Issue No. 4 August 2006

Healthy Skin Newsletter – Information on skin problems and skin care.

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Issue No. 4, August 2006

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What’s New at www.healthy-skincare.com
• Feature Article – Healthy Skin Care When Out in the Sun
• In the News
• Skin Care Tip of the Month
• Question of the Month
• Product of the Month

WHAT'S NEW AT www.healthy-skincare.com

A new page for dermatographism sufferers has been added. This page is for those individuals seeking a natural alternative to over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines. Please visit https://www.healthy-skincare.com/natural-antihistamines.html for more information.

A couple of new submissions from readers with dermatographism have been posted at https://www.healthy-skincare.com/hives.html.

Missed an issue of the Healthy Skin Newsletter? Visit the back issues page. To access this page you can visit the following URL: https://www.healthy-skincare.com/healthy-skin-newsletter.html and click on the back issues link.

FEATURE ARTICLE - HEALTHY SKIN CARE WHEN OUT IN THE SUN

Many people enjoy the look of sun-tanned skin. There is little doubt that skin that is nicely tanned looks healthy and more attractive. However, there are several negative aspects that can occur to skin as a result of overexposure to the sun. The two most obvious are skin cancer and premature skin aging. Premature aging and other changes caused by the sun are characterized by the appearance of freckles, age spots, spider veins on the face, rough and leathery skin, fine wrinkles that disappear when stretched, loose skin, a blotchy complexion, and actinic keratoses (thick wart-like, rough, reddish patches of skin).

Skin cancer is a more serious skin condition that can occur with too much sun exposure. Most individuals are not as careful as they should be because skin cancer does not develop overnight. It is not an immediate effect, but rather one that is delayed and may appear several years later. At that point, it is too late!

In order to prevent premature skin aging and the more serious skin problem of skin cancer, it is a good idea to follow a few skin care rules when it comes to sun exposure.

Avoid Sun Burns

Many people are tempted to intentionally burn themselves right away, believing this provides a good “base” for a tan. Sunburns are a sign of skin damage and can lead to serious skin complications. A sunburn destroys cells on the skin's outer layer. In most cases, these burns are minor, causing red, tender, sometimes blistered skin that sheds after several days. However, the more often a sunburn occurs the greater the risk of developing skin cancer.

Use a Sun Block or Sun Screen

When out in the sun you should wear sun block. A tan (the production of melanin in the skin) is essentially your body’s way of protecting itself from the harmful effects of the sun. The more you can slow down this process, the less your skin will receive long-term damage from sunbathing. Use a block with a SPF or Sun Protection Factor of at least 15, but preferably greater. The block or sunscreen used should block UVA and UVB rays.

Apply Sun Protection Lotion at the Right Time

The sunscreen or sun block should be applied to your body before being exposed to the sun. Applying sun block before going out makes it more likely that the entire skin on the body that needs to be protected will be properly protected. Otherwise, individuals tend to quickly apply the lotion and not protect their skin properly. Put the lotion on about 20 to 30 minutes before going outside so that the skin can absorb it properly. After swimming and towelling off or excessive sweating, reapply the sunscreen.

Choose the Right Type of Sun Screen or Sun Block

If you do play a lot of sports or if you work outdoors and sweat a great deal, be sure to wear a sun block that is specially formulated for such activities. Waterproof sun blocks are a little more resistant to water and are thus ideal for those who are active during the day outdoors.

Avoid Times When the Sun is Strong

The sun is at its hottest between noon and 3:00. However, for maximum protection, avoid being in the sun or sunbathing between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm, if possible. The added intensity of the sun during peak hours increases the likelihood of becoming sunburned and, consequently, experiencing skin damage. During this time of the day, it is best to stay in a shaded area.

Limit the Amount of Time in the Water

Spending time in the water increases your chances of getting sunburned. The sun’s rays reflect from the water and are basically magnified onto your body. Getting a sunburn while in the water can happen with little to no warning signs. Where a sun block every time you are in water. Make sure the sun block is water resistant and reapply it as often as the product recommends. This is normally at least every 2-3 hours.

Wear Protective Clothing

Wear a hat, keep your shirt on, wear a light long-sleeved shirt, and wear light pants to provide an extra layer of sun protection for your skin. This is particularly important if you will be spending a great deal of time outdoors, such as playing sports or gardening.

