Alcohol and Skin Care

Alcohol is back! As your favorite drink - after the Sex and the City's statement electing Cosmopolitan as the drink of choice and many skin care products. Because alcohol dehydrates the skin, it was banned from our cosmetics for a long time - but all evidence points out that alcohol is back! You can see it in acne treatment pads, hand sanitizers, and many other products mostly used to disinfect the skin.

How alcohol dehydrates the skin
Considering the molecular level, the alcohol structure captures water decreasing the water available necessary to keep the skin moist and hydrated.

Alcohol Use

• Alcohol is used as a solvent in formulas for some active ingredients, such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid - it helps to mix them to the formula if they are first dissolved in alcohol
• Alcohol was extensively used in the past as a make-up remover for the same reason: as a solvent of make-up ingredients
• Also used to diminish the water available for nails conditions involving fungus, such as mycosis - since fungus need water to develop
• Today is extensively used in hand sanitizers for its antiseptic properties
• Alcohol is an antiseptic, reducing the number of surface skin bacteria without causing bacterial resistance to antibiotics

If the skin dehydrates, we have a dull, hard and unhealthy look that can be prevented by drinking more water and using a good moisturizer to compensate the use of alcohol on the skin.

Be good and be healthy!

Vanessa

Are you a Germ Freak?

When you go to a public bathroom are you a foot-flusher? Do you protect your hands with a paper towel to touch the door nob and use a hand sanitizer after shaking someones hands... Guilty as charge! I imagine the germs attached to it, magnified, greenish... Can't touch it!

Rationally, I understand that the skin promotes an incredible barrier and the problem is to carry the 'dirt' to a part of our body that represents less protection that the skin does, such as the mouth and scared skin. Doctors recommend that we wash our hands to prevent disease spread and to avoid touching the mouth, eyes and mucosa. So... where's the problem?

Germ+Phobia = Germaphobia (germ freak)
Germ = any microscopic organism that can potentially cause disease Phobia = an irrational sort of fear of a specific object, situation, or activity that can cause avoidance.
We see though, various degrees of germaphoby - I am very careful in public places but just a little at home. Germs have always existed and will always be around - let's deal with it rationally!

Bacteria, virus, fungi, prions, parasites - and the list goes on and on... The more information we get, the more paranoid we become and this is not all - the media do their best to reach us. For example, the latest news is the MRSA cases throughout the country with many cases among young athletes. I can picture myself at the gym cleaning the machine I'm using with a towel and a sanitizer and not touching common places with my hands.

The message in this posting is: let's respect our impulses but keep the eye on what makes sense, living a full and whole life.

Beauty tip: the alcohol content in hand sanitizers dehydrate the skin and make its appearance dull and dry. Try to clean your hands and use a good hand cream afterwards to keep your hands looking clean but beautiful!

Be good, be healthy.

Vanessa

Vitamins and Nails Health

Nails health and its appearance cause nails salons to have frequent visitors. Sometimes nail salons practices can be the cause of disseminating infections passed from an infected nail to another, while using not sterilized instruments.

The appearance of the nails might also be compromised if you are not eating balanced meals - it often happens when you change diets. In this case, starting a regimen with vitamins and oligoelements might be beneficial. There are several formulations available that contain vitamin H (biotin) a vitamin used for the health of your nails and hair. There are also other nutrients used, such as vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B12, and oligoelements (zinc, iron, copper, and selenium).

Considerations for the health of your nails:

• in patients with nails infection for well and not well nourished patient
• in patients with weak nails for well and not well nourished patient

The evidence suggests:
1) that proper care seems to help maintain nail health
2) some vitamins and oligoelements supplementation (vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin A, zinc, iron, copper, selenium, or vitamin B12) does not seem to be effective for improving the nail health of well-nourished patients or improving the appearance of nails affected by an infection/disease
3) supplementation with vitamin H (biotin) has been used with success for the strenghtening of the nails

In case of an infection, search for Doctor's advice, keep nails dry and use the medication prescribed according to the instructions. Eat right and keep your nails clean, dry and short to maintain its health. It's fun to have nail polish on - try the french manicure/pedicure and follow the colors of the season - I tend to choose the color based on my mood... It works like a charm!

Be healthy and be good!

Vanessa

Vitamin E - Antioxidant action

Vitamin E is also known as tocopherol and it represents a series of compounds and derivatives that are antioxidants. Like the vitamin A, D and K, vitamin E is fat-soluble.

Alpha tocopherol is the main form found in the body and it acts as an antioxidant.

Why are antioxidants so important?
When we talk about antioxidant action, we have to immediately associate to the inactivation of free radicals.

