The Air is Hurting Your Skin!

Icky Goop In the Air Is Giving You Acne and Wrinkles. 4 Key Steps to Stop It.

By Liesa Goins

You don’t have to be Gwyneth Paltrow or an owner of a Vitamix to have heard the hype about detoxing. The obsession with clearing your internal organs of pollutants for a generally healthier life has made juice cleanses essential popular rituals among even those who don’t think negativity ruins water.

But according to emerging research, we should all be focusing more attention to pollution’s effects on the outside of our bodies—namely, what it does to our skin. “Pollution is one of the main sources of skin damage because toxins in the air cause the skin to age prematurely, especially on the face, neck and hands,” says Debra Luftman, M.D., a dermatologist in Beverly Hills and member of the Simple Advisory Board.
“Skin is designed to work as a barrier against any irritants including pollution; however, it is not completely impenetrable,” she explains.

French researchers also found a link between skin rashes and pollution. They saw a rise in doctor visits for rashes and irritation following days when particulate matter was the highest.

What’s more troubling is that pollution is affecting almost everyone: Air quality in most cities worldwide that monitor outdoor air pollution fails to meet World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for safe levels. About half of these urban populations are exposed to air pollution that's at least two-and-a-half times higher than recommended. Air pollution is now the "single largest environmental health risk," says the health agency.
How the Air Can Attack Your Skin“Skin is our first line of defense against increasing free radicals in our atmosphere,” says New York City dermatologist Dennis Gross. “Our skin absorbs these harmful impurities on a daily basis which leads to diminished health and beauty of our skin.”

Pollution in the air comes in two forms: ozone and particulate matter, explains Elizabeth Tanzi, M.D., a dermatologist in Washington, D.C. Ground-level ozone (as opposed to that which makes up the ozone layer) is a gas created when toxic emissions from cars and factories combine with sunlight. The resulting molecule is highly reactive and causes free radicals to form that can damage the lipids and proteins of the skin, she says.

The other main pollution source is solid dirt particles. “Particulate matter sits on the surface of the skin and increases inflammation, which also breaks down the skin’s proteins and may accelerate the aging process,” Dr. Tanzi says.

In addition, environmental impurities such as carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, and ozone destroy the skin’s natural oils, which act as a protective barrier, Dr. Gross says. “Once this protective barrier breaks down, skin is exposed to free radicals which lead to collagen breakdown, cell damage, redness, and irritation.”

While looking older offers legitimate concerns, there are more immediate consequences as well. Gross explains that particulate matter clogs pores, which can make them appear larger. Airborne pollutants cause a chemical reaction with your natural oils, changing them to a waxier consistency that can clog pores. And those suffering from rosacea can experience flare-ups due to irritants in the air.

And we’re not just talking about the air outside your home.

What You Need to Know About Cooking, Cleaning, and CandlesEven the air in your own home can contain some toxins that threaten the health of your skin.
“Volatile organic compounds are released from burning fuel, some paints, and glues,” Gross explains. Cooking over natural gas and the fumes from cooking oils or using a wood-burning stove can release particulate matter, as well as free radicals that weaken the skin barrier and damage healthy cells.
Paint, glue and cleaning products also emit VOCs. Gross suggests using these products outside or making sure the area is well ventilated—especially when cooking with natural gas or using caustic cleaning agents.

Paraffin wax candles also release airborne toxins. Byproducts of the wax, synthetic fragrances and dyes, and soot from the wick can emit harmful pollution particles. Dutch researchers studied the air particles in churches, where candles are burned for hours at a time, and found up to 10 times as many damaging free radicals in the air inside churches as they did in the air next to a busy highway.
Burning candles in a well ventilated room will help minimize the dangers. And replace your paraffin versions with healthier beeswax candles.

