Skin Care Hub

Over time, the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light damages the fibers in the skin called elastin. The breakdown of these fibers causes the skin to lose its ability to snap back after stretching. As a result, wrinkles form. Gravity also is at work, pulling at the skin and causing it to sag, most noticeably on the face, neck, and upper arms.

Cigarette smoking also contributes to wrinkles. People who smoke tend to have more wrinkles than nonsmokers of the same age, complexion, and history of sun exposure. The reason for this difference is not clear. It may be because smoking also plays a role in damaging elastin. Facial wrinkling increases with the amount of cigarettes and number of years a person has smoked.

Many products currently on the market claim to “revitalize aging skin.” According to the American Academy of Dermatology, over-the-counter “wrinkle” creams and lotions may soothe dry skin, but they do little or nothing to reverse wrinkles. At this time, the only products that have been studied for safety and effectiveness and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat signs of sun-damaged or aging skin are tretinoin cream and carbon dioxide (CO2) and erbium (Er:YAG) lasers.

Tretinoin cream (Renova), a vitamin A derivative available by prescription only, is approved for reducing the appearance of fine wrinkles, mottled darkened spots, and roughness in people whose skin doesn’t improve with regular skin care and use of sun protection. However, it doesn’t eliminate wrinkles, repair sun-damaged skin, or restore skin to its healthier, younger structure. It hasn’t been studied in people 50 and older or in people with moderately or darkly pigmented skin.

The CO2 and Er:YAG lasers are approved to treat wrinkles. The doctor uses the laser to remove skin one layer at a time. Laser therapy is performed under anesthesia in an outpatient surgical setting.

The FDA currently is studying the safety of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), which are widely promoted to reduce wrinkles, spots, and other signs of aging, sun-damaged skin. Some studies suggest that they may work, but there is concern about adverse reactions and long-term effects of their use. Because people who use AHA products have greater sensitivity to the sun, the FDA advises consumers to protect themselves from sun exposure by using sunscreen, wearing a hat, or avoiding mid-day sun. If you are interested in treatment for wrinkles, you should discuss treatment options with a dermatologist.

Source: http://www.niapublications.org/agepages/skin.asp

by: Donna Kelly

Skin is living tissue. It needs regular care and attention to remain smooth, tight and vibrant. Some signs of aging are inevitable, however there is a lot you can do to influence how quickly your skin ages. How fast your skin ages is significantly influenced by the health and lifestyle decisions you make every day. Making unhealthy choices can cause premature skin aging.

Here are 10 lifestyle tips to help you avoid premature skin aging.

Don’t smoke: Whether you smoke, or you spend time with a smoker, cigarette smoke is damaging and aging your skin. Exposure to cigarette smoke significantly increases skin wrinkles and dryness. Cigarette smoke depletes your body of Vitamin C which is a key ingredient for keeping skin plump and moist.

Manage sun exposure: The sun’s UV rays penetrate deep into skin tissues contributing to wrinkles, dryness, sun burn and, in the worse case, skin cancer. When spending time in the sun protect yourself with a sun screen. A sun screen with an SPF 15 rating, or higher, is recommended. Remember to continuously reapply your sun screen if you are outside for long periods of time, or have been swimming or exercising. Don’t forget clouds do not protect you from ultraviolet ray exposure. You need to protect yourself from the sun, even on a cloudy day. Don’t forget your eyes, wear sun glasses. Long term sun exposure can lead to serious health issues with your eyes.

Contrary to popular belief sun beds are not a safer way to tan. Sun beds also emit UV rays contributing to premature skin aging. For a “skin friendly” tan consider self tanning creams.

Exposure to cold weather: If you live in cooler climes cold winds and low temperatures can also contribute to premature skin aging by drying out your skin. If you venture out in the cold make sure to use a good moisturizer.

Eat healthily: One of the most important influences on our skin health is the quality and quantity of food we eat. A balanced diet is a good barrier against premature aging. By eating fruits and vegetables, especially brightly coloured fruit and leafy greens, we are giving our bodies vitamins and antioxidants that combat the breakdown of collagen and elastin in our skin. Collagen and elastin helps keep our skin tight and youthful. It is also important is to make sure you drink plenty of water every day.

Manage stress: To help reduce premature skin aging due to stress be aware of your stress level. Stress and worry cause frowning and, over time, the muscles in the face actually “remember” the stressed and worried expressions. A good anti aging skin care program should include meditation, yoga, gentle exercise or other relaxation techniques. Keeping stress in check will help you look and feel younger.

Exercise regularly: Exercise has a positive impact on muscle tone and blood circulation contributing to skin health and a more youthful appearance. The benefits of a regular exercise program will show on your face, having a bright smile and lots of energy will help you look younger, at any age.

Think about your beauty products: As you age you should use both lighter coloured cosmetics and hair colours. Lighter colours will be more flattering to your skin lightening skin tone.

