Recently by Beth Anderson

My puppy Ginger is blind.  A strange way to start this article, I know, but it's relevant.  I would never trust my puppy with anyone except Russ and Karen at the Zoo Crew in Tulsa, OK.  Once a month, I take Ginger in for her bath and primping. Each visit I love chatting with Russ and Karen.  Recently Russ has been ill and Karen was telling me about an incredible website that she had found during her internet search on Russ' illness.  Karen told me that she discovered Sherry Brescia and her website Great Taste No Pain.  She ordered her books, received direct emails for Sherry and Russ was feeling better! 

Since I trust Karen with my puppy, I certainly trust her advice. I immediately ran home, found Sherry's website and sent her an interview request.  I know you will be as taken with Sherry as we are. It is our pleasure to giveaway a Great Taste No Pain system to 1 lucky Chic Galleria reader!


BA: Sherry, how did you get involved with Holistic Nutrition?

SB: My involvement with Holistic Nutrition was born out of necessity.  I began suffering from IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) as a teenager.  By the time I reached my late 20's it was ruining my life--I couldn't go anywhere or do anything without fear of having an "attack."  Daily bouts of cramps, bloating and alternating diarrhea and constipation were my way of life.  And I knew where the public bathroom was in every place I went!

It was frustrating because I ate what most people would consider a healthy diet--very lean meats, whole grains, lots of fruits and vegetables and no processed foods.  It made no difference.

In 1990 I spent a week in the hospital following a very severe attack which left me weak and unable to keep food in my system.  After a series of uncomfortable tests that ruled out other disorders like Crohn's, cancer, diverticulitis and colitis, I was diagnosed with IBS.

My doctor's advice was to stay away from spicy foods, raw vegetables, nuts and seeds, and to take an anti-spasmodic pill (Donnatol) before every meal.

I didn't want a life sentence of taking medication to create "false health," and not wanting to give up the good tasting, healthy foods I loved, I searched for a better answer.  Eventually I learned about a holistic approach to creating health and healing by reducing acidity in the body through diet--specifically, the correct combining of foods.

The science behind it was sound--avoid eating foods together that are digested with enzymes that are opposites on the pH scale (acid and alkaline) because when you do, the acid and alkaline enzymes neutralize each other.  As a result, digestion is slowed or completely stopped.  When your foods are not digested like they should be, that creates excess acid, pain, bloating, gas, constipation and/or diarrhea--all the typical symptoms that send people running for Tums, Pepto Bismol, Alka Seltzer and the "purple pill."

So I tried it.  And I've been completely symptom-free (and medication-free) since my very first correctly combined meal 17 years ago.   

My own experiences with ill health served as my inspiration to help others, and there are a lot of others to help.  More than 70 million Americans suffer from digestive disorders, and we spend over $50 billion on products (both OTC and prescription drugs) to relieve indigestion and stomach upset.

What resulted was the creation of the Great Taste No Pain health system.  The Great Taste No Pain system is comprised of a 176-page recipe book and a set of straight-forward, easy to read manuals that teach you the principles of correct food combining and the importance of an alkaline pH.

Eating good food combinations and keeping an alkaline pH can help eliminate the symptoms of conditions such as:

    * Diverticulitis and diverticulosis
    * Ulcerative colitis
    * Crohn's disease
    * Acid reflux
    * GERD
    * Hiatal hernia
    * IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome)
    * Stomach ulcers

You can learn more about Great Taste No Pain and read some of their tremendous client success stories at:

http://www.greattastenopain.com

BA: Having an online business isn't easy, you still have to get visitors to your online store just like you would a real storefront. What are some of your strategies for getting traffic to come your way?

SB: Our website does appear on search engines like Google and Yahoo, but one of the best sources of traffic has been my daily newsletter writing.

I publish a daily (Monday - Friday) health oriented electronic newsletter called "Pain-Free Living" that presently has over 250,000 subscribers worldwide.  Pain-Free Living deals with a variety of health topics, but concentrates primarily on digestive issues.  Many of my newsletters are reprinted (with permission) in various publications and other electronic newsletters.  Subscribers also pass them along to family and friends.  There is nothing like word of mouth to get people excited about and believing in your product.

In addition, I have done many radio and magazine interviews, and also have a large number of professionals (holistic doctors and chiropractors) that refer their patients with digestive issues to our site.

BA: What makes your business unique when compared to others in this category?

SB: We are unique because we have created a healthy eating system that works amazingly well, yet is not full of tasteless, boring foods.  Let's face it--when you talk about healthy eating, most people think of existing on celery and bean sprouts.  That's not the case with Great Taste No Pain.

When I first learned how to eat correctly combined meals 17 years ago, I quickly noticed that the recipes in the books available on the subject were bland or unimaginative.  So I blended my passion for cooking delicious, gourmet-style meals and my knowledge of the principles of food combining and created my own recipes.  

We prove that you can eat for health and still enjoy absolutely fantastic food, and that's what makes us unique.

