All posts by Nicole Kell

All, Summer

Can the Sun Cure Your Acne?

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Nicole Kell

Acne can be uncomfortable and embarrassing.  Most adults and teens have acne at some point in their life and have most likely tried a variety of home and commercial remedies. Sunbathing has long been touted as a home remedy.  

Unfortunately, the sun can actually do more harm than good for your acne. Dermatologist Jessica Wu, M.D, author of Feed Your Face  states, “the sun’s UV rays zap acne-causing bacteria, which is why pimples may clear up temporarily. Plus, pimples and red marks may look less obvious when your skin is tanned.”  

Also, when the sun damages your skin, the immune cells in your skin are suppressed, which may reduce the size and redness of acne. This this may be pleasing at first, but excessive sun exposure can cause pimples to end up as dark scars because the sun’s ultraviolet rays can increase inflammation and redness and create new breakouts.

The sun’s ultraviolet rays are also dangerous because they are the primary cause of skin cancer. Also, many acne medication and topical creams such as isotretinoin make the skin more sensitive to sunlight and cause it to burn faster.

Be sure to always apply sunscreen when you’re going to be exposed to sunlight, just be sure to use one that is oil-free.

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/qa/how-does-sun-exposure-affect-acne

https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/daily/tips/quick-tips-can-the-sun-cure-acne-.htm

https://zo-skinhealth.co.uk/cure-acne-debunking-sun-myth/

All, Common Myths, Summer

Is it Safe to Swim on a Full Stomach?

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Nicole Kell

As summer rolls around, many of us have been warned about not swimming immediately after eating. This is based on the idea that blood will divert from the arms and legs and flow toward the digestive tract after consuming a large meal. We are told that  our stomach might cramp and we might drown. One might also hear that the limbs might not be supplied with enough blood flow to function. For most children, taking a break from swimming after a big lunch can feel like an eternity.

There are so many people who are concerned about the risks of swimming after eating that the American Red Cross presented a scientific advisory statement in the International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education that stated, “currently available information suggests that eating before swimming is not a contributing risk for drowning and can be dismissed as a myth.” Our bodies have enough blood to keep all of our body parts going after eating a large meal. This is exciting news for children who love the pool, lake, beach etc. They don’t have to listen to their parent’s advice… just this once. Saved by science.

http://theconversation.com/mondays-medical-myth-wait-30-minutes-after-eating-before-you-swim-10653

https://www.dignityhealth.org/articles/is-swimming-after-eating-really-dangerous

https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-should-you-wait-30-minutes-to-swim-after-eating/

All, Women's Health

Is it Possible for Your Period to Sync Up With Your Best Friends?

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Photo from DRC_Calendar

Nicole Kell

Most women have experienced having the same period schedule as their friends. You have probably heard that all the hours you spend together caused your menstrual cycle to sync up. However, there is no scientific evidence based on chemicals or hormones to support this theory. Obstetrician-gynecologist Lynn Simpson explains that proximity cannot change cycle timing or frequency of periods because they simply do not work that way. There is however, a mathematical explanation to why your period might match up with a roommate or close friend. Dr. Simpson explains, “Over time, a woman who has a three-week cycle and another who has a five-week cycle will eventually see their periods coincide and diverge again.” Women who live together for at least a year, are bound to have overlapping cycles a few times. It’s just coincidence of our cycle lengths.

There are other factors that affect menstrual cycles such as birth control pills, stress, chronic illness, and eating disorders. Birth control pills alter the levels of progesterone and estrogen that control and manipulate when a women will have her period, if at all. Stress over life or work caused by constant anxiety and worry can cause a woman’s period to be earlier or later than normal. Living with a chronic illness, having constant health problems and/or taking certain medications can also cause irregular menstrual cycles. Lastly, eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia or highly restrictive control over caloric intake can impact menstrual cycles.

Even though many women may experience a connection with their close friends or roommates, it seems to be simply a coincidence when their periods happen to sync up.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/myth-truth-period-really-sync-close-friends/

Do Women’s Periods Really Sync Up When They Spend Time Together?

https://verilymag.com/2017/11/do-womens-periods-sync-up-menstrual-synchronization