Some examples of green foods:

Alfalfa sprouts, asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green cabbage, celery, cilantro, collard greens, kale, lettuce, parsley, green pepper, watercress, wheatgrass, green apples, green tea, etc.

Juice Recipe:

2 green apples
3-4 leaves kale or a bunch of spinach
2 sticks of celery
A bunch of parsley
¼ lemon
½-inch ginger

Homemade face mask

The recipe of a natural two-ingredient anti-wrinkle homemade face mask that will eliminate literally all signs of aging!

It is really easy to prepare, inexpensive, and will leave your skin clean, wrinkle-free and radiant!

This is how to prepare it:

Ingredients:

• Method of preparation:1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 egg white

In a bowl, beat the egg white until it foams, and add the lemon juice. Beat for several more minutes, until you get a homogeneous mixture.

Directions:

You should thoroughly clean the face and the neck, and wash your hands. Then, apply the mask with the fingers on the face and neck, massaging gently in circular motions. Leave it to act for 5-10 minutes, and then wash it off with water. Then, apply some moisturizing cream.

Repeat this treatment 3-4 times a week, and you will notice the effects almost instantly!

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How to Keep Your Skin Radiant Even in Winter

Nourish Your Skin

As any skincare expert will tell you, healthy skin starts from the inside out, and that's especially important during the winter months. To help your skin thrive no matter how cold the temperature gets, make sure your weekly meal plan consists of plenty of fruits, vegetables and healthy proteins. Eating these foods on a regular basis will help to ensure your skin gets the proper hydration, vitamins and nutrients. And if you're looking for a winter-themed, skin-friendly treat, consider drinking hot cocoa, which is infused with antioxidants that will help to repair and replenish your skin.

healthyskinportal

Reduce Wrinkles and Skin Blemishes

Homemade Face Mask

Advanced Skin Care ~ coming soon

https://medixaesthetics.com/

Infrared Protection: Hype or Hope?

We all know that the sun emits harmful UVA and UVB radiation that can damage and prematurely age the skin, but these days there’s a lot of hype about infrared (IR) protection for the skin. Should we be concerned about IR, and if so, what can be done about it? 

The Spectrum and IR Light

The electrom­agnetic spectrum (see The Electrom­agnetic Spectrum and Skin Penetration) is a term used by scientists to describe the range of light arranged according to frequency and wavelength. We can use this tool to see how the various types of light we are exposed to each day affect our skin based upon how deeply the light penetrates, and with how much strength. IR accounts for 50% of a typical person’s exposure each day, as compared to just 7% coming from UVA and UVB.1 Let’s take a look at what exactly IR to determine if it is something we should be concerned about.

As part of the electrom­agnetic spectrum, infrared light is emitted along with other frequencies including gamma rays, x-rays, UV rays, visible light, microwaves and radio waves. For the purposes of discussing IR’s effect on skin, there are two levels of IR light the average person should know—IRA and IRB.

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IRB, or short wavelength infrared, penetrates just at the epidermal layer. Although this can stimulate some pigmentation, it is not our biggest concern. IRA, or near infrared, goes down to the hypodermis, the place where new skin cells are formed and nutrients are delivered to the skin.2 This deep penetration creates reason for concern because of the extensive damage it can inflict. Recent research suggests that IR radiation induces inflammation, premature skin aging and cancer.3 —three big reasons for concern. What’s even more challenging about exposure to IR is the fact that IR rays come from places other than the sun. Common household appliances such as hair dryers and television remotes also emit rays along with many industrial, high heat generating types of equipment, which most of us are not exposed to on a regular basis.

The good news is that there are ways to protect and counteract the harmful effects of IR radiation. The human body has an amazing ability to adapt and protect. Our bodies react to environmental exposures by using elements found in our own chemistry to fight toxic invaders. In the case of IR exposure, the body utilizes antioxidants to neutralize the free radicals created in the skin after contact with light.

Dietary Antioxidants and IR protection

As a clinical nutritionist, I can’t write an article on skin health without bringing food into the conversation. As usual, there’s an inside-out story here too. Ingesting dietary antioxidants will also offer protection for all kinds of solar radiation. Antioxidants are substances that prevent oxidation, also referred to as oxidative stress. They are nature’s way of protecting cells from damage. In this process of oxidation, free radicals cause damage to the skin tissues and speed up the aging process. Antioxidant-rich foods are plant based and many times referred to as phytoche­micals. Scientists at the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have developed a scale for measuring an antioxidant food’s ability to neutralize free radicals called Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC). The higher a food’s ORAC score, the more powerful it is in combating age-related degeneration and disease. Foods with the highest ORAC scores include spices, cocoa powder (unsweetened) and richly colored fruits and vegetables.

