The care of one's skin is constantly evolving according to season, climate, age, stress level, environmental and pollution factors, hormone balance, as well, as the general health of the individual.

Kathleen's optimal results for her patients are reached through the commitment of the patient in being actively involved in their own skin care. Skin care is for men, women & children and active skin care should begin as early as eight (8) years of age.

The following factors are important in all good skin care:

1. Water - At least one half (1/2) of the body weight in ounces should be consumed daily
2. Activity - Exercise or physical activity is necessary for the moving of lymph (the janitor of the body)
3. Facial lymphobiology - Receiving a facial with manual hand massage or the use of a lymphobiology machine are a plus in good skin care, for improving circulation and moving the lymph in the face
4. Sun protection - An absolute must as the sun is the number one enemy of the skin (Kathleen advises a block containing zinc oxide for protection against the UVA and UVB rays of the sun)
5. Makeup - The application and use of makeup in skin care helps in protecting the skin from environmental enemies. Used in conjunction with good skin care, especially in proper removal at bedtime, makeup is not harmful but rather helpful. At Skin Excellence Ltd. we offer custom blended liquid foundation & mineral powder; free of dyes, glue & talc and safe for even stressed and healing skin.
6. Vitamins & Other Valuable Skin Topicals -
   1. "C" (ascorbic acid) - an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory
   2. pycnogenol - elastin cross links or collagen fibers - 50 times more powerful than Vit E and 20 times more powerful than Vit C- as powerful an antioxidant & blood vessel strengthen you can find
   3. Integral DNA b.e. - a whole live molecule extracted from salmon milt - hydrates deeper layers of skin, an antioxidant, wrinkle reducing, and scar reducing soothing gel
   4. SOD (superoxide dismutase) - copper containing protein enzyme
   5. "E" (tocopherol)- antioxidant - healing and tissue repair
   6. Pro Vit B - for cellular regeneration
   7. Phytic acid - a strong antioxidant - powerful chelation - effects lipid system - inhibits tyrosinase
   8. Beta glucan - yeast cell-repairs sun damage in restoring weakened collagen & elastin - increases activity of Langerhans cells which are critical to immune system
   9. Hyaluronic acid - water binder for the stratum corneum
   10. Enzymes - proteins keratin - eliminates dead skin
7. Lifestyle - Sleep, consumption of alcohol, nutrition, use of fragrances, oil or alcohol based eye care products and cleansing habits - all greatly effect the health of the skin.

Are you always well equipped for a safe flight, or could there be a safety factor you have neglected?

In preparation for writing this article, I researched the risks of air travel, and found them to be very low compared to a risk that most pilots never address until it "may be too late". I am quite sure that you are well aware that your chances for death by air travel are very low; most of the time one in millions. However, did you realize that you face a risk to your life that does become quite increased as you leave the ground and head for blue skies?

Skin cancer may be the greatest risk as you embrace the skies each day. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. According to current estimates, 40 to 50 percent of Americans who live to age 65 will have skin cancer at least once. According to statistics from the American Cancer Society:

• Skin cancer affects 1 in 5 Americans
• The lifetime risk for developing a melanoma was 1 in 75 by the year 2000
• Half of all new cancers are skin cancers
• Skin cancer kills more women in their late 20's and early 30's than breast cancer
• One person dies every hour from skin cancer

The levels of UV (ultraviolet) radiation received through sun exposure affect the risk of developing skin cancer. Most skin cancers appear later in life, especially after the age of fifty (50), but the damage begins through sun exposure at an early age. Protection from ultraviolet rays should begin in childhood in order to prevent skin cancer later in life.

As pilots you are at high risk of developing skin cancer. When you are in flight you are much closer to the damaging rays of the sun. As flight trainees you are at an even greater risk due to the hours spent in preparation for your career. You fly many hours, day after day, with no defense from UV radiation, as the windows of your planes do not block the most damaging ray of the sun, the UVA ray. This ray penetrates as much as 30% to 40% deeper in the skin than the UVB ray (the burning and tanning ray) of the sun.

