Is Johnson & Johnson "Going Green?" Not quite - but coming along...

In 1943 when Johnson & Johnson was about to go public Robert Wood Johnson established a credo to guide his ever growing company through the years ahead. His credo is still in use today.

In one section it states:

We must maintain in good order the property we are privileged to use, protecting the environment and natural resources.

What a pure and simple sentiment. However, that simple statement seems like an almost impossible task to fulfill in today’s consumer economy and culture.

Janet Nudelman, cofounder of Campaign for Safe Cosmetics coalition (and fans of natural cosmetics), blew the whistle on Johnson & Johnson four years ago when the nonprofit watchdog’s testing revealed that the company’s gentle, mild No More Tears baby shampoo actually released the carcinogen formaldehyde. The coalition includes more than one and a half million members, from the Environmental Working Group, American Nurses Association, Friends of the Earth, and the Physicians for Social Responsibility.

In 2012, Johnson & Johnson pledged to remove all carcinogenic chemicals and other harmful ingredients from “almost” all of its adult products worldwide by the end of 2015. And baby products, including that carcinogenic shampoo, would be reformulated with safer ingredients by the end of 2013.

Susan Nettesheim, vice president of product stewardship and toxicology for Johnson & Johnson’s consumer health brands, said, “We want people to have complete peace of mind when they use our products.”

These products include Johnson’s baby lotion and bath products, as well as Desitin for diaper rash, and adult skin care brands like Aveeno, Neutrogena, RoC, Clean & Clear, and Lubriderm. J&J also manufacture medical devices and prescription drugs.

The chemicals that J&J plan to remove include triclosan, phthalates, and some parabens, though they will keep methylparaben,ethylparaben, and propylparaben. It will also remove those fragrance ingredients which are not disclosed on the label.

While these changes are promising, the company has stated that it will, however, allow chemicals that release formaldehyde when no other safe alternative will work.

But consumers are still applauding the effort. In February, Johnson & Johnson executives were offered a document with 30,000 consumer signatures, thanking the company for the products they have so far reformulated.

Johnson & Johnson has so far eliminated parabens, which serve as preservatives (but only in baby products; they have no answer as to why parabens continue to be used in other products). It also says it has removed DEP, the phthalate most commonly used in fragrance and other cosmetics, and other phthalates from all products. They’ve further announced that their fragrances wouldn’t contain animal-derived ingredients, nitromusks and polycyclic musks, tagetes, rose crystal and diacetyl. Triclosan, once added as an anti-bacterial ingredient, also has been eliminated.

Most importantly, Johnson & Johnson claims it has reformulated about 70 percent of its baby products with new formulations that reduce 1,4-dioxane, linked with cancer. According to its website, it has pressured suppliers to reduce the compound in materials it continues to search for ways to eliminate it altogether.

But it’s  not just Johnson & Johnson that need to change its policies. Research done by the Environmental Working Group shows that most personal care products sold by large companies contain potentially dangerous chemicals.

Do you think Johnson & Johnson is doing enough to make its products safe? 

The Kasia Organics “Informed Beauty” Promise:

We always use: the finest, all-natural ingredients that not only nourish the body but awaken the senses and promote healthy, safe living through informed beauty. The result: radiant, restored skin and hair.

We never use: parabans, petro-chemicals, phthalates, artificial preservatives, lauryl sulfates, artificial colors or dyes, synthetic fragrances, wasteful fillers or animal testing—unhealthy junk your body doesn’t need!

Reference Guest Blog - Salon Naturals

Get Infused for Summer - Kasia Skindeep Organic Medi-Peel

Warm weather and sun rays are upon us, and facial ‘peel’ lovers need an alternative for the summer months due to the reaction of the skin with the exposure to UV rays. Ladies you are in luck!  At Kasia we offer a facial peel with the newest technology that delivers a non-chemical peel like no other called the Medi-Facial Peel. 

• No downtime involved
• Dermal therapy peel will nourish the skin while bringing results
• Allowing you the ability to get right back out into the sun (with Kasia "Good Day Sunshine protection, of course!).
• We customize each treatment to meet your needs with an added personal touch.

