50 IS THE NEW 40…BUT NOT FOR YOUR SKIN

Assessing Your Mid-Life Mind and Body

Did you know that people in their mid-to-late 50s are generally happier and experience less stress than young adults today?1 This notion reinforces why this age should be appreciated and embraced. Your 50s, however, also require that you take care of yourself even more rigorously than ever before. Although your mind feels youthful, your body may need some extra TLC – especially your skin.

Luckily, brands like DerMend® are designed to address the unique needs of maturing skin. Since everyone’s skin needs are not the same, DerMend® Mature Skin Solutions offers a new line of products that help address the different, common skin conditions associated with being 50+.

Dermatologist-recommended DerMend® Mature Skin Solutions features DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula ($29.99, 4.5oz), DerMend® Fragile Skin Moisturizing Formula ($29.99, 4.5oz) and DerMend® Moisturizing Anti-Itch Lotion ($19.99, 8oz). Depending on your skin’s needs, one of the three products in the line, when used in a daily skincare regimen, can help every inch of your skin stay healthy and keep pace with the years.

Age is nothing but a number, so why not look as young as you feel!? Remember to reach for DerMend® to help maintain healthy, younger-looking skin in your 50s and beyond!

Availability:
DerMend® Moisturizing Anti-Itch Lotion: Walgreens and CVS
DerMend® Fragile Skin Moisturizing Formula: Walgreens and CVS
DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula: CVS, Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and Meijer
All three products can also be purchased online at LovelySkin.com.

Please visit www.dermend.com or www.ferndalehealthcare.com for more information.

# # #

1 https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/people-are-happier-less-stressed-after-age-50-flna1c9447670

MYTHS VS. TRUTHS OF AGING

Debunking Myths about Maturing Skin with DerMend®

Think you’ve got all the facts about your aging skin? Think again. It turns out that much of what we’ve been told about aging is a fallacy or based on old wives’ tales. Let DerMend® and dermatologist, Helen Torok, MD, debunk common myths about aging and provide some tips for early intervention to help keep skin looking and feeling its best throughout the years.

  • Myth: Everyone’s skin ages at the same pace.
    • Truth: According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, some people are naturally biologically older and age faster than others, despite being the same chronological age.1 Whatever rate your body matures, aging is inevitable. Therefore, it is important to use skincare products designed to help skin keep pace with the years, like DerMend® Mature Skin Solutions – a line of three dermatologist-recommended products designed to specifically address the unique skin conditions associated with aging.
  • Myth: The pricier the product, the better the results.
    • Truth: The cost of a product does not determine its effectiveness, rather it is the ingredients that are in the formula.2 Dr. Torok advises to look for wallet-friendly products in your local drugstore containing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, retinol, glycolic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, and ceramides which are key in treating problems relating to aging skin. Dr. Torok recommends DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula ($29.99, 4.5oz) and DerMend® Fragile Skin Moisturizing Formula ($29.99, 4.5oz), both of which are formulated using a combination of these ingredients.
  • Myth: Diet has nothing to do with the rate at which our skin ages.
    • Truth: Eating foods with a high glycemic index like white bread, pasta and potatoes cause the formation of AGEPs (Advanced Glycation End Products). AGEPs can cause collagen and elastin to become stiff and less springy, leading to sagging skin which ages your appearance.3 Limit the amount of AGEP-inducing foods you eat to keep your skin looking plump and fresh.
  • Myth: 80 percent of sun damage occurs before age 18, so sun protection at a later age is not as crucial.
    • Truth: According to a 2003 study, you receive just 25 percent of total sun exposure by age 18.4 “While it’s true that melanoma is closely linked to childhood sunburns, sun exposure throughout your lifetime can cause other types of skin cancers, in addition to wrinkles, thinning skin, dark spots and broken capillary veins,” according to Dr. Torok. Therefore, it is important to take the proper measures to protect skin from the sun at all ages.

So, now that you have some key facts about maturing skin, take these necessary steps, in conjunction with DerMend® Mature Skin Solutions products, to help maintain beautiful, youthful-looking skin!

Availability:
DerMend® Moisturizing Anti-Itch Lotion: Walgreens and CVS
DerMend® Fragile Skin Moisturizing Formula: Walgreens and CVS
DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula: CVS, Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and Meijer
All three products can also be purchased online at LovelySkin.com.

Please visit www.dermend.com or www.ferndalehealthcare.com for more information.

