But hydrating your skin can be difficult. Especially during the winter months when dry, chapped skin is accepted as just part of the season – even here in South Florida.

Most people will just stock up on moisturizers, lotions, creams and balms that promise to relieve and heal their dry skin.

But what you may not know is these “solutions” are most likely making your skin worse.

You see, many of the skin-care products on the market contain alcohol. And even though your skin may feel softer and more comfortable after you first apply it, eventually your skin’s going to be drier than when you started.

Some of these products even contain caustic ammonia or other skin irritants that you don’t want on your skin.

When I recommend moisturizers to my patients, I skip the drug store lotions and look to nature instead.

Here are a few of my favorite natural solutions:

• Shea Butter. Soothing, moisturizing Shea butter helps limit water loss from your skin… leaving it feeling softer and smoother. Shea butter can hold up to two-and-a-half times its weight in water.
• Glycerin.This is one of nature’s gentlest moisturizers. Canadian Willowherb also soothes your skin.
• Cupuacu Butter. You can retain even more moisture with cupuacu butter. This plant extract is similar to Shea butter, but contains powerful antioxidants – including quercetin and kaempferol – which may help boost your skin’s natural defenses.^1,2

Together, these powerful moisturizers promote a softer, smoother look and feel. So no matter where you are – or what season you’re in – your skin will always feel comfortable and look beautiful.

That’s why I combined them to create my skin-protecting formula, Solis. I originally developed Solis to help shield your skin from sun damage without dangerous chemicals.

But when I dug deeper, I found that the ingredients help guard your skin from damage and dryness all year by:

• Making it easy to get the natural vitamin D your body needs
• Guarding your skin from sun damage
• Providing moisturizers, antioxidants and other nutrients to promote healthier, younger-looking skin
• And even helping keep the bugs away

Plus there’s no chemical smell. Only the light natural fragrance of thyme and orange.

In fact, I’m so sure you’ll love everything about Solis, I’ll let you try it risk-free.

I pulled out all the stops to finally give my patients – and you – a skin-care product with true balance. One that soothes, moisturizes and promotes healthy, younger-looking skin. You’ll love how Solis makes your skin look and feel.

I want you to try Solis yourself – with absolutely no risk.

If you’re not completely satisfied – at any time, or for any reason – just let me know, and I’ll refund every penny of the purchase price. No questions, no hassles.

And no returns… because I’m not even asking for the “unused portion” back. You can keep it with my thanks for giving Solis a try. It just doesn’t get any easier than that.

And I’ve made it easy to get Solis, too. Just click on the link below to place your order, and I’ll rush your Solis right to your door.

Now you can give your skin the powerful sunblock it needs – without the chemicals – and safely nourish your skin for a healthier, more youthful look. All with one simple step. Get started right away.

To Your Good Health,

These changes are all thanks to pregnancy hormones that can affect the quality of your skin.

But don’t worry. These little pregnancy quirks are usually short-lived, and you’ll be back to normal as soon as the baby’s born. In the meantime, here are some ways you can control these pregnancy hormone outbreaks while still being able to enjoy your pregnant glow:

• Stretch Marks: As your skin starts to stretch and grow, it may feel itchy and red or show signs of stretch marks. For the best results, avoid hot showers, which will only dry out and irritate your skin. Make sure to moisturize regularly with a product that contains hyaluronic acid, a molecule that can hold 1,000 times its own weight in water. This ingredient will keep your skin soft and supple to greatly reduce your risk of stretch marks.
• Hormonal Acne: The best way to treat unpredictable pregnancy acne is to stick to your regular skin-care regimen. Wash your skin with a cleanser appropriate to your skin type and moisturize afterward. To prevent clogged pores that could lead to acne, exfoliate two to three times per week. While pregnant, use a more gentle fruit enzyme exfoliant with papaya or pineapple to safely care for your skin.
• Brown Spots: Brown spots on the skin caused by hormones can be made even worse by sun exposure. Make sure to use a sunscreen that protects from both UVA and UVB rays each time you leave the house. For moms-to-be, I recommend a mineral sunscreen that is free from toxic ingredients and uses natural zinc to protect the skin from the sun. Steering clear of chemical ingredients is important since topical products can easily absorb into the skin to penetrate the bloodstream.
• Facial Hair: If you’ve noticed upper lip fuzz appear out of nowhere in your pregnancy, you’re not alone. You can once again thank hormones for this increase in body hair — in the most unpleasant places. Luckily, this facial hair growth is normal and temporary for pregnant women. You can remove facial hair safely by waxing and tweezing, although it’s best not to use depilatories or bleaches during pregnancy since they can be absorbed into the skin.

