Inwork

A groundbreaking study, led by Professors Yossi Buganim at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) Faculty of Medicine's Institute for Medical Research and Tommy Kaplan at HU's School of Computer Science and Engineering and Department of Computational Biology, has uncovered 14,000 unique sites in DNA that together form the most elementary blueprint for embryogenesis -- the creation of embryos. Their findings were published in Nature Communications.

In 2006, Japanese scientists inserted four embryonic genes into skin cells and successfully reprogrammed those skin cells to act like embryonic stem cells. Artificial embryonic stem cells made from skin cells are identical to natural stem cells that develop at the earliest stages of the embryonic development process and are responsible for the development of all the cells of a fetus. However, they cannot create extra-embryonic tissues, such as the placenta.

In 2015, Prof. Buganim and his team were first to discover how to create artificial placental stem cells from skin cells. This step enabled scientists to create the two earliest types of stem cells in the embryonic development process that happens right after s***m fertilize an egg. In this current study, the HU research team, which included PhD students Mohammad Jaber, Ahmed Radwan and Netanel Loyfer, closely examined the process that skin cells undergo to transform themselves into either embryonic or placental stem cells.

"We analyzed the changes that skin cells undergo to change their identity and become one of the two earliest types of stem cells. We looked at changes in gene expression of the skin cell, in the accessibility and activity of the DNA within the nucleus of the changing skin cell, and in epigenetic markers (i.e. marks that decorate the DNA and responsible for gene expression). These are all critical when trying to convert a skin cell into an artificial embryonic or placental stem cell," Buganim explained.

The researchers found that the changes that take place in skin cells to become either embryonic or placental artificial stem cells were entirely different from one another at every level, despite the fact that both started out as skin cells.

When a skin cell transforms into an artificial embryonic stem cell, the parts of DNA that are responsible to create the brain, heart and liver began to reorganize and prepare themselves to differentiate- given the right signal- into brain, heart or liver cells. On the other hand, when those same cells were transforming into an artificial placental stem cell, the DNA sites began reorganizing themselves to allow the changing cell to implant itself and attract blood vessels, a phenomenon that occurs naturally, allowing the embryo to implant into the uterus.

The most remarkable discovery came when the team compared the two processes side-by-side and looked at a chemical molecule called methyl, which interacts with specific areas of the DNA and is responsible for silencing their expression. "We discovered that artificial placental stem cells contained close to 14,000 DNA sites with methyl but were nowhere to be seen in the artificial embryonic stem cells," shared Buganim.

When the research team tried to understand the significance of those DNA areas, they found that they are responsible to create all the organs and cells in developing embryos -- from the brain, heart, liver and kidneys to the skeleton, spinal cord and connective tissues.

Going forward, this significant discovery may help explain the embryonic defense system, which prevents early placental cells from developing into embryonic cells. "Since placental cells are susceptible to damage and infection, the body's natural defense mechanism prevents placental cells that migrating to the developing embryo and attaching to it to become part of the embryo," Buganim explained. Overall, this study illuminates key features that characterize our ability to reprogram cells and provides a powerful tool to study cellular plasticity and cell-fate decisions.

COCONUT OIL FOR TANNING (WHY IT'S A BAD IDEA)
By: Brad Lenahan
August 22, 2018
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If you’re reaching for coconut oil before heading out to spend time in the sun, stop right there. Coconut oil should not be used as a standalone sunscreen in any situation. Why? Let’s delve in.

THE PUSH TOWARDS NATURAL SKIN CARE
There’s nothing that gets us excited quite like the push towards natural skin care that’s been happening over the last few years. For decades, we’ve talked about ensuring that what goes in our bodies is healthy, including natural foods, homeopathic medicines, and proper hydration—but only recently have we started talking about making sure what goes on our bodies — sunscreens, lotions, and hydrating skincare products for example, are healthy, too.

coconut-oil-sunscreen

People are now more informed than ever about the products they’re using on their bodies. We’re paying more attention to those hard-to-read chemicals listed on the back of our moisturizers and choosing natural products over chemical.

A quick peek on Pinterest reveals the plethora of information that’s now being shared about natural skin and body care, from sulfate free shampoos to homemade face masks to chemical free sunscreen.

And at Colorescience, we think that’s fantastic. Our philosophy is based on improving lives with our health-forward formulas made of pure, natural minerals. We’re totally transparent with exactly what goes into our skincare, so that you can arm yourself with the knowledge that you’re doing something good for your body.

