Use your smartphone to prevent skin cancer

Summer is over, hopefully you have been using sunscreen to protect your African American skin from the sun's UV rays. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, you should learn the warning signs of skin cancer, but not everyone knows which moles or spots to be worried about and which ones are normal.

Luckily, a free smartphone app developed at the University of Michigan Health System allows people to photograph suspicious moles or other skin lesions and then walks them step-by-step through a skin self-exam.

"Whole body photography is a well-established resource for following patients at risk for melanoma. However, it requires a professional photographer, is not always covered by insurance, and can be an inconvenience. Now that many people have digital cameras on their phones, it's more feasible to do this at home," said researcher Michael Sabel, M.D.

If you're not sure if you have a high chance of developing skin cancer, the app also includes a risk calculator that allows you to input your personal data and calculate your risk.

Survey shows women spend weeks applying makeup in a lifetime

How much time to do you spend each day applying your African American skin care products? According to a recent survey of British women, the average woman spends 91 hours a year applying makeup. That amounts to 43 weeks over the course of a lifetime.
The Daily Mail reported on the study, which also found that almost one-third of women surveyed would like to reduce the amount of time they spend each day applying makeup, but only 13 percent would be willing to leave the house with no makeup on. Furthermore, 8 percent of women admitted to spending at least 30 minutes a week altering images of themselves on social media sites.
"All the time spent worrying in front of the mirror could be spent having a good time with family or friends who will appreciate your company whether you're wearing makeup or not," said researcher Leah Doherty, quoted by the news source.
Bella Sugar reported on a 2010 study, which found that the average woman will spend approximately $15,000 on makeup in her lifetime and shop for makeup five times a year. These surveys show that clearly, women love their makeup. 

New York Times explores the new generation of skin lighteners

There was a time when fade cream for black skin was aimed at lightening the complexion overall, resulting in an unnatural appearance, discoloration and lesions due to the harsh chemicals that these African American skin care products contained.

But black skin care products have come a long way. They allow men and women to flaunt their gorgeous complexions while evening out dark spots on black skin and reducing the appearance of scarring.

Recently, the New York Times ran an article about some of these products and how they're being marketed worldwide.

"In Asia, there are a lot of whitening products, and that's what the category is called, which is in reference to the pearl-white skin that they aspire to have. In the U.S., it's different because it's more about evening the complexion, and it's for all ethnicities. We call it brightening. It's not about the color of the skin," said Christine Dagousset, an executive vice president for Chanel cosmetics, quoted by the news source.

In decades past, many skin lightening products for African Americans contained a chemical called hydroquinone. According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, the chemical is a potential carcinogen and has been linked to a number of skin conditions, including ochronosis, which results in thick, dark patches of skin.

Men are beginning to see the value in African American skin care products

 

Women aren't the only ones who want smooth, even complexions, and men are beginning to catch on that ladies don't just wake up with glowing skin – as looking good often requires African American skin care products.

As such, men's skincare grew by 11 percent between 2010 and 2011, according to research company NPD Group.

However, men seem to struggle figuring out just what products they should be using, as they have trouble identifying what their problem is to begin with.

"Once men know they have a need to fill, their problem-solution orientation will fuel their desire to find products to alleviate their grooming challenges," said Karen Grant, VP and senior global analyst at NPD Group. "They also have to unlearn the idea that the body skin care products they use, such as bar soap and body lotion, works just as well for facial skin."

Men who experience dryness or uneven skin tone – which may appear as dark spots on brown skin – should consider trying African American skin products that contain antioxidant ingredients and hyaluronic acid, which gently helps to lighten discolorations.

 

Men's skin care field experiencing a boom

 

Ladies, when you're applying your African American skin care products do you ever see your husband or boyfriend eyeing that face cream with envy? Recently, the Los Angeles Times reported on a study conducted by the NPD Group, which found that men are becoming more interested in having more skin care products of their own.

"There is a huge opportunity with men for facial skincare," said Karen Grant, a senior global industry analyst with NPD, in a statement quoted by the news source. "The challenge is getting them involved and engaged."

Furthermore, the study found that African American and Latino men seem to be particularly interested in male skin care products. The news source noted that ethnic men spend $88 million a year on skin care products already.

Discovery Health recommends that all men have trimmers to get rid of unwanted hair. For example, most guys would want something to get rid of a unibrow and to give the back of their neck a touchup in between haircuts.

Certain hairstyles may be the cause of hair loss in African American women

 

Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio conducted a study on the potential causes of scarring and hair loss in African American women, and came up with multi-faced results.