There are some specific nutrients that have been studied and shown to have strong protective properties against light exposure. Some of the best choices include the following.

Carotenoids. This category includes lutein and zeaxanthin found in dark green leafy veggies and corn; beta carotene found in carrots and sweet potatoes; and lycopene found in cooked tomato products and watermelon.

Vitamin E. This vitamin is found in wheat germ, nuts and seeds.

Vitamin C . Peppers, cantaloupe, citrus, and berries are all great sources of vitamin C.

Polyphenols. Food sources of polyphenols include green tea, dark chocolate, coffee and spices

These foods have been shown to offer antioxidant and light protection when consumed on a regular basis.4 This is yet another great reason for everyone to eat a rainbow of fresh fruits and vegetables every single day. For optimal health, aim for 7-9 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables every day, focusing on eating a variety of colors. This ensures that you have covered all of your bases and in essence creates an “internal sunscreen.”

Topical Protection Against IR Radiation

In terms of a topical skin protectant, the most commonly accepted and widely effective is the use of mineral sunscreens, makeup and lotions with zinc and titanium based ingredients in their composition.3 These compounds reflect the light away from the face, preventing it from penetrating and causing damage. It’s quite simple, yet effective.

In addition to minerals, botanical antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, copper, grape seed extract and lingonberry are effective choices as well. Just about any high quality antioxidant will work to neutralize free radicals, but some do perform better than others.

When it comes to antioxidants, the key factor is to ensure that the ingredient is delivered in a way that prevents oxidation of the compound before it reaches the skin. Sunlight and air can easily neutralize an antioxidant, and this is where emerging ingredient science has brought us better ways to deliver protection to our skin. Innovations in the way the nutrients are encapsulated, packaged and delivered are helping to prevent oxidation and assist with penetration in the skin. In my opinion, the application of topical botanical antioxidants and a mineral sunscreen are a must to counteract the inevitable UV and IR exposure that each of us will face every day.

IR Protection Regulation

The U.​S. Food and Drug Administ­ration (FDA) has clearly identified UVA and UVB radiation as dangers to human health and has issued sunscreen guidelines accordingly. This has taken years of collective research and public outcry. At this time, there is no FDA or other public policy statement that helps interpret the dangers of IR and its impact on skin and health. That does not necessarily mean that there is no reason for concern, as sometimes the research takes time and not every study supports what seems like the obvious conclusion. In a 2016 study evaluating the need for IR protection in sunscreens, researchers compared the IRA exposure of steel and glass workers who work in extreme heat to that typical sun exposure. They concluded that the IRA levels were similar and found no notable skin damage in the industrial workers and thereby concluded that IR protection was not needed in sunscreens.5 This is contrary to the conclusions of a 2009 study, which showed that IRA exposure from the sun caused decreased collagen in the skin and damage similar to that of UV light.6 In another, more well designed double-blind, randomized study conducted in 2015, a simple sunscreen formulation was compared to a formula that contained an antioxidant cocktail of vitamin E, C, grape seed and CoQ10. The antioxidant enriched formula showed significant protection against IRA, whereas the sunscreen alone did not. It should be noted that the sunscreen was a chemical sunscreen, not mineral. This is another good reason to choose mineral formulas over chemical, which do not protect as well, and can cause skin inflammation.3

Unfortun­ately, we can’t always trust research. The challenge is around the quality of the studies being conducted. We need to ask ourselves who is funding the study and what their personal goals might be. We need to consider the structure of the study—was the design smart and scientific? Does it eliminate confounding variables and test the hypothesis accurately? It seems that for every study that draws a positive conclusion, there is one that draws the opposite conclusion.

Future of IR Protection

It takes a great deal of time and money to come to a point where the appropriate amount of financial investment and high level of science is being applied to an issue. Just because research has not been done on IR protection does not mean that it is not a good idea to take preventative measures to protect ourselves, especially if the intervention has no negative consequence. The great thing about combating IR damage is that the preventative steps are things like eating a variety of fruits and vegetables every day and applying natural minerals and botanical products to our skin as protection. We really can’t go wrong by taking those preventative measures. In my mind, infrared protection is not hype, but rather another good reason for great nutrition!