BA: What has been your proudest moment as a business owner?

SB: I feel a tremendous sense of pride whenever I read a success story from a client that I have helped, but I felt most proud when I was contacted by the father of a 7 year-old boy who feared his son was dying.  The boy suffered from chronic diarrhea and vomiting which completely turned around once he started correctly combining his foods.  Here is his story:

Sherry,

Thank you!

Out of desperation for the health of our son (7 years old) and a willingness to try anything that appeared to be healthy, we ordered your "Great Taste No Pain" program.

About one week later, here's what I can report so far:  He is now a normal kid with a healthy appetite.  Big deal, right?  

This year alone (from Jan 2008) he missed 23 days of school.  His pediatrician kept claiming he had a "flu bug" that was going around that was especially bad this year.

During his worst episode, in which he went 4 days without food and with very little water, we took him to a gastro doctor.  She prescribed Miralax claiming he was constipated.

My wife and I were astonished.  Constipated?  He went through 4 days of pure agony - 27 bouts of diarrhea - 6 bouts of vomiting.  How could he be constipated?

She also later did a scope from both ends and found no disease or entangled intestines - just some acid "burns" in the stomach.  Of course she recommended Prevacid and to stay away from citrus and spicy foods.

Her numerous biopsies did show some allergies.  The allergist found lactose intolerance and cited minor findings of other food allergies.  Our first visit with him seemed promising, but the second visit only got confusing.

With his level of allergies, his severe symptoms could not be explained.  Back to the gastro doctor.  Over time and between the 2 doctors "treating" him, we got prescriptions for Singulair, Xygal, an asthma inhaler, Prevacid and Pentasa.

After these didn't work, they wanted us to up the dosage.  The pharmacist even commented about the excessively high dosage.

My son's symptoms, especially looking back, were terrible.  Never a good eater, never wanting to go to the bathroom, bouts of violent diarrhea and vomiting, bouts of the agony of bloating and constipation, long periods of inactivity, and asthma attacks that always seemed to coincide with his digestive issues, which we noticed, but the doctors quickly dismissed once they ruled out Crohns and Celiac.

During the worst and last of these episodes, I even had the worst thoughts imaginable - that my son can't keep any food in him and the doctors are helpless - can he even survive like that?  I seriously talked with him about the things of God and what he specifically needs to do to prepare for eternity.

My son has been diagnosed with many different things.  Thank God he doesn't have any of these things.  And thank God (and you) for the work you do.

After 3 days of your plan, my son was feeling good and he now eats more than me.  We stopped all the medications.  In just 8 days, he's eating like a horse, he's playing like I've never seen, he's going to the bathroom without being forced into it.

So far, so good.  Our family loves your recipes and we've all taken to the plan.

Just thought you'd like to know - there's a family in Wisconsin who greatly appreciates you...

Dave

 

*******************

Sherry Brescia has spent the majority of her career studying health and the role that diet plays in a person's overall state of wellness.

Much of her 16-year career in the health insurance industry was spent analyzing medical records of prospective policyholders and claim beneficiaries.  She read thousands of case studies of people who consulted doctors for digestive problems, aches and pains or lack of energy, but were never given any treatment besides tests, surgery or medication.

She noticed the patients returned to their doctors repeatedly for the same complaints, but the treatment rarely changed other than a different pill to try.  If any dietary recommendations were given, they were a vague, general "bland diet" or avoidance of foods that seem to cause symptoms.  Almost never did she note a true recovery from symptoms and attainment of great health.

At the same time she herself was a living case study.  Despite eating in a way that most health experts would consider healthy, she suffered daily for years with bloating, cramps, gas, diarrhea and constipation.  She also developed migraine headaches and allergies.

After a 7-day hospital stay being drugged with Demerol for excruciating pain, fed by an IV and enduring one painful, embarrassing test after another, she was given the diagnosis of IBS.  She was told to take an anti-spasmodic medication before every meal for the rest of her life, along with avoiding many of her favorite foods and taking more pills for the allergies and migraines.  She was just 28 years old.

A year later, still in pain and outraged at her doctor's lack of knowledge of what to do for her besides writing a prescription for pills to mask her symptoms (while ignoring the cause), she ditched the meds and instead learned how to eat in the way that considers and respects how the human body is designed to digest food (otherwise known as food combining).

As a result, she has been completely symptom-and medication-free for over 17 years.  Stomach problems, allergies and migraines all disappeared instantly after she just became a little more discerning about what foods she ate together.

Sherry realized then that she had a mission.  She was meant to help others attain better health in the most natural way possible--through their diet.

Sherry knew that in order to help as many people as possible, her system had to be one they would stick with--it needed to appeal to the pickiest eaters, be easy to do and allow people to still enjoy as many of their favorites foods as possible.  With her passion for making and eating great food, she blended the science of food combining (originally created by Dr. William Howard Hay in 1911) with gourmet-tasting yet easy to make meals to create the Great Taste No Pain health system.

