Sunday, March 17, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013
Hormones and Acne Breakouts...
Ever wonder why you have breakouts, despite taking good care of your skin? It could be hormone related, particularly if it is cyclical or you have been diagnosed with Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). In both cases, elevated testosterone levels in the pilosebaceous gland of the skin are converted into dihydrotestosterone, a more potent androgen which can cause overproduction of oils in the skin. This combined with surface bacteria invading pores of the skin can create the problem of acne.
Karsen Delgado, FNP-C is our medical director at Simply Skin & Laser. She specializes in Hormone Balancing. If you have any questions regarding hormones, let us know, she can help.
www.bodybalancedcare.com
kdelgado@bodybalancedcare.com
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
February Product of the Month...Tinted Sunscreen!
This month we are featuring our tinted sunscreen. I love, love, love this product. I have been a fan and loyal customer for 7 years. It is a staple in our house of all girls (except for Mr. Marcus), when we are running low,
it is every woman/girl for herself!
Ayur-medic tinted sunscreen was developed by a plastic surgeon and dermatologist in Beverly Hills. Together, Dr. Raj Kanodia and Dr Ezra Kest took the best ingredients from nature and science to create one of my very favorite products.
February Special $30 (Retail $40)
The thing I love about this sunscreen is that is doesn't smell or feel like a sunscreen. It moisturizes and it hydrates while protecting the skin. It doesn't clog the pores!!! I use it instead of foundation...I apply the sunscreen in the morning and then a little mineral makeup. It never feels heavy, it just looks fresh!
This sunscreen comes in two different finishes, Tinted and Sheer Tint
I usually use the Tinted in the winter when I need a little more coverage and the Sheer Tint during the summer and fall. The tint in the product matches most skin tones. A little goes a long way, so this product will last for a few months.
Some people think sunscreen is a product only to be used by the pool or while visiting the beach...not so my friends. Sun protection is a 365 day/year job!!!
As long as I have my Ayur-medic tinted sunscreen and a tube of mascara, I can leave my house! And most days, that's about all I have time for!!! I also love the fact that as long as my teenage daughters have been wearing make-up they have also been protecting their skin from sun damage. They really don't care about the spf , they just love the product and think of it as their "make-up".
But some day, when they are 40-something, they'll thank me !!!
If you'd like to try to drop by and pick up a sample of either the Tinted or Sheer Tint Sunscreen, let us know!!
Friday, January 25, 2013
Milk and Acne...not a good combo!
This is a really great article about why milk is bad for the acne-prone.
http://suite101.com/article/is-milk-bad-for-acne-a265952
As early as 1949, Robinson had published a study in the South Medical Journal that stated that the majority of the1925 acne patients in his study that kept a food diary reported that milk was the commonest food that was associated with their acne flare ups.
His study was relegated to the background when two studies by Fulton et al (1969) and Anderson (1971) failed to find any association between acne and chocolates, milk, roasted peanuts and cola. Both these studies were later discredited because of the small number of subjects, a shorter duration of follow up and inadequate choice of controls chosen for comparison.
More recently, Adebamowo and his colleagues from the Harvard University found positive relationship between milk consumption and acne eruptions in a survey conducted among 47,335 nurses. Their study was interesting as it revealed a stronger association with skim milk than whole milk, indicating that the fat content of milk may not be the reason for acne flare ups. Similar observations were made among high school teenagers in other studies as well.
How Does Milk Affect Acne?
The reason for the negative effects of milk products on acne is thought to be due to the presence of hormones and biologically active substances in the diary products. Most of the consumable milk is produced from pregnant cows; the main reason for high levels of hormones in milk. Hormonal levels are also high in just delivered cows and cows treated with bovine growth hormones.
Allergy to milk protein resulting in an inflammatory reaction and blockage of the hair follicle and sebaceous glands has also been cited as a contributing factor for worsening of acne following consumption of milk.
Iodine fortified food is given to the cows to fight infection and iodine solutions are liberally used to cleanse the udders and milking equipments in the diary farms. This may result in higher than normal levels of iodine content in the milk and other milk products. For acne sufferers this is bad news, as iodine, iodides and other halides have been shown to worsen acne eruptions in a number of studies.
It is now clear that milk contains a number of substances which act as acne triggers.
Hormones in Milk Responsible for Acne Flare Ups
Milk, especially those from pregnant cows and just-delivered cows, contains high levels of hormones like progesterone and precursors of di-hydro-testosterone. Increased levels of these hormones increase the sebaceous gland activity and the oily sebum output, resulting in aggravation of acne in teens.
Other hormones present in milk are also implicated as culprits in worsening of acne. The most frequently involved hormone is the IGF-1(insulin-like growth factor). This is present in organic milk and milk from cows treated with bovine growth hormone. IGF-1 levels are increased in the body in response to increased secretion of insulin. IGF-1 has a stimulatory effect on the sebum production in the sebaceous glands, one of the main events in the development of acne.
The effect of IGF-1 in response to increased insulin levels in the blood is also thought to be the cause of high incidence of acne following consumption of refined carbohydrates, the so-called high glycemic index foods. The same mechanism is responsible for the increased prevalence of acne among women suffering from the polycystic ovarian syndrome.
It will be interesting if a few studies are undertaken to see whether milk derived from home grown cows fed on natural feeds and grass has any adverse effects on the natural course of acne.
As the food-acne relationship is no more a myth, acne affected teenagers would do well to avoid excessive intake of diary products and other food items that affect acne.
References:
http://suite101.com/article/is-milk-bad-for-acne-a265952
Is Milk Bad for Acne?