References

1. AM Holzer, The Other End of the Rainbow: Infrared and Skin, J Invest Dermatol 130(6) 1496–1499 (2010)
2. WM Haynes, CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 92nd ed., CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL 10.233 (2011)
3. S Grether-Beck, A Marini, T Jaenicke and J Krutmann, Effective photopro­tection of human skin against infrared A radiation by topically applied antioxidants: Results from a vehicle controlled, double-blind, randomized study, Photochem Photobiol Jan-Feb 91(1) 248-50 (2015)
4. E Fernández-García, Skin protection against UV light by dietary antioxidants, Food Funct 5(9) 1994-2003 E1 (2014)
5. B Diffey and C Candars, An appraisal of the need for infrared radiation protection in sunscreens, Photochem Photobio Sci 15(3) 361-4 (2016)
6. P Schroeder, C Calles and J Krutmann, Prevention of infrared-A radiation mediated detrimental effects in human skin, Skin Therapy Lett Jun 14(5) 4-5 (2009)

Ginger Hodulik Downey, MS, is a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nutrition. She has worked in clinical practice and wellness program development and implemen­tation. Currently, she serves as co-owner and VP of R&D for DermaMed Solutions.

- See more at: http://www.skininc.com/treatments/suncare/Infrared-Protection-Hype-or-Hope-414899933.html?utm_source=newsletter-html&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SI+E-Newsletter+03-07-2017&absrc=hdl#sthash.LEdZrIsA.dpuf

Helping skin to help itself

Helping Skin to Help Itself

10 Best and Worst Ingredients for Your Skin

https://bellatory.com/skin/best-organic-skincare

Face Glow !

Natural Beauty Secrets

7 Best Home Remedies for Smooth Skin

http://www.homecures.co/269/7-best-home-remedies-for-smooth-skin.html

Healthy Skin Tip

The Mini Skin Cancer Prevention Handbook

FORMALDEHYDE AND FORMALDEHYDE-RELEASING PRESERVATIVES

Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (FRPs) are used in many personal care products,[1] particularly in shampoos and liquid baby soaps. These chemicals, which help prevent microbes from growing in water-based products, can be absorbed through the skin and have been linked to cancer and allergic skin reactions.

FOUND IN: Nail polish, nail glue, eyelash glue, hair gel, hair-smoothing products, baby shampoo, body soap, body wash, color cosmetics.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR ON THE LABEL: Formaldehyde, quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, polyoxymethylene urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bromopol) and glyoxal.

WHAT IS FORMALDEHYDE? Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas used in a wide range of industries and products including building materials, walls, cabinets furniture and personal care products.[2]

WHAT ARE FORMALDEHYDE-RELEASING PRESERVATIVES AND WHERE ARE THEY FOUND?In personal care products, formaldehyde can be added directly, or more often, it can be released from preservatives[3] [4] such as quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, polyoxymethylene urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, bromopol and glyoxal. MORE...

HEALTH CONCERNS: Cancer, skin irritation  MORE...

VULNERABLE POPULATIONS: Infants, hair salon workers, nail salon workers.

REGULATIONS: Banned from use in cosmetics and toiletries in Japan and Sweden[37]; in the EU, restricted in personal care products, and labeling is required in products that do contain these chemicals[38]; concentration restrictions in Canada.[39] The EU allows the use of Quaternium-15 up to 0.2% as a preservative in cosmetic products.[40]

HOW TO AVOID: Read labels and avoid products containing the following ingredients: Formaldehyde, quaternium-15, dimethyl-dimethyl (DMDM) hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bromopol). In addition, choose nail products that are labeled formaldehyde-free or “toxic-trio-free” (formaldehyde, toluene and DBP). Skip hair-smoothing products—especially those sold in salons, as salon-based products are exempt from labeling laws. Don’t use expired cosmetic products or store cosmetic products in the sun because this can cause more formaldehyde to be released.[41]

References

[1] Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-food Products. Opinion concerning a clarification on the formaldehyde and para-formaldehyde entry in Directive 76/768/EEC on cosmetic products. Opinion: European Commission. 2002. Available Online: http://ec.europa.eu/food/fs/sccp/out187_en.pdf. Accessed Online October 16, 2009.

