Don't Cut Nutrition from Your Grocery Budget

Trips to the supermarket are getting more and more expensive as the prices of food climb in response to increased fuel costs. If we're to stick to our previous grocery budget, we'll have make some sacrifices - but too often, we start by cutting back on the healthy foods we should be eating more of.

Think about it - white bread is less expensive than whole-grain bread; fatty ground beef is cheaper than the leaner cuts; and sugared cereals are often the ones on sale, not the whole-grain varieties. By always choosing the cheapest products, you may be compromising your health.

I want to encourage you to still make nutritious foods part of your grocery list and think about other ways you can spend less, such as eating at home more often and eating out less. Here are some tips to help you save at the supermarket while still making healthy choices:

• Try to limit your trips to the supermarket to just one a week. This generally cuts down on overall grocery spending and saves you some gas money, as well.
• Make a list and try to stick to it. The only exception should be when you spot a product on sale - stock up on it and increase your overall savings.
• Buy fresh fruits and vegetables when they're in season. Seasonal foods are where the bargains will be.
• Try to purchase locally at a farmer's market. A win-win for you and the farmers. You could even start your own garden.
• Buy more foods in bulk. This often saves money because you're not paying for packaging. But remember: If a food is perishable, only purchase what you can use up soon.
• Limit the snack foods and put more of your money towards healthy meals.

Even though food costs are only going to keep rising, think about your health and don't cut so many corners that you end up shortchanging yourself on nutrition.

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5 Moles and Marks You Can't Ignore

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Many of us scan our skin regularly for new lines, or scrutinize it to see if those sunspots are improving. But when I ask my patients if they're regularly examining their skin for dangerous moles, I get a lot of sheepish looks.

I recommend yearly mole checks by a dermatologist for everyone (twice yearly if you have a personal or family history of skin cancer), but you should make an appointment right away if you notice any marks that fit these descriptions:

1. Any mole that suddenly grows, changes color, or bleeds warrants a visit to the dermatologist ASAP (see if they can take you this week) - those changes could indicate melanoma, which can be deadly if it's not caught in time. It's not worth putting off this appointment; even one day can make a difference.

2. If you have a patch of rough, scabbed skin that does not heal for two months, you may be dealing with a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Carcinoma is not as much of an emergency as melanoma, but you should see your dermatologist soon. SCCs can metastasize, and should be removed within a few months' time.

3. Pearly white, "heaped up" bumps are likely basal cell carcinomas (BCC), especially if they have tiny blood vessels in their borders and a central crater. (I had one on my eyelid, so do not ignore bumps on the lash margin!) This is a slow-growing type of skin cancer that should be removed within a few months of noticing it - just remember that the sooner you remove it, the smaller the scar. If the BCC is superficial enough, your dermatologist may even prescribe Aldara, a topical cream, instead of surgery.

4. The sudden appearance of many brown, rough, flaky areas on the trunk, raised from skin's surface, may indicated something called "the sign of Leser-Trelat" - it's named after the doctors who first discovered that such lesions can be a warning sign of underlying cancer.

The sign of Leser-Trelat is rare, and those brown, rough patches are typically a harmless condition. The biggest warning sign is rapid growth - if you notice such patches that are quickly growing in size or in number, see a dermatologist.

5. Many people don't realize that skin cancer can occur on the fingers and toes - but because such moles are typically ignored for a long time, melanoma on the fingers and toes typically has a worse prognosis than on other parts of the body. If you see a dark spot under your toenail or fingernail, and it's not associated with a physical trauma, have it checked now.

Remember, dermatologists are highly trained to recognize worrisome moles and marks -- you don't have to make that call yourself! Find a dermatologist near you.

Wishing you great skin!

The Best Inexpensive Skin Care Gift.

It's that time of year again! I've gathered a few of my favorite skin-friendly products (along with some non-dermatological treats I've encountered along the way!) to help you tackle your holiday shopping with ease. None of the items on my list are over $50... but they'll all leave your friends and family feeling like a million bucks.