Everyday, Sherry receives success stories from people worldwide thanking her and claiming she has "saved their lives."

In addition to being an author and gourmet cook, Sherry holds a black belt in Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate, teaches religious education classes and is currently working toward her PhD in holistic nutrition.  She lives in Central New York with her husband, son, daughter and 3 cats.

In order to win the Great Taste No Pain health system, you need to leave a comment on this article.  Do you or a loved one suffer from pain?  Are you interested in trying Sherry's system? We want to know!  Winner will be chosen from the comments on Tuesday, September 15 midnight EST. 

The Body Shop-"We know that no matter what your age, oily skin, perspiration, and everyday exposure can lead to blemishes which can cause worry, stress, and feeling self-conscious. And, of course, all of those can lead to even more skin issues. No matter what form they may take - blackheads, acne, or pimples - our Tea Tree line is one of your best and most natural treatment options."

What causes breakouts?

Most often, acne and breakouts occur when your hair follicles become clogged with excess oil and dead skin cells. Sometimes these clogged pores become infected and inflamed resulting in pimples and acne.

Many of us make this problem worse by using harsh products and scrubs that over dry and irritate the skin, leading to more acne. The key to truly clear and radiant skin is to create a balance; controlling excess oil while soothing inflamed and irritated pores.

How does Tea Tree work?

Our Tea Tree line uses a combination of natural Community Trade ingredients, including organic tea tree oil, to gently treat and prevent blemishes for clear skin confidence everyday.

    * Organic tea tree oil controls oil, combats existing blemishes, and prevents new ones without over-drying skin.
    * Lemon tea tree oil refreshes and invigorates the skin and has a refreshing aroma.
    * Tamanu Oil has soothing properties that prevent dryness and reduce scarring.

The Body Shop and Chic Galleria are giving away a prize package worth over $100!    Enter to win this entire list of fabulous Tea Tree items.  Seriously!  All these things in one package to 1 Chic Galleria reader!!  Here's is how you can enter.  Visit The Body Shop website, check out all their products, then come back here and leave us a comment.  We want to know your favorite TBS product!

Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion ($18)
Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion ($13)
Tea Tree Face Mask ($15)
Tea Tree Blemish Gel ($9)
Tea Tree Concealer ($9)
Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner ($11)
Tea Tree Body Wash ($13)
Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash ($11)
Tea Tree Oil ($9)

The Tea Tree 2 for $18 promotion ends August 30th.  We will draw a winner at that day at midnight EST. Congratulations Cindi!

Chic Galleria has a wonderful friend named Bill Brazell.  Some of you may know him as Kenny The Kidney.  Bill's family has lost a number of loved ones to a genetic disorder known as polycystic kidney disease, or PKD. "Six years ago PKD took the life of my first cousin Michael, a great guy with two kids. Born four and a half months before me, he was just 35. A little more than a year ago PKD took out Michael's father, my Uncle Dick, who was affectionately known as Poppy. A number of other loved ones have it, too", says Bill.

"So we raise money for PKD research by walking as "Mike & Poppy's All-Stars." Last year we won one of just three Long Jump Awards for raising more than $30,000. The research is going well, and a successful treatment is very close. But the lousy economy threatens our progress in ways that could hurt us for many years to come."

"A genetic mistake causes people with PKD to develop cysts, or pockets of fluid, on their kidneys. As the people grow, the cysts grow and multiply. In about half the cases, the cysts overwhelm the kidneys, causing them to fail. At that point a person needs dialysis or, if available, a transplant. Neither option is a walk in the park."

When Bill emailed me and asked if Chic Galleria would like to get involved, I wondered if it meant meeting him in NYC and wearing my own petite kidney.  But no, I'm able to ask for your help from the comfort of my own office chair. 

Two Giveaways

This week in honor of Bill's family members, Michael and Uncle Dick, Chic Galleria is holding 2 different giveaways.  One giveaway is HERE at Chic Galleria for a $25 Starbucks card and one HERE at Bill's PKD Cure page to enter the raffle.  Chic Galleria has donated this Keurig Platinum Brewing System for the raffle.



1) Nothing is required for you to be entered to win the $25 Starbucks card from Chic Galleria except to leave a comment on this article.  Let us know if you or a family member suffers from PKD or any other disease.   

2) To enter the raffle for a chance to win the Keurig Platinum Brewing System please donate at least $5 for PKD research, by clicking here:
http://www.pkdcure.org/kennythekidney
Unfortunately, donations under $5 cost the Foundation more to process than they're worth.  For every $5 you donate, you will receive 1 virtual ticket.  The more you donate, the more chances to win. Remember the winner will only be drawn from Chic Galleria readers who donate via our website. OK...Here is the tricky part...Please input the word "Chic" into your name so Bill will know you are a Chic Galleria friend.  For instance, Beth "Chic" Anderson.....