[2] http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/drywall/docs/whatyoushouldknowaboutformaldehyde.pdf

[3] Moennich JN, Hanna DM, Jacob SE (2009). Environmental Exposures-A pediatric perspective on allergic contact dermatitis. Skin & Aging. July 2009:28-36.

[4] Jacob SE, Breithaupt A (2009). Environmental Exposures-A pediatric perspective in baby and cosmetic products. Journal of the Dermatology Nurses’ Association 1:211-214.

[5] Flyvholm MA, Hall BM, Agner T, Tiedemann E, Greenhill P, Vanderveken W, Freeberg FE, Menne T. Threshold for occluded formaldehyde patch test in formaldehyde-sensitive patients. Relationship to repeated open application test with a product containing formaldehyde releaser. Contact Dermatitis. 1997;36(1):26-33.

[6] Jordan WP Jr., Sherman WT, King SE. (2009). Threshold responses in formaldehyde-sensitive subjects. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1979;1(1):44-48. Also confirmed by personal communication between Dr. Sharon Jacob and Stacy Malkan, February 26, 2009.

[7] Lv, C., Hou, J., Xie, W., & Cheng, H. (2015). Investigation on formaldehyde release from preservatives in cosmetics. International journal of cosmetic science.

[8] Becker, L. C., Bergfeld, W. F., Belsito, D. V., Klaassen, C. D., Hill, R., Leibler, D., … & Andersen, F. A. (2010). Final report of the amended safety assessment of quaternium-15 as used in cosmetics. International journal of toxicology, 29(3 suppl), 98S-114S.

[9] Propionate, A., Chloride, B., Urea, D., Black, D., Hydantoin, D. M. D. M., Acetate, E., … & Glycerides, H. T. (2008). Annual Review of Cosmetic Ingredient Safety Assessments. International Journal of Toxicology, 27(1), 77-142.

[10] Imidazolidinyl Urea Available Online: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/703119/IMIDAZOLIDINYL_UREA_%28FORMALDEHYDE_RELEASER%29/. Accessed September 19, 2015.

[11] Imidazolidinyl urea Available Online: https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/htdocs/chem_background/exsumpdf/imidazolidinylurea_508.pdf. Accessed September 28, 2015.

[12] Lv, C., Hou, J., Xie, W., & Cheng, H. (2015). Investigation on formaldehyde release from preservatives in cosmetics. International journal of cosmetic science.

[13] Diazolidinyl Urea Available Online: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/701923/DIAZOLIDINYL_UREA_%28FORMALDEHYDE_RELEASER%29/#. Accessed September 19, 2015.

[14] Polyoxymethylene Available Online: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/705083/POLYOXYMETHYLENE_UREA_%28FORMALDEHYDE_RELEASER%29/. Accessed September 19, 2015.

[15] Russell, K., & Jacob, S. E. (2010). Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate. Dermatitis, 21(2), 109-110.

[16] Nitrosamines available online: http://www.cosmeticsinfo.org/nitrosamines. Accessed September 23, 2015.

[17] Andersen, F. A. (2000). Amended final report on the safety assessment of Glyoxal. International journal of toxicology, 19, 13-27.

[18] International Agency for Research on Cancer. “IARC classifies formaldehyde as carcinogenic to humans.” Press release. June 15, 2004. www.iarc.fr/en/MEdia-Centre/IARC-Press-Releases/Archives-2006-2004/2004/IARC-classifies-formaldehyde-as-carcinogenic-to-humans. Accessed January 9, 2009.

[19] Zhang et al 2009. Meta-analysis of formaldehyde and hematologic cancers in humans. Mutation Research 681: 150-168.

[20] Yoshida, I., & Ibuki, Y. (2014). Formaldehyde-induced histone H3 phosphorylation via JNK and the expression of proto-oncogenes. Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis, 770, 9-18.

[21] Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Priority Existing Chemical Assessment Report No. 28: Formaldehyde. November 2006. Page 68. Available Online: http://www.nicnas.gov.au/Publications/CAR/PEC/PEC28/PEC_28_Full_Report_PDF.pdf. Accessed January 9, 2009.

[22] Bartnik FG, Gloxhuber C, Zimmerman V. (1985). Percutaneous absorption of formaldehyde in rats. Toxicol Lett, 25(2):167-172.

[23] Nitrosamines available online: http://www.cosmeticsinfo.org/nitrosamines. Accessed September 23, 2015.

[24] Pontén, A., & Bruze, M. (2015). Formaldehyde. Dermatitis, 26(1), 3-6.

