There&rsquo;s nothing like hearing the word &ldquo;suspicious&rdquo; applied to an innocent-looking mole to get you thinking about sun safety. Growing up in California in the sun-worshipping seventies, my main worry was whether my tan was dark enough, not sun damage or skin cancer. Oops. But it&rsquo;s not just my generation&mdash;young people are getting skin cancer at alarming rates. Malignant melanoma is now the most common cancer among people 25 to 29 years old.

Yet despite the fact that we know so much more about <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/genetics-genetic-disorders/sun-damage-dna-of-cell" target="_blank" title="sun damage">sun damage</a> and skin cancer today, it&rsquo;s surprising how little most of us know about sun safety. In fact, a study by the American Academy of Dermatology found that only one-third of those surveyed knew the basics of sun protection.

As a quick primer, here are some key dos and don&rsquo;ts:

DON&#39;T

<ul>
	<li>Don&#39;t rely on shade or screening devices.&nbsp;You meet a friend for lunch and deliberately choose a table under the awning or an umbrella. Good thinking -- unfortunately, sunlight reflects from pavement and walls.</li>
	<li>Don&#39;t ignore the weather. <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/skin-and-beauty/can-i-sunburned-cloudy-day" target="_blank" title="sunburn on a cloudy day">Clouds, fog, and haze</a> mean nothing to UV rays, which come right through. In fact, bad sunburns are most common on hazy or foggy days, experts say. Wind and temperature are particularly deceptive; it may feel cool but the sun is just as bright. Wear sunscreen when you go outside regardless of the weather.</li>
	<li>Don&#39;t ignore the time of day. Schedule sun-intensive activities before 10 a.m. or after 2 p.m. to avoid the midday sun.</li>
	<li>Don&#39;t forget danger zones. It&rsquo;s no accident that <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/skin-cancers/where-skin-cancer" target="_blank" title="where is skin cancer?">skin cancer often shows up in odd places:</a> on the feet, lips, hands, back of the ears, chest, neck, lips, and scalp. These areas are often in direct sunlight, but not commonly protected with sunscreen. Everyday sun exposure can actually be as bad for you as working on your tan, because it&rsquo;s cumulative, experts say.</li>
	<li>Don&#39;t rely on a cover-up. Most of the fabrics used for bathing suit cover ups don&rsquo;t block the sun&rsquo;s rays. So they may protect your vanity, but not your skin. Use sunscreen under cover ups.</li>
</ul>

DO&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Forget the idea of a <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/sunburn-prevention/base-tan-help-prevent-sunburn" target="_blank" title="Will a base tan help me prevent a sunburn?">base tan.</a> Getting some color in your skin doesn&rsquo;t protect against damage or cancer the next time you&rsquo;re in the sun.</li>
	<li>Be a label sleuth. Read <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/choosing-right-sunscreen/sunscreen-spf-sun-protection" target="_blank" title="SPF">sunscreen packaging and labels</a> carefully for key words and phrases. Look for the minerals zinc and titanium, as these provide a physical block against the <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/effect-sun-skin/how-does-sun-affect-skin" target="_blank" title="sun's rays">sun&rsquo;s rays</a>.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Get ahead of the game. Apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before you head outside.</li>
	<li>Remember the one-hour rule. That&rsquo;s how long sunscreen lasts&mdash;period. Ignore the promises on the bottles and labels. Reapply every hour, no matter whether you&rsquo;re sweating, swimming or just lazying around.</li>
	<li>Be skin-suspicious. When you see a <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/skin-and-beauty/mole-mapping-detect-skin-cancer" target="_blank" title="mole or spot">mole or spot</a> on your skin that looks unusual, odd or just different from how it looked before, see a dermatologist. There are some typical signs of melanoma you can look for: irregular shape, scalloped or jagged borders, large size (bigger than a pencil eraser) or rapid growth. However, other types of <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/skin-cancers/what-different-types-skin-cancer" target="_blank" title="skin cancer">skin cancer</a>, such as basal skin carcinoma, can be harder to spot. And unfortunately, there are exceptions to every rule.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Just how young or how old is your skin? <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/assessments/skin-age-test">Find out with the Skin RealAge Test.</a> 
 
Medically reviewed in August 2019.

10 Top Tips to Save Your Skin

The winter weather outside might be frightful, but your skin can stay delightful. That&rsquo;s right! Say goodbye to chapped lips and dry, cracked skin. We&rsquo;ve got five tricks to take your skin from drab to fab all season long.

1. Lock in moisture 
Between the cold air outside and the dry air inside (the unfortunate drawback of running your heater), your skin loses a lot of moisture. Couple that with the fact that 80% of the sun&rsquo;s UV rays can reflect off the snow, and it&rsquo;s a perfect storm for wrinkles. To help keep your skin looking youthful, use a double-duty moisturizer that contains a broad spectrum&nbsp;SPF&nbsp;of at least 30 that contains&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/skin-moisturizing-care/what-ingredients-choosing-moisturizer" target="_blank">these key ingredients</a>. Your fingers, especially around the nails, are also vulnerable to winter weather. To protect your hands, try using a heavy moisturizing cream that&rsquo;s free of perfumes and other additives that may irritate your skin. <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/video/sharecare-experts/rosemarie-ingleton/how-can-i-keep-my-dry-skin-moisturized-during-the-winter" target="_blank">Find out the best time to slather on the moisturizer.</a>

2. Feed your skin wrinkle-fighters 
You&rsquo;ve probably heard that getting&nbsp;vitamin C&nbsp;can help you fight a cold, but it&rsquo;s also a secret weapon against wrinkles. Vitamin C helps plump up&nbsp;collagen&nbsp;and stops skin from sagging&mdash;so make sure to put oranges, grapefruits or other citrus fruits on your grocery list. Not a fan of citrus? Using a topical cream that has vitamin C can also fight wrinkles and prevent dryness.

