Redheads at Risk for Melanoma?!

My ginger friends are not going to like this, but according to a new study released today in the Los Angeles Times, gingers have an elevated risk of skin cancer even when covered up! The study was published in the Journal of Nature and used mice (boo hoo) to discover that the reddish-yellowish pigment that give ginger’s their gorgeous hair and freckles can trigger melanoma. Watch out Lindsay Lohan!!

According to  Med Page Today (11/1, Smith) reports, “In the absence of UV light, less than a quarter of both the black and the white mice developed melanoma after a year. In contrast, half the red mice had developed cancer by year’s end,” the researchers found. “The key appears to be the gene for the melanocortin 1 receptor, MC1R.”

But what to do if you’re ginger or even fair skinned? Hello??!! People, wear your sunscreen! A hat helps and so do long sleeves and pants when outside for long periods of time. No one expects you to lock yourself inside and never see the light of day but there are ways to be smart about spending time in the sun. Look for clothing with an SPF- Coolibar is one of the best places to find these items. I love their big rimmed hats!  Remember to reapply sunscreen every 30 minutes or after you swim or sweat. A visit to your Dermatologist for a mole check couldn’t hurt either. 

Coming to beach bags this spring/summer- GOLDFADEN MD’s SUN VISOR! No, it is not a visor-it’s a 30 SPF mist and it is fantastic! SUN VISOR not only protects but also has a cooling effect. Stay tuned for launch date!

So if you’re in a sunny climate today remember to put on your sunscreen and a hat! Have a happy, sunny day!

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Beyond Pink: Breast Cancer Awareness

Marked by the ubiquitous color pink, October represents the month of the year during which we all collectively direct our attention towards breast cancer. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month provides the opportunity to raise both awareness and hope for millions of America’s women and men affected by breast cancer. While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same. Why do we neglect to get tested, make steps towards a healthier you?

Dr. Elaine Schattner reports on The Huffington Post some crucial information for those in search of deeper insight into the causes of breast cancer. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) focuses on research for better and less-toxic drugs. Breast Cancer Action emphasizes environmental factors that contribute to the disease rate.

GOLDFADEN MD Gives Back to CEW’s Cancer & Careers Organization. We are so proud to be taking part in this year’s initiative to prevent and treat this disease by donating 10% of Goldfaden product sales made in October to CEW’s Cancer and Careers. Help us make our donation goal and start shopping today!

These are just some of my inspiring beauty goods that give back to BCA:

– Bobbi Brown Pink Peony Set: A chic duo of illuminating powder and mini brush helps fight breast cancer, with a $10 donation from the sale of each set benefiting BCRF.

– Can’t live without these tweezers, by Tweezerman. A portion of the proceeds are donated to companies making strides to find a cure.

– Sonia Kashuk creates a “proudly pink brush set” available at Target, to help raise awareness.

 

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Food For Your Face?

Actual food ingredients in skincare products seems to be a rampant trend as of late. We’ve been hearing about mushrooms for a while thanks to Dr. Weil and Green Tea is everywhere, but do they really work?  According to a story in the Los Angeles Times they may NOT.  Dr. Leslie Bauman, a Miami based dermatologist, terrific author and researcher brings up the point that just because the food is good to ingest, does not mean that it works when applied topically. However, there are still a few that offer anti-aging protection and aid in restoring skin.

Being the Princess of Natural Skincare, I like to take my self appointed name and earn it. So, I have to experiment in order to report back to you. Saturday night I decided to try one of the oldest food ingredients on my face to see what all the fuss was about. For years I have been reading about the benefits of olive oil, not only to eat but for the skin and hair. It felt great going on if not a little greasy (go figure), and I smelled delicious. I only put it on one side of my face in order to compare it to the other in the AM.  When I woke up my face did not feel any more hydrated on the olive oil side. And I used Extra Virgin……  Is it a wives tale or just for Greek beauties, like my next door neighbor in college?

According to Emily Sohn’s LA times article there are some food ingredients that do work without breaking the bank.  Read through them and then let me know if you’ve ever tried anything crazy on your skin or hair!

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