Free radicals are formed in the body during normal metabolism and also upon exposure to environmental factors such as cigarette smoke, stress and pollutants.

Fats, which are part of all cell membranes, are vulnerable to destruction through oxidation by free radicals. Antioxidants react with free radicals and prevent a chain reaction of lipid (fat)destruction. Vitamin E is one of the antioxidants in the body that neutralizes free radicals.

When vitamin E neutralizes a free-radical molecule, it turns into an oxidized form that no longer can act as an antioxidant. Vitamin C is known to turn vitamin E back to its active form, capable to act as an antioxidant.

Sources and RDA

Natural sources of vitamin E include vegetable oils, nuts, whole grains, and green leafy vegetables. The current Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for adults is 15mg per day.

The association of vitamins and other elements in our diet will maximize benefits and prevent diseases. Ultimately, beauty is health.

Be good, be healthy!

Vanessa

Vitamin A for your complete health

Funny case happened when I was still a Pharmacy student:
I brought home a gel with high concentrations of Tretinoin for topical use - I've kept it in my mother's refrigerator and have completely forgotten about it.
I suddenly noticed that my mother had the most incredible skin - I kept asking her what she was doing, she replied that it was her "natural beauty." Sure she is a beautiful woman, but I thought that the quality of her skin was just a lot better than usual. Like one of those moments 'I-can-read-your-mind' type, I run to the refrigerator and saw the almost empty experiment. A-ha!!!

Vitamin A is an essential, fat-soluble vitamin related to the health of our vision, skin and bone growth. Its deficiency causes night blindness, corneal drying, among other symptoms.

Vitamin A exists not as a single compound, but in several forms - such as:
1. retinol - an alcohol, the major form of Vitamin A
2. retinal - an aldehyde
3. retinoic acid - an acid
4. pro-vitamin - precursors to the vitamin A, present in plant origin as some of the members of the carotenoid family of compounds.

Vitamin A - Facts
· vitamin A is a fat-soluble compound - for this reason, the body elimination of any excesses taken in through diet is harder than with water-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin C.
· Vitamin A's excess causes symptoms, such as nausea, jaundice, irritability, vomiting, blurry vision, headaches, weakness, and altered mentality.
· Vitamin A is a natural antioxidant, protecting cells against the action of the free radicals. Free radicals are reactive by-products of normal cell activity and in excess is related to illnesses as well as the aging process.

Pro-vitamin–A carotenoids - Facts
· Carotene is responsible for the orange colour of the carrots and many other fruits and vegetables.
· Carotene is fat-soluble – fats increase the absorption of the pro-vitamin by the body
· Pro-vitamins from carotenoids will be converted by the human body to retinol, if the body is deficient of Vitamin A.
· Unlike excess vitamin A, carotene in excess is non-toxic. Although its excess is not particularly dangerous, it can lead to a yellowing of the skin – specially the keratin of hands, feet, and eyes. It is most commonly associated with consumption of an abundance of carrots.

Natural Sources
The daily requirement for vitamin A is 900 micrograms for men and 700mcg for women.
Vitamin A is easily found in foods. Some are better sources of vitamin A than others - each portion (1.75-7 oz) contains at least 0.15 mg of Vitamin A or beta carotene: butter, liver, eggs, milk, beef, broccoli, carrot, sweet potatoes, collard greens, beet, pumpkin, spinach, apple, apricots, among other sources.

Vitamin A & Derivatives - Topical use
Vitamin A is an antioxidant that will protect the skin against free radicals and reverse signs of aging by promoting the skin collagen synthesis.
Topical tretinoin / retinoic acid - commonly used in acne treatment, hair loss treatment and to remove wrinkles. It is also used to reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Side effects – topical use of Tretinoin/Retinoic acid
· Dryness of the affected skin may occur. More sensitive patients may also experience redness, scaling, itching, and burning.
· Professionals advice use in a gradual increase in the frequency and concentration, as this allows skin to adjust to its use.
· topical use increases the risk of sunburn - you should protect treated skin from exposure to the sun with a high SPF sunscreen.
· Patients who are using the tretinoin/retinoic acid formulas should avoid hair removal waxing - the use of tweezers is a better option for hair removal.
· The recommended time frame to wait for a waxing treatment varies – in general from 7 days to 3 months. Consult with your professional aesthetician and dermatologist to discuss the best hair removal options during or after topical use.

I am a super fan of the Vitamin A, especially for its antioxidant properties. I take supplements that contains vitamin A, C and E, associated with Iron and Zinc and try to follow a healthy diet.

Be good and be healthy!

Vanessa