3. Wash with the right stuff 
You want to keep your skin clean, but you don&rsquo;t want to overdo it. In the winter switch to a&nbsp;gentle pH-balanced cleanser&nbsp;that won&rsquo;t irritate your skin and that keeps moisture in. If your skin is super dry, try washing your face only once a day instead of twice. And remember to pat your face dry with a towel so that you don&rsquo;t dry out your skin even more.

4. Don&rsquo;t forget to exfoliate 
Sloughing off dry, dead skin cells&nbsp;is essential in the winter because it helps reveal new, more moisture-rich cells. Plus, it reduces the appearance of fine lines, and who doesn&rsquo;t want that? Make sure you choose a&nbsp;gentle exfoliant&nbsp;that won&rsquo;t irritate and dry out your skin even more. Also, look for products that are enzyme-based. These products have ingredients like papain, bromelain or protease. And don&rsquo;t forget to moisturize afterwards. Want to make a homemade exfoliant?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/skin-hair-nail-beauty/article/why-your-skin-craves-oatmeal" target="_blank">Try this dermatologist-recommended recipe.</a>

5. Love your lips 
Cold weather can leave your&nbsp;lips chapped and cracking at the corners. But if you reach for lip balm, not just any product will help. Some lip balms actually contain ingredients that can dry out your lips even more. Avoid lip balm with mineral oil. It creates a film on your lips that fools your skin into thinking it can stop producing its own oils.

5 Winter Skin Savers

While basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer, each case of BCC is different, and treatment will vary from person to person. This is what is referred to as individualized treatment or personalized medicine, and it is the standard of care for many types of cancers. With this approach, a person being treated for BCC will work with a multidisciplinary team of healthcare providers who oversee different aspects of treatment.

Because advanced BCC is much less common than early-stage BCC, it is important to work with a healthcare team with members who have experience treating advanced BCC.

Here, we look at some questions to help people with advanced BCC talk to their healthcare teams, better understand their diagnosis, and better understand their treatment options.

What is advanced BCC? 
When used to describe basal cell carcinoma, the word &ldquo;advanced&rdquo; refers to cancers that have metastasized (meaning they have spread to distant areas of the body) as well as cancers that are considered &ldquo;locally advanced.&rdquo;

&ldquo;Locally advanced&rdquo; usually refers to cancers that are larger, more aggressive, more invasive, or have recurred after treatment. However, there is no official definition of &ldquo;locally advanced&rdquo; and categorizing BCC as locally advanced is something that will be determined by a healthcare team.

One way of defining locally advanced is whether or not surgery and/or radiation on their own are appropriate treatment options&mdash;for example, if a tumor is too large or in a location where surgery would be disfiguring or cause too much damage to healthy tissue.

Questions to ask to better understand your diagnosis:

<ul>
	<li>What is the size of the primary tumor?</li>
	<li>How deep is the primary tumor? Have any surrounding tissues (such as bone, cartilage, nerves, or muscle) been damaged or affected?</li>
	<li>Has the cancer spread to other areas of the body?</li>
	<li>Do I need any tests to tell us more about the cancer?</li>
	<li>Do I need to see any specialists?</li>
</ul>

Your healthcare team also needs to know about your medical history, including if you have previously had skin cancer, another type of cancer, and any cancer treatments that you have received in the past.

Questions about treatment options 
Treatment for advanced BCC may involve a combination of different therapies. Surgery and radiation may be used in some cases but may not be effective or possible in other cases. Targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and/or immunotherapy are also used in the treatment of advanced BCC.

Questions to ask to better understand a particular treatment option:

<ul>
	<li>What is the goal of this treatment?</li>
	<li>How does this treatment work?</li>
	<li>How is this treatment given?</li>
	<li>How will we know if this treatment is working?</li>
	<li>How much does this treatment cost?</li>
	<li>How long will I be taking this treatment?</li>
	<li>What are the potential side effects?</li>
	<li>What will my life be like during treatment?</li>
	<li>What kind of follow-up care will I need after treatment?</li>
</ul>

Remember, there is no best treatment for advanced BCC, only the treatment approach that is best for a particular person at a particular time. Because your diagnosis of BCC is unique, your best source of information is your healthcare team.

Sources:

Elsevier Patient Education. &quot;Basal Cell Carcinoma.&quot; 
Moffitt Cancer Center. &quot;Will I Need Chemotherapy for Basal Cell Carcinoma?&quot; 
Johns Hopkins University. &quot;Individualized Treatment for the Full Range of Head and Neck Cancers.&quot; 
Cancer.Net. &quot;What Is Personalized Cancer Medicine?&quot; 
American Cancer Society. &quot;Treating Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancer.&quot; 
Michael R. Migden, Anne Lynn S. Chang, et al. &quot;Emerging trends in the treatment of advanced basal cell carcinoma.&quot; Cancer Treatment Reviews, 2018. Vol. 64. 
&quot;Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma: Treatment Overview.&quot; The Dermatologist, 2014. Vol. 22. 
Cancer Support Community. &quot;Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma &ndash; What You Need to Know.&quot; 
American Cancer Society. &quot;Questions to Ask About Your Basal or Squamous Cell Skin Cancer.&quot; 
American Cancer Society. &quot;Tests for Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers.&quot; 
Fred F. Ferri. &quot;Basal Cell Carcinoma.&quot; Ferri&#39;s Clinical Advisor 2021. 
National Cancer Institute. &quot;Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Your Treatment.&quot;

Advanced BCC: Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Team

The first baby shampoo debuted in the 1950s. Johnson &amp; Johnson marketed the product with the slogan &ldquo;no more tears.&rdquo; Decades later, it turned out there was something to cry about in the supposedly gentle shampoo: It contained trace amounts of a known <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/beauty-personal-care/article/can-makeup-give-you-cancer">carcinogen</a>, formaldehyde, an unintended byproduct of its ingredients. The company changed the formula in 2014 but that doesn&rsquo;t mean the risk to kids from personal care products has vanished.