Know Your Skin Type

Individuals with fair skin need to be especially cautious when exposing their skin to the sun for long periods of time. This also applies to people who burn easily or who have a history of tanning poorly. People with freckles or a great number of moles should also take extra precautions when spending time in the sun. People that fall in any of these categories are at a greater risk of developing skin cancer. Similarly, children under the age of 16 and individuals with a family history of skin cancer should avoid exposing their skin to excessive amounts of sun.

What if you have Sensitive Skin?

Individuals with sensitive skin need to purchase a sun block that will not irritate the skin. There are hypoallergenic sun block products available. If you are not sure where to look or what you need for your skin, ask the pharmacist and he/she should be able to recommend one or two products to experiment with.

Don’t Forget Your Lips

Your lips have skin on them and therefore also need to be protected from the sun. Lips can become easily burned or dried out, which is both unhealthy for your skin and unattractive. Use a SPF lip moisturizing balm often when out in the sun.

Also, remember to protect your eyes and the sensitive skin around the eyes with a quality pair of sunglasses.

IN THE NEWS

The occurrence of adult acne is growing. Some adults in their 20s, 30s, 40s and even 50s are finding that they not only have to fight the aging of skin, but are also having to fight those bright-red, unpleasant pimples that they thought were gone for good after their teenage years.

Adult acne is linked to stress, which causes a disruption in the hormonal balance. One of the keys in dealing with adult acne is to remove the stress. Leanne McCliskie, education manager for the International Dermal Institute in Toronto states: “You can't say 'I'm going to clear up your spots for you.' It's going to keep coming back unless the source of the stress is removed."

In the U.S, Dr. Leslie Baumann, a Miami-based dermatologist, says that the biggest complaint she hears is from women who are old enough to have wrinkles, but who still have acne.

Consequently, there has been an explosion of products focused on treating adult acne lately. In particular, products combine acne-fighting ingredients with anti-aging skin products. The key is matching the product with your proper skin type and not just using any acne product available.

In addition to reducing stress and using the correct products for adult acne, proper cleansing is important. Consider changing your skin cleaning routine. This may also solve your adult acne problem.

SKIN CARE TIP OF THE MONTH

Freckles become more prominent in the summer months because exposure to the sun. In the wintertime they tend to fade and become much less noticeable. To prevent freckles, the best remedy is to stay out of the sun or protect your skin from sun exposure. However, because this is not always possible or desired, then using natural remedies can reduce freckles. Below is a list of possible remedies:

• lemon juice is a long-time freckle remedy; simply apply fresh juice from a lemon to the freckles with your fingertips
• parsley juice that is mixed with equal amounts of lemon juice, orange juice, and red currant juice will help you keep freckles invisible
• increase your intake of vitamin C; vitamin C makes your skin less sensitive to sun damage
• wash your face with sour milk; lactic acid provides a gentle peeling of the skin without irritating or drying it

QUESTION OF THE MONTH

Why does my skin change with the environment?

Skin is a very important organ of the body and it is remarkably resilient to damage and protects the body from intrusions from the external environment. However, it does change with the environmental conditions it is exposed to. This does not happen immediately, but it takes time for the skin to adjust. Nevertheless, the skin will and needs to adjust in order to perform its necessary functions. For example, traveling to a dry climate or the sudden cold and windy conditions of winter often result in itchy, dry skin. If this is only for a day or two the skin is not likely to change. However, after a period of time that the skin is in such conditions, it responds by increasing oil production to compensate for the weather's drying effects. By doing this, the skin remains in a healthy condition and is able to perform, as it should.

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH

Lexlips

An effective lip treatment product is Lexlips. Lexlips is an enriching lip cream product that moisturizes the lips and produces smooth, full, and provocative lips. This lip treatment revitalizes your lips and helps them become your best feature!

Specifically, Lexlips:

• Enhances the healthy appearance of your lips
• Helps lips appear fuller and more supple
• Helps smooth the appearance of fine lines around your lips
• Helps define the edge of your lips

Applying this lip enriching cream two to three times daily may help you get the provocative, pouty lips you’ve always dreamed of. It is highly recommended that you apply LexLips before putting on your lipstick, as lipstick may act as a barrier and prevent the optimum benefits of LexLips.

Unlike surgical or injection lip treatments, the use of Lexlips can provide you with the perfectly looking lips you wish you were born with without any pain of treatment.

For more information on this product please contact info@healthy-skincare.com.

Comments? Feedback? Ideas for future Feature Articles or Questions of the Month? Healthy-skincare.com would love to hear from you. Simply reply to this e-zine and tell us what you think!