Through Thick And Skin: The Podcast

Episode 37: Debunking Skin Myths
Hosted by Erin Jensen, PA-C & Megan Pattison
Date: November 5, 2020

Episode Overview

In this lively and candid episode, sisters Erin Jensen (an aesthetic PA-C and expert injector) and Megan Pattison (Client Relationship Expert) take on the pervasive myths and misconceptions around skincare and aesthetic treatments. Drawing from years of clinical experience and daily client questions, they dissect popular beliefs, debunk common skincare advice, and offer science-backed explanations—all with humor and their signature no-nonsense approach.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Scene: Pandemic Med Spa Challenges

• The episode begins with light banter about recording in the laundry room, referencing the COVID-19 context (tent treatments, California's shifting regulations, and business adaptations).

“Do you know how much those tents, those rentals cost us a month? …$12,000 a month.” — Erin (03:23)

1. Cosmelan Peel – Does it Last Forever?

Myth: The Cosmelan peel erases brown spots (melasma/hyperpigmentation) permanently.
Debunked: Results are not permanent; brown spots can and do return.

• Even with meticulous sun protection, UV rays can penetrate indoors, and pigmentation will return over time.
• Stats: Cosmelan works “spectacular” in 80-90% of patients, unimpressive in 10-20%.
• Maintenance is key. Annual treatments plus good skincare habits maximize results.
• No “money-back guarantees” in medicine—results are nuanced.

Notable quote:

“There is a chance you spend $900, you peel for a few weeks, and your pigmentation does not look better. But it's going to help improve your skin tone and texture... it might not be 100% better, but it's going to be better than it was before.” — Erin (07:56-09:00)

2. Is Anything Forever in Skincare?

Almost all aesthetic treatments require maintenance.

• Dermatological removals (e.g., milia, oil glands) can be permanent, but new ones may develop.
• Genetics play a big part: “If you are a pigmented person, you're going to get pigment. If you are redness prone, you're going to get redness.” — Erin (10:27)

3. Filler Myths – “Stretching” the Face

Myth: Filler “stretches” your face, causing deflation when it dissolves.
Debunked: The volume of filler is too minimal—one syringe is a fifth of a teaspoon.

• Filler can actually stimulate collagen, making the face look better over time, not deflated.

“We do not put enough filler in your face for it to look stretched out. When it goes away, it actually stimulates your collagen so it can just make your face look plumper and better over time.” — Erin (11:23-11:58)

4. Can You Shrink Pores?

Myth: Products can “shrink” your pores.
Debunked: Pore size is genetic; you can only make them appear smaller.

• Exfoliation, cleaning, retinols, glycolic acid, and microneedling help minimize appearance—not actual size.

“Think about a pore size. The size of your pores is genetic, like the size of your nose.” — Erin (12:23-13:06)

5. Are Serums, Creams, or Facial Exercises as Good as Botox?

Myth: Topical products and facial exercises can deliver the same results as Botox.
Debunked: Only Botox treats dynamic wrinkles—topicals can’t compare.

• “Gua Sha” or facial rollers de-puff but don’t address wrinkles.
• Topical “Botox” is in development but not yet available for at-home use.

“They're not interchangeable. It's never gonna get you the same results as Botox does.” — Erin (13:36)

6. SPF Myths

Myth: Higher SPF always means better protection.
Debunked: SPF above 30-35 doesn't offer major added benefits—ingredients matter more.

• Look for physical blockers (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide), not just high SPF numbers.

“The 115 SPF I have is not going to protect you... It's more about ingredients.” — Erin (15:06-15:22)

7. Vitamin E, Cocoa Butter, Stretch Marks, and Scars

Myth: Vitamin E and cocoa butter prevent or erase stretch marks. Debunked: It’s largely genetics and rate of weight gain during pregnancy that factor; topicals can’t prevent or reverse them.

• Most scar creams’ advertised improvements would happen in 12 weeks anyway.
• Silicone patches are effective for new scars, but little helps old scars.