A report, published in Clinical Pediatrics, finds many such concoctions (especially those used for hair, skin and nails) sold by many different companies are landing kids in the emergency room (ER). According to the researchers, 64,686 children younger than age five visited ERs for care-product-related injuries caused by ingestion, contact with skin or eyes, poisoning and chemical burns from 2002 through 2012&mdash;that&rsquo;s about one child every two hours. Roughly 17 percent of those ER visits were from contact with nail polish remover. It contains flammable acetone which is also used as paint thinner.

Among kids who subsequently had to be hospitalized, relaxers and other chemical-based hair treatments were the most common hair-product culprits. These specialty products contain additives such as sodium hydroxide (lye) which is also used to breakdown animal carcasses, manufacture paper and clear clogged drains.

So, keep <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/skin-makeup-cosmetics-use/what-is-in-cosmetics">personal care products</a> of all types on hard-to-reach shelves or in a closed, childproof (locked) cabinet that&rsquo;s out of sight. Your wrinkle eraser might make you happy&mdash;but you don&rsquo;t put a wrinkle in your child&rsquo;s health.

Are Your Personal Care Products Putting Your Kids at Risk

Mercury was the Roman god of shopkeepers, thieves, tricksters and transporters of goods. Bingo! We&rsquo;re not sure how all those centuries ago they knew what was going to be happening during the summer of 2016&mdash;but the Food and Drug Administration has caught thieves and tricksters illegally importing and selling goods (in this case various types of creams, soaps, and lotions) <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/mercury-poisoning">laced with mercury</a>.

They&rsquo;re marketed as skin lighteners, <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/anti-aging-skin-care">anti-aging treatments</a> to remove age spots, freckles, blemishes, and wrinkles. They sneak in from around the globe&mdash;targeting Asian, Hispanic, and Middle Eastern communities. They&rsquo;re also promoted online.

Often the products have no ingredients listed&mdash;even no label. That should tell you something right there. But sometimes labels actually list mercury! Look for the words mercurous chloride, mercuric, mercurio or mercury.&nbsp;

The danger is you&rsquo;ll absorb mercury through your skin and what accumulates can take decades to get rid of. That can trigger heart and neurological problems. If you&rsquo;re nursing and use these products you can pass mercury through your breastmilk! And mercury can quickly damage a baby&rsquo;s developing brain and nervous system. Those skin products also produce mercury vapors or you may leave residue on a towel and that can make family members ill too.&nbsp; &nbsp;

So, if you&rsquo;re looking for good anti-aging treatments&mdash;try ours! Avoid the Five Food Felons, <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/walking/article/walking-meditation">walk 10,000 steps a day</a>, meditate for 10 minutes daily, and sleep 7-8 hours a night. You&rsquo;ll achieve a much younger RealAge, feel and look terrific with no harmful side effects!

Medically reviewed in January 2019.

Beware of Mercury in Skin Care Products

In the interest of science and my own personal quest, I have tried a variety of health and beauty treatments that I have seen demonstrated on TV. You&rsquo;ve probably heard about these treatments, too: laser hair removal, Pelleve (which claims to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles) and Synergie (a cellulite-reduction treatment). If you&rsquo;re like me, the big questions always are: Do the treatments work? How uncomfortable are they? Are the results lasting?

I decided to become a guinea pig and try these treatments, and offer up my personal take on my adventures here. Note: As an independent person, I have no obligation to any of the companies that provide the treatment equipment (or to the technicians). The prices vary depending on where you live. Doing a package will reduce the cost.

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/hair-removal/is-laser-hair-removal-safe">Laser Hair Removal</a> 
My motivation:&nbsp;As I have gotten older and more far sighted it has been impossible to see where to shave. While going out and doing things, I have randomly encountered patches of hair on my legs and under my arms that I have missed in the shower (very embarrassing!).

My experience:&nbsp;It took six laser treatments to permanently remove the hair under my arms and on my legs. The treatments were somewhat painful but bearable. The therapist blows cold air while she lasers the hair follicles to make it feel less like a burning sensation. For me the armpit treatments were more uncomfortable than my legs. It was like getting brain freeze of the pits. Fortunately, it was quick.

Regardless of any discomfort, I highly recommend it. It worked. I no longer have to worry about shaving at all! I am thrilled.

Pelleve 
My motivation:&nbsp;those wrinkles that have popped up as I have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/anti-aging-skin-care/what-benefits-anti-aging-treatment">gotten older</a>,&nbsp;especially those around my mouth.

My experience:&nbsp;This is a non-invasive skin tightening technique that uses&nbsp;radiofrequency waves&nbsp;that stimulate collagen to contract and thus the skin to tighten. The therapist recommended four treatments, each one month apart, and then yearly thereafter. The treatment takes about an hour. The therapist passes a radiofrequency probe over the face. It heats up pretty quickly. When it gets too hot they need to move it around faster. If it is pulled away abruptly there is a bit of an uncomfortable spark.&nbsp; So, it is important to have an experienced technician doing the treatment.

I went through the series a year ago and have to say that I notice a difference. The lines around my eyes and mouth have smoothed out somewhat. They aren&rsquo;t completely gone but they are a lot better.

Synergie Cellulite Treatment 
My motivation:&nbsp;I eat a healthy diet, exercise and have not been able to change the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/skin-and-beauty/what-causes-cellulite">appearance of orange peel</a>&nbsp;on my thighs.

My experience:&nbsp;This is a treatment that uses vacuum massage with a combination of suction and pressure to removed fluid from fat cells.&nbsp; As a result, the skin smooths out and the area tightens. The treatment must be done twice weekly for 8 weeks and then monthly for maintenance. It takes about 45 minutes.

