8 Myths About Your Body Totally Busted

Have you ever heard that letting your wounds breathe will help them heal faster? Yep, my mom told me that too. The thinking being that air helps a scab form which is the first step to getting that wound cleared up. BUT— scabs can lead to scarring and the faster way to heal a wound is actually without ever allowing a scab to develop.

I know this is true because a close friend of mine had a nasty cut all along one side of her face from a bicycle crash (Hi, Bailey!) and her doctor directed her to do everything she could to prevent a scab from forming. It’s one thing when you pick a scab and get a scar on your leg, but when you pick one on your entire face, you could be regretting that decision forever.

Research shows that keeping your wound covered helps lock in moisture, which prevents scabbing, helping wounds heal faster and minimizing the chances of scarring. It also decreases the chances of infection, because it helps prevent exposure to water, dirt and germs. Especially for kids who won’t stop touching things! 

So there you go—cover up to help your wound heal faster. My kids will be pleased because they like to find any excuse imaginable to wear a Band-Aid.

12 more common myths your mom told you, totally busted:

1) Eating sugar before bed will keep your kids up at night

FALSE: Scientists claim that there is no evidence to prove that sugar causes instant hyperactivity, but they do say that overtime, eating large amounts of sugar can cause ADHD related behavior. 

2) It takes 7 years to digest gum

FALSE: Turns out gum is indigestible, so it just passes right through you at the same rate as everything else. 

3) Going out in the cold with wet hair will make you sick

FALSE: Colds are caused by hundreds of different viruses and you need to be exposed to an infected person to catch them. The reason you are more likely to get a cold in the winter is because you spend more time inside, which is an easier environment for germs to spread than outdoors.

4) Swimming after eating cause cramps

FALSE: When I was little, it was well-known that you had to sit out of the pool for a full hour after lunch. Going in meant cramps which could increase the chances of drowning. But actual science has never proved this to be true.

5) Milk increases mucus

FALSE: Milk can temporarily thicken your saliva, but it does not increase mucus. So it makes sense that singers don’t drink milk before performing, but it won’t actually worsen the symptoms of your cold. If ice cream will brighten up your sick day, go for it.

6) Shaving makes your hair grow back thicker

FALSE: Hair naturally grows out tapered at the end but when you shave it, it grows back from where it was chopped off. So it might feel thicker but that’s just because you’ve introduced stubble. The thickness of the root is the same.

7) Carrots improve your vision

FALSE: This belief is actually just the result of WWII propaganda, when the British Royal Air Force claimed a steady diet of carrots was the reason their pilots had such excellent vision and could locate the German bombers before they reached the English Channel. It was actually due to their new use of radar.

8) Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis

FALSE: The “pop” of a cracked knuckle comes from bubbles bursting in the fluid around your joints, but there is no evidence that it is harmful. It may annoy the people around you though!

9) pruney fingers mean it’s time to get out of the water

FALSE: After you’ve been in the water for a certain amount of time, your fingers start to wrinkle because they are adapting to their environment and improving your ability to grip things while wet.

10) hair products can repair damaged hair

FALSE: The only way to really get rid of split ends is to chop them off. However, certain products can smooth them down, so your hair looks and feels like its in better condition.

11) Reading in poor light worsens your eyesight

FALSE: Your eyes are like any muscle in your body that can get strained or tired, but they bounce back. Reading in poor light will not permanently affect you.

12) Peeing on a jellyfish sting helps allievate the pain

FALSE: Just because it happened on Friends doesn’t make it true. Putting urine or any fresh water on a jellyfish sting actually aggravates the jellyfish stingers to produce more venom. Ouch!

Now, stop spreading these rumors to your kids! Although, you might want to perpetuate the carrot lie. It comes in handy when you want to give your kids incentive to eat their vegetables.

GIVEAWAY:

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Today, I’m giving away one more Oh Joy! First Aid kit with a supply of BAND-AID® Brand WATER BLOCK® Adhesive Bandages, BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages by Oh Joy!, BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages featuring Finding Dory and NEOSPORIN® + Pain Itch Scar.

Just tell me one myth you’ve debunked below.