Broccoli Shows Promise As Viable Sunscreen

As exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays remains the leading cause of skin cancer, healthcare professionals test for safe and effective sunscreen products that can protect our skin from the sun’s intensity. Researchers from the University of Arizona Cancer Center and Johns Hopkins University have identified a compound in broccoli that could defend against melanoma development when applied to the skin.

Sulforaphane, a phytochemical found in broccoli, has been linked to cancer-fighting properties when consumed; however, few studies have dealt with its topical application, Medical News Today reported. A team headed up by Dr. Sally Dickinson, research assistant professor in the University of Arizona’s pharmacology department, has been studying the chemoprotective properties in broccoli since 2005.

“We’re searching for better methods to prevent skin cancer in formats that are affordable and manageable for public use,” Dickinson said in a statement. “Sulforaphane may be an excellent candidate for use in the prevention of skin cancer caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays.”

According to the team’s findings, sulforaphane is effective in activating cancer-fighting genes including Nrf2, which inhibits cancer-causing pathways like the AP-1 protein. A “topical broccoli sprout solution” will be applied to individuals participating in an upcoming pilot study to test the compound’s effect on artificial UV light. “Sulforaphane is the kind of compound that has so many incredible theoretical applications if the dosage is measured properly,” Dickinson added. “We already know that it is very effective in blocking sunburns, and we have seen cases where it can induce protective enzymes in the skin.”

According to the American Cancer Society, melanoma — often the most fatal type of skin cancer — accounts for over 9,000 of the 12,000 skin cancer deaths each year.

Dickinson and her team hope that sulforaphane application […]

5 Ways Probiotics Make You Prettier

This article originally appeared on Prevention
Make your skin care come alive
You already know that eating or taking probiotics can improve your skin from the inside out. But as a new batch of products and research would suggest, you can reap the anti-aging benefits of probiotics by applying them topically, too. “We have good and bad bacteria on our skin, just as we do in our gut,” says Ellen Marmur, MD, an associate professor of dermatology and genetics at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. “If the balance is off-kilter, it can result in acne or rosacea.” The right bacteria may also keep skin young. “A study found that probiotics can stimulate skin’s protective mechanism from the inside, and this may also happen with external application,” says Eric Perrier, a cosmetic scientist.

Scientists weren’t the only ones impressed. Here, five products that treat serious skin woes with, well, bacteria.
1. Smooth Dry Skin

Burt’s Bees Intense Hydration Night Cream ($18; drugstores)

Look for probiotics in a night cream—like this one by Burt’s Bees—to give the active cultures a full 8 hours to do their dirty work. Here, the probiotic technology helps your skin retain the moisture it has while natural butters feed your skin restorative antioxidants that combat fine lines and wrinkles.

2. Minimize redness or rosacea
Clinique Redness Solutions Makeup SPF 15 ($27; clinique.com)

Facial redness, chronic or not, is caused by inflammation, which makes your blood vessels visible at the skin’s surface. This liquid makeup—the first of its kind—actually treats facial redness while you wear it. Little invisible yellow- and green-tinted pearls neutralize and camouflage the visual redness while active probiotic Lactobacillus and a slew of natural extracts calm, soothe, and strengthen the skin’s barrier to lessen redness […]

The Correct Way To Apply a Moisturizer

 

Choosing the right moisturizer is not the only way to achieve best hydrating results. You have to know WHEN and HOW moisturize your skin.

The best time to apply a moisturizer is right after a shower, just before your skin is completely dry. This will lock the water into the skin and will help ensure better hydration.

Before applying moisturizer, pat your skin with a towel until the skin is almost dry instead of rubbing it. Now it is the time to give your skin a massage. Rather than dabbing on your face cream, use circular motions to massage the cream into your skin. This simple trick will kick your blood circulation at full throttle. In addition to moisturizing every day, don’t forget to exfoliate your skin at least once a week. Dead skin builds up on your skin and makes you look flaky, scaly and ashy. Plus, a thick layer of dead skin cells can make your moisturizer less effective.

Healthy Lifestyle Can Reverse Cell Aging

Dr. Roshini Raj and Dr. Adam Ofer share some of the biggest news in the medical world this week, including a study that shows men with healthy lifestyles had longer telomeres, a cap on DNA that is shortened over your lifespan.

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Gel Manicures: More Dangerous Than You Think

On today’s show, Dr. Raj talked about the risks of getting multiple gel manicures. It turns out gel manicures pose more danger than most of us might think.
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Ultimate Girl’s Guide To Looking And Feeling Great

 

Dr. Oz has got all the tools you’ll need to help you feel and look your best. Learn the secrets that Hollywood stars use to lose two dress sizes instantly so you can too! Plus, find out which new skin care products to make you look younger overnight! Fight all the signs of aging with anti-aging cocktails that turn back the clock.

Watch the segment here: Dr. Oz