The procedure is like a deep massage. I have almost finished all my treatments and I have to say, I have lost 2 inches around both my waist and thighs. I have also noticed a difference in the appearance of my legs. I still have&nbsp;cellulite&nbsp;but it is greatly reduced. My husband (who doesn&rsquo;t even notice when I have a haircut) noticed the difference without my asking. That is probably the best endorsement.

Medically reviewed in April 2020.

One Woman’s Beautification Adventures

Why is it that the minute cold weather hits, your skin gets dry and chapped? Partly because the <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/first-aid-safety-preparedness/article/coping-with-the-cold">colder the air</a>, the less moisture skin can hold. But also, frigid air gums up the normally soft, fatty lipids that keep skin pliable. Think about what happens when you put something oily in the fridge: It turns into a gunky mass. Same idea here, but the results make skin less stretchy and more prone to cracking.

What to do? Just what you&#39;re thinking: Get your hands on a serious moisturizer. It doesn&#39;t have to be a budget-busting brand. In fact, it doesn&#39;t even have to be a moisturizer per se. Try a light sweep of sweet almond oil instead. It&#39;s so easily absorbed that there&#39;s no risk of looking like a walking oil slick. It&#39;s virtually scent-free, so no clashing with fragrances. Plus, it&#39;s a multitasker: Not only does it defend against moisture loss, but it has a healthy amount of <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/vitamin-e">vitamin E</a>, a primo age-fighting antioxidant that can help keep your skin&#39;s RealAge young.

Almond oil is in lots of products, from body lotions to cuticle balms. But the true beauty bargain is the real thing: 8 oz. of sweet almond oil is $5.75 at mountainroseherbs.com. Sweet.

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/skin-and-beauty">Perk up your skin with personalized tips</a><a href="http://www.sharecare.com/health/skin-and-beauty">.</a>

Delicious Skin Saver

Wondering what you can do to nurture vibrant, healthy skin from the inside out? Tackle stress! Make Dr. Amy&#39;s seven habits&mdash;which are the heart and soul of her book, The Mind-Beauty Connection&mdash;part of your life. Then, watch every inch of you&mdash;but especially your face&mdash;start to look younger, less stressed, more alive. Each of these tips for healthy skin chips away at the nonstop pressure and tension that can age you 6 years or more.

1. Practice Deep Breathing 
Shift your body&#39;s balance of oxygen versus carbon dioxide in favor of energizing, stress-squashing oxygen by doing slow, controlled breathing exercises. <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/breathing-exercise-techniques/how-can-learn-deep-breathing" style="line-height: 1.6em;">Practice deep breathing.</a>

<ul>
	<li>How often? Aim for twice a day.</li>
	<li>Why do it? When you focus on your breathing, you&#39;re not focusing on anything else (your to-do list or the late babysitter). That mental shift helps remove stressors, which can cause healthy skin to breakout, bringing you to a deeper level of consciousness, a place where you can put things into perspective.</li>
</ul>

2. Get Active 
One of the top tips for healthy skin, a healthy body and a clear mind is exercise. By putting your body in motion for 30 minutes or more each day, you can release the repressed anxiety trapped inside and relax more fully each day.

<ul>
	<li>How often? Do something -- anything -- every day, because exercise only tames stress for a maximum of 24 hours. So to reap the most benefits, you need to do it daily. If you prefer, tuck 10-minute pockets of activity into your day -- at lunch, after dinner, right after you get up and the house is still quiet.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Why do it? Staying active boosts circulation, which delivers more nutrients to cells and skin. It also increases lung capacity, so you can take in more oxygen; lifts your spirits and sense of well-being; and fights age-related diseases. And, for many, it&#39;s the ultimate stress reducer.</li>
</ul>

3. Beat the Foods That Beat You 
One of the best tips for how to look younger involves eating a well-balanced diet. To eat for healthy skin and a healthy body, try to reduce the allure of sugary, fatty foods by eating more lean protein: fish, eggs, poultry, low-fat dairy foods, and even walnuts. <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/stress-reduction/what-foods-help-reduce-stress" style="line-height: 1.6em;">Use this list of good-for-your-skin foods that can help lower stress and fight wrinkles, too.</a> Also, try to be more aware of what you reach for&mdash;and how much you consume&mdash;when you&#39;re stressed. <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/eating-habits-nutrition/how-practice-mindful-eating" style="line-height: 1.6em;" target="_blank">Get some pointers on mindful eating.</a>

<ul>
	<li>How often? All day, but especially early on&mdash;morning protein helps curb afternoon cravings.</li>
	<li>Why do it? Protein is key to avoiding mood swings and energy dips. It helps you maintain a healthy blood sugar balance, which in turn keeps certain hormones (including insulin) in check. Bumping up your protein intake also gives you more energy and fights hunger pangs, which can play games with your moods.</li>
</ul>

4. Focus on the Good Things 
Pick up a notebook you particularly like, and at the end of each day, make a list of things for which you are truly grateful. Or write down three things that went well, and why.

<ul>
	<li>How often? Nightly, as part of your winding-down routine.</li>
	<li>Why do it? Keeping a journal that records the good things in life helps shift your focus to what you&#39;re doing right, and that can put the brakes on the stressful negative chatter that often goes on in your head.</li>
</ul>

5. Stretch Out Your Sleep 
When it comes to healthy skin, a clear mind and a healthy body, there&rsquo;s no substitute for a good night&rsquo;s sleep. Make it a goal to sleep as many hours as you need to feel alive and productive the next day&mdash;all day.

<ul>
	<li>How often? Every night.</li>
	<li>Why do it? Sleep is free cosmetic medicine, pure and simple. When you ask Dr. Amy what single thing makes the biggest improvement in how a stressed-out person looks, she says, &quot;Sleep.&quot; Nothing exacerbates stress and etches in lines like exhaustion.</li>
</ul>

6. Take a Time-Out 
For most of us, life is so hyperscheduled and speedy that we never do absolutely nothing. It&#39;s rare to set aside time to simply be&mdash;no agenda, no demands, no plan. (Just like a real vacation.) Find a comfortable, quiet spot to sit for 10 to 15 minutes every day, stop all your hustling and bustling . . . and simply, by yourself, be still.

