Rx Systems PF is promoting breast cancer awareness in September and October by displaying a pink ribbon on each product label and donating 10 percent of its Age Defense Antioxidant Serum C sales to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. According to the company, the product contains L-ascorbic acid (USP grade) to aid skin cell growth and collagen production to repair damaged tissues.

"It should be no surprise that breast cancer, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and medication required create a large free radical burden on the body and skin, in addition to its negative impact on the immune system",

said Lawrence Samuels, the founder of RX Systems PF and a dermatologist.

"The skin relies on antioxidants for protection against free radicals. Since the skin receives the most free radical assault from ultraviolet light exposure, cancer, and the effects related to cancer treatment, replenishing and increasing the antioxidant defense of the skin becomes an attractive strategy for wound healing and photo-repair."

Rx Systems PF’s Serum C, designed for all skin types and to use on any wound, is formulated with 20 percent L-ascorbic acid, as well as other powerful antioxidants. Applied directly on the skin following nightly cleansing, Serum C prevents premature signs of aging, lightens and brightens skin tone, and helps accelerate the healing of skin.

According to Dr. Samuels,

"Once in the skin, studies show L-ascorbic acid stimulates collagen synthesis, provides sun protection, and protects the skin by reducing free radicals,which otherwise would destroy skin cells and its components. The clinical benefits of the antioxidant activity of our Age Defense Antioxidant Serum C improves skin texture, reduces brown spots, improves skin tone, and decreases the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while helping prevent their formation."

Rx System PF’s Serum C is also packaged in a unique New Age Bloc™ Delivery System to completely protect the product from light and air, which can lead to oxidation and reduced efficacy.

"To produce an effective Vitamin C preparation, we use a temperature and light-controlled room and expel as much free oxygen from the single-use, individual serum packets as possible",

Samuels states.

"When this process is completed, the serum is contained in our single use Age-Bloc Delivery System packet, which is sealed in an air-tight fashion. The vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) with its optimal 20% free acid concentration and appropriate 2.6 pH can be kept in the Age-Bloc Delivery System almost without concern of oxidation, since the packet offers permanent protection from light and air."

We hope you'll join RX Systems PF in supporting Breast Cancer Awareness in the upcoming two months.

Question:

I am a 38-year-old woman; and I was working in the yard and cut my thigh on a limb. It bled for several minutes; but the cut did not seem very deep, and I did not get stitches. I kept the area clean, and it did not get infected. I now have a red scar that feels bumpy. How can I make the scar disappear?

Answer:

The body’s natural healing process of wounds caused by an accident or surgery is a scar. The more the skin is damaged, and the farther the wound is away from the heart, the longer it takes to heal and the greater the chance of a noticeable scar. Generally, the scar is most prominent within the first few weeks of the injury and gradually improves over several months. Based on a combination of these types of factors, many wounds that heal, although quite healthy, appear cosmetically undesirable.

Obviously, the initial treatment of a cut has a major impact on its healing and residual scar. Several techniques can alter or camouflage the appearance of the resultant scar. However, no scar can ever be completely eradicated. Conservative measures include sun protection, scar massage and good skin care of the injured area. Ultraviolet ray damage from the sun or tanning beds can darken scars and should be avoided. Sunscreen and covering the area can accomplish this goal. Scar massage with various topical products has been shown to improve scars. A list of these products includes:

· Vitamin E preparations

· Mederma

· Vitamin C topical products

· Protein moisturizers

The gentle scar massage process with any topical moisturizer tends to improve thickened scars. It is important to avoid trauma or skin stretching to new scars, as this tends to increase the size and thickness of the scar.

After several months, if scars remain a cosmetic problem, dermatologists and plastic surgeons have several techniques that can be performed to alter the appearance of scars. Modern techniques can change the length, width or thickness of a scar; but no technique can be expected to return the skin to its original appearance before the scar.

Lastly, there are certain cosmetics which can be used to cover scars. This is an excellent option for new scars, as it camouflages the scar while allowing the natural healing process to improve the final appearance of the scar.

Question:

I am 38 years old, married, and have four children. My sister who lives in Miami called and informed me her son has scabies, and she is treating her entire family. In addition, she was given instructions on cleaning clothes and her house. I have not seen my sister or her family since the Christmas holidays. Should I be concerned for my family?

Answer:

Scabies, or the “itch mite”, is a tiny, microscopic skin mite which burrows into the skin. The mite does not fly, which means it requires very close personal contact with a person who has scabies to be contagious.