Your Four-Step Pollution Protection Plan
1. Power CleanYou’re already doing the most important pollution defense: washing your face. The particulate matter in the atmosphere is up to 20 times smaller than your pores, Dr. Tadlock explains. Daily deep cleaning will remove these microscopic particles before they can cause inflammation and irritation.
“In most cases, our hands alone cannot effectively remove pollution matter this size,” Dr. Tadlock says. That’s why a cleansing brush could be a powerful anti-aging tool. Clarisonic applied a tinted solution that mimics pollutants found in the air. After 60 seconds of cleansing, Clarisonic removed 30 times the pollution than manual washing.

2. Spike Your Skincare With AntioxidantsAdd an antioxidant serum to your routine. These concentrated treatments deliver high levels of agents that have been shown to neutralize free radicals to help decrease inflammation and lipid breakdown, Dr. Tanzi says. (Try: SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic, $118.) Eating your antioxidants will also fight pollution, Dr. Luftman says. So make sure you’re eating colorful fruits and vegetables with every meal.

3. Stay Sun SafeYou already know wearing sunscreen every damn day, no matter what, is the number one commandment in skincare. UV protection is even more crucial in light of the new knowledge about the effects of pollution.

For additional defense against pollution, make sure your daily SPF includes extra skincare ingredients. Antioxidants will help fight damage from pollution.

4. Keep Your Skin HydratedMoisture is crucial in pollution protection because hydrating agents help strengthen the barrier function of the skin. A healthy barrier can protect against pollution and irritation.
For those with dry or easily irritated skin, add a boost of omega-3 fatty acids to your moisturizer.

If you suffer from irritation, soothe your skin with calming agents, Gross suggests. The anti-inflammatory benefits will help short circuit the damaging effect of irritation and pollution.

Don’t forget your skin needs the same TLC as the rest of your body. “Treat it holistically—eat healthy, exercise and drink lots of water,” Dr. Luftman says.

And if juicing works for you, be our guest.

Call and schedule your facial today!  831.373.2273 or book on line at www.montereydayspa.com


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Article source: youbeauty.com

How to Treat & Prevent Stretch Marks

What Works & Doesn’t to Minimize Stretch Marks

It’s hard to find a woman who doesn’t have any stretch marks: those unsightly lines that may first appear bright pink, purple, reddish or brownish and later fade to a lighter pigmented white or grey/silvery color. While it can be difficult to prevent and treat these little buggers, and there are so many ineffective products on the market, read on for the things you can do to minimize stretch marks.

The Cause
“Stretch marks, also called ‘striae,’ appear on skin that is subjected to continuous and progressive stretching,” explains internist Andrea Ruman. When your skin can’t keep up with your body’s rate of growth it can cause the skin to thin and leave stretch marks.  

“Weight gain, particularly rapid weight gain, is the most common cause of stretch marks,” explains Dr. Ruman. On the other hand, she adds that rapid weight loss can also make stretch marks appear more prominent on your body (these freaking marks just won’t give us a break).  

Stretch marks also often appear on pregnant women, adolescents who are going through growth spurts and even on health-conscious bodybuilders. Dermatologic surgeon Dr. Joseph Sobanko adds, “Other known causes of these marks include endocrine disorders and the use of topical or oral steroid medications,” he explains.   And of course, genetics also likely play a role in determining the likelihood that you’ll get stretch marks and to what extent.  

Stretch marks can most commonly be found on the areas of your body where weight gain manifests the quickest—think abdomen, thighs, buttocks, hips, breasts and upper arms.      


Catch Them Early
Just how it’s important to treat a scar early, it’s best to treat stretch marks while they’re still fresh. “Stretch marks are most likely to respond to treatment in their earliest stages, when they are purplish in color,” explains Dr. Ruman. “Once stretch marks become white, a process that may take several months, they are quite difficult to treat.” If you did not catch them early, the good news is that most stretch will fade to a very pale color over time and do not require medical treatment. You can wear them proudly, or if you’re having trouble doing that and find the marks to be unsightly, there are treatments available that may help. There is, however (sadly), no magic cure-all.    


