sun – watercress words by Dr Aletha

Skin health and beauty- big business

Browse social media or news sites online and you notice skin health and appearance is a priority for most people. Sales for skin care products and services is a multi-billion dollar industry. If you’re on social media, you’ve probably seen posts from friends who are involved in direct-selling companies for skin care, maybe you are also.

As a family physician, I treated skin problems frequently. Some of them were due to skin diseases, but some resulted from lifestyle habits, other medical conditions, and even medical treatments. While some of these may be unavoidable, others are preventable.

Skin Deep- cells and layers

First, let’s take a deeper look at our skin, it’s more complex than you may realize. It has two layers-

the top layer, the epidermis

the lower layer, the dermis

: The layers of the skin (epidermis and dermis), as well as an inset with a close-up view of the types of cells in the skin (squamous cells, basal cells, and melanocytes). Source: National Cancer Institute Creator: Don Bliss (Illustrator) This image is in the public domain and can be freely reused. Please credit the source and, where possible, the creator listed above.

Skin disease and trauma involve damage to one or both layers of the skin- the dermis or epidermis, or to the individual cells- squamous cells, basal cells, or the melanocytes-the cells with pigment that give our skin color.

Cancers can develop in any cell of the skin. Melanoma is cancer of the melanocytes.

(This photo is for illustration only and should not be used to diagnose a skin lesion. See a physician if you have a skin lesion that concerns you. )

: a melanoma skin lesion-Source: National Cancer Institute Creator: Unknown Photographer- This image is in the public domain and can be freely reused. Please credit the source

Ultraviolet light-an avoidable risk to skin health and appearance

Basking in sunlight may enhance your mood, but too much of it can damage your skin.

The signs of photo-aging are obvious to physicians-

yellowing of the skin complexion
dry and rough texture with wrinkling,
unevenly pigmented skin tone with dilated blood vessels.
stretched out
easy bruising

Visit this link from the Canadian Dermatology Association to see what photoaged skin looks like

Photoaging

Photoaging is premature aging of the skin caused by repeated exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV), primarily from the sun but also from artificial UV sources, such as tanning beds. Besides aging, excess sun exposure can cause

Burns
Rash due to increased sun sensitivity when taking certain medications
Cancers- skin cancers are the most common type of cancer.

How to limit UV light exposure

Use a broad spectrum sunscreen, SPF 15 or higher
Wear hats, sunglasses, sun protective clothing
Avoid sun exposure, especially from 10 am to 4 pm
No tanning bed use.

Learn more about the effects of sun exposure from familydoctor.org at this link.

What sun exposure does to our skin.

: We all care about our appearance, including this cute monkey. Photo by Andre Mouton on Pexels.com

exploring the HEART of skin health

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Dr. Aletha

Remember it’s Spring forward to Daylight Saving Time

Most of the United States changes to Daylight Saving Time on the second Sunday of March every year

So you will either be going to bed an hour later than usual, or awakening an hour earlier.

sleep

Either way, your body will tell the difference until your sleep cycle adjusts; I know mine always does. WebMD offers these tips to make the change easier.

If getting a good night’s sleep is a persistent problem for you, check out the information I shared in this post.

Expert advice to sleep well every night

We welcome the first day of Spring in the northern hemisphere, with the occurrence of the vernal equinox which occurs around March 20 every year.

This link to The Weather Channel explains what the vernal equinox means.

graphic of the earth explaining equinox and solstice — original source not known

With more hours of sunlight and warmer weather you may spend more time outdoors.While that may mean greater fitness from the physical activity, you will be at risk of several outdoor injuries. Be proactive and prevent warm weather ailments with these tips.

insect bites and stings

Protect yourself against mosquitoes and other insects.

5 insect repellents to keep you safe this summer

sun exposure

Protect your skin with sunscreen while you’re outside.

(These are affiliate links placed here for your convenience. This blog can earn a commission from sales from these links. This does not imply endorsement of these products.)

blisters and other wounds

Protecting your feet.

Whether walking, jogging, gardening, or sports, our feet can take a beating from outdoor activity.

You probably don’t worry much about blisters- until you get one. Then the pain can inhibit walking, or even wearing a shoe.

At worst, blisters can become chronic wounds, get infected, and threaten limbs in susceptible persons like those with diabetes or poor blood flow.

Ways to prevent blisters include-

Proper fitting shoes, not too tight or too loose
Breaking shoes in before activity likely to cause a blister, like running, dancing, long walks, sports
Wearing absorbent cushioned socks, perhaps 2 pair together
Applying protective padding over pressure points on the feet. Even plain paper tape can accomplish this, according to this study published in the New York Times.

I own and wear several pairs of Skechers sports shoes. (affiliate link)

environmental allergies

What to do about seasonal allergies

Often called “hay fever”, allergic rhinitis doesn’t cause a fever but it can make us miserable with its characteristic symptoms-

runny nose, sneezing, congestion

diagram of the nose and sinuses — Allergies commonly affect the nose, throat, sinuses, ears, and eyes.

scratchy, itchy, or tickly throat

cough

ear itching and pressure

watery, itchy, red eyes

Even those people who have these symptoms year round may have seasonal exacerbations, usually spring and fall.

Here is information about allergy management from the American College of Allergy to discuss with your doctor.

Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergies, like other allergies, develop when the body’s immune system becomes sensitized and overreacts to something in the environment that typically causes no problem in most people.

exploring the HEART of health this spring

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Tag: sun

Maximizing Skin Health and Beauty: Exploring Skin Care Concerns

Skin health and beauty- big business

Skin Deep- cells and layers

Ultraviolet light-an avoidable risk to skin health and appearance