Its that time of year again in Minnesota, when the weather changes and so does the needs of your skin. If you notice this time of year your body becomes a snowglobe itself due to shedding, dry skin, well I have some excellent recommendations to help remedy the situation.
The three main important things to keep your skin in tip top shape during the winter are protect, hydrate, and exfoliate. To protect your skin from harsh wind and extremes in temperature make sure to wear a scarf or other protective covering over your face. Not only with it block on coming forces of nature such as cold wind, snow, and UVA/UVB light, the moisture from your own breath and body heat will help to keep your skin from irritation and drying out. It is important to remember to wear your sunscreen, especially in the winter when there is snow on the ground that provides a reflective surface for UVA/UVB light to bounce off of and land on your face if exposed. An SPF 15 lotion will help protect as well as hydrate your skin.
Hydrating is another important factor to keeping your skin soft, supple, and flake free. One way to make sure this occurs is by drinking plenty of water. Recommendations from the National Institute of Health state that getting at least 8-8oz glasses of water a day is appropriate for water intake. However, this is not necessarily prudent. The most important part of consuming enough liquids to stay hydrated is based on each individual and their particular body needs. Some individuals need more or less fluids depending on their activity levels and health status. Overall, you will know you are getting enough water if you had satisfied your thirst and you are urinating approximately 1.5 liters (6.3) cups of clear, yellow urine a day (http://www.mayoclinic.com, retrieved October 29th, 2012). It is important to note that the fluids you drink don't necessarily have to be water and can be from various other sources such as juices, sports drinks, teas, milk, etc.
Another good way to hydrate and protect the skin is by eating foods that contain whats called "good fats" otherwise known as monounsaturated fatty acids. These types of fats can be found in foods such as salmon, walnuts, olive oil, black olives, peanuts, and avocados. You can find a more extensive list through Google or try the website http://www.livestrong.com/ I have also had good luck with incorporating supplements into my skincare regimen and found that daily supplementation with Vitamin E and C has helped my skin stay healthy. Vitamin E is an important antioxidant that protects cells and tissues from damage by free radicals generated by chemicals and oxidized fats. It is best when taken with Vitamin C. The two vitamins work together and both are vitamins that are well researched and most widely accepted supplements in the medical community. Vitamin C is not only good for a strong immunity and antioxidant properties, it also aids the skin in rebuilding collagen and elastin and helps maintain a youthful supple appearance.
Finally, the last recommendations for keeping your skin at its best in a winter climate are to exfoliate and moisturize. It is easiest to exfoliate when you are taking a shower or a bath. Make sure you do not have the water too hot, as this can cause you to have dryer skin. Using a loofa or body brush in the shower with some moisturizing body wash will be the most efficient way to exfoliate the skin. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to try Vanicream body cleanser bars if you prefer a bar soap, or try Tena wash cream if you prefer a cream style wash. The Tena wash cream is especially good for dry skin, and it is pH balanced and although it doesn't have to be rinsed off, you can still use it in the shower as a buffer for when you are exfoliating. Both of these products may be purchased at Target, Walgreens, or via the internet. After showering and especially after exfoliating, you are going to want to protect your skin with a moisturizer. Sometimes, people have found that if the use the Tena cream, they either need to moisturize very little or not even at all, which is great and one less step to healthy moisturized skin! However, each individual is different and it is best to try things out and see what works best for you.
