Health Tips Archives - Southwest Michigan Plastic and Hand Surgery

Can Increased Screen Time Cause Premature Aging?

Has the technology-dominated world we have adapted to and live in today caused premature aging of the skin? Let’s face it, most of us wake up and immediately check our phones, put on our Smart Watches, followed by us logging onto our laptops for the majority of the day, just for us to “wind down” by watching TV or logging on social media after work.

According to a recent article by Laura Brzyski, dermatologists Nazanin Saedi and Margo Weishar explain the effects of blue light on the skin: “Blue light is part of the spectrum of visible light, but it is a high-energy, short-wavelength. When skin is exposed to blue light, we know that it causes the formation of reactive oxygenated species leading to DNA damage and inflammation. Eventually, it can break down healthy collagen, which causes skin aging. Additionally, the oxidative stress our skin undergoes due to increased exposure to blue light can lead to skin discoloration and hyperpigmentation” (The Philadelphia Magazine, 2020).

So what do we do to help prevent premature aging of the skin in a technology-driven society?

While we may not be able to control the amount of screen time necessary for our day jobs, we can use modern-day counteractive technology such as blue light glasses as well as limit the amount of screen time we use in our downtime, in the morning, after work, and before bed.

Here are some helpful tips in reducing your daily screen time:

Stop using your cell phone as an alarm clock

When we rely on our cell phones for things like an alarm clock, we tend to keep our phones near us. Try switching to a traditional alarm clock and set it on your nightstand. This way you can set your phone across the room while you sleep at night, and feel less tempted to grab it first thing in the morning.

Don’t log onto social media past 7 pm

We love to stay updated with our friends and family on social media, however, try to limit your screentime by restricting your usage to just what is necessary for your day job. If you do choose to log onto social media after work, try to hold a boundary with yourself to not log on past 7 pm.

Wear sunscreen year-round, even when indoors

Wearing sunscreen every day is crucial to fight against UVA and UVB rays. Use a sunscreen that has broad-spectrum protection to also protect against HEV light.

At SWMPHS, we want to help our patients look and feel their best. With our MedSpa treatments, we are able to accommodate all skin types and desired results. If you feel like your skin has prematurely aged due to an increase in daily screen time, try micro-needling, which can help stimulate collagen reproduction to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Call us to schedule your appointment today!

Choosing the Right Sunscreen for You

It’s finally time to have fun in the sun again, hoorah! And with the official start of summer next month, it makes good sense that May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

By now, most everyone knows that UVA and UVB radiation are the cause for most skin cancers and contributes to the photoaging of our skin. While there are heroes like plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and aestheticians that can help with the negative effects of sunlight, we can all help ourselves fight against skin cancer and photoaging with one, easy preventative measure: sunscreen!

Luckily, there are many, many different forms of sunscreen available for many, many different skin types. But, with all these options there can be confusion about which sunscreen is best for you. These are the first 3 factors to look at when selecting a sunscreen:

SPF: Sun Protection Factor

Sunscreen with a higher SPF should offer more protection from the sun’s harmful rays. For example: An SPF of 15 blocks 93% of UVB radiation, SPF 30 blocks nearly 97%, and SPF 50% blocks an estimated 98% of UVB rays.

Studies show that SPFs above 50 only have a minimal increase in protection, making wearing an SPF 50 practically the same as wearing an SPF 100. Interesting fact: Regulatory bodies in Europe and Australia have capped the SPF of sunscreen to their consumers at 50. In part, this was done to avoid consumers having an over-confidence in a higher SPF sunscreen and thus not applying it as directed leading to sun damage.

The SPF on a sunscreen mainly refers to only the amount of UVB protection. While you may not be getting a sunburn from UVB rays because of your sunscreen, you could still be getting large amounts of skin-damaging UVA radiation. Which brings me to the next important factor in an effective sunscreen:

Multi-spectrum, Broad Spectrum, UVA/UVB protection

Because SPF refers only to the UVB blocking percentage, you’ll want a sunscreen that also offers UVA protection. The ingredients should contain some combination of the following UVA-blocking ingredients: zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, avobenzone, ecamsule, and oxybenzone. This is often labeled on the product as multi-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or UVA/UVB protection.

The last factor – synthetic versus mineral – has largely been debated. Some, such as those with ultra-sensitive skin, may not have much of a choice between the two. However, I think it’s important to note that either choice is sunscreen and something everyone should be using on the daily.

Synthetic vs Mineral

Synthetic sunscreen: There are over 30 synthetic sunscreen ingredients that are used. Synthetic sunscreen is often referred to as chemical sunscreen, which is incredibly misleading. All skincare ingredients are chemicals – including water.

Pros: Begins to work immediately, is generally found in a products that have a thinner texture, is preferred for water-resistant formulas, and is more likely to have an accurately labeled SPF.

Con: Can be sensitizing for those with extra-sensitive skin.

Mineral sunscreen: There are two mineral sunscreen ingredients: titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Mineral sunscreen ingredients are often referred to as being organic, but they are, in fact, not. They are actually inorganic chemicals.

