Sunless Tanner FAQs

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Frequently Asked Questions About Sunless Tanners Questions compiled from the website www.sunless.com. How do sunless tanners work? Sunless tanners contain dihydroxyacetone (DHA) which reacts with the amino acids in the top (or “dead”) layer of your skin. DHA combines with the amino acids to form brown-colored melaninoids. What is dihydroxyacetone (DHA)? The DHA in your sunless tanner was derived from a vegetable source, most likely sugar beets. In the 1970s the Food and Drug Administration added DHA to their list of approved cosmetic ingredients. Then, sometime in the 1980s, the cosmetic companies found a way to produce good results with DHA. Do tanning pills work? Tanning pills don’t work. Are sunless tanners safe to use during pregnancy? The debate over whether sunless tanners are safe to use during pregnancy isn't finished yet. The concern some doctors have is over whether or not the active ingredient, dihydroxyacetone or DHA, is able to penetrate the skin. The indications are that ...

Myth: Moisturizers are Bad for Acne Skin

Often, people with oily, acne-prone skin neglect their moisturizers. The truth is even acne skin needs moisture. When the skin is denied moisture, the sebaceous glands take over and become more active and productive. It is the excess oil production that contributes to more acne. Also, the dry flakey skin from lack of moisture can block the follicles and incubate more bacteria that is trapped under the surface. The use of a light moisturizer with a sunscreen is the best protection for acne skin. It provides a light veil of moisture and protects from the potential of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation which is a problem for acne skin as the blemishes heal. Additional moisture benefits, without the emollients contained in most moisturizers, can be found in aqueous product like toners and serums. Most of these will have humectant qualities (drawing moisture from the air) with the addition of antioxidants for healthier immune ...

Simple Expressions

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How many times have you said, “Oh, it was simple.” I bet you say it often. Though, was “it” – the birthday party, charity event, presentation, conversation with a loved one, etc. – truly simple? It seems the things that were created to make our lives easier and simple - BlackBerries, iPhones, iPods - actually complicate our daily lives. I admit that I multi-task constantly and it’s not simple, relaxing, or, for that matter, safe (particularly when you are driving!). Seriously, can’t we all take a breath, pause and make things simple? I recently met up with a family member I hadn’t seen in a while. She has been under a lot of stress lately and it really was beginning to show on her face and in her body language. I know from experience that a small change in her appearance could have a profound change in her own attitude. But ...

Tattoos and Piercings: Body Art Health Tips

University of Michigan doctor reveals the risks and to how to avoid them. Written by Maria White Many kids covet them, and most parents dread them. But like it or not, tattoos and body piercings are all the rage. "There's really nothing new about decorating the body," says David Rosen, MD, MPH, Teenage & Young Adult Medicine , U-M Health System. "What we have seen during the past 10 or even 20 years, though, is a marked increase in the number of people - particularly younger Americans - getting body modifying procedures such as tattoos and body piercings," he says. In fact, a recent survey of university undergraduate students revealed that more than one-half of those students had some type of body piercing and about 23 percent of the students had tattoos. But unlike other more typical forms of self-expression - makeup, clothing, hair style - body art can lead to complications that range from ...

Toxic Baby-Care Products: Truth or Fiction?

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by Paula Begoun Many parents are concerned about the issue of phthalates (a group of chemical compounds used in plastics and as fragrance stabilizers) and their alleged health effects on children. The monthly journal Pediatrics published results of a study done in Seattle that analyzed urine samples from 163 infants for the presence of phthalate metabolites. The results indicated that many common baby-care products (lotions, shampoo, powder) may be to blame. The researchers found the presence of at least one phthalate metabolite in every urine sample, while 81% of the samples had measurable amounts of more than one phthalate. Infants exposed to multiple products tended to have the highest level of phthalate metabolites in their urine, suggesting that the products may be to blame. Since phthalates are used in many fragrances (and most baby products are heavily fragranced, often more so than skin-care products aimed at adults) it was natural to assume that this ...