Sincerely,

Kamila Fiore, ARNP, NP-C

[Ed. Note: Kamila Fiore is the resident Nurse Practitioner at the Sears’ Center for Health and Wellness in Royal Palm Beach, Fla. Kamila is passionate about taking a natural approach to healthcare. She believes it’s a vital necessity in this day and age – a time when our health is being jeopardized by the chemicals, toxins and processes that are incorporated in almost everything we consume, touch or breathe. She earned her Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Florida and became state-licensed and board-certified in 2007. Her professional experience includes Aesthetics, Internal Medicine/Geriatrics and Anti-Aging. Kamila educates her patients on health promotion and disease prevention. She also is experienced in laser hair removal.]

You don’t have to bake in a tanning bed to damage your skin from too much sun exposure. Spending time outdoors summer after summer without any protection can leave you with dark spots of hyperpigmentation that seem to pop up out of nowhere.

But before you slather on that over-the-counter SPF, keep in mind that using a generically formulated sunscreen religiously isn’t the answer – no matter what magazine or TV ads may tell you. Chemicals in commercial sunblock can do more harm than good. Instead of protecting your skin from sun damage, chemical sunblocks can cause premature aging and damage to your skin.

The use of sunblock is an interesting paradox in the health world.

We’re told over and over again to apply sunblock regularly because the sun is our enemy. But that’s not the whole picture. Your skin has everything it needs to naturally protect itself from the sun’s UV rays. You may have noticed that your skin starts to tan after spending time in the sun because it produces a substance called melanin. Melanin is your skin’s natural way of protecting yourself from sun damage.

But because of our constant use of chemical sunblock and sun avoidance, we’ve become more sensitive to the sun over time. This means that we’re at a greater risk for sun overexposure that could cause damage to our skin.

The solution? Zinc oxide is a mineral ingredient that won’t be absorbed into your bloodstream like so many chemicals found in over-the-counter sunblocks. Zinc oxide sits right on top of your skin to reflect the rays of the sun. Not only that, but it will boost your body’s natural antioxidant defenses to neutralize free-radical damage from the sun that causes wrinkles and brown spots.

Choose a natural product like Solis that contains zinc oxide to protect your skin from the sun. Solis is free from chemicals and carcinogens commonly found in over-the-counter sunblocks. In fact, many chemicals in commercial sunblocks in the United States are banned in other countries. But Solis uses natural, safe ingredients like moisturizing Shea butter, glycerin for deep hydration, and Canadian willow herb to soothe inflammation in the skin.

Solis is also made with cupuacu butter, a moisturizing plant extract full of antioxidants to fight free-radical damage caused by sun overexposure. This moisturizing ingredient will improve the natural defense of your skin to shield from outside sun damage – so that you can finally reduce the appearance of wrinkles and brown spots.

Click here to try Solis risk-free today for a pure solution to sun protection.

Sincerely,

Kamila Fiore, ARNP, NP-C

They tell you it’s a vital part of your daily routine and you should apply it before you leave your house each time you go out. But this could be very dangerous to your health.

Standard sunscreens you find on the shelves at your local drug store work by absorbing the sun’s rays … preventing them from burning your skin.

And many doctors and manufacturers will tell you this absorption is good because it prevents the rays from damaging your skin.

It may keep your skin from burning. But anything that gets absorbed into your skin goes directly into your blood stream.

And the majority of sunscreens contain harmful ingredients that can cause some serious damage to your body that far outweigh the risks of burning.

