First and foremost, there will be no more exaggerations on amount of time your skin is protected from the sun when in water and no more claims of “waterproof” as there is no such thing as waterproof sunscreen!

The new word is “water resistant”.  Huge difference. And in order to get the ability to claim water resistant, they had to prove it.  One more step to better prevention from the damage the sun can give.

I’m so glad to see this new step to sun-safety.  It seems that everyone I know believes sunscreen can last hours in the water, but the FDA made the sunscreen companies prove how long their sunscreens protected in the water.

This image is provided from the American Academy of Dermatology and it will help you pick the best sunscreen. (Click it to see a larger version.)  Remember, brands are all personal choice, but these are the important things to look for when searching for your sunscreen.

On the new labels, you’ll see whether the sunscreen:

• Is Broad Spectrum and has an SPF 15 or higher, which means the sunscreen protects against UVB and UVA rays and can help prevent skin cancer and sunburn.

• Has a Skin Cancer/Skin Aging Alert in the Drug Facts section of the label, which means the sunscreen will only prevent sunburn and does not reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging.

• Is Water Resistant up to 40 minutes or 80 minutes which means the sunscreen provides protection while swimming or sweating up to the time listed on the label.

Water resistant up to 40 to 80 minutes.  Surprised? Please observe the labels and reapply, reapply, reapply.  Protecting your skin against the sun is the #1 way to prevent premature aging, sunspots and skin cancer.

Have you seen the new labels? Do you think they are easier to understand? What do you think about reapplying every 40-80 minutes?

That’s why most of us stopped hacking butts and eating junk food around the same time we stopped listening to grunge. But is a healthy lifestyle enough when it comes dealing with problem skin? Many dermatology experts say no – especially, if your skin issues are allergy related. In fact, more and more studies indicate that herbal supplements such as ZENMED’s Derma Cleanse® Capsules (in conjunction with a healthy diet) play a vital role in promoting healthy skin. Here’s how:

Hormonal Factor

ZENMED’s Derma Cleanse® Capsules contain Chaste Tree Fruit and that’s not something you’ll likely find in your local produce section any time soon (it’s not exactly known for its flavour, if you catch our drift). But don’t underestimate the powers of Chaste just because it isn’t tasty enough to sprinkle on your cereal. This Mediterranean plant contains healing properties that help regulate hormone production and stimulate pituitary gland function, which in turn, helps controls acne in teens and young adults.

Swell Quell

Research shows that inflammation is one of the leading causes of acne and ZENMED’s Derma Cleanse® Capsules are chock a block with natural anti-inflammatory ingredients such as honeysuckle flower, gardenia fruit and the always calming chamomile – to name just a few.  These soothing elements will help ease skin irritation and thereby reduce the redness and swelling associated with breakouts.

Liver Love

In the fight against acne, it doesn’t hurt to lend your liver a helping hand with some gentle, all- natural blood purifying ingredients. After all, the faster you can flush out those toxins (and we all have them), the less chance they have of building up and clogging your pores. Which is why ZENMED’s Derma Cleanse® Capsules contains a healthy dose of plant-derived liver aids such as Neem leaf, Burdock seed and Red Peony root.

For more info, check out this educational video: 

The following four treatments can be placed in a spritz bottle or applied to the skin with a cotton ball.  Apply to skin after washing, before any other skin treatments and allow to fully soak in before adding your moisturizer.

• Rose Water: Rose water has been shown to be very effective at reducing skin redness and luckily it couldn’t be easier to incorporate into your skin care regimen.  You can easily make your own rose water or you can do as we did and simply buy a good organic one.  Rose water smells amazing and makes you feel as though you are really pampering your skin.

• Chamomile:  Do you have chamomile tea bags in your cupboard? Next time you have a cup, brew a couple extra! Chamomile makes a great inexpensive anti-redness treatment. Simply brew a few bags of tea letting the teabags steep for 8 to 10 minutes and refrigerate until cold. If you have single area of redness, feel free to lay back and apply the wet tea bag directly to your skin for 5 minutes.

• Ginger:  Ginger is a health boost in many ways, but it is also commonly used for treating red skin and psoriasis.  Make a cup of ginger tea by simmering some thinly sliced ginger root in water for a minimum of 10 minutes.  Let cool in the refrigerator and then as apply to skin as needed.

