According to the American Epilepsy Outreach Foundation, it is important to remember the 4Cs of seizure safety:

*Calm – Remain calm. A seizure is usually overwithin seconds or a few minutes and the person having a seizure is not in pain.
*Clear – You can help a person having a seizure by clearing a space around them and moving any objects that might be harmful. Only move the person if they are in a dangerous place such as water, traffic, or at the top of the stairs. Never
put anything in the mouth of someone having a seizure.
*Comfort – You cannot stop a seizure, however, you can provide comfort to the person having a seizure. If possible, remove glasses, a purse or backpack. Help them lie down on their side and cushion their head. After the seizure is over, calmly let the person know what has happened and where they are.
*Call – Call 911 if the seizure lasts more than five minutes or is immediately followed by another seizure. Also call for emergency assistance if the person is injured, having trouble breathing, pregnant, or having a seizure for the first time.

You can also educate yourself about what a seizure is and what causes them, how to avoid and predict a seizure, and how to ensure safety when one occurs.

What is a Seizure?
A seizure is a sudden, abnormal, electrical impulse that occurs in the brain. There are different types of seizures depending on which area of the brain is involved. A seizure may cause twitching or convulsions of the body and changes in awareness. Sometimes there is a warning, or aura, before the actual seizure. Symptoms of an aura can include unusual smells, strange body sensations, headaches or mood changes.

Taking Control
Recognize Triggers: While a seizure can occur at any time without a particular cause, some activities and environmental situations can provoke seizures in brain tumor patients. These “activities” are known as triggers. Some examples of triggers include:

1) Stress
2) Bright/Flashing lights
3) Lack of sleep
4) Low medication levels
5) Intracranial pressure from the tumor or tumor re-growth
6) Scar tissue after having surgery
7) Alcohol
8)  Missing meals

Keep a journal: Track daily activities, stress levels, food intake, hours of sleep, and when the seizures occur in a journal. By reviewing your journal, you may be able to identify patterns of behavior or circumstances that lead to a seizure and make lifestyle changes that can help you manage occurrences.

Relaxation techniques: In addition to tracking triggers in a journal and making lifestyle modifications, practicing relaxation techniques can also be extremely helpful. Deep breathing exercises, guided imagery, meditation and nature walks can all play a crucial role in keeping you relaxed and keeping your seizures to a minimum. To learn more about guided imagery and relaxation techniques, visit the American Brain Tumor Web site at:
http://hope.abta.org/site/R?i=b2vQfKUZUOJ7s40AIwO7tA..

Prescription medicine: The most common treatment for controlling seizures is a class of medication called antiepileptic drugs (AED’s). It is important that AED’s be taken as prescribed. If you miss a dose, do not double up. Instead, continue your regular schedule and notify your physician or healthcare provider as soon as possible. It is also essential to maintain a proper level of medication in your blood in order to control seizure activity. Blood tests will be done routinely to monitor status.

Seizures and Safety
Seizures can occur at anytime. If you regularly experience auras, you should take steps to protect yourself from injury or harm. For example, if you are eating, remove the food from your mouth so you will not choke. If you are standing or walking, stop and sit down. Also, leave the shower, tub or pool.

Some individuals use service dogs that are able to detect an approaching seizure and can then guide their owner to safety. For more information on service dogs, visit the Delta Society’s Web site at: www.deltasociety.org

The American Brain Tumor Association also offers a handy list of first
aid tips. “First Aid Wall Clings” and Emergency Alert Wallet cards can be obtained by calling the ABTA at 800-886-2282, or sending an e-mail to: info@abta.org.

Seizures and Driving
Driving plays a very important role in our lives, and it can be difficult to lose this privilege, even temporarily. Once you are diagnosed with a brain tumor, ask your doctor if you should be driving. The laws and guidelines in this area vary by state, but in general, your doctor will take into consideration both public and personal risk when he/she responds. Your state’s department of motor vehicles can also provide you with information specific to the driving laws in your state, including information and rehabilitation programs that provide driving instruction and testing for drivers impaired by a medical condition, and the forms your doctor may need to complete if you are instructed to stop driving, but receive approval to drive
again.

