The holiday season is usually a time to enjoy, with festive celebrations, family reunions, and great food in abundance. But in the midst of the festivities, it is easy to forget that some features of the season are actually influencing your skin. Whether it be the rich foods of Christmas or the environmental changes, the holiday may be doing more to your skin than you know. Knowing how these factors might be effecting your skin will help you take the proper steps for healthy skin through the rest of the holiday season.

These Christmas foods often rich in refined carbohydrates, sugars, and fats could result in unwanted side effects to your skin. Mulled wine, holiday cookies, cakes, and the many sweet desserts have resulted in blood sugar spikes. The spikes of blood sugar induce inflammation in the body. This can cause you various issues related to the skin, like acne, redness, puffiness, and general irritation.

One significant process linked to high-sugar diets is glycation. This occurs when sugar molecules bind to proteins in the skin, forming advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs can damage collagen and elastin fibers, which are essential for skin elasticity, leading to sagging and wrinkles. Additionally, high glycemic foods can increase insulin levels, promoting excess oil production, clogged pores, and acne outbreaks. While it is nice to indulge in holiday treats, moderation is key. Enjoy these rich foods in moderation so as not to trigger any unwanted skin reactions.

In addition, refined carbohydrates and sugars make dehydration and water retention contribute to drying, dull-looking skin, plus make one's skin even more prone to fine lines. In order to balance festive foods with hydrating ones and beverages, include vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins in your holiday spread to help the healthy-looking skin condition be achieved and prevented by dehydration.

Dehydration and Dryness through Environmental Changes

Winter months are when the temperature is colder and the air tends to be drier, making the skin dehydrate and prone to irritation. The decrease in humidity causes your skin to lose its moisture rapidly, which results in dryness, flakiness, and discomfort. Indoor heating coupled with the chilling outdoors makes it all the more challenging to maintain moisture levels, thus aggravating general issues like cracked lips, red patches, and rough patches on the face.

It's a good idea to switch over to oil-based moisturizers when it gets colder. These more richly textured moisturizers help keep the moisture inside, keeping your skin from drying out. The oil-based moisturizers act as a protective barrier on the surface of the skin that holds hydration and reduces moisture loss. For dry skin, switching is more essential because the oil-based product would do better replenishing lost moisture compared to the light, water-based one.

In addition to using the appropriate moisturizers, you may also consider installing a humidifier in your home during the colder months to help maintain moist air and prevent further dehydration of your skin. If you have sensitive skin or eczema, you should moisturize regularly to keep your barrier healthy.

Drinking Overload

During the holiday season, most of us indulge in a drink or two, or maybe more. An occasional glass of wine or champagne is unlikely to have significant effects, but overindulgence in alcohol can lead to dehydration and skin flare-ups. Alcohol increases blood flow to the face, which may worsen skin conditions such as rosacea, redness, and puffiness. Moreover, alcohol can disrupt the natural balance of the skin, leaving it looking dull and tired.

Research has shown that people increase their drinking habits more frequently during holidays, and in America, it is reported that 29% of drinkers say that their drinking patterns increase more than usual over the holiday period. When the alcoholic drinks are consumed in combination with other high sugar foodstuffs typical of holiday feasts, they exacerbate the glycation process while weakening the skin's healing ability. If you drink alcohol, drink plenty of water to counterbalance dehydration and keep your skin hydrated.

Stress

Holiday time is all in good fun but brings with it elevated levels of stress. Between the crowds at malls, holiday parties to attend, travel arrangements and family get-togethers, things can be overwhelming. The most significant direct impact of stress, on the skin, results in cortisol, the stress hormone that the body uses in excess. Elevated cortisol means higher levels of inflammation and thereby, flare-ups, breakouts, and eczema or psoriasis conditions.

Another finding from research is that stress raises the level of free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules causing damage to the cells of your skin, and this promotes premature aging. Manage your holiday stress with time to practice relaxation techniques, such as yoga, meditation, or even just spending some time in nature. By controlling your stress, you help not only your mental self but also the appearance and well-being of your skin.

Lack of Sleep and Busy Schedules

The hustle and bustle of the holidays can also lead to lack of sleep, which, in turn, impacts skin health. Your skin repairs itself while you sleep, so missing out on restful nights can prevent your skin from regenerating effectively. Inadequate sleep often results in dark circles, puffiness, and a tired, dull complexion. Furthermore, sleeplessness can trigger hormonal imbalances, leading to breakouts and other skin issues.

Busy schedules and late nights tend to make you forget your skincare routine. But forgetting those essential steps such as cleansing and moisturizing can worsen skin conditions. Always remember to take off makeup properly before bedtime; sleeping in makeup will block pores and cause breakouts. If you're running out of time, you can either use micellar water or a double cleanse to remove makeup and impurities.

