Quick fixes that may not be worth it

• Using lemon juice to lighten hair or skin. It’s a great method we often hear from our grandmothers. But beware! In some people this can cause a photochemical reaction which can produce an exaggerated sunburn where UV light has hit the skin with lemon juice applied. And sunburn is a definite no-no!
• Picking or squeezing styes. Tempting as it may be to attempt to deal with a sty on your eyelid when you’re needing to look good fast, this isn’t a good idea. STyes are usually caused by staph bacteria and cause a warm, red uncomfortable swelling on the eyelid which, when squeezed, can force the infection into surrounding tissues and cause further infection and scarring. Not the desired outcome! Use warm compresses instead, to liquify the secretions and massage gently to help the flow out.
• Don’t wash dermatitic or eczemetous skin in hot water or soap. It may feel good for a short time but it will further deplete your skin of oils, which then exacerbates your rash
• Don’t squeeze pimples
• If you have sensitive skin or rosacea, don’t have a facial just before a big day. You are likely to exacerbate the problem you are trying to hide. In the short term, your skin my look more irritated.
• Hiding acne beneath a hat often. If you have acne on your forehead, you may be tempted to hide it under a tight fitting cap or headband. Short term, that’s fine. But long term, the heat and friction tend to make acne worse.
• Tattooing a heavy, dark tattoo over a tattoo which you have fallen out of love with. This may cover the unwanted tattoo but can create an even worse eye-sore and be harder to remove, should you choose to have tattoo removal performed
• Don’t squeeze, scrach, loofah lump scars. They may be keloid scars (large, red and puffy scars that are difficult to remove) waiting to happen and this will exacerbate the area
• Exfoliating dry skin patches can make any underlying dermatitis or eczema worse
• Scratching off warts is a bad idea. It can cause the wart virus to spread onto other skin, particularly on your hands, or inoculate into the skin surround the wart – a process called koebnerisation
• Using dermabrasion to lessen melasma. Melasma is an hormonally related pigmentation that some women get on their faces when pregnant, on the pill or exposed to sunlight. Melasma gets worse with skin irritation and trauma. Dermabrasion may remove some of the melasma, short term, but within weeks or months, it will return and it will be worse than before. The most important and reliable management of melasma is sun protection
• Not seeking professional advice when using complementary therapies. Many people believe that complementary therapies are safer than conventional medical treatments because they are natural. This is not always true, and just like regular medical treatments, these treatments can be potent and cause harm if incorrectly used or used in conjunction with other medications with which they negatively interact.
•  Scratching, picking or squeezing folliculitis. After some forms of hair removal, such as shaving or waxing, folliculitis can occur, resulting in small, red, pimple-like bumps appearing. Further traumatising these areas by picking or squeezing can increase this inflammation and spread the infection to surrounding areas
• Using soap on irritated genital skin. If you experience irritation in this area, see your doctor. In the mean time, just use water on the area when washing, not soap. The soap can exacerbate most genital conditions and can wash away the natural protective skin secretions. It can also change the pH balance of the skin, making it more susceptible to hard
• Scrubbing off bumps on upper arms, buttocks and thighs. These bumps are keratopilaris, a genetic condition where keratin plugs up hair follicles and creates a sandpaper like surface. Most things people do to get rid of them will cause them to get more irritated, so try to avoid these, specially before a big event.

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