The Epilepsy Foundation offers a database of state driving rules, suggestions for alternative forms of transportation, and safety tips. Access these resources at
http://hope.abta.org/site/R?i=lOmPwKTQgKJa0JyyoBo-1Q.. .

Transportation Assistance
If you are unable to drive, public transportation, family, friends, volunteers and local services may be an alternative. If you need help accessing resources contact a social worker at your local hospital or ABTA at 800-886-2282 or send an e-mail to: socialwork@abta.org.

References:
American Epilepsy Outreach Foundation
www.epilepsyoutreach.org

Epilepsy Foundation
www.epilepsyfoundation.org

Becoming more educated about seizures helps to contribute to a sense of independence which can lead to an overall better quality of life.

Researchers at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute have discovered the switch responsible for this grow-or-go behavior.

Their study shows that a molecule called miR-451 coordinates the change, and that the change is accompanied by slower cell proliferation and an increase in cell migration.
This behavior was closely linked to the cancer’s ability to invade and spread. For this reason the molecule might serve as a biomarker to predict how long patients with the brain tumor glioblastoma multiforme will survive and may serve as a target to develop drugs to fight these tumors.
The researchers found that glioblastoma cells shift from their typical means of metabolizing glucose – a sugar brought by the bloodstream and usually used for energy – to an alternate means that consumes resources within the cell.
The findings are published in the March 12 issue of the journal Molecular Cell.
“Our study reveals how brain tumor cells adapt to their surroundings and survive conditions that might fatally starve them of energy,” says co-author Dr. E. Antonio Chiocca, professor and chair of Neurological Surgery at Ohio State. “We have discovered that glioblastoma cells use miR451 to sense the availability of a nutrient – glucose.

“Levels of miR-451 directly shut down the engine of the tumor cell if there in no glucose or rev it up if there is lots of glucose. This important insight suggests that this molecule might be useful as a biomarker to predict a glioblastoma patient’s prognosis, and that it might be used as a target to develop drugs to fight these tumors.”

About 10,000 new cases of glioblastoma multiforme occur annually in the United States. The tumors are highly invasive, which makes them difficult to remove surgically, and respond poorly to radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Average survival is 14 months after diagnosis.
MiR-451 belongs to a class of molecules called microRNA, which play a key role in regulating the levels of proteins that cells make. Changes in levels of these molecules are a feature of many cancers, the researchers say.
“The change in miR-451 expression enabled the cells to survive periods of stress caused by low glucose, and it causes them to move, perhaps enabling them to find a better glucose supply,” says principal investigator Sean Lawler, assistant professor of neurological surgery.
“The migration of cancer cells from the primary tumor, either as single cells or as chains of cells, into the surrounding brain is a real problem with these tumors. By targeting miR-451, we might limit the tumor’s spread and extend a patient’s life.”
For this study, Lawler, Chiocca, Jakub Godlewski, the postdoctoral fellow who was the first author of the study, and their colleagues first compared microRNA levels in migrating and nonmigrating human glioblastoma multiforme cells. The analysis suggested an important role for miR-451.
Experiments with living cells showed that high levels of glucose correlated with high levels of the molecule, and that this promotes a high rate of tumor-cell proliferation. Low glucose levels, on the other hand, slowed cell proliferation and increased cell migration.
Furthermore, when the researchers boosted levels of the molecule in migrating cells, it slowed migration 60 percent, and, after 72 hours, nearly doubled the rate of cell proliferation compared with controls.
Most exciting, when they forced an increase in miR-451 levels, the cells quickly died, suggesting a possible role in therapy.

Analyses of patient tumors showed that three of five had elevated levels of the molecule. Finally, the researchers compared the survival in 16 patients with high miR-451 and 23 patients with low levels. Those with high levels of the molecule had an average survival of about 280 days while those with low levels lived an average of about 480 days.
“This suggests that molecule may be a useful prognostic marker,” Chiocca says.

Funding from the Esther L. Dardinger Endowment for Neurooncology and Neurosciences, the American Brain Tumor Association, and The Jeffrey Thomas Hayden Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship supported this research.

http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/Cancer_Issues_660/Brain_Tumor_s_Go_or_Grow_Switch.shtml

I recently starting taking Purity12 Rain Juice.    Drinking this juice is like powering up my body with a strong nutritional gift.  Packed with antioxidants, I know I’m supporting my body with healthy nutritional support to get me through a busy day.  I still make sure I eat my five fruits and veggies each day, but Purity12 Rain juice gives me the added boost of more fruits than I could take in one day such as  acai, pomegranate, blueberry, raspberry and much more.  I have a level of energy and vitality that keeps me moving forward.