The worst culprit in sunscreens is benzophenone.1 This free radical attacks your fat cells, protein cells and your DNA, which can cause hormone imbalances, premature aging and certain types of cancer – like breast cancer.

I tell my patients it’s ok to go out in the sun at least 10-15 minutes daily without sunscreen (or as long as they can without burning their skin). This way you’re stimulating your skin to produce melanin, which causes a tan. And a tan is your body’s natural way of protecting itself from sunburn.

But if you’re going to be spending a longer amount of time in the sun, you’ll want to protect your skin as naturally as possible. The most effective natural sunscreen is zinc oxide.

This works by blocking both types of the sun’s rays, UVA and UVB. All you have to do is apply zinc oxide generously on exposed skin at least 30 minutes before prolonged sun exposure and you’re all set.

My research team is in the process of developing a natural sunscreen with zinc oxide that beats the rest. I’ll let you know right here as soon as it’s ready to go…

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears MD

1. Hanson, K.M., Gratton, E., Bardeen, C.J. “Sunscreen enhancement of UV-induced reactive oxygen species in the skin,” Free Radic. Biol. Med 2006; 41 (8): 1205–12

]]> http://www.mypureradiance.com/why-i-never-use-sunscreen/feed/ 0 http://www.mypureradiance.com/get-internal-sunscreen-with-this-natural-miracle/ http://www.mypureradiance.com/get-internal-sunscreen-with-this-natural-miracle/#comments Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:34:28 +0000 Dr. Al Sears http://www.mypureradiance.com/?p=415 “After 4 Hours in the Sun I Didn’t Burn at All!”

Rev Up Your Body’s “Internal Sunscreen” with This Natural Miracle

Dear Beauty Conscious Reader,

One of my patients took her family to a beach party. Knowing it was going to be a full day in the sun, she decided to give my new sun protection capsule a try.

After four hours of direct sunlight, she was astounded. Her skin was completely normal! There wasn’t a hint of sunburn … she wasn’t even pink.

Unfortunately, her husband and son weren’t so lucky. They hadn’t tried my new formula. So instead of being fully protected against the sun, they came home with burnt red noses and “farmer’s” tans.

Reports like this have been coming in from all over the country. My patients and readers tell me they’re suddenly enjoying sunshine like they did when they were kids.

You don’t have to smear on smelly lotions and sunscreens all day long. Now, for the first time ever, you and your loved ones can spend whole afternoons in the sun without giving a thought to sunburn or skin damage.

That’s because I’ve put together an unprecedented arsenal of safe, natural compounds that unleash your body’s internal sun-protecting power. It helps your skin halt the harmful processes that lead to burns, wrinkles, and aging. You might say it’s even more powerful than sunlight . . .

Tap the Power of Your Skin’s Natural Defense

My potent new sun protection capsule is called Radiance. It combines 7 high-octane nutrients in a unique formula tailored to meet your skin’s specific needs. It doesn’t work like commercial sun block. In fact, it doesn’t “block” the sun at all. Instead it changes the way your skin responds to sunlight internally—at the cellular level.

All you need is a glass of water. In minutes, the ingredients in Radiance go straight to work. Instead of wrinkles, peeling, and painful redness, you can maintain a healthy glow after long stretches of exposure.

It’s truly revolutionary.

I came up with Radiance after years of research. You see, skin damage from the sun is all about nutrition. Deliver the right nutrients where they’re needed, and sunlight no longer poses a threat.

The arsenal of high-powered antioxidants I’ve assembled for Radiance does just that. You won’t find a more potent set of allies anywhere. And since they’re completely natural, your body knows exactly what to do with them. They work with your skin to beef up its natural defenses.

I know it works. Not only from the results shared by my patients and readers —I use it myself.

The results have been nothing short of amazing. I can tool around my garden or do my daily PACE® routine in the middle of a cloudless day and it’s almost like I never left my house.

Protect Your Skin From the Inside Out

I brought together ingredients from around the world to ensure that your skin stays healthy and youthful for life. These organic compounds help your body stay ahead of any damage from sun exposure. Even when you’re not in the sun, they’re still fighting for you.

