Avoid this skin treatment ‘hack’

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The internet can be a wonderful tool. The information age allows us to get the smallest detail on any topic in seconds. Look up bizarre giraffe facts, and you’ll discover the species hums at night.
Or learn the 400-plus words the Scots have for snow. Snaw-broo, spitters, snaw, skelf. Well, you get the picture.
Remember, however, that a polluted river of misinformation flows into that ocean of facts. This is especially true on social media.
One internet trend has gained some traction: Exposing your skin to sunlight to treat skin conditions — without advice from a physician. One popular piece of bad advice is that the sun’s rays will cure acne.
Scientists, however, warn there is no strong evidence to support this. Worse still, excess sun exposure, particularly in youth, can lead to skin cancer as an adult.
A 2023 review of medical studies by Spanish and German scientists found little evidence that sunlight cures acne. On the contrary, such exposure can trigger or worsen it.
Research has shown that the sun’s ultraviolet, or UV, radiation can reduce skin inflammation. It also helps suppress the skin’s immune response. But UV therapy should occur in a clinical setting, not in a lounger by your pool.
Cell studies have shown that UV rays can kill bacteria that cause acne. But these studies, scientists say, have not been conducted on humans. And they believe the benefits are minimal, at best.
It’s always important to talk to a physician before trying something you heard about online, even if it comes from a seemingly reputable source.
After all, you wouldn’t take medical advice from a stranger on the street. At least, we hope not.