Girl applying coconut oil for tanning
Looking for all-natural sun protection?
Protect your skin using chemical-free, all-mineral sunscreen from Colorescience!

What we don’t love, however, is when misinformation is disguised as fact and passed around to millions of people who, fully intending to do something great for their bodies, do something bad. We see this a lot when it comes to skin and body care trends. A natural product is presented as a “cure-all” and prescribed for every ailment, from acne to wrinkles, and everything in between.

Perhaps the biggest current culprit of this fallacy is coconut oil. Dry skin? Use coconut oil. Hair lost its shine? Use coconut oil. Looking for a natural alternative to sunscreen? Why not try coconut oil?! While it’s true that coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer and is naturally antibacterial and antifungal, it’s not the wonder substance that lifestyle gurus claim. And it’s definitely not a natural alternative to sunscreen. Read on to learn all about why using coconut oil as sunscreen isn’t just ineffective—it’s downright dangerous.

coconut-oil-sunscreen

WHAT IS SUNSCREEN?
Before diving into why coconut oil isn’t sunscreen, let’s talk about what sunscreen actually is. The sun puts off two highly dangerous types of UV (Ultraviolet) rays: UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays pe*****te deep into the skin, causing lasting damage like wrinkles and aging. UVB rays are much shorter and burn only the surface of your skin, causing sunburns in the short term and skin cancer in the long.

Sunscreen is a substance that’s able to block both UVA and UVB rays, protecting your skin from sunburns, skin cancer, wrinkles, and aging. Sunscreen is measured in SPF, short for Sun Protection Factor. This is a measure of the substance’s ability to block UVB rays, and its measurement is pretty straightforward: “If it takes 20 minutes for your unprotected skin to start turning red, using an SPF 15 sunscreen theoretically prevents reddening 15 times longer—about 5 hours.”

Another way to think about SPF is in percentages: “SPF 15 filters out approximately 93% of all incoming UVB rays. SPF 30 keeps out 90% and SPF 50 keeps out 98%.” For highly exposed areas, stronger SPF should be utilized, like this SPF 50 face shield.

Reality is, however, that it’s not quite that simple. No sunscreen—no matter the SPF, the type, or how if it is applied via aerosol, lotion, or a sunscreen stick —can be reliably effective over 2 hours. If you go swimming or sweat, it will deteriorate more quickly. Furthermore, the definition refers to the “reddening” of the skin, but there’s a lot of damage that can occur before your skin turns red.

Chances are, most sunscreens you’ve used are what are known as chemical sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens, true to their name, are made of a mixture of chemicals that deactivate and degrade UVA and UVB rays. They’ve become a tried and true classic because they’re inexpensive and readily available at just about every drug store, gas station, and grocery chain around. But if you’re feeling wary about chemical sunscreen, you’re not alone.

There’s been a huge trend away from chemical sunscreens as of late, and for good reason. Not only are they made of mystery chemicals that can sound a bit scary, like oxybenzone, octisalate, and octinoxate, but they have some serious downsides. They deteriorate pretty rapidly in direct UV light, so they need to be applied more frequently. Furthermore, they’re quite harsh and pore-clogging.

This is where coconut oil comes into play. In search of a natural sunscreen that isn’t chock full of chemicals and won’t clog pores, it’s more than common to come across articles promoting coconut oil. Uninformed health and skincare gurus claim that coconut oil is not only a good alternative to sunscreen, but it may be even more beneficial as it allows Vitamin D to enter your system. Not only is this information wrong, but it’s also incredibly dangerous.

No natural oil, like coconut oil, should be used as a standalone sun protection solution, as these products aren’t able to absorb UV radiation efficiently.

coconut-oil-sunscreen

CAN I USE COCONUT OIL AS SUNSCREEN?
Despite what many lifestyle and skin care gurus would tell you, the short answer is no.

According to a study by the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, coconut oil has an SPF of 1. That means it will take exactly 1x longer for your skin to turn red using coconut oil as SPF than with no coverage whatsoever. Coconut oil as sunscreen is also not advised by the Mayo Clinic, who estimate that coconut oil only blocks around 20% of UV rays. A few studies show that coconut oil’s SPF may be slightly higher, like this study from the University Institute of Pharmacy, which tested it at 8—which is still too low to be considered safe. Other health experts have indicated that coconut oil has a natural SPF of 4 to 5—confused? Us too. In the face of all this conflicting information, one thing remains true. Regardless of study or publication, coconut oil doesn’t offer the SPF needed to keep your skin safe from damaging UV rays.

coconut-oil-sunscreen

Bottom line: coconut oil fails to prevent most of the damaging and harmful UVA and UVB rays that you’re exposed to when in the sun. While health bloggers posing as experts may tell you that it’s a good choice, all scientific studies point to one conclusion: it is not safe to use coconut oil as sunblock*.

