Year: 2019

July 06, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC I noticed something weird when I started working from home: My hair hurt. It’s true that without the endless distractions provided by an open office floor plan (ingenious invention that it is), I’m able to pay a lot more attention to myself, and in doing so, I’ve noticed a number of new “ailments.” It’s also true that most of these aches and pains are imaginary. However, it turns out there’s a very real reason this is happening to me, and why it may be happening to you, too. First off, dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, tells me that it’s not actually hair strands that hurt in these scenarios, but rather the scalp. “Hair has no blood supply and is made of keratin,” she explains. “Pain sensation comes from the scalp, where the blood supply is ample.” The primary reason such scalp pain occurs, she says, is the same culprit behind many a health woe: inflammation. Dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, explains that inflammation in the scalp stimulates nerve endings, which results in pain. “This may be seen in conditions like severe dandruff or psoriasis, or after allergic reactions to products like hair dyes,” he says. ad_intervals[‘404943_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘404943_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); If a patient complains of pain in the scalp and has flaking, Dr. Zeichner will typically recommend a product like Kamedis Dandruff Therapy Shampoo ($16), which contains anti-inflammatory zinc pyrithione. “It lowers levels of yeast on the

Read More

July 06, 2019 at 12:01PM by CWC Although we all apply (and reapply) sunscreen with diligence, sunburn can still happen. And when you’re left with itchy, red, and peeling skin, you want to get rid of it fast. We know that aloe sprays and a cold showers can help soothe your skin, but can some products make it worse? In the days after a sunburn, you’ll want to tweak your beauty routine so your skin can heal. Unsurprisingly, your skin is especially sensitive after a sunburn. You should put your normal skincare regimen on pause until the burn is healed, says Sonya Kenkare, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist based in Chicago. “I would proceed carefully and test a small area first with a new or familiar product to see how your skin tolerates it before putting on your routine products everywhere,” says Dr. Kenkare. ad_intervals[‘405304_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘405304_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Products containing alcohol will sting, which is one of the main ingredients in chemical sunscreens, explained Dr. Kenkare. Physical blockers like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are best tolerated after a burn. Products with fragrance can also be irritating, even if you usually tolerate them, she says. You should also avoid scrubs, and harsh acids like citric acid, glycolic acid or retinoic acid, says Rebecca Baxt, MD, MBA, FAAD, a New Jersey-based dermatologist. When you use a product that’s irritating, or something you’re allergic to, not only will it hurt, but it can also

Read More

July 06, 2019 at 10:00AM by CWC I tend to develop crushes quickly. They come into my sphere with a vengeance, basically turning my life into the Taylor Swift Me! music video: bright and colorful and dramatic as hell. Just the other week, a crush hit me out of nowhere. I was replaying every interaction, looking for hidden meanings, throwing myself dramatically across my couch like a Victorian romance protagonist, having trouble sleeping…the works. It was ridiculous. While I’m first to admit that I’m naturally dramatic, this seemed like overkill even for me. But the weirdest, and most energy-sucking aspect of crushes is the sensation of polar-opposite emotions happening at once: extreme giddiness and hope, but also extreme despair and self-doubt. Why is it that having a crush make us feel so conflicted—at any age? Jess Carbino, PhD, relationship and online dating expert, says the hallmark of having a crush is that it might be unrequited, because the person crushing doesn’t know whether the object of their desire has similar feelings. And, it can be intense. “A crush is something that can feel as powerful to somebody as romantic love. It can be as fleeting as a few days, or it can be long-lasting,” she says. ad_intervals[‘401328_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘401328_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Part of what makes a crush so exciting and terrible at once is the bit of escapism it can offer. “Crushes are a way for us to remain in the state

Read More

July 06, 2019 at 07:00AM by CWC It’s almost inconceivable now that there was once a time when the oil most commonly found in beauty cabinets was of the Johnson & Johnson baby variety. These days, skin care is slicker than ever imaginable, all thanks to a collective obsession with natural versions of the slippery stuff. Coconut oil was the first to gain renown for its multitude of uses in the beauty realm, but other, less marquee varietals have been slowing growing in popularity. Among them is grape-seed oil, which is found tucked away in a surprising number of beauty products for the same reasons it’s a skin-care savior all on its own. For the uninitiated, grape-seed oil is extracted from its namesake fruit, and it’s often a byproduct of the first-best use for a juicy bunch: wine (after the juice is pressed from the grapes, the seeds are left over). And while it won’t give your skin a buzz, dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, tells me the resultant product is “a no-brainer for beauty.” Specifically cold-pressed versions, adds Eileen Nunes Koo, co-founder of Allpa Botanicals, because oils created in this way are the most concentrated and nutrient-dense. ad_intervals[‘404366_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘404366_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Pure grape-seed oil can be used as both an overall moisturizer and a spot treatment, or you can find doses mixed into products from Herbivore, Juice Beauty, Jao, and more. Keep reading for the 411 on the skin-care concerns best

Read More