# # #

1 http://www.pnas.org/content/112/30/E4104
2 http://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/9-skin-care-myths#2
3 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3704564/
4 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12733658

THE TEST OF TIME….. HOW MATURE IS YOUR SKIN?

Introducing New DerMend® Mature Skin Solutions

Remember when you were a kid and the word “immature” was an insult? Well, now you’re grown up and you may be feeling the same way about the word “mature.” But, it’s a fact of life, and when it comes to your skin, there is a very specific path to maturity and you may not be happy with the direction in which it’s heading.

When dermatologists talk about mature skin, they are usually referring to people over the age of 50. And, there are significant implications for your 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and beyond. The good news? You can intervene with the ways in which your skin ages and a new line from DerMend® can help.

New DerMend® Mature Skin Solutions is a line of three dermatologist-recommended products that can help your skin better weather the “test of time.” Remember, not everyone’s mature skin issues are the same, so DerMend® Mature Skin Solutions offers a new line of products that may help with your particular need.

“One needs to begin examining the skin on one’s body around the age of 50 for subtle and not so subtle changes,” said Iowa dermatologist, Roger Ceilley, MD. “There is a huge tendency to focus on the face, but the trap is that the rest of your body may be neglected and then you wind up playing catch-up and it may be very late in the ‘maturing” process.” Dr. Ceilley identifies a maturing process by which the skin becomes thinner, collagen levels drop and skin may become more fragile, bruises more easily and may become chronically itchy. “Once you’re in this cycle,” explains Dr. Ceilley, “you almost don’t know what to treat first.” However, only one of these conditions may affect your skin, so it’s important to identify the problem and look for the right product with which to address it.

DerMend® Mature Skin Solutions features DerMend® Fragile Skin Moisturizing Formula, DerMend® Moisturizing Anti-Itch Lotion and DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula. Depending on your skin’s particular needs, one of the three products in the DerMend® Mature Skin Solutions line, used in a daily skincare regimen for your body, can help every inch of you keep pace with the years.

DerMend® Fragile Skin Moisturizing Formula ($29.99, 4.5oz) helps rejuvenate thin, fragile, mature skin with such skin-loving ingredients as hyaluronic acid, retinol, glycolic acid, niacinamide and five critical ceramides to help make your skin more resilient and fresher looking. It is a lightweight, fragrance-free cream that absorbs easily and quickly and helps leave skin looking restored and rejuvenated.

DerMend® Moisturizing Anti-Itch Lotion ($19.99, 8oz.) features the ingredient pramoxine hydrochloride 1% for the temporary relief of itching associated with minor skin irritations. Steroid-free, it quickly addresses a very common problem of mature skin – itchiness. “Skin may itch more as we get older, because it may be drier and lacking in adequate hydration,” explains Dr. Ceilley. “We don’t know why exactly, but it seems that as skin reaches the age of 65, it may become itchier. The problem is this skin disturbance can keep one from getting a good night’s sleep and that is not a good thing at any age, but especially as we get older.“ An ingredient such as pramoxine hydrochloride 1% can rapidly interfere with the itch/scratch cycle helping you to have calmer skin and a good night’s sleep.

DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula ($29.99, 4.5oz) is a must for skin as it matures. As skin becomes thinner and more fragile, it may bruise more easily. Medications such as blood thinners may leave skin especially vulnerable to the development of bruises of all colors and sizes and may leave one yearning for “cover-up” clothing no matter how what the season. DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula helps improve the appearance of bruised skin with a proprietary blend of ceramides, alpha hydroxy acid, arnica oil and retinol. These ingredients help to restore and rejuvenate the skin’s natural barrier.

“If you haven’t already implemented a skincare routine that encompasses every inch of you, you’re missing a very important opportunity in the lifecycle of your skin,” said Dr. Ceilley.

DerMend® Mature Skin Solutions can help make your daily regimen quick and easy and . . . it won’t leave people guessing about your age by the look of your skin!

Availability:
DerMend® Moisturizing Anti-Itch Lotion: Walgreens and CVS
DerMend® Fragile Skin Moisturizing Formula: Walgreens and CVS
DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula: CVS, Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and Meijer
All three products can also be purchased online at LovelySkin.com.

Please visit www.dermend.com or www.ferndalehealthcare.com for more information.

THE THREE TELL-TALE SIGNS THAT YOUR SKIN IS AGING

Take These Necessary Steps to Help Your Mature Skin

It’s no secret that your skin ages every day and there are many ways that time leaves its mark on the body. Your skin is at the mercy of many factors as you age and the transformation isn’t optional. Spotting the signs of maturing skin early on can help your skin and keep it as healthy and youthful looking as possible! Luckily, DerMend® offers a line of products, DerMend® Mature Skin Solutions, to help you tackle three specific skin issues associated with aging.