In fact, coconut oil is only able to block an estimate 20 percent of the sun’s damaging UV rays—leaving 80 percent to pe*****te deeply into your skin.

LIP LINES: 13 BEST TREATMENTS FOR WRINKLES ABOVE LIPS
By: Jason Richey
September 26, 2018
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Lipstick lines, smoker’s lines, lip lines—there are many names for those pesky, vertical wrinkles that appear above and around your pout.

Whatever you call them, the goal is always to get rid of them.

So how exactly do you get lip lines, and how do you prevent them from getting worse? Just like crow’s feet or forehead wrinkles, there’s plenty of false information out there about how to magically achieve younger looking skin overnight.

We’re here to debunk those empty promises. Instead we’re giving you our best advice on lip line prevention and treatment so you can feel comfortable in your skin for decades to come.

Have a specific question in mind? Use the links below to jump straight to the answer:

What are Lip Lines?
Why Do I Have Lines on My Lips?
How to Get Rid of Lip Lines
How Can I Prevent Lip Lines?
How Do I Conceal Lip Lines with Makeup?
What If I Can’t Get Rid of My Lip Lines?
WHAT ARE LIP LINES?
Take a look in the mirror. First of all, hello beautiful! Secondly, do you see any vertical wrinkles running from the top of your lip up to your nose? Yep, those are lip lines.

What exactly are lip lines, you ask?

Lip lines are small vertical wrinkles that form right above your upper lip. Lip lines look different for everyone, but they typically form on both the lip and the skin above the upper lip.

On your lips, lip lines look like fine vertical lines that extend from one side of the mouth to the other. Above your lip, lip lines look like vertical lines that stretch from the top of the lip to the nose. The lines above your upper lip are usually more apparent than the ones on your lips.

Lip lines are particularly hard to conceal, which can cause a lot of insecurity. There are various causes of lip lines, which we will get into below.

Is It Normal to Have Lines on Your Lips?
Yes, lip lines are normal. There’s no need to panic once you notice you’ve started to form lip lines. This type of wrinkle often seems to sneak up on you because they form slowly over time. So even if you don’t have any right now or they’re incredibly fine, it’s still a good idea to start preventative measures.
But before we get to that, it’s important to know exactly why and how lip lines form in the first place.
EMPTY HEADING
WHY DO I HAVE LINES ON MY LIPS
Mouth wrinkles can form due to various reasons, but it’s useful to be aware of these causes so that you can take the proper steps to prevent them from forming. These are some of the most common causes of lines around your mouth:
Aging
As you age, the collagen and elastin in your skin begins to break down. These proteins are what keep your skin looking tight and soft when you’re younger—hence the onslaught of wrinkles as you age.

An additional side effect of celebrating another birthday is a decrease in your skin’s natural oils. These oils keep the upper layer of your skin (known as the epidermis) hydrated and gives you that supple glow everyone craves. As these oils start to diminish, failing to maintain a proper hydration routine can worsen lip lines that could have been prevented by a simple moisturizer.

The natural aging process of the body is inevitable, but preventing lip wrinkles is still possible. There are plenty of easy techniques you can use to prevent the formation of lip lines and even reduce ones that have already formed.
Sun Exposure
Sun damage is also a significant factor in the formation of wrinkles around your mouth. The harsh UV rays from the sun pe*****te your skin and damage the DNA of cells which control healthy cell growth. Increased sun exposure corresponds to larger and deeper wrinkles, making it more difficult for you to get rid of them.
Smoking
When oxygen and other nutrients aren’t delivered to your skin, it starts to break down and crack. Voilà, the perfect recipe for premature wrinkles! Smoking is an entirely preventable habit, and it can come with far worse side effects than increasing the chance of wrinkles.

Are Lip Lines the Same As Smoker’s Lips?
Short answer: yes. Long answer: the term “smoker’s lips” comes from the frequent side effect of a long-term smoking habit where deep, vertical wrinkles form around the mouth. The constant pursing of your lips each time you take a puff increases your likelihood of forming prominent lip lines.

