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Skin Care News & Specials

A monthly e-zine from GreatSkin®.com
January, 2004
GreatSkin.com - Publisher

 


In This Issue:

» How To Combat Dry Skin Caused by Winter
» Current Concepts of AntiAging


How To Combat Dry Skin Caused by Winter

By Lori Van Wormer, L.E.

Lori’s Beauty Tip of the Month

“Drink lots of water˜at least half your body weight in ounces per day.


Install a humidifier in both your home and office.


Dry skin may sound like a rather mild, benign condition, and it is, however, it can lead to more unpleasant skin problems. If neglected, dryness can diminish the epidermis's ability to provide protection leading to eczema, hypersensitivity, and rough skin, so I hope that you'll find these tips helpful.”

When temperatures drop, unfortunately so does our skin's moisture level. Actually, our skin can lose up to 8 ounces of water a day, and that's before environmental forces like wind and indoor heat rob us of even more moisture. When skin is exposed to cold air, the lipid content is depleted causing dehydration. If neglected, the skin in winter can feel like a slab of beef forgotten in the freezer! We all sometime in our lives have struggled and tried desperately to soothe chapped lips, dry heels, and cracking of the fingers – Ouch! The following are some pointers to help combat winter dry skin.

Limit showers to 3-5 minutes and avoid using hot water and soap. Instead, use a moisturizing shower gel and tepid water. Try our new Greatskin's Orange Sorbet Bath Gelee.

Two to three times a week apply a body scrub to slough of dead skin cells, targeting especially rough areas on your elbows, knees, and heels of the feet. Try our Greatskin Sea Salt Body Buff.


After showering while skin is still damp, apply a rich emollient body cream to seal in moisture. Rule of thumb is the drier the skin, the thicker the product. Try our new Greatskin Orange Sorbet Cream.


Before bedtime, apply a rich, emollient cream to hands and feet and slip on cotton gloves and socks. Try Greatskin's Moisture Mitts and Peppermint Foot Therapy.


Lips are almost always exposed to the elements, and they lose moisture faster than any other part of the face because they only have an extremely thin outer protective layer. When it's cold and dry outside, we tend to lick our lips thinking we are providing moisture when indeed we are just dehydrating them further. Try Greatskin's Vibran C Lip Treatment.


Like the body, the facial skin should be cleansed with tepid water and a gel or cream cleanser (not soap) followed by exfoliation at least two to three times a week with either a non abrasive scrub, glycolic, or retinol product. Remember, fine lines are much more noticeable in dehydrated skin, so a hydrating mask three times a week, and a daily moisturizer containing hyaluronic acid is a must for plumping up the skin with moisture. Next, apply oil free silicone based lipid serum over your moisturizer and before your makeup application for a flawless look! Since the eye area has extremely thin skin and is so very delicate, be sure to apply a protective emollient eye serum daily. Try Greatskin's Ultra Gentle Cleanser, Vital Hydrant Toner, Facial Scrub, Green Tea Mask, Hyaluronic Moisturizer, Eternal Beauty Serum and new DCX Eye Serum.

» return to top

Current Concepts of AntiAging

By GreatSkin.com, MD
Medical Director, GreatSkin® Clinics of the Southwest

Quote from we

“AntiOxidation and control of ongoing Silent Inflammation is the key to longevity and quality of life.”

I have just returned from the 11th International Congress on AntiAging and Biomedical Technologies in Las Vegas Nevada, held Dec 12-14 2003. The entire "thrust" of the conference has shifted toward combating oxidation. It is clear now that scientists are really attacking "oxidation" as the true culprit of aging. Beyond that, inflammation" which can be roughly defined as a state of rapid and unstable oxidation in the body is an accelerated type of oxidation, like "rusting real fast." It is obvious that Insulin and Cortisol levels are the primary mediators of "silent inflammation." It is easy to test for the amount of "silent inflammation" occurring in the body. Silent inflammation is the cause for all cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. That covers the majority of diseases that cripple us in the modern world from heart attacks to any form of dementia or degenerative central nervous condition including Parkinson's disease, ADHD (childhood and adult attention deficit disorders) and multiple sclerosis. In other words, our Western lifestyle is silently killing us. The Japanese still have the record for Longevity, least amount of cancer and least of amount of heart disease on the planet, and why? They are oxidizing (rusting) at a much slower rate than we are.

The main defense that we can mount against silent inflammation and rapid oxidation are the following. We have to loose body fat down to our mean body mass index. Excess fat causes the body to pour out more insulin. Toxic waste is stored in fat cells along with insulin resulting in excess oxidation. High insulin levels result in spasm of our blood vessels and hypertension. The very common "Syndrome X"...hypertension, truncal obesity, diabetes, and lipid abnormality is killing many Americans. Damage begins at a cellular level, starting with the mitochondria (the little power motors of the cells.) It is here that all energy is born to allow for cellular repair in the face of oxidation.

The main substances one can take to combat oxidative aging are as follows:
  1. Coenzyme Q-10 (about 100 mg per day)
  2. Fish Oil (2-5 grams per day, high quality without mercury)
  3. Acetyl-L-Carnitine (500 mg twice daily, transports fuel into the mitochondria)
  4. Glutathione (750 mg daily)
  5. Vitamin E (800 IU's per day)
  6. Magnesium (400-800 mg daily)
  7. Vitamin C (2000 mg daily)
  8. B vitamins with Folic acid (to combat homocystine)
  9. Natural plant derived Omega 3 Fatty acids
  10. Alpha Lipoic Acid (250 mg twice per day)
  11. Pycnogenol
  12. Policosanol (10mg twice per day, to lower cholesterol and raise HDL)
  13. Resverotrol (20 mg twice per day, activates a "fasting like state, the ingredient in red wine which causes the "French Paradox.")
The above list represents the absolute best protection one can have against ongoing silent inflammation and oxidation. Obviously eating a "Zone Diet," (low glycemic), and getting some exercise will augment the effect of this powerful list of nutrients.

In January, GreatSkin® will be hosting the grand opening of our Pharmanex® Biophotonic Scanner. This is the first laser based scanning device for accurately detecting levels of antioxidants in your tissue, non-invasively. We will actually be providing a scored printout detailing your antioxidant levels. We will also be providing a "nutraceutical prescription," for you to increase your antoxidant protection. For the first time, we can really quantify whether your current antioxidant program is working. We can also take steps to provide you with the optimal program and quantify your results so no guess work is involved. Wouldn't you like to know if your supplements are really being absorbed and working at the cellular level?

Not responsible for typographical errors. Prices subject to change.

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