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Category: Blog

Our Blog

Great Nutrition for Your Skin

Top 5 Foods for Younger, Healthier-Looking Skin Nuts, especially almonds- They are rich in Vitamin E which is the primary antioxidant to quench those damaging “free radicals” that form from the sun and pollution. Free radicals lead to inflammation and the breakdown of collagen and elastic tissue forming wrinkles and aged-appearing skin. Blueberries- They are super high in antioxidants, such as proanthocyanidins, to help protect the skin. Onion (raw)- It contains high levels of quercitin, the most common flavonol antioxidant. Salmon- It is rich in Omega 3 Fatty Acids, which are anti-inflammatory and also help to moisturize the skin. Tomatoes (raw)- They are rich in lycopene, a carotenoid with antioxidant properties to control inflammation that could break down the collagen and elastic tissue in your skin, leading to wrinkles and damaged skin. It also contains Vitamin C, the major component for collagen formation- and don’t forget, Knowledge is knowing that tomatoes are a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put them in a fruit salad. You are what you eat, literally. Everything you consume affects your skin, so choose wisely.

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Holiday Proofing Your Skin

The holidays are around the corner, and we at CCSD want to make sure your skin stays clear and glowing. To help prevent breakouts and blotchiness, follow these 5 simple rules: Drink plenty of water – multiple holiday parties means late nights and cocktails. Both can wreak havoc on your skin. Make sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day and the evening. 80-90 ounces a day are recommended Sleep – no one should fault you for leaving the party a wee bit early to get some good zzzzz’s. Especially if you have multiple late nights out in a row. Sleep allows your body to detoxify itself, and repair damaged skin cells. So get 8 hours if you can. Exercise – you don’t want holiday food to pack on the pounds, but you also need stress relief during the holiday season. Stress leads to increases in oil production and acne. Stress also causes a breakdown in collagen, leading to fine lines and wrinkles. Wash your face before you go to bed – don’t leave party makeup on overnight where it can mesh with oils and plug up pores. Keep your skin crystal clear by using the Clarisonic Pro brush to wash each night. Avoid excess sugars – they increase oil production on the skin, which leads to unsightly acne bumps. Sugars also may lead to early cell death and destruction of collagen, leading to wrinkling skin. Follow these simple rules, and enjoy your holidays with great skin!

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Top 5 Ways to Winter-Proof Your Skin

Top 5 Ways to Winter-Proof Your Skin: Use a moisturizing body wash, such as CeraVe Cleanser, to add some of the natural moisturizing factor (NMF) back into your skin Moisturize your skin within 1 minute of getting out of the shower or bath. Moisturizers that contain ceramides, such as TriXera or CeraVe Cream, work the best. Add a humidifier in your bedroom and run it each night. Protect your skin from the sun daily with lotion containing full spectrum sunscreen, such as Vivite Day Lotion SPF30 Wear gloves and a scarf to keep the dry cold winter wind from dehydrating your skin.

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Healthy Skin Recipe for November

Our Healthy Skin recipes are now going to be part of our blog. This month’s recipe is from Rhapsody, led by Executive Chef Dean Zanella, offers a menu inspired by fresh Italian flavors and the incorporation of local, seasonal ingredients. For reservations, call (312) 786-9911 or visit www.rhapsodychicago.com. Please enjoy this month’s recipe of an Apple and Hazelnut Salad. Here is how this delicious recipe is also great for you skin. Olive oil provides the fats that are incorporated into the layers of the skin to prevent dryness (very important in Chicago winters!). Celery, apples, and hazelnuts provide flavones and proanthocyanidins – both potent antioxidants that scavenge free radicals which normally break down collagen and elastic tissue, leading to wrinkles. A tasty way to smoother skin! Our chef also recommends pairing this dish with a Pinot Noir. APPLE AND HAZELNUT SALAD (serves 4) For the dressing: (can be made one day in advance) ¼ cup cider vinegar 2/3 cup olive oil 2 TBSP honey 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme leaves Sea salt and pepper For the salad: 3-4 red apples depending on size (preferably local, Cortland apples are best or Pink lady for commercial) 4 stalks celery (no leaves) 1 head bibb lettuce ¼ cup chopped toasted hazelnuts ¼ cup grated pecorino cheese Either with a knife or a mandolin, thinly slice the apples omitting the core. Immediately place the sliced apples in a bowl and toss with enough of the dressing so the apples are just coasted. Thinly slice the celery on a diagonal. Add to the sliced apples. Tear the bibb lettuce into medium size pieces and add to bowl. Add half the hazelnuts and pecorino cheese to bowl. Toss all ingedients with remaining dressing (you might not need all the dressing) and season with sea salt and pepper. Divide the salad onto 4 bowls and top with remaining nuts and cheese. Serve and enjoy.