The  Kasia Skindeep Organic Medi-Peel and/or Facial have a 2.0% Retinaldehyde, making it the only non-acid peel that will infuse the dermis with fibroblast stimulators, immune boosters, antioxidants, pigment lighteners, and calming anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial ingredients.  Expect results with this powerful synergy that rejuvenates the skin by increasing collagen production, fighting free radical damage, scavenging scar tissue and helping reduce hyperpigmentation making it an amazing treatment for any skin type or condition.

To learn more about the facial protocol and Before & After results, visit here! 

How does it work?

This facial treatment

• Increases nourishment to the skin
• Encourages a gentle and natural cellular turnover
• Effectively resurfaces the epidermis
• Resurfacing of the epidermis.  Deep wrinkles will begin to diminish and elasticity and firmness will increase as your skin is infused with essential proven ingredients to help reverse aging and improve the health of your skin.

To learn more about the facial protocol and Before & After results, visit here!

To book an appointment with our Skin Specialist, call 612 824 7611.

Stop Weight Gain from Thyroid Complications and Get Your Body Back

Guest Post from Womentowomen.com

Most of us still blame our weight gain on lack of willpower, eating too much and not exercising enough. Unfortunately, magazines, the internet and even many well-meaning practitioners continue to perpetuate the blame game. But when your thyroid is imbalanced, you’re likely fighting an uphill battle with your weight that simply isn’t your fault. And you can do something to stop it.

When thyroid hormones are low, it causes physical changes in your body and brain that increase weight gain. Even with minimally low thyroid hormone, the centers of the brain that control appetite are altered and the chemical “messengers” that regulate how and when we eat get mixed up. These messengers include serotonin, beta endorphin, and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), which perhaps not coincidentally, are also tightly connected to moods. If that wasn’t enough, the hormone leptin — which stimulates weight loss, decreases hunger, and increases fullness — can also become inefficient when thyroid hormone is low.

These changes often lead to sharp carbohydrate cravings, weight gain, distressing changes in body shape, as well as low energy, and depressed mood. But you have the opportunity to nip this weight gain in the bud. And the sooner you do, the less likely you’ll be continuing on the path toward worsening thyroid imbalance and even more weight gain.

4 “ingredients” to stop thyroid weight gain:

1. Herbs. Several helpful herbs are known to boost thyroid function and halt thyroid-related weight gain.

Bacopa monnieri is an ayurvedic herb that can increase T4 hormones. (T4 and T3 are the thyroid hormones made and used by your body.)

Hops (yes, the same plant they use in beer!) benefit your thyroid by allowing thyroid hormones to enter cells more accessibly.

Sage contains phytochemicals (plant chemicals) that promote better hormone reception in cells as well as boost mood, memory and healthy blood sugar balance. Irregular blood sugar is often a major player in weight gain.

Ashwagandha is another ayurvedic herb that supports thyroid hormone production while also working to balance the endocrine system.

Coleus forskohlii contains an important plant chemical known as forskolin, which mimics thyroid-stimulating hormone and supports healthy body weight and mood.

All of these herbs together in a combination support the healthy signaling between your thyroid and the rest of your body. This signaling is essential to staying at your best weight. If you’re already taking thyroid medication, we always suggest discussing new supplements with your practitioner.

2. Nutrients. Many vitamins and minerals play roles in thyroid health, but by far the two most important are iodine and selenium. Iodine is the most basic building block your body needs to make the key thyroid hormones T3 and T4. Iodine can be found in sea vegetables, seafood and iodized sea salt. Selenium helps to convert T4 into T3, which is the most useful hormone form. Selenium can also regulate thyroid hormone synthesis and metabolism. Brazil nuts, mushrooms, beef and sunflower seeds are all healthy sources of selenium. To cover these and other bases, we recommend taking a daily high-quality multivitamin/mineral complex for Thyroid Support.