The mite prefers intertriginous areas (web spaces between the fingers and toes, under the breast and breast area, armpits, waist and navel area, and the genital area) as its initial site of attack. After a few weeks of infestation (3-4 weeks), a person begins to develop an allergic reaction to the mite, its eggs, and its excretions. The rash usually begins near the site of the initial infestation, which includes the hands, wrists, breasts, armpits or genital area. In severe cases, the allergic reaction rash can spread to most of the body.

This does not mean that there are mites in all areas of the rash. They tend to stay in the skin crease areas mentioned above. The physician will try to identify mite burrows in skin crease areas. A skin scraping for a microscopic exam from these burrows will allow the doctor to identify the mite, which confirms the diagnosis. Most itchy rashes are not scabies; and it is very important to make an accurate diagnosis, as all close personal contacts, family members in the same household, and sexual partners should be treated at the same time.

Treatment consists of applying a mite killing medication to the skin, cleaning all clothing worn within the last 24-48 hours, and striping all bed linens for cleaning as directed by your doctor. The mite requires human skin for survival. That means the mite cannot live for more than 24-48 hours without a human host. Any clothes and furniture not used for 24-48 hours do not require washing or fumigation.

The topical medications for scabies should be applied no longer than the time directed by your doctor, as the medication can irritate the skin, causing a rash and itching. The rash and itching may continue even though the mite has been killed, since the rash and itch represent an allergic skin reaction to the mite and its excretions. The residual rash and itch can be treated with anti-itch cortisone creams and oral anti-itch pills.

The itchy rash of scabies usually clears up in 2-6 weeks with an accurate diagnosis and treatment program. Obviously, treatment of an itchy, scaly, red rash that is not scabies with anti-scabetic medication will only aggravate the rash and cause other family members and close contacts to get unnecessary treatment that may cause them to get a rash from the topical anti-mite medication. An accurate diagnosis prior to treatment is mandatory.

Your contact with your sister’s family has been several months. If no family members are itching and there is no rash, it is most likely that you have no reason for concern and should not treat yourself and your family. You might ask your sister if the doctor actually scraped the skin of her child and identified the mite, as doctors see a lot of cases which get treated without an accurate diagnosis.

Question:

I am 31 years old, and I have been careful not to abuse my skin in the sun. My skin seems to be dull, and my makeup seems to flake on my skin after 5-6 hours. My friend said I should change to mineral makeup. What makes mineral makeup different from other types of makeup?

Answer:

Mineral makeup is a key word in today’s cosmetics. It is a popular style of makeup. Mineral makeup is made from “all natural”, finely ground minerals from the earth without any fragrances, preservatives or dyes.

Mushrooms are natural, and some of them are poisonous. One must put “natural mineral from the earth” in perspective. Most of the mineral ingredients have been in popular make-ups for years. The main ingredients have been in foundations for decades. There is no science that substantiates health benefits of mineral makeup. There is no evidence that mineral makeup is more pure, safer or better for sensitive skin. However, since they contain no fragrances, binders, dyes or preservatives, they eliminate the problem of sensitivity or irritation from these ingredients. Some brands of mineral makeup contain the sun protective ingredients zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. However, I still recommend using a sunscreen under mineral makeup.

The important ingredients in mineral makeup are zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, bismuth, mica, and other micronized minerals. The Personal Care Products Council has no set regulations regarding mineral makeup. Any makeup containing minerals as a primary ingredient can be marketed as a mineral makeup. Some mineral make-ups contain ingredients that are not “natural minerals.” People should read labels and not be fooled by “all natural or all mineral formulas.” Again, there are many present-day cosmetics which contain these ingredients, but are not called mineral makeup.

Most of the brands today use similar ingredients but have proprietary formulas. Some minerals can cause irritation in certain individuals. Bismuth is an example of a mineral ingredient which causes irritation in a few individuals.

Mineral makeup is appropriate for clients with acne or acne rosacea. Loose powder foundations and blushes are light, finely ground, loose minerals that are applied with a soft brush. Mineral makeup is non-comedogenic (will not clog pores). However, it is important to avoid agents with known irritation potential. Bismuth oxychloride in high concentrations can cause acne and skin irritation.

Mineral makeup is water soluble and does not clog pores. It is easy to apply smoothly and evenly. There are differences in brands, and there will be individual variations. This means that smooth, even, long-lasting appearance in one person may produce drying, poor skin color match, and accentuation of wrinkles in another. Bottom line, mineral makeup is not a miracle, and buyers need to be educated. Major brands provide the most reliable products at the present time.