Beauty & Skin Care

Skin is one of the largest organs of the body. Because of this, caring for your skin can directly affect your overall health. Your skin acts as a protective shield and is most vulnerable to outside elements. It is affected by more factors than you may think. For instance, the following can play a role in your overall skin health:

• exposure to UV radiation in tanning beds
• exposure to chemical toxins in tobacco
• unprotected sun exposure for long periods of time
• not getting enough rest, fluids, or nutrition
• aging

Taking care of your skin

There are steps you can take to ensure you have healthy skin. They include the following:

• Cleanse regularly, typically twice daily.
• Apply a toner after cleansing if you have oily skin.
• Apply a moisturizer if you have dry skin.
• Exfoliate to remove dead skin cells and brighten up your complexion.

Besides a daily skin care routine, make it a habit to examine your own skin for abnormalities, discolorations, or any other changes on a regular basis. Have your skin examined by a doctor or dermatologist annually for any changes, or if:

• you have fair skin or many or large moles
• you are in the sun or use tanning beds
• you have a history of skin problems, irritations, or growths

It’s also important to protect your skin from too much sun and sun damage, which may increase wrinkles as well as lead to skin cancer. Cover your skin or use sunscreen to protect your skin from the damaging rays of the sun. See your doctor or dermatologist if any skin irritations or problems arise.

Understanding skin care products

There are many products out there that are presented as a way to change things, permanently melt away cellulite, reduce wrinkles, and more. Pay attention and do your research to decide whether a product is really necessary for the health of your skin or if it’s potentially harmful. Ask your doctor for advice, too.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates many products. It must regulate products that change a person’s physical structure or biochemical processes within the body.

Products that are classified as cosmetics or dietary supplements are not regulated. Examples of these include:

• moisturizers
• hair coloring
• toothpaste
• deodorant
• vitamins
• herbals
• enzymes

References

• Five minutes or less for health weekly tip: Protect your skin. (2015, April 1). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/Family/minutes/tips/protectskin/index.htm
• Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014, December 16). Skin care: 5 tips for healthy skin. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/adult-health/in-depth/skin-care/art-20048237
• Product testing. (2016, October 5). Retrieved from http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ScienceResearch/ProductTesting/default.htm
• Wrinkle treatments and other anti-aging products. (2015, May 28). Retrieved from http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductsIngredients/Products/ucm388826.htm

Sorority Sisters Walk to Fight Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are not as talked about today, but are still a huge part of society and sometimes left on the back burner. Eating disorders play a huge role in an affected persons life and they need to know people care and want to help their cause.

On October 1st, 2017, hundreds of people gathered for the National Association of Eating Disorders Walk in New York City. This two mile walk happens each year and anyone is able to participate. There was a team organized by Allyson Link, a special education major and a member of Delta Phi Epsilon sorority. The group of girls who participated in the walk with Link said, "The point of the walk isn't only to raise money to help people receive the treatment that they need, but also raise awareness to their family and friends that haven't personally struggled." This was her fourth time walking and leading a team for the NEDA walk.

I think this article is inspiring and very relate-able. I am a part of Greek life at EIU, and me as well as my sisters know how important and special it is to raise money and awareness for different causes as well as our own philanthropy. Something as simple as a walk to raise money and awareness is so easy and effective. Although, Delta Phi Epsilon's philanthropy is not directly related to this, they still support it and I think that shows a lot about who they are and what they care about. They want to send a message. Link said, "It's always pretty inspiring to see how many people are willing to donate, because so many people have been affected by eating disorders." Being a sorority member, one of the best feelings is having your friends and other members of sororities and fraternities come out and support your philanthropy. It is such a good feeling even though they may not relate directly, the money is still going to a good cause. There are so many fun and different to support these types of causes. Link and the 8 other members on the team ended up raising over $2,000 for the event.

Refrences:

http://www.thesetonian.com/2017/10/11/sorority-sisters-walk-to-fight-eating-disorders/

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are serious and often fatal illnesses that cause severe disturbances to a person's eating behaviors. Obsessions with food, body weight, and shape may also signal an eating disorder. Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.

Anorexia Nervosa

People with anorexia nervosa may see themselves as overweight, even when they are dangerously underweight. People with anorexia nervosa typically weigh themselves repeatedly, severely restrict the amount of food they eat, and eat very small quantities of only certain foods. Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any mental disorder. While many young women and men with this disorder die from complications associated with starvation, others die of suicide. In women, suicide is much more common in those with anorexia than with most other mental disorders.

Symptoms include:

• Extremely restricted eating
• Extreme thinness (emaciation)
• A relentless pursuit of thinness and unwillingness to maintain a normal or healthy weight
• Intense fear of gaining weight
• Distorted body image, a self-esteem that is heavily influenced by perceptions of body weight and shape, or a denial of the seriousness of low body weight

Bulimia Nervosa

People with bulimia nervosa have recurrent and frequent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food and feeling a lack of control over these episodes. This binge-eating is followed by behavior that compensates for the overeating such as forced vomiting, excessive use of laxatives or diuretics, fasting, excessive exercise, or a combination of these behaviors. Unlike anorexia nervosa, people with bulimia nervosa usually maintain what is considered a healthy or relatively normal weight.

Symptoms include:

• Chronically inflamed and sore throat
• Swollen salivary glands in the neck and jaw area
• Worn tooth enamel and increasingly sensitive and decaying teeth as a result of exposure to stomach acid
• Acid reflux disorder and other gastrointestinal problems
• Intestinal distress and irritation from laxative abuse
• Severe dehydration from purging of fluids

• Binge-eating disorder

  People with binge-eating disorder lose control over his or her eating. Unlike bulimia nervosa, periods of binge-eating are not followed by purging, excessive exercise, or fasting. As a result, people with binge-eating disorder often are overweight or obese. Binge-eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the U.S.
  Symptoms include:
  • Eating unusually large amounts of food in a specific amount of time
  • Eating even when you're full or not hungry
  • Eating fast during binge episodes
  • Eating until you're uncomfortably full
  • Eating alone or in secret to avoid embarrassment
  • Feeling distressed, ashamed, or guilty about your eating
  • Frequently dieting, possibly without weight loss