The winners from both the Chic Galleria site giveaway and the raffle will be announced here on Tuesday, August 25th.  Enter before midnight EST Monday, August 24th to be eligible. Due to overwhelming support for Bill, we have extended this giveaway until Monday, August 31.

Bill wants everyone to know how committed he is to this cause.  He serves on the board of trustees -- and, like all PKD Foundation board members, he travels to meetings three times a year, paying my own travel and lodging. He goes to Washington each spring to lobby Congress for more money for PKD research. He donates regularly, as deeply as he can. For extra fun, he dresses up as a giant kidney and walk around Times Square:
http://www.kennythekidney.com/

PKD affects 600,000 Americans -- 1 out of every 500 people you see. That's more than cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, Huntington's disease, sickle cell anemia, Down syndrome and hemophilia *combined.*  Please help us cure it.

Chic Galleria would like to help Bill reach his goal of raising $10,000 for PKD research.  Thank you for your support!

Congratulations to Nancy who won the Starbucks gift card. Congratulations David who won the Keurig.

By Herbert P. Goodheart, M.D.,
Author of Acne For Dummies

High school is a memory. You have a career, or you're raising a family. Bad skin, you assume, is a thing of the past. But just when you think that you're out of the woods, acne hits you right in the face. Dermatologists regularly hear the lament, "Acne, at my age?!", expressed by women who suddenly develop acne after the age of 18 or 30 or even later in life. Many people -- mostly women -- get acne for the first time as adults or develop acne after years of being relatively pimple free. And sometimes teenage acne can continue unabated from teen years into adulthood.

What causes it?

When acne begins in the teenage years, the increase in your androgens -- male hormones that are present in both men and women -- play a major role in its development. The other major female hormone, estrogen, has an opposite (estrogenic) effect and tends to curb acne. The presence of a certain type of bacteria is also believed to have a role in causing acne.

Currently, there is some disagreement about the link between diet and acne; several researchers are suggesting that there may be a degree of truth behind some dietary factors having an influence on acne.  If you're absolutely convinced that a certain food type is making your acne worse -- avoid it!

Acne and your menstrual cycle

You're probably well aware of those unwelcome visitors that appear, disappear, and reappear like clockwork during your menstrual cycle. Most often, pimples tend to pop up right before your period. This is the time -- usually two to seven days before your period -- when estrogen levels fall and progesterone levels rise.

The appearance of adult acne differs from that of teenage acne in the following ways:

    *Pimples more often appear on the lower cheek, the chin, and along and below the jaw line. Although some women may have breakouts on the chest and back, most have acne blemishes exclusively on the face.

    *Blackheads and whiteheads are less commonly seen.

    *The inflamed pimples can be superficial or deep. Many women describe certain papules as "deep ones," the ones that feel like they come from under the skin.

What if it's not acne?

The diagnosis of adult-onset acne isn't always clear-cut; it may easily be confused with other acne look-alikes such as:

    *Rosacea: Rosacea and acne look so much alike. A major difference is that rosacea usually turns up in people from age 30 to 50 and can be a longer lasting condition than acne. Symptoms of rosacea include facial pimples that are acne-like as well as a persistent redness from underlying facial blood vessels.


    *Endocrinopathy: Sometimes what appears to be a simple case of adult-onset acne can be due to an underlying hormonal abnormality, called endocrinopathy At times like this, this type of acne may be difficult to get under control and other measures such as blood tests to look for higher or lower than normal hormone levels should be evaluated and treated by your doctor.

What can be done to treat it?

Having acne can take an emotional toll and be just as trying for adults as it is for teens. Job hunting, social events and dating can be negatively impacted by just a few pimples. Whether you have rather mild or severe acne, effective treatments are available.

    * Many of the over-the-counter topical products than contain benzoyl peroxide such as Clearasil can be very effective, and for many women, it's the only treatment necessary.

    * Topical or oral prescription preparations that are available only from a healthcare provider or dermatologist to treat your acne are very effective.
            -- Topical retinoids such as Retin-A and Differin are a mainstay of acne therapy.
            -- Topical antibiotics directly kill P. acnes, bacteria that are considered to be involved in producing acne.
            -- Combining benzoyl peroxide with topical antibiotics or retinoids is a treatment option is referred to as "combination therapy". In fact, combination therapy is used to treat most cases of acne because acne is caused by a combination of factors.
            -- Oral antibiotics, most often with tetracycline derivatives, are generally used in the management of moderate to severe acne, particularly if you have more extensive, deep, or scarring acne.
            -- Hormonal therapy with certain oral contraceptives (birth control pills) or other anti-androgen medications can help to block the acne-causing response to your androgens.

©2009 Herbert P. Goodheart, M.D., author of Acne For Dummies

Herbert P. Goodheart, M.D., of New York, NY, author of Acne For Dummies,  is a practicing dermatologist who also teaches at the Mount Sinai College of Medicine. He is the author of a highly regarded dermatology textbook titled Goodheart's Photoguide to Common Skin Disorders: Diagnosis and Management, which is in its third edition.