3. Food choices. Obviously, seafood, sea vegetables sunflower seeds, and Brazil nuts are part of a thyroid-healthy diet. But there are other important food choices you can make to support your thyroid and healthy weight.

Eliminate gluten. The first and most important recommendation is to cut back on or completely eliminate gluten from your diet. We understand this is difficult, but it can make an enormous difference in how you look and feel. Research shows that gluten has been connected to a very common form of hypothyroidism known as Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism or autoimmune hypothyroidism. Many foods that contain gluten (pasta, bread, cakes, pastries, etc.) are also generally high in carbohydrates that can disrupt blood sugar balance and shift your body toward weight gain.

Limit soy. Soy is another food that may disrupt thyroid function. However, if you have enough iodine in your body, the effects of soy are generally minimal. If you are taking a good multivitamin or supplement that includes iodine, cooked soy is not harmful to your thyroid.

Add protein, fiber and fat. We also recommend eating protein, fiber, and/or healthy fats with every meal. These foods minimize blood sugar highs and lows and help keep insulin levels steadier. This will not only help with your thyroid function, but also limit extra weight gain.

Eat fresh, whole foods cooked in non-plastic cookware. When you eat and drink, try to limit your exposure to bisphenol-A, found in plastic water bottles, the lining of aluminum cans and some non-stick cookware. According to the National Academy of Hypothyroidism, BPA can significantly block thyroid activity.

4. Exercise. It may be hard to get up and exercise when your thyroid function is sluggish, but research is showing that increasing your heart rate through exercise can increase your thyroid hormones. You can start by simply taking a walk around the block, renting a gentle yoga DVD from the library, or taking a swim at your local pool.

Kasia Organic Salon provides hair and skin care products and services that do not include any form of chemicals that may cause havoc on the average women's hormonal cascade/health.  We exclusively sell Premier Research Labs supplemental products that help thyroid and weight loss support to every women.  Contact us today!  

DIY Easy Summer Slaw Recipe - Sweet & Tangy

  Hey Informed Beauty!   Enjoy this great recipe for a light summer meal or side!  Delic!

Here are the links to the fancy tools in the Summer Slaw Recipe! Mandoline (for shredding chunks of cabbage is found):  find it here.

Salad Shooter (for making your shredding a whole lot faster and easier): find it here.

 Easy Summer Slaw - Sweet & Tangy

INGREDIENTS -  Produce and mix together: 

-Fresh carrots - shredded (in Salad Shooter)

-1 small head of red cabbage, shredded (with mandoline)

-1 small head of green cabbage, shredded (with mandoline)

-1 tart green apple, large (or 2 small), chopped, shredded or sliced

-1 fresh mango (instead of, or in addition to, apple), chopped, shredded or sliced

-A few beets, if you have ‘em, for fun color. Shred (with Salad Shooter)

Sauce: combine...

-1/2 cup unfiltered apple cider vinegar

-1/2 cup raw, unfiltered honey -For a little creaminess: a dollop of Golden Star Trading coconut milk (refrigerate for maximum creaminess)!-A squeeze of lime juice

Toss the sauce with produce mix until coated. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Then, enjoy!

Reference:  Cave Girl Paleo Eats

IT’S CONFIRMED. DAIRY PRODUCTS AND SUGAR CAUSE ACNE.

DO DAIRY PRODUCTS AND SUGAR CAUSE ACNE?

 The following article is a guest post form Mark Hyman.  I have followed Dr. Hyman since the start of my Functional  Medicine pursuits back in 2007. He sharp, clear, and helps the reader understand at a ground level of how nutrition, hormones, and every day choices inhibit our "beautiful health."

When I was in my 20's, I had cystic acne, and after removing dairy for 2 months, my acnes was almost completely gone.  Food allergies, milk, wheat, etc may be the missing link for many - whether in teenage years, or the return of the pimple in the later stages of life.  Enjoy the article.  

 

As our sugar and dairy consumption has increased over the last 100 years so has the number of people with acne. We now have over 17 million acne sufferers, costing our health care system $1 billion a year. Eighty to ninety percent of teenagers suffer acne to varying degrees.

