The Difference Between Moles, Skin Tags, and Warts
It’s a time to draw attention to your skin, learn about skincare and blemishes. We wanted to focus on those pesky growths on your skin that feel like they appear out of nowhere. Whether you have recently noticed a mole, wart, or skin tag, we discuss the difference and what you can do about it.
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4 Tips to Treat Summer Ailments with Natural Medicine
By Dr. Peter Klapper Ph.D. We are currently in the thick of summer and with fun warm weather activities can come the not-so-fun ailments. Whether you enjoy camping, hiking, swimming, heading to the beach, vacationing to the tropics, or even just barbecuing with friends, we’ve got you covered. Enjoy summer 2022 with these 4 tips on how to avoid and treat summer ailment by the use of natural medicine.Starting with…1. Summer Skincare Remedies Sunscreen We get it, there’s nothing better than having a nice bronze tan to make you feel glowing this summer. However, keep in mind that when you’re at the beach or pool, it’s important to take care of your skin by actively applying sunscreen.The Skin Cancer Foundation says that daily use of SPF 15 can reduce a person’s risk of developing melanoma by 50 percent and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by about 40 percent. Sunscreen and moisturizing also protect your skin against premature aging.If you do find yourself burned, there are natural ways to treat your sunburn.The fix? Keep your skin cool and hydrated. Be sure to drink a lot of water and apply a cold compress to the area that has been burned for 10-15 minutes several times a day. Another great natural solution is the use of Aloe Vera. Aloe contains chemicals that have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.Varicose Veins TreatmentSo, now that you find yourself with a nice tan, how do you deal with those pesky skin issues that have been hidden under pants all season? If you suffer from a disorder such a varicose veins or spider veins, you might feel insecure wearing shorts.First off, more than 3 million Americans suffer from varicose veins every year, so know you’re not alone. Varicose veins appear on the inner leg, lower leg/calves when faulty valves in your veins allow blood to pool or flow in the wrong direction. The results are enlarged, swollen, twisted and often dark purple or blue veins. While these veins are mostly cosmetic, they can cause problems like heavy legs or cramps in the calves which can be very painful.Spider veins are a much milder form of varicose veins. Thinner they usually appear blue, purple, or red and lie just under the surface of the skin. Forming in web like or branch patterns on the legs or even face. Sun damage can cause tiny blood vessels to burst which causes the spider veins on the face.The fix? Try our Natural Varicose Vein Treatment that contains a blend of proven effective medicinal plants that help to eradicate spider and varicose veins without adverse side effects and a dramatic healing effect. You’ll be feeling confident wearing shorts before you know it!Skin TagsWhat about donning your swimsuit for the first time and noticing a nasty skin tag? Well, first you need to understand the that skin tags and moles are different. While both are typically benign growths on your skin, there are also factors that make them quite different.For the most part, moles are benign and harmless, tend to be black or brown and are round and flat in shape. They can show up as early as 3 years old but tend to be a result of a lot of sun exposure, which is why it’s important to pay attention to your skin. If a mole turns colors or morphs into a different asymmetrical shape, get it checked out by your doctor.Skin tags are fleshy overgrowths that appear on your neck, armpits, and under the breast. They tend to be similar in color to your skin and shouldn’t cause any reason to be worried. But we get it, they’re not attractive either.Don’t worry, we have a solution for that as well.The fix? Try our Skin Tag Control Extra Strength uses a certified organic formula that works to dry out skin tags when applied topically while supporting the immune system. When application is followed as directed you can expect the skin tag to dry up and fall off in 1-2 weeks.2. Remain Fungus Free At The PoolNail FungusWe get it. It’s hot and a nice dip in the pool sounds amazing. Whether you head to the neighborhood pool or public pool, it’s imperative to know how to avoid any ailments that might be lurking.Seriously, watch where you step and make sure that you always have shoes on if you aren’t in the pool. Why? Because infections such as nail fungus are likely to be found in a pool environment. The fungus that causes these infections thrive in warm, moist environments i.e. swimming pools.If you do find yourself dealing with nail fungus, we have just the thing.The fix? Try our natural Nail Fungus Treatment, which is an advanced extra strength nail fungus treatment that safely removes nail fungus in and under the nail. Results can often be seen within days. Athlete's FootSimilar to contracting nail fungus, athletes’ foot can also be contracted by not wearing the proper footwear in bathrooms and locker rooms. Athlete's foot is a common fungal infection that most people get from walking barefoot in moist public places, like a swimming pool deck or locker room. Try to take the proper precautions by wearing shoes in these areas, making sure you have socks that dry quickly and don’t share towel or shoes. However, if you find that you’ve contracted athlete’s foot, know that we have the right treatment for you.The fix? Try our Natural Athlete's Foot Treatment is a organic anti-fungal that quickly relieves and cures the itching, burning, and irritation from fungal infestations associated with athlete’s foot and jock itch.3. Be Prepared Before Hitting The TrailAnti-Itch TreatmentNothing quite screams summer like hitting the trail or packing up your camping gear for an adventure out in nature. And while spending time outside is refreshing and beautiful, nature’s beauties can also become a pain – literally. Don’t head outdoors without a solution. The last thing you want is to encounter poison oak or ivy without a way to combat it. The same goes for mosquito bites.The fix? Try our Anti-Itch Extra Strength roll on treatment. By rolling on our anti-itch remedy, you can fight nature with nature as this oil features a blend of super potent anti-inflammatory medicinal plants which help stop uncomfortable itching associated with insect bites, mosquito bites, poison oak, ivy, sumac, and skin irritations. 4. Avoid Heartburn at BarbecuesHeartburnAnother staple summertime activity are barbecues. And if there is one thing we know, these family and friend gatherings are filled with great food but can be uncomfortable if you suffer from heartburn. The last thing you want is to come home from a fun event and feel the burning and acid of a favorite dish creeping back up your throat.Summertime classics such as red meat, deep fried foods, tomato-based foods (salsa and ketchup), citrus food and drinks, peppers, garlic, onions, and alcohol consumption can be the leading culprit to a heartburn attack.So, how can you enjoy these BBQ favorites without the sting of acid in your chest? We have just the thing.The fix? Try our fast, effective, and easy Natural Heartburn Relief. It’s a perfect solution for discomfort associated with heartburn, acid indigestion, GERD, sour stomach, upset stomach due to symptoms of, pressure, bloating, gas, burning, and sour acid burp. The best part? it is easy to use and small enough to bring out with you.All of that said, we hope that you are having a wonderful summer and are not only able to enjoy your favorite activities with these tips but now have the right products to keep in your bag whenever they might be needed!
