Promising Research From NYC Doctors on Probiotics

This article originally appeared on Metro.us 

Your doctor might hold the cure for a problem that’s been bugging the medical community. Read on to learn about three local physicians’ exciting fieldwork.

Doctor-patient communication’s importance in cancer prevention

Who’s doing it? Columbia University’s Dr. Charles Basch, colorectal cancer researcher for the American Cancer Society

What did he do? Basch’s research is a follow-up to a previous study that led to increased awareness of colon cancer screening. But with screening rates still low, more needed to be done. “This study targets doctors as a potential source of communication,” he says. “We need to provide doctors with adaptive training and educate them on the barriers patients face. Doctors need to make patients more comfortable.”

When will treatment be available? He’s hoping to discern the study’s effectiveness “in the coming months,” he says. “All doctors agree that colonoscopies prevent colon cancer, but we need to tailor the conversation. Then we can implement it better.”

New minimally invasive procedure for diabetes and weight loss

Who’s doing it? Dr. Louis Aronne, Sanford I. Weill professor of metabolic research at Weill Cornell Medical College

What did he do? Aronne helped develop a liner “to block the absorption of calories from the first part of the intestine.” The non-surgical procedure takes a half hour to insert, and patients go home the same day. “It’s an alternative to gastric bypass and might reduce the amount of drugs diabetics take.”

When will it be available? FDA registration trials will take a couple years, but it will be longer before the procedure is available. Right now, “we’re recruiting people for the trials,” Aronne says.

Probiotics for healing acne and rosacea, and slowing skin aging

Who’s doing it? Dr. Whitney Bowe, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center, and member of […]

5 Hazards Hiding in Your Handbag

What dangerous germs are lurking in your handbag? Dr. Raj shares some of the most common handbag hazards.

You can watch the segment here: Veria Living Live

Bad Beauty Habits That Are Giving You Wrinkles

This article originally appeared on: Daily Makeover

Wrinkles are a part of aging—and life. While we know to expect wrinkles as we get older, some of the battle has nothing to do with age. Our beauty routines and habits can impact wrinkling as well. See the bad habits you’re unknowingly participating in.

Smoking

Smoking is the most common cause of wrinkles that we see. “There have been studies of twins that showed proof of this in stunning detail. So skip cigarettes and lose the wrinkles!” says Dr. Joel Schlessinger, a board certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon and founder of LovelySkin.com.

Your Diet

If you want to keep your skin healthy and young, the old saying that you are what you eat has never been more true. Aside from adding extra pounds to your weight, eating too much sugar and high-glycemic foods may also be aging you. “Through a damaging process called glycation, sugar molecules attach to the proteins (including collagen) in your skin, causing them to become stiff and malformed. This results in a loss of facial elasticity and contours, puffiness and fine lines. Refined sugar and other simple carbohydrates also trigger inflammation throughout the body by causing insulin levels to skyrocket. Inflammation produces enzymes that break down collagen and elastin, which leads to sagging and wrinkles,” says Dr. Roshini Raj, co-founder of TULA.

Drinking

“Alcohol is a hepatotoxin, meaning it specifically damages the liver. It’s a toxin to the cells that detoxify your body,” explains Dr. James C. Marotta, a dual-board certified facial plastic surgeon. All alcohol dehydrates the skin. This means your skin will appear less plump and fresh the next morning. Over time, your skin will lose elasticity and form wrinkles due to a lack of hydration. “Additionally, alcohol can have a huge negative impact on your vitamin A level, which is a very important antioxidant for your skin/body, and it is vital in […]

How to Keep Hands Looking Young Forever

The article originally appeared on: Daily Makeover

Beautiful, healthy hands come from more than a fresh manicure. Besides simply looking good, your hands are a sign of good health. They are also one of the first places to show early signs of aging and, in some cases, they age faster than your face. That’s why it is crucial to establish a preventative regimen that will help you keep your hands young and healthy.
Hands are now the tell-tale sign of a woman’s age and lifestyle, and for that reason, it’s more important than ever to maintain youthful looking hands.  Are your hands showing the signs of aging? Some things to look for include thin wrinkly skin. “This could be due to loss of fat and subcutaneous tissue as part of the aging process,” says plastic surgeon Dr. Dana Khuthaila. To counteract this appearance, Dr. Khuthaila suggests fat injections or hyaluronic acid fillers to plump up the skin and make it look youthful.

Fillers

“For older hands that have lost volume and have started to show the veins and arteries through the skin, I use Radiesse (Merz) off label to re-volumize the skin and soft tissue.  It is a nice procedure to add youthful volume to sunken hands,” says Dr. Anthony M. Rossi, MD, Cosmetic Dermatology and Mohs Micrographic Surgery at Juva Skin and Laser Center.

Exfoliate

Be vigilant in exfoliation as part of your skin care regime, but be sure not to forget to exfoliate your hands, especially the backs of them. This can be done with a good salt scrub that you use in the shower. Rub them lightly in circular patterns past your wrists and then rinse off the salt.

