sunscreen

Rate My Sunscreen – Why the most expensive sunscreen isn’t always the best

| Leigh

best sunscreen consumer reportsIt’s that time of year again, where we frantically rummage in our bathroom cupboards for the sandy, goopy best sunscreen bottle of last summer or go to the store to stock up.

Whether your choice of sunscreen depends on whether it smells nice, goes on easily, is not too greasy, or is cruelty-free, be sure to check out the latest information from Consumer Reports. You might be surprised to see that some top-selling sunscreens simply don’t cut it when it comes to actually protecting your skin from harmful ultraviolet light. Continue reading →

Natural Treatments for Hyperpigmentation

| Leigh

flaxseed oil hyperpigmenation natural treatmentSun exposure, other types of skin damage, and hormonal disruption can all result in hyperpigmentation of the skin, i.e. darker patches of skin caused by excess melanin production and/or build-up.

Hyperpigmentary disorders such as melasma, café au lait spot and solar lentigo are typically treated through the use of topical agents that disrupt the activity of tyrosinase, a key enzyme in the production of melanin (melanogenesis), but natural treatments for hyperpigmentation are also gaining attention. Continue reading →

Coconut Oil – A Safe, Natural Sunscreen?

| Leigh

coconut oil sunscreenRecent articles have highlighted the horrible irony of chemicals present in sunscreens that cause the skin to become more sensitive to the sun, leading some to wonder if natural sunscreens are, indeed, better for naturally healthy skin.

Take coconut oil, for example. Is it a safe sunscreen? Could you really sidestep all of the problems inherent in choosing a commercially produced sunblock that isn’t full of parabens, phthalates, bisphenol-A, and retinyl palmitate just by greasing yourself up with some basic kitchen staples? Continue reading →

Vitamin D and Psoriasis – What’s the Connection?

| Leigh

sunlight and vitamin d and psoriasisEarlier this year a study was published that verified, for the first time, an upper, safe limit for vitamin D, but what if, like many in the northern hemisphere, you are deficient in this hormone-like vitamin? Could a vitamin D deficiency be a trigger for your psoriasis? Several studies published in the last year make the connection between a vitamin D deficiency and psoriasis severity so should you be supplementing, sunbathing, or is there a reason to avoid vitamin D for naturally healthy skin?

In this extended post we will be taking a look at:

Continue reading →

What Causes Rosacea? Three Common Triggers and How to Combat Them.

| Leigh

rosacea causes red rash across centre of faceNo single cause of rosacea has been identified but recent research does suggest a number of potential triggers for the skin condition that affects around 3% of the population. Without knowing what causes rosacea it can be difficult to treat and this can lead to stress and depression in sufferers who worry over their appearance.

Luckily, many of the possible causes or factors exacerbating rosacea are responsive to treatment so, although there is no ‘cure’ as such for rosacea it is likely that patients can dramatically reduce the impact of the skin disorder by identifying their rosacea trigger(s) and treating it accordingly. Continue reading →

What Does SPF Mean? New FDA Regulations Now in Effect for Sunscreens

| Leigh

sunscreen regulations from fdaThe sun is shining, flowers are emerging, and thoughts are turning to spring and summer. If, like me, you tend to plan ahead, you may already be thinking about the location of your sunscreen. Digging out that greasy old bottle of Coppertone may seem enough but it’s important to remember that not all sunscreens are the same.

With this in mind, the FDA’s new regulations for sunscreen marketing are now in effect, after months of delays, governing how manufacturers promote sunscreens, including how they cite SPF. What does this mean for us as savvy consumers wanting naturally healthy skin? Hopefully, it means we get a better quality product that does what it promises. Continue reading →

Home Remedies for Bags Under the Eyes.

| Leigh

bags under eyes home remediesAccording to a study done by Clinique in 2006, half of all women note dark circles and bags under the eyes as major beauty concerns. These two skin issues may have connected causes or may be due to separate underlying issues but when looking at undereye dark circles and puffiness, men and women, and even children, are all affected.

The causes of bags under the eyes are often different in younger people than in those approaching middle-age or older so knowing the factors underlying that under-eye puffiness and pigmentation is important in order to successfully fix the condition and restore naturally healthy skin. Continue reading →

Vitiligo in Children

| Leigh

vitiligo in childrenVitiligo may be hereditary to some extent and children whose parents have the skin condition are more likely to develop vitiligo themselves. This depigmentation issue that causes white patches on the skin affects between one and two million people in the United States, although figures are vague due to less severe cases often going undiagnosed. Cases of vitiligo in children occur less frequently simply because skin trauma, which can trigger the disease, is more likely to arise as we age.

The condition can have profound psychosocial effects in both children and adults, leading to low self-esteem in some cases. Unfortunately, treatments for vitiligo are largely ineffective and even naturally healthy skin remedies for vitiligo tend to only help in slowing the spread of the condition rather than reversing the loss of pigmentation. Continue reading →

Best Sunscreen is Not Always the Most Expensive According to New Safest Sunscreen Report.

| Leigh
best suncreen recommended
Banana Boat for Kids? Make sure you are using the best and safest sunscreen for the whole family.

The May Issue of Consumer Reports has rated eighteen of the top-selling sunscreens and found that price is no indication of performance. Some of the most hyped sunscreens, including one for kids, failed in tests of broad spectrum coverage and could leave you vulnerable to damaging sun-rays causing skin cancer.

Find out what to slather on your skin to keep it naturally healthy this summer and how best to protect yourself from skin cancer and sunburn. Continue reading →