The pimply millions rely on infomercial products hawked by celebrities or over-the-counter lotions, cleansers, and topical remedies. Recent research suggests that it’s not what we slather on our skin that matters most but what we put in our mouth.

Many have suggested a diet-acne link, but until recently it has not been proven in large clinical studies. Instead dermatologists prescribe long-term antibiotics and Accutane, both of which may cause long-term harmful effects. In 2009, a systematic review of 21 observational studies and six clinical trials found clear links.

Two large controlled trials found that cow’s milk increased both the number of people who got acne and its severity. Other large randomized prospective controlled trials (the gold standard of medical research) found that people who had higher sugar intake and a high glycemic load diet (more bread, rice, cereal, pasta, sugar, and flour products of all kinds) had significantly more acne. The good news is that chocolate (dark chocolate that is) didn’t seem to cause acne.

The dietary pimple producing culprits – diary and sugar (in all its blood sugar raising forms) – both cause spikes in certain pimple producing hormones. Dairy boosts male sex hormones (various forms of testosterone or androgens),  increases insulin levels, just as foods that quickly raise blood sugar, (sugar and starchy carbs) and spikes insulin.

Androgens and insulin both stimulate your skin to make those nasty, embarrassing pimples. One patient recently told me he would give a million dollars for a pill to cure acne. He doesn’t need to. It seems that for many the cure to acne is at the end of their fork, not in a prescription pad.

While pimples are not as simple as too much milk or sugar in your diet, both have a significant impact. Nutritional deficiencies as well as excesses can worsen acne. Correcting common deficiencies including low levels of healthy omega-3 anti-inflammatory fats, low levels of antioxidants such as vitamin E, zinc, and vitamin A, and including an important anti-inflammatory omega-6 fat called evening primrose oil  may all be helpful in preventing and treating unwanted pimples.

I will explain how you can correct and incorporate all of these nutritional elements of your diet and outlines some supplements that will help you fight acne in a moment. But first it is worth taking a deeper look at milk and sugar.

It appears that anabolic or sex hormones in milk contribute to acne …

Stay Away from Dairy and Avoid Acne

One scientist referred to milk as a “complex aqueous, suspended fat, liposomal, suspended protein emulsion”. What we do know is that milk is designed to grow things – namely, babies – and in the case of cow’s milk, calves. It is naturally full of what we call anabolic hormones (the same ones that body builders and A Rod use to grow big muscles, and which cause bad acne).

These are mostly androgens (like testosterone) and growth hormones including insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). There is no such thing as hormone-free milk.

Here’s a short list of the 60-some hormones in your average glass of milk – even the organic, raw, and bovine growth hormone free milk:

• 20α-dihydropregnenolone
• progesterone (from pregnenolone)
• 5α-pregnanedione
• 5α-pregnan-3β-ol-20-one, 20α- and 20β-dihydroprogesterone (from progesterone)
• 5α-androstene-3β17β-diol
• 5α-androstanedione
• 5α-androstan-3β-ol-17-one
• androstenedione
• testosterone
• dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate acyl ester
• insulin like growth factors 1 and 2 (IGF-1 and IGF-2)
• insulin

This is what our government suggests we drink in high doses—at least 3 glasses a day for me, a healthy adult male, according to the mypyramid.gov website. Those guidelines have been strongly criticized by many including leading nutrition scientists from Harvard such as Walter Willett and David Ludwig.

The famous Nurse’s Health Study examining health habits of 47,000 nurses found that those who drank more milk as teenagers had much higher rates of severe acne than those who had little or no milk as teenagers. If you think it is the fat in milk, think again.

It was actually the skim milk that had the strongest risk for acne. In other studies of over 10,000 boys and girls from 9 to 15 years old, there was a direct link between the amount of milk consumed and the severity of acne.

It appears that it is not just the anabolic or sex hormones in milk that causes problem but milk’s ability to stimulate insulin production. It actually may be the lactose or milk sugar in milk that acts more like a soft drink than an egg. Drinking a glass of milk can spike insulin levels 300 percent.

