Posted by dermcareonline on January 21, 2010 under cholesterol, diet, omega-3 fatty acids, psoriasis | 
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids. That means they cannot be made by the body, so you need to get it from your diet, in food. They are also called polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is a major types of omega-3 fatty acids ingested in foods. After ALA is injested, it is broken down into eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in cold water oily fish like salmon, black cod, herring, mackrel, tuna, and halibut. It is also found in marine life like algae and krill, plants (purslane) and nuts and seeds like walnut, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, and flax seeds.
The American Heart Association recommends eating fish at least two times a week. It is advised that pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children avoid swordfish, shark, and king mackeral. They should take dietary supplements of omegy-3 fatty acids that are mercury free.
Omega-3 fatty acids have many advantages for your health.
- reduces inflammation (anti-inflammatory)
- prevents heart disease and coronary artery stenosis
- lowers triglyceride (TG) levels (bad cholesterol)
- increases high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels (good cholesterol)
- lowers blood clotting
- helps with rheumatoid arthritis
- helps with schizophrenia, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD)
Symptoms of omega-3 fatty acid deficiency include
- extreme fatigue (feeling very tired)
- poor memory
- mood swings, depression
- poor circulation
- heart problems
- dry skin
How do omega-3 fatty acids improve your skin?
Studies have shown that even though Eskimos live in cold climates when psoriasis should get worse, Eskimos have a lower incidence of psoriaisis. So what are they doing right? Eskimos eat a lot of fish, so their diet is high in fish oil (which contains omega-3 fatty acids; ALA, EPA, and DHA).
In psoriasis, the immune system causes leukocyte infiltration and skin cells to grow rapidly, hence the thick plaques on the knees, elbows, and scalp. It is believed that this is secondary to amino acid metabolytes in the epidermis (upper layer of the skin). It is possible that by eating more omega-3 (anti-inflammatory), inflammation is reduced, and psoriasis gets better.
The studies are conflicting, and not everyone believes that this diet shows benefit for people that suffer with psoriasis. However, since the omega-3 fatty acids have overall health benefits, we should consider adding more omega-3 fatty acids to our diet, promoting heart and brain health, and possibly the skin as well.
The Mediterranean diet has a good balance of various fatty acids, and could be used to improve your overall health.
Posted by admin on February 19, 2009 under Skin Cancer, Summer Skin Care, UVA, UVB, UVC, cancer, sun damage, sun protection |
As Winter Wanes and Spring Begins to Blossom, the Impact of Light on Day to Day Life Becomes ….. Illuminated
Understanding Ultraviolet light and one’s exposure is key to good health
Ultraviolet light is an essential part of life, with both life-sustaining as well as damaging affects. From promoting Vitamin D and treating many different types of skin conditions to aging and skin cancers, it’s role has an undeniable impact on life. Understanding it and one’s exposure to it is key.
Ultraviolet (UV) light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum that begins at the violet color of visible light (400 nm) and ends at the beginning of X-ray (200 nm). Visible light includes ultraviolet light A (320-400 nm), ultraviolet light B (290-320 nm), and ultraviolet light C (200-290 nm).
Ultraviolet light A (UVA) comes from sunlight and is capable of penetrating windows. It also has a longer wavelength and penetrates deeper into the skin to cause photoaging. Ultraviolet light B (UVB) is also from the sun and can cause sunburns and immediate redness. Ultraviolet light C (UVC) from sunlight and is filtered by the ozone layer. Artificial sources of UVC include cold quartz lamps and operating room germicidal lamps.
UV light is not only beneficial but necessary for individuals and the environment. It makes vitamin D in our skin, which is increasingly linked to overall health and well being. In fact, recent reports indicate Vitamin D deficiencies of large proportions within the United States as a result of sunscreen overuse and our conditioning to stay out of the sun in order to avoid the harm of its rays. Vitamin D deficiencies are linked to increased risk of many different types of diseases including cancer.
UV light has also been effectively used to treat skin diseases such as psoriasis and vitiligo. Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder that causes red, dry and rough patches of skin that worsens in colder winter months. Vitiligo is a skin pigmentation disorder.
The harmful affects of UV light are well-known in American society, contributing to the multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries - promoting sunscreens and anti-aging cosmetics. The light can be harmful, not only aging the skin but also damaging cells - resulting in various types of skin cancers.
Sunscreens labeled with a sun protection factor (SPF) lower the chances of a sunburn from UVB rays. UVB has been used to treat psoriasis, vitiligo, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, eczema and other dermatologic diseases. Sunlight machines have bulbs that emit light of the UVB spectrum. And now a specific band of UVB at 311-312 nm (narrowband UVB) is used to more effectively treat various skin conditions such as psoriasis. This is called phototherapy.
UVA rays cause damaging aging affects in the skin. Sunscreens containing zinc and titanium dioxide protect the skin against UVA. Phototherapy machines also have bulbs that emit light of the UVA spectrum. After taking a medication called psoralen, the skin becomes sensitized to the ultraviolet light. This is called PUVA treatment, psoralens plus UVA, and it is used as well to treat diseases like psoriasis and vitiligo.
Tags: cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, eczema, harmful sun rays, photoaging, phototherapy, psoralen, psoriasis, PUVA, Skin Cancer, sun damage, sun lamps, sunlight machines, titanium dioxide, ultraviolet light, UVA, UVB, UVC, vitiligo, zinc