Authors of the study surveyed about 326 black women in order to gather their data. They discovered that central centrifugal cicatricical alopecia (CCCA) – a condition characterized by scarring and hair loss that begins on the center of the scalp and moves outward – is strongly associated with braiding, weaves and type 2 diabetes.

Moreover, these hairstyles and the blood sugar disorder have the potential to cause infections on the scalp. Braids and hair weaves often require the hair to be pulled tightly and, in some cases, for long stretches of time.

"Given the fact that many African American women pay hundreds of dollars to have their hair braided and weaved, they often maintain these hair styles for weeks to months at a time to justify the money spent," wrote the study authors.

Women who are concerned about hair loss or scarring may want to talk to their hair stylist about going back to their natural texture, which can easily be enhanced using black skin care products.

 

Rihanna stuns at 2012 Grammy Awards

 

Pop singer Rihanna had heads turning and women all over the U.S. wondering what kind of African American skin care product she uses as she stepped onto the red carpet at the 2012 Grammy Awards on Feb. 12.

Rihanna, who was born in Barbados, wore an Armani gown with a plunging neckline and a thigh-high slit to show her toned legs. Always the chameleon, the pop star also debuted a beachy blonde hair style, which stood out against very simple makeup.

"I wanted to do something very Michelle Pfeiffer from Scarface," she told E! before the awards. "Simple, but sexy, and a little gangster at the same time."

Later in the ceremony, the singer changed into a black cropped top with leather shorts, a studded belt, black tights and combat boots to perform with Coldplay.

After the Grammys, she reportedly put on a show with electronic artist Deadmau5.

Ladies who don't have the funds for Armani can still aspire to look as glowing as a pop star by using the right black skin care products and making lifestyle choices that are known to promote a healthy glow, like eating right and staying hydrated. 

Nighttime habits for a better complexion

 

While you might spend a lot of time in the morning applying your African American skin care products, you need to make sure you spend just as much time caring for your complexion at night. While you sleep, the environment in your bedroom could be wreaking havoc on your skin - especially in the winter. Good Housekeeping magazine offers some tips for a proper nighttime routine for women who want to wake up looking fresh.

First, the news source spoke to Ranella Hirsch, M.D., a Boston-area dermatologist, who said that the best thing you can do for you skin at night is keep a humidifier in the room, especially during the colder months, when the air is already dry to begin with.

Next, the magazine stated that no matter what, you have to be sure to wash your face before going to bed.

"So many people sleep with their makeup on and wonder why they wake up with funky eye gunk in the morning," says Emily Kate Warren, a New York City makeup artist, quoted by the news source.

TotalBeauty.com states that a proper nighttime regimen, complete with high-quality moisturizers and face washes, is the key to better-looking skin.

 

Dermatologist offers cold weather tips

As the temperature changes, so do your skin care needs. Using an African American skin care product that contains an added moisturizer is one way to protect skin against the colder months, but more effort is needed if you want to keep from drying out. Recently, a North Carolina dermatologist offered some suggestions for keeping skin healthy in the coming weather. 

First, the expert suggested monitoring the temperature inside your house.

“If your home or workplace temperature is warm enough to make it feel like a sauna, you might be drying out your skin," said Rita Pichardo-Geisinger, M.D., of the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center dermatology department.

Next, the dermatologist suggested using a fragrance-free soap and detergent for clothes. Perfumes can dry out the skin and lead to flaking, while people with very sensitive complexions may find that detergents with additives cause skin irritation.

Finally, Pichardo-Geisinger encouraged women to not forget about their feet. Cracked heels can be unsightly, and there are plenty of creams available to help combat this problem.

These tips may help keep your skin looking moisturized through whatever the coming winter months will bring.

 

Benefits of healthy extracts in skin products

Lately there has been a lot of talk about the health benefits of pomegranate. This fruit is known as a source of antioxidants, and the Mayo Clinic reports that these substances can protect the body from free radicals, which accumulate from day to day pollution that the body encounters, such as toxins emitted by cars.

Recently, Mercury News reported that pomegranate extract is showing up in many skin care products. Currently, there are many products for ethnic women that contain this and other antioxidant rich extracts, such as green tea. The news provider spoke to David McDaniel, M.D., assistant professor of clinical dermatology at Eastern Virginia Medical School to learn the benefits of having pomegranate and other natural substances in skin care products.