Not only does that cause pimples, but it also may contribute to prediabetes. This is true despite studies funded by the dairy council showing that milk helps with weight loss. The question is compared to WHAT diet – a diet of bagels and Coke, or a healthy phytonutrient, antioxidant-rich, plant-based diet with lean animal protein?

Stay Away from Sugar, Refined Carbs, and Pimples

If a glass of milk causes pimples, that may drive you back to your Pepsi. But not so fast. Recent studies also show that sugar and refined carbs (a high-glycemic diet) cause acne. More importantly, taking kids off sugar and putting them on a healthy, whole foods, low-glycemic load diet resulted in significant improvements in acne compared to a control group eating a regular, high-sugar American diet.

In addition to less pimples, the participants lost weight, became more sensitive to the effects of insulin (resulting in less pimple-producing insulin circulating around the blood). They also had less of the sex hormones floating around their blood that drive pimples. We know that women who have too much sugar and insulin resistance get acne, hair growth on their face, hair loss on the head, and infertility. This is caused by high levels of circulating male hormones and is called polycystic ovarian syndrome but is a nutritional, not gynecologic disease.

But the dietary influences don’t stop there. It is not just sugar, but the bad fats we eat that may also contribute to acne.

Get an Oil Change

Our typical Western diet is full of inflammatory fats – saturated fats, trans fats, too many omega-6, inflammatory, processed vegetable oils like soy and corn oils. These increase IGF-1 and stimulate pimple follicles. Inflammation has been linked to acne, and anti-inflammatoryomega-3 fats (from fish oil) may help improve acne and help with many skin disorders.

Balance the Hormones that Cause Skin Problems

The link is clear - hormonal imbalances caused by our diet trigger acne. Our diet influences sex hormones like testosterone, IGF-1, and insulin, which promote acne. The biggest factors affecting your hormones is the glycemic load of your diet (which is determined by how quickly the food you eat increases your blood sugar and insulin levels), and the amount of dairy products you eat. The good news is that eating a healthy diet and taking a few supplements can balance those hormones. Exercise also helps improve insulin function.

How to Prevent and Treat Acne

Eight simple steps to help most overcome their acne problems:

1. Stay away from milk. It is nature’s perfect food – but only if you are a calf.
2. Eat a low glycemic load, low sugar diet. Sugar, liquid calories, and flour products all drive up insulin and cause pimples.
3. Eat more fruits and vegetables. People who eat more veggies (containing more antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds) have less acne. Make sure you get your 5–9 servings of colorful fruits and vegetables every day.
4. Get more healthy anti-inflammatory fats. Make sure to get omega-3 fats (fish oil) and anti-inflammatory omega-6 fats (evening primrose oil). You will need supplements to get adequate amounts (more on that in a moment).
5. Include foods that correct acne problems. Certain foods have been linked to improvements in many of the underlying causes of acne and can help correct it. These include fish oil, turmeric, ginger, green tea, nuts, dark purple and red foods such as berries, green foods like dark green leafy vegetables, and omega 3-eggs.
6. Take acne-fighting supplements.Some supplements are critical for skin health. Antioxidant levels have been shown to be low in acne sufferers. And healthy fats can make a big difference. Here are the supplements I recommend:
   • Evening primrose oil: Take 1,000 to 1,500mg twice a day.
   • Zinc citrate: Take 30 mg a day.
   • Vitamin A: Take 25,000 IU a day. Only do this for three months. Do not do this if you are pregnant.
   • Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols, not alpha tocopherol): Take 400 IU a day.
7. Try probiotics. Probiotics also help reduce inflammation in the gut that may be linked to acne. Taking probiotics (lactobacillus, etc.) can improve acne.
8. Avoid foods you are sensitive to. Delayed food allergies are among the most common causes of acne—foods like gluten, dairy, yeast, and eggs are common culprits and can be a problem if you have a leaky gut.