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Ex-Competitive Surfer Siren Williams Shares her Journey with Melanoma
By Siren Williams The Dark Freckle"I'm sure I have skin cancer somewhere", I'd say. "The sun will be the death of me", I'd joke. I knew there was truth in what I was saying, I just didn't realize it would happen as quickly as it did, and I always felt like it was safe to procrastinate on getting looked over by a dermatologist because we all know the signs of melanoma, right? I couldn't have been more wrong.It all started with having an impacted wisdom tooth removed and a round of antibiotics. A week later, I'd developed a rare bacterium, re-did the surgery, and did another round of antibiotics. These two rounds of antibiotics started the spiral that eventually led to a year of what was likely an autoimmune problem, combined with simply recovering from multiple rounds of antibiotics, which inevitably led to the discovery of a melanoma on my right arm.After the oral surgeries, I loaded up on probiotics hoping to cure the slump I was in after nuking my body, but I started to show signs of an autoimmune problem. I broke out into blisters and staph infections all over my body, which took three more rounds of antibiotics to remedy, while also being referred to a dermatologist to see if they could give some insight into what might be happening, while my blood tests were showing a potential for an autoimmune disease.Being a new patient with the dermatologist, a place I obviously didn't go, it took several months to get an appointment. Of course, once I got in, the blisters and staph were long gone, but the dermatologist wanted to look me over anyway since I spend so much time in the sun. "I don't like that one", she said, looking at the dark freckle on my arm. It had always been there, just lighter. One day I looked down and it was darker, and I told myself to have it looked at, but it would be over a year later before it was actually seen. She removed several spots around my body for biopsy and I waited a couple of weeks for the lab results.I got the call from the dermatologist’s office one afternoon saying they had the results. I was immediately nervous because the next words out of this guy’s mouth were, "We've scheduled your surgery for tomorrow at 10am to remove a melanoma."It was real. It was happening. I had no choice, no option, no way to back-peddle and put on sunscreen...The surgery was absolutely horrible. They simply numb the area, then make a 4" slice in your arm while you're going into shock and trying not to look, then they remove a huge chunk of your arm, bandage you up, and send you home overnight to wait for the lab results. The lab determines whether or not they were effective in removing all of it, or if they need to remove more. The next day we waited anxiously all morning for a call saying we could come in the afternoon to get stitched up and that they had successfully removed all of the cancer. This melanoma was still "in situ", which means it hadn't yet spread past the skin. This means that I caught it just in time, as melanoma can progress past this point and become deadly in just a few weeks.Since then, I've gone back for routine check-ups, we've done multiple biopsies, and have removed a few other pre-melanomas. I learned that I am prone to a specific type of mole (even though each one has looked completely different) called dysplastic nevus, which can turn to melanoma, and in my case, it does it often. Some were freckles that I'd had forever that just turned a darker brown, while others were flesh colored moles that I noticed were suddenly a little larger. They vary greatly, and I felt really misguided by the traditional thought that melanoma is a "mole" that starts to change colors or turns black. None of mine have fallen under the description I felt I was so commonly given to look for.The scars from the surgeries are just battle wounds, but I still loaded up on scar creams and products to help them heal and become more subtle. The scar on my arm was 4" long and deep purple-red for months, and the Forces of Nature Scar Treatment assisted in lightening that scar. My arm is somewhat deformed since they removed so much skin and then stretched it tight to stitch it back, but that's something I can live with! From this entire experience, I've learned a few things that made me realize just how lucky I am, as well as some general information that every person with skin needs to know. First, it's important to note that melanoma isn't always that classic internet photo of a wonky mole with brown and black spots. It can literally be a dark freckle or a flesh-colored mole, and it may have other faces I've not yet seen. It's important to take some mental notes or even photos of your current moles and larger, stand-alone freckles to monitor them in case they do change colors or grow. You should also check your fingernails for dark stripes which could be cancer and have your eye doctor check your eyes for melanoma. Skin cancers can also take off when you go through a period of having a weakened immune system, and in my case, this made sense. I also learned that you don't actually need to be a sun worshiper to get skin cancer! Anyone can get it, even in areas that don't see the sun. Genetics can play a huge part in cancers in general, and this is where I get flashbacks of my grandpa burning them off of his arms with cigarettes when I was a kid.The most important thing that everyone should know is that melanoma can become life threatening in as little as six weeks. You cannot procrastinate, and you may not even realize you have it. If I hadn't had that wisdom tooth removed, it's very likely that I wouldn't be here writing this article today. Wear sunscreen, utilize the shade, and GET CHECKED!You can learn more about Siren Williams by visiting her instagram here.
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