Your skin looks thinner than usual.
According to dermatologist, Helen Torok, MD, “The most frequent cause of thin, fragile skin is aging. With each passing year, the surface layer of your skin thins and loses some of its elasticity. The levels of collagen, elastin and fatty tissue, which are important for making skin appear plump and youthful, begin to diminish in the deeper layers of the skin.” DerMend® Fragile Skin Moisturizing Formula ($29.99, 4.5oz) helps rejuvenate thin, fragile, mature skin with such skin-loving ingredients as hyaluronic acid, retinol, glycolic acid, niacinamide and five critical ceramides to help make your skin more resilient and fresher looking.

You notice your skin bruising more easily.
As skin becomes thinner and more fragile, it may bruise more easily. Medications such as blood thinners may leave skin especially vulnerable to the development of bruises of all colors and sizes. DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula ($29.99, 4.5oz) helps improve the appearance of bruised skin with a proprietary blend of ceramides, alpha hydroxy acid, arnica oil and retinol.

Your skin feels itchier than usual.
“With aging, comes a loss of moisture. The cell membranes become more porous, contributing to dryness and the crepey look. Consequently, skin tends to become itchy and more sensitive,” according to Dr. Torok. DerMend® Moisturizing Anti-Itch Lotion ($19.99, 8oz.) contains the active ingredient pramoxine hydrochloride 1% for the temporary relief of itching associated with minor skin irritations. Steroid-free, it quickly addresses that itchy feeling while helping to moisturize the skin as well.

Now that you know how important it is to identify potential skin issues early on, you can look for the right product to address them. Depending on your skin’s particular needs, one of the three products in the DerMend® Mature Skin Solutions line can help your body feel and look more youthful!

Availability:
DerMend® Moisturizing Anti-Itch Lotion: Walgreens and CVS
DerMend® Fragile Skin Moisturizing Formula: Walgreens and CVS
DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula: CVS, Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and Meijer
All three products can also be purchased online at LovelySkin.com.

Please visit www.dermend.com or www.ferndalehealthcare.com for more information.

Back-to-Back Years InStyle “Best Beauty Buy” Award Winner

Heliocare Daily Use Antioxidant Formula® Named “Best Supplement” by Industry Experts for the Second Time

Heliocare Daily Use Antioxidant Formula® is a 2x winner in the “Best Supplement” category in the 25th annual InStyle Best of Beauty Awards. InStyle is a leading women’s, national print magazine that hosts a coveted award series annually to define the top products in over 130 categories. The Best Beauty Buys Awards are selected by a diverse board of industry experts. “This award series helps women and men make informed purchasing decisions so they can feel confident that their money is being put toward a product that’s supported by beauty and health experts. Winners of the InStyle Best of Beauty, are considered the best on the market,” says New York City Dermatologist, Dr. Rachel Nazarian, MD.

VISIBLE LIGHT > FREE RADICALS > SKIN DAMAGE

Adding PLE to Traditional Forms of Protective Skin Care Can Help

Everyone knows that visible light (VL) is the light we can see 1. What some people may not know, though, is that excessive amounts of exposure to visible light can contribute to the production of free radicals which may have negative effects on the skin. Some common forms of visible light include sunlight and light from cell phones, tablets and digital screens 2 – things that most people are exposed to daily.

Now, a new study published by the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology stipulates that when Polypodium leucotomos extract (PLE) is used as an antioxidant, it may be helpful as a secondary line of defense to protect against the effects of VL when used with traditional methods of sun protection 3. Heliocare® Daily Use Antioxidant Formula is a dietary supplement that contains Fernblock® PLE Technology, an exclusive antioxidant extract naturally derived from the extract of Polypodium leucotomos (PLE). Heliocare is clinically proven and dermatologist recommended. The PLE in Heliocare helps to resist free radicals, including those that may arise due to the exposure of Visible Light, and daily use helps to promote younger-looking skin*.

