ISPA Members Help Spa-Goers Keep Cool This Summer

Because spas are seen as places for nurturing and wellness, spa professionals are offering special treatments and products this summer that encourage safe skin care. The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that more than 90% of all skin cancers are caused by sun exposure. International SPA Association (ISPA) members want to help lower that percentage.

From sunscreens, lotions and moisturizers, to treatments and products that give the appearance of a tan without the need for the sun, ISPA members are offering consumers numerous safe ways to enjoy this summer. “With 2,500 members in 73 countries, ISPA’s network of spas and product companies can make a real difference in the skin care habits of consumers,” says ISPA president, Lynne Walker McNees. “With some 57 million Americans having visited a spa, the industry is dedicated to promoting positive health habits of spa-goers.”

In addition to products and treatments that offer sun protection or help repair skin already damaged by the sun, ISPA members also report an interest in the following offerings this summer.

• Facials featuring antioxidants and vitamins to replenish winter-worn skin.
• Body polishes and scrubs to get rid of sallow winter skin and allow skin care moisturizers to soak in more easily.
• Cooling and hydrating wraps and peels to help spa-goers beat the summer heat or cool down after too much time in the sun.  
• Of course, pedicures to keep feet looking great in sandals and around the pool.
• And, as the No. 1 treatment, massage is popular year-round and can be customized for summer to include ingredients that offer soothing from the sun, such as aloe. Also, incorporating fruits, herbs, plants and flowers that grow in the warmer months are popular additions to massages offered in the summer.

Germaine de Capuccini Introduces Spa Marine Privilege Therapies

Aesthetics Complete, Inc./Germaine de Capuccini introduces its Spa Marine Privilege therapies. Spa Pearl Therapy hydrates, smoothes, firms and covers the skin, and Spa Gold Therapy protects, stimulates and enriches. 800-842-9922, us@acispa.com

Exposure to Cats Raises Eczema Risk in Kids

Exposure to cats shortly after birth raises a child's risk of eczema, new research suggests.

The study, which tracked 486 children until the age of 1, was presented Sunday at the American Thoracic Society International Conference in San Diego.

While 27.6 percent of kids with cats as pets developed eczema in that time, only 17.8 percent of kids without cats developed the dry skin condition.

On the other hand, being around two or more dogs in the home conferred a slightly protective effect, said lead researcher Dr. Esmeralda Morales, a pediatric pulmonary fellow at the University of Arizona, in Tucson.

"Other studies have found that having cats or dogs at home seems to be protective against allergic disease, so we expected to have similar findings," Morales said in a statement.

Morales noted that the children in the study who developed eczema by the age of 1 might still wind up having a reduced risk of asthma or allergies later in life. "The findings do seem to add more questions about pets and asthma and allergies. Since there are a lot of contradictory data out there already, clearly it's a topic that needs further research," she added.

Scientists Identify Gene Linked to Eczema

A gene linked to eczema has been identified by an international team of scientists and the finding may help in the development of new treatments for the common skin condition.

The gene produces a protein called filaggrain, which helps the skin form a protective outer barrier. Reduction or absence of the protein, normally abundant in the outermost layers of skin, results in dry and flaky skin. This study found that about 10% of Europeans carry a mutation that switches off this gene.

"It was a really tough project, but because we had experience in this type of gene, we managed to crack it where others had failed," Professor Irwin McLean of the University of Dundee in Scotland, told BBC News. "We see this as the dawn of a new era in the understanding and treatment of eczema and the type of asthma that goes with eczema as well."

The findings appear in the journal Nature Genetics.

HealthDay News, March 21, 2006