Following these simple tips will help you eliminate acne and have that glowing skin you have always dreamed of. And it’s much cheaper (and safer) than expensive medications and dermatologist visits. Improve your diet and take acne-fighting supplements and you will watch your pimples disappear.

For more information on how to optimize your nutrition and improve your skin, seewww.drhyman.com.

Now I’d like to hear from you.

Have you struggled with an acne or skin problem? Have you noticed any link between your skin? What seems to be a problem for you?

Why do you think we are encouraged to consume so much dairy when the risks to our health (and our skin) are so high?

What other steps have you taken to fight acne? What has worked? What hasn’t?

Please leave your thoughts by adding a comment below – but remember, we can’t offer personal medical advice online, so be sure to limit your comments to those about taking back our health!

To your good health,

Mark Hyman, MD

References

1. F. William Danby, MD, Nutrition and acne, Clinics in Dermatology (2010) 28, 598–604
2. White GM. Recent findings in the epidemiologic evidence, classification, and subtypes of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol 39(2 Pt 3):S34-7 (1998 Aug).
3. Lello J, Pearl A, Arroll B, et al. Prevalence of acne vulgaris in Auckland senior high school students. N Z Med J 108(1004):287-9 (1995 Jul 28).
4. Venereol 21(6):806-10 (2007 Jul).
5. Wolf R, Matz H, Orion E. Acne and diet. Clin Dermatol 22(5):387-93 (2004 Sep-Oct).
6. Magin P, Pond D, Smith W, et al. A systematic review of the evidence for myths and misconceptions’ in acne management: diet, face-washing and sunlight. Fam Pract 22(1):62-70 (2005 Feb).
7. Spencer EH, Ferdowsian HR, Barnard ND. Diet and acne: a review of the evidence. Int J Dermatol 48(4):339-47 (2009 Apr).
8. Bendiner E. Disastrous trade-off: Eskimo health for white civilization, Hosp Pract 9:156-89 (1974).
9. Adebamowo CA, Spiegelman D, Danby FW, et al. High school dietary dairy intake and teenage acne. J Am Acad Dermatol 52(2):207-14 (2005 Feb).
10. Adebamowo CA, Spiegelman D, Berkey CS, et al. Milk consumption and acne in adolescent girls. Dermatol Online J 12(4):1 (2006).
11. Adebamowo CA, Spiegelman D, Berkey CS, et al. Milk consumption and acne in teenaged boys. J Am Acad Dermatol 58(5):787-93 (2008 May).
12. Hoyt G, Hickey MS, Cordain L. Dissociation of the glycaemic and insulinaemic responses to whole and skimmed milk. Br J Nutr 93(2):175-7 (2005 Feb).
13. Kaymak Y, Adisen E, Ilter N, et al. Dietary glycemic index and glucose, insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3, and leptin levels in patients with acne. J Am Acad atol 57(5):819-23 (2007 Nov). Cordain L, Lindeberg S, Hurtado M, et al. Acne vulgaris: a disease of Western civilization. Arch Dermatol 138(12):1584-90 (2002 Dec).
14. Smith RN, Mann NJ, Braue A, et al. A low-glycemic-load diet improves symptoms in acne vulgaris patients: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr 86(1):107-15 (2007 Jul).
15. Smith RN, Mann NJ, Braue A, et al. The effect of a high- protein, low glycemic-load diet versus a conventional, high glycemic-load diet on biochemical parameters associated with acne vulgaris: a randomized, investigator-masked, controlled trial. J Am Acad Dermatol 57(2):247-56 (2007 Aug).
16. Smith RN, Braue A, Varigos GA, et al. The effect of a low glycemic load diet on acne vulgaris and the fatty acid composition of skin surface triglycerides. J Dermatol Sci 50(1):41-52 (2008 Apr).
17. Zouboulis CC. Is acne vulgaris a genuine inflammatory disease? Dermatology 203(4):277-9 (2001).
18. James MJ, Gibson RA, Cleland LG. Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids and inflammatory mediator production. Am J Clin Nutr 71(1 Suppl):343S-8S (2000 Jan).
19. Simopoulos AP. Essential fatty acids in health and chronic disease. Am J Clin Nutr 70(3 Suppl):560S-9S (1999 Sep). 26. Kaaks R, Bellati C, Venturelli E, et al. Effects of dietary intervention on IGF-I and IGF-binding proteins, and related alterations in sex steroid metabolism: the Diet and Androgens (DIANA) Randomised Trial. Eur J Clin Nutr 57(9):1079-88 (2003 Sep).
20. Fulton JE, Jr., Plewig G, Kligman AM. Effect of chocolate on acne vulgaris. Jama 210(11):2071-4 (1969 Dec 15).
21. Anderson PC. Foods as the cause of acne. Am Fam Physician 3(3):102-3 (1971 Mar).

