In the ongoing battle against aging and growing older, researchers in Germany are studying the impact of LED lights compared to Botox. When LED light was applied to the skin at high levels for several weeks, skin was firmer, more youthful looking, and had fewer wrinkles. Skin also demonstrated increased elasticity, which means it was quicker to "spring back" after being touched.

This high intensity light works on elastin, a protein in the skin which is responsible for skin's firmness and texture. As we age, elastin tends to break down, leading to wrinkles. The LED lights work by removing the water content in elastin. When there is less water in the elastin layer, skin is more youthful and springs back to the touch.

While several years from being widely available, LED lights offer promising anti-aging treatment- without chemical injections or dermal fillers.

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Cosmeceuticals are one of the splashiest additions to the skin care skin. Cosmeceuticals are ingredients which have skin beautifying AND skin care ingredients all in one. So the idea is that your skin not only looks better by using these, it actually is being healed and treated at the same time. This one-two punch can be a powerful form of modern skin care.

There are 4 main cosmeceutical ingredients you should know about:

1) Antioxidants. You've heard about these for your insides (such as the benefits of ingesting green tea or pomegranate juice), but antioxidants can also work on the outside, keeping skin from aging and wrinkling prematurely. Some of the hottest cosmeceuticals use ingredients such as lipoic acid, Coenzyme Q10, resveratrol, and grape seed extract to nourish skin from the outside in.

2) Peptides. Peptides are one of the building blocks of protein, and certain peptides can drive skin repair and improvement. Copper peptide, for example, is one of the most well known ingredients in this category. Peptides can create certain chemical reactions which lead the skin to turn itself over more quickly, or to repair the skin damage caused by the sun, or wrinkling.

3) Retinol. Retinol has been around for a while, and is a favorite weapon for treating sun-damaged skin. Retinol can smooth away the aftereffects of too many days spent baking in the sun.

4) Glycolic acid. Glycolic acids have been around for some time, and are available in varying strengths. Some of the newer glycolic acids are geared towards those with dry skin. Typically, glycolic acids are used to accelerate the exfoliation of the skin, breaking down dead and old skin cells to reveal healthy, fresh, and younger skin underneath.

If your skin is looking tired and could use a pick me up, be sure to check out the new cosmeceutical inspired skin care lines. Your skin will not only look better, it will actually be better.

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It isn't enough that athletes have to worry about their sleep, stress, and nutrition; they now have to worry about skin infections.

Skin infections are on the rise in high contact sports, accounting for up to 10% of missed playing time, especially at the high school level. One team of professionals in Minnesota are seeking to quell the rise of MRSA, herpes, and ringworm in their high school athletic population.

Ways to prevent infection include frequent hand washing and showering, as well as regular medical checkups, and covering open sores or wounds with bandages. In addition, it is recommended that athletic clothing be washed frequently, and that athletes avoid sharing personal items such as razors and towels.

Additionally, regular sleep, stress reduction, and maintaining good skin hydration can all be helpful in boosting immunity and preventing the spread of other opportunistic skin infections.

If you'd like to learn more about safeguarding your teen athlete, you can get more information here: www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/dtopics/athlete/

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