[25] Pontén, A., & Bruze, M. (2015). Formaldehyde. Dermatitis, 26(1), 3-6.

[26] Flyvholm MA, Menne T. (1992). Allergic contact dermatitis from formaldehyde. A case syudy focusing on sources of formaldehyde exposure. Contact Dermatitis, 27(1):27-36.

[27] Boyvat A, Akyol A, Gurgey E (2005). Contact sensitivity to preservatives in Turkey. Contact Dermatitis, 52(6):333-337.

[28] Pratt MD, Belsito DV, DeLeo VA, Fowler JF Jr, Fransway AF, Maibach HI, Marks JG, Mathias CG, Rietschel RL, Sasseville D, Sheretz EF, Storss FJ, Taylor JS, Zug K. (2004). North American Contact Dermatitis Group patch-test results, 2001-2002 study period. Dermatitis, 27(1):27-36.

[29] Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Priority Existing Chemical Assessment Report No. 28:Formadehyde. November 2006. Page 193. Available online: http://www.nicnas.gov.au/Publications/CAR/PEC/PEC28/PEC_28_Full_Report_PDF.pdf. Accessed January 9, 2009.

[30] Pontén, A., & Bruze, M. (2015). Formaldehyde. Dermatitis, 26(1), 3-6.

[31] Jacob SE and Steele T (2007). Avoid Formaldehyde Allergic Reactions in Children. Pediatric Annals, 36(1):55-56.

[32] Becker, L. C., Bergfeld, W. F., Belsito, D. V., Klaassen, C. D., Hill, R., Leibler, D., … & Andersen, F. A. (2010). Final report of the amended safety assessment of quaternium-15 as used in cosmetics. International journal of toxicology, 29(3 suppl), 98S-114S.

[33] Becker, L. C., Bergfeld, W. F., Belsito, D. V., Klaassen, C. D., Hill, R., Leibler, D., … & Andersen, F. A. (2010). Final report of the amended safety assessment of quaternium-15 as used in cosmetics. International journal of toxicology, 29(3 suppl), 98S-114S.

[34] Andersen, F. A. (2000). Amended final report on the safety assessment of Glyoxal. International journal of toxicology, 19, 13-27.

[35] Russell, K., & Jacob, S. E. (2010). Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate. Dermatitis, 21(2), 109-110.

[36] Russell, K., & Jacob, S. E. (2010). Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate. Dermatitis, 21(2), 109-110.

[37] Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-food Products. Opinion concerning a clarification on the formaldehyde and para-formaldehyde entry in Directive 76/768/EEC on cosmetic products. Opinion: European Commission. 2002. Available Online: http://ec.europa.eu/food/fs/sccp/out187_en.pdf. Accessed Online October 16, 2009.

[38] Other uses of formaldehyde have different restrictions in Canada. Canada’s Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist Available Online: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/person/cosmet/info-ind-prof/_hot-list-critique/hotlist-liste_1-eng.php. Accessed October 16, 2009.

[39] Amparo S and Chisvert A (2007). Analysis of Cosmetic Products. Elsevier. Amsterdam, p. 215.

[40] Becker, L. C., Bergfeld, W. F., Belsito, D. V., Klaassen, C. D., Hill, R., Leibler, D., … & Andersen, F. A. (2010). Final report of the amended safety assessment of quaternium-15 as used in cosmetics. International journal of toxicology, 29(3 suppl), 98S-114S.

[41] Lv, C., Hou, J., Xie, W., & Cheng, H. (2015). Investigation on formaldehyde release from preservatives in cosmetics. International journal of cosmetic science.

Essential Oils

Organic Lemon Essential Oil

• Invigorating and uplifting when diffused
• Use it as a teeth whitener, household cleaner and laundry freshener

Organic Peppermint Essential Oil

• Breathe in a boost with its invigorating, energizing scent
• Is great in smoothies and more

Organic Frankincense Trinity Essential Oil

• Historically-prized and Biblical “king of oils”
• Can be used in a variety of ways

Organic Tea Tree Essential Oil

• Famously cleansing and purifying
• Can be used for everything for skin support, household cleaning and more

Organic Lavender Essential Oil  

• Pleasant, calming scent
• A favorite addition to perfumes, soaps and candles
• Perfect to use on your pillowcase at night

Dermatology News Daily

How to treat 5 of the most common skincare concerns

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Examples of atypical moles 🖤