With the help of research, prevention and treatment of UV damage, skin cancer is almost one hundred (100%) curable if addressed early on and treated promptly. The best means of prevention is in early protection. The skin is the body's largest organ and the main area of defense against disease. It protects us against heat, light, injury and infection. With the research and development of cosmeceuticals for the skin we can protect and correct sun damage. Two (2) of the most valuable treatments for sun protection and correction involve the use of topical skin care products; Vitamin C in the form of l-ascorbic acid, and the use of sun block formulated with micronized zinc oxide.

To be effective, and able to penetrate into the skin, a topical Vitamin C preparation should contain high concentration of L-ascorbic acid in a stable, aqueous, acidic pH formulation. Ten percent (10%) concentration appears to be necessary for an optimal effect. Higher strengths of fifteen and twenty percent (15 & 20%) work even more effectively. Topical Vitamin C both protects against and reduces harmful effects in the skin caused by sunlight by neutralizing oxygen-free radicals that attack the skin and lead to skin cancer. Topical Vitamin C, in the form of L-ascorbic acid, will work against damage already received and against future sun exposure. An effective topical product can usually not be found "over the counter" as by law "over the counter" products are not allowed to be formulated to effectively penetrate into the skin. It is best to seek out skin care products that have been both clinically and scientifically researched with laboratory analysis. Remember that just because the label say it contains a certain ingredient it does not mean the product contains enough of the ingredient or the proper formulation to penetrate and work effectively in the skin.

Whenever possible, one should avoid sun exposure from Ten Hundred Hours to Fourteen Hundred Hours (10:00AM - 2:00PM). An effective sun protection should be applied at least twenty (20) minutes before going outdoors. An effective sun protection product should contain both UVA and UVB blockers. The most effective natural ingredient in sun protection is zinc oxide. Zinc oxide is both a UVA and UVB blocker and is usually combined with titanium oxide to protect by way of reflecting UV radiation. There are other UV sunscreen ingredients that are absorbers of UV radiation and actually loose their effectiveness during a chemical process that takes place while we are undergoing sun exposure. The chemical reaction taking place in the skin during this process may also cause skin irritations. My advice is to use a product, which is most natural in formulation and yet effectively blocks both UVA and UVB. In my opinion the most effective product must contain at least 4.5% zinc oxide, with a 7% concentration even better.

Who am I and why do I care?

I am a medical skin care specialist who started out as a nurse (LPN) working in the field of dermatology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. For many years, day in and day out, as a practicing nurse in dermatology I assisted in treating and removing skin cancers. Many of my patients were horrified at the damage and scars that had occurred due to their early years of sun exposure and the resulting skin cancers. Their question to me continually "Is there anything I can do to help my skin?" eventually led me in pursuit of help. Most of them did not have available the wonderful products that we have today for protection and correction. Other than "stay out of the sun" there was not much hope for them in preventing or treating their skin against future skin cancers. As research increased, and products and treatments became available for the prevention and treatment of skin cancer, I became more interested and pursed further education to eventually become a Medical Skin Care Specialist. My mission is to educate and help the public learn their part in having and maintaining healthy skin.

A few years ago one of my sons and his sweet wife began their flight training to realize their dreams as future pilots. After not seeing them for about six (6) months, I was appalled to see the very great evidence of sun damage that had occurred during their quest to build their flying hours. It was at this time that I became aware of the grave danger and risks that pilots face while confronting the increased amount of sun exposure they receive while traveling the skies.

As a child who suffered many severe sunburns, I also was at great risk to eventual skin cancer. With the help of properly formulated products and other skin care treatments, the evidence of my sun damage has been greatly improved. I am hopeful with continued diligence on my part to properly care for my skin, and with ever increasingly advanced products and treatments, that I will not have to experience the horror or risks of skin cancers. I would like to encourage you to also do all that you can as early as possible to work against sun damage and eventual skin cancer. It is never to late to begin protection, and/or rejuvenation of already sun damaged skin.

For further information on sun protection, the rejuvenation of sun damaged skin, and the treatment of acne, rosacea and other skin care problems please feel free to contact me. Kathleen Arthur, LPN SKIN EXCELLENCE LTD. (513) 770-0400 skinexcellence @ cinci.rr.com