I have two lotions that I absolutely love and recommend, feel free to try them out for yourself. They both have great ingrediants and are very effective in protecting the skin's epidermis at a very reasonable price. The first one is called DML Moisturing Lotion and it is manufactures by Person & Covey. It comes in 8 oz. and 16 oz. and sells for $10.00 and $15.80 plus shipping and handling. When I first was introduced to this company I was skeptical because the overall packaging. It is now on of my favorite moisturizers and makes my skin look and feel great. It is non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, fragrance free, and fast absorbing. The ingrediants are safe, gentle, and effective for conditioning the skin and retaining moisture. You can purchase this product on the website http://personandcovey.com/ or talk to your local pharmacy to see if they carry it. Another great option to try is Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion. This lotion contains 93% natural ingredients that are all natural and/or plant-based natural ingredients. Some of the skin benefiting ingredients include Aloe, Vitamin E, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Comfrey, Yarrow, and Chamomile. What I absolutely love about this lotion and its company is that they list their ingredient and then give you an explanation of how each ingredient works. Brilliant! The icing on the cake is that it is fairly inexpensive for the quality of product you are receiving. Sizes and pricing ranges from 4 oz. to 1 gallon and $25.00 to $395.00 plus shipping. You may find out the full and detailed ingredient list and ordering details on on their website http://www.skinmdnatural.com/.
Feel free to send me a comment or an email about this or any other blogs at aspireskincare@gmail.com!
Beauty Come From Within~ But Let Me Help With Your Skin
Yours Truly,
Amanda Logan RN
Monday, October 29, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Botox Treatments for Stress Symptom Relief?
When you think of Botox, you may
tend to think of a product used only for cosmetic correction. There are the typical, highly
sought after, cosmetic enhancements that Botox provides such as skin lifting
and wrinkle reduction. However, there are other great therapeutic uses for Botox. The procedures
that you may not know about are the use of Botox to decrease migraines,
excessive sweating (a condition known as Hyperhidrosis), and relieve chronic
muscle tension. If you’re an individual
who sweats even the small stuff, clenches their teeth, or carries stress in
your head neck and shoulders, a trip to a Botox specialist may provide benefits
you have not found with other treatments with fewer side effects and decreased
wait time for relief.
If you experience Hyperhidrosis,
you are not alone. According to authors Haider, Solish, and Lowe, an actual
standard of what excessive sweating actually is has not been developed.
However, the general clinical presentations are concentrated in areas of the
palms of the hands, underarms, and face. They state because no standard has
been defined, it is reasonable to diagnose the condition in patients by report
of excessive sweating that inhibits the patient’s daily life and activities (Haider, Solish, & Lowe, 2005) .
The treatment with
Botox for Hyperhidrosis is relatively simple and will start with a starch
iodine test. The starch and iodine
interact in the presence of sweat to develop a purplish color. This purple area
identifies the areas where the Botox will be injected. The Botox injections
result in a localized, prolonged, yet reversible, decrease in cholinergic
transmission, which results in less sweat production. Since the treatment is
local and not systemic, you have no side effects such as dry mouth, dry eyes, blurred
vision, constipation, urinary retention, and palpitations that some patients
have reported with oral agents. The pain
associated with the injections has been reported as minimal and can be further
minimized with the use of a topical anesthetic. The Botox treatment lasts for
approximately 6-7 months.
Botox blocks not only the release
of acetylcholine from vesicles in nerve terminals, but also has been shown to
inhibit the release from nerve endings of pain –mediating neurotransmitter and
blocking of peripheral sensitization and indirect reduction of central
sensitization. According to authors Smith
and Alam, “increasingly, it appears that complex . . . initiated central
nervous system modifications may be crucial elements of the pain relief cascade”
(Smith & Alam, 2005) .
These treatments have proven to be beneficial
to patients who have not demonstrated
improvement from preventive pharmacotherapy or experiences side effects
from medications that are considered intolerable or the use of medications are
contraindicated with the specific patient. “In addition, Botox therapy may
simply be preferable and less expensive or have fewer side-effects than other
treatments and so be considered for first-line therapy” (Smith & Alam, 2005) . However, it’s best to
note that treatment with Botox will usually control and not cure headaches. And although a skilled botox professional can
administer the Botox injections, a patient should continue to work with their
primary care physician for management of medications and investigations of the
ideology of the headaches.
The various
sites that are typically injected are areas near your temples, the back of your
head at the base of the skull, the crown of the skull, areas between the
shoulder blades, and other areas of targeted muscle groups and foci of
discomfort collaborated with the patient.
Again, you won’t have to go through more pain to experience pain relief.