I’ve often wondered why we seem to care more about the quality of the fuel we use to get the best performance from our cars, and less about the quality of nutritional “fuel” we eat to get the best performance from our  bodies, our “human engine”!

Most of us wouldn’t dream of pumping gas into our valuable cars with anything less than the manufacturer recommended fuel octane level.  Some pump a higher level to obtain even better engine performance.   Car handbooks warn us that we risk inflicting serious damage to the engine if we select the wrong type of fuel.  My vehicle handbook warns me that I risk losing the warranty coverage if I fail to properly maintain my vehicle according to the specified maintenance requirements.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a human handbook that came with all the specific general maintenance tasks we need to do to ensure our own “engines” are in good running order and free from malfunctions?  Plus tips on how we can achieve even better than expected performance results!

I recently received a note from my car dealership reminding me it was time for my car to receive it’s  30,000 mile service.  It’s a high performance vehicle and needs to be well maintained.  If not, I risk expensive repairs. If I neglect to take care of the car there could even be financial penalties for failing to respect the terms of the lease agreement.

I wonder why I don’t receive this same type of reminder from my healthcare provider.  A friendly, customer service letter to let me know I was due for my own “service check” and to make sure I am being “well maintained”.     After all, the penalties for ignoring my own health are a lot more significant than just financial.  We only have to tune in to the latest debate on health care reform to understand the larger problems, but closer to home…it’s my life and I want to live it “penalty free” for as long as possible.

On my survival journey with brain cancer, I’m often asked, how important is your nutrition?  My response; “Oh, it’s about as important as my desire to live a long life!”

The health of my body IS a lot more important than the performance of my car, yet recently I did  take my car in for its routine service without hesitation and cancelled my time at the gym because I didn’t have enough time to accomplish both tasks. I depend on my car and it was important to get this done.   To make things worse, while waiting for my car, I became hungry so I ate snack food from the waiting room vending machine!  A short time later I had a raging headache and an upset stomach as I drove my perfectly healthy car home!

I know this type of situation happens to many people at some point.  We get so busy in our lives that we get off track and forget what our priorities are.  Yes, I depend on my car, but I depend a lot more on my health!  My health & wellness is a priority and much more important to me than my car, but I didn’t act that way.  My “maintenance” checks with my doctors and my time at the gym are essential.  Good nutrition and vitamins provide the fuel to help me get up and go everyday.  Exercise keeps me energized and well maintained.   From this small example I learned the importance of setting up a routine and remaining true to my own health priorities when I realize a busy life has taken over.

So quite literally here are five things I wrote down to conduct my own routine “service check “on my human engine.

1. Recognize the healthy value of natural/organic food – eat food I recognize (not processed, convenience, packaged food) carry around healthy snacks just in case good food isn’t available.
2. Appreciate the power of my immune system – support my immune system everyday with Vitamin supplements and antioxidants such as those contained in Purity 12.
3. Invigorate my mind and body with physical activity – Run, walk, bike, lift weights, just move my body at a faster pace for at least 45 minutes everyday.
4. Consistency:  Don’t miss appointments for any reason –   Medical, Dental, Holistic
5. Take a break:  Rest, read & relax, socialize and play

Write them down, and put them in your car’s glove compartment.  One last tip…use your car’s maintenance schedule as a reminder to conduct your personal service check first.

Many times I felt that I was being processed, moved from one professional to another for tests and procedures I didn’t always understand.  So many times I had to repeat the same information about my condition over and over again.  There were moments when I couldn’t help but feel frustrated, angry, and alone.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.  Fighting cancer today is very much like fighting a war. You need a highly trained, motivated attack team to defeat your enemy.   Being angry or frustrated with me and others wasn’t going to kill my tumor; I was going to need a strong and talented team of people on my side to help me accomplish that objective. 

 Who should be on the team?