When it comes to skin protection, New York City Dermatologist, Dr. Rachel Nazarian, MD explains how important it is to double down, making sure all skin-bases are covered. “Free radicals attack our bodies every day from a myriad of sources. If we are mindful of how to protect ourselves from the harsh effects of different kinds of radiation, like visible light, then we can at least rest assured that we are taking action. Hyperpigmentation and loss of collagen are two examples of how free radicals can damage the skin. Along with 87% of US dermatologists 4, I recommend Heliocare to all my patients as a simple way to feel they’re taking action to protect their skin.”*

# # #

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

1 Iltefat Hamzavi, Henry Ford Health System. (2016, September). The Effects of Visible Light on the Skin After Administration of Oral Polypodium Leucotomos Retrieved from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02904798
2 Shiraz, Iran. (2018, December). Can Light Emitted from Smartphone Screens and Taking Selfies Cause Premature Aging and Wrinkles. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6280109/
3 J Drugs Dermatol. (2019). Oral Polypodium Leucotomos Extract and Its Impact on Visible Light-Induced Pigmentation in Human Subjects. Retrieved from: https://jddonline.com/articles/dermatology/S1545961619P1198X/1
4 923 United States Dermatologists were surveyed, 55% of who take Heliocare each day. Survey conducted between Nov. 2019 and Feb 2020

DO YOU HAVE THIN SKIN????? | THE PSYCHOLOGIST MAY BE OUT, BUT YOUR DERMATOLOGIST IS IN

One of the customary perks of growing older is growing a little wiser along the way, right? You’ve most likely come to appreciate your “thicker skin” when dealing with life’s sticky situations and bad attitudes. However, when you look in the mirror, all you see is someone who looks easily bruised. The good news is there’s help available and it’s as near as your local drugstore. Check with your dermatologist to help determine what may be ailing your skin. He, or she, may recommend a new product designed specifically to improve the appearance of bruising.

DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula* is a “dream” cream that can help improve the appearance of thinning and bruised skin. DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula* can help you say farewell to dark bruises and the ugly long sleeves or turtleneck shirts you wear to hide them. DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula* helps to rejuvenate and maintain your skin’s firmness and elasticity that may have been lost due to medication, such as blood thinners, UV damage, genetics or simply getting older.

With ingredients such as ceramides, retinol, arnica oil and glycolic acid, DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula* works to:

  • Help improve the appearance of bruised skin
  • Help rejuvenate and restore the skin’s natural barrier
  • Improve the appearance of skin discoloration
  • Reduce the look of mottled pigmentation
  • Improve skin texture
  • Maintain collagen and elastin production
  • Boost moisture and suppleness

Applying DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula* to your skin twice a day (or as recommended by your dermatologist) can help improve the skin’s overall appearance — especially on exposed areas such as arms, hands, chest and legs. The non-irritating, fragrance free-formula is also ideal for sensitive skin. Best of all, DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula* absorbs easily into skin and won’t stain clothing.

Your sharp wit and strong personality need not be dampened by the state of your skin. With vigilance, you can protect it and help to improve its appearance.

DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula is available online and at select CVS stores nationwide.

# # #

For more information visit www.dermend.com

*DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula is available at CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Rite Aid, and Meijer.

About Ferndale Healthcare®, Inc.

Ferndale Healthcare, Inc. is an affiliate of Ferndale Pharma Group Inc., a fully integrated holding company. Ferndale Healthcare targets several key specialty markets which encompass disease states that range from benign anorectal disorders to various skin conditions. The company’s mission is to provide high-quality, value-added products that help patients get back to what matters most in their lives—living well. Many of Ferndale Healthcare’s products are leaders in their respective categories.

 

DO YOU BRUISE EASILY?????

Then You’ll Want to Know About DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula

If you often find yourself looking at a new black and blue bruise and can’t for the life of you remember how you got it, there’s good news waiting for you at the drugstore. While there is an abundance of products to help minimize scars, there are not many products that help reduce the appearance of bruises. DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula* is a unique cream that can help improve the appearance of your skin in this very important way. By helping to restore the skin’s barrier, DerMend® will leave you less likely to hear your friends ask “Oh, what happened to your arm . . . . or leg?”

With ingredients such as ceramides, retinol, arnica oil and glycolic acid, DerMend® works to:

  • Help improve the appearance of bruised skin
  • Help rejuvenate and restore the skin’s natural barrier
  • Improve the appearance of skin discoloration
  • Reduce the look of mottled pigmentation
  • Improve skin texture
  • Maintain collagen and elastin production
  • Boost moisture and suppleness

Applying DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula to your skin twice a day can help improve the skin’s overall appearance — especially on exposed areas such as arms, hands, chest and legs. The non-irritating, formula is also ideal for sensitive skin. Best of all, DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula absorbs easily into skin and won’t stain clothing.

DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula is available online and at select CVS stores nationwide.

# # #

For more information visit www.dermend.com

*DerMend® Moisturizing Bruise Formula is available at CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Rite Aid, and Meijer.

About Ferndale Healthcare®, Inc.

Ferndale Healthcare, Inc. is an affiliate of Ferndale Pharma Group Inc., a fully integrated holding company. Ferndale Healthcare targets several key specialty markets which encompass disease states that range from benign anorectal disorders to various skin conditions. The company’s mission is to provide high-quality, value-added products that help patients get back to what matters most in their lives—living well. Many of Ferndale Healthcare’s products are leaders in their respective categories.

 

 

MARCH IS COLON CANCER AWARENESS MONTH HERE’S HOW TO SAFEGUARD YOUR HEALTH

Are you ever too young to not care about a disease, especially one that is as prevalent as colon cancer? According to the Colon Cancer Alliance , the answer is no. They report that colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in men and women combined in the US. In fact, The American Cancer Society estimates that:

  • 96,830 people in the United States will be diagnosed with colon cancer and 50,310 will die from the disease in 2014
  • On average, the lifetime risk of developing colon cancer is about 1 in 20 (5%); however, this varies widely according to individual risk factors

Even more alarming, the Colon Cancer Alliance reports that while rates for colon cancer in adults 50 and older have been declining, incidence rates in adults under 50 have been increasing. What should you know to protect your health?

  • First and second degree relatives (children, siblings, grandchildren, nieces, nephews) of a person with a history of colon cancer are more likely to develop this disease themselves, especially if the relative had the cancer at a young age
  • The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening starting at age 40 for these high-­‐risk individuals or 10 years earlier than the youngest age of colon cancer diagnosis for any affected relative¹

About 72% of cases arise in the colon and about 28% in the rectum². To help increase awareness of both, Ferndale® Healthcare, the manufacturer of RectiCare® (Lidocaine 5%) Anorectal Cream – a topical, local anesthetic which works quickly to provide relief from pain, itching and burning associated with hemorrhoids and other anorectal disorders – has partnered with the Colon Cancer Alliance, to ensure that people have their symptoms diagnosed by a doctor before self-­‐treating.

“It is tempting to try to ease anorectal pain and discomfort by going to the drugstore aisle and buying a product to help alleviate symptoms such as bleeding, pain, itching and soreness,” said Katherine Gunn, Product Manager for RectiCare®. “However, these symptoms may indicate a more serious condition. So, we are teaming with the Colon Cancer Alliance to help raise awareness of colon cancer among consumers of all ages. Once you know what is causing your symptoms, you can make more intelligent choices for your care.”

Should you be aware at every age and stage of your  life?  Absolutely.  As  the  Colon  Cancer  Alliance points out hereditary nonployposis colon cancer (HNPCC or  Lynch  Syndrome)  is  the  most  common type of inherited colon cancer, accounting for about 3-­‐5% of all colon cancer cases. If not closely monitored,  most  individuals  with  the  altered  gene  responsible  for  the  disease  develop  colon cancer, with the average age at diagnosis being only 42-­‐45, and a jarring 35-­‐40% being diagnosed before age 40. General screening  guidelines  recommend  a  colonoscopy  every  one  to  two  years, beginning  between  the  ages  of  20-­‐25,  or  five  years  earlier  than  the  youngest  age  of  diagnosis  in the family, whichever is sooner.3

RectiCare® (Lidocaine 5%) Anorectal Cream retails for $29.99 and is available at Walgreens and Rite Aid stores without a prescription. For more information, product coupons or to speak with a company representative, please visit www.recticare.com.

# # #

 

¹http://nevertooyoung.org/risk.html#sthash.8MvVaTl9.dpuf

²https://www.ccalliance.org/colorectal-cancer-information/facts-and-statistics

3https://www.ccalliance.org/about/never-too-young

 

 

About Ferndale Healthcare®, Inc.:

Ferndale Healthcare®, Inc. is an affiliate of Ferndale Pharma Group Inc., a fully integrated holding company. Ferndale Healthcare® targets several key specialty markets which encompass disease states that range from benign anorectal

disorders to various skin conditions. The company’s mission is to provide high-­‐quality, value-­‐added products that help patients get back to what matters most in their lives—living well. Many of Ferndale Healthcare’s products are leaders in their respective categories.