Botox can be mixed with a preservative and has local anesthetic
properties. The amount of time between
needed re-treatment varies between individuals.
In conclusion, although many
individuals know Botox primarily for cosmetic purposes, there is an increase
use of the treatment for non-cosmetic pain syndromes and manifestations of stress. These treatments have been proven to be safe,
effective, and expedient ways to treat excessive sweating, headaches, and
chronic pain due to muscle tension. If you have been experiencing and suffering with any of these debilitating
conditions check in with a physician office that specializes in Botox
administration and see if they can help you become a healthier, happier you!
Amanda Logan
RN
LifeSpan
Clinic
2000 Plymouth
Rd
Suite 230
Minnetonka,
MN 55305
Phone
952-546-5322
References
Haider, A., Solish, N., & Lowe, N. (2005).
Management of Hyperhidrosis. In A. Carruthers, J. Carruthers, J. S. Dover,
& A. Murad, Procedures in Cosmetic Dermatology: Botulinum Toxin (pp.
91-100). Philadelphia: Elsevier.
Smith, K. C., & Alam, M. (2005). Botulinum Toxin
for Pain Relief and Treatment of Headache. In A. Carruthers, & J.
Carruthers, Procedures in Cosmetic Dermatology: Botulinum Toxin (pp.
101-111). Philedelphia: Elsevier.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Supplements for Acne
If you have suffered from acne, you have probably suffered
through many different treatments only to continue to have problems with
sporadic breakouts. You will be happy to
read that you are not alone! Many individuals that suffer with acne have spent
a majority of their lives looking for the cure-all for this devastating skin
condition. Many individuals arsenals for acne are chalked full of creams,
ointments, at home laser or light therapies, and make-up. All products created with the
purpose and proposition that use of these products will clear up and prevent
acne.
So why is it that despite all these products are people
still experiencing breakouts and flare-ups of their acne? Well, sometimes,
despite all the best efforts, you may still breakout occasionally. However, if
you are the person who has tried everything under the sun to treat your acne on
the outside without taking a look on what can help acne from the inside out;
this article may be of benefit to you.
We have all heard that eating a well-balanced meal is the
key to good health and great skin. And
if you are like me, you try to eat healthy for the majority of your meals.
However, if I am honest with myself, I will note that I do not even come close
to eating the amount of different foods recommended by the food pyramid. This
is where supplements come in to play. Here are a few supplements recommended
specifically for acne and are safe for both the teenager and adult suffering
with acne:
Multi-Vitamin/Mineral daily:
This is something that should be incorporated into everyone’s daily
health regimen. The important factor for those suffering acne is to avoid a
multi- vitamin and mineral supplement that doesn’t contain iodine. Iodine has
been shown to worsen acne. It is also important to note that if you are currently
eating foods that are high in iodine (processed foods), this may be
contributing to your acne. Try cutting
out processed foods that are high in iodine and see if that help clear your
skin.
Pantothenic Acid (B5): This vitamin is important to many body
functions and is known as the anti-stress vitamin because it supports the
adrenal glands. Besides giving the adrenals what they need to produce hormones,
Vitamin B-5, along with Vitamin C, helps cells metabolize fats and
carbohydrates to release energy. This vitamin has also been noted to help
prevent and treat some kinds of acne by decreasing sebum production. So if
you’re an individual who has oily or combination skin, this supplement may help
you keep your acne under control. Taken
along with Vitamin C can help strengthen skin and promote healing.
Vitamin E: Taking a Vitamin E supplement daily is a
beneficial way to consume an important antioxidant that protects cells and
tissues from damage by free radicals generated by chemicals and oxidized fats.
It works best when taken with Vitamin C. The two vitamins form a team that can
help the skin heal. These supplements have been found to help with acne and
provide anti-aging benefits as well! I
have also found that a simple Vitamin E stick applied to healing acne helps the
skin rejuvenate itself.
Beta-carotene/Vitamin A: This crucial vitamin is an important key in
maintaining healthy skin and helps treat acne.