"Applying like cocoa butter... does not prevent stretch marks." — Erin (15:55-16:06)

8. Cloudy Days and Sunscreen

Myth: Sunscreen is unnecessary on cloudy or indoor days. Debunked: UV rays penetrate clouds and glass—sunscreen is needed daily.

“Sun rays do penetrate through the clouds… Sunscreen every day.” — Erin (17:42-17:58)

9. Acne Myths

• Myth: Acne is due to poor hygiene only.

  • Debunked: Washing too much can make it worse; not just about “being dirty.”

• Myth: Acne disappears as you age.

  • Debunked: Adult acne is common and often hormonal.

  “There is this cycle where being a woman is—it sucks... these ebbs and flows of acne throughout your life.” — Erin (18:37-19:21)

• Myth: Drinking lemon water clears skin.

  • Debunked: Lemon water is fine for health but doesn’t impact acne.

10. “Chemicals Are Bad” and the “All-Natural” Fallacy

Myth: If you can’t pronounce it, it shouldn’t go on your skin. Debunked: “Natural” isn’t always better (arsenic is “natural”); stability and efficacy often require “chemicals.”

“There are natural things that are not good for you, and on the flip side, there are synthetic things that are good for you.” — Erin (21:26)

11. Food & Skin: Does Chocolate or Pizza Cause Acne or Oil?

• No direct link between greasy/junk foods and skin oiliness, unless literal oil is on your face.

“Pizza will only cause oilier skin if you rub it on your face.” — Erin (23:53)

• Diet tweaks may help some, but not enough evidence for a universal connection.

12. Social Media Skewing Expectations

• Clients often fear looking “fake” but show lips/faces with clearly exaggerated injectables and expect “natural” results.

“People's perception...on a normal scale, is a very extra large lip is like normal on social media.” — Erin (25:36)

• Reminds listeners that social media cultivates unrealistic standards.

13. Bruising & Filler: Bad Injector?

Myth: Bruising means your injector did something wrong. Debunked: Bruising and uneven swelling can happen to anyone, even with an expert.

“I will have patients… ‘the last person I went to, they bruised me so bad.’ It was so awful. Like, that's not a sign of bad work. You're gonna get bruised and swollen from this stuff.” — Erin (27:50-28:03)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “No one's going to live perfectly. So just accept it.” — Erin (09:20)
• “You couldn't pay me all the money in the world to inject!” — Megan (06:42)
• “Pizza will only cause oilier skin if you rub it on your face.” — Erin (23:53)
• “Whose eyebrow—who has eyebrows that are completely symmetrical?” — Megan (29:06)

Important Timestamps

• 05:01 — Announcement of the “Debunking Skin Myths” episode purpose
• 07:07 — Cosmelan peel myth begins
• 11:23 — Filler/stretching face myth
• 12:23 — Pore size myth
• 13:36 — Topicals vs. Botox myth
• 15:06 — SPF myth
• 15:41 — Vitamin E/stretch marks myth
• 17:42 — Sunscreen on cloudy days
• 18:05 — Acne & hygiene myth
• 18:37 — Acne as you age
• 20:27 — Lemon water myth
• 21:02 — “Chemicals are bad” myth
• 23:53 — Chocolate, pizza & skin myth
• 25:36 — Social media & filler perceptions
• 27:50 — Bruising/fillers & bad injector myth

Style & Tone

• Unfiltered, direct, and humorous—lots of playful sibling teasing alongside thorough, science-backed explanations.
• Focused on empowering listeners with real information and encouraging realistic expectations in skincare and aesthetics.

Summary

Erin and Megan skillfully bust some of skincare’s most persistent myths, arm their listeners with practical knowledge, and advocate for a nuanced approach rooted in science (with just the right amount of “BS” detection and laughs). Whether it’s lotions for stretch marks, the real story with filler, why sunscreen matters year-round, or the truth about “natural” products, this episode is required listening for anyone feeling overwhelmed by skincare advice—or just wanting the straight truth.