Apart from increasing the chances for lip lines, smoking has also been linked to deeper, more prominent wrinkles around the entire face. The ni****ne in ci******es narrows the blood vessels in the outer layer of your skin, which decreases blood flow.
Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol can have a huge impact on your skin. Studies have indicated an association between alcohol use and wrinkling or facial aging in general.

The biggest effect alcohol has on your skin is dehydration. Alcohol dehydrates you, and dehydration takes all the fluid out of your skin, which can contribute to wrinkles around your mouth. Alcohol consumption can also cause inflammation, which can make your skin look red and puffy. So if you want to stop your skin from aging, you’ve got to cut back on the amount of alcohol you consume.

Now, this doesn’t mean you have to cut alcohol completely out of your life to avoid mouth wrinkles. You just need to watch how much and what you drink. For example, clear liquor is ideal as it gets out of your system quickly. You’ll also want to limit your drinking to every other day at most. And above all else, make sure you drink plenty of water anytime you’re consuming alcohol.
Other Habits
Various other habits can also cause lip lines, such as:
Drinking from straws: When you drink out of a straw, you purse your lips, which causes the collagen and elasticity in your lips to break down more quickly. This can cause lip lines and wrinkles.
Repetitive facial movements: Repeating the same facial movements over and over again, like when talking, eating, smiling, or frowning, can also contribute to the presence of lip wrinkles.
Drinking out of water bottles: Similarly to drinking from a straw, drinking out a water bottle requires the same movement of your lips, which can lead to lip lines and wrinkles.
So now that you know the common causes of lip lines, let’s talk about the best treatment for wrinkles above your lips.

What is Melasma?
Melasma is a skin condition characterized by patches of brown, tan, and blue-gray skin discoloration, and it’s most often seen in women in the middle of their reproductive years. Melasma is a form of facial pigmentation, and it’s typically found in three different areas of the face: the jawline, the central part of the face, and the cheekbones. Many people will notice melasma on the bridge of their nose, chin, and forehead, but it may appear on other areas of the body, including the neck, chest, or arms—any patch of skin that sees the sun a lot.

Melasma on face
Melasma doesn’t have any lasting health consequences; however, these patches can cause distress and embarrassment. The good news? There are plenty of ways to reduce the appearance of this skin condition. Let’s delve into the causes of melasma and consider the ways you can treat and prevent future discoloration.

What Causes melasma?

Experts have yet to pinpoint the exact cause of melasma. Researchers believe that the dark patches may occur when the skin’s color-making cells (melanocytes) create too much color. That’s why people with skin of color are more likely to experience melasma; they have more active melanocytes than those with fair skin.

What Causes melasma?

1 - Hormonal Fluctuations
2 - Sun Exposure
3 - Genetics

The appearance and severity of melasma can be triggered by three main factors: hormonal fluctuations, sun exposure, and genetics.

Let’s take an in-depth look at two of these melasma causes.

Hormonal Fluctuations: Any shift in hormones can trigger melasma. Pregnant women experience significant hormonal fluctuations, and melasma is so common during the gestational period that it’s become known as the “Mask of Pregnancy.” Birth control and hormonal replacement medication can also contribute to hyperpigmentation treatable with skincare products and protective behaviors.
Sun Exposure: Ultraviolet rays can stimulate the melanocytes in your skin, and sun exposure can make melasma worse. That’s why melasma tends to be worse in the summer, and faded hyperpigmentation may return when you spend too much time in the sun.

Is Melasma Common?
Yes! Melasma is one of the most common skin conditions in the United States. Melasma is more common in women than men, and often shows up during pregnancy. Typically, melasma shows up between the ages of 20 and 40, but there are cases of childhood melasma that continue well into adulthood.

Those with tan or naturally brown skin are more likely to experience melasma than those with fair or black skin, and people who live in areas that see intense bouts of ultraviolet rays may have more severe melasma discoloration.

How Do I Know if I Have Melasma?
This skin condition can be diagnosed by simply looking at it; dermatologists will often visually examine the skin. They may use a special tool called a Wood’s light to help assist in this diagnosis, which helps them determine how deep the melasma has pe*****ted your skin. Generally, the characteristics of melasma can be seen with the naked eye.

If your physician is concerned the discoloration may be caused by another disease or condition, they may elect to take a skin biopsy, but this is very rare.