Skin Cancer on the Rise in Young Women

 

 

 

 

On a hot July day last summer, I was lying on the beach at Coney Island with my younger brother when he noticed a dark mole on the back of my arm. “You should really get that checked at the dermatologist,” he said in a worried tone.

 

It turned out that the mole on my arm was fine, but another one on my cheek was basal cell skin cancer. A few weeks later, I had surgery to remove it and left the plastic surgeon’s office with a 1.5-inch scar sloping down my right cheek.Friends and colleagues were surprised to see the scar because I was only 28. Even the medical resident who attended my operation said I was the youngest skin cancer patient she had met.But as I learned more about skin cancer, I discovered that it is becoming increasingly common, especially among young women. A recent study by the Mayo Clinic found that melanoma, the most serious type, had increased eightfold for women under 40 since 1970.

The author at Sandy Hook beach in New Jersey with her husband last summer, a few months before she was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma.

“There is this thought that, ‘It won’t happen to me because I’m young,’ but that’s not true anymore,” said Dr. Jerry Brewer, a dermatologist at the Mayo Clinic and an author of the study.

Experts say that tanning beds are a major factor behind the increase in all three types of skin cancer for young women. More than 20 million people use tanning beds each year, and 70 percent of customers are young white women, who are at increased risk of developing skin cancer. The lamps in tanning beds can give off 10 to 15 times the UVA radiation of normal sun exposure, accelerating the process of skin damage. Instead of getting skin cancer 30 or 40 years down the line, many young women are getting it 5 or 10 years later, Dr. Brewer said.

Though I have never used a tanning bed, my dermatologist said I had an unlucky trio of risk factors: fair skin and blue eyes, an upbringing in Texas, where I spent long days in the sun growing up, and a family history of skin cancer. My grandmother and aunt had melanoma and survived, and my mother had basal cell carcinoma too.

While more than three million cases of basal and squamous cell carcinoma are diagnosed each year, only about 2,000 people a year die from these non-melanoma skin cancers. Melanoma is a far more ominous diagnosis, causing about 9,400 deaths each year in the United States.

Dr. Darrell Rigel, a dermatology professor at NYU Langone Medical Center, says that every month at his New York practice, about two women in their 20s are found to have early melanoma, a dramatic rise from 20 years ago. Once melanoma is the size of a dime, there is a good chance that it has already spread and treatment may not work, Dr. Rigel said. “I know I’m looking at a death sentence on their arm, and they feel perfectly fine,” he said. “It’s absolutely awful.”

This year, the Food and Drug Administration proposed new regulations for tanning beds that require them to have labels warning that they are not recommended for people under 18. And in April, New Jersey joined several other states in passing a law to prohibit indoor tanning for those under 17.

Even children can get melanoma. A recent study in the journal Pediatrics found that the number of cases among children and adolescents has been increasing each year by about 2 percent.

Another recent study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, found that while young women are more likely to be given a diagnosis of melanoma, young men are more likely to die from it. Researchers said the disparity was probably a consequence of behavioral tendencies — men are less likely to see a doctor or perform a skin self-examination — and possibly biological differences as well.