It is also worth considering AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) based moisturizers and skin care products. AHAs are natural fruit acids found in fruit, sugarcane, and milk. As skin ages natural exfoliation becomes more difficult and dead skin layers build up. AHAs allow the top layer of dead skin to be exfoliated more easily and help to unblock and cleanse pores. AHAs also loosen inter-cellular fluid smoothing fine lines and surface wrinkles and improving skin texture and tone.

Did you know that your lipstick or lip gloss can help your lips not only look great but can also protect them from the sun at the same time ? When choosing your lip products look for lipsticks or lip glosses that contain Sesame Oil and Vitamin E.

Moderate alcohol use: Alcohol contributes to skin aging by dilating small blood vessels in the skin and increasing blood flow near the skin’s surface. Over time these blood vessels can become permanently damaged and broken.

Moisturize: Think of all the hot showers and baths you have taken; sure, they clean your skin, but they also dry it out. Our skin also gets drier as part of the aging process. The best thing to combat dryness is, of course, to moisturize. Your local drug store or beauty spa sells a great variety of moisturizers, and one of them will be just the right for your skin type. Ask the beauty advisor or pharmacist for assistance if you’re not sure which one to buy.

Get enough sleep: While we sleep our body, including our skin, recharges and prepares for the next day. Take time to get some sleep – at least 7 to 8 hours per night.

About The Author
Donna Kelly is a trained makeup artist with her own beauty business. As both a business woman and a mom with 2 children Donna understands the time pressures on women today and through this, and other articles, has endeavored to take the complexity out of looking great with some “busy women friendly” beauty tips and advice. If you would like to read more of Donna’s articles check out her website: http://www.coloursandscents.co.nz

1. Stay in the shade. Avoid the sun from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. This is when sun rays are strongest. Don’t be fooled by cloudy skies. Harmful rays pass through clouds.

2. Use sunscreen products on your skin. Many suntan products have sunscreens to protect your skin from the sun.

Products with sunscreens have an “SPF” number on the label. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. A higher number means it protects longer. Buy products with an SPF number of 15 or more.

Buy products whose label also says: “broad spectrum,” meaning it protects against the two types of harmful sun rays “water resistant,” meaning it stays on your skin longer, even if you get wet or sweat a lot.

Tips For Using Sunscreen Products:

* Put a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 on your skin 15 to 30 minutes before going outside.
* Rub the sunscreen evenly on all uncovered skin. Be sure to put it on your eyelids, lips, nose, ears, neck, hands and feet. If you do not have much hair, put it on the top of your head.
* Do not get a sunscreen in your eyes. It can sting.
* Once in a while, put on more sunscreen while you’re in the sun. Read the label to see how often to put it on.
* Do not use a sunscreen on babies under 6 months old.
* On children older than 6 months, use a sunscreen every time they go out.

3. Wear a hat. A hat with a wide brim helps shade the neck, ears, eyes, and head.

4. Wear sunglasses. Buy only sunglasses with a label saying the glasses block 99 to 100 percent of the sun’s rays. If there is no label, do not buy the glasses.

5. Cover up. Wear loose, lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and long pants or long skirts when in the sun.

6. Avoid artificial tanning methods. This includes sunlamps and tanning beds, as well as tanning pills and tanning makeup.

Tanning pills have a color additive that turns your skin orange after you take them. The FDA has OK’d this color additive for coloring foods but not for tanning the skin. The large amount of color additive in tanning pills may be harmful.

Tanning makeup is put on the skin to make it look tan. Sometimes the color can be washed off with soap and water. Other times, it wears off after a few days. These products are not sunscreen lotions and will not protect your skin from the sun.

7. Check your skin regularly for signs of skin cancer. Look for changes in the size, shape, color or feel of birthmarks, moles and spots. If you find any changes or find sores that are not healing, see your doctor.

* Look at the back of your neck and scalp with the help of a hand mirror.
* Look at your body–front, back and sides–in the mirror.
* Bend your elbows and look at the undersides of your arms.
* Look at the backs of your legs and feet.
* Check parts that are hard to see–like your back–with a hand mirror.

Source: Department of Health and Human Services

Dangers When Outside in The Sun

Harmful rays from the sun, sunlamps and tanning beds may cause:

* skin cancer, which can be deadly
* eye problems
* weakened ability to fight disease
* unsightly skin spots
* wrinkles and “leathery” skin.

Take Extra Care

Be sure to follow the seven steps to safer sunning especially if you answer yes to any of these questions:

* Do you have pale white skin?
* Do you have blonde, red or light brown hair?
* Were you ever treated for skin cancer?
* Has a family member ever had skin cancer?
* Do you have an illness? If so, ask your doctor about extra care.
* Do you take medicines? If so, ask your doctor about extra care.

Give babies and children extra care in the sun.

Source: Department of Health and Human Services
Food and Drug Administration

Summer is a great time to have fun outdoors. It’s also a time to take precautions to avoid sunburns, which can increase your risk of skin cancer.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays appears to be the most important environmental factor involved with developing skin cancer. During the summer months, UV radiation tends to be greater.

