Jackie Bernardi from PersonalSkinSolutions.com recently wrote about The Disgusting Reason Why Your Skin Care Products Are Already Ruined. In the post she talks about some simple sanitation tips that can help keep your skin care products safe:

-Never put your fingers directly into your product regardless of packaging

-Use a brand new cotton swab to pull out enough product for your skin – do NOT double dip

-Keep your skin care products out of direct sunlight and high humidity areas, like the shower

-Throw away skin care product that is over 6 months old

Check out the full post for great skin product information here.

According to a recent study from a University Hospital in Denmark – people who have taken painkillers like aspirin and ibuprofen long-term seem to have a lower riks for some forms of skin cancer (via CBC.ca).

In the study researchers compared the painkiller records of patients diagnosed with cancer to cancer-free patients of the same age and gender. Interesting stuff!

Here at Laser MD we try to educate and spread awareness of the many causes and dangers of skin cancer – but an interesting article caught our attention today. Find A Vet recently published an article about the types of skin cancer most common in our loyal friends and what to look out for/do. Make sure to get the entire read on their site but here’s some of the important points.

-the cause of most skin cancers in dogs is unknown

-pooches with light-colored or thin coats are more susceptible to skin damage

-3 cancers are the most common: malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and mast cell tumors

-systemic symptoms can include: appetite loss, vomiting, diarrhea, unhealing wounds, enlarged lymph nodes, abdominal pain, bleeding disorders

-urgent symptoms for immediate veterinary care include: lumps, bumps, scaly or crusty lesions, changes in skin color, swelling in breast tissue, discharge from the nipple

-skin cancer can be treated with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, cryosurgery and photodynamic therapy depending on the tumor and state of the disease

We just put up a brand new Facebook Offer up on the official Laser MD Facebook Page – $300 for $400 worth of fractional laser therapy services! Comprable to the pixel or fraxel lasers, our fractional laser therapy helps treat sun damaged or photo damaged sin and helps with fine lines and wrinkles. And compared with other lasers there are only 5-7 days of downtime!

Claim the offer through Facebook through the end of the year!

Fresh fruits and vegetables can be great for your skin if eaten OR when applied directly. Here are some great examples!

-Puree a fresh tomato and splat it on your face. Alleviates sun burns and reduces acne scars.

-Cut a strawberry in half and rub it on your face for a minute. Wash off with cold water for soft and glowing skin.

-Place strawberry halves on your eyes for 10 minutes and follow up with gentle moisturizer. Helps control puffy eyes and remove dark circles.

-Add apple juice to your bath for soft skin or as a final rinse after shampooing to combat dandruff

-Cut and mash a papaya and leve the pulpy formation on your face for 16 minutes – helps remove acne and gives softer skin

-Mash avocados in a blender or with a fork and mix this well with either eggs or honey to give you a refreshing facial mask for brightening your skin. Pureeing the fruit of the avocado and applying it topically to the skin can replenish moisture, soften rough patches and help heal chapped skin. The fruit’s rich Vitamin A, C, E, iron niacin and potassium content hydrates and soothes the skin.

-Slices of Potatoes or Cucumbers when kept on the eyes for 10 minutes are great for reducing dark circles and eye bagginess.

-Rub cucumber slices on your cellulite. This done on a regular basis tightens the collagen and the bumps are not noticeable.

-Get minty. Chop and crush a sprig of mint leaves. Let this sit on your under eye area for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with cool water. Say goodbye to dark circles!

Many of you have probably heard of Latisse, a medication that helps treat, thicken and elongate ‘inadequate’ eyelashes. The Mayo Clinic recently came out with an article that talks about the pros and cons of Latisse, which we thought could be very helpful to our audience and clients.

Latisse is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat eyelashes and regularly produces real results for those who use the medication. With regular applications along the las line of the upper eyelid, Latisse gradually encourages growth of longer, thicker and darker eyelashes. Full results will take at least two months. Note: Latisse is not meant to be used for the lower eyelid.

When using Latisse be careful of side effects that include itchy eyes, dry eyes, darkened eyelids, darkened brown pigmentation in the colored part of the eye or hair growth around the eyes if medication drips off the eyelids.

Check out one of the latest videos from New Beauty demonstrating the importance of keeping your skin hydrated from the inside and out!

UVA – These rays account for up to 95 percent of the UV radiation reaching the earth’s surface. Although they are less intense – UVA rays are 30 to 50 times more prevalent than UVB. They are present during all daylight hours throughout the year and can penetrate clouds and glass. These rays also play a major part in skin aging and wrinkling – and studies within the past two decades have shown that UVA contributes and may even initiate the development of skin cancers.

UVB – These rays are the chief cause of skin reddening and sunburns and tends to damage the skin’s more superficial epidermal layers. It plays a key role in the development of skin cancer. Most UVB rays hit the US between 10 AM – 4 PM in April-October.

So wait, what are parabens? Parabens are preservatives used in skin care products so that the products can keep a longer shelf life. The most common parabens are butylparaben, propylparaben and methylparaben. There has been a trending rumor that parabens were cancer causing but..

The FDA, National Cancer Institute and American Cancer society have all come forward that there is no proof of linkage between parabens and cancer. Phew. Good to know!

For a bigger description of parabens in skin care check out Renee Rouleau’s latest blog post.

Did you know that nearly 6 million men a year are affected by the male version of menopause – Andropause? Symptoms include: low sex drive and infertility, development of “moobs” or male breasts, sometimes with painful swelling, shrunken testicles, erectile dysfunction, hot flashes, osteopenia\osis, anemia, depression, anger, and foggy thinking.

Tips for keeping that Testosterone level high:

-Don’t drink too much

-Watch the belly fat

-Eat lean protein

-Eat zinc and copper rich foods