• For teacher gifts, treats for the neighbors, or any other gift-giving you do in bulk, I find that a nice green tea is always a crowd-pleaser. And what those pleased crowds might not even realize is that it's also a wonderful antioxidant, shown to fight the free radicals that cause skin damage. I love Adagio's Green Tea Sampler ($14). Or check out The Republic of Tea's Sip for the Cure collection ($4.75-10.50) -- a portion of each sale is donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure to help fight breast cancer.
  
• Lavender, which is proven to slow brain waves and induce relaxation, is another surefire winner. Look for it in skin-care products like Healing Garden Organics Bath Soak Fig & Lavender (around $10), or L'Occitane Lavender Harvest Cleansing Hand Wash ($16) and Hand Lotion ($16).
  
• Better yet, give the benefits of soothing tea and relaxing lavender with The Republic of Tea's Get Some ZZZ's Travel Kit ($15), which includes a travel tin of tea, earplugs and an eye mask, and a sleep-inducing lavender and chamomile pillow spray. Your lucky recipient won't want to wait for a trip to give it a try!
  
• Burt's Bees products are effective, adorably packaged, and easy to find at many drugstores (particularly convenient should you find yourself in a holiday pinch). If you know someone who loves sampling new cosmetic products, you can't go wrong with the Head-to-Toe Starter Kit ($15). It includes a generous assortment of Burt's Bees products, which use natural ingredients -- like soothing beeswax for dry hands and lips, or vitamin E, glycerin, and fatty acids to moisturize the body -- for an affordably decadent beauty routine.
  
• I see more and more male patients every year -- so don't hesitate to treat the guys in your life to pampering cosmetics, too! The Art of Shaving makes excellent products, like their moisturizing shaving cream ($14), which also comes in lemon, lavender, and sandalwood, or their lovely starter kits ($38), which include pre-shave oil, shaving cream, a shaving brush, and after-shave balm.
  
• When it comes to body scrubs, I can't get enough of Philosophy's fun and fragrant offerings, with scents like coconut milk, green apple, and lemonade. And for the classicists on your list, you can't go wrong with their signature Pure Grace Salt Scrub ($25).
  
• Take it from a lip-gloss fanatic: There's nothing better than a range of lip colors (and maybe even a little sparkle!) to make a glamour girl feel pampered. Benefit's Peace, Love, & Glossiness set ($26), for example, includes three double-sided tubes, and Josie Maran Cosmetics makes great palettes every year ($36), with four lip colors and four glosses to choose from.
  
• As temperatures drop, air becomes drier, and heaters start cranking, skin often takes a hit -- and no one wants to spend the winter with tight, itchy skin. Treat any dry-skinned friend to this Laura Mercier Purifying Oil ($40), though, and you'll really be spreading the cheer: Cleansing oils restore moisture and remove dirt and makeup without stripping skin's natural lipids. Is there any better gift than a winter's worth of healthy, dewy skin?
  
• I love visiting new countries and attending dermatological conferences across the globe... I just don't love getting there! Luckily for me, I've discovered Restoration Hardware's Luxury Plush Travel Set ($49). It's a must for any frequent travelers in your life -- this warm, familiar blanket and compact pillow are a lot more conducive to snoozing than the airlines' plastic-wrapped offerings.

Wishing you great skin (and happy gift-giving)!

Are Wrinkles Genetic?

Posted Thu, Dec 18, 2008, 2:56 pm PST

73% of users found this article helpful.

We are learning more and more about the role of genes in health. For example, Drs. Peggy and Jeff Vance, a husband and wife team from the University of Miami, have done extensive work looking for the genes for Alzheimer's disease and autism. The advances in the genetic research field have been amazing and the technology is moving at the speed of light.