Limit Exposure

“Shielding your hands from the sun is one of the best measures you can take. It not only reduces the […]

8 Beauty Uses of Oatmeal

 The article originally appeared on: Daily Makeover

We all know that a hot bowl of oatmeal is a healthy and delicious start to your day, but it goes beyond that. Oats have amazing skin benefits that you should be taking advantage of right now.
Face Exfoliator
Dr. Debra Jaliman, dermatologist and author of Skin Rules, says to combine 1 tsp of ground oatmeal, 1 tsp of lemon juice, and 2 tsp of yogurt and apply to the face. This scrub tones and hydrates the skin.
Cleanser
“Oatmeal is great at removing excess oil and dirt from the body and face, thanks to the saponins it contains,” says Dr. Roshini Raj, co-founder of TULA. Their cleansing and exfoliating properties make oatmeal a powerful ingredient in many face scrubs, cleansers and shampoos. You can also use ground oats to eliminate excess oil from your scalp, which will give you an extra day or two between washings. Plus, oatmeal has strong anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to relieve itchy, uncomfortable skin.
Hand Scrub
If you have a sink drain that can handle the roughage, you can make an awesome hand scrub with oatmeal, honey and a dash of olive oil. You can add in your favorite essential oils to make it more fragrant, or just leave as is. It’s great for sensitive skin because it exfoliates gently.
Bath Soak
Oatmeal, best known for it’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, is especially good for sensitive skin. It can be used in the bath for skin softening and very gentle exfoliation. “Next time your skin is feeling rough from the harsh winds of winter, add a 1/2 cup of oatmeal to your bath with some lavender essential oil. Your skin will feel softer and the aromatherapy effects of the lavender will help you relax and rejuvenate,” says Denise Weaver, owner of Smart by Nature. 

Dry Shampoo
Dr. Marina Paredo says oatmeal works […]

Can Probiotics Give You Flawless Skin?

This article originally appeared on health24.com

We know probiotics are good for your digestive health and weight control, but could this non-digestible food ingredient be the next big thing in skincare?

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that help to maintain the health of the intestinal tract and aid digestion.

They also help keep potentially harmful organisms in the gut (some bacteria and yeasts) under control. Now researchers are saying that by getting a good daily dose of probiotics it can also help clear up problem skin while therapists are starting to use them in skincare products in the fight against problem and ageing skin.

They help the gut, but is there a knock-on effect?

Research studies, including by the British Journal of Dermatology and Journal of Dermatological Science, have discovered a range of benefits associated with p, suggesting that it can help improve the balance of bacteria in your skin the same way it improves the bacteria in your digestive system.

These studies have shown an improvement in eczema as well as acne if you regularly eat products containing probiotics – either through a supplement such as acidophilus or in specially formulated yoghurts or fermented products such as kimchee, keiffer, miso, tempeh, aged cheese, some soy beverages and sauerkraut.

According to Natural Solutions (Jul. 2008, issue 109, p.89), probiotics can clear up one’s complexion. Authors concluded that when the good bacteria enter the body, they strengthen the skin’s acid mantle and protects the outermost layer of the skin from pathogens and free radicals.

Probiotics in skincare 

When you cleanse your face, depending on the product you use, you often strip all the good and bad bacteria off it, leaving it vulnerable. By using a skincare product – cleanser, cream or serum – with a built-in probiotic, you put the good ones right back.

According to the Health & Wellness Trends […]

Are Probiotics The New Beauty Food?

This article originally appeared on Yahoo! Health

Taking a daily dose of probiotics may help you achieve beautiful and healthy skin, suggests early research on the live, friendly bacteria and skin health.

Combined with effective stress management strategies and a healthy diet, oral probiotics may help to reduce inflammation, explains Whitney P. Bowe, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of dermatology. By promoting a healthier digestive system, probiotics may prevent toxins in the gut from leaking into the bloodstream. In turn, this may help to reduce inflammation throughout the body, including acne and rosacea flares on the skin.

“To maximize the benefits of probiotics, you should try to reduce stress and minimize refined carbohydrates in your diet,” suggests Dr. Bowe. “Eat more complex carbohydrates, more fibre, more deeply coloured fruits and vegetables. All of those things will set the stage for adding healthy bacteria.”

Some probiotics might also be applied to the skin to act as a protective shield, guarding against harmful microbes that can trigger acne, rosacea, and other skin conditions. Dr. Bowe explains that friendly bacteria can produce antimicrobial substances, which kill unwelcome germs. Certain strains of probiotics may also calm skin cells, helping to limit unsightly immune responses, such as inflammation, redness, and bumps.

Probiotics may boost skin health
Much research remains to be done – and probiotic hype may exceed actual health perks. However, investigators have found evidence linking friendly bacteria to healthier skin. For example:

In an in vitro study, Dr. Bowe and colleagues found that the probioticStreptococcus salivarius produced a zit-zapping substance that limited the growth of Propionibacterium acnes, a bacterium linked with acne.