For more information please visit http://herbertgoodheart.com/ Photo Credit © Dewayne Flowers | Dreamstime.com

He references a conversation that the two of you had within the first few months of dating.  Something you said that showed him who you really were.  It was done in a joking manner, but it still was the truth.  So did that comment hold fast in his memory all these years, or did it resurface after being buried amongst the denial? 

I don't think that people necessarily change for other people.  I think there is give and take in any relationship. Change never really works out, does it?  Is there a reason why a woman suddenly shows an interest in baseball when she never cared before?  Or how about the man who tells her he likes to dress up and go out to dinner?  Seriously?  I have to assume that it has to do with acceptance.  Everyone has a need for that.  But at what price?

I honestly don't care for the cliches.  "We've grown apart", "We're on different planes", "We aren't the same people we used to be."  No, I've always been this person. I hid part of me under the pretense that I thought we were happy.  So maybe it's just easier to go along for the ride and kid yourself that you can eek out the real you in small increments.  Eventually you have gathered enough courage to really come to life, but are hit head on with the reality that it wasn't what the other person wanted to have happen.

So here you are.  Your character flaws exposed and now used against you.  All he said about you "changing" is really who you have always been.  You didn't change. You just never realized until now that, who you really are, was not what he had in mind.

Photo Credit © Andrea Rankovic | Dreamstime.com

By Laura Dave
Author of The Divorce Party: A Novel

One of my favorite quotes about love and marriage comes from Oscar Wilde: A Man can be happy with any woman as long as he does not love her. While that saying makes me laugh, Wilde is also getting to something important: Marriage is tricky. And in today's society where the martial woes of everyone from the Sanfords to John and Kate Gosselin are headline news, we are presented with every reason in the world to give up on our relationships -- and fewer and fewer reasons to stay. While researching my most recent novel, I sat down and spoke to women, men, and married couples about why they do stay. And, sometimes, why they wished they had. This is the best advice I've found.

1. Love is a decision

Watching Governor Sanford stand up over these past weeks and speak about how he found his soul mate in his Argentinean lover reminded me of something Pema Chodron, a Buddhist nun and author, wrote about Sweat Lodges. She wrote that the only way to be in a Sweat Lodge -- to experience all that it brings -- is to sit far from the exit. Because if you sit too close, you will find a reason to use it.  

The same is true of any long-term relationship. If you decide to look for an exit, you will always be able to find it: whether it comes in the form of another lover, or another life. But the couples I spoke with who decided to commit to their marriages and relationships -- to be present for them, to help them grow more sacred -- told me that they were immeasurably rewarded for that decision. The more committed they grew to their marriages -- the further they sat from the exit -- the more joy and peace they found there.

2. There is No Weakness In Forgiveness

I'm not happy anymore; or I'm disappointed; or I have doubts. Three familiar catchphrases that free us up to not work to bring a relationship back to a positive place. In fact, we are conditioned these days to believe that the brave thing is to move on when the honeymoon is over. But that very standard makes it hard for any long-term relationship to survive inevitable disappointments.  

While some would argue that it is brave to pick up and start a new life when a relationship begins to ebb, the truly brave thing -- the hard and valuable thing -- is to figure out how to find a new flow together. As one couple, who is happily married after 40 years together, informed me, "The most invaluable gifts come on the other side of the bad periods. If we hadn't forgiven each other for the hard times, we never would have experienced such good ones."

3. Someone New Won't Be New For Long

One factor is consistent in all studies of marriages and long-term relationships: a main cause of divorce and separation is infidelity. Those that stray (statistically, women as much as men these days) sight many factors as reasons: a breakdown in passion, a breakdown in communication, a breakdown . . .

But statistics also tell us that the chance of a relationship born from infidelity being successful is less than 1 and 100. Less than 1%. More often than not, the best thing someone new has going for him or her is being . . . new. And, once they aren't anymore, you are left in an even more precarious position.  

Whoever you choose -- it always comes down to one thing. How hard are you willing to fight to make the relationship work? How easily are you willing to give your relationship away?

4. Often the Person You Are Running From Is You

Surprisingly, of all the reasons couples gave me for why they chose to end their marriage or relationship, the loss of love or mutual friendship was often notably absent. It often came down to something else: the desire to start a new life. To not grow old. Or, at least, to not feel like they were.  

It is difficult to stay with the person who knows you best when you don't like what we see in the mirror. It may be easier to blame your partner than to take a hard look at yourself. But, at the end of the day, it isn't your partner's responsibility to change your self-image, or to fix your self-doubt. It's yours. And, if we want to like ourselves better, running out on a person who likes us the way we are isn't a wise starting point.

5. You Don't Need A Reason

Like anything worth having in this life, marriage and long-term commitment are hard work. Sometimes knowing that can be enough to help us not pick at the scabs while they are healing, to not make things worse as opposed to letting them feel better. As a lovely couple in Seattle Washington reminded me, things will feel better. "Be good to each other, be patient. If you allow it, love always lives through that."