Cosmetic companies are of course jumping on the bandwagon claiming that they can examine your "genetic fingerprint" by doing a swab of the inside of your cheek and then for $300 (or more) they will make a skin cream just for your needs. Please do not waste your money on this!! Right now we are just beginning to learn what genes play a role in skin appearance.

Genes certainly influence acne, oily skin, dry skin and skin wrinkles, but the truth is we don't know what genes are important in skin appearance and we certainly have no idea which genes cause skin wrinkling. It may take 2-3 years to find them.

The company www.23andme.com will analyze your genes and send you a report for a fee. At this time, the data will not tell you anything about your risks for skin cancer, wrinkles and other skin diseases because we just do not know enough yet about what genes are involved in these processes.

Stay tuned for discoveries on genes and the role they play in skin aging. For now--don't buy any products claiming to use genetic knowledge to improve your skin. To see more about the genetic research on skin aging that is ongoing visit this link or read this article.

The 6 Biggest Skin-Care Mistakes

By Leslie Baumann, M.D. Provided by:

Posted Fri, Dec 19, 2008, 2:33 pm PST

85% of users found this article helpful.

If there's one thing I stress to my patients, it's that great skin doesn't require spending a fortune on some "miracle cream" made from rare seaweed from the Arctic Circle! It's all about simple good habits. But let's approach those habits from the opposite direction: What are the most damaging bad habits that I see time and time again?

1. Using a cleanser with harsh detergents: Many people assume that the suds of their vigorously foaming cleanser are a good sign -- surely they'll leave skin extra clean. Unfortunately, copious suds are generally a sign that your cleanser contains a harsh detergent, like lauryl sulfate, that strips skin of vital lipids. (And don't get me started on bar soap -- that is always a no-no.) Instead, look for cleansers that contain fatty acids and will actually fortify your skin, like Dove's ProAge products, or even simple cold cream. If you have particularly dry skin, I recommend cleansing oils, which remove dirt and makeup without disturbing your skin's natural protective barrier.

2. Not using a retinoid: Retinol, a form of vitamin A, is the only topical ingredient proven not only to prevent lines and wrinkles but to minimize the ones you already have. Past the age of 30, I recommend seeing a dermatologist for a higher-concentration prescription retinoid (like Retin-A, Differin, or Tazorac, for example), but there are also many great over-the-counter creams that contain lower concentrations of retinol. I like Roc Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream, Neutrogena Healthy Skin Night Cream, and SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0.

3. Spending too much on skin care: Splurging on the beautiful packaging and luxurious scents of pricey boutique skin care lines can feel wonderfully pampering -- provided you know that it's absolutely not necessary for great skin. In fact, many of my favorite products are made by drugstore brands, because those companies have the large budgets for top-notch research and development. If you have to choose, put your money toward that prescription retinoid, and buy the rest of your regimen at the drugstore.

4. Getting facials: Yes, that's right -- you can strike facials from your skin-care budget and actually be doing your skin a favor! Studies show that as many as 80% of people break out after a facial. Aestheticians often don't know which products are right for the skin of each client, and may use ingredients that can worsen acne, or essential oils that tend to irritate sensitive skin. Even if you don't break out, there are really no long-term benefits to facials.

5. Washing your face at the wrong time: Always wash your face after you rinse out your hair products and conditioner in the shower, never before. Many conditioners contain pore-clogging isopropyl myristate and other hair products often contain coconut oil -- both are common acne-causing ingredients that you don't want to leave on your skin.

6. Not using sunscreen every day: Not just for your trip to the beach. Not just during the long summer days. Every day. Yes, it's important to be even more vigilant if you plan to spend lots of time in direct sunlight. But incidental sun exposure typically accounts for more of our lifetime exposure to ultraviolet rays than those days at the beach. Walking to and from your car, dashing out of the office for a sandwich, or sitting outside for a few minutes adds up -- make sure you're covered with at least SPF 15, every day.

Wishing you great skin!