It also has been scientifically proven to be beneficial antioxidant that
helps prevent cancer, maintain good eyesight, and is an active immune system
enhancer to prevent other diseases as well.
Beta-carotene is a double Vitamin A molecule and must be converted to
Vitamin A in your body. It is water-soluble, meaning that it dissolves in water.
The body can eliminate what it doesn’t use, and thus it has less toxic
potential than Vitamin A.
So if you are an individual who is still experiencing acne
issues and have not taken into consideration taking supplements to help clear
your skin, give these suggestions a try. A great, pharmaceutical grade, product
to try that contains all of these Vitamins (doesn’t contain iodine) is Douglas
Laboratories, CNCR-Support Formula in which you can purchase at LifeSpan Clinic.
In addition to the supplements above, it contains nutritional support with a
synergistic blend of phytofoods and special nutrients. Using pharmaceutical
grade supplement makes sure you are getting the best ingredients and proper
dosages. Getting supplement information from a practitioner who is
knowledgeable in various supplement information and interactions is important
especially if you are taking prescription medications.
Amanda Logan RN
LifeSpan Clinic
2000 Plymouth Rd
Suite 230
Minnetonka, MN 55305
Phone
952-546-5322
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Adult Acne Options
Although there has been an increase
in reports of adult acne, there is no need to stress more and create more of
those unsightly, unwanted, blemishes! There are multiple, effective treatment options available to women of all ages. According to a study done by
Massachusetts General Hospital, 45% of women ages 21-30, 26% of women ages 31-40,
and 12% of women ages 41-50, experience adult acne. However, just because you
have a condition that is associated with teenage skin, doesn't mean you should
treat all acne the same.
There are multiple factors that are
thought to be contributing to adult acne. Adult acne can be caused by
fluctuating hormones that occur with monthly cycles, starting or stopping some
forms of oral contraceptives, pregnancy, being premenopausal and menopause,
stress, and even eating hormone enhanced foods such as non-organic meat and
dairy. In 2006, Harvard researchers found that girls who drank
two or more glasses a day of milk had a higher risk of acne than did girls
drinking less than a glass a week. A study published
in 2007 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition linked a low glycemic
diet to clearer skin.
The
problem is that even though these hormone fluctuations cause the body to
produce extra amounts of sebum the aging skin is still relatively dryer and
more prone to sensitivity to some of the products used on teenage skin. The
happy news? There is hope and a variety of treatment options.
The first suggestion to help treat adult skin
acne issues is to clean your cabinets of harsh acne products and try a gentler
approach. Various studies, and my own
personal experience, is that 2.5% benzoyl
peroxide works just as well as 5% or 10% formulations and is less
irritating to the skin. In addition, you can try new, gentle, effective
products such as Aczone (dapsone) or gentle formulations of Retinoids such as
Atralin Gel or Retin-A Micro (0.04%) gel. These formulas are designed to
increase cellular turn over and keep the pores from getting clogged which can
lead to blemishes.
Skin Ceuticals, a favorite skin care line of dermatologist
and skin care professionals, has recently come out with a new product called
Blemish and Age Defense, a serum that combines 2% dioic acid with an alpha and
beta-hydroxy acid that helps prevent acne, reduces hyperpigmentation, fine
lines and wrinkles. I personally have had great results with a variety of SkinCeutical products and have recently fallen in love with the Phloretin CF
product. This serum is a broad-spectrum antioxidant treatment containing
phloretin, L-ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), and ferulic acid. It brightens, plumps,
and just makes my skin look fabulous!
Laser
and light therapy is an increasingly popular option and is backed by increasing
amounts of evidence to show that is a non-invasive, effective, option for
treating a wide variety of skin issues. In relation to acne, light therapy
consistent with 405-420 nm of Narrow Band UV free Blue Light is showing
reduction in inflammatory acne lesions in individuals. It works by destroying
the bacteria that is part of creating breakouts. You can read more in the Journal
of Cosmetic Laser Therapy and the Journal of Dermatological Treatment.
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