When applied to the skin, two probiotic strains of Lactobacilli helped to protect against skin infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, report researchers from The University of Manchester, UK. Among […]

Can Probiotics Clear Your Acne?

These days, it seems like there’s nothing bacteria can’t do. It can cure nasty diarrheal infections through a trendy fecal transplant. It can help heal leaky guts. And now, research is showing that it can even clear your skin.

That might seem counterintuitive to anyone who’s been prescribed rounds of acne-fighting   antibiotics by their dermatologist. But some derms are now prescribing probiotics alongside the antibiotics. This pairing can help calm antibiotics’ negative side effects, like yeast infections—but they may also have an unintended benefit for acne sufferers, said Dr. Whitney Bowe, a New York-based dermatologist and researcher.

“After they’d finish the antibiotics, my patients would come back and say they were still taking the probiotics, because they were really helping their skin clear up,” she said.

How do probiotics pack such acne-healing power? Digestion is affected by stress, anxiety, and a low-fiber, high-processed diet, which shifts our inner microbial colonies for the worse.

“When that happens, levels of system-wide inflammation are increased,” Bowe said, including in the skin. “By taking oral probiotic supplements or by eating probiotics in your diet, you can theoretically restore a healthy environment in your gut and keep the skin from getting inflamed.”

This gut-skin connection isn’t a new idea: In 1961, a case report found that of 300 acne patients given a probiotic, 80 percent had clinical improvement. But the notion has captured a lot more attention lately.

Recent studies conducted in Russia and Italy found that probiotics help acne patients heal better and faster. And one small 2010 study published in the journal Nutrition found that acne patients who consumed a Lactobacillus-fermented beverage for 12 weeks produced less sebum (oily secretions) and had fewer acne lesions.

New research is looking at how topical probiotics can have […]

Early Research Shows Link Between Probiotics and Clear Skin

This article originally appeared on Skin Inc

In recent years, probiotics have become synonymous with helping maintain good digestive health. Whether as live active cultures found in some yogurts or as daily supplements, probiotics are live, “friendly” bacteria that may benefit a person’s health. Now, emerging research is finding that the benefits of probiotics may extend beyond the digestive tract to the skin. In fact, skin prone to acne or rosacea has shown improvement with daily probiotic use, giving dermatologists reason to consider supplementing traditional acne therapy with a dose of this beneficial bacteria.

American Academy of Dermatology expert
Information provided by Whitney P. Bowe, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York, and adjunct assistant clinical professor of dermatology at State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate College of Medicine in Brooklyn.
The science behind probiotics effect on the skin
 

Most bacterial cells that live inside and on the body are harmless, and studies show that, in fact, they can be extremely beneficial to the body’s normal functioning. Bowe noted that while the science of how probiotics can work to interfere with the development of acne and rosacea is very complex, Bowe noted that researchers are studying how this type of healthy bacteria applied topically to the skin or taken orally can benefit these skin conditions.
Topically applied probiotics
Currently, some cosmeceutical manufacturers have started using probiotics in their products based on this early research—including probiotic masks, creams or cleansers. There are different ways that topical probiotics can benefit the skin:

Protective Shield.

In patients with acne and rosacea, living microorganisms on the skin are recognized as foreign by the body’s immune system. The immune system […]

How to Save Your Lips in The Winter

Winter is no fun for our skin – most of all our lips. If you want to have soft kissable lips in time for Valentine’s Day, these tricks just may help get the job done.

Get a Humidifier

Often hair concerns keep us from getting too close to humidity. When winter dryness attacks, we may need to rethink our game plan. Dry air leads to painfully cracked lips. Releasing moisture into the air should increase your comfort level in no time.

 

Don’t Lick Your Lips!

To winter-proof your lips, avoid licking them – licking your lips will just make your lips more dry and chapped. ”Scrubbing or biting off skin flakes is another common mistake, which may cause bleeding and may further irritate the lip skin. Your lips need a consistent use of a protective balm. Look for ointment-based products containing ingredients such as cocoa butter, vitamins A and E, lanolin or beeswax. They will help smooth and repair broken skin. Drinking plenty of water will keep you more hydrated overall and help prevent chapped lips,” says Dr. Roshini Raj, Celebrity Doctor, Author and Media Personality.

Exfoliate Lips Daily

Beauty & Wellness expert Shiri Sarfati shares a great DIY lip scrub recipe. “Create a sugar exfoliation, mix sugar with olive oil and massage lips. Remove with damp cotton. Sugar performs physical exfoliation of the dead skin cells, so lips become smooth and added bonus – it tastes sweet!” If you don’t have the time make your own scrub, simply use a soft bristled toothbrush to gently exfoliate lips and follow with a petrolatum-free lip salve. Look for lip balms made with natural vegetable oils and butters including cocoa, mango and shea and formulas high in Vitamin E.

Always Use Lip Balm

Since you […]