The article states that the ASA claims most of the studies done that showed UV rays from tanning beds to be harmful included home tanning beds and medical UV ray treatment. They insist that commercial tanning salons pose very little increased risk for developing skin cancer and that moderate UV exposure has health benefits.

In the article, the ASA also contends that the WHO classifying UV rays as carcinogenic is unfair to professional tanning salons. They base this on a study that influenced the WHO to classify UV rays as cancer-causing. The study was done by the International Association for Research in Cancer (IARC) in 2006 and showed that people who used artificial tanning before they were 30 years old had a 75% risk increase for developing melanoma.

But the ASA says that the study included home tanning beds and phototherapy units, not just commercial tanning salons. They claim that if the three UV devices were studied independently, commercial tanning beds would cause only a minimal risk for increasing melanoma development while phototherapy units would increase the risk by 96%.

No matter which side of the tanning bed debate you’re on, we do know that good skin care is essential for maintaining a fresh, younger-looking complexion. A big part of every good skin care routine is using a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect your skin from too much UV exposure. And if you have concerns about tanning beds or any other skin care issue, talking with a board-certified dermatologist can clear things up and get you the answers you need to keep your skin healthy.

Technorati Tags: Tanning Beds, Skin Cancer, Skin Care

1) Wrinkles form from repeated facial muscle movements like smiling and frowning, but the natural loss of collagen as we age is also a big contributing factor. Without that natural padding, our facial skin is more prone to forming lines and wrinkles, sagging and developing hollow areas or sunken cheeks.

2) Most Americans develop more wrinkles on the left side of their face. Why is that? The article says it’s because most of us drive, and the left side of our face and neck is closest to the window and UV rays from the sun. That causes more sun damage and breaks down more collagen than on the right side of the face, which isn’t directly in line with a window. The ASAPS says the best thing you can do is to wear a good broad-spectrum sunscreen.

3) If you use enough moisturizer, sunscreen and get into a good skin care routine, can you get rid of most wrinkles on your own? Unfortunately, the answer is no. All of those things are vital to preventing more wrinkles from forming, but normally once you have a wrinkle, it’s there to stay unless you have some sort of cosmetic surgery procedure.

Developing a daily skin care routine that involves cleansing, moisturizing and sunscreen (even in winter) is your best defense against wrinkles. Talk to a board-certified dermatologist if you have questions or concerns about your skin because sometimes professional skin care advice is necessary to keep your skin healthy and younger-looking.

Technorati Tags: Skin Care, Wrinkles, Sunscreen

One of the well-known companies that received a warning from the FDA about unverified or false claims is L’Oreal. The products listed in the unverified claim warning included night facial creams, sun screen and eye creams, according to the article. One of the statements L’Oreal made that the FDA claims is unverified is that their products “boost the activity of genes and stimulates the production of youth proteins.” Another statement in question is that the customers would “see significant deep wrinkle reductions in UV damaged skin, clinically proven.” The ASAPS article states that the FDA has seen no expert opinions to back up those claims.

Another company to receive an FDA warning is Greek Island Labs for claiming that their Athena 7 Minute Life dermal filler is, “a safe and effective alternative to Botox.”

The best thing you can do to find products that work best in your skin care routine is to ask the advice of a board-certified dermatologist and look for products that are FDA approved and don’t make statements that seem too good to be true. There are many quality skin care products that help with wrinkle reduction, moisturize and exfoliate your skin. But any skin care product that claims to have extraordinary anti-aging abilities is probably too good to be true.

Technorati Tags: Facial Creams, Anti-Aging, Skin Care

According to a news report from WBBH NBC news, spray tans contain a chemical called dihydroxy-acetone, or DHA that darkens your skin. But the news report cites dermatologists who warn that studies have shown that DHA, if inhaled or absorbed, can trigger abnormal cell growth and cause lung cancer or other cancers as well as decrease circulation to other vital organs.

