SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION:
• DO: Look for a moisturizer or
foundation that has SPF! It is
important to keep something with
SPF on whenever you go outside to
protect your skin from the damaging
effects of the sun now and in the
future (you’ll be so glad you did).
• DON’T: Pick! You can pick your
friends, but don’t pick your stubborn
pimples! Although you might want
to rid yourself of whiteheads and
blackheads, resist the urge. This could
lead to long-term damaging effects on
your skin.
• DON’T: Leave makeup on overnight.
As tempting as it is to crash after a
long day, be sure to give your pores a
rest from makeup. Makeup-removing
wipes are a quick way to at least get a
majority of products off your face.
• DO: Be sure to wipe down your
cell phone. Bacteria can live on the
surface and cause major breakouts on
your cheeks and chin if not properly
sanitized.
Prevention Years
As a young adult, it’s important to
continue good habits of caring for your
skin. This is the prime age to prevent
unwanted wrinkles that you may start to
face in the next five to 10 years. Now is
the time to take charge by:
• Wearing eye cream. We have seen
the commercials about preventing
wrinkles. But when do you have to
start? NOW! The skin around your
eyes is very thin and just a short
amount of sunlight could cause
lasting wrinkles.
• Applying SPF products to face,
neck, and hands. Skipping the
protection of an SPF could throw
off your entire routine. Find a good
moisturizer that combines protection
with moisture and apply it to your
face, neck, and hands. The neck and
hands are often overlooked, but prime
spots for the sun to hit and cause
wrinkles.
• Quitting bad habits. Now is a better
time than ever to kick the bad habits
you formed in high school and
college. The number of benefits to
canceling your package at the tanning
salon and quitting smoking would
take up this entire article, but for
skin’s sake, give them up!
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Treatment Years
Now is the time to treat the years of
damage that the sun and other elements
have caused to your skin.
• Put the right nutrients into your
body. It’s important to make sure your
body is getting all the nutrients it needs
on the inside for radiant skin on the
outside. This includes lots of water!
• Take cover when heading outside.
SPF products shouldn’t be skipped at
this age either and should be applied
daily. Try adding a hat and cover your
skin to prevent overexposure to the
harmful rays of the sun, even in the
cooler months.
• Find a good retinoid. Derived from
vitamin A, retinoids boost collagen
production in the skin to stimulate
blood vessels and unclog pores.
SEEING INTO THE FUTURE
Twenty-first century children will be
looking beyond genetics as a cause for
needing corrective eyewear, according to
the American Optometric Association
(AOA). In the Digital Age, children
are exposed to electronic devices their
whole lives as an integral part of social
and educational practices. Teachers are
continuing to increase the amount of
digital technology used in the classroom,
and it is expected that computer
simulations will account for much of the
learning style in the future. Both teachers
and parents are finding that children are
adapting well to the use of technology
in the classroom, making learning more
interactive and current than most
textbook learning.
The AOA’s 2015 American Eye-Q
survey stated that 41 percent of parents
say their kids spend three or more
hours per day using digital devices,
and 66 percent of kids have their own
smartphone or tablet. As technology
becomes more of an essential part of
modern life, it is important for parents
to facilitate balance in their children’s
digital usage. Electronic devices,
including televisions, give off blue and
violet light that may affect vision by
causing eyestrain and discomfort. If
your child has to do homework using
a computer or tablet, then keep the
television and other devices off during
dinnertime and enjoy conversation
together. Optometrists also researched
the importance of natural sunlight
exposure to the eyes and say that a lack
of exposure to natural light could affect
the growth and development of vision.
Digital eyestrain symptoms
• Burning
• Itchy or tired
• Increased headaches
• Fatigue
• Blurry vision
• Head and neck pain
The best way to properly monitor eye
and vision health is to make sure your
child gets a comprehensive eye exam
every year.
Continued on page 35 >
SOUTH FAYETTE
❘
WINTER 2019
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