Targeted cancer drugs can have such disfiguring dermatologic side effects, some patients are embarrassed to be seen in public and hide at home. Others toss their pills. The pioneering Cancer Skin Care Program at Northwestern University — the first in the nation — treats patients to parry those effects and conducts research to find the most effective dermatological treatments.

Original post by ScienceDaily: Skin Care News

Posted: March 27th, 2008 under skin health.
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Dry skin can be a real pain, especially in the winter.  The air is dry, and that just pulls the moisture out of your skin more than ever.  This contributes to the “itchy feeling” we get with dry skin.  Ever feel like backing up to a corner of the wall to scratch your own back.  You know what I’m talking about.

Use the right moisturizer. We can help prevent dry skin by using the right moisturizer.  It really doesn’t have to be one of the fancy, high priced lotions on the market, but you need to look for some key ingredients.

Thinner lotions that may be ideal in the summer, may not be enough in the winter. Thin lotions tend to have water as a main ingredient and this water evaporates from your skin shortly after you put it on.  That is why it feels good for a while, but doesn’t last. Look for lotions that have oil as a key ingredient.  It may even be the main ingredient. Oil doesn’t evaporate like water.

Use a humidifier.  Speaking of evaporation, home humidifiers are great for skin health and will slow the evaporation from your skin. By putting moister in the air, you are slowing the evaporation of the moisture from your skin.  This makes perfect sense and is a real easy way to keep your skin healthier. Another trick is to allow the steam from showers and baths to escape your bathroom into the house to further boost the humidity.

Avoid hot water.  Another thing to look for regarding dry skin is hot soapy water. It is easy to see that hot water will take your natural oils off your skin more quickly than warm or cold water. Imagine trying to get an oil stain out of a shirt in the laundry.  The hottest water works the best because oils get thinner as they get hotter.  The same will happen to your skin.  Try to avoid long hot baths and showers if you have problems with dry skin.

Use little soap.  Soap is another big problem when combating dry skin. Use as little soap as you can and be certain to use a lotion or cream on your skin immediately after bathing or showering. Soap and hot water will remove oil faster than most things. .

See a dermatologist.  If your skin is cracked and red or if you are concerned about it, be sure to see a dermatologist. You could have an infection or some other disease of the skin. and you may need medications.

Don’t neglect your skin.  It is the largest organ in the body.

Do you have some other great tips for stopping dry itchy skin?  Let us all hear them. Leave a comment.

Posted: March 27th, 2008 under skin health.
Comments: 1

Minerals important to the look and health of the skin include selenium, copper, and zinc. Selenium, whether used as a topical solution or taken in the form of a dietary supplement may play a role in the prevention of skin cancer. Copper, zinc and Vitamin C work together to form elastin, which helps to support skin, keeping it firm and healthy.

Minerals are not manufactured in the body. The only way to get them is through your diet, and if your diet is lacking in fruits and vegetables chances are you have some form of mineral deficiency. This section provides articles and information related to the role of minerals in promoting and maintaining good health.

High calcium content in the upper epidermis helps maintain continual and efficient barrier functions. Calcium can significantly reduce dryness caused by microdermabrasion making the skin look well hydrated and fuller in appearance. Mineral sun protection is a very real service to clients who have undergone facial procedures that have left their skin in a highly sensitive state. Applying mineral cosmetics will take less than one minute and the result will give you the client’s whole-hearted attention. Vitamin C is abundant in fresh fruits and vegetables. Copper is found in a variety of foods and its deficiency is uncommon except in people taking zinc supplements Potassium(K) keeping acid-alkaline balance in the blood. Essential for muscle contraction and normal heart.

Selenium provides the elasticity to the skin and so helps in anti-aging process. It also helps anti-oxidants to work more efficiently in the body. Magnesium is another helpful element that can help you treating the acne condition. It is well-known for its ‘balancing hormone’ capacity. If all these Vitamins are taken regularly with an aid to Vitamin C then you can achieve the perfect balance for your particular skin type and texture.

Health effects of enriched magnesium (Mg48). Magnesium is, without a doubt, a valuable component of an anti aging conscious, longevity minded health regimen. Magnesium is the eighth most abundant action in the body and is present in more than 300 enzymatic systems in our body, where it is crucial for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) metabolism.

Alpha-Lipoic Acid - A powerful antioxidant, hundreds of times more potent that either vitamin C or E, alpha-lipoic acid may turn out to be a super boost for aging skin. What makes it so special, say skin experts, is its ability to penetrate both oil and water, affecting skin cells from both the inside and the outside of the body. Most other antioxidants can do one but not both.

Sulphur is also known as “The Beauty Mineral”, because it is an essential component in the formation of collagen, elastin, cartilage and keratin. Sulphur gives flexibility, tone and strength to muscles, bones, joints, internal membranes and especially to the skin, hair and nails.

Adequate levels of sulphur in the body help to promote a radiant complexion, glowing skin and mineralised hair. However, research has found that most people are deficient in sulphur and that deficiency increases with age.

Selenium plays a crucial role in the health of skin cells. Eat foods like whole-wheat bread, cereals, muffins, turkey, tuna and brazil nuts. Latest studies discovered that if selenium levels are high, even skin damaged by the sun will only suffer negligible harm.
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Posted: March 27th, 2008 under skin health.
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For decades, the American Academy of Dermatology has advised the public to practice proper sun protection to prevent skin cancer — and that same advice holds true today, despite any claims to the contrary. “While the health benefits of vitamin D are well known, it also is well known that exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause skin cancer,” stated dermatologist C. William Hanke, MD, FAAD, president of the American Academy of Dermatology.

This post is an original post by ScienceDaily: Skin Care News

Posted: March 27th, 2008 under skin health.
Comments: none