Finally medical researchers have affirmed that diary products do worsen acne. How does milk affect acne and what are the precautions to be taken?
His study was relegated to the background when two studies by Fulton et al (1969) and Anderson (1971) failed to find any association between acne and chocolates, milk, roasted peanuts and cola. Both these studies were later discredited because of the small number of subjects, a shorter duration of follow up and inadequate choice of controls chosen for comparison.
More recently, Adebamowo and his colleagues from the Harvard University found positive relationship between milk consumption and acne eruptions in a survey conducted among 47,335 nurses. Their study was interesting as it revealed a stronger association with skim milk than whole milk, indicating that the fat content of milk may not be the reason for acne flare ups. Similar observations were made among high school teenagers in other studies as well.
How Does Milk Affect Acne?
The reason for the negative effects of milk products on acne is thought to be due to the presence of hormones and biologically active substances in the diary products. Most of the consumable milk is produced from pregnant cows; the main reason for high levels of hormones in milk. Hormonal levels are also high in just delivered cows and cows treated with bovine growth hormones.
Allergy to milk protein resulting in an inflammatory reaction and blockage of the hair follicle and sebaceous glands has also been cited as a contributing factor for worsening of acne following consumption of milk.
Iodine fortified food is given to the cows to fight infection and iodine solutions are liberally used to cleanse the udders and milking equipments in the diary farms. This may result in higher than normal levels of iodine content in the milk and other milk products. For acne sufferers this is bad news, as iodine, iodides and other halides have been shown to worsen acne eruptions in a number of studies.
It is now clear that milk contains a number of substances which act as acne triggers.
Hormones in Milk Responsible for Acne Flare Ups
Milk, especially those from pregnant cows and just-delivered cows, contains high levels of hormones like progesterone and precursors of di-hydro-testosterone. Increased levels of these hormones increase the sebaceous gland activity and the oily sebum output, resulting in aggravation of acne in teens.
Other hormones present in milk are also implicated as culprits in worsening of acne. The most frequently involved hormone is the IGF-1(insulin-like growth factor). This is present in organic milk and milk from cows treated with bovine growth hormone. IGF-1 levels are increased in the body in response to increased secretion of insulin. IGF-1 has a stimulatory effect on the sebum production in the sebaceous glands, one of the main events in the development of acne.
The effect of IGF-1 in response to increased insulin levels in the blood is also thought to be the cause of high incidence of acne following consumption of refined carbohydrates, the so-called high glycemic index foods. The same mechanism is responsible for the increased prevalence of acne among women suffering from the polycystic ovarian syndrome.
It will be interesting if a few studies are undertaken to see whether milk derived from home grown cows fed on natural feeds and grass has any adverse effects on the natural course of acne.
As the food-acne relationship is no more a myth, acne affected teenagers would do well to avoid excessive intake of diary products and other food items that affect acne.
References:
- Bowe PW, Joshi SS, Shalita AR. Diet and acne. J Am Acad Dermatol 2010;63:124-41
- Ferdowsian HR & Levin S. Does Diet Really Affect Acne? Skin Therapy Letter 2010;15:3:1-2
- Robinson HM. The acne problem. South Med J 1949; 42:1050-60.
- Adebamowo C, Spiegelman D, Danby F, Frazier A, Willett W, Holmes M. High school dietary dairy intake and teenage acne. J Am Acad Dermatol 2005;52:207–14.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Get Skinny with Body Wraps!!!
We are hosting an "Open House" to launch one of our new products, "Body Wraps".
Thursday, January 24th from 6:30-8:00pm.
Come and find out more about our body wraps...if you decide to try one out, they are only $25!!! Bring a friend and you'll both receive $5 off. Get skinny for only $20!!!
Expect "ultimate" results with this amazing 45-minute body Applicator! The Ultimate Body Applicator is a non-woven cloth wrap that has been infused with a powerful, botanically-based formula to deliver maximum tightening, toning, and firming results where applied to the skin.
•Tightens, tones, & firms
•Minimizes cellulite appearance
•Improves skin texture & tightness
•Mess-free and simple to use
•Results in as little as 45 minutes
•Progressive results over 72 hours
Made with natural ingredients
Monday, January 21, 2013
Coconut Oil for Acne?
I often have clients ask if it's okay to use coconut oil on their skin to treat acne. Here's a post from my favorite acne clinic, "Face Reality". Face Reality is an acne clinic in Northern California that only deals w/acne clients. Our office trained w/them in January of 2011 on treating acne and we currently offer their line of acne products in our clinic.
I actually can understand why someone who is desperately looking for relief from their acne might turn to cocout oil. It contains lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, which have antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. It can help to kill yeast and parasites which improves digestion, and it can also boost your immune system to fight infections. HOWEVER, the molecule for coconut oil is very small and will CLOG pores. It is highly comedogenic; and clients that I have had who used it came into our clinic with a terrible mess of acne where they slathered it on day in and day out. Here’s a review from the acne.org website: I read all the fantastic reviews and was stoked (I ignored the few reviews that warned against using it). I attributed the initial breakout to the “purging,” only the purging didn’t stop. I even emailed the author of “coconut cures” when I started to get concerned. His wife responded saying to keep with it… and so I did (I was still hopeful). Finally, a month later (I used it three-ish months) I accepted the reality that this highly comogenic stuff was not purifying my skin… oh no. It was clogging it in the worst possible way. Fast forward two months and I am still dealing with this nightmare. I have officially gone from “mild” to severe. All in all, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. So, in the words of the review “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Sorry boys and girls….
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