Here in Fabulous Las Vegas we are experiencing record-setting heat. It was 110°F yesterday, and today is expected to be just as hot. It’s hard to get motivated to do much of anything in weather like this, especially if you’re dealing with a frozen ac unit inside. If you need assistance with electrical panel replacement, experienced technicians can help. However, here’s some ideas to keep you going when you work out.

Spring officially begins Saturday with the Vernal Equinox. Among many other things, that means it’s getting warmer and sunnier out there for just about everyone in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s a great time to talk about Springtime skin care.

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The Winter Solstice is upon us. The days will soon begin getting longer, but cold weather and drying indoor heating systems will remain with us for some time to come. So what should you do to keep your largest organ — your skin — healthy through the winter?

Researchers at Proctor and Gamble (the folks who sell Oil of Olay) have been looking at data from the Human Genome Project, and they have found not just one, but about 1500 individual genes linked to wrinkles. The hope is to move away from mere topical moisturizers: “[I]f specific genes can be controlled or stimulated, then anti-aging products of the future can and will yield better results by doing exactly that.”

But of course there’s a caveat: “Skin ages in eight separate ways, each one controlled by its own group of genes. Whether you grow old gracefully depends partly on your lifestyle and partly on these genes.” Things like sunscreen will still play an important role in looking good as we get older. After all, “Research demonstrated that skin not exposed to the sun had about 3,800 genetic mutations whereas the same selected genes in sun-aged skin rose to nearly 10,000.”

Today is predicted to be the hottest day yet this year here in Las Vegas. Weathermen are promising 106°F, that’s 41°C for our metric friends. That means it is a good day to stay inside. Summer in the desert is like that.

Regardless of whether you live in the desert, sunscreen is a vital part of aging against the machine. We have talked about sunscreen before, but a day like to brings the need for sun protection into sharp focus. Sunscreen protects skin not only from direct DNA damage but also from less direct photodamage to the connective tissue that gives skin it’s full youthful appearance. Using sunscreen makes not only good health sense but can help keep you looking younger longer. Read the rest of this entry »