• The Medical Specialists

Treating cancer is very much a team effort that emphasizes total care. There will be a wide range of medical specialists, therapists, technicians and others who will become involved in your treatment and rehabilitation.  Choosing  the right Doctor from the very beginning is important.  Try to meet with at least three who specialize in your form of cancer and evaluate their experience and success rate in treating similar cases to yours.  Consider their  “beside manner”, their availability,  responsiveness and interest in your questions.   At the end of the day, you have to have complete confidence in your medical team.  Your life will be in their hands so you should be very selective.  Even though time is of the essence, don’t be pressured into anything that doesn’t feel or sound right to you. Take some time to think everything through, use the internet to research the information you are given and share your thoughts and concerns with others.

For me, selecting my medical team was based on who I felt understood me the best and were helping me to weigh the pro’s and con’s of all the treatment options.  For example, surgery could remove some of the tumor, but not all of it.  It offered no assurances that my life would be extended and included significant risks of losing the ability to see, walk or talk.  I was used to living a very active life.   Maintaining my quality of life was very important to me and I wanted that to continue for as long as possible.  I didn’t want to die, but I didn’t want to risk irreversible brain damage that would render me helpless for what remaining time I had left. I wanted to be very aggressive with treatment, but I was choosing quality of life over lifespan.  So it was important to me that my medical team was 100% on board with that decision.

• The Home Team:

Your caregivers at home will be essential to your battle plan. Your family want and need to be included in your care.  You may also be surprised that people you don’t know very well and even complete strangers are willing to rally behind you and provide care and support in ways you didn’t expect.  The power of the human heart and the willingness to give love and support to others in need is an endearing human quality that never ceases to amaze me. 

Communicate your needs to your caregivers and allow them to step in and assume responsibility for the things that you now find challenging and tiring.  You need to conserve your energy, so let others do some ‘heavy lifting” for you whenever you can.

In my case I was blessed to have a small but powerful army of caregivers comprised of neighbors, family, friends and even strangers who came together to take care of absolutely everything! I was completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support, care and concern for me and my children.  Despite my fears during those first few months of treatment, it was, and still is, one of the most moving and uplifting times of my life.

Tap into other support groups, there are a few listed on my blog site.  One group I joined immediately was The Livestrong Foundation.  Lance Armstrong’s story inspired me to participate in their Livestrong 5k Run, Walk or Bike challenge just two months after completing radiation therapy. Groups like Livestrong have many resources you can add to your battle plan.  Church and community organizations also provide wonderful, caring support to those who are sick and in need of assistance.  My own church family stepped in to lend support and brought me closer to people I barely knew and whom I still remain close to today.

What I discovered in this whole process was that I was wrong to assume I was in this fight alone.  I did have people ready and willing to help, all I had to do was let them know I wanted and needed them to be on my team.   To a woman who had been used to being strong and self-reliant this wasn’t easy.   The important lesson for me was not to be afraid to communicate with others and to share my vulnerability.   I learned that when someone offers help it’s an expression of their love and concern for you.  Accept their love and let them help you.  It’s a rewarding and gratifying experience for everyone and a formidable force with which to fight cancer.

There are two ways that you can help with Haiti relief today:

1. Give a Haiti relief charity gift to a Facebook friend.
When you give a charity gift on Facebook, you are buying a specific item needed on the ground in Haiti. We have several new gifts in the Facebook Charity Gift Shop, including:

• Water for Haiti from Oxfam
• Light a Candle for Haiti from UNICEF
• Food for Haiti from CARE
• Shelter for Haiti from the American Red Cross
• Survival Kit from World Vision

Visit the Facebook Charity Gift Shop to see all the Haiti relief Gifts.

2. Join and donate to a cause.
Many nonprofits have started fundraising projects, with funds specifically for Haiti relief, such as:

• Doctors Without Borders
• Friends of the World Food Program
• International Rescue Committee

Thank you for donating at this important time to those who need it most.

During the first few days after receiving my diagnosis of a brain tumor a good friend visited me in the hospital bearing a gift.   He knew know how much I loved to read and his gift was the book “It’s not about the Bike” By Lance Armstrong.   I had been feeling quite depressed and my mind was certainly full of fear about my health.   To take my mind off my own sad circumstances, I plunged into the book and devoured each chapter. The more I read, the more I became inspired by this remarkable man.  By the time I finished the book, I knew that I had to turn my thinking around and adopt a similar, positive, relentless attitude towards my own battle with cancer.