• Cucumber: Everyone knows that cucumber slices placed over the eye can make your swollen, tired eyes look like they just woke up from a full night’s sleep.  But did you know they can take away redness and inflammation on your skin, too?  Grab your juicer and add some cucumbers.  Keep in the refrigerator for best results.

Minimizing Red Skin

When it comes to avoiding red skin triggers, watch your diet. Many people get red skin after eating spicy foods or drinking alcohol so avoid these if they cause your skin to turn red.  Wearing sunscreen daily and reapplying often is also a good way to keep red skin caused by the sun at bay.  Keep yourself hydrated and your diet full of healthy fruits and vegetable and lean proteins is just a general overall great way to keep your skin looking its best.

We talked about it and decided that some of us would like to share what some of us at ZENMED are doing to celebrate Earth Day, all week and everyday!

We also want to hear what you are doing, big or small, everyday to solve the problems of climate change. Together we can make a difference!

We don’t care what format it’s in. Upload a video to YouTube, on Vine, or pin a pic on Pinterest, create a blog post or whatever you like and Share it with us on Facebook, Google+ or Twitter.

Here’s some of the things we are going to do:

ZENMED – We created this “Plant a Billion Trees” fund page for The Nature Conservancy as a way for our community to help solve the problem of climate change by planting trees. Click HERE to check it out!

Robert – “I am switching to  LED powered lighting to reduce my consumption  of energy.  My TV is LED, a lot of my light bulbs are LED and by shutting my computer down at night that I have reduced my power bill by half.”

Michelle – “I’m going to make my meals more meatless. I’m told reducing meat consumption conserves fresh water, saves topsoil, and even reduces air pollution!”

Sharon – “I’m helping The Nature Conservancy’s “Plant a Billion Trees” program and donating a bit to help grow some trees. Plus I’m going to grow a few in my backyard this year.”

Connect and share your story with ZENMED: Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | Youtube | Pinterest

How You Can Help

Make a donation directly on our fundraising page or get us to plant a tree simply by sending out a tweet using the hashtag #zenmedEarthDay.

Just click and tweet at @ZENMED and we will plant a tree! Tweet #ZENMEDEarthDay

What is The Plant a Billion Trees Fund? 

Five hundred years ago, the Atlantic Forest of Brazil covered approximately 330 million acres (about twice the size of Texas), but today more than 85% of this forest has been cleared and what remains is highly fragmented.

Despite its diminished state, the Atlantic Forest still ranks as a global conservation priority. Although it is just a small fraction of the size of the great Amazon rainforest, the Atlantic Forest still harbors of a range of biological diversity similar to that of the Amazon.

The Nature Conservancy, which has been working in the Atlantic Forest since 1991 with a wide range of partners, has an ambitious plan to protect and restore 30 million acres of this magnificent forest by 2015.

 

* ZENMED will donate up to $1,000

With so many people, especially teens affected by acne, it would make sense that it is simply getting passed on from person to person.  Maybe the bacteria left on someone’s hat or cell phone that you borrowed caused you to break out.

Good news:  acne is not contagious.

Acne is caused by bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes, commonly shortened to P. acnes. Everyone has P. acnes on their skin – even if they don’t have acne.

If we all have P. acnes, why do some break out while other’s don’t?

It all has to do with what strain of P. acnes you have.  A recent study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology broke historic ground with the study of P. Acnes.  They sampled the P. acnes of 100 people and found that those with certain strands were either more likely to suffer with acne or more likely to not have acne at all.  (Here’s more info from that study.)  It boils down to the fact that we all have P. acnes, but what strand we have will be the determining factor in how severely acne affects our skin – if at all.

But what about that one time when….

We all have a story, right?  What about that time when I sampled makeup at a counter and broke out after? What about the time when I borrowed my friend’s <fill in the blank> and broke out? I swear I caught acne from my boyfriend/girlfriend!

Acne is typically caused by hormones which affect the sebum production in your skin but other things can cause you to break out.  Recent studies show that diets high in dairy can cause acne. Cosmetics and ingredients in your skin care products can cause acne.  Not washing your makeup brushes can cause you to break out.   Not cleaning your cell phone can also cause acne.  Staying in your sweaty clothes post workout can also cause breakouts.

It is likely a coincidence that brought on your acne that you think you got from your friend – not a contagious thing at all.