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Healthy Skin Recipe for December

December’s Healthy Skin Recipe comes to us via Food & Wine Magazine. It is for a pearled barley salad with apples, pomegranate seeds, and pine nuts. Dr. Jacob’s tips for why this is a healthy recipe for your skin follows after the recipe. Enjoy! Pearled Barley Salad with Apples, Pomegranate Seeds and Pine Nuts Ingredients 1/3 cup(s) pine nuts, preferably from Italy 2 ounces 1/4 cup(s) plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 3 tablespoon(s) white wine vinegar 1 small shallot, minced 2 tablespoons Salt and freshly ground pepper 4 cup(s) Thyme-Scented Pearled Barley (see below) 1 large tart apple, such as Honeycrisp cored and cut into 1/2-inch pieces 1/2 cup(s) pomegranate seeds, from 1 pomegranate 1/2 cup(s) chopped flat-leaf parsley Directions Preheat the oven to 350°. Spread the pine nuts in a pie plate and toast until golden, about 5 minutes. Let cool. In a bowl, whisk the oil with the vinegar and shallot and season with salt and pepper. Add the Thyme-Scented Pearled Barley (see below), pine nuts, apple, pomegranate seeds and parsley; toss before serving. Pine nuts provide Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, to help decrease wrinkling in the skin. The olive oil provides natural ingredients to moisturize the skin from the inside out. Shallots (containing flavonoids), apples (containing proanthocyanadins), and pomegranate provide potent antioxidants for quenching free radicals that break down collagen in the skin. Parsley contains alpha linolenic acid, which provides anti-inflammatory effects, further protecting the skin!

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An Insider’s Point of View | Latisse

…Miracle in a bottle. I have been using Latisse for four years and my eyelashes have completely transformed from average to fabulous with only one thing…Latisse. I often get asked if I have fake lashes on or eyelash extensions. I have tried the fake lashes but I’ve never been very good at applying them and so half way through my evening, they are usually falling out and can make for an embarrassing situation! My secret is Latisse. And it’s less time consuming and overall less expensive than the alternatives. My lashes look great with mascara but I can even go without mascara now. They have made my lashes not only longer, but also fuller and darker. And it’s very easy to use. Just apply directly to the skin of the upper eyelid margin and the base of the eyelashes (like using eyeliner) every night. It takes about four weeks for you to notice the effects but being patient is well worth it! Latisse is a prescription and can be purchased through our office. Give us a call and make a wish on your new eyelashes! Trish, Patient Entry Staff and Cosmetic Coordinator

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New Years Resolution for Better Skin

Tired of breaking all those New Year’s Resolutions by February? Why not choose a resolution you can stick with AND makes you look great? Here are 5 tips on getting better skin for 2012: Cleanse twice a day with a glycolic acid cleanser. Why? Because dead skin cells tend to pile up on the skin, leading to a dull, flaky appearance. Glycolic acids help to gently lift dead skin cells off the skin, and stimulate new collagen formation at the same time. They also help unplug pores which can help prevent acne breakouts. Start a topical Vitamin A regimen. Vitamin A helps to normalize the skin cycling process, and also inhibits breakdown of collagen and elastic tissue in the skin (preventing wrinkles). Vitamin A comes in many forms such as prescription tretinoin (Renova, Retin A, Ziana, Atralin), and there are less potent versions over the counter in the form of Retinol. It should be used at night, as it can be inactivated by sunlight. Wear sunscreen with SPF30 everyday. This is the easiest (and least expensive!) way to fight sun damage and signs of aging! UV rays from the sun break down collagen and elastic tissue, leading to wrinkles. The UVA rays cause brown, uneven spots to develop, and both UVA and UVB can lead to skin cancer. 1 in 31 light-skinned americans will develop basal cell skin cancer in their lifetime, and 1 in 67 will develop melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer. Sunscreen will help protect your skin when used daily. Seek the shade and get a spray tan or use self tanner. When you want to have some color for warmer weather, self tanners are the way to go. They look great fast, and won’t cause sun damage. Avene Bronzant Self Tanner also smells great! Take omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil gel caps). They are anti-inflammatory which helps with acne, eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, and skin aging. 2000mg daily is recommended.

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Visit These Sites For Helpful Information About Your Skin

Your skin is your largest and most visible organ, and taking good care of it will allow you to look and feel great. Take a look at these sites to learn more about treatments for skin conditions such as psoriasis and hyperhidrosis: Psoriasis may be triggered by a combination of genetic predisposition and outside factors. Learn more about known psoriasis triggers on Psoriasis.org. In some cases, psoriasis is accompanied by arthritis or joint pain and swelling. Find out how to recognize this condition early on Health.com. Learn more about how and why the body sweats on the website of the International Hyperhidrosis Society. Does underarm sweating negatively affect your life? Find out if miraDry is right for you with this information from the miraDry website. Read more about excessive sweating and what it means in this article by The Huffington Post.

