Summer Skin

Sea + Sun + Soirees will not equal happy skin.

Summer can mean being overly exposed to the heat of the sun, the salty ocean, or too much chlorine from swimming pools.
Of course plunging into the ocean feels fantastic, but the alkaline nature of seawater (with a pH between 7.5 and 8.4) will have a drying effect on the skins naturally acidic pH. Then you throw in the warm temperature, air conditioning, and poolside cocktails, and you have created a recipe for skin damage.
These factors all compromise the barrier function of the epidermis (your skin protecting what's underneath), and your skin will become crepey (wrinkled!) and dehydrated.

To treat the damage of summer, you must focus on calming and soothing your skin. The goal is to eliminate irritation and inflammation, and to restore the barrier function of the skin. This damage puts you in the category of having sensitive skin, and therefore, less is more.

1.Choose a cleanser formulated for sensitive skin. Usually, these types will have eliminates irritants like drying alcohols or artificial fragrances. (Note: these cleansers are typically milky and creamy in consistency, and will not foam up when worked into the skin with water).

2. Exfoliation is optional, but if you chose to include it, use a gentle/mild exfoliant. (The bottle should specify if it is gentle/for sensitive skin). A gentle formulation won't increase the redness and agitation of the skin, and will leave the enzymes to get to work to break down the protein material of the skin. Steer clear of using any kind of "scrubs", as they will cause friction, stimulate capillaries, and increase the heat of the skin.

3. Speaking of heat, be careful of the temperature of the water you use when cleansing. Because damaged skin has had its barrier lipids weakened, hot water can further destroy your already tender skin. Water should be tepid. The warmer the water, the more counterproductive treating your skin will be when the purpose is to calm and reduce inflammation.

4. Serums and masks are vital in treating sensitized skin, and offer the most therapeutic results. Oatmeal is the greatest ingredient for calming itchy or irritated skin, so look for a mask that contains oatmeal, and allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes on the skin.

Overall, you want to avoid temperature extremes - nothing too hot or too cold - as both will place additional strain on the delicate capillaries.

6 Ways to S.O.S

Save.Our.Skin!

There are a few common mistakes when it comes to sunscreen application (or lack-there-of) that can put you at risk for cancer. Luckily, the fixes are easy.

Here is a list of 6 mistakes that are commonly made, and 6 ways to tweak your routine to stay worry-free!

#1. Putting others before yourself.

Normally, it is the kind thing to do. But when it comes to sunscreen application, you want to do the exact opposite. That short 15 minutes you take lathering up the kids, your significant other, family, or friends, you've made yourself susceptible to sunburn, which damages the skin's DNA which leads to cancer.

The Quick Fix:

Think of it like being on an airplane, when the flight attendants are explaining the proper use of the oxygen masks should they deploy, take care of yourself first. The best strategy is applying sunscreen in the bathroom - unclothed - before leaving the house. The solution needs 15-30 minutes to bind to your skin anyhow. Applying "in the buff" will ensure that you've covered every spot, and are less likely to miss the areas around the edge of your clothing, which most frequently end up burned.

Once outside, apply more. Think of it like paint or nail polish; one coat doesn't finish the job.

#2. Believing the labels.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but a sunscreen that claims to "last 8 hours", isn't possible. These products are tested in less-than-realistic conditions, and more lotion is used than an average person would apply. A full ounce is needed to cover your body, but realistically, we use about one quarter of that. The test conditions also do not take into account or include the possibility of swimming or sweating.

The Quick Fix: Despite what the label may tell you, reapply frequently! Especially after dips into the water and wiping yourself dry (and wiping off whatever sunscreen you had left on your skin). Staying out of the sun during peak hours (10 a.m- 3 p.m) is also recommended.

#3. Thinking sunscreen is only needed at the beach/pool/lake/river/any body of water.

Wrong! Wanna know where potentially deadly melanoma is most commonly found? Not the arms and shoulders, but the lower legs. That is in part to wearing shorts/skirts/capris without sunscreen.

The Quick Fix:

Shield yourself everyday with light lotions that provide protection against bout UVA and UVB rays. But choose wisely: look for lotions with at least an SPF of 30, and that contain a combination of avobenzone and octocrylene, or zinc oxide (just read  the ingredients people!).


#4. But I look younger and skinnier when I am tan.

That may be true, but that way of thinking is honestly irresponsible.

There are better, safer ways to obtain that glow. Whenever your skin changes color from UV exposure, it is more than a tan, it is a sign of DNA and skin damage.

And forget about tanning beds! The UV light that is emitted from those beds penetrate deeper than UVB rays (which is actually the harsher of the 2). One out of five women reading this use tanning beds. Even if it's only "occasionally", 74% of you are more likely to develop melanoma. Do the math!