 Working in a competitive business world, I was used to leading teams of people and providing “pep talks” to build morale and motivation.  But fighting off a brain tumor was going to require me to dig a lot deeper into the power of “self-talk”.

 As we experience the ups and downs of life, we talk to ourselves about the things that happen to us; we constantly feed our minds with a variety of explanations for these good or bad events.   The explanations can be positive and empowering or conversely, create anger, feed our frustration, or lead us to depression and despair.  I had felt myself falling into a state of despair over my diagnosis and my fear of it, I had been feeling sorry for myself, but after reading this book I knew my “self- talk” was going change.

 “If life gives you lemons, then learn how to make lemonade!”

I don’t know who coined this phrase, but I’ve always liked it.  So I used it to transform my brain tumor into a lemon.  I know it sounds a little too simple, but usually the most effect things are simple.  I’m a very visual person and at that time I didn’t know what my brain tumor looked like.  The visual of a lemon was perfect because I could literally see myself squeezing all the juice out of this lemon and that felt empowering!  I adopted this phrase as my own personal metaphor.  From that point on, I always referred to my Tumor as my Lemon!  Every time I thought about it in that context, I instantly felt better. My sense of humor returned as I shared these thoughts with my family and friends.  I felt powerful and in control again.  A strong sense of optimism and hope filled my mind and I remember my body feeling “awake” stronger and re-vitalized as I continued this self talk about “my lemon!”    I didn’t realize it then but “My body was speaking my mind!”

 What I learned is if you can change the way you think and talk to yourself, you give yourself the opportunity to improve your physical and emotional well-being. Your body responds in positive ways.  I think most health & wellness experts would concur. The mind does have healing power, but you have to feed your mind with positive “self-talk”.

Continuous, automatic chatter in our heads never stops and sometimes we are not even aware of how these thoughts can shape our mood.  Fighting Brain Cancer has taught me how to quickly recognize these thoughts and how specific negative thoughts lead to different types of bad moods. For example:

• Thoughts of loss like, “I’ve lost everything—my job, my home, or my friends” is often followed by sadness or depression.
• Thoughts of unfulfilled expectations such as, “Why didn’t I get that job?” can lead to frustration, anger and stress
• Thoughts of possible danger or threat such as, “What if I cannot recover from this illness?” lead to anxiety and worry.

 Train yourself to be on guard.  Negative self-talk is destructive and unhealthy.  If you are constantly saying to yourself, “I’m not going to recover from this,” or “I won’t ever get to achieve that,” you probably won’t.  That’s because learning something new to help you turn things around doesn’t fit with what you are telling yourself and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.  You become a prisoner of your own beliefs

For a short time I was trapped in my own prison of negative thoughts, fear and worry about my health.  During those first few days after the diagnosis, not knowing if I was going to live or die, my self talk was an endless chatter of doom and gloom.  Instinctively, as an optimist, I knew that being trapped in these thoughts was not going to help me fight cancer.  With a little help from the gift of Armstrong’s book, I realized that I could break down the walls of my own prison.

HOW?

I put on the rose-colored glasses

I am and always have been a “glass is half full” type of person; an optimist, most of the time.  Usually I do believe I have the ability to influence events towards a positive outcome.  This may well be a distorted notion that’s not grounded in any kind of reality, it’s simply my own “self talk”;  My internal coach telling me positive stories about what I’m capable of.  Maybe a particular notion is much greater than reality (I can cure cancer), but our self-talk is usually not true anyway.  Through self talk we tell ourselves inaccurate stories, positive and negative and then believe these stories as though they were true. So if you’re going to distort reality, why not distort it positively?  It’s healthier to be an optimist.

What makes an optimist?

Optimists seek out, remember, and expect positive experiences. Optimists learn to:

• Be selective, remembering mainly the positive events in the past.
• Focus on the present. Live in the moment.
• Can Do! See the future in terms of what can be done instead of what can’t.
• View difficulties as challenges—problems to be solved.
• Believe that their actions make a significant difference and have a positive impact on others or events.
• See the possibilities that come with change

Optimistic thinking doesn’t mean misfortunes don’t happen or you never have a negative thought. Even optimists don’t feel great all the time, I am certainly an example of that.  No one enjoys losses and setbacks, but you don’t have to be demolished by them either. I continue to catch myself with negative thoughts, but they don’t dominate my thinking or control it for very long. 

