We spend a bazillion dollars each year trying to stave off the signs of aging. I don't know about you, but I think I'm addicted to buying anything that says it will get rid of wrinkles! I slather on stuff without really looking at the ingredients, praying it's not going to cause bigger problems down the road.
I have just learned that there is something I can do that may have a stronger chance of deterring those wrinkles than any cream I use. It's sugar, sugar.
I'm not talking about sugar scrubs, I'm talking about what you ingest. You need to cut it back or stop eating the stuff entirely it seems.
Yes, too much sugar can cause wrinkles according to studies. The more sugar you eat over time, the duller your skin and the more wrinkles you can develop.
Per Prevention via MSNBC: "At blame is a natural process that's known as glycation, in which the sugar in your bloodstream attaches to proteins to form harmful new molecules called advanced glycation end products (or, appropriately, AGEs for short). The more sugar you eat, the more AGEs you develop. "As AGEs accumulate, they damage adjacent proteins in a domino-like fashion," explains Fredric Brandt, MD, a dermatologist in private practice in Miami and New York City and author of "10 Minutes 10 Years." Most vulnerable to damage: collagen and elastin, the protein fibers that keep skin firm and elastic."
High fructose sugar is reportedly worse than plain sugar when it comes to AGEs.
It's never to young to start worrying about the effects of sugar, either! Per a Yahoo article on the subject, "A 2007 study in the British Journal of Dermatology found that sugar's effects on the skin begin to show at about age 35 and become more pronounced as you get older. And it's not just the obvious culprits, like soda and candy, that cause damage; other foods with a high glycemic index, like white bread, pasta and potatoes also cause the formation of AGEs, because they are quickly converted to sugar in the bloodstream. To make matters worse, AGEs also make the skin more susceptible to sun damage, which in turn accelerates the glycation process."
Have diabetes? Does it run in your family? You may have it and be completely unaware for quite some time. According to an AOL article, "One group that knows all too well sugar's ravaging effects: people with diabetes, who-because they can suffer from years of undetected high blood sugar-often show early signs of skin aging. "Depending on how well their disease is controlled, diabetics can have up to 50 times the number of AGEs in their skin as those who don't have diabetes," says Karyn Grossman, MD, a dermatologist in New York City and Santa Monica, CA, and chief of the division of dermatology at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica."
Avoiding sugar entirely is virtually impossible given the number of foods that turn into sugar in your system. However, you can cut back on added sugars with a bit of will power. You may find it easy to eliminate sugary sodas from your diet, but what about candy bars? cakes? donuts? Of course, a side benefit of cutting out those sugary treats is not just reduced wrinkles! You could find yourself fitting into those clothes you stuck in the back of the closet in hopes someday they'd fit again.
If you have the strength of character to ditch the known sugary foods, you then have to move onto the hidden sugars in food. Did you know that sugar is now added to mayonnaise? Dukes is the only one we've found that didn't have sugar. All those processed microwave dishes? Look at the label and you might be surprised to find sugar listed, as well as high fructose corn syrup, dextrose and other not so obvious types of sugar.
According to recommended food guidelines we're not supposed to eat more than 8 to 10 teaspoons of sugar a day. Don't think you're eating that much? One can of soda has roughly ten teaspoons of added sugar. Eight Hershey's Kisses.
Here's a new blog we've started that keeps up with hidden sugars, titled, surprisingly, "Hidden Sugars". We have included a list of names for sugar that manufacturers use on the tab "Hidden Sugar". If you decide to cut back or eliminate sugar you're probably going to be surprised at how often you'll see two or three different types of sugar in a product. When you add them all up, often sugar becomes the largest ingredient.
Don't think you'll be able to cut back on sugar enough to have an impact? Whether you do or not, we suggest using sunscreens to reduce the effects of harmful rays on the skin and make sure to take a healthy dose of Vitamin C to combat the effects of sugar and other nasties that contribute to aging your skin and body. B1 and B6 are also great at helping to combat the effects of life on your body.
Try drinking more water. Water flushes things through your system faster and helps to get rid of toxins.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Got wrinkles, sugar?
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
WrinkleFree Eyes 20-Minute Eye Lift System Is the New $30 Alternative to Botox
/PRNewswire/ -- University Medical Pharmaceuticals, a leading developer and distributor of medically developed and efficacy-based skin and beauty care products, today announced the launch of its newest product, the WrinkleFree Eyes 20-Minute Eye Lift System(TM). Now available at more than 35,000 mass market retail locations throughout the U.S., the WrinkleFree Eyes 20-Minute Eye Lift System is a safe and affordable non-surgical alternative to costly, invasive and painful cosmetic procedures.
Using a scientific process called "Iontophoresis," the patented micro-charged eye patch activates on contact with the skin to gently push Retinol 4x(TM) activating serum deep into the skin to dramatically reduce the appearance of wrinkles in only 20 minutes. In order to maintain results between WrinkleFree Eyes patch treatments, the two-week starter kit includes the daily 24 Hour Face Lift(TM) dermal filler which continually releases hyaluronic acid to naturally fill in gaps and decrease the look of wrinkles and enhance smoothness and elasticity as well as WrinkleFree Eyes' patented nightly Retinol 4x intensive cream which is time-released so it is four times stronger, yet significantly less irritating than leading retinol treatments.