The article points out that the studies were done on animals and cells, not humans. But the findings are enough to prompt a warning to at least consider the possible side effects of using spray tans. DHA is approved by the FDA for use in tanning lotions and creams but not in tanning sprays.

If you do decide to use spray tans, wear protective goggles and masks so you don’t inhale the DHA or get it in your eyes. But remember that absorption can occur through the skin, and that’s nearly impossible to avoid when using a spray tan.

Good skin care isn’t just about cleansing and applying creams and lotions. Good skin care is also about protecting your skin with broad-spectrum sun screen and being aware of the ingredients in anything you apply to your skin.

Technorati Tags: Spray Tan, Skin Care, Lung Cancer

But what can you do to prevent brown spots and to treat them if you have them? First, you need to know that there are four basic different types of hyperpigmentation, according to the article. So let’s go over those and then tell you how to deal with them in your skin care routine.

The first type of hyperpigmentation is caused from sun damage over time. It’s usually found on your face around your temples and cheeks or the backs of your hands.

The second type of hyperpigmentation is also from sun exposure, but it’s really just plain old freckles and they can appear nearly anywhere on your body.

The third basic type of hyperpigmentation is called post inflammatory pigmentation, which is caused from some injury to the skin like acne.

The last basic type of hyperpigmentation is called melasma, often dubbed pregnancy mask because it’s triggered by hormonal imbalances.

But the ASAPS article also points out that stress, allergies and even heat can cause brown spots to appear.

But because the sun is most often the cause of brown spots or hyperpigmentation, using a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF30 or higher is your best preventative skin care weapon. For brown or sun spots, Fraxel or Q-switched laser treatment from a board-certified dermatologist is often a good method for removal. You can get hydroquinone and Retin-A over the counter at lower than prescription strength and try that. It is effective for some types of hyperpigmentation but won’t work on all types.

Preventative skin care using sunscreen and consultation with a board-certified dermatologist can go a long way towards fading brown spots and keeping your skin looking young and healthy.

Technorati Tags: Brown Spots, Hyperpigmentation, Skin Care

A recent article in the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) newsletter reported on a teenager who wore her makeup constantly, day and night, for more than two years. Granted, this isn’t the norm. But when her mother had her daughter’s skin evaluated by a dermatologist, the makeup had damaged her skin and it looked twice as old as it should have.

The article went on to say that most makeup is safe and has been tested, but makeup isn’t intended to be worn 24 hours a day, every day. You should remove it at night as part of your skin care routine and even skip a day wearing it whenever possible.

Prolonged use of makeup can sometimes cause your skin to develop dermatitis and eczema. This is because some makeup products have ingredients that can dry out your skin. The article also states that some makeup products can clog the pores in your skin, causing acne. The skin around your eyes is especially sensitive and can have a reaction to certain makeup products.

The best skin care advice about wearing makeup is to check the ingredients, only buy quality products and first apply to a small area of skin to test for any allergic reaction. Then always remove your makeup at night as part of your daily skin care routine.

Technorati Tags: Skin Care, Makeup, Dermatitis

The article originally appeared in Medical Daily, where a new study reported that research showed Botox injections seem to help reduce oil production in sebum glands and helps reduce large pores in the skin.

The ASAPS article also highlighted a Chicago dermatologist who uses Botox injections to treat patients over 20 years old who have acne. He says he doesn’t treat younger acne patients with Botox injections because their acne is often caused by hormonal changes that may pass. After the age of 20, acne problems caused by hormones are less likely to resolve on their own. This dermatologist also published an article in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology about Botox treatment for acne.

If you want to know more about getting Botox injections for acne, the first step is to find a board-certified dermatologist in your area who has experience in treating acne. You can also get advice from him or her about the best skin care after Botox treatments.

