filters slightly more UV than SPF 25, but nowhere near double — the difference is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Truth: Up to 80% of UV still penetrates cloud cover, so skipping SPF on an overcast day still leaves you exposed.

Truth: Melanin offers some natural protection, but UV still causes damage and pigmentation in darker skin tones.

Truth: You’d need to apply roughly 7–10 times more product than most people actually wear to get the stated protection.

Truth: Daily UV exposure, not just holiday sun, is the main driver of visible skin ageing over time.

Truth: SPF number reflects strength of protection, not duration — all sunscreen needs reapplying roughly every two hours.

Truth: Sunscreen reduces UV exposure, but in real-world use rarely blocks vitamin D synthesis completely.

Truth: Burning is driven mainly by UVB, which is weaker in winter, so burn risk is genuinely lower — but UVA, which drives ageing and pigmentation, stays present at fairly constant levels year-round, including through cloud and glass.

Truth: Used correctly, retinoids thicken the deeper dermis over time by stimulating collagen production.

Truth: Long-term use is generally safe, and works best when introduced gradually and reviewed with a doctor.

Truth: They regulate skin cell turnover rather than exfoliating the surface the way acids do.

Truth: Visible peeling is a sign of irritation, not a marker of how well the product is working.

Truth: Stable, well-formulated vitamin C products are specifically designed for daily use.

Truth: Niacinamide is barrier-supportive and rarely causes purging or irritation.

Truth: Modern formulations allow the two to be used safely together, whether combined or at different times of day.

Truth: Layering too many actives at once tends to cause inflammation and can set your skin back rather than improve it.

Truth: Well-hydrated skin generally responds better and heals more efficiently after treatment.

Truth: It’s used for texture, scarring, some types of pigmentation, and overall tone — not just lines.

Truth: In a properly run medical clinic, strict sterile technique significantly reduces this risk.

Truth: Home devices don’t reach the therapeutic depth of a medical-grade device, so results aren’t comparable.

Truth: Collagen remodelling takes several weeks, so results build gradually rather than appearing immediately.

Truth: It thickens the dermis over a course of treatment by stimulating the skin’s own collagen production.

Truth: Plasma energy works differently to laser light and affects the skin across multiple layers.

Truth: Controlled energy delivery combined with numbing cream makes the treatment comfortable for most people.

Truth: It’s also used for pigmentation, skin laxity, sun damage and fine lines, depending on the settings used.

Truth: Downtime depends on the intensity setting used — lower settings have minimal visible downtime, while higher-intensity treatments can involve several days of bronzing or light scabbing, which we’ll always talk you through in advance.

Truth: NeoGen is a clinically validated device and, at our clinic, always delivered under doctor-led supervision.

Truth: Oil isn’t the same as hydration — even oily skin needs proper barrier support.

Truth: Tightness is usually a sign the skin barrier has been disrupted, not a sign of cleanliness.

Truth: Genuine hydration needs topical humectants and lipids, not just drinking more water.

Truth: Hot water strips the skin barrier and tends to worsen sensitivity over time.

Truth: Pore size is largely structural — treatment can reduce their appearance, but can’t physically shrink them.

Truth: It needs a balance of humectants, emollients and occlusives, not simply the thickest product on the shelf.

Truth: Acne is primarily hormonal, inflammatory and genetic — not a hygiene issue.

Truth: It tends to irritate the skin and can make inflammation worse rather than better.

Truth: Scrubbing increases redness and damages the skin barrier, which usually makes breakouts worse.

Truth: UV exposure worsens post-acne pigmentation and inflammation, even if skin looks temporarily better tanned.

Truth: There’s no strong evidence for a direct link — hormonal factors are the main driver.

Truth: Adult acne is extremely common, particularly in women in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

Truth: A large majority of visible skin ageing is driven by environmental factors, particularly cumulative sun exposure.

Truth: Skincare can improve the visible signs of ageing, but it doesn’t reverse the underlying biological process.

Truth: They may support general skin health, but they don’t directly rebuild dermal collagen the way in-clinic treatment can.

Truth: It can contribute over decades, but cumulative UV exposure remains the main driver of facial ageing.

Truth: Prevention — largely daily SPF — is most effective when it starts in your 20s or 30s.

Truth: Most pigmentation needs active treatment and consistent SPF use — it rarely fades unaided.

Truth: Safe, controlled fading typically takes weeks to months, not days.

Truth: Hormones, heat, inflammation and UV can all contribute, often in combination.

Truth: It has a legitimate, well-established role in treating pigmentation when medically supervised and used correctly — in the UK, that means prescribed by a doctor.

Truth: Melasma is a chronic condition that can be controlled with the right approach, but isn’t considered curable.

Truth: “Natural” doesn’t automatically mean clinically tested, stable, or better tolerated.

Truth: Formulation and active ingredients matter far more than price point.

Truth: Skin physiology is essentially the same, so the same basic needs apply.

Truth: It may support general skin health, but it isn’t a substitute for in-clinic treatment.

Truth: Pores don’t physically open or close — they simply appear larger when enlarged by oil, age or sun damage.

Truth: The liver and kidneys handle detoxification — skin’s job is to protect and regulate, not eliminate toxins.