Optimistic, healthy thinking is a behavioral trait that can be learned with practice.  It helps you cope better with whatever life throws at you and helps you recover faster too.   I’m an optimist and as such, I will defeat my cancer.  It’s been four years since I first heard the words “you have a brain tumor” and I know today my body is still speaking its mind.

Karin Somogyi

Newswise — Cosmeceuticals seem to be the fabled genie in the bottle ” able to grant almost any wish that you may have for your skin, whether you want it to be smoother, more radiant or younger-looking. In a market that gives consumers more and more choices, how can you decide whether the ingredients in that bottle are right for you?

Speaking today at the 65th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, dermatologist Diane S. Berson, MD, FAAD, assistant professor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and assistant attending dermatologist at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital, discussed how consumers can find the right ingredients for their specific needs.

“Cosmeceuticals are cosmetics that may have pharmaceutical or drug-like properties,” Dr. Berson said. “Like cosmetics, cosmeceuticals are applied just to the surface of the skin, but instead of only covering up a problem, they may be able to help fix it. They are commonly found in such products as eye creams, moisturizers, cleansers and foundations.”

Antioxidants
The skin is constantly exposed to harmful environmental forces such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation, air pollutants, heat and cold. Besides these external factors, the skin also has to cope with internal forces such as the aging process and free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that injure the skin’s cells, causing inflammation, increasing sun damage and contributing to the development of skin cancer. Antioxidants can reduce the harmful effects of free radicals and protect the skin from additional stress and damage.

Common examples of antioxidants include vitamins A, B, C and E, co-enzyme Q10 (ubiquinone), idebenone, polyphenols and flavonoids such as green tea and soy extracts, and kinetin, a synthetic hormone derived from plants.

“Products that contain antioxidants can be particularly beneficial for people who are concerned about fine lines and wrinkles,” Dr. Berson said. “To get the best results, consumers should look for a product that combines antioxidants.”

Peptides
Peptides are small proteins that stimulate the production of collagen and thicken the skin. “They can be helpful for someone who wants to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” Dr. Berson said.

Growth Factors
Growth factors are compounds that act as chemical messengers between cells and play a role in cell division, new cell and blood vessel growth, and the production and distribution of collagen and elastin.

“Growth factors have been used extensively for treating wounds,” Dr. Berson said. “Research has shown that they can improve elasticity, so these ingredients can be beneficial for someone who wants to firm loose skin.”

Anti-Inflammatories/Botanicals
There are a variety of botanical, or plant-based, ingredients that have anti-inflammatory properties. Among these are licoclalcone A (licorice extract), lycopene, pycnogenol (pine bark extract), silymarin (milk thistle), quercetin, allantoin (comfrey root), chamomile and aloe vera. All reduce inflammation, while some, like lycopene, also have antioxidant properties and may help prevent the development of skin cancer.

“Botanicals are helpful for people with rosacea, sensitive skin or sun damage since they can reduce redness and swelling,” said Dr. Berson. “Some, such as lycopene, also offer the benefits of antioxidants without the drawbacks of irritation.”

Hydroxy Acids
While the benefits of alpha and beta hydroxy acids have long been known, poly hydroxy acids (PHAs) are the next generation of hydroxy acids. The significant difference between PHAs and the older ingredients is that their acids have larger molecular structures, which allows them to penetrate the skin more slowly, decreasing sensitivity and discomfort without hampering effectiveness.

“If you have dull, rough skin, PHAs can make the skin brighter and smoother,” Dr. Berson said. “They also help draw moisture into the skin, which can minimize dryness and the look of fine lines and wrinkles.”

Beyond the Hype
Although cosmetics and cosmeceuticals are tested for safety, testing to determine whether beneficial ingredients actually live up to a manufacturer’s claims is not mandatory. In general, vitamins, herbs, oils, and botanical extracts may be used in cosmeceuticals, but the manufacturer may not claim that these products penetrate beyond the skin’s surface layers or that they have druglike or therapeutic effects. For cosmetic labels, all ingredients are listed together and the active ingredients are not noted.

