The heat and humidity of summer can wreak havoc on your skin. Increased exposure to the sun leads to sunburns and soreness in the present and can be a cause for wrinkles, toughness, and potentially deadly skin cancers in the future. Humid air creates the right conditions for acne and oily skin. Despite all of this, your skin need not suffer as a result of the weather.

Sunscreen: you’ve heard it before, and it bears repeating. No matter your age or skin type, everybody needs to wear sunscreen every day – and this becomes especially important during the summer. Remember to put enough on: the recommended application for adequate protection is 35 to 40ml per person per session (a handful). Sunscreen should be applied liberally enough to all sun-exposed areas that it forms a film when initially applied, and it should be the last product applied to the face before going out. A minimum SPF of 15 is recommended for all skin types; for young children and those with very fair or sun-sensitive skin, a higher SPF is recommended. Insect repellent can reduce sunscreen’s effectiveness by up to thirty percent, so take care to use a higher SPF and reapply sunscreen more often if combining it with insect repellent. Remembering to reapply sunscreen every two to four hours and immediately after swimming is crucial.

Wearing sun-protective lip balm is an important step in taking care of your lips that most people overlook when getting ready to go out. This not only protects against soreness and chapping, but also reduces the potential for the lips to be a possible site for dangerous melanomas.

Going easy on makeup is a good way to help prevent acne flare-ups in the summer. The combination of heavy makeup and sweat can clog pores and lead to break outs. Instead of using foundation all over your face, apply makeup lightly only to specific areas, and remember that the bright light of summer often accentuates makeup’s visibility, leading to an unnatural look.

Keep exfoliation light. While peels and scrubs are key during the winter and spring to keep skin radiant, be cautious of exfoliation as summer approaches. New, fresh skin that is revealed through exfoliation is actually more sensitive to the sun. Keep exfoliation to once a week or every other week and do it at night rather than in the morning. That way, your skin can recuperate a bit from exfoliation while you sleep.

Low humidity and indoor heating take a toll on our skin during winter months. Many people with otherwise normal skin suffer from dry skin, cracking lips and eczema due to the lack of moisture in the air. There are several easy ways to combat these problems from the inside out.

1. Place a humidifier in your bedroom. A humidifier will moisturize your skin and prevent sore throats, dry noses and nose bleeds. It is important to add a little antibacterial solution (this is sold beside the filters) so that mold does not grow inside, which can cause asthma and allergies to flare.
2. Limit showers and baths. One a day is perfectly fine, but the hot water will dry your skin very quickly. To combat this, use cooler water and only stay in for a few minutes. Use soap or body wash only where you need it, as most people don’t need to lather up from head to toe. After toweling off — while skin is still damp — apply a thick moisturizer from your neck to your feet. I like Eucerin and CeraVe brands — these are non-irritating, inexpensive and can be found at every drug store. If you find that these are too greasy, I recommend bathing at night and then putting on pajamas or a robe after moisturizing. If you have rough spots, simply apply a little over-the-counter hydrocortisone to the spots.
3. Avoid harsh cleansers on your face. Acne products in particular can be very drying. If you use a Retin-A or Retrinal product, try to limit use to two or three times a week to minimize flaking and peeling. If you do use these, you can put moisturizer on top of the acne product before bed. I also recommend putting aside strong exfoliators, like Clairsonic brushes, until the weather gets warmer. For the day, it’s fine to start with your usual facial moisturizer. If your skin still feels or looks dry, just layer another moisturizer on top. I personally like Avene Tolerance Extreme or Atopalm Cream.
4. Keep lip balm and hand cream with you at all times. For lips, I recommend using lip balms (Nivea is my favorite) and then applying lip gloss or lipstick on top for some color. Hands often need special attention, so carry a hand cream in your bag and apply frequently.

Happy Winter!

The Lancet Oncology, Volume 10, Issue 9, Page 835, September 2009

On July 6, 2009, the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) reported a disturbing lack of customer screening and generally unsafe equipment use in a survey of 332 tanning salons in Northern Ireland, prompting even the UK sunbed industry to agree that “there may be a case” for better standards. A few weeks after this announcement, on July 29, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) raised the classification of ultraviolet-emitting tanning devices from “probably carcinogenic to humans” to “carcinogenic to humans”—the highest risk category—based on evidence of a substantially higher risk of cutaneous melanoma in those who regularly used sunbeds. IARC’s assessment leaves no doubt about the carcinogenic potential of sunbeds, and with the reported lax operating procedures of tanning salons, is it not time to ban this practice altogether?