Product benefits include:
-- Clinically proven to reduce wrinkle appearance up to 85% in only 20
minutes
-- Each eye patch treatment lasts up to one week
-- Features micro-charged "Iontophoresis" technology which is a gentle
trans-dermal process that activates on contact with skin to deliver
Retinol 4x deeper and faster
-- Affordable, non-invasive topical treatment
"We are thrilled to launch the WrinkleFree Eyes 20-Minute Eye Lift System in order to provide an easy-to-use and affordable alternative to invasive cosmetic procedures," said Ray Francis, president and CEO, University Medical Pharmaceuticals. "No over-the-counter product has shown to be as effective in reducing the appearance of wrinkles or works as fast, 20 minutes is all it takes to look younger and more rejuvenated for just thirty dollars."
The WrinkleFree Eyes 20-Minute Eye Lift System two-week starter kit includes two micro-charged eye patches and Retinol 4x activating serum, Retinol 4x time-released intensive cream and 24 Hour Face Lift time-released dermal filler and is available at retail locations nationwide including, CVS, Rite Aid, Target, Walgreens and Walmart for $29.99 (MSRP). The WrinkleFree Eyes 20-Minute Eye Lift System is the latest addition to University Medical Pharmaceuticals' growing line of skin and beauty care products which are developed in conjunction with leading university dermatology departments and faculty members.
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Georgia Front Page
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Opinion: The Quest for Youth, Beauty and... Cancer?
As I was walking on the treadmill this morning I listened to a health segment showing on Fox News. It was not good news gals! There's a new study out that shows a strong link between occurrences of breast cancer and those lotions we use to keep ourselves looking younger.
Yikes. You should see my bathroom counter! Every time I go to the store I pick up some new cream that promised eternal youth, no wrinkles, slimmer thighs and other miracles. I figure if I mix and match maybe one of them will work.
There's the under-eye stuff that helps minimize puffiness and discoloration. Then there's another that promises no wrinkles and that it's the absolute best, works overnight, I'll be twenty years younger if I use it... Why take a chance on choosing the wrong one?
I "assumed" they were safe since they're made by mainstream companies that must be regulated since they're sold in the United States, right?
Wrong.
Now I hear as I'm drinking my first bottle of water (which according to studies has its own problems), walking on the treadmill to slim those thighs (so much for the thigh slimming cream) and keep the heart healthy, that the stuff I slathered on my face last night and then the other stuff I added this morning might result in breast cancer.
According to the study, many lotions contain estrogen or estrogen related ingredients. The extra estrogen could, and there's the magic word, could, increase the risk of breast cancer.
Here's another startling fact I found when I followed up on the story: "Due to gaping loopholes in federal law, companies can put virtually any ingredient into personal care products. Even worse, the government does not require pre-market safety tests for any of them." (per Skin Deep, see below)
Whoa. I was shocked to say the least. Here I go trusting my government again. I should know better. I am usually pretty good at checking out what goes into my body, I just had a major mental lapse when it came to what I put on my body. Even though I've heard whispers about problems with some ingredients I hadn't given it much thought. I mean, gee, it seems that there's a problem with everything these days!
I decided to do some research of my own on the Internet. As I wandered around reading articles the news got worse. There are studies showing increases in the rate of cancer in those who started using makeup at younger ages! There are articles all over the place, many from respected sources, warning against ingredients in lotions, creams, cosmetics and other products we regularly use to keep ourselves looking good --- on the outside.
Given the choice between an extra wrinkle and laying in a wrinkled bed while getting chemo treatments, I think I'll go with the extra wrinkle on the face. However, it seems I may not have to make that drastic a choice, staving off aging as I can for as long as I reasonably can! There are product choices that don't have the known nasty carcinogens. I'm going to be doing some research and will be finding those products. I found one site (www.cosmeticdatabase.com) that seems to be a good neutral starting place. Below are a few articles I've chosen to help you get started on your own research:
From Cornell University (this is the best of all articles I found, has some great videos)
Breast Cancer - The Estrogen Connection
Cosmetics and More
Ingredients in a wide variety of cosmetics and personal care products can mimic the effects of the hormone estrogen. Scientists are concerned that even at low levels, these environmental estrogens may work together with the body’s own estrogen to increase the risk of breast cancer.
http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/research/endocrine/videos/makeup.cfm
Visit www.cosmeticdatabase.com -
Skin Deep is a safety guide to cosmetics and personal care products brought to you by researchers at the Environmental Working Group.
Skin Deep pairs ingredients in more than 41,000 products against 50 definitive toxicity and regulatory databases, making it the largest integrated data resource of its kind. Why did a small nonprofit take on such a big project? Because the FDA doesn't require companies to test their own products for safety.
Other articles:
Pretty Ugly: Cosmetics Ingredients Linked to Breast Cancer?
Author: Karen Barrow
Medically Reviewed On: January 04, 2007
Even at the youngest ages, little girls find their way into their mother’s makeup kit, making a mess of lipstick, eye shadow and mascara on their face. And as girls grow older, they begin the delicate debate with their parents over what type of makeup they can wear and when. However, mothers and fathers everywhere may have one more tool in their arsenal for convincing their daughters to delay that trip to the cosmetics counter.
http://juneauempire.healthology.com/main/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-%20prevention/article4037.htm
Cosmetics Popular With Latinas Linked to Cancer, Other Serious Health Problems
Bill Requiring Cosmetics Companies to Report Use of Hazardous Chemicals Would Protect Salon Workers
SAN FRANCISCO—Several cosmetics products that are popular with Latina consumers have been found to contain ingredients linked to cancer and other serious health problems, according to an analysis of cosmetics ingredients.
http://www.breastcancerfund.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=kwKXLdPaE&b=1745617&ct=1286431