“When considering a cosmeceutical product, it’s important to read the label and determine what’s in the product,” Dr. Berson said. “Look for products that reference clinical trials or show actual before and after photos. Also, don’t be fooled into thinking that a more expensive product from a high-end department store will be better than a cheaper one from the drug store.”

Dr. Berson cautioned that some cosmeceuticals make claims that they do not back up with clinical trials. “No cream or lotion can do what a prescription medication or dermatological procedures like botulinim toxin, fillers or laser/light treatments can,” Dr. Berson said. “Cosmeceuticals can be combined with dermatological treatments, but they do not replace them. If you have concerns about your skin’s appearance and are not sure what to use, it’s best to consult a dermatologist before purchasing a cosmeceutical.”

Finding the right skin care routine starts with understanding the unique needs of your skin type. For example, people with dry skin can benefit from applying moisturizer several times a day; whereas, those with oily skin might need to apply a lightweight moisturizer only once a day, if at all. Customization is key, and dermatologists can help people of all ages and skin types select products based on their individual skin care needs.

Speaking today at the American Academy of Dermatology’s SKIN academy (Academy), Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist in private practice in Danville, Calif., discussed the importance of an individualized approach to good skin care and offered basic tips for the most common skin types.

“No matter what your skin type, using daily moisturizer and practicing year-round sun protection are vital to maintaining healthy, glowing skin,” said Dr. Badreshia-Bansal. “That’s because with adequate hydration and use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen, the skin has the advantage of protecting itself from free radicals and harmful ultraviolet radiation that cause skin damage, discoloration, premature wrinkles and even skin cancer. Over time, a careful and consistent skin care routine with products designed for specific skin types can gradually improve the overall health and appearance of the skin.”

Combination Skin Tips
For many people, their skin has areas that are dry and oily, which is classified as combination skin. With this skin type, the forehead, nose or chin might be oily, but the cheeks could be dry. For combination skin, Dr. Badreshia-Bansal recommends using a mild cleanser that minimizes sebum removal. In addition, a medium-weight lotion with broad-spectrum sunscreen containing many different sunscreen ingredients is beneficial.

“To improve skin texture, prevent fine lines and wrinkles, and help even skin color – especially to help lighten dark spots – an over-the-counter retinol cream or a prescription tretinoin cream can be used during the evening skin care regimen to maintain skin health and prevent future damage,” said Dr. Badreshia-Bansal. “However, when beginning use of tretinoin, the strength should be gradually increased due to its potential to irritate the skin, followed by vigilant use of a moisturizer to help offset any dryness or peeling.”

Dry Skin Tips
For dry skin, Dr. Badreshia-Bansal recommends washing the face twice a day with a gentle cleanser or creamy wash with mild detergent. She suggests applying a moisturizer with sunscreen once a day right after cleansing while the skin is still damp, as this can help seal in moisture.

“If the skin begins to feel tight, reapplying moisturizer midday will help to improve skin hydration,” said Dr. Badreshia-Bansal. “A sunscreen-containing moisturizer in a smoothing cream formulation that contains antioxidants, plus dimethicone, grape seed oil or petrolatum, which prevent water loss from the skin, also is helpful.”

In some cases where the skin is very dry, Dr. Badreshia-Bansal noted that cleansing the face at night – when it is the dirtiest – may be the only time necessary to wash the face to prevent stripping the skin of its natural oils. If so, she advised rinsing the face with cool water in the morning to help maintain natural oils.

When exfoliating flaky skin, Dr. Badreshia-Bansal suggested that exfoliating once a week is sufficient. Since dry skin can be sensitive, gentle retinols should be applied sparingly to start – such as every other night – along with a moisturizing cream to help even skin tone, texture and color while continuing to hydrate the skin.

Oily/Acne Prone Skin Tips
Oily or acne-prone skin, which is prevalent in teenagers and many adults, requires careful observation to ensure the skin responds favorably to products and the overall skin care routine. For example, some people with oily or acne-prone skin need to wash their face as much as two to three times a day. On the other hand, over-washing the skin also can lead to increased oil production, so a balance must be achieved based on an individual’s skin care needs. In general, using an oil-free, non-comedogenic foaming cleanser that contains salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide is imperative to prevent breakouts.