<ul>
	<li>How often? Try for once a day.</li>
	<li>Why do it? Slowing down for a little while helps create a sense of spaciousness in your life, a break in the nonstop whirl that can open the door to new perceptions, new solutions, new possibilities. It gives your brain, your psyche, your whole being a break. Like one long, peaceful sigh.</li>
</ul>

7. Cuddle or Have Sex 
Enjoy a little intimacy.

<ul>
	<li>How often? At least once a week.</li>
	<li>Why do it? All kinds of age-defying, beauty-promoting events happen during sex as three seductive hormones spill out of the brain: endorphin, a natural opiate, which contributes to that delicious high; prolactin, which gives you that relaxing, tension-zapping ahhhhhhh; and soothing oxytocin, which promotes feelings of affection and triggers a nurturing instinct.</li>
</ul>

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/stress-reduction/some-ways-to-ease-stress">Feel the stress start to slip away with these tips.</a>

Medically reviewed in January 2019.

Dr. Amy's 7 Habits for Healthy Skin

Top skin creams average about $400 per ounce (and you thought gas was expensive!), yet most offer little proof that they do half of what they promise. Want to save a bundle and improve your skin? Load your shopping cart with nutrients that have been shown to possess skin-hydrating, sun-protecting, and even wrinkle-preventing powers, says Manhattan dermatologist Amy Wechsler, MD. Here&#39;s her grocery list of the best foods for your skin:

Firm and Bright 
You&#39;re probably up to your eyebrows (Botoxed or not) with the mantra &quot;eat more fruits and vegetables.&quot; But if you&#39;ve yet to take that advice to heart, maybe knowing that they prevent wrinkles will do the trick.

The skin doc&#39;s three top picks: sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and cantaloupe.

What they do: Replenish your skin&#39;s supply of antioxidants, so they&#39;re ready to scarf up free radicals whenever they make an appearance. Free rads are highly reactive oxygen molecules that damage cells and contribute to just about everything that can go wrong with skin, from dryness to wrinkles.

Fresh and Juicy 
Your body can&#39;t store much wrinkle-fighting <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/vitamin-c">vitamin C</a>, so you need to top up your supplies regularly. The easiest way: Have some citrus every day.

The skin doc&#39;s four top picks: oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit.

Ounce for ounce, oranges are the top citrus source of C, but you can only eat so many, right? For variety, make lemonade; squeeze limes on melon; add grapefruit to salad; and, instead of drinking soda, fizz OJ with sparkling water. It all adds up.

What they do: Keep skin&#39;s vitamin C levels high. While C is a nifty antioxidant, that&#39;s not the key reason it&#39;s here. It helps keep collagen -- the supportive protein fibers that stop skin from sagging -- strong and resilient. (Flimsy collagen means lines and wrinkles.) Since collagen breakdown really picks up in your mid-30s, eat citrus early and often to head off aging.

Smoothing and Soothing 
There&#39;s a particularly potent antioxidant known as EGCG that does all kinds of good things for skin. The best place to find it? True teas: black, green, or white (not herbal). Brew a full teapot every morning so that sipping 4 to 6 cups throughout the day is a no-brainer.

The skin doc&#39;s #1 pick: <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/tea-health/article/the-ultimate-iced-tea-green">green tea</a>.

While all true teas contain EGCG (by the way, that stands for epigallocatechin-3-gallate), the various types of green tea have the most. Dr. Wechsler&#39;s personal favorite is hojicha green tea (available at www.adagio.com). &quot;The roasting process that turns this green tea a brownish color also lowers its caffeine content,&quot; she says -- handy if you&#39;re caffeine sensitive or it&#39;s one of those days when you don&#39;t need another stimulant.

What it does: Gives your skin a healthy dose of EGCG, which is a great multitasker. EGCG puts a damper on inflammatory chemicals involved in acne and sun-related skin aging, it helps prevent skin cancer; and it has a lion-tamer effect on tumor cells. What&#39;s more, green tea contains L-theanine, a de-tensing amino acid -- and anything you can do to stanch the flow of the stress hormone cortisol helps keep collagen fibers intact.

Dark and Green 
Certain <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/health-value-of-foods/what-nutrients-dark-green-vegetables?myAttribute=yay">dark green vegetables</a>, whether they&#39;re fresh, frozen, raw, or steamed, really deliver on vitamin A, one of the most skin-essential vitamins going.

The skin doc&#39;s three top picks: spinach, turnip greens, and broccoli.

What they do: Deliver a hefty supply of vitamin A, which supports skin-cell turnover, the process that keeps cell growth and development humming along flawlessly. Without enough A, skin becomes dry, tough, and scaly.

Fish Faves 
Several cold-water catches give your skin a double benefit: age-fighting <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/video/sharecare-experts/mike-dow/what-are-the-benefits-of-omega-3-fatty-acids">omega-3 fatty acids</a> and the restorative powers of protein.

The skin doc&#39;s seven top picks: salmon, trout, tuna, sardines, Atlantic mackerel, Pacific herring, and most shellfish.

Just don&#39;t, uh, go overboard. As good as omega-3s are for skin (and the rest of you, too), worries about the amount of mercury in many fish mean it&#39;s smart to limit seafood or freshwater fish to two meals a week. That&#39;s a must for young children and for women who are pregnant, who may become pregnant, or who are nursing.&nbsp;

What they do: Omega-3s fight inflammation, now considered one of the top skin agers, and they also help protect against sunburn, enhancing the effects of your sunscreen&#39;s SPF. Protein is required to build and repair skin cells and to make enzymes and hormones that help keep it glowing.

Medically reviewed in April 2020.

Foods That Make Your Skin Glow

Did You Know &hellip;.