The UK government has been uncharacteristically reticent to involve itself in the regulation of the tanning industry, especially considering sunbeds have long been assumed to have a role in skin cancer. Nevertheless, some local authorities have followed the advice of health activists and prohibited tanning beds in leisure centres, but the sunbed industry itself is only under voluntary regulation. Any individual, seemingly without qualifications or experience, can set up a tanning salon and there are no regulatory restrictions on the type of equipment that can be purchased. In fact, around 25% of the salons surveyed by BAD had sunbeds with radiation levels intended for medical use only, and most did not know what level of ultraviolet radiation their beds emitted. The Department of Health publishes guidance for salon owners, but with only half of the facilities in the BAD survey checking their customers’ age, any advice clearly is not being followed.The Department of Health is considering banning children under 18 years of age from using sunbeds in England—following Scotland’s lead—but this is far short of what is needed to protect public health.

The incidence of skin cancer is increasing worldwide, and the number of melanoma cases in the UK is around four times that seen 30 years ago. A quantitative association between sunbed use and skin cancer is difficult to prove, not least because of confounding by sun exposure and under-reporting of tanning habits. But what is certain is that sunbed use is increasing and that available tanning devices are more powerful than even a decade ago. A ban on sunbeds for under-18s recognises that burns early in life are particularly dangerous and that young people might not understand or might ignore the risks; but these concerns are equally applicable to adults. IARC’s meta-analysis found a 75% increase in the risk of cutaneous melanoma when people began tanning regularly before the age of 30 years.So is there any benefit from tanning? The inclusion of sunbeds in gyms and health facilities, and the public misconception about possible benefits of tanning hinder an appropriate understanding of the risks. Some proponents suggest that vitamin D deficiency from sun avoidance is an issue, especially for those living in northern climates, and that this deficiency can be treated with “safe” tanning. But this claim is irresponsible: vitamin D can be easily and more safely acquired in the diet. A further misconception is that previous exposure to sunlight, via a sunbed, provides protection against sunburn from intensive vacational exposure. This is not true since overexposure during tanning is likely, with individuals being less likely to take preventive measures.

Of note, guidelines for skin-cancer prevention recommend avoidance of direct exposure to mid-day sun as a first priority—regardless of skin type—with sunscreen only a secondary preventive measure. A practice whereby a source of intense ultraviolet radiation is brought within 6 inches of a person’s skin must therefore be questioned.Most of the 100 000 new cases of skin cancer diagnosed in the UK each year are preventable, so why attempt expensive industry regulation and ineffective consumer education programmes? Sunbeds for cosmetic tanning clearly increase the risk of skin melanoma, and probably the risk of ocular melanoma; they should be banned for all ages. WHO, the British Medical Association, and Cancer Research UK already advise against sunbed use completely. In the name of skin-deep beauty, a beast has been unleashed—in face of the recognised health risks, the industry’s continued existence can in no way be justified.

Have you wondered what to look for in a sunscreen?

The sun contains both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays are linked to melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer as well as causing lines, wrinkles and aging of the skin. UVB rays cause sunburns. Currently sunscreens in the US only have ratings for UVB rays. SPF 15 blocks about 93% and SPF 30 blocks about 97% of UVB rays. Several ingredients block both UVA and UVB including zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Both of these ingredients are physical blocks, and are very gentle to the skin. Chemical blocks include avobenzone, oxybenzone and mexoryl. There are some concerns that these chemical sunscreen break down in the sun. The envirnment watch group performed a review of almost 900 sunscreens their recommendations are below.

The UV Lights at Your Local Nail Salon May Cause Skin Cancer. 

The lights used to quickly dry your nails at your local nail salon may cause skin cancer. As published in the April 2009 issue of the Archives of Dermatology report that 2 healthy middle aged women developed skin cancers on the dorsum of their hands, both women had no risk factors for skin cancer and reported exposure to UV lights at nail salons. My advice use the dryer.

Vogue Editor Feels “Newly Taut” In Her Jeans thanks to VelaShape

In an article on achieving body perfection, beauty editor Catherine Piercy explores the latest surgical and non-surgical fixes for body flaws: liposuction, injections, skin tighteners, and cellulite treatments.

“The treatment that really gets my attention, though, is VelaShape,” says Piercy.  She received VelaShape treatments “…with zero downtime and little risk…I decided this is the one I must try.”

The result? There was some bruising which faded after a few days, but overall, she says “I feel tighter if not thinner, and those painstakingly precise measurements show a 2.5 cm reduction of my waist, thighs and lower back.  Just enough to have me feeling newly taut in my jeans.”

VelaShape is a non-invasive medical device based on el?s™ technology – a combination of heat, light, suction and massage – and is specifically designed to improve skin texture, reduce the appearance of cellulite and target localized fat deposits. Experience the most popular non-surgical alternative to liposuction with VelaShape!