Here are some ways to keep your skin acne-free.

• Wash your face every morning and evening.
• Exfoliate your skin weekly or bi-weekly to eliminate dead skin cells from building up in your pores.
• Use moisturizers that are noncomedogenic.  (Even if it says noncomedogenic on the label doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t make your skin break out.  Pay attention to your skin the first week or so after you start using new products.)
• Clean your cell phone.
• Change out of your workout clothes right away.
• Don’t wear your hat 24-7. (And wash it!)
• Keep your hair products off of your skin.
• Change your sheets and pillow cases frequently.
• Try to notice how often you touch your face (we bet a lot!) and reduce the amount you do so.
• Use mineral sunscreen which won’t block your pores.

• Cleansing – There is no need to go expensive with your cleanser.  If you have acne-prone, oily or combination skin, look for a gel cleanser.  Those of us with normal or dry skin should use a creamy cleanser.  If you have sensitive skin, try ZENMED’s Facial Cleansing Gel.  Wash morning and night (we love facial cleansing cloths for night) and reassess your skin as the seasons change.

• Moisturizing –When you wash your skin, you strip it of the natural oils needed to maintain supple, healthy skin.  Adding moisturizer right after you wash your face is a must.  Look for a moisturizer that is meant for your skin type and apply after each washing.

• Sunscreen – There isn’t a single person reading this article that isn’t in need of sunscreen every day.  Sunburn, sun cancer and aging skin are all reasons to apply and reapply throughout the day. If you want to have younger looking skin, sunscreen is the #1 way to get it.

From then on, it gets a little decade-specific.  Here is a brief overview of each decade with a link to a full article of tips for each.

Teens – The dreaded four letter word in the teen years is acne.  There are so many myths on why you get acne and many kids just don’t know how to treat their acne or if they should treat their acne at all.

If you have oily skin, look for skin care products that have ingredients such as salicylic acid, benzyl-peroxide, clay or tea tree oil which are known acne fighters.  Keep your fingers off your face (no picking, squeezing or popping!) and let a spot treatments do the work for you. They can greatly shorten the length of your pimple.

Read more about teen skin care.

20’s – Many of you are still fighting acne, but some of you are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  Enjoy the best stage you’ll have when it comes to your skin and kick your sunscreen use into high gear if you want to continue to have that good skin into your 30’s.

Most people in their 20’s can get by with a simple routine of cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen and a once-weekly exfoliation.  No need to start using anti-aging products at this age.  Your sunscreen is the only one you need.

Read more about skin care in your 20’s.

30’s – This is the decade where most of us will notice our first early signs of aging.  And when we notice them, most of us dash to the skin care products made for aging skin which can actually cause many of us to backtrack into the acne stage.  Calm down, grab your sunscreen and make some smart skin choices.

Cleanse, moisturize, sunscreen and exfoliate.  You can now start exfoliating twice a week, as exfoliating will slough off dead skin cells, revealing young, new skin at the surface. You can use a manual exfoliator or a chemical one with ingredients like AHA’s which evenly and easily get rid of dead skin cells.

Read more about skin care in your 30’s.

40’s – Now’s the time to look closely at the skin care products you are using and find the ones that will give you the most bang for your buck in terms of ingredients.  Look for anti-aging superstar ingredients such as peptides and retinol/retinoids which will make a noticeable difference in your skin.

Talk to your dermatologist for specific skin care questions and in-office procedures that can help your skin stay in great shape.  And just as every decade, how much you pay attention to sun protection will be visible in your 50’s in ways such as wrinkles and sun spots.  Slather it on!

More about skin care in your 40’s.

50’s – Many women enter menopause in their 50’s and with menopause come crazy hormone fluctuations that can cause all sorts of skin problems – from acne (what?) to flushed skin and hair loss to excess facial hair, sometimes you feel like your skin is a mess.

If you think it’s time to head to the dermatologist to fight back with professional skin care ingredients, you’ll be rewarded with your visit.  Prescriptions such as retinol, in-office procedures such as lasers and injectables or simply just talking about product lines that have been shown effective are all great reasons to visit your dermatologist.

Make sure you’re doing skin checks for any mole or skin change that you see.  One in five people will have skin cancer in their life.  And don’t forget to do the monthly breast checks for anything suspicious.

More about skin care in your 50’s.

