I get asked three questions all the time. What sunscreen should I buy? What SPF should I use? Are sunscreens safe? Before I address these questions, a little background on sunscreens will be helpful. There are two types of sunscreens: chemical blockers and physical blockers. Chemical blockers absorb UV radiation and then become inactive. Physical blockers (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) reflect and scatter the UV radiation before it gets to your skin. There are pros and cons to each … [Read more...] about Answering Questions About Sunscreen
Columnists
Knowing When to Harvest the Ripest Fruit
Most tree fruits start to signal their best taste with a sweet scent in the air. But it’s very hard to gauge the exact moment of peak ripeness. Times will vary year by year and different varieties will come in at different times. Here are a few signs to watch for by fruit variety. Apples - You’ve probably heard that ripening apples give off ethylene gas. Ethylene is a hormone and one of its effects is to cause the separation of the stem from the tree, causing the apples to fall. … [Read more...] about Knowing When to Harvest the Ripest Fruit
Congratulations on Being Fired
Interestingly, over the last month, I have spoken to business owners who are faced with firing someone and I’ve heard from several friends who are concerned they will get fired (or are hoping they get fired so that they can do something else). For the purposes of this month’s column, I speak of being fired or wanting to be fired for things other than “cause.” So I’m not referring to the person that gets “let go” for stealing, doing something illegal or unethical. I’m referring to a firing … [Read more...] about Congratulations on Being Fired
Insulation Can Outperform Your IRA
The world of investing can be a difficult place to navigate. Stock markets, CDs, IRAs, mutual funds, bonds – the list goes on and on. What if you could invest in a home improvement that would outperform most of these with little to no risk while improving the comfort of your home and adding value to your home? Sounds too good to be true; but it isn’t. Invest money in energy efficiency improvements and you won’t regret it. They say that the only certainties in life are death and taxes. If you … [Read more...] about Insulation Can Outperform Your IRA
Techniques for Using Fresh Olive Oils, Aged Vinegars
In my last two columns, I shared the documented and clinically proven health benefits of consuming high quality, fresh olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars on a daily basis. It is gratifying to have so many Flagstaff residents who have shared with me how their personal health has improved since they began using products purchased in my shop. The most common health benefits that customers have shared with me have been gradual weight loss, increased energy, healthier looking and feeling skin … [Read more...] about Techniques for Using Fresh Olive Oils, Aged Vinegars
Creating the Perfect Garden Ambiance for You
Your garden is coming into full bloom. You’ve weeded, planted, watered and nurtured, and your reward is a beautiful oasis. Now it’s time to accessorize and create a complete garden environment that is uniquely yours. With a few additional plants, accents or fixtures, you can create a garden ambiance perfect for enjoying solo when you want some “me time,” or ready for sharing with your family and friends when you are entertaining. This environment will continue to reflect the atmosphere … [Read more...] about Creating the Perfect Garden Ambiance for You
What is Dermaplaning?
Dermaplaning is a physical exfoliation that utilizes a specialized instrument designed to scrape away accumulated dead skin cells and vellous hair. It is a comfortable, relaxing procedure that can be combined with other services to improve their efficacy. The benefits of dermaplaning are immediate. It will improve skin tone, texture and appearance while removing dead skin cells and villous hair (peach fuzz) with every stroke. You will notice that makeup glides on easily so less is … [Read more...] about What is Dermaplaning?
Commercial Real Estate Trends in Arizona
LoopNet reported that for the state of Arizona, commercial office space remained on the market for an average of 190 days in the third quarter of 2012, compared to 140 days in the third quarter of 2013. This average jumped to 230 days in the third quarter of 2014. Many analysts believe that long durations of commercial space availability are a strong indicator of a lukewarm commercial market; however, I believe that the market is far from doom and gloom for commercial landlords. In my … [Read more...] about Commercial Real Estate Trends in Arizona
Affordable Care Act: An Update from a Local Perspective
Now that the Supreme Court has upheld the latest challenge to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), what does this mean for you and your business? Arizona is one of 37 states that chose not to operate its own insurance marketplace. The recent ruling would have had dramatic consequences, had the court ruled that subsidies are only available through state-based marketplaces. As it turned out, it is business as usual for the 6.4 million Americans who receive subsidies to help pay for their health … [Read more...] about Affordable Care Act: An Update from a Local Perspective
Do you have Staph?
Recently, there has been a lot of national attention centered on outbreaks of MRSA (methicillin resistant staph aureus) and staphylococcal infections involving football players, schools and the general public. For dermatologists, at least one patient in our clinic per day has had some issue with staph (pronounced “staff”), whether it's a patient with recurrent folliculitis, a surgical wound infection, a patient with dermatitis that has recently worsened or a child with impetigo. There are 30 … [Read more...] about Do you have Staph?