©2009 Laura Dave, author of The Divorce Party: A Novel

Laura Dave is the author of the acclaimed novels The Divorce Party and London Is the Best City in America. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Glamour, Self,Redbook, ESPN the Magazine, and The New York Observer. Dave graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. In August, Cosmopolitan magazine named her as one of the eight "Fun and Fearless Phenoms" of 2008. She lives in California.

For more information, please visit http://lauradave.com/

Chic Galleria and Laura Dave are giving away 2 copies of The Divorce Party: A Novel to two lucky Chic Galleria readers.   If you would like a chance to win this book, please leave a comment on this article.

Giveaway ends July 27 midnight EST. Congratulations Dawn and Cindi!

What a treat to interview Dr. Herbert P. Goodheart, M.D., author of Acne For Dummies!

"As a dermatologist, healthy skin is my thing. So, I wanted to provide you with some tips and tricks to keep your skin healthy throughout your life. Just think -- you're going to get your acne under control one day, but you'll have the skin you're in for the rest of your life. So, treat it right. I show you how," says Dr. Goodheart.

1) Steering Clear of Excessive Sun Exposure

The sun is an immense nuclear reactor. As well as producing heat and light, it also sends out other types of radiation that can sometimes damage your skin. The Earth's atmosphere filters out much of the more dangerous solar radiation, but some of it gets through -- mainly in the ultraviolet (UV) band. The UV radiation in sunlight can cause painful sunburns and certain types of skin cancer, and can also age your skin.

If you have a personal or family history of skin cancer or you have very fair skin that never tans but always burns, do whatever possible to minimize sun exposure. If you have skin of color or are naturally very dark complexioned, you can probably ignore the following advice unless you develop allergic reactions from the sun, take medications that may make you extra sensitive to the sun, or have a medical condition that sunlight worsens.

The best way to prevent skin damage from the sun besides moving to the Antarctic -- oops, never mind, I forgot about the hole in the ozone layer there -- is to avoid excessive exposure to UV and the sun. You can accomplish this by following these tips:

    * Shun the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m, especially during late spring and summer when the sun is most intense.
    * Wear protective headgear such as a hat with a wide brim to protect your face, head, and the back of your neck. You can also wear a baseball cap, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants.
    * Be aware of reflected light from sand, water, or snow.
    * Avoid tanning parlors.
    * Slather on the sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater -- at least 30 minutes before sun exposure, even on cloudy, hazy days.
    * Reapply sunscreens liberally and frequently at least every two to three hours, and after swimming or sweating.
    * Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVB (the burning rays) and UVA (the more penetrating rays that promote wrinkling and aging).

TIP: If you're a person of color and have the dark spots of PIP, they're often further darkened by sun exposure. A broad-spectrum sunscreen will offer you the best protection. (I cover PIP in Chapter 12.)

2) Opting for Sunless Tanning

Sunless tanners, sometimes referred to as self-tanners or tanning extenders, are promoted as a way to get a tan without the sun. You can try:

    * Self-tanners: These artificial tanning preparations contain dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA interacts with dead surface cells in the outermost (horny) layer of your epidermis and produces a color change. As the dead skin cells naturally slough off, the color gradually fades back to your normal skin color, typically within five to seven days after a single application. DHA-containing products are available as lotions, creams, sprays, and gels and aren't considered to be harmful. Airbrush tanning using DHA is now offered in salons.

    * Bronzers: The term "bronzer" refers to a variety of products used to achieve a temporary tanned appearance. These products contain a transparent color additive that also stains the outermost layer of your skin. You can choose a bronzing gel or cream that enhances your own skin color. The chemicals in bronzers may react differently on various areas of your body, producing a tan of many shades. It can be washed off with soap and water at the end of each day. Bronzers are also considered to be harmless.

WARNING: Although self-tanners and bronzers give the skin a golden brown color, these products don't offer protection from the damaging effects of UV radiation unless they also contain sunscreen ingredients.

Clinique, Estee Lauder, Clarins, and Bain de Soleil all offer sunless tanning products. Neutrogena has foams that are easy to apply to areas with body hair.

Other means of producing a tan without the sun, including tanning pills (which contain color additives) and tanning "accelerators" (which contain other chemicals), should be avoided. According to the FDA, there is a lack of scientific data showing that they work; in fact, at least one study has found them ineffective.

3) Dimming the Shine of Oily Skin

If you have oily skin -- you're lucky! Oily skin has great advantages. Your skin will probably be less likely to wrinkle, age, and sag. On the other hand, it may feel greasy and develop shiny patches even a short time after you wash it. The highest concentration of sebaceous glands is in the T-zone, and the excess sebum from this area plus the sweat glands on the skin can make your skin look even greasier and shinier. (Take a look at Chapter 4 to see the T-zone.)