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May’s Healthy Skin Recipe

May’s Healthy Skin Recipe is a Walnut-Crusted Chicken Breast from Whole Living. Enjoy! Walnut-Crusted Chicken Breasts Ingredients 2 slices whole-wheat bread, dried 1/3 cup walnuts 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, freshly grated Coarse salt and ground pepper 1 large egg white 4 chicken breast halves, boneless and skinless (6 to 8 ounces each) 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil Lemon slices, for serving Seasonal green salad Directions Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a food processor, combine bread, walnuts, and Parmesan; season with salt and pepper. Process until fine breadcrumbs form. Transfer to a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, beat egg white until frothy. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Dip each breast into egg white, letting excess drip off, and then into crumb mixture, pressing to adhere. In a large nonstick ovenproof skillet heat oil over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until lightly browned, 1 to 3 minutes. Carefully turn chicken over and put skillet in oven. Bake until chicken is golden brown and cooked through, 8 to 12 minutes. Serve chicken with lemon slices and green salad. Walnuts are rich in Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant, to help quench free radicals and stop them from destroying your skin. They also are packed full of omega 3 fatty acids which are anti inflammatory and help with the skin’s moisturization. Eat them whenever you can!

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April Healthy Skin Recipe

This month’s recipe comes from WholeLiving.com. It’s a Curry-Rubbed Salmon with Napa Slaw. Curry Rubbed Salmon with Napa Slaw Ingredients 1 cup brown basmati rice Coarse salt and ground pepper 1 pound Napa cabbage (1/2 head), thinly sliced crosswise 1 pound carrots, coarsely grated 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, plus lime wedges for serving 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil 4 salmon filets (6 ounces each) 2 teaspoons curry powder Directions In a large saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil; add rice. Season with salt and pepper, cover, and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook until tender, 30 to 35 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine cabbage, carrots, mint, lime juice, and oil; season with salt and pepper. Toss. Heat broiler with rack set 4 inches from heat. About 10 minutes before rice is done cooking, place salmon on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Rub salmon with curry, and season with salt and pepper. Broil until just cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes. Fluff rice with a fork and serve alongside salad and salmon. Pepper is full of antioxidants, while cabbage has an antioxidant known as quercitin. Carrots provide vitamin A which acts to reduce oxidants in the skin. Lime juice contains Vitamin C, which is necessary for collagen production. Grapeseed oil helps with moisturizing the skin and salmon is rich in Omega 3’s which are anti-inflammatory and help with acne, rosacea, eczema, and dry skin. Bon Appetite!

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March Healthy Skin Recipe

This month’s Healthy Skin recipe comes from Whole Living. This Banana-Yogurt Smoothie is quick, easy, and great for the coming warmer weather. Banana-Yogurt Smoothie Ingredients 2 teaspoons flaxseeds 1 medium banana (6 ounces) 1/2 cup low-fat plain yogurt 1 to 2 teaspoons honey 2/3 cup ice cubes Directions Place the flaxseeds in a blender and puree for 30 seconds until they are coarsely ground. Add the banana, yogurt, honey, and ice cubes and puree until smooth and thick. Serve immediately. Flaxseeds provide an excellent source of Omega 3 fatty acids, which are anti-inflammatory and help with acne, rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema. Bananas provide magnesium, an essential nutrient for the health of the skin and for sleeping well! Bananas and honey help to promote good rest, which improves the health and function of your skin! Bon Appetit!

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5 Ways to Treat Acne Without Antibiotics

Here are 5 ways to treat acne without antibiotics: Blue Light- The Blue Light treatment kills off acne causing bacteria, decreasing the pimples in a few short treatments. The Professional BLU Light treatments are done in our office every 2 weeks for 4 total treatments. You can also do your own blue light treatments with the Tria Skin Clarifying Blue Light. Be sure to get a $10 off coupon from us and purchase on-line. Glycolic Acid Cleansers and Lotions- Glycolic acid is derived from sugar cane and helps to exfoliate the skin and unplug pores. An added benefit is that it is anti-aging too! SilkPeel Microdermabrasions- Monthly treatments with the SilkPeel unclog pores, fade away pink scars, stimulate collagen production, and give your skin a healthy glow. Give Up The Sugar- Sugars in your diet (such as those in cookies and soda pop) increase hormones that lead to an increase in oil production, the primary cause of acne. Choose sugar free or savory options instead. Take Omega 3’s- Fish Oil Gelcaps, such as Omega Max, are anti-inflammatory and reduce pimples as well as help skin stay in good health.

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