Have You Heard of Nerium AD Skin Care?

Have you heard of NeriumAD? If you read fashion magazines or beauty blogs, you have probably heard the the latest buzz about "the next big thing" in beauty. Extracted from the oleander plant, Nerium has been heralded by some as the age-defying fountain of youth. The sales of Nerium are certainly through the roof.

However, other doctors are alarmed by some of the claims and lack of scientific proof made by the Nerium company. Others are concerned about evidence oleander extracts may cause chemical burns and skin inflammation. Some have gone as far as to suggest oleander extracts might cause cell death in healthy cells. I wrote about it in "Possible skin care concerns when using NeriumAD" but the Examiner site is no more.

In February, I was contacted by a Nerium rep and given the opportunity to try it for 5 days. The rep asked me to take before and after photos. I never intended to share the before and after selfies with the public, but after 5 days, I thought the results should be shared. My review an mildly embarrassing photos were posted at at: "NeriumAD Age-Defying Day and Night creams not for sensitive skin--a review" on Examiner.com but the article disappeared with the Examiner.

If you have any skin care questions, feel free to ask me!

Related:

• Other Ways for Writers to Make Money in their Extra Time

Thank you for reading and thank you for sharing the link to this article with others. This article is © Kathryn Darden, all rights reserved,  and is not available to repost on websites, blogs, discussion boards, Facebook, or to translate and post elsewhere without written permission. If you have questions about skin care, email me!

Ellen DeGeneres Loves the Micro-Needle Roller

Today, the micro-exfoliation roller stepped into the spotlight on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." Beauty expert Kym Douglas demonstrated how to roll and talked about the benefits of micro-exfoliation as part of her "Oscar Beauty Tips" segment with the popular daytime host.

Find out more at: Ellen DeGeneres Loves The Micro-Needle Roller  or email me.

Acne bacteria spread from humans to grapevines new study reveals - National Skin Care Examiner

Acne bacteria spread from humans to grapevines

Do you have acne? Do you enjoy grapes or wine? Are you a fan of Frank Zappa? If you answered yes to any of those questions, this article is for you!

If you have acne,
drink the occasional glass of wine, are a fan of musician Frank Zappa,
or just like weird science, here's some news you will find intriguing: Italian researchers have discovered a new bacteria that colonized
pimples and now colonizes grapevines. They named it after Frank Zappa.
-- Examiner

 The new studies have exciting possibilities for skin care, especially in the field of acne. As researches study the bacteria, is it possible they might find a cure for acne?

Pimples and blemishes plague millions of teens and adults around the globe. Currently there are some very effective treatments for acne, but a cure has not been found.

Find out what researches have already learned and why they named the new pathogen after Frank Zappa.

Read the entire article at: Acne bacteria spread from humans to grapevines new study reveals - National Skin Care Examiner

Related:

• What is acne? Common causes of acne
• How to prevent acne; top ten tips to reduce pimples and avoid acne
• The unblemished truth about adult acne
• Unblemish for Acne

Thank you for reading and thank you for sharing the link to this article with others. This article is © Kathryn Darden, all rights reserved,  and is not available to repost on websites, blogs, discussion boards, Facebook, or to translate and post elsewhere without written permission.

Does Barbie Doll Promote Unhealthy Body Expectations? Sports Illustrated Barbie Cover Fuels Controversy

It was recently announced that Barbie doll will appear in the upcoming Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. This has caused a great deal of controversy among those who believe that the slender "fashion model" doll causes little girls to have unrealistic body expectations.

Can you really blame a doll for the fact Americans are eating themselves into obesity?

There is a movement afoot to create fatter role models today, everything from demanding plus-size models to fatter Disney princesses. But which is the better role model? The answer is perhaps neither, but the health odds are stacked heavily in Barbie's favor.

Read more at: 

• Does Barbie cause unrealistic body expectations? New SI Barbies fuel controversy - Nashville Skin, Health & Beauty Examiner
• Barbie's 'Unapologetic' Sports Illustrated cover causes controversy - National Barbie Collecting Examiner

Advantages of hiking sticks & trekking poles for hikers & walkers - Nashville Skin. Health & Beauty Examiner

If you have read this blog recently, you know I started using a walking stick the end of 2013 on all my hikes. Here is more information on hiking sticks and poles:

Advantages of hiking sticks and trekking poles for hikers and walkers

While the terms walking stick and trekking pole are somewhat interchangeable, a hiking stick is
usually a singular device used to assist a walker's balance or used as a crutch, whereas trekking poles have traditionally been used to assist hikers with their rhythm and provide stability on rough terrain.

Continued: Advantages of hiking sticks and trekking poles for hikers and walkers - Nashville Skin Care | Examiner

Also see: Why I Always Use a Hiking Pole on Hikes

Did You Know? Acne and Sunscreen

Limit sun exposure when using an acne product and don’t skip the sunscreen if you have acne. People often believe that sun helps to clear up their acne because a tan masks the redness of a breakout and in fact, sometimes pimples do dry up a bit faster. However, over time, sun exposure causes more breakouts rather than clearing them up.

With every tan, cell turnover increases, building up more dead cells, blocking pores, causing more
breakouts. On top of that, UV rays will intensify post-acne dark marks. Skipping the sunscreen is not an effective way to treat acne and will often make it worse.

UV exposure worsens both acne and redness and benzoyl peroxide may increase sensitivity. That's why acne sufferers should always use an oil control broad-spectrum SPF sunscreen.

Also see:

• Did You Know? Sun Damage, Melasma & Sunscreen
• Sunscreen not just for summer: Why you should protect your skin in winter - National Skin Care Examiner

Tough Love on Losing Weight

If you are not willing to exercise several times a week; drink water instead of sugary beverages; eat fruits and vegetables instead of burgers; give up processed foods, bread, sauces, toppings, and deserts; as well as eat smaller portions, please don't bother to tell your friends you don't understand why you can't lose weight. They already know why you can't lose weight.

If you frequently post pictures of food and recipes on Facebook; if you can't make it on time to meet your friends because you have to stop for a snack; if you don't have time to exercise but you have time to eat out; your friends are not at all puzzled by why you cannot lose weight.

Make an excuse or make a way. Chose to be healthy.

Related:

• Shocking obesity predictions in new Centers for Disease Control report
• Should Disney create an overweight princess? Experts say no
• Health & weight: What's wrong with plus-size models?
• Health & weight: Body Mass Index (BMI)
• Health & weight: What is vanity sizing?
• Health & weight: How big was Marilyn Monroe & what size dress did she wear?

Did You Know? Sun Damage, Melasma & Sunscreen

It doesn't matter if you are a hiker or gardener or if you are only in the sun going to and from your car and driving to work -- the aging rays in the UVA spectrum are present from sun-up to sun-down, 365 days a year, summer and winter, rain or shine. The sun's rays penetrate clouds, window glass and thin clothing. Twenty minutes of daily unprotected sun exposure over the course of a  year is equal to spending 8 hours a day for 2 weeks sunbathing without protection. That's why it is important to always wear UVA/UVB sunscreen.

Heat (even cooking over a hot stove), hormones, and sunlight can cause brown spots on your skin. Keep cool and reapply sunscreen every 2 hours when exposed to the sun. Birth control pills or hormone replacement can make you sun-sensitive, so never be stingy with the sunscreen. Remember, no sunscreen lasts all day.

If you are treating your skin for age spots and melasma, a single day of unprotected sun exposure can virtually undo months of treatment. Don't forget the sunscreen, summer or winter!

Related: Sunscreen not just for summer: Why you should protect your skin in winter - National Skin Care Examiner