But you can temporarily squelch the shine with many products now available such as blotting papers, oil-absorbing powders, and foundations. Even the application of medicated prescription products such as retinoids and benzoyl peroxide are temporary cosmetic maneuvers that remove the surface oil. The deeper oils (sebum) are bound to keep flowing despite what you do to the surface.

TIP: You can try tackling T-zone oiliness with Clinac O.C. (Oil Control) Gel, which can be purchased without a prescription. It mops up excess sebum without drying the skin. In addition, if you're looking for a matte finish, you can try a "mattifier," a shine-stopping product that helps absorb oil on your face and, ideally, prevents oil from breaking through. The following are a few suggestions:

    * Neutrogena Pore Refining Mattifier Shine Control Gel
    * Lancome Pure Focus T-Zone Mattifier
    * Loreal Hydra Mattify

4) Humidifying Dry Skin

If your skin is excessively dry, it may be due to a diminished production of sebum, reduced sweat activity, and environmental factors.

Xerosis, or dry skin, can affect anyone, but it tends to be more severe in certain folks, especially those with a hereditary predisposition. Modern lifestyles are also a contributing factor. In Western societies, we tend to over-bathe; use of harsh soaps and hot water also contribute. Xerosis is a common occurrence in winter climates, particularly in conditions of cold air, low relative humidity, and indoor heating.

Use moisturizers to help with dry skin. Moisturizers don't add water to the skin, but they help to retain or "lock in" water that was absorbed during your shower or bath. Therefore, apply a moisturizer while your skin is still damp. The choice of product is based on personal preference, ease of application, cost, and effectiveness.

TIP: You can find numerous over-the-counter preparations in ointment bases, cream bases, and lotions. Eucerin, Nivea, Aquaphor, Oil of Olay, Moisturel, and Curel are just a few of the popular name brands. Am-Lactin (ammonium lactate 12 percent) lotion or cream is applied after bathing. It is very effective and is used for more severe cases of xerosis and may be purchased over the counter. If your skin is really scaly and dry, you can also get special, heavy-duty moisturizers that are available by prescription only.

5) Soothing Sensitive Skin

Acne medications, many of which are irritating in the first place, can wreak havoc with sensitive skin. Applying bland moisturizers such as Oil of Olay and Cetaphil Lotion overacne medications and using soap-free, gentle cleansers designed for sensitive skin is particularly important for people who have an underlying skin condition such as eczema (atopic dermatitis).

TIP: Women who have sensitive skin or eczema should discard cosmetics that have been on the shelf for a long period. That's because they can become contaminated if some of their preservatives break down or oxidize over time.

6) Promoting a Youthful Glow

If you're looking for ways to promote that "youthful glow" of your skin, there are many new skin-care developments designed to do just that:

    * Renova: Available only by prescription, this is an anti-aging cream that contains the active ingredient retinoic acid. Retinoic acid has been sold for years under the brand name Retin-A and used for the treatment of acne, which I cover in Chapter 9. The drug is approved by the FDA for the treatment of sun-damaged skin. Precautions for use of Renova are the same as those for tretinoin and the other retinoids.

    * Fruit acids: Products that contain natural fruit acids (alpha hydroxy acids or AHAs) such as glycolic acid are now very popular. They claim to "rejuvenate" the skin by encouraging the shedding of old, sun-damaged surface skin cells, which promotes a fresher, healthier look with a more even color and texture. There are many products with varying concentrations of various fruit acids in differing bases. Those available from medical practitioners are stronger than those at pharmacies and beauty therapists. AHAs can be alternated with other topical anti-aging preparations including retinoid creams. Check out Chapter 14 where I talk more about AHAs.

7) Caring for the Bumps

Use the gentlest skincare products available if you have acne, rosacea, or razor bumps. Tender loving care is the byword. Treat your skin as gently as possible. Often, people suffer from their own overtreatment. Strong soaps, harsh exfoliants, loofahs, and rough washcloths are much too irritating.

TIP: Soap cleansers such as Basis soap, Eucerin Bar, Purpose Soap, and Neutrogena Cleansing Bar are all mild enough for daily washing.

Non-soap cleansers include Liquid Neutrogena Cleansing Formula, Aquinil Lotion, and Cetaphil Lotion.

8) Minimizing Stress

Easier said than done, I realize. Although stress doesn't cause acne, many believe that it can trigger flare-ups. That's because when the body encounters stress, it steps up production of cortisol, which causes the sebaceous glands to produce more oil.

TIP: The best course of action is to keep tabs on your own personal response, and to try to make time every day for the things that make you feel relaxed and happy. Exercise, meditate, get a good night's sleep, and eat a healthy diet. You've got nothing to lose.

9) Visiting a Dermatologist

If you may permit me to brag, we dermatologists have the important skills that come with focused, repetitive, visual scrutiny and education regarding your skin. The ability to make diagnoses and to identify benign versus malignant lesions is our specialty. And, of course, we're the experts when it comes to treating acne.

So if you can't manage your acne on your own or you're not getting very far with prescription medications given to you by your healthcare provider, make an appointment to see one of us.