Therevolutionary ingredient I tracked down is a patented antioxidant formula made in France. It’s called GliSODin®.

The GliSODin® in Radiancetakes a highly unstable antioxidant native to your body and makes it available in supplement form for the first time. The compound is one of Nature’s most powerful free radical fighters—so powerful it’s called “the enzyme of life.” You’ll find it in almost every living thing on earth.

It’s called superoxide dismutase, or SOD. It was first discovered in 1968.

Your body starts pumping it into your system in the first few hours of life. It’s absolutely necessary for survival. In past studies, scientists discovered that mice whose bodies are genetically unable to make SOD die within a few days from massive free radical damage.₁

Over time, your body stops making enough of it to ward off the harmful effects of too much sun. The problem we’ve faced for decades is finding a way to replace lost SOD. Its complex and delicate structure can’t withstand the onslaught of your digestive tract. Saliva and stomach acids destroy it before it can make its way into your system.

So there was no way to make a supplement you could take that would deliver SOD when you need it. Until now.

The scientists who formulated the GliSODin® in Radiance found a way around the problem. They took SOD and “wrapped” it up in a protective sheath made of natural vegetable protein.

Then they went to work in the laboratory to see if it was effective. The answer is a resounding “Yes.”

Check this out:

• When dermatologists at the Center Hospital University in France finished their study of this remarkable ingredient, they were stunned… They used UV light to give sunburns on the forearms of 50 people once a week for four weeks. The volunteers took this new capsule or a placebo (dummy pill) each day.₂

The people taking the “sunscreen capsule” had a dramatic increase in the minimum amount of exposure necessary to produce sunburn. Even fair-skinned people required eight times more UV exposure to produce sunburn than did the placebo group.

• One hundred and fifty people took GliSODin® every day for two months.₃ They were given a sunbathing routine to follow strictly. The researchers then split them into three groups: 75 who usually have significant flushing or reddening almost immediately during exposure; 60 who experience less severe reactions to sunlight, and 15 who suffer from other sun-related problems like irritated skin. Results after four to eight weeks: 64 in the first group of sensitive sunbathers reported excellent tolerance to continued sun exposure. In the second group, 44 had no experience of sun burn or negative reactions. And in group three, a full hundred percentof the people reported none of the usual symptoms they usually experienced with sunbathing. Overall, 82% of people judged their skin was well prepared for sun exposure.*
• In another study, 15 people who redden easily or have hypersensitivity to the sun took the new form of SOD I use in my Radiance formula. After three to eight weeks of normal sun exposure,all of the people in the study reported a higher tolerance and significantly lower tendency to redden, flush, or have sun-induced skin irritation, when compared to previous experiences of summer sun exposure.₄

These studies prove that GliSODin® works. Everyone in these studies started to see results within two or three days. Not bad when you consider that even if you have pale skin, you still get 800 percent more sun protection.

By itself, the GliSODin® in Radiance would give your skin an extraordinary defense against overexposure. But I didn’t stop there.

I also brought together a high-caliber squadron of natural antioxidant powerhouses that eliminate any threat to total skin health. Some of them might surprise you:

These nutrients give your skin—and body—all it needs to stay healthy in the sun.

Look Young and Enjoy the Sun—Today

Now you can see why my Radiance sun capsules help protect your skin against the effects of the sun. Helen, my marketing director, tells me our customer service e-mail “Inbox” is jammed with stories from happy Radiance users.

After years of living in fear of the sun, people are getting back out on the golf course and the tennis court, relaxing by the pool, and playing with their children (and grandchildren) at the beach . . . without so much as a spot of redness.

Living in south Florida, I started taking it as soon as I could… Even in winter, Radiance slows your skin’s aging clock and zaps those deep lines and wrinkles.*

The same thing can happen for you. Preserve your youth without exposing yourself to toxic chemicals. Rediscover the joy of outdoor living. Stop worrying about burns . . . or worse.

The battery of skin guardians in Radiance is unprecedented.

