Desert Health News July-August 2024

. Adequate sleep • Dedicate eight hours per night to be in bed (even if you are unable to sleep). • Remove electronics from the room. • Keep the room cool, dark and quiet. • Avoid blue light exposure (from electronics) two hours before bed. • Try to watch the sunrise and sunset. Fresh air/Outdoor exposure • Invest in an air purification machine for your bedroom or home if possible. • Avoid outdoors on low quality air days. • Try to spend at least 15 minutes outdoors, weather permitting and preferably with your feet on the ground. Community/Social engagement • Plan regular interactions with your community when possible and where you feel safe. If in-person is not possible, use electronics to your advantage for audio or video chats. Spiritual/Ideological beliefs • At your own discretion. This does not have to be a religious practice. It can be as simple as treating others with kindness and respect. Mitigating stress/Self-care • Practices such as paced breathing, yoga, meditation, mindfulness and gratitude are just a fewmind-body options that can have profound effects on reducing stress and inflammation, and improving health and well-being. Implement such activities for 10-20 minutes each and every day. • Remember self-care is not selfish. Find activities, therapies or practices that work for you and take time to enjoy them on a regular basis. These foundations are a simple, yet effective roadmap to strengthen your ability to reduce chronic inflammation. Prioritizing self-care and learninghealthierways toprocess physical, mental and emotional stress can minimize the additional impact of chronic stress on chronic disease. It is my hope that you understand how profound self-care and the foundations of health are in your daily routine. I recommend keeping this article somewhere you can review it periodically as a reminder of the simple efforts you can make daily to address chronic inflammation. As always, discuss any changes to your health routine with your health care practitioner before implementing them. Dr. Jainuddin is a naturopathic primary care doctor with One Life Naturopathic and can be reached at (442) 256.596. For more information visit  www.onelifenaturopathic.org . References available upon request. www.justusskincare.com The season of sunburns, sweat, bug bites and sunspots is upon us once again. For men, we want to keep safety simple, so here are a few tips to guard your hide from serious damage during hot summer months. These skin-smart myth-busters will send you out into the wild blue yonder prepared and protected… Myth 1: "I only need sunscreen when it's sunny." I’d like to see the crispy critter who started this one. You can’t skip sunscreen on a cloudy day, unless you’re spending it indoors sorting through your shot glass collection. UV rays don’t take a day off just because the sun has decided to pop in and out of the clouds. A sunscreen of 30 or higher is recommended for daily use, and arguing that you will look greasy is a poor excuse. There are plenty of matte, non-greasy sunscreens that won’t leave you looking like you just changed the oil in your car. Myth 2: "My oily skin doesn’t need moisturizer." Your skin produces oil (sebum) to provide a barrier against bacteria, viruses and other environmental pollutants. That oil helps regulate body temperature by slowing down the evaporation of sweat from your skin's surface. So—when you don’t bother moisturizing because you think your skin is oily enough, you're making your skin produce even more oil to compensate. Choosing a lightweight moisturizer will keep your skin smooth, soft and less greasy than if you don’t bother. Apply before sunscreen. Myth 3: "A good workout is good enough." When it comes to skin, skipping a post-workout cleanse is like leaving dirty dishes in the sink — things are going to get gross fast. Use a gentle cleanser to wash away sweat and bacteria, followed by a hydrating mist and moisturizer before you even think about rejoining the world. Myth 4: "Summer activities don’t affect my skin." Wrong. Beach days, BBQs, hiking trips — summer activities are great until you realize your skin is taking a beating. Remember that saltwater and chlorine can strip your skin of natural oils, leaving it dry and irritated. Rinse off as soon as you can after a dip in the pool or ocean. And if you’re the grill master at every cookout, don’t forget that standing over a hot grill can cause sun exposure and sweat. Wear a hat. And keep a sunscreen with your BBQ tools and reapply regularly. Myth 5: “Only chemicals can cremate flying critters.” Think you need those store bought sprays? Here’s something even better. Mix lavender oil with any kind of carrier oil in your pantry (olive, avocado, safflower). You can also use tea tree oil or lemon oil. Apply in the evening or under sunscreen. Or you can make a spray with apple cider vinegar and water and a few drops of these essential www.DesertHealthNews.com July/August 2024 Anti-Inflammation Continued from page 15 Health & Beauty The Valley ' s Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 20 www.desertglowspa.com • Injectables: Botox, Fillers, Sculptra • Laser services: skin resurfacing, acne treatment, hair removal, tattoo removal • Non-surgical thread lift • IPL photofacial • Hair restoration • PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) • Microneedling • Chemical peels • Medical weight loss • Vitamin shots "Pam was great. She was very thorough during my consultation and offered several options for treatment, without any pressure to do any particular treatment. I was very nervous going in, but Pam is very gentle and reassuring." Leslie Burns 760.565.3990 73241 Highway 111, Ste. 5A Palm Desert dese lowspa.com Pamela Gossman DNP, APN, BC-FNP, CPHQ Board Certified Nurse Practitioner Feel more confident and beautiful inside and out oils. If you can get your hands on some catnip or neem oil, you can really decimate the little devils. Research suggests that these natural remedies can be evenmore effective than DEET in repelling mosquitoes. But what if you’ve been bitten and have itched yourself raw? Aloe vera directly from the plant is brilliant. Or rub a bit of raw honey or coconut oil on the bite. Another good itch relief can be made by mixing a little apple cider vinegar with water and dabbing on with a cotton ball. If you’re industrious, grind some oatmeal, mix with water and apply the paste to the bite (baking soda also works). The bottom line? Summer skincare doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need to be consistent. Focus on what really matters: karaoke, watermelon and cold beverages. Some people, well mostly male people, think that not taking care of their skin is manly, but these days, it’s generally perceived as silly. So protect, hydrate (with water), repeat. No excuses. Cheers to a great summer and even greater skin! Brook Dougherty of Indio is the founder of JustUs Skincare and welcomes your questions. She can be reached at (310) 266.7171 or brook@justusskincare.com. For more information, visit www.justusskincare.com . Summer Skincare Myths for Men: What Guys (and Girls) Need to Know By Brook Dougherty Summer essentials, like barbecuing, can have an impact on manly skin. Chemical sprays are not the only answer to controlling bugs. Taking time to view the sunset can have a positive impact on mental health.