Misconceptions about skin and eye diseases. Interesting concepts.

1. Misconceptions
about Skin and
Eye Diseases
Chapter 21

2. Science
Misconceptions
video
Why is it important to
correct common
misconceptions?
What problems can
misconceptions
create in society?

3. Everyone who gets ringworm gets a
rash in the shape of red circles
False!
Ringworm can come in a few
different forms.
It can infect the skin or it can
infect the toes nails. Same
fungus, different area of
infection.

4. It is best to get pus out of pimples by
popping them
FALSE!
• Even though it can feel
good to get the pressure of
pus out of the acne
pustule, you really are
pushing the infection
deeper into your skin. This
can make the infection
worse.
• If you can’t resist popping,
use a comedone extractor!
•

5. Dirt and fatty foods cause acne
FALSE!
• Acne is caused by the over production of
sebum
• Propionibacterium acnes encourages
additional acne to form but the main cause of
teenage acne is the increased production of
sebum
•

6. Multiple immunizations at one time
will overload your body and make
you sick
FALSE!
• There is no scientific
evidence that multiple
shots at one time will harm
your immune system.
• It saves time AND money.
• You may feel queasy
because of being injected,
but not because of booster
shots.
•

7. Shaving makes your hair grow back
thicker
FALSE!
• Shaving only removes the hair from the
surface of the hair. When it grows back, all
the hair grows back with flattened ends
simultaneously.
•

8. Farting can cause pink eye
FALSE!
• Passing gas can’t cause pink
eye. Pink eye is an infection
of the conjunctiva.
• Can be viral or bacterial.
• Wash hands and good
hygiene.
•

9. There is such thing as a flesh-eating
bacteria!
FALSE!
• There is no such thing as a
“flesh-eating bacteria.”
• Necrotizing fasciitis releases
toxins which destroy your
skin. The bacteria don’t
munch away at you!
•

10. Tanning beds are safe as long as
they don’t have the UV-B rays
FALSE!
• Though UV-B rays are your typical “sunburn”
rays. Tanning beds still have UV-A rays which
actually penetrate deeper into your skin.
• UV-A rays are your “tanning/bronzing” rays
• Constant exposure to these light rays can alter
the DNA
•

11. Viral, bacterial, and fungal
infections are always obvious
because I can see them
FALSE!
• There is usually an
incubation period where
the opportunistic
pathogen will colonize
you before you start to
feel the affects
• STDs can lie dormant for
years or never even
produce symptoms
•

12. Once I have an STD or fungal
infection, I’ll never get it again
FALSE!
• Fungal infections and STDs
may never go away.
• Just because you rid the
symptoms, doesn’t mean you
no longer have the
infection/disease.
• Your body will recognize
bacteria or viral infections,
but fungal infections will
persist.
•

13. So…..
What do we
think now?

14. Misconceptions in Medicine
Why are misconceptions important to address?
Give an example of a misconception about skin and
eye diseases?
What stood out as most surprising?
Does this information change the way you view
anything in science?
Poll-Everywhere