"There are many benefits to natural ingredients in skin care, for example licorice root, chamomile and pomegranate. For some, there is a pigment lightening effect for improving the appearance of uneven skin using licorice root extract and pomegranate.Pomegranate also has a strong antioxidant protective effect and can be found in many good skin care products," said McDaniel, quoted by the news source.

This suggests that when choosing an African American skin care product, women may want to look for ones that contain these healthy ingredients.

EBONY to release a list of the best African American skin care products

The African American themed magazine EBONY is going to hold their first ever beauty and grooming awards in next month's issue. These awards will showcase the best skin care products for black skin.

Each winner was chosen with the help of a team of celebrity hair and makeup stylists and beauty bloggers who reviewed a variety of products.

"We're very proud to stand behind each winner with our EBONY Beauty and Grooming Award 'seal of approval' and look forward to growing our new editorial franchise with platforms across print, digital, social media, retail and mobile applications," said Amy DuBois Barnett, EBONY editor-in-chief.

Barnett also said that what will make this list different than other "best beauty product" lists is that rather than stick to the opinions of staff and friends, EBONY writers looked to outside influences in making their decisions of the best products. A full list of winners can be found in the issue and on the EBONY website. 

Fashion contests around the web can let women show off their look

Looking to be the next big thing in fashion? Women with a flair for putting together the perfect outfit will have a chance to prove their savvy this month and possibly get noticed for their creative look. Wikifashionista.com has started its "End of Summer Fashion Street Style Video Contest" to give all women a chance to show off their style.

People can submit a video to the website for a chance to get their fashions featured online and win a gift package. It doesn't take a celebrity to make a fashion trend, and the internet has given women of all backgrounds a chance to share their style with the world.

There are many style contests like this one that can be found by simply searching the web for opportunities. The Wikifashionista contest will run until September 16, but many fashion websites are running similar contests year round.

A flawless complexion is a great base for any fashionista, since clear skin lets the clothes shine. Women with ethnic skin may want to consider African American skin care products to be sure their face looks its best. 

Free skin care information now available

The dangers of skin cancer have recently been gaining more attention. This year, the Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that there will be more new cases of the disease than of breast, lung, prostate and colon cancer combined.

In response to this, Rite Aid is teaming up with The Skin Cancer Foundation to offer free information in their stores and online, educating people on the dangers of this disease and how to protect themselves against it.

"Our pharmacists regularly get questions about skin care and sun safety," said Sarah Matunis, Rite Aid pharmacist and corporate clinical coordinator. "We're giving them additional resources to help deal with those questions as well as more resources for our patients."

The organization reminded people that it takes one ounce of sunscreen to cover the body, and that it needs to be applied every 2 hours.

Ethnic women with darker skin tones are still at risk of developing skin cancer. African American skin care products with added SPF can help protect skin against the sun while giving it a healthy glow.

Smoking and exercise can affect skin's appearance

Women are constantly searching for the secret to younger, healthier skin. While there are many African American skin care products on the market that can help turn back the affects of skin aging, there are also simple lifestyle changes that people can make to improve the look their skin.

Kentucky news source KY Post reported that it's important to drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day, because water supplies important nutrients to skin cells. The news provider also recommended exercising regularly. Along with helping circulation throughout the body, exercise can relieve stress, which has been shown to cause premature aging.

The Kansas City Star also reported on lifestyle changes that can improve skin's appearance. The new provider spoke to dermatologist Daniel Aires to get his take on skin care. He suggested If a person is a smoker and looking to improve their skin, they should stop immediately.

"[Smoking] constricts the blood vessels in the skin. And it induces matrix metalloproteinases, or MMPs, that act like scissors and cut up the skin and increase wrinkling. And cigarettes contain all kinds of weird toxic things," Aires told The Star.  

Do films ignore African American beauty?

Naturally beautiful African American actress Viola Davis has received attention for her talent as well as her looks. Davis shines on the cover of this month's Essence magazine, where she talks about her recent success in films as well as the struggles African American women face.

“As black women, we’re always given these seemingly devastating experiences - experiences that could absolutely break us. But what the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls the butterfly," Davis told the news provider.

Her latest role is in the movie The Help, where she portrays a maid in the 1960s. The website Indie Wire raised the question this week - do black actresses have to make themselves look ugly to get serious film roles?

The website raised concern over the fact that the lovely Davis was forced to look plain and matronly for her role, a theme that seems to happen often in films with African American women in them. Another example Indie Wire gave was actress Taraji P. Henson in Hustle and Flow and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Henson was made to look haggard and older in both of the dramatic films.