Holiday Travel and Skin Sensitivity

Traveling during the holiday season may also affect your skin. Changes in climate, exposure to different environmental conditions, and use of unfamiliar products can lead to skin irritation. The air cabins are particularly dry, stripping moisture off your skin. New products at hotels and relatives' homes can cause allergic reactions or sensitivities.

If you’re traveling during the holidays, make sure to pack your own skincare products and avoid using unfamiliar products that could cause irritation. Keeping your routine consistent is key to maintaining healthy skin.

Tips for Healthy Skin During the Holidays

To minimize the impact of holiday-induced skin issues, follow these tips:

• Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated from the inside out.
• Moderately indulge in holiday treats to avoid a rise in blood sugar and irritation on the skin.
• Keep on with your skincare routine despite having busy days.
• Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep nightly as this would support the skin's healing process.
• Take out time to practice stress relief activities like yoga or meditation to keep both your mind and skin at peace.

Even though holidays are times of great merriment, they also pose certain threats to the skin. Rich foods and drinks, alcohol, environmental changes, stress, and lack of sleep can cause damage to the complexion. The best way to stay beautiful and healthy during the festival is by taking good care of your skin and diet along with maintaining a good level of stress and ensuring hydration.

The Pathophysiological Mechanisms and the Quest for Biomarkers in Psoriasis, a Stress-Related Skin Disease. 2018. Disease Markers.

Holiday Highs and Lows. 2024. American Addiction Centre

A retracted eardrum, also called tympanic membrane atelectasis, is a condition where the eardrum gets pulled inward toward the middle ear. Normally, the eardrum (or tympanic membrane) acts as a boundary between the outer and middle ear, transmitting sound vibrations to tiny bones that help us hear. But when it collapses inward, that delicate process can be disrupted.

The condition is often silent at first, meaning people may not realize they have it. But in some cases, it can escalate, causing discomfort or even permanent hearing damage.

Spotting the Symptoms

In most cases, a retracted eardrum doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms. But when the retraction becomes severe enough to affect structures inside the ear, individuals may experience:

• Earache
• Temporary hearing loss
• Fluid discharge from the ear

If left untreated, a chronic retracted eardrum can lead to permanent hearing loss.

Why Does It Happen?

The most common cause of a retracted eardrum is Eustachian tube dysfunction. These narrow tubes connect the middle ear to the back of the nose and help regulate ear pressure.

When they don’t work properly, pressure inside the ear drops, effectively pulling the eardrum inward.

Some common triggers include:

• Recent or recurring ear infections
• Cleft palate
• A poorly healed eardrum after rupture
• Enlarged tonsils or adenoids

Upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold

How Doctors Diagnose It

Diagnosis typically begins with a discussion about symptoms and any recent infections. A doctor will then use an otoscope, a tool with a light, to look into the ear canal. This allows them to visually confirm if the eardrum is abnormally positioned or collapsed.

Treatment Options: When to Wait and When to Act

Not all retracted eardrums require immediate treatment. In mild cases, doctors often recommend a “watch and wait” approach, as pressure may normalize naturally over a few months.

For more advanced cases, several interventions are possible:

Decongestants or nasal steroids: These can improve airflow in the ear and relieve pressure.

The Valsalva maneuver: This self-administered technique involves closing your mouth, pinching your nose, and gently blowing as if trying to pop your ears. It should be performed under medical guidance.

If the condition begins to affect hearing or causes persistent pain, surgical options may be considered.

Surgical Interventions

Two common surgical treatments are:

Tube Insertion (Myringotomy):

Often used in children with recurring ear infections, this procedure involves placing small tubes into the eardrum to help ventilate the middle ear.

Tympanoplasty:

In more severe cases, part of the damaged eardrum may be removed and replaced with cartilage from the outer ear. This stiffens the eardrum, preventing future collapses.

What’s the Prognosis?

The outlook largely depends on the severity. Minor retractions usually resolve without intervention and don’t cause long-term damage. However, more serious cases, especially those that persist or press against ear bones, may result in hearing loss and need medical or surgical correction.

Experts recommend seeking medical attention if you notice ear discomfort, hearing changes, or frequent infections. Early diagnosis can prevent long-term issues and protect one of your most important senses, your hearing.

In a surprising discovery that bridges the gap between creepy crawlies and cutting-edge neuroscience, researchers at Virginia Tech have identified unique compounds in millipede secretions that could pave the way for future treatments for pain and neurological diseases like Parkinson’s, depression, and schizophrenia.

Led by chemist Emily Meyers, the research team uncovered naturally occurring alkaloids in the defensive secretions of the Andrognathus corticarius, a species known colloquially as the Hokie millipede. The millipede, which lives under decomposing leaves and branches on the university’s Blacksburg campus, produces a chemical cocktail that not only deters predators but may influence neuroreceptors in the brain.

