Archive for June 14th, 2006
By: Baylor College of Medicine
Grapeseed, avocados, apricots and vanilla. They are not items on a grocery list, but ingredients for today’s popular skin care products.
They may sound replenishing, but dermatologists at Baylor College of
Medicine in Houston say natural products are not the best bet for the skin.
“So many of my patients resort to `all-natural’ remedies, in the thought that these products are better for the skin,” said Dr. Rajani Katta, an assistant professor of dermatology at BCM. “However, these natural ingredients can be a problem for sensitive skin.”
Katta, who specializes in contact dermatitis (inflammation of the skin due to contact with substances), said the most common offending agent in these botanical products is fragrance.
“Patients with sensitive skin may develop allergic reactions to fragrance ingredients,” said Katta. “Because botanical ingredients can serve as fragrances, they may lead to rashes in some patients.”
Although popular skin care lines advocate that botanical ingredients are better than artificial chemicals, Katta said patients often develop reactions to the plant extracts.
“There is nothing that says natural ingredients cannot cause skin rashes,” said Katta. “The classic example provided by dermatologists is that of poison ivy.”
When shopping for skin care products, Katta recommends that those with sensitive skin choose fragrance-free products, and use mild soap and moisturizing creams.
June 14th, 2006
By: Baylor College of Medicine
Eating on the run can be disastrous to your health, but by making healthier fast food choices you won’t have to give up your cravings completely.
“There is no such thing as a ‘bad food,’ which would include fast
foods,” said Dr. Mark Gilger, an associate professor of gastroenterology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and a pediatric gastroenterologist at Texas Children’s Hospital. “Eating too much of a fast food, for example french fries, is certainly not recommended. It’s the quantity consumed, not the food itself.”
Fast food meals tend to be high in fat, salt and calories and low in dietary fiber. These dietary factors may lead to health problems if you eat fast foods too often, he said.
“The obesity epidemic is serious business, as we are now seeing the complications of obesity in increasing numbers in children,” Gilger said. “The risks of obesity are becoming more and more clear. There’s diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease and the list goes on and on.”
In recent years, fast food restaurants have responded to the growing number of obese children and adults by providing healthier food choices on their menus. To help select healthier fast food options, ask for a nutrition fact sheet from the restaurant. Grilled chicken sandwiches are one of the healthiest options. It is recommended to skip the mayonnaise, any special sauce and cheese. Also, ask if a wheat bun can be substituted for white bread and a fruit cup instead of fries. A baked potato can also be a healthier alternative to french fries if you go easy on high fat toppings like sour cream, butter, bacon bits and cheese.
The key, though, is portion control, which means sticking to the ‘kid’s meal’ and not choosing meals with the words “double,” “ultimate” or “monster.” Eating too much of any food is where the problem lies, Gilger said.
Parents can teach their children how to make healthy food choices by setting a good example.
“If mom and dad eat what they want when they want, and in portions more than necessary, it’s very likely that their children will model that behavior,” Gilger said.
Moderation in fast food consumption and making nutritious choices, whether dining at home or in a restaurant, are the key elements for developing a healthy lifestyle and good eating habits, he said.
June 14th, 2006
By: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
As the weather grows warmer, New Englanders’ thoughts turn to enjoying the sunshine and outdoor activities.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute physicians and nurses are encouraging
people when they are outside, whether they are spending a day at the beach or a few hours working in their yard, to be aware of the dangers of overexposure to the sun and to practice sun safety.
Prevention and early detection are critical to reducing the dangers of skin cancer and melanoma. “Warm weather is a great motivator for people to get outside and reap the health benefits of being more active,” explained Stephen Hodi, MD, clinical director of the Melanoma Program at Dana-Farber. “At the same time, it is important that people protect themselves from the sun and make themselves aware of the signs and symptoms of skin cancer and melanoma to greatly reduce their risk of developing these preventable but dangerous diseases.”
To stay sun safe, remember to think about:
• Applying a sun block with a rating of SPF 15 or higher
• Reapplying sun block every two hours, and immediately after swimming or heavy perspiration
• Providing additional protection by wearing a broad rimmed hat, sunglasses, long-sleeved shirts and pants
• Avoiding excessive exposure to the sun, especially during the peak hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Because sunscreen contains ingredients that lose potency over time, bottles that have been sitting on the shelf for more than a year may not provide adequate protection. “People need to remember to look at the expiration date on their bottle of sun block,” explained Hodi. “In general, we recommend that you change your bottle of sun block yearly.”