1. The term &ldquo;<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/healthy-skin/goosebumps-when-cold-scared">goosebumps</a>&rdquo; comes from the way a person&rsquo;s skin looks when they form: like a plucked goose.

2. Medical terms for goosebumps are cutis anserina, piloerection and horripilation.

3. Animals get goosebumps to stay warm. When animals with thick coats of fur get cold, the hair rises and creates insulation to retain heat. Because humans lack such a thick coat, the reaction results in goosebumps.

4. Some people get goosebumps when they listen to music. A study from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro found that people who are more open to different types of music and to new experiences were more likely to get goosebumps and chills from listening.

5. A person who is going through withdrawal from a drug may experience goosebumps &ndash; a possible explanation for the term &ldquo;cold turkey.&rdquo;

Medically reviewed in April 2020.

Fun Facts About Goosebumps

One of the most famous point-shaving scandals of all time involved a handful of underworld bookies, gangsters, and the 1978&ndash;79 Boston College basketball team. (Point shaving is when a player tries to manipulate the score to fit a bet.) But it didn&rsquo;t work out too well for the co-conspirators&mdash;they all ended up suffering a serious case of imprisonment. So, if you&rsquo;re considering shaving your bikini area, let us give you a few points to consider, so you don&rsquo;t come down with serious health threats of your own.

We bring this up because <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/hair-removal/whats-way-remove-pubic-hair">shaving your pubic hair</a> has been a hot topic of discussion since a University of California San Francisco/San Francisco General Hospital study was published online in December, 2016. In it, researchers reported that people who removed all their pubic hair more than 11 times a year (extreme groomers) had the highest rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). High-frequency groomers (daily/ weekly trimming) had about 10 percent fewer STIs than extremists, and non-extreme groomers had half the number. The researchers concluded, &ldquo;pubic hair grooming was positively related to self-reported STI history.&rdquo;

It could be shaving causes nicks that become infected. But the researchers didn&rsquo;t say if extreme groomers were <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/sex-and-relationships/how-can-have-safe-sex">practicing safe sex</a>. That&rsquo;s a big omission. If they were, then there&rsquo;s clearly a health risk to extreme grooming. However, if extreme groomers are having unprotected sex with multiple partners, well, then the results are about what you&rsquo;d expect. Our advice? If you&rsquo;re an extreme groomer, be extremely careful&mdash;and not just about shaving.

Medically reviewed in December 2018.

Is it Healthy to Groom the Hair Down There?

These common skin problems can sometimes be embarrassing. Here are six different issues and how to solve them.

6 Embarrassing Skin Issues and How to Fix Them

When Johnny Depp and Winona Rider parted ways, Depp reworked one tat to read Wino Forever. When Geena Davis split with first husband Renny, her tattoo redo showed up as the Denny&#39;s logo. But if you&rsquo;re trying to completely remove your old tattoo, fasten your seatbelt. Mark Wahlberg decided to set an example for his two oldest kids and brought them along to his more than 20 laser-powered tat-removal sessions. &quot;It&#39;s like getting burned with hot bacon grease... Hopefully that will deter them.&quot;

The number of tattoo-removals in the U.S. hit 100,000 in 2011, according to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, up from around 86,000 in 2010. And every year should see thousands more. That comes as no surprise; a Harris poll found 1 in 8 American adults with tattoos regrets getting one. As someone once said &quot;A tattoo is a permanent reminder of a temporary feeling.&quot;

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/tattoos/remember-before-tattoo-remove" target="_blank">Related: Here&#39;s what to consider before having a tattoo removed.</a>

The most popular method of <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/tattoos/what-complications-laser-tattoo-removal" target="_blank">tattoo removal uses lasers</a> (dermabrasion and surgery are the other alternatives). That&rsquo;s because in the right hands (a board certified, licensed dermatologist or plastic surgeon) colors can be zapped away using various laser densities and effective after-treatment minimizes scarring.

So our advice? Think (twice) before you ink. It seems the most common problem associated with having toxins etched into your skin is...<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/tattoos/how-remove-tattoo" target="_blank">how to get rid of them</a>. You might want to consider veggie dye ink. Your tattoo artist may have to special order it for you, but it can be removed much less painfully.

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/tattoos" target="_blank">Related: Find out more about tattoo safety and removal.</a>

Medically reviewed in May 2019.

Tattoo Removal (It Seemed like a Good Idea at the Time)

With a few healthy habits, you can steer clear of cuts and razor burn.

5 Foolproof Tips for Smooth Shaving

Who wouldn&rsquo;t want smoother, wrinkle-free skin? According to a report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Botox (Botulinum Toxin Type A) was the top minimally-invasive cosmetic procedure in 2015, with over 6.5 million Americans opting for Botox injections to reduce and, in some cases, completely smooth out facial wrinkles and frown lines. That&rsquo;s a 759 percent leap from 2000, suggesting that the quest for the fountain of youth hasn&rsquo;t dried up.

While some people would never consider the idea of injecting small amounts of a toxin into their faces, others are more than happy to find younger-looking skin in a syringe. Why is it so popular? &ldquo;We know it works,&rdquo; says <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/doctor/melissa-levin-md">Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, MD,</a> a clinical instructor at Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine and dermatologist at Marmur Medical in New York City. &ldquo;Botox is pretty painless and works well to eliminate wrinkles such as crow&rsquo;s feet, frown lines, and forehead wrinkles.&rdquo; Not only that, there&rsquo;s minimal to no down time: Unlike <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/dermal-fillers/how-do-injectable-fillers-work">injectable wrinkle fillers,</a> which are more likely to cause bruising, you can get Botox at lunchtime with no one the wiser when you return to the office. There may be small pinpricks here and there at the site of injections, but these resolve within an hour and can be covered easily with makeup.

