5 of the Best Skin Care-Related Stories for the Week of July 19

Summertime tends to bring unique skin care concerns – and stories!  Photo courtesy Bright :-).  

I searched the web for some of the top skin care-related stories, so you don’t have to!  Here’s a look at some of the top stories that caught my interest this week:

Dermatologist Dr. Leslie Baumann, M.D. discusses use of chemical (i.e., avobenzone, oxybenzone, homosalate, etc.) and physical (i.e., zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) sunscreens.  While Dr. Baumann acknowledges that she uses chemical sunscreens because they are “proven to work, and the health risks they pose are negligible when compared to the risk of skin cancer and other sun damage.”  However, Dr. Baumann also notes that while “parabens, phthalates and other chemicals found in [chemical] sunscreen are unlikely to cause harm in one person, but when used by many can build up in the environment and cause widespread ecological problems, such as endocrine disruption,” I found this to be extremely interesting – I had never thought of that means for risk before!  Still, at any rate, the potential risk must be minimal, as Dr. Baumann notes that she still layers physical sunscreens over chemical sunscreens when playing golf (a trick I also like, as UV light tends to make chemical sunscreens unstable, and so by layering physical sunscreens over them, you can not only receive the benefits of both sunscreens, but also potentially prolong the effects of the chemical sunscreen).  Definitely an article worth checking out!

Dermatologist Dr. Jeffrey Benabio, M.D. tells how to quickly and effectively treat poison ivy and poison oak.  In a less-than-one-page entry, this one’s definitely worth keeping on the bookmarks list, just in case of emergency.  (Or in case you decide you want to skip through a wooded grassland in shorts and a tank top, that too…)

Awesome beauty blogger Nancy at Beauty411.net discusses the new tretinoin cream, Refissa™.  Unlike prescription Retin-A Micro or Renova, which are 0.01% and 0.02% tretinoin, respectively, the new prescription Refissa (Spear Dermatology) is a full 0.05% tretinoin.  Refissa is best tolerated by those with drier skin, and attempts to be less irritating than one would expect from such a high concentration of tretinoin by incorporating a “hydrating base.”  At any rate, be sure to talk to your dermatologist about your skin care concerns before requesting this or any other skin care treatment.  Click here for a $20 rebate offer from the manufacturer.

Another awesome beauty blogger (and current physician) Christine at 15MinuteBeautyFanatic discusses current over-the-counter topical treatments for cellulite.  Christine seems to echo my opinion on this one: creams with caffeine can temporarily constrict the blood vessels, making the skin appear smoother and the cellulite a bit less visible for a few hours, but by nighttime, the results are the same.  For more on cellulite treatments, please click here for an earlier post.

Yet another awesome beauty blogger, Erika, shares what she takes with her on vacation.  With TSA regulations making suitcase space for toiletries so limited, seriously, who couldn’t use more advice on what to bring?  🙂  I personally do not leave home without:

• Travel Accessories Travelon 1-Quart Bottle Zip Bottles ($11.66, Amazon.com).  I’ve found that tends to be cheaper and more time-effective to buy a kit like this and pour full-size toiletries into them, rather than try to find travel sizes of my favorites.  If I’m really in a pinch for time and don’t want to wait for this kit to be shipped, I will run to my nearest Bed Bath and Beyond, who sells a rather delightful little kit for $9.99 (pre-coupon!)
• Travel-size Skinceuticals CE Ferulic (of course; travel sizes available from Skinmedix.com);
• Three (or more) tubes of Travel-size Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch SPF 100 Sunscreen;
• Travel-size LaRoche Posay Fluide Extreme SPF 50+ (for my face for more formal occasions while traveling, as it is not greasy or hard to absorb into the skin);
• Revale Skin Night Cream with 1% Coffeeberry (the antioxidant with the highest ORAC score available).  I usually use retinoids at night, but when I am on vacation in a sunny location, I want for my skin to be less photosensitive.  Of course, I return to the retinoids as soon as I get home.
• Sun hat with UPF 50+, as well as other high UPF gear.  For more on sun protective clothing, please click here.