To help prevent skin cancer while still having fun outdoors, regularly use sun protective practices such as

* Seek shade, especially during midday hours (10 a.m.–4 p.m.), when UV rays are strongest and do the most damage.
* Cover up with clothing to protect exposed skin. A long-sleeved shirt and long pants with a tight weave are best.
* Get a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck.
* Grab shades that wrap around and block as close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays as possible.
* Rub on sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection.

It’s always wise to choose more than one way to cover up when you’re in the sun. Use sunscreen and put on a shirt… Seek shade and grab your sunglasses… Wear a hat, but rub on sunscreen too. Combining these sun protective actions helps protect your skin from the sun’s damaging UV rays.

UV rays reach you on cloudy and hazy days, as well as bright and sunny days. UV rays will also reflect off any surface like water, cement, sand, and snow. Additionally, UV rays from artificial sources of light, like tanning beds, cause skin cancer and should be avoided.

Most forms of skin cancer can be cured. However, the best way to avoid skin cancer is to protect your skin from the sun.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Gardening can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors, get physical activity, beautify the community, and grow nutritious fruits and vegetables. Whether you are a beginner or expert gardener, health and safety are important. Emergency room visits due to injuries related to lawn and garden equipment occur each year.

Below are some tips to help keep you safe and healthy so that you can enjoy the beauty and bounty gardening can bring.

Dress to protect.

Gear up to protect yourself from lawn and garden chemicals, equipment, insects, and the sun.

• Wear safety goggles, sturdy shoes, and long pants when using lawn mowers and other machinery.
• Protect your hearing when using machinery. If you have to raise your voice to talk to someone who is an arm’s length away, the noise can be potentially harmful to your hearing.
• Wear gloves to lower the risk for skin irritations, cuts, and certain contaminants.
• Protect yourself from diseases caused by mosquitoes and ticks. Use insect repellent containing DEET. Wear clothing treated with permethrin, long-sleeved shirts, and pants tucked in your socks. You may also want to wear high rubber boots since ticks are usually located close to the ground.
• Lower your risk for sunburn and skin cancer. Wear long sleeves, wide-brimmed hats, sun shades, and sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

You should follow these safety tips when dyeing your hair:

• Don’t leave the dye on your head any longer than needed.
• Rinse your scalp thoroughly with water after use.
• Wear gloves when applying hair dye.
• Carefully follow the directions in the hair dye package.
• Never mix different hair dye products.
• Be sure to do a patch test for allergic reactions before applying the dye to your hair. Almost all hair dye products include instructions for doing a patch test. It’s important to do this each time you dye your hair. Your hairdresser should also do the patch test before dyeing your hair. To test, put a dab of hair dye behind your ear, and don’t wash it off for two days. If you don’t have any signs of allergic reaction, such as itching, burning, or redness at the test spot, you can be somewhat sure that you won’t have a reaction to the dye applied to your hair. If you do react to the patch test, do the same test with different brands or colors until you find one to which you’re not allergic.
• Never dye your eyebrows or eyelashes. An allergic reaction to dye could cause swelling or increase risk of infection in the eye area. This can harm the eye and even cause blindness. Spilling dye into the eye by accident could also cause permanent damage. FDA bans the use of hair dyes for eyelash and eyebrow tinting or dyeing even in beauty salons.

Source: Office on Women’s Health
in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The decision to change your hair color may be a hard one. Some studies have linked hair dyes with a higher risk of certain cancers, while other studies have not found this link. Most hair dyes also don’t have to go through safety testing that other cosmetic color additives do before hitting store shelves. Women are often on their own trying to figure out whether hair dyes are safe.

When hair dyes first came out, the main ingredient in coal-tar hair dye caused allergic reactions in some people. Most hair dyes are now made from petroleum sources. But FDA still considers them to be coal-tar dyes. This is because they have some of the same compounds found in these older dyes.

Cosmetic makers have stopped using things known to cause cancer in animals. For example, 4-methoxy-m-phenylenediamine (4MMPD) or 4-methoxy-m-phenylenediamine sulfate (4MMPD sulfate) are no longer used. But chemicals made almost the same way have replaced some of the cancer-causing compounds. Some experts feel that these newer ingredients aren’t very different from the things they’re replacing.

Experts suggest that you may reduce your risk of cancer by using less hair dye over time. You may also reduce you risk by not dyeing your hair until it starts to gray.

FDA is looking into the safety of tattoos and permanent make-up since they are now more popular. The inks, or dyes, used for tattoos are color additives. Right now, no color additives have been approved for tattoos, including those used in permanent make-up.

You should be aware of these risks of tattoos and permanent make-up:

• Tattoo needles and supplies can transmit diseases, such as hepatitis C and HIV. Be sure all needles and supplies are sterile before they are used on you.
• Tattoos and permanent make-up are not easy to take off. Removal may cause a permanent change in color.
• Think carefully before getting a tattoo. You could have an allergic reaction.
• You cannot make blood donations for a year after getting a tattoo or permanent make-up.

Some skin and hair care products can cause acne. To help prevent and control acne flare-ups, take good care of your skin. For example, use a mild soap or cleanser to gently wash your face twice a day. Choose “non-comedogenic” make-up and hair care products. This means that they don’t close up the pores.