How does it work? 
Botox injections provide a temporary softening of wrinkles that come from repeatedly contracting facial muscles in the same way. For example, someone who squints a lot may develop crow&rsquo;s feet, while a frowner may end up with two vertical lines between the eyebrows&mdash;commonly called &ldquo;angry 11&rsquo;s.&rdquo; While there are different brand names for these injectable neuromodulators&mdash;Botox, Dysport and Xeomin&mdash;they all work in the same way. &ldquo;They block the nerve impulses of the injected muscles to temporarily reduce muscle movements that cause wrinkles,&rdquo; says Dr. Levin. In essence, you&rsquo;re freezing muscles so that you can&rsquo;t make the frown lines that make you batty every time you look in the mirror.

Depending on the brand used, it can take from three to seven days after the injections to begin to see results. And how long will Botox work its magic before it starts to wear off? &ldquo;It varies by patient,&rdquo; says Levin. &ldquo;It could be anywhere from two to six months.&rdquo;

When should you start Botox? 
If you think you can prevent wrinkles if you start injections early enough, think again. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s completely off to think you won&rsquo;t get wrinkles if you start young,&rdquo; Levin says. She notes that a woman in her twenties might want Botox to improve facial symmetry&mdash;for example, if one eyebrow sits lower than the other or lacks an arch. &ldquo;Some people make exaggerated expressions without realizing it,&rdquo; she says. &ldquo;Frowners, squinters, eyebrow raisers. We may use Botox to retrain those muscles so they&rsquo;re not moving in an exaggerated way that can lead to etched-in wrinkles.&rdquo; According to the ASPS report, those mostly likely to get the injections are middle age or close to it: 57 percent were ages 40 to 54; 23 percent were 55 and over; 18 percent were between the ages of 30 to 39 and just one percent were ages 20 to 29.

What are the risks? 
&ldquo;First, you can&rsquo;t catch botulism from the use of Botox, but there is a small chance that you&rsquo;ll have an allergic reaction to the preservatives and ingredients used,&rdquo; Levin says. The biggest risk, she says, comes from healthcare providers who aren&rsquo;t adequately trained in giving the injections. &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t believe any doctor who says you&rsquo;re not at risk to get brow or eyelid ptosis, which is when your brow or eyelid droops because too much drifted down or up in the eye area,&rdquo; she says. &ldquo;This has happened in every doctor&rsquo;s office, but the more qualified your doctor is, the lower the risk.&rdquo; Over-application is another hazard&mdash;the muscles can become so weakened that it can cause the eyelid to droop. &ldquo;No one&rsquo;s face is perfectly symmetric. Therefore, the injection with Botox can result in an asymmetric appearance, so follow-up with your physician is important,&rdquo; says Levin. &ldquo;There is an understanding of facial anatomy as well as artistry involved in the technique, so be sure your injector is highly experienced in administering it.&rdquo;

<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/muscoloskeletal-drugs/risks-side-effects-botox">Discover other possible Botox side effects.</a>

What does it cost? 
&ldquo;Some doctor&rsquo;s offices price by the unit,&rdquo; Levin says. &ldquo;It can range from $10 to $30 per unit. Others charge by the area. Every syringe may contain 10 or 15 units, so it could range from $350 to $700 or more.&rdquo; She notes that men usually need more injections since their muscles are bigger and thicker. What about going to places like day spas or using coupons for injections? Levin says you run the risk of injections that are administered improperly, or the practitioner may use Botox that&rsquo;s been watered down or expired.

What are some other options? 
According to Levin, there&rsquo;s hope for those who would like to address wrinkles without the injections. <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/retinoid-treatment-for-skin/can-retinoids-skin-look-younger">Retinoids</a> found in creams like Retin-A (tretinoin) and Differin (adapalene) are vitamin A derivatives that have been effective in smoothing fine lines, lightening brown spots and boosting your skin&rsquo;s production of collagen. While some skin care creams contain these derivatives (called <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/retinoid-treatment-for-skin/topical-retinol-treat-signs-aging">retinol</a> when bought OTC), prescription strength is stronger and can be more effective if your skin can tolerate the medication.

Levin says new developments have occurred for over-the-counter retinol/retinoid products, which can minimize wrinkles without the needles. One that she recommends is AlphaRet (by Skin Better Science). &ldquo;This is exciting because it&rsquo;s the first retinol with the efficacy of a retinoid to be dispensed without a prescription,&rdquo; she says. Also, Differin (by Galderma) is now available to consumers over the counter, after years of being a prescription.

Medically reviewed in January 2019.

Look Radiant With These Expert-Approved Skin Treatments

Are you keeping an eye on your skin? Research shows that people who regularly check themselves for suspicious skin changes are 44% less likely to die from melanoma than those who do not check. In fact, one study found that nearly three quarters of all incident melanomas were discovered by self-examination or by family members. Because melanoma becomes more dangerous the thicker it grows above and below the skin&rsquo;s surface, early detection of melanoma is essential to survival.

Nearly half of all Americans who live to age 65 will develop <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/skin-cancers">skin cancer</a> at least once.

Skin cancer is highly curable as long as it is detected in the early stages of the disease. But if it goes undetected and untreated, it can be horribly disfiguring and even life threatening. Melanoma is the leading cause of death due to malignancy among women between the ages of 20 and 30.

Skin Cancer Types

Skin cancer starts in the epidermis -- the part of the skin you can see. So the warning signs are easy to spot.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Description: This nonmelanoma skin cancer originates in the bottom layer of the epidermis (the basal layer). These tumors are slow-growing and rarely spread to other parts of the body. <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/skin-cancers/what-is-basal-cell-carcinoma?myAttribute=yay">Basal cell carcinoma</a> is considered a less deadly form of skin cancer than squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. However, inadequately treated tumors can cause considerable damage and deformity over time.

Incidence: Approximately 75% of all skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas. There is a 95% cure rate when the cancer is properly treated. It is the most common type of skin cancer.

