Displaying items by tag: DERMASCOPE Magazine

Did You Do Your Posture Exercise Today? – STEP 1

Take a look at how hours of computer hunching, slouching while cell phone texting and video-game slumping is affecting your posture. It is not just kids with backpacks or cane-carrying seniors – studies show poor posture is a major cause of back and neck pain for all ages and over time often contributes to digestive and cardiopulmonary problems. The good news: There are two easy steps people can do to strengthen posture and we are going to focus on them within the next two issues.

• Front and Back View: The two halves of your body should be the same. If your head and/or torso is off to one side, or your arms are hanging differently (one hand is lower or further from the body than the other), your posture is not symmetrical. 
• Side View: The line from your ankle should pass thru your shoulder and ear. If your head is way forward of that line, you may have a posture distortion called Forward Head Posture (FHP).
  

Key Finding in Breast Cancer Research

Researchers at Drexel University College of Medicine have discovered that a certain type of sugar found naturally in the body is elevated in breast cancer cells and is critical for cancer growth and movement. When researchers reduced and normalized the levels of this sugar, they were able to slow the growth of the cancer cells and block invasion. The findings, published in the March 1 issue of Oncogene, represent a potential new therapeutic target for treating aggressive forms of breast cancer.
Scientists have known for years that cancer cells are addicted to sugar. Compared to neighboring normal cells, cancer cells take up nearly 10 times more sugar. The cancer cells use the increased sugar levels to fuel rapid cell growth and spread. The Drexel researchers studied a particular sugar-based protein modification known as O-GlcNAc. Alterations in this modification have been linked previously to diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease, but not to cancer.
“This sugar, O-GlcNAc, is used inside cells to tag proteins and alter their function,” said lead author Mauricio J. Reginato, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Drexel University College of Medicine. “We think this is a very exciting discovery because this may be one way that cancer cells use the increased sugar to regulate key pathways that control growth and invasion.”
Reginato and his colleagues studied established cells from patients with estrogen-independent breast cancer, the most aggressive form of the disease, which does not respond well to current treatments. The researchers found that compared to normal mammary cells, all the breast cancer cells contained elevated levels of O-GlcNAc, as well as increased levels of the enzyme responsible for adding this sugar to protein.
When they reduced the levels of the O-GlcNAc enzyme, or blocked its activity with a drug, they reduced the growth of breast cancer and also blocked the invasion. In addition, by reducing the enzyme levels, they also reduced levels of a protein known as FoxM1, which is known to play a critical role in controlling cancer growth and spread.
The Drexel researchers and collaborators are now working to develop more potent chemicals to target the O-GlcNAc enzyme, a potential new therapeutic target for treating breast cancer and possibly other cancers.

Pumpkin Facial Mask Recipes

If you are looking for a way to use leftover pumpkin and you do not want to make a pie, there is an option you may not have considered, making a pumpkin facial mask. Varieties of the recipe are available for regular, oily, or dry skin – all depending on the secondary ingredients that you add to the mask. Pumpkins are rich in vitamin A and C, as well as zinc, making pumpkin a good choice for promoting healing and moisture.

General Pumpkin Facial Mask Recipe
Ingredients Needed:
• 2 cups fresh cooked pumpkin (pureed)
• 4 tbsp. unflavored yogurt
• 4 tbsp. honey
• 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Mix 2 cups pureed cooked, fresh pumpkin or canned pumpkin, 4 tbsp. unflavored yogurt, 4 tbsp. honey, and 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice to make the mask. Spread on the face and allow it to sit for about 10 minutes. Rinse off with water. This recipe is for a general facial mask, suitable for most types of skin. The finished mask has both a good taste and smells like pumpkin pie. The recipe has a high yield and leftover mask should be stored in the refrigerator.