Pros: Begins to work immediately and has almost no risk of irritating skin.

Cons: May leave a white cast on the skin, needs more frequent and liberal applications than a synthetic formula, and studies such as those done by Consumer Reports show that mineral sunscreens are most likely to fail SPF accuracy tests and have a much lower actual SPF rating.

We carry several different types of sunscreen at our Portage office – including OBAGI’s Sun-Shield, a tinted face lotion available in cool or warm that has an SPF of 50 and offers a broad spectrum protection.

Surprising Benefits of Exercise

We all know that exercise is good for us and and helps keep our bodies healthy, but did you know that exercise affects the brain?

A study performed by the University of Georgia’s Department of Exercise Science shows that exercising for as little as 20 minutes improves memory and information processing in the brain. When you consider that exercise moves oxygen through the body, it would logically move more through the brain, as well. This oxygen “feeds” the brain and the result is improved function.

A similar study performed in Sweden shows antidepressant effects from exercise. You may have heard about “runners’ high” that runners claim they feel after a good run. This results from a drop in stress hormones, which is connected to cell growth in the area of the brain connected to learning and memory, according to the Stockholm study.

What Are the “Best” Exercises for the Brain?
Have you seen advertisements for puzzles and other brain teasers on the internet that claim to contribute to brain health? Although they might indeed be good for your brain, I got to wondering if there were exercises that would combine an increase in body health with increased brain health. My online research did, in fact, show that a combination of physical and mental activity has a higher impact on brain function than physical or mental exercises alone. Furthermore, activities that combine rhythm, coordination, and strategy, like organized dancing (folk dancing, ballroom dancing, Zumba, etc), skiing, skating and running fall into these categories. These types of workouts are often the most fun, too!

The Bottom Line

Recognize that physical exercise is a way to improve and maintain both your body and brain! Remember that old saying: Use it or lose it? Apparently, it’s true! And, it doesn’t have to be costly! YouTube has hundreds of exercise videos that you can do from home absolutely free!

What exercise plan have you created for yourself to make this your best year?

6 Tips for a Healthier 2018

Most of us approach the New Year with a list of resolutions. We want to feel better, maybe make more money, go on a better vacation this year, etc. Truth is, the bottom line to achieving any of these resolutions rests in how we feel on a day-to-day basis, right? It stands to reason that if you lack energy, feel depressed or anxious, it’s hard to make positive changes. I’m offering a list of Health Tips that might move you in the right direction. And remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. You have 365 days to cultivate a happier, healthier 2018. Give yourself the gift of forward movement on a daily basis, just a small step each day, and you’ll find that by this time next year, you’ll feel happier and will be healthier than you are today!

1. Eat Right

Studies show that most Americans eat too many “white” foods, i.e., processed junk like bread, chips and cookies that not only offer little or no nutritional value, but also actually contribute to the development of unhealthy states such as heart disease and diabetes.

Health Tip: Eat more one-ingredient carbs, such as rice, fruits and veggies instead of multi-ingredient carbs such as pasta, bread and the like. Doing so will improve both your figure and your future!

2. Move More

You don’t need to be a triathlete to give your body the exercise it needs for optimal health. Simply walking 5000 steps a day will dramatically contribute to a better mood and a healthier body.

Health Tip: Get a pedometer and set a goal of 5000 steps a day. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to do!

3. Banish Negative Habits

Are you engaging in destructive lifestyle habits such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol and/or drug usage such as diet pills or pot? Rest assured, the toxins from these habits can wreak havoc on your health, resulting in dull skin and nail & hair breakage.

Health Tip: Make this the year you quit smoking, if you still smoke!

4. Improve Your Sleep

Regardless what others tell you, 6 hours of sleep a night isn’t enough. Your body requires 8-9 hours a night to function at its best.

Health Tip: Turn off the screens an hour before bed, as late-night technology fests can keep your brain from relaxing at bedtime. Shut off the bedroom TV before you fall asleep or—better yet—don’t have a TV in the bedroom. Lower the thermostat at night—too much heat interferes with deep sleep. And avoid exercise, stressful thoughts/discussions and alcohol before bed.

5. Drink up, Shriners

The idea that you need 6-8 glasses of water a day isn’t far from the truth! While your body may do well on less, pure water is an excellent method to clear toxins from your system, to energize the brain, and to plump up your cells with the hydrating power of H2O. Coffee and soda don’t count toward that total.

Health Tip: Fill a pitcher with 30-40 oz. of water in the morning and add a sliced lemon. Drink it throughout the day.

6. Serve Up Gratitude

Every single day, every single one of us experiences something that’s not to our liking, yet we can choose what we focus on. Studies prove that engaging in negative thinking can actually cause disease!

Health Tip: Make a plan to review all the wonderful things that are happening in your life on a daily basis. Write it down if you need to. By focusing on the good in life, we live a life of greater joy and happiness. I promise that will reflect itself in your physical and mental well-being.