“These compounds are quite complex, so they’re going to take some time to synthesize in the lab,” said Meyers, who specializes in studying underexplored ecological sources for potential new drugs.

A Hidden Chemical Arsenal

The compounds, dubbed andrognathanols and andrognathines by Meyers’ team, belong to a class of complex alkaloids. They were discovered after researchers collected several millipedes from wooded areas on campus and analyzed the contents of their defensive glands using a suite of chemical tools.

The results were striking: some of these secretions had a disorienting effect on ants, one of the millipede’s presumed predators. But that’s not all, several of the compounds were found to interact with a neuroreceptor known as Sigma-1. This receptor has been linked to multiple brain disorders, including schizophrenia, depression, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), and Parkinson’s disease.

In addition to warding off predators, the researchers discovered that the compounds may also serve a social function, possibly helping millipedes signal their location to family members in leaf-littered environments.

From Defense to Drug Discovery

This study, recently published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, is not Meyers’ first foray into studying arthropod chemistry. She has been collaborating with entomologist Paul Marek, and together, they have previously suggested that the family of alkaloids found in millipede secretions could have significant therapeutic potential.

“Millipedes have been around for hundreds of millions of years. They’ve developed these intricate chemical defense systems, and we’re only beginning to understand their value,” said Meyers.

While the compounds show promise, the next hurdle is a familiar one in drug discovery: scalability. The compounds exist in trace amounts in the wild, and researchers need larger quantities for in-depth testing and potential pharmaceutical development.

The Road Ahead

The team is now exploring partnerships with laboratories that can synthesize the compounds in bulk, which would allow for further testing on their biological activity and medicinal properties. Meyers emphasized that while the research is still in its early stages, the potential applications are broad, from pain management to novel treatments for complex neurological conditions.

“Nature has always been a wellspring of inspiration for medicine,” said Meyers. “And sometimes, the most powerful solutions come from the smallest and most unexpected creatures, like a tiny millipede under a log.”

With this groundbreaking discovery, scientists are reminded once again that the natural world may hold secrets that, once unlocked, could transform human health in unimaginable ways.

When we hit peak COVID, with people being urged to stay at home and only to leave during emergencies, the issue of how we may be able to diagnose people with the virus, while making sure they aren’t contaminated in the process of getting the test, gave the rise to at-home tests While people were questioning how accurate it was, these at home tests prove to be of great health in difficult times. While now that COVID has died down, people are still opting for at-home test, so researchers looked into a new way to diagnose cancer. To be exact, skin cancer.

University of Michigan researchers have developed a new skin patch that could one day allow for easy, at-home testing for melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer. The patch, called the ExoPatch, uses a simple test strip with two lines—much like a home COVID-19 test—to give quick results without needing a painful biopsy or blood test. This technology could help people detect melanoma much earlier.

What Is Skin Cancer: Causes & Prevention

Skin cancer is a type of cancer that begins when skin cells grow abnormally. These cells can harm and destroy healthy tissue. Sometimes, they can even spread to other parts of the body.

There are many kinds of skin cancer. The most common types are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. While these are common, they are also highly curable. The most dangerous form is melanoma, which is more likely to spread and is therefore harder to treat.

Causes and Prevention

Most skin cancers are caused by a lot of sun exposure, so they typically appear on parts of your body that get the most sun. You can lower your risk by protecting your skin with clothing or sunscreen. For cancers that appear on parts of the skin not exposed to the sun, the cause is often different. To stay safe, it's important to regularly check your skin for any changes and tell a doctor about anything you notice.

How the ExoPatch Works

The ExoPatch is a small silicone patch with tiny, star-shaped needles. These needles are so small they only go into the very top layer of the skin and don't draw blood, making the process less painful. The needles are coated with a special gel that attracts and collects exosomes, which are tiny packets released by cells. Cancerous cells release specific exosomes that can indicate the presence of a tumor.

After wearing the patch for just 15 minutes, you can remove it and place it in a liquid that dissolves the gel and releases the exosomes. You then dip a test strip into the liquid. If two lines appear, it means melanoma exosomes were found. If only one line appears, the test is negative.

Science Behind the Test

Exosomes were once thought to be cellular waste, but scientists now know they carry information like DNA and RNA and are used by cells to communicate. Cancer cells use exosomes to prepare other tissues for tumors to spread. By detecting these specific cancer exosomes, the ExoPatch could catch cancer earlier than previous methods. In initial tests on mice, the patch was able to successfully tell the difference between healthy skin and melanoma tissue, collecting 11.5 times more cancerous exosomes from the melanoma samples.

The ExoPatch is still in the early stages of development, but the researchers are optimistic about its potential. After further testing on humans, this technology could be modified to detect other cancers with solid tumors, such as lung, breast, colon, and prostate cancer. The team has applied for a patent for the patch, which they believe could have huge applications for at-home disease detection in the future.