 

About The Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA):

The Colon Cancer Alliance, Inc. is a not-­‐for-­‐profit 501(c)3 corporation (EIN 86-­‐0947831). It is the leading national   patient advocacy organization dedicated to increasing colon cancer screening rates and survivorship. The Colon Cancer Alliance’s mission is to knock colon cancer out of the top three cancer killers, by championing prevention, funding cutting-­‐edge research and providing the highest quality patient support services. Read more information about the Colon Cancer Alliance at www.ccalliance.org.

 

MAY MARKS SKIN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

THE #1 SKINCARE TIP FROM A DERMATOLOGIST?

GET A BODY CHECK ONCE A YEAR!!!

One would assume a dermatologist would be able to spot skin cancer on herself, but this was not the case for well-known San Antonio, Texas dermatologist, Vivian Bucay, MD, when she was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma. The cancer was tucked away, out of sight, inside her belly button. “I had no idea,” she said, “until I saw some flakes of skin in my navel, and I had a skin biopsy to see what might be causing this kind of shedding.” Surprised by the diagnosis of melanoma, she wasted no time and immediately sought treatment and is now cancer-free, but loaded with advice.

“It is sobering to realize how insidious skin cancer, and particularly, melanoma, can be,” she said. “It makes the idea of routine body checks with a dermatologist such an imperative for everyone. For people with all kinds of freckles and moles, these checks should be performed more often.”

Was the sun responsible for Dr. Bucay’s melanoma? “No one can say for sure, I certainly did my share of sunbathing in my teens before we realized how dangerous this is,” she explains. “But I was really lucky to have had great medical care and believe more strongly than ever in getting anything and everything that looks, even vaguely suspicious, checked out.”

As the month of May brings skin cancer into focus, Dr. Bucay has a routine to share for protecting one’s skin from the sun and it includes a number of products. “Sun protection is far more encompassing than simply applying a sunscreen,” she says. Here is what is in her arsenal:

  • An SPF 50 physical/mineral sunscreen – every day, rain or shine, and applied before putting on your swimsuit to protect against UVA and UVB rays
  • Oral CoQ10 and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC)
  • A daily dose of Polypodium leucotomos extract (PLE), a dietary supplement derived from a tropical fern. She recommends Heliocare® because it is backed by 30 years of study.
  • Getting Vitamin D levels tested, because this vitamin plays an important role in regulation of the immune mechanism in the body
  • Use of topical antioxidants such as Vitamins C, E, green tea polyphenols, and red tea flavonoids

“Your skin contains a type of white blood cell called a Langerhans cell that is very sensitive to UVA and UVB radiation, whether from the sun or a tanning bed; they can be depleted in 15 minutes worth of sun exposure,” Dr. Bucay explains. Langerhans cells, found in the epidermis, are an essential part of the immune system. They work by capturing antigens (agents that can trigger a reaction, such as infections, allergic reactions, and cancer) that get into the skin and present them to immune system cells that create a mechanism to fight them off¹. “So you really need to protect your skin on many levels,” she stresses. “This is why adding products such as Heliocare (Polypodium leucotomos extract)is so important. PLE is skin specific, and not only helps to decrease sensitivity to UVA and UVB rays, it also works as an antioxidant.*”

Don’t wait until the summer arrives to institute a regimen of protective skincare, advises this expert, who can speak from personal experience. “The climate has changed,” she emphasizes, “and we have to adapt our routines as well to live long and healthy lives.”

Heliocare® retails for $29.99 and can be purchased at Walgreens and Rite Aid locations nationwide. For more information, please visit www.heliocare.com.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

# # #

¹http://dermatology.about.com/od/glossaryl/g/langerhans.htm

About HELIOCARE®:

The powerful antioxidant formula in each capsule of HELIOCARE® is derived from the extract of Polypodium leucotomos (PLE), a fern native to Central and South America that has been used for centuries as a remedy for skin related conditions. This fern, which was once an aquatic plant, adapted to life on land and created its own protection from exposure to harsh UV rays. By utilizing the extract of this organically grown plant, HELIOCARE® delivers antioxidants that helps the skin protect itself from the first day of use*.

About Dr. Vivian Bucay:

Board certified dermatologist, Vivian Bucay, in private practice in San Antonio, TX, is also a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Texas Health Science Center. She maintains membership in numerous medical societies, and serves as a faculty member for a number of continuing medical education initiatives throughout the United States. A leader in her field, Dr. Bucay is also a well-known Physician Member of the Liquid Face Lift Association and is part of the editorial board of Modern Aesthetics.