Just click below… right now… to take advantage of this totally no-risk offer.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, M.D.

P.S. Helen has a special bonus for you… If you order the 3-monthoption today, she’ll send you an excerpt from Your Best Health Under the Sun called Foods to Keep Your Skin Youthful. This report reveals the foods that keep your skin soft and supple. You’ll also find the easiest ways to get more vitamin D into your diet and daily routine. Check out her packages below and choose the one you like.

TRIAL OFFER: Order a 1-month supply of Radiance for just $39.95 + $6.95 shipping and handling. Total Price: $46.90.

Click Here to Order Your Trial Offer!

1. Li, et al. “Dilated cardiomyopathy and neonatal lethality in mutant mice lacking manganese superoxide dismutase.” 1995. Nature Genetics. 11:376-381.
2. M. Mac-Mary, J. Sainthillier, P. Creidi, J.P. Series, F. Vix, Ph. Humbert, “Evaluation of the Effect of Glisodin on the Intensity of Actinic Erythema,” presented at the CARD (Annual Congress of Dermatological Research) meeting in Brest, France, May 28th 2005.
3. “Glisodin and Exposure to the Sun,” an open study conducted in France on 150 patients by 40 dermatologists following a protocol compiled by Catherine Laverdet, M.D., Nadine Pomarede, M.D. and Catherine Oliveres-Ghouti, M.D. Sponsored by ISOCELL Nutra, France. (March 2005).
4. “Glisodin Sun Study Pilot,” an open study conducted in France on 15 patients presenting fragile skin, hypersensitivity to the sun or even problems of sun disease, conducted by Catherine Laverdet, MD, Dermatologist, Attachee de Consultation des Hopitaux de, Paris. July-September 2003.

* 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.

Merry Christmas! With the cold weather and snow this time of year, you may be suffering from dry, itchy, winter skin. And, you might think a hot, steamy bath or shower will have a hydrating effect.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Instead of adding moisture and easing the itch, those warm baths and showers just might be a big part of what caused the problem in the first place.

You see, bathing in hot water removes protective oils from your skin. Add high-alkaline soaps into the equation, and you’re literally stripping your skin of its natural oils. And without those protective oils, your skin can’t retain moisture.

Here are some tips to keep your skin soft, moist, and smooth all winter long…

1. Moisturize daily (especially after showering) with creams that contain any of the following ingredients:

• Ceramides, cholesterol, or linolenic essential fatty acids. These ingredients contain lipids, which help reduce water loss.
• Hyaluronic acid, sodium PCA, pantenol/B5, or glycerin. These ingredients are humectants, which attract water and help your skin retain moisture.

2. Avoid frequent exfoliation. It’s tempting to want to scrub off all that dry skin, but all it will do is make your skin even dryer. Try limiting your exfoliating treatments to once per week.

3. Stay away from harsh soaps. The more suds your soap makes, the dryer it will probably make your skin. Try using mild or oil-infused soaps to prevent stripping the natural oils from your skin.

4. Get plenty of essential fatty acids. Moisturize from the inside out with the healthy omega-3 oils found in fish, flaxseed, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds. Or, you can use a supplement like Dr. Sears’ Omeganol.

5. Use natural sunscreens. Commercial sunscreens block UV rays, eliminating your body’s ability to make vitamin D. Research indicates that vitamin D is the most potent cancer fighter there is. In fact, a Nebraska University report says that vitamin D has the potential to lower the risk of all cancers in women over 50 by 77%.

And, lots of sunscreen ingredients have dangerous side effects. Some even cause cancer. They have never been safety tested or safety-approved by the FDA. So, use a safe, natural sunscreen like zinc oxide or titanium oxide to protect the delicate skin of your face. And try a natural lip balm with sunscreen to keep your lips from chapping.

And don’t forget: Hot showers dry your skin. So keep the water temp as low as you can during the week and save the steamy indulgence for a weekend treat.

Best Wishes for Health and Beauty,

Tara Smith, ARNP, NP-C

What’s behind this trend? Is it mainstream medicine’s belief that women get too much sun exposure?