My brush with skin cancer has certainly changed how I view the sun. I don’t want another scar — or worse, a diagnosis of melanoma. I wear a 30 SPF sunscreen on my face every day and bought several sun-protective long-sleeve shirts to wear outdoors this summer. I am visiting my dermatologist every three months for a full body scan. (One annual checkup is recommended for those without a previous diagnosis.)

I returned to Texas in April for a friend’s wedding at a resort in the woods. After a long winter in New York, my husband and I were excited to go swimming at a pool near our cabin. In the past, I would have grabbed a lounge chair in the sun, seeing it as the perfect opportunity to arrive at the ceremony with a sun-kissed glow. But this time, I picked a chair under a wide umbrella. It’s just not worth it anymore.

Even a few sunburns can significantly raise your risk of skin cancer, Dr. Brewer said.

“Deciding how much sun you want to get is like asking how much cyanide you want in your breakfast cereal,” he said. “There is no amount of tan that is healthy.”

Emma G. Fitzsimmons is a freelance reporter in New York and a news assistant at The New York Times.

Stay protected - and stop sun- aging in it's tracks!  

Kasia Good Day Sunshine Sunblock

Super-potent yet lightweight, Good Day Sunshine allows you to savor your sun-drenched days safely, without damaging your lovely skin. Non-nano zinc oxide provides the safest possible form of broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection, while antioxidant-rich oils soothe and hydrate, combating free radicals to promote a youthful, flawless complexion.

Purchase and Protect HERE

DIY: Quick Hot-Cross-Bun Idea's for the Hot and Humid Summer!

As of last week, we are officially on our way into SUMMER!

Here are some cute quick bun ideas both formal and in-formal for the hot and humid days ahead!

Enjoy the sunshine and don't forget your sunscreen beaute!

DIY!

  OOPS!  Wrong "BUN" - but sure the heck looks yummy!  

Do you know about the 'toxic trio' in nail polish?

 

 Every women love mani-pedi. The trick is how to enjoy this ultimate treat without taking in the toxins...

Do you love your summer manicured toes?  Are women at risk?  One thing is sure, we live in a toxic world, and  unfortunately our beauty regimes are not spared. As "Informed Beauties" we know that what we put on our bodies is just as important as we put in our bodies.

Yes, even our nail polishes are pesky suspects. As it turns out, our nails are quite porous and our bodies absorb what is put on them. Additionally, there is blood flow right under the nail beds which means a direct pathway for chemicals to travel into our bloodstream. The chemicals found in the majority of nail polish are quite toxic, containing what’s referred to as the “toxic trio” – Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), and Formaldehyde.

Be FREE of these THREE 

1. Dibutyl Phthalate or DBP:

• Adds flexibility and a moisturizing sheen. Helps dissolve other cosmetic ingredients

• Reproductive and developmental toxin linked to feminizing effects in baby boys

2. Tolune:

• Helps suspend the colour and form a smooth finish

• Affects the central nervous system

• Can cause headaches, dizziness and fatigue

• A possible reproductive and developmental toxin

3. Formaldehyde:

• Nail hardener

• A known human carcinogen

• Eye, nose and throat irritant

• Can lead to skin irritation, and allergic rash called dermatitis.

• Can irritate the respiratory system

• Can trigger heart palpitations

• Can trigger asthma

Dont worry Beaute'- you don't  have to forgo your bi-weekly pedi pamper.

  Kasia Organic Salon features NATURAL PEDICURES!

We LOVE Acquarella Nail Polish.  We believe it's the cleanest on the market.

Acquarella’s non-toxic polishes are odor-free and formulated without formaldehyde, phthalates, petrochemicals or solvents of any kind. They’re also specifically designed to hydrate nails and have an innovative fast-dry formula.

Since Acquarella contains water and allows the nail to “breathe”, it creates a permeable environment where the nail can exhibit both qualities. We assert that consumers will see a change in their bare nails with pro- longed, repeated use.

Here are just 'some' of our natural pedi polishes that we think rock!

Kasia Organic Salon sells Acquarella polishes and polish remover,  as well as services our guests to a natural pedicures.