Dr. Badreshia-Bansal said that contrary to popular belief, oily skin may still require a moisturizer. She suggested a moisturizer that is lightweight and non-comedogenic (does not block pores) that contains sunscreen, which has a dual function as a moisturizer and sun protector when applied every morning. Reapplying a sunscreen during the day is necessary to ensure continuous sun protection.

Exfoliating oily skin once or twice a week is sufficient, but Dr. Badreshia-Bansal cautioned that it is not necessary during acne breakouts, as the mechanical friction caused by exfoliation can make acne worse. She added that for skin that is prone to acne, avoiding products with cocoa butter, cinnamon and coconut oil will help prevent breakouts.

To help soften fine lines while reducing future breakouts, Dr. Badreshia-Bansal suggested using a retinol gel or serum nightly. “Your dermatologist can help recommend gentle and effective products that work together to improve the appearance of oily skin and help prevent acne,” said Dr. Badreshia-Bansal.

Sensitive Skin Tips
For sensitive skin, washing the face once a day should be enough to keep the skin clean. Dr. Badreshia-Bansal noted that exfoliation is not necessary and can worsen already sensitive skin.

“Avoiding products that contain fragrances, soap or alcohol will help patients with sensitive skin maintain skin health,” explained Dr. Badreshia-Bansal. “Calming ingredients, such as green tea polyphenols, chamomile, and aloe are beneficial and, as a general rule, the fewer ingredients in a product the better.”

In the morning, Dr. Badreshia-Bansal suggested applying a cream-based moisturizer to dry skin to help prevent or reduce irritation. Active ingredients found in skin care products penetrate more deeply into damp skin (which often can be beneficial in normal skin), but this can cause more irritation in individuals with sensitive skin. In addition, products containing acids, such as lipoic acid, glycolic acid and salicylic acid, may be irritating to sensitive skin. For that reason, caution must be taken with any skin care product containing these types of active ingredients.

To help prevent fine lines and wrinkles and help reduce irritation, Dr. Badreshia-Bansal recommends using a mild retinoid every night followed by a moisturizer to stimulate collagen production.

Skin of Color Tips
For people with skin of color, there are differences in skin anatomy, physiology, and function that can influence how skin care products react with the skin. Even though skin of color is more resilient in many ways, it also is more sensitive to irritant reactions from harsh chemicals and active ingredients, such as glycolic acid which can lead to exaggerated stinging and potential hyperpigmentation (or darkening of the skin).

Dr. Badreshia-Bansal noted that daily moisturizers are a must, since darker skin has a tendency to appear “ashy” when it is not well lubricated. Creams and lotions applied after showering when the skin is slightly damp can help lock in moisture.

Since skin of color is more prone to discoloration and slow healing and scarring from trauma, Dr. Badreshia-Bansal stressed that sunscreen should be used vigilantly by people of color to prevent further sun damage and hyperpigmentation. She suggested that micronized zinc or titanium-based sunscreens will provide the most effective protection.

“People of color, especially those with darker skin tones, mistakenly believe that they don’t need to use sunscreen since they generally don’t sunburn,” said Dr. Badreshia-Bansal. “The fact is that sun damage still occurs in people of color, which can be very difficult to correct. More importantly, studies show that skin cancer is even more life-threatening when it develops in this population because people with skin of color often ignore the early warning signs – thinking they are not at risk.”

In addition, skin lightening products can help lighten discolorations – such as a thin film of kojic acid or a cream containing hydroquinone. However, Dr. Badreshia-Bansal cautioned that patients should be careful not to over-irritate the skin with these products, which can worsen discoloration and acne, particularly in skin of color.

Regardless of skin type, Dr. Badreshia-Bansal finds that a few simple skin care tips can be beneficial in improving the overall appearance and health of the skin.

“I recommend keeping the skin care routine very simple, being very gentle with your skin, and avoid irritating, over-washing and over-scrubbing the face,” said Dr. Badreshia-Bansal. “Finding moisturizers that contain sunscreen in a single combination product does the job of two products and are excellent for all skin types. The key is to find the skin care routine and appropriate products that work the best for your individual skin type, which is where your dermatologist can help get you started.”

For more information on improving the appearance of your skin, go to SPBeauty.com or Search your favorite skin care topic using Leapfish here:

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