Let’s see. Sales of sun care products have grown substantially in the past 30-plus years. According to a cosmetic and toiletry report, the global market for sun care products is expected to grow 6% per year to $4.8 billion by 2011.¹

Yet the cases of melanoma continue to grow.²

Could it be that the more likely culprit is the sunscreen itself?

Sunscreens block UV rays, eliminating your body’s ability to make vitamin D. Research indicates that vitamin D is the most potent cancer fighter there is. In fact, a Nebraska University report says that vitamin D has the potential to lower the risk of all cancers in women over 50 by 77%.³

Moreover, several common sunscreen ingredients have dangerous, even cancer-causing, side effects. Yet they have never been safety tested or safety approved by the FDA. So make sure to check your sunscreen for the following ingredients…

• Oxybenzone, sometimes called Benzophenone-3, is linked to allergies, hormone disruption, low birth weights, cell damage, and more. It also helps other chemicals penetrate the skin.⁴ The Center for Disease Control says 97% of Americans have this chemical in their system.
• Octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC) kills skin cells.
• PABA, also known as octyl-dimethyl and padimate-O, attacks DNA and causes genetic mutation when it is exposed to sunlight.

Sunscreen is in lip balm, make-up, moisturizers and more. In one study of more than 10,000 teenagers, girls were 34.4% more likely to use sunscreen than boys were.

If you really want to protect yourself from skin cancer, go outside! All you need is about 20 minutes a day of unprotected sun exposure to get your daily dose of vitamin D.

An Anticancer Research study found that just by getting a little sunlight every day – about 20 minutes for fair-skinned people and two to four times that much for those with dark skin – could reduce the risk of 17 types of cancer.⁵

If you plan to spend more than 20 minutes of fun in the sun, there are natural ways to protect yourself. Here are some tips.

• Get enough antioxidants, one of your best lines of defense against all types of skin damage.
• Vitamin D. Take 1,000 to 2,000 IEUs per day, particularly during the winter or if you live in cold, damp climates with little sunlight.
• Vitamin C. Fights free radicals, reduces inflammation, and boosts immune response. Take 500 mg twice per day with food.
• Vitamin E. Great for skin health. I recommend 400 IU per day. Look for vitamin E as “mixed tocopherols” on the label. They are the organic compounds most readily absorbed by your body.
• Alpha-Lipoic Acid. A powerful antioxidant that protects skin cells from free radicals, guards their mitochondria (the power plant of every cell), and pumps up your cancer defense mechanisms. I recommend 200 mg to 400 mg daily.
• Get enough omega-3s. Studies show that omega 6:3 ratio is important in preventing skin cancer.6 A tablespoon of cod liver oil a day will replenish your omega-3 levels and keep your skin looking young and fresh. It will also give you a boost of vitamin D in its most natural form.
• Try rubbing a little mango butter or shea butter on your skin as a sun blocker without the toxic chemicals. You can also use zinc oxide, a natural mineral that provides a reflective barrier on your skin. You can find these in most health food and supplement stores.

To Your Good Health

Al Sears, MD

1. Kate Phillips. “Bright Outlook for Sun Care Market, Suppliers Absorb Growth”, Chemicalweek.com. 4/4/07
2. American Cancer Society. Overview: Skin Cancer – Melanoma. www.Cancer.org. viewed 2/10/09.
3. Lappe et al. “Vitamin D Status in a Rural Postmenopausal Female Population”. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 2006; 25(5):395-402.
4. Carrie Gouldin. “CDC: Caving to Industry, FDA Delays Safety Standards for Decades”, Environmental Working Group, http://www.ewg.org, 3/25/08
5. Grant WB et al, “The association of solar ultraviolet B (UVB) with reducing risk of cancer: multifactorial ecologic analysis of geographic variation in age-adjusted cancer mortality rates,” Anticancer Research, 2006; 26:2687-2700.
6. Guangming Liu, et al. “Omega 3 but not Omega 6 fatty acids inhibit AP-1 activity and cell transformation in JB6 cells”. Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, 2001.