Topical Treatments
Again, treatments are likely to only be partially effective (at best), but knowing that, the most common treatments for stretch marks are vitamin C, retinoids and fruit acids.   “Topical application of tretinoin cream (Retin-A), adapalene (Differin) and tazarotene (Tazorac) may be useful for stretch marks that are under six weeks old,” Dr. Ruman explains. These are all examples of retinoids, which can be effective at increasing collagen and elastin production in early stretch marks. Note that these should not be used if you are pregnant or nursing.  

Ob/Gyn and fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Dr. Charles Bollmann explains that a study has shown that when people applied 0.1 percent tretinoin cream (Retin-A) daily for six months to their stretch marks it led to a significant improvement in the severity of the marks after two months, as compared to people who applied other types of products.  

While Retin A may be a great product on the horizon for treatment, keep in mind that this is only one study and further research is needed to develop groundbreaking products. As Dr. Sobanko urges, “It is important to note that topical treatments are very unlikely to work because the underlying cause is deeper in the skin: the loss of collagen and thinning of the epidermis.”    


Laser Treatments
Whether you’re plagued with fresh stretch marks or old, faded ones, laser treatments may be your best option for beautifying your skin. They can be expensive and time consuming, though, and there are no guarantees you’ll be satisfied with your results.  

For fresh stretch marks, Dr. Sobanko explains that vascular lasers can help to improve the appearance of the marks by targeting the pigment to improve overall color. More specifically, Dr. Ruman adds, “Laser treatments at four to six week intervals (with a 585-nm flashlamp pulsed dye laser, a 1064-nm long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser or intense pulsed light) have shown to improve the appearance of stretch marks in their earliest purplish color stage,” says Dr. Ruman.  

If your marks are older or simply manifesting as white textural changes, they are more difficult to treat, but may be treated by a different type of laser to better blend them into your skin. “Laser treatments using the 308-nm excimer laser have been shown to repigment the skin,” explains Dr. Ruman. “These lasers stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, helping purple and white stretch marks to take on a similar appearance to the rest of the skin.”  

If you’re looking into laser therapy, remember to evaluate your physician’s skills and qualifications. “I would encourage you to see a board-certified physician who is skilled with laser treatments,” recommends Dr. Sobanko. “You should inquire if they are a member of the American Society for Lasers in Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) or the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS).”  

It’s worth doing your homework on your doctor before laser treatment, as “seeking treatment with a professional who is not skilled with laser treatment can potentially lead to scarring and a worsened appearance,” explains Dr. Sobanko.    


Microdermabrasion No longer just a treatment to polish away wrinkles and blemishes on the skin, microdermabrasion may also be used to treat stretch marks. Microdermabrasion works by gently removing the top layer of the skin to promote the growth of healthier, most elastic skin.  

If you are looking for a non-laser treatment for older stretch marks that just won’t fade as fast as you would like, this might be an option.    


Prevention
“Home therapy options such as lotions or ointments containing cocoa butter, vitamin E or glycolic acid, while not hurtful, have not been shown by research to help with prevention,” says Dr. Ruman. “These products do not seem to protect skin from the stresses caused by stretching.”  

While moisturizing your skin may not make a difference in preventing stretch marks, it’s worth a shot. It’s a good idea to keep your skin moisturized for a variety of reasons, and since moisture helps your skin stay more pliant, perhaps it might have a slight impact on helping your skin cope with stretching. Just try to avoid dropping cash on expensive lotions and other products promising to prevent stretch marks from forming—pregnant women beware!  

Ultimately, to truly prevent stretch marks you should place your bets on avoiding rapid fluctuations in your weight. If you’re pregnant, your best bet is to try to avoid gaining excess weight—work with your doctor to establish a healthy target body weight and monitor your growth.  

Since certain conditions and medications can also cause stretch marks, also ask your doctor if you’re on any medications or have any health problems that may put you at a predisposition for developing stretch marks and, if so, see if there’s that anything can be done to minimize your risk.  

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aricle source-youbeauty.com