Exfoliating Pumpkin Facial Mask Recipe
Ingredients Needed:
• 12 almonds (ground)
• 1 cup fresh pumpkin (pureed)
• ¼ cup honey
• 1/8 tsp. olive oil
Grind 12 almonds up into a fairly fine powder. Mix the ground almonds into 1 cup pureed pumpkin, either cooked fresh pumpkin or canned, 1/4 cup honey, and 1/8 tsp. olive oil. To use the mask, spread a thin layer on the face and allow it to sit for about five minutes. Rinse off with water. To store leftover mask… seal tightly in container and store in the refrigerator.
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Facts about pumpkins…

• Pumpkins contain potassium and vitamin A.
• Pumpkins are 90 percent water.
• A pumpkin is really a squash. It is a member of the Cucurbita family which includes squash and cucumbers.
• Pumpkin seeds are considered a super food for the male system.
• Pumpkin seeds are also considered a great solution to increase and re-build energy. Try eating ¼ to ½ cup daily by sprinkling on salads or soups, using in a trail mix, or as a snack by itself.
• Pumpkin seeds when ingested help maintain prostate health and are a great zinc supplement.
• Native Americans used pumpkin seeds for food and medicine.
• Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites.
• Pumpkins are a fruit and their flowers are edible.

We may often take the humble pumpkin for granted, but did you know that autumn’s generous gift is a real miracle for our skin? It is an excellent source of antioxidants, vitamins, and essential elements the skin needs. Pumpkin is not just for carving and eating - it makes for a wonderful facial or body mask! All parts of the pumpkin, including seeds, can be used in creating amazing skin care products. Pumpkin masks and peels are always a popular choice for many aestheticians, because of their amazing exfoliating properties and creamy pleasant texture. It is no wonder that November’s holiday treatments always include this deliciously fragrant gourd. Enzymes and alpha-hydroxy acids in pumpkin exfoliate dead skin cells while promoting skin repair and cell-turnover. A pumpkin mask or peel cleanses, conditions, and moisturizes while helping to firm the skin.
From a nutritional standpoint, just an ounce of pumpkin seeds contain 4.2 mg iron, which helps fight lead-poisoning, and as little as a half cup of canned pumpkin is rich in potassium, vitamins C, B1, B2, B5, E, and has 953mg of vitamin A! That vitamin A comes in the form of immune-boosting beta carotene. The name beta-carotene is derived from the Latin name for carrot, and it gives yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, such as pumpkin, their rich hues. Like all other carotenoids, beta-carotene in pumpkin is an antioxidant which protects the body from damaging molecules called free radicals.
Dermatologists use beta-carotene for its ability to increase cell turn-over and regeneration in the outer layers of the skin, making it effective for diseases and skin conditions related to epithelium damage. Research suggests that taking high doses of beta-carotene internally may decrease sun-sensitivity. People with erythropoietic protoporphyria, a rare genetic condition that causes painful sun sensitivity as well as liver problems, are often treated with beta-carotene to reduce sun sensitivity. A combination of antioxidants may help protect the skin against the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Long-term supplementation with beta-carotene may reduce UV induced skin redness, and appears to slightly reduce the risk of sunburn in individuals who are sensitive to sun exposure.
As you see, pumpkin is an excellent choice for all skin types. It nourishes the skin, provides a non-abrasive exfoliation, and makes skin baby-smooth. So why not add a pumpkin mask to your treatment menu today? Your clients will love you for it!

Summer Makeup Tips

While the number one trend for summer makeup is always “less is more,” every beauty junkie wants to know the colors and trends that are new for 2010. Makeup artist Christopher Drummond has his predictions in for summer makeup:

• Shimmer: The key is to pick an eye shadow that is good quality with finely milled mica. This means it will illuminate the skin and look sophisticated and beautiful without looking like glitter.
• Coral Lips: The right coral looks good on every woman, and is complimentary on all skin tones.
• Eyelashes: Long, lush lashes is one of the biggest trends for summer.
  Option 1: Extensions, which last for about a month, but take maintenance.
  Option 2: Temporary individual lashes, which are very natural looking, can last a day or two, and look great.
  Option 3: Layer a non-clumping mascara. Use three layers and focus on the outer corner of the eyes
• Bronzer/nude skin: Beautiful looking skin is always in. The key to faking flawless skin in summer is to dust a light-colored bronzer all over the face, then apply a highlighter on the cheeks
• Blush: Choose a blush with some orange and/or yellow.
• Liner on top of eyes only: A pretty, youthful, fresh look that works on anyone. Heavy mascara and liner on the top and little to no product on the bottom. This helps to open up the eyes and make you look more awake.