Get Healthy

Packing cleanser and lotion in checked luggage is a luxury reserved for those who have never had a bag lost, or opened their bags to find that plastic travel bag wasn’t quite sealed properly—oops. Get through airport security and keep your skin looking lovely while you jet set with the Exuberance First Love Palette. Ten organic facial products in the pack, including cleansers, toners, exfoliant, a daily facial hydrator, eye creams and a night cream, ensure you’re ready for a wide range of skin situations. And, not only will your skin look and feel fabulous, your karma gets a boost, too. A portion of Exuberance proceeds is donated to women’s charities. The First Love Palette is $34 and available at beautorium.com.

International cancer experts have moved tanning beds and ultraviolet radiation into the top cancer risk category deeming both to be definite causes of cancer.

For years, scientists have described tanning beds and ultraviolet radiation as “probable carcinogens.”

A new analysis of about 20 studies concludes the risk of skin cancer jumps by 75 percent when people start using tanning beds before age 30.

Experts also found that all types of ultraviolet radiation caused worrying mutations in mice, proof the radiation is carcinogenic. Previously, only one type of ultraviolet radiation was thought to be lethal.
Read the rest of this entry »

After a long holiday weekend of outdoor festivals, backyard barbeques and hours in the swimming pool, people all across America are suffering from the same symptoms: itchy, painful, burnt skin. Resist the urge to scratch and peel, take an ibuprofen, and read these 10 tips to help heal your sunburn from Leslie Baumann, M.D., a Yahoo! Health expert for skin conditions. Among other remedies, she recommends cool milk compresses, green tea and, of course, aloe vera gel.

See the rest of her tips here.

By Fred Tasker, McClatchy Newspapers

We couldn’t do without the sun. It keeps us warm, fuels photosynthesis so we have spinach to eat and helps our bodies make vitamin D. We couldn’t see across the street without the sun.

But it also has a dark side. If we fly too close to Old Sol, for too long, on a beach, pool or tennis court, its UVB rays penetrate the top layers of our skin, causing sunburn. Its longer UVA rays penetrate the dermis, the next layer down, causing wrinkles, age spots and, too often, skin cancer.

Do we even dare sunbathe these days? We asked the experts.
Read the rest of this entry »

We all know that staying healthy in the summer sun means slathering on lots of sunscreen. But did you know that the same stuff that is supposed to protect us from harmful skin cancer can actually be causing other kinds of cancer, and it may be bad for the environment as well?

Many sun blocks contain suspected carcinogens, such as diethanolamine and related ingredients (DEA, TEA), padimate-O, and titanium dioxide. In a 2004 Environmental Health Perspective study, padimate-O was found to cause breast cancer cells to multiply in test tubes. And diethanolamine is also harmful to nature where it enters our waterways while swimming. This chemical then ends up in fish, amphibians and marine wildlife, where research shows it is a threat to the animals’ reproductive cycles. These chemicals also have been linked to the bleaching and death of corals. Think the amount of sunscreen is too little to affect marine life? Think again. Seventy-eight million tourists visit areas with coral reefs every year, leaving behind 4,000 to 6,000 tons of sunscreen. Plus, many sunscreens are petroleum-based, which means they don’t break down quickly in water.
Read the rest of this entry »

People are paying closer attention to the things they put in their bodies—and on them. Diane Nelson, owner of Au Naturel Market in Valparaiso, has used organic cosmetics for close to ten years. Nelson tells Get Healthy why organic makeup is a better choice over traditional makeup:

“The skin is the largest organ of the body. Anything you put on your skin gets absorbed. When you put eye shadow, mascara or foundation that has toxic substances on your body, that gets absorbed into your bloodstream. Organic makeup products contain only ingredients that are not chemical. For instance, the eye shadow colors come from pressed flower petals. They wouldn’t have talc, or chemical ingredients like the makeups you find in grocery stores, drug stores or even department stores. We in the natural foods industry believe that if you can’t eat it safely, you shouldn’t put it on your skin.”

The lurking ache of over-baked skin can be a thing of the past, thanks to new sunscreens, which marry on-the-go lifestyles with sun-smart practices. Banana Boat’s new Ultra Defense line has the highest SPF available in a Continuous Spray formula—85—and contains aloe vera and vitamins A and E so your skin stays hydrated. Coppertone’s new NutraShield line is a best bet for sensitive skin. It comes in SPF 30 and SPF 70+, is hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic, fragrance-free and protects against UVA and UVB rays. It also contains antioxidants, which promote natural skin repair. You can find both at Target and Wal-Mart stores near you.

As summer finally starts to arrive and we gear up for a Memorial Day weekend of fun in the sun, it’s time to take a step back and look at the damage those golden rays can do to us. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 1,130 Hoosiers will receive a diagnosis of skin cancer this year. That’s why they designated the Friday before Memorial Day as “Don’t Fry Day,” a time when we can start slapping on sun tan lotion, hats and protective clothing before stepping out our front door.

“I don’t tell people not to go outside,” says Dr. Karen Jordan, a dermatologist at the Dermatology and Cosmetic Center in Dyer. “But I do warn them against too much sun exposure.”

According to Jordan, the worst times to be outside are between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is the hottest. Unfortunately those are the times when we’re most likely to want to head to the beach, dig in our garden or even take a walk.
Read the rest of this entry »

The May edition of Shore magazine tells readers why regular facials are important, how taking the stairs leads to fitness and self-discipline, and just how and why to make a pizzaiolo’s favorite roasted asparagus.

(Photograph by Robert Wray.)

Feeling stressed lately? It may be written all over your face. In the May edition of Shore magazine, writer Julia Perla spoke with Peaches McCahill, general manager of the brand-new spa blu at Blue Chip Casino, Hotel and Spa in Michigan City. In the article, McCahill comments, “The skin is the largest organ in your body and is a reflection of your health.” She continues, “Stress is a reflected in the clarity of your skin, from increased bacteria levels to the pure texture.” Find out what she recommends to keep your skin healthy and vibrant here.

Also in this month’s issue, Chris Bardol, owner and pizzaiolo of Stop 50 Wood Fired Pizzeria in Michiana Shores, Indiana (pictured left), shares the recipe of his favorite at-home healthy meal here, and Rory Vaden, performance expert and leader of a rapidly growing social movement, is “Taking the Stairs.” Instead of taking elevators and escalators, members of the group have vowed to “take the stairs” as a daily reminder of a commitment to lead more self-disciplined lives. Learn more about it here.

For more Shore, visitshoremagazine.com.

For some reason, men typically don’t pay much attention to their health. Most men prefer reluctance to proactivity, denial to reactivity. After all, they have too many other things to think about. Like work. And the family. And chicken wings.

But there are some health basics that even the most negligent man should be aware of, and those basics are outlined here. So read, react and please, brush your teeth.

Check out all of the articles here: Men’s Health by Age, Dirty Boys, Breaking the ED Stigma, and Hair No More.