Skin is the largest organ in the body, and taking care of it is the key to keeping your body healthy. But some skin care myths are not only unhelpful, they can actually harm your health and your looks.

We at Bright Side investigated 7 common skin care claims to find out which of them are not exactly true.

1. “Special exercises will remove my fine lines.”

A tan may temporarily cover the redness of acne, but this effect will eventually backfire. Sun dries up oily skin, and in response, it produces more oil, which may cause more breakouts. Using medication to treat acne makes skin more vulnerable to UV rays, which may lead to premature skin aging.

4. “I can use coconut oil instead of moisturizer.”

Over-cleansing your face can be just as harmful as not doing it at all. Scrubbing your face too much may damage your skin barrier. The outer layer of your skin contains fats that protect it from the environment, and disturbing this balance may result in inflammation.

6. “I don’t need sunscreen if I work in an office all day.”

© Stephanie Rose / YouTube

Even if you spend most of your time indoors, you still need to protect your skin against sun damage. Window glass only blocks some UV rays, but it cannot block all of them equally. Exposure to UV rays may lead to wrinkles, sunspots, and skin cancer, and putting on sunscreen is an essential step in protecting your skin.

7. “Popping a pimple will help it go away faster.”

© Depositphotos.com, © Depositphotos.com

Randomly squeezing pimples can cause infection and scarring. If you’re popping a zit at home, you may push some of the contents inside the pimple deeper into the skin, which can lead to more noticeable and painful acne. To get rid of a pimple, it is best to visit a skin health professional to get a treatment.

Have you ever heard any of this advice? Do you know of any other skin care myths?