The Quick Fix: Spray tans and self tanner! I know, I know, you're worried about ending up the same color orange as an Oompa Loompa. But do your research! We provide customized Airbrush Tanning with Sunless Tans solution; the most natural, bronzing tan solution you've ever seen! It gives the best brown/gold tint, as if you've been vacationing in Hawaii, but without the dangers of UV exposure! L'Oreal also makes a fabulous self tanner called Sublime Bronze. Use your resources, you'll find one right for you!


#5. Not wearing sunglasses when we should.

Most commonly, we wear our shades between 10 a.m and 3 p.m (peak sun hours). But it is during that time that the sun is directly above us, and our eyes are protected by our eyebrows (they're not just for waxing!). In the morning and late afternoon, when the sun is low in the sky, is when our eyes are hit more directly. UV light to the eyes will raise our risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and eyelid cancer (yes, that unruly "c" word can even occur on your lids). Eyelid cancer accounts for 5-10% of all skin cancers.

The Quick Fix: Wear your shades every time you're in the sun. Choose a pair that will block 99-100% of both UVA and UVB rays (it should say so on the label). You can also take your current pairs to an optician who can measure how much radiation they block. THE BIGGER THE BETTER!
#6. Skin checks?

Around 95% of squamous and basal cell carcinomas are curable, if treated early. So are 99% of melanomas. But far too many of us are not seeing dermatologists regularly. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends skin checks once a year.While doing your own scans are highly recommended (see our blog post about the ABCDE's of detecting melanoma here), there is nothing compared to the examination of a trained professional.
The Quick Fix: Schedule your skin check ups while you set up your other annual appointments (dentist, ob/gyn, etc.). That way you don't forget!

VISIT THIS SITE WWW.AAD.ORG AND FIND FREE SCANNING SITES NEAR YOU!

Sweet News!

A recent study conducted at UC San Francisco found that eating a 1.6-ounce bar of dark chocolate packed with flavanoids relaxes the blood vessels, increases circulation and improves blood flow to the heart! (Flavanoids are plant-based compounds that are also found in red wine and tea). This is very *sweet* news for healthier-looking skin! The flavanoids in just one square of dark chocolate on a daily basis can also significantly decrease skin scaling and roughness, and may help protect it from UV rays.

Here's a sweet tip: The darker the chocolate the better! Milk chocolate also contains flavanoids, but not nearly as much.

Dear 16-year old me...the importance of skin scans.

Skinny Nut!

The pistachio is often referred to as the *skinny nut*.
It is known to limit the blood sugar (glucose) response found in the bodies of people who have a metabolic syndrome that often leads to type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Benefits of the skinny nut are:
*They contain fewer calories - about 160 per ounce - than most other nuts
*In-shell version takes longer to eat, which enables teh snacker to fill up faster
*They are believed to lower LDL levels (bad cholesterol)
*Good source of fiber and protein
A yummy snack with great benefits! A win-win!

Detecting Melanoma

It is important, as a skin care  facility, to call attention to a disease that kills one American ever hour. But when detected early, it can often be successfully treated.

Developed by NYU's Langone Medical Center, a guide to detecting melanoma provides criteria for diagnosing it, as well as other skin cancer's. The dermatologists developed this quick and simple guide known as the ABCDEs to be a self examination process of the skin to detect moles that could be cancerous.

A is for Asymmetry, where one-half of the mole is unlike the other.

B is for Border, where the mole is irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined.

C is for Color, which varies from one area to another or has different shades of tan, brown, black, and sometimes white, red, or blue.

D is for Diameter of a mole when it is bigger than the size of a pencil eraser.

E is for Evolving or changing size, shape, or color.

Skin Cancer checks are important for everyone, including African-Americans. It is recommended for African-Americans to get annual exams and to use sunscreen diligently, because when skin cancer does occur within this population, the mortality rate tends to be high because of late detection.

The month of May was Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, but at aRejuvenation Spa, we like to stress the importance of skin protection every month. Living in the Mile High state, the sun can be especially bright and unforgiving. Please protect yourselves by using an SPF of 15 or higher everyday. We especially love PCA Skin's moisturizers with SPF in them which provide ample coverage without having to blob thick sunblock onto your face each day. They have a fully customizable line that contains a moisturizer for every skin type and occasion. To encourage regular sunscreen use, we are offering them at 10% off this month. See www.pcaskin.com to find a moisturizer that's right for you, or call/stop by to talk with us about it... we love to help!

Blue-berry good for you!

Adding blueberries into your diet can strengthen your immune system, keep colds away, cleanse your blood, and repair and protect your skin!

Blueberry Facts:
*Strengthens blood vessels (leads to healthier blood pressure levels and a healthier heart)
*Improves memory, balance, and coordination
*Improves eyesight
*Prevents and relieves arthritic symptoms
*Lowers blood pressure
*Contain manganese, which support strong bones
*Lowers cholesterol
*May help prevent urinary tract infections
*High levels of Vitamin C to support your immune system
The summer months are here, and it is the perfect blueberry season! So eat up!