TIP: After you have a dermatologist, if you wake up one morning with a big zit and you have an important day coming up, call her office. Tell the person at the appointment desk about your problem. If it's during the week when your doctor has office hours, she'll be more likely than not to ask you to come in for an intralesional cortisone injection. It can flatten the bump within 24 to 48 hours. I describe this procedure in Chapter 10.

If that big day is today, do your best to hide the zit with makeup. Creative use of cosmetics can help conceal the redness of pimples, and green-tinted makeup can offer extra coverage.

10) Giving Yourself a Break

New products are constantly introduced to "correct" our "flaws," and draw us into an attempt to reach an impossible standard of beauty. Movies, advertisements, and TV present unrealistic images of youth and beauty in our image-obsessed culture. Infomercials, Internet ads, magazines, and yes, doctors, may promote -- and sometimes exploit -- the latest "miracle" cosmetic, diet, or plastic surgical techniques and promise you the "fountain of youth."

There is profound truth to the old proverbs -- "beauty is only skin deep" and "it's what's inside that counts."

TIP: Relax and look at the glass as half full, rather than the idea that it is half empty. And remember -- zits and pores get bigger the closer you look at them!

Herbert P. Goodheart, M.D., of New York, NY, author of Acne For Dummies,  is a practicing dermatologist who also teaches at the Mount Sinai College of Medicine. He is the author of a highly regarded dermatology textbook. For more information please visit http://herbertgoodheart.com/

Acne For Dummies (For Dummies (Health & Fitness)



Hope you enjoyed this wonderful article featuring a wealth of educational information about skin care.  Did you learn something new, find something to share with a friend or find a new product to try?  We'd love to hear your thoughts.

Mary Pat Boyd is the owner of Boyd Silver works www.boydsilverworks.com, an online jewelry store that specializes in handcrafted sterling silver cancer awareness jewelry.    

"My mother died of cancer.  My brother had breast cancer and I've had breast cancer twice myself. Like millions of others, my family relied on the American Cancer Society for information, resources, and understanding during our cancer struggles. I became a certified volunteer for the ACS Reach for Recovery program some years ago, and this year I became a certified ACS trainer." 

"My jewelry designs are used both locally and nationally to raise funds for the American Cancer Society, and some of my designs are offered through the ACS gift shop catalog and website.  I strive to create hopeful, inspirational jewelry for cancer patients, their family and friends, and cancer survivors."

"Cancer is a long journey but, together, we can make a difference in the lives of those affected. We can turn pain into purpose and we can replace fear with hope. If you are interested in using any of my jewelry for fundraising---or, if you have any questions, please contact me at mptboyd@yahoo.com."

Mary Pat Boyd is a jewelry artist and lives in Sioux Falls, S.D. with her cat, Mr. Big.

Chic Galleria and Mary Pat Boyd are giving away this beautiful cross which measures about 1 1/8" long x 5/8" wide and is oxidized.  It comes with an 18" box link sterling silver chain.!  Leave us your comments!  Be sure to subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter to be automatically entered in all giveaways at Chic Galleria. Ends April 30th midnight EST.

This contest has ended.

Monday, April 13,  thebodyshop-usa.com officially launched promotion of the "Yes to Safe Sex" campaign that The Body Shop is running in conjunction with MTV's Staying Alive organization. It's been running in the UK for a couple weeks already, but this week begins the big US push.

The Body Shop is donating all net proceeds from its dragonfruit lip butter - the Limited Edition Tantalizing Lip Butter - to Staying Alive. They've set up a pretty cool functionality on the HIV page where people can click to send out a message supporting the campaign through Twitter. They're also choosing 3 The Body Shop Facebook fans to win a "Safe Sex" grab bag this month (all people have to do to be "entered" is be a fan of The Body Shop USA and winners will be chosen randomly).

HIV is preventable. Last Year over 2.5 million people became infected with HIV. That's more than 7,400 every single day! Nearly half are aged between 15 and 24. (UNAIDS 2008) Join MTV and The Body Shop in the fight against HIV and get your hands on our tantalizing lip butter. Approx. $5 from every butter goes to our partner charity, The Staying Alive Foundation. Learn more at http://shortn.it/safese

Congratulations to our Wellness Editor, Phuong Le! She has completed her Tea Mastery Certification Course.  She is now a Certified Tea Master.  Please read the letter sent to her by the Executive Director of the American Tea Masters Association.

Hi Phuong,

I just finished scoring your final exam for the Tea Mastery Certification Course™. You scored an A+ with 99% of the questions correct. No one has done better. Your evaluation of the Mystery Tea in a blind tasting was exceptional.

This completes your participation in the course. It was an honor to do the training with you. I hereby officially grant you the title of Certified Tea Master. Your Certificate of Completion will be mailed to you on Monday..

I want to personally acknowledge your participation. You are a shining star among all of my students!

Best regards,
Chas Kroll, Certified Tea Master
Executive Director
American Tea Masters Association