In the end, people have to decide for themselves if this theory is true and if action should be taken against it. African American women should never have to hide their looks, and skin care products for black skin can help give black women the confidence to let their true beauty shine.

New documentary exposes emotional issues that come with dark skin

African American women have often had to endure hardships and racism due to the color of their skin. Unfortunately, this has lead to many young black women growing up with issues regarding their skin color. The website Fashion Bomb reports that a new documentary is coming out to address this issue and promote confidence in African American skin.

The documentary is called Dark Girls and explores the complex emotions that African American women have about their skin tone. The trailer for the film can be found on many different websites, including The Frisky. The film is comprised of interviews with black women on how they feel about their skin and what they have experienced over the years.

In the trailer for the film, one young girl is asked to identify who is the "smartest" child out of pictures of other children. The girl, who is African American, chose the white child simply because she is white. This shows the serious issues regarding skin tone that still exist today.

Ethnic women of all skin colors deserve to feel confident and beautiful in their skin. Skin care products for black skin are designed to boost black skin's natural beauty.

Young people have a growing risk of developing skin cancer

Many young people believe that wearing sunscreen is not as important for them as it is for babies and older adults. A Canadian news source recently disproved this theory by reporting that skin cancer patients are getting younger. 

CJAD news spoke to a dermatologist Ari Demerjian who said that twenty years ago the average person diagnosed skin cancer was around 50 years of age. Now, it is normal to see a 30-year-old with the condition.

The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that more than two million people are diagnosed with the disease each year. The organization also reports that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer for people between the ages of 25 and 29 years old.

There are many ways to protect one's self against this disease. Using an African American skin care product with SPF and antioxidant extracts for added sun protection is one way ethnic women can help keep skin healthy and beautiful.  

No matter what age, beauty is still important

Older women want to look their best, too. Just because a woman's getting older doesn't mean they are giving up on beauty. A recent study conducted at Baylor University found that greater body satisfaction in older adults reduces symptoms of depression.

The study found that increasing activity and taking care of appearance, along with having positive health benefits, can also improve a person's mood.

"It was interesting that even though body appearance satisfaction seems to be more important for younger populations, especially women, it is still important and relevant among older adults," said study author Dr. Renee Umstattd, assistant professor of health education at Baylor.

Although previous research had shown that as people age, bodily function becomes more important than appearance, these findings suggest that along with joint function, what individuals look like is still a key part of improving confidence and decreasing depression.

Older ethnic women interested in maintaining their glowing skin should consider using African American skin care products to boost their confidence at any age.  

New skin care brochures available in Spanish

The Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC) has recently released educational brochures in Spanish about the importance of skin care and wound treatment. In the past, these brochures have been widely used by doctors and caregivers, now they will be available in Spanish to better serve the Hispanic population. 

One of the pamphlets, called The Skin You're In (La Piel en la Que Estás) details how to protect skin against environmental factors such as sun and wind. The association released a statement about the importance of these brochures.

"The brochures are invaluable, containing useful information for those who suffer not only with a skin issue but also with a low budget. Many clinics and hospitals display them within their facilities. The great part is that while they can be purchased from AAWC, the brochures are also available to download and print free of charge without permission," states Terry Treadwell, M.D., FACS and AAWC President.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau there are and estimated 48.4 million Hispanic people in the U.S. The only country with a larger population of Hispanics is Mexico.

Learning about proper skin care is important for people from every culture. Women looking to better understand skin care should research ethnic skin care products, which can help protect the skin with SPF and antioxidants while keeping it looking great.  

Uncovering the myths of skin cancer

Although there has been a lot of talk about skin cancer lately, many people still can't differentiate between facts and fiction about the disease.

Recently, Medscape News ran an article explaining some of the myths about sun cancer, to help people gain a better understanding of how to protect themselves from this usually preventable form of cancer.

One of the myths they corrected was that darker-skinned people do not need sunscreen. Medscape's expert stated that increased skin pigmentation is equivalent to an SPF protection of 3, which is not enough to protect against skin cancer.

Another theory they explored was that people do not have to wear sunscreen in the car. While windshields may provide mild UVB protection, most side windows do not. Therefore, it's important to wear sunscreen in cars to to protect exposed arms.

The New York Times reports 74 percent of skin cancer tumors are found on the left side of people's bodies. This statistic has been connected to sun exposure while driving.

Ethnic women looking to protect themselves from sun damage should consider using an African American skin care product with added SPF.