Appearance: It often appears as a flat, scaly growth that is red, pink, or white; or as a small, raised bump that is shiny or waxy. It may also have a crusty texture or involve an open sore that has not healed or heals temporarily. Most tumors arise on the sun-damaged skin of the head and neck.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Description: This nonmelanoma skin cancer originates in the upper part of the epidermis. These tumors are more likely than basal cell carcinomas to spread to tissues beneath the skin, and unlike basal cell carcinomas, they can metastasize (spread to other parts of the body). However, it is rare for these carcinomas to spread to other organs of the body.

Incidence: <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/squamous-cell-carcinoma">Squamous cell carcinoma</a> accounts for approximately 20% of all skin cancers and results in approximately 2,300 deaths each year. However, when properly treated, squamous cell carcinomas have a 95% cure rate. It is the second most common type of skin cancer.

Appearance: It may appear as a lump that grows and has a rough surface or as a flat, reddish patch that grows slowly and is scaly. It is found mainly on areas of the skin that are often exposed to the sun, such as the head, face, neck, hands, and arms.

Malignant Melanoma

Description: By far the deadliest form of skin cancer, it begins in the melanocytes, the cells of the skin responsible for producing pigment (melanin). Because <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/melanoma/what-is-malignant-melanoma?myAttribute=yay">malignant melanomas</a> have a tendency to spread, treatment is essential.

Incidence: Although this is the rarest form of skin cancer, malignant melanomas are on the rise. In 2004, about 55,100 persons in the United States are expected to develop melanoma and approximately 7,910 will die of it. If treated in the early stages, melanoma is highly curable.

Appearance: It can appear without warning, but may develop from or near a mole. Early melanoma can look like an irregular, inflamed, or flat spreading mole. One way to remember the signs and symptoms of this type of cancer is to remember &quot;ABCDE&quot;:

<ul>
	<li>Asymmetry -- One half of the mole doesn&#39;t match the other half.</li>
	<li>Border -- The edges of the mole are ragged.</li>
	<li>Color -- The pigmentation is not uniform and may spread into the surrounding skin.</li>
	<li>Diameter -- The mole&#39;s diameter is more than 6 millimeters (larger than the size of a pencil eraser).</li>
	<li>Elevation -- The mole is raised above the skin and has an uneven surface.</li>
</ul>

Any one, or all, of these traits may indicate malignant melanoma.

Patrol Your Skin in 6 Easy Steps

Now that you have a better idea of what to look for and what&#39;s at stake, it&#39;s time to patrol your skin for potentially cancerous lesions. Getting to know what&#39;s normal for you is the best place to begin. The better you know your skin, the more likely you&#39;ll be able to notice if there are any changes. Learn where your birthmarks, freckles, moles, and blemishes are and what they usually look and feel like.

The goal of a skin self-exam is to look thoroughly at all areas of your body, so you&#39;ll need a well-lit room with a full-length mirror and a hand mirror and a blow dryer. The bathroom is generally an ideal location. In addition, it may be easier to do your skin exam with a partner, if you wish.

<ol>
	<li>Look at the front and back of your body in a mirror.</li>
	<li>Look at your left and right sides. Raise your arms and bend your elbows.</li>
	<li>Look at your underarms, forearms, the backs of your upper arms, and your palms.</li>
	<li>Sit down and look at the back of your legs and feet, the spaces between your toes, and the soles of your feet. (Think about the times your soles may have been sunburned as you lay on your stomach.)</li>
	<li>Use a mirror to examine the back of your neck and scalp. Use a blow dryer on a low setting to examine your entire scalp.</li>
	<li>Use a hand mirror to examine your back and your buttocks.</li>
	<li>Finally, take photographs of any suspicious-looking skin marks. Save these pictures; during your next skin exam, check your skin for any changes against the photos you took.</li>
</ol>

Change Can Be Bad

Changes in existing moles or blemishes, especially enlargement of lesions, may indicate cancerous cells. If you find changes when you are examining your skin and taking photographs, speak with your doctor or dermatologist. Not all skin cancers look the same, and changes in the skin are not sure signs of cancer. However, key symptoms of all three of the major skin cancers, include:

<ul>
	<li>The development of any new colored growth</li>
	<li>A spot or bump that has been getting larger or has changed texture or color</li>
	<li>A sore that has not healed within 3 months</li>
</ul>

Skin cancer can appear on any part of the body; however, the disease is typically found on areas that are most often exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck, hands, and arms. Men and women are likely to have melanomas on different parts of their body. Men should pay special attention to their trunks, whereas women should pay special attention to their lower limbs.

Appointment with Your Mirror

Although skin cancer is about three times more common in men than in women, studies show that men are much less likely to perform regular skin self-examinations.

It&#39;s important that you schedule a regular time to examine your skin. This may be as often as once a month. It&#39;s also useful to record the dates of your skin exams and the dates that you took photos of existing moles or blemishes.

Another way to detect skin cancer is to have a professional examination. Be sure to inform your doctor if you have one or more risk factors for developing skin cancer, so that he or she may conduct a total-body skin exam.

What Else Could It Be?

Sometimes it&#39;s hard to tell cancerous skin conditions from noncancerous ones. The skin conditions below are noncancerous, but a doctor&#39;s expert eye is needed for diagnosis:

<ul>
	<li>Actinic keratosis: Thick, rough, scaly patches of skin that are red or brown in color</li>
	<li>Cherry angiomas: Small, smooth, noncancerous skin growths that appear as a cherry-red bump</li>
	<li>Seborrheic ceratoses: Benign lesions that vary in color from light tan to black -- often found on the chest or back</li>
	<li>Sebaceous hyperplasia: Common, benign, round, flesh-colored or yellow lesions, usually found on the face</li>
</ul>

Skin cancer is more common than any other cancer, and the annual rates of all forms of skin cancer are increasing each year. However, unlike almost any other type of cancer, all forms are easily detectable and curable in early stages. The catch is that you need to learn how to spot the early stages of the disease and make a habit of regularly looking for them.

Medically reviewed in April 2020.