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When a friend told Stacey Petersen that chemicals in her child’s sunscreen could be harmful, she wanted to find out more.

Petersen’s friend referred her to a report on sunscreen safety by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit environmental advocacy organization that receives funding from many sources, including natural cosmetics companies. The report by the non-profit environmental advocacy organization is hugely popular, mentioned frequently in media articles.

It’s a frightening read. Petersen was alarmed to see, for example, that oxybenzone, a chemical in her own sunscreen “acts like estrogen in the body” and is “associated with endometriosis in women.”

“I was more concerned about my children, but if it’s disrupting hormones and it could be causing cancer, I don’t want to be exposed to that either,” says Petersen.

After some further research, however, she came across other research by dermatologists showing “that the amount [of oxybenzone] your body is absorbing is so miniscule that it’s not a problem.”

The fact that some environmental scientists say many sunscreens could be toxic while dermatoloigsts say they’re safe has led to a great deal of confusion.

“I have patients with fair skin who have sun damage tell me that they don’t use sunscreen because they think the chemicals cause cancer,” says Michelle Levy, a Toronto-based dermatologist who criticizes the EWG report for being inaccurate and fear-mongering. “That’s really not true…but the odds of you getting skin cancer as a result of not protecting yourself from the sun are really high.” (All of the dermatologists interviewed for this article stated that they do not receive funding from the sunscreen industry.)

So who’s right? Healthy Debate investigates. Click here to read more.

Credit: healthydebate.ca

As anyone who’s broken out after a late-night drinking and pizza binge can attest, diet is clearly linked to skin condition. But there’s so much conflicting information about how to manage your diet for the most beautiful skin possible, as well all kinds of wacky DIY recipes (we’ll pass on the mayonnaise face mask, thank you very much). Click here to find out what types of food can really impact your skin.

Credit: foodandwine.com

With summer just around the corner, it’s time to embrace flirty skirts, shorts and bathing suits. But is your skin ready? Here are 5 skin problems and how you can fix them in time for that trip to the beach.

1. Skin problem: Keratosis pilaris

Annoying – but harmless – tiny white or red bumps that can appear on your arms, buttocks, face and thighs, Keratosis pilaris develops when keratin (a naturally occurring skin protein) plugs up hair follicles. These bumps don’t itch or cause any problems, but they’re a bit of an eyesore.

The fix: According to Dr. Jason Rivers, a clinical professor at UBC, and medical director of Pacific Dermaesthetics in Vancouver, keratois pilaris (KP) typically improves during the summer. But if you’re not seeing a natural reduction in its appearance, a dermatologist can provide assistance. “I tell people to use a buff puff or loofah sponge to exfoliate the skin,” he says. Rivers also recommends the topical use of salicylic acid, vitamin A (retinol) creams, and moisturizers to soften the skin and help diminish the skin’s bumpy appearance.

2. Skin problem: Stretch marks, or scars

If you’ve lost or gained weight quickly, experienced rapid growth, or had a baby, you might have stretch marks.

The fix: “Creams are ineffective for changing the appearance of stretch marks and scars,” says Rivers. “Depending on the type of scar, it may improve with time.” If you’re looking for a little assistance in making your stretch marks or scars less noticeable, see a dermatologist about laser treatments. For best results, Rivers says you should undergo laser treatments before you get a tan – the laser can remove skin pigment, so it’s best to start your appointments before warm weather arrives. Multiple treatments will be required, and prices can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars depending on the type, and size of the scar.

Click here to continue reading.

Credit: besthealthmag.ca

New sun protection guidelines hope to bust tanning myths and promote ‘healthy behaviour in the sun’

If you think slathering yourself in sunscreen before a day at the beach is the key to low-risk sunbathing there’s bad news. According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) there is “no safe or healthy way to tan.”

The new guidelines advise always wearing sunscreen of SPF15 or higher when outdoors and using six to eight teaspoonfuls of lotion to cover the entire body.

Wearing a high factor of sun protection (SPF30 plus) doesn’t necessarily mean you can spend longer periods in the sun without the risk of burning.

Additionally the NICE guidelines indicate that having a tan doesn’t mean you are protected against subsequent sun exposure and the cumulative skin damage negates any protective effect.

It’s still possible to burn during the hottest part of the day (in the U.K. this is between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. from March to October) even in cool, cloudy weather. It’s also possible to burn at other times of the day and during all seasons.

While sunscreen is an effective way to protect your skin from harmful UV rays, NICE suggests that covering up with suitable clothing or seeking shade should be top priorities. When sunscreen is used it should be used liberally and repeatedly on all exposed areas of skin.

If you go swimming, or sweat profusely while wearing sunscreen, the advice is to reapply your lotion immediately afterwards — even if the product claims to be water-resistant.

Click here to read the full article.

 

Credit: sheknows.com

By allowing these products to work long hours in the dark, you maximize the benefits you can see by morning. But that doesn’t come for free: some nighttime skincare products can lead to slight skin sensitivity during daylight hours, so it’s important to extend a good skincare routine into the day ahead. “An SPF of 30 or higher is important in a daily morning skincare routine as it counteracts photo-aging and helps maintain your skincare regimen results,” Dr. Patel says. In the simplest of terms, you’re taking off old, dead skin at night, causing new, fresh skin to appear by morning, faster than it would on its own, so you need to do everything you can to protect that new skin out in the elements.

Learn about the other things dermatologists recommend for men skin care.

Credit: Acneaction.ca

Our very own dermatologist Dr. Benjamin Barankin was recently asked to answer common questions regarding cystic acne for the Acne & Rosacea Society of Canada. Toronto Dermatology Centre is one of the largest and busiest acne treatment centres in Canada.

Click here for the full article.

Just because it’s not summer doesn’t mean you’re safe from sun-related skin damage.

“The highest level of concern is usually during the summer months, but sun damage can occur year-round, even on cloudy or rainy days,” said dermatologist Dr. Sarah Taylor, an assistant professor at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C.

“In fact, many people don’t realize that you also get sun exposure through windows at the office, at home or in cars,” she said in a hospital news release.

That’s why “dermatologists recommend that everyone wear broad-spectrum sunscreen every day, all year,” Taylor said.

To best protect your skin from the sun, she suggests:

• Using broad-spectrum, physical blocker sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium oxide. They should have a sunscreen protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher.
• Using liquid or powder sunscreen, not sprays.
• You should overapply sunscreen to all areas of exposed skin. This includes the sides of your face, ears, front and back of your neck, hands and arms.

Continue to here.

Credit: healthday.com

“Patients with psoriasis covering more than 10% of their body surface area (BSA) were at significantly greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2DM) over approximately 4 years compared with those without psoriasis, according to a large, prospective, population-based cohort study.” To learn more click here.

Credit: medpagetoday.com