Vital Wellness

If vitamin D is the sunshine vitamin, then vitamin C is the sun block vita­min, say some researchers—many of whom also proclaim it the healthy skin vitamin.

In general, vitamin C is important for keeping the skin younger look­ing, recommends a safe daily vitamin C intake of about 300 to 500 milligrams to maintain skin quality.

Studies have shown that just a minimal amount of ultraviolet rays can deplete exposed skin of vitamin C by 30 percent. Exposure to the ozone in a polluted city can decrease levels of vitamin C by as much as 55 percent. Med­ical researchers have also found vitamin C to be of some help when applied topically. It has been shown to significantly reduce the amount of so-called free radical damage that occurs from sun exposure. Free radicals are naturally occurring unstable molecules that steal electrons from the body’s healthy mol­ecules to balance themselves. Unchecked, they can cause significant tissue damage. Read the rest of this entry »

Originally developed as an acne medication to unplug clogged pores, retinoic acid, the active ingredient found in products like Retin-A and Differin, has found resounding success as an anti-aging ointment. Though not a fountain of youth, retinoic acid works to eliminate fine wrinkles, blemishes, and age spots by stimulating cell turnover in a metabolic process that still is not entirely understood.

To remove an age spot, dermatologists often recommend applying the strongest dosage of retinoic acid that you can tolerate directly on the spot. The area will proceed to peel, and after a few months, the spot should dimin­ish and possibly even disappear. Read the rest of this entry »

Ours is a culture with little appreciation for spots. None of us like getting a spot on our record, on our reputation, or on our shirt. And we cer­tainly don’t like seeing spots when we’re looking into a mirror!

But as we age, many of us do begin to see spots, especially on our hands, feet, and face.

And whether we call them liver spots, age spots, or sun spots, the reac­tion is likely the same: We want a spot remover.

Technically known as lentigines, age spots are the result of excess pig­ment being deposited in the skin during years of sun exposure. So along with treatment, dermatologists also recommend avoiding exposure to the sun. Read the rest of this entry »