Are There Different Types of Melasma?
Yes. There are three types of melasma diagnoses: epidermal, dermal, and mixed.

Epidermal: This type is characterized by dark brown patches with a well-defined border. This type of melasma typically responds very well to treatment, and is more readily apparent under black light.
Dermal: This type is characterized by light brown or bluish patches with a less-defined border. This type doesn’t respond very well to treatment, and its appearance doesn’t changed under a black light.
Mixed: This is the most common type of melasma diagnosed, and is characterized by a combination of light and dark brown patches and bluish discoloration. This type is relatively responsive to treatment.
Myths about Melasma
There are some pervasive myths about melasma that are simply untrue. These include:

Only pregnant women get melasma: melasma can affect men and women of all ages, in all stages of life.
Melasma goes away on its own: Unfortunately, you’ll need to treat your melasma with care—it doesn’t tend to go away of its own accord.
You can’t reduce the appearance of melasma: There are plenty of treatment options that can help reduce melasma patches.
Melasma prevention

How Do I Treat Melasma?
If you already have skin discoloration as a result of melasma, there are a few ways to go about managing it. While some hyperpigmentation may be permanent, certain treatment options can greatly reduce the appearance discoloration.

At-Home Melasma Treatment and Prevention

You can take the reins of your melasma treatment at home. Managing this skin condition means understanding your triggers and doing all that you can to avoid them. If you are struggling with melasma, make sure you practice the following to help create a more even skin tone.

How to prevent melasma

Wear mineral sunscreen every day: One of the best ways to treat and prevent melasma is with proper sun protection. Because sun exposure triggers this skin condition, you must wear sunscreen every day, whether it’s sunny or overcast. Always opt for sunscreens with broad-spectrum protection, and be sure to reapply at least every two hours. If you plan to go swimming or do an activity that causes heavy sweating, consider using a waterproof sunscreen, reapply sunscreen more frequently.
Wear protective clothing: Sunscreen, and importantly non-toxic sunscreen, is priority number one, but you can increase your sun protection by adding a wide-brimmed hat, baseball cap, and layered clothing to your wardrobe.
Don Some Shades: Throw on a pair of sunglasses to shield the sensitive skin around your eyes, but make sure you’ve selected the right style, and consider a moisturizing eye cream if you skin is overly dry. Avoid sunglasses metal rims; these can attract heat, and when placed against your skin, make melasma worse.
Don’t wax: Try not to wax, as this can cause immediate skin inflammation that can make melasma worse.

Dermatologist Treatment Options

For some, melasma only sticks around for a few months or years, but others can struggle with this skin condition for decades. In these cases, professional treatment may be the best solution. Professional dermatologists can tackle your melasma in a few different ways:

Hydroquinone: This is the most common treatment option for melasma. Applying Hydroquinone to the skin lightens it, and you can get this medicine in cream, lotion, gel, or liquid form. Some of these options are available without a prescription, but these are generally less strong (read: less effective) than the options your dermatologist would prescribe.
Tretinoin: To enhance and expedite the effects of hydroquinone, your dermatologist may prescribe Tretinoin.
Corticosteroid: Many health professionals promote prescription products that contain three ingredients: the previously mentioned hydroquinone, retinoid, and corticosteroid. The retinoid helps speed up skin cell turnover, while the corticosteroid helps reduce inflammation. According to one study out of Sty Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital, almost 70 percent of patients see around 75 percent improvement in their melasma after only two months of using this type of product.
Chemical Peels: Light chemical peels use salicylic acid, glycolic, or other chemical components to remove the top layers of skin from the face for a more even skin tone. After this procedure, your skin will be pink and sensitive—many say it feels almost like a mild sunburn. After a few days, the skin will begin to peel. Light skin peels can be done every two months.
Microdermabrasion: Regular treatments of microdermabrasion may help reduce the appearance of melasma, as this procedure helps increase cell turnover, helping get rid of cells already affected by the hyperpigmentation. Don’t ever try this kind of procedure without the help of an experienced professional.
Laser Treatment: Many lasers can make melasma worse, but there are certain systems that can help reduce the appearance of this skin condition. This can be an expensive procedure, and the jury’s still out on how effective this treatment method really is.
Melasma and Pregnancy
Many women deal with melasma during pregnancy (you’ll often hear of it referred to as Chloasma) According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, almost 70 percent of pregnant women develop this skin condition.