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Oxygen: does it improve the skin?
Our body supplies the skin with the food it needs to continuously regenerate. Blood carries all the necessary elements to the outer skin layer, including oxygen, essential for cells. But there are cosmetics that claim to "oxygenate" the skin from the outside. Is this possible?
Since the late 1990s cosmetics "with oxygen" or that "oxygenate" the skin have been available, with many different brands of oils, creams, serums, masks and other presentations based on formulas that claim to oxygenate the skin after application. According to the ads, this oxygenation from outside regenerates the skin and makes it smoother, firmer and brighter. Most such cosmetics include hydrogen peroxide or similar ingredients in their formulation. When the product is applied to the skin, oxygen is apparently released that compensates for the age-related reduction in blood-transported oxygen supply. Read more
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Anna Solana, science journalist
The skin is affected by excess weight
Little is known about the impact of obesity on the skin. What impact does excess weight have on the largest organ in the body? Some studies are beginning to associate unsightly warts, stretch marks and other skin problems with the body mass index.
Around one in ten people are obese and the WHO considers obesity, responsible for three million deaths per year worldwide, to be a pandemic. Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some cancers. And the extra kilos also have an impact on the skin. Endocrinologists have long pointed to problems caused by cell resistance to insulin action in obese individuals, such as acne, hirsutism (excess hair) and dark pigmentation in the neck, armpit and knuckle areas (acanthosis nigricans). Dermatologists are now also signalling these problems. Read more
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Lead in lipstick: so what?
The communicative power of the Internet is also the power of disinformation. Sometimes a hoax begins to do the rounds and ends up being true for the public. One of the latest is the "dangerous" lead in lipsticks that could affect your mental health.
A controversy has recently emerged in the Internet, originating in the USA, regarding the possibility that lipsticks may affect the brain and even alter a person’s intelligence quotient (IQ). The origin was a warning by the Boston Lead Poisoning Prevention Program that small traces of lead in some lipsticks could seriously affect the brain. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted an investigation of 400 lipsticks available in the market and concluded that lead content was on average 1.11 parts per million. It also studied 360 women who intensively used lipstick, implying a daily lead ingestion of 111 nanograms. But it turns out that a glass of drinking water contains about 10 000 nanograms of lead. Therefore, the hoax has failed and the rumour has been scratched. If you use lipstick, there’s no need to worry about your IQ.
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Elisabet Salmerón, science journalist
Don’t forget your feet!
Be they Greek, Egyptian or square, feet support the human body. Aesthetically inconspicuous, they often go uncared for. However, hygiene and daily care of the skin of the feet (washing, moisturizing, etc) are essential for their wellbeing.
Ever wondered how much attention you pay to your feet? Even though they are hidden away for much of the year, the feet are fundamental for our body as they support our weight and help us retain our balance and move. Thus, foot care is essential to avoid possible injuries, infections and other problems that could harm our skin. Read more
Authors
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Anna Solana,
science journalistElisabet Salmerón,
science journalistFede Montagud,
editorJosep Orellana,
science journalist