According to the American Cancer Society, more than an estimated one million Americans will be diagnosed with basal cell or squamous cell cancers this year, and more than 62,000 will be diagnosed with the most serious form of skin cancer-melanoma. More than 10,500 deaths in the United States this year will be due to a form of skin cancer.
Melanoma can be hereditary; people with family members who have had melanoma are at a higher risk for melanoma. People who have had melanoma and moles are at greater risk of developing the disease. Excessive sun exposure and sunburns increase a person’s risk of developing not only melanoma but other skin cancers as well.
Skin cancers present a range of symptoms. Melanoma symptoms include changes on the skin, including new spots or moles or existing spots or moles that change in shape, size and color. Basal cell carcinomas usually appear as flat, firm, pale areas or as small, raised, pink or red waxy areas. Squamous cell cancer may appear as lumps with rough surfaces or as flat, red patches that grow slowly.
Recognizing changes on the skin is key for early detection and treatment of skin cancers. The American Cancer Society recommends using the ABCD rule to help determine when a skin or mole change should be seen by a physician:
• for asymmetry: one half is differently shaped than the other
• for border irregularity: jagged or blurred edges
• for color: the pigmentation may not be consistent
• for diameter: moles greater than six millimeters (the size of a pencil eraser)
People who experience any of these symptoms should notify their physician immediately. Some skin cancers can be removed by excising the affected areas; malignant melanoma may involve removing the affected area, removing lymph nodes near the area and may also include radiation therapy.
For more information about skin cancer, please visit www.dana-farber.org/skin-cancer
June 14th, 2006
By: Mayo Clinic
Should women still take calcium supplements to help prevent osteoporosis? Yes, according to the June issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter.
Mayo Clinic doctors continue to recommend that women consume
adequate daily amounts of calcium and vitamin D through diet, supplements, or both, even though recent findings from a large research trial question whether calcium and vitamin D alone can adequately protect women’s bones. The Women’s Health Initiative study found that women taking calcium may still be at risk of fracture if they have other factors that compromise bone health.
Bone thinning due to osteoporosis affects 8 million women and 2 million men in America. People often don’t know they have the disease until a bone breaks.
Osteoporosis risk factors include:
Family history - Your risk increases if your parents or siblings have had factures due to bone thinning.
Body type - Thin or small-framed people — those who weigh under 129 pounds much of their adult life — are at higher risk.
Taking certain medications - Long-term use of corticosteroid drugs, some antiseizure medications and blood thinners can adversely affect bone health.
Lifestyle factors - Tobacco use, alcohol use, an inactive lifestyle, and low calcium and vitamin D intake can increase risk of osteoporosis.
Other medical conditions - A dysfunctional thyroid or parathyroid glands, inflammatory types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, or Type 1 diabetes may contribute to bone loss.
Although supplements alone may not adequately protect against osteoporosis, calcium is still an important part of a healthy diet.
As a general rule, daily intake should be 1,500 milligrams of elemental calcium and at least 400 international units (IU) of vitamin D up to age 75, then increasing vitamin D to 600 IU after that. In addition, regular weight-bearing exercises are important to bone health.
Discuss your risk factors and treatment options with your doctor. Several good treatment options can address osteoporosis.
June 14th, 2006
By: Baylor College of Medicine
New laser technology may become one of the safest and most effective means to fight severe acne, said a dermatologist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
The Candela Smooth Beam Laser has been recently FDA approved for the treatment of acne.
In studies of acne on the back in volunteers, there was 98 percent improvement after four treatments.
“Patients are leaving here amazed,” said Dr. Ramsey Markus, assistant professor of dermatology at Baylor. “The laser appears to be effective with very few side effects, mainly mild redness that goes away within a few hours.”
The new technology heats the skin and shrinks oil glands, improving acne gradually during three to five treatments that are generally less than 15 minutes each. Physicians treat regions of the body that tend to develop acne, such as the face, back or shoulders.
According to clinical studies, a 60 percent improvement occurs after just one treatment. After four treatments, the majority of patients experience near complete resolution of their acne. In addition, this treatment also treats acne scars.
“It heats the skin in the area causing the collagen in the skin to remodel and generate new collagen. So over time, it will tighten the skin, smoothing out acne scars,” said Markus.
Markus’ patient, Danelle McClain, has battled acne for the past two years, as well as developed some unsightly scars that make her feel very self-conscious. She opted to have the procedure instead of taking Accutane, a common therapy for severe acne.
One week after the procedure, McClain said she was happy with the results.
“My skin complexion has been a lot smoother, so I think the effectiveness of the pore shrinking was successful,” she said. “Additionally, I haven’t seen any new breakout.”
June 14th, 2006