Technorati Tags: Acne, Botox, Skin Care

Dermabrasion is often used for more extensive skin damage or raised scars. It works by removing layers of skin with abrasion or sanding. Newer technology for dermabrasion uses a CO2 or Er:YAG laser. You’ll have to have anesthesia but won’t be completely asleep. Dermabrasion can be painful and will leave your skin red and irritated before healing. It could take several months for the new skin to completely re-grow and your new complexion to be apparent.

Microdermabrasion is less invasive and less painful than dermabrasion. It’s more of an exfoliation of the top skin layer. Since the skin cells of your face generally replace themselves with new ones about once a month, the goal of microdermabrasion is to speed up that process. Microdermabrasion works for less severe scars and skin damage that isn’t old.

Chemical peels also remove layers of damaged skin so that new, healthier skin will grow in its place. There are three types of chemical peels and they are classified by their intensity and the depth of the peel; light, medium and deep.

A deep chemical peel needs to be performed in a licensed medical center or hospital and will require anesthesia. All chemical peels should only be performed by a board-certified dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon. Severe scarring can occur if a chemical peel is done incorrectly. Depending on which type of peel you have, you can expect to have a recovery period of a few days to a couple of weeks. Sometimes topicals will have to be applied to promote healing and prevent infection after a chemical peel, and deep peels sometimes require dressing.

Just remember that dermabrasion, microdremabrasion or a chemical peels should only be performed by board-certified dermatologists or cosmetic surgeons.

Technorati Tags: Microdermabrasion, Dermabrasion, Chemical Peel

Microdermabrasion works by spraying very fine crystals against the skin of your face, which remove damaged and dead skin cell layer. An alternate form of microdermabrasion utilizes a wand with a diamond tip that removes dead skin cells. With either method, the microscopic crystals and skin cells are vacuumed away during the process.

Some of the skin problems that microdermabrasion can improve the look of include uneven skin texture, sun damage, acne scars, enlarged pores and fine lines and wrinkles.

You will usually have to have more than one microdermabrasion treatment to get optimum results, and these sessions are normally spaced out over a few months. One session typically takes about 30 to 60 minutes and no anesthesia is needed. You can also have microdermabrasion on your hands, arms, chest and other body areas that have skin damage.

Some of the side effects of microdermabrasion include some minor redness, swelling or skin irritation for a few hours to a day or so after your session. You can also expect to experience some skin peeling and dryness for the first week. After that you should start to see the healing effect and a healthier, smoother complexion.

It’s important to have a board-certified dermatologist perform your microdermabrasion session. Experience is necessary when it comes to microdermabrasion as applying the abrasive stream for too long could remove too many layers and cause skin damage. But in the hands of an experienced dermatologist, microdermabrasion can be an effective part of your long-term skin care routine.

Technorati Tags: Microdermabrasion, Skin Damage, Skin Care

1) Don’t drink from bottles or out of a straw. Drinking like that causes you to purse your lips to suck and that creates more lines and wrinkles around your mouth.

2) Don’t chew gum. That constant repetitive motion also creates lines around your mouth which make you look older. The same goes for smoking.

3) Sit a minimum of 10 feat from your fireplace or other heat source. Watching the flames dance may make you feel cozy, but the heat actually dries your skin, makes it read and flakey and causes premature collagen breakdown.

4) Don’t sit in front of windows that aren’t UVA protected. That basically means that if your desk at work is next to a window or your spend a lot of time driving or riding next to a window, wear sunscreen.

5) Sleep on your back. Sleeping with your face smashed into a pillow, no matter how soft, creates wrinkles and lines. For those of you who can’t sleep on your back, buy the best pillow cases you can afford. Satin or silk are probably the best for your skin.

The tips in the article and listed above may not sound important, but anything you can do to reduce wrinkles, lines and aging of your skin will make a difference over time. Skin care isn’t just about buying moisturizers, it’s about doing all you can to keep your skin healthy and prevent premature aging.

Technorati Tags: Skin Care Tips, Sunscreen, Wrinkles