Sagging Skin

When entering menopause, your skin produces less collagen and elastic fibers.  You see this in the mirror with the onset of wrinkles and sagging skin.  Like most of the unwanted changes that happen during menopause, this is due to the drop in estrogen levels.  What happens is that your body actually reroutes the areas in which the body stores fat deposits.  The fat that was once kept your skin looking plump now is rerouted to your abdomen, thighs and buttocks. Lovely.

What You Can Do:  

• Vitamin A: It now takes your skin around 60 days to renew – more than double than when you were in your 20’s and 30’s.  Retinoids and Retinol are vitamin A derived ingredients that help speed up the renewal of skin cells, bringing fresh new skin cells to the surface faster. Use an over the counter anti-aging retinol product or get a prescription retinoid from your dermatologist.

• Peptides:  Find a skin care product that contains peptides. The body “sees” these peptides as broken collagen pieces and in trying to naturally heal itself, the body creates more collagen to replace the broken pieces.  Seeing collagen production is greatly diminished after menopause, this is very helpful in terms of anti-aging.

• Injectables – You have probably have heard of injections such as Botox, Juvederm and Restylane before.  Botox temporarily paralyzes the facial muscles smoothing wrinkles while the other two are known as fillers which help plump and smooth. Each of these are injected into your skin by a Dermatologist.  The effects are temporary, but can last up to 6 months, with most people getting another injection after 3 to 4 months.  What used to be something people were scared to do has now become something that is quiet common and comes with very little pain and down time. Don’t see anyone for an injectable that isn’t a doctor.  There are also other procedures your doctor can do in-office such as lasers, peels and microdermabrasions.

Adult Acne

When your estrogen levels fall, your testosterone levels rise, which can bring on a slew of unwanted skin issues.  One of these is oily skin, even if your skin hasn’t seen oily days for decades.  With oily skin can come adult onset acne and unfortunately, it’s not usually the small pimples that sit on the surface of the skin but deeper, cystic acne.

• What You Can Do: Visit your dermatologist who will have the best advice for you.  Sure, you can use acne skin care products, but most aren’t really effective at treating cystic acne.  Your doctor will have options for you and will be able to watch your hormone levels. Though hormone replacement therapy isn’t widely used anymore, in some cases it is suggested and can help minimize menopausal symptoms.

Dry Skin

Once your estrogen levels drop and settle without huge fluctuation, dry skin is one of the biggest complaints. It seems like nothing you do can keep up with the dry skin that covers your body.

•  What You Can Do: Replace your skin care products with those made for very dry skin.  Use a creamy facial cleaner and stop using the sudsy ones that strip the oil on your skin. Consider using face oils as moisturizers.  Moisturize your body immediately after your shower when your skin is still damp.

Increased Facial Hair

Again, like we talked about above, the drop in estrogen and rise in testosterone can cause a new issue of facial hair even for those who never had much facial hair in their pre-menopausal days.  You will notice this above your upper lip, lower lip, chin and cheeks.

• What You Can Do:  Find a hair removal process that works best for you.  Threading is more popular than ever and causes no redness – thus no down time.  Check with your doctor to see in Vaniqua will work for you. It is currently the only FDA approved treatment clinically proven to minimize the grown of unwanted facial hair.

Hair Loss

According to New Zealand Dermatological Society, approximately one third of post-menopausal women experience hair loss typically at the front and top of the scalp. This can be the most devastating side-effect of entering post-menopause.

•  What You Can Do: Don’t waste your money on shampoos that claim to regrow hair. Take this one to the experts and talk to your doctor. There are proven treatments that are typically made for men, such as Propecia, but they are at times used on women, as well, so make an appointment to discuss your options.  Hair loss is not something you have to sit in silence about.

Age Spots

Melanin production in the skin can rise, especially in areas that were exposed to the sun frequently in years past – your face, hands, arms, neck and chest are most affected and you will often notice patches of skin are darker than the rest of your skin.

• What You Can Do:   Be diligent with sunscreen and protect your skin with long sleeves and sun hats when possible.  The more the skin is exposed to the sun, the darker the spots will get.  There are products that claim to minimize age spots, also called sun spots or liver spots.  One of the ingredients shown to have the ability to lighten skin spots is Hydroquinone, but there is some concern over its safety.  Do your homework and as always, your doctor should be your first line of defense and authority in answering questions you have.