Experts warn: “Listen to science, not influencers”

While recent operations targeting individuals known as 'influencers' on social media, some of whom provide product recommendations, for various reasons are being discussed, experts are drawing attention to the hidden dangers in misguided shopping influenced by social media personalities and the use of these products.

Beauty expert Arzu Dağtaş, who points to the hidden dangers lying in product promotions made via social media—which have become quite frequent recently—said that shopping based on product promotions by influencers and using these products can result in health problems for individuals. Dağtaş stated, “In recent years, well-known people with many followers on social media have been promoting health and beauty products. Those who follow these people may encounter various skin issues and health problems when they use these products. It should not be forgotten that everyone's skin and body structure is different and unique; care should be provided to everyone according to their personal characteristics. What is beneficial for one person may be harmful or useless for another. It is very wrong to use every recommended product by saying, 'This is good for hair, that is useful for skin.' Anyone who cares about skin health should first proceed with an expert or guide, and should not act on information obtained from their surroundings or the internet. Do not pay attention to the words or behaviors of those called influencers or celebrities on social media. They are not experts and are advertising to make money. Young people ruin the health of their skin with more makeup and harmful cosmetic products because they want to be like the influencers they see on social media.”

EXTREMELY CHEAP PRODUCTS ARE DANGEROUS

Continuing her remarks, Dağtaş said, “Due to exchange rate increases and high inflation, products, devices, raw materials, and taxes create high costs in the sector. These costs are inevitably reflected in the products. Unfortunately, people who are in economic distress do not see skin health as a priority and may postpone it. Or, instead of quality products, they may turn to cheap, fake products that are not approved by the Ministry of Health, often referred to as 'under-the-counter.' This leads to problems growing even larger and can turn into cases that are difficult to solve in the future. I warn our citizens again: if a product is much cheaper than normal, it is definitely risky. Not using anything at all is a better choice than using a fake, faulty, or unsuitable product. Correcting a faulty application is a much more difficult process than intervening in a case from the very beginning.”

Stating that the skincare and beauty industry continues to develop with new products and methods every day, Dağtaş noted that the understanding of beauty has also changed over the years according to time and various cultures. Emphasizing that priority should always be health, Dağtaş said, “Beauty is a relative concept, but health is not.” She added, “In the process of human development, we now meet the treatments we seek in nature through cosmetic products. However, it is important to use correct and healthy products in appropriate doses based on scientific content and research. It should not be forgotten that some chemical substances can have negative effects on the skin and lead to allergic reactions. For this reason, products that are dermatologically tested, with clear and explicitly stated ingredients, should be preferred under expert supervision in treatment. It is possible to protect skin health, which is affected by the sun's harmful UV rays, air pollution, environmental factors, lifestyle, and other external factors, more effectively through scientific approaches.”

“SOCIAL MEDIA PRIORITIZES BEAUTY, NOT HEALTH”

Saying, “As a society, we do not know our skin or we know it incorrectly,” Arzu Dağtaş stated, “We do not care enough about skin problems. But our skin health is just as important as our mental and physical health. If you have a problem, you should get an expert opinion and a scientific evaluation from the very beginning. You should not diagnose or evaluate yourself, and you should not act on information obtained from your surroundings or the internet. When we use skincare products based on the advice of our close circle or by looking at the internet, it becomes much more difficult to repair the damaged skin barrier and suppress blemishes. Unfortunately, the new generation does not show the necessary care for skincare due to reasons such as incomplete and unbalanced nutrition, a sedentary lifestyle, exposure to more digital pollution, and anxiety about the future. Today, everyone cares more about their outward appearance than having healthy skin. Because in the past, the number of people we interacted with was very small; now, everyone sees a photo we upload to social media in seconds. Therefore, social media triggers all of us to have healthier and more beautiful skin.”

Dağtaş spoke as follows:

“There must always be a balance in life; too much of anything, even love, is harmful. This also applies to healthy skin. The food that harms the skin the most is sugar. Sugar breaks down collagen and progresses in your skin, ages us prematurely, consumes us slowly, and is as harmful to the skin as a drug. And unfortunately, sugar-related aging is very common today. Because I provide consulting to many people due to my profession, I understand it as soon as I look at the skin of people who consume a lot of sugar, and when I tell them this, they are first very surprised, and then we look for remedies together. For healthy skin, we should include healthy fats, vegetables, and fruits in our diet. Besides this, vitamin deficiencies must be addressed under doctor supervision. Unfortunately, missing vitamin values that we cannot get from food lead to problems in the skin. That is why, in addition to our diet, we must exercise. Even simple exercises and a 30-minute walk in the fresh air will be very good for our soul, body, and skin.”

News Source: İHA

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