Harsh winds and cold spells can wreak havoc on the most resilient skin. Winter’s low humidity can sap moisture from the skin, leaving it feeling dry, itchy and cracked. In humid conditions, the skin can replenish lost moisture by soaking up moisture from the air. When the humidity drops in the winter, however, your skin loses the opportunity to moisturize itself. Couple that with the low humidity resulting from indoor heating, and your skin can become tight and dry. What’s a busy clever parent to do?

Not to worry! Now is the perfect time of year to adjust your skincare routine. A few simple steps can help you combat the effects of winter skin and make all the difference between a dull winter complexion and glowing radiance!

Wash with lukewarm, not hot, water and use a moisturizing cleanser.
Your skin contains thousands of oil glands that prevent the skin from losing moisture and help keep it supple and soft. When you wash your skin, however, you strip away oil, letting moisture evaporate and drying the skin. Hot water and harsh cleansers further strip the skin, so be sure to turn down the water temperature and avoid alcohol-based cleansers. Read the rest »

With summer here, many of us are heading to our neighborhood pools, lakes and beaches. Warm, sunny days are one of summer’s delights, but you’ll want to ensure you’ve done all you can to protect your family from the dangers of excessive sun exposure. In this article, I’ve put together some simple guidelines that will enable you to have fun in the sun safely this summer.

First, it is important to understand the real risks associated with excessive sun exposure. For example, studies show that if your child gets one bad sunburn, her chance of getting melanoma – the most dangerous form of skin cancer – doubles. Even if your child tans easily and rarely burns, she is still at risk from the sun. While a darker-skinned child has a lower risk of skin cancer than a fair-skinned child, even African Americans can get skin cancer. In fact, reggae legend Bob Marley died of melanoma. Read the rest »

Clever Parents is excited to announce a new column, ‘Hey Beautiful’ with Karen Albright, mom of three and president of BodyLase Skin Spa, a medical spa in Raleigh and Cary, North Carolina. ‘Hey Beautiful’ will feature ideas, products and treatments to look and feel younger.

A lawyer by training, Karen Albright practiced law for several years prior to having children. “Although I enjoyed it, after having children I knew that I could not work in a large law firm because of the demands,” said Karen. “I went into teaching for a few years, and taught at Case Western Reserve Law School, the University of North Carolina School of Law and Duke Law School where I was a member of the Legal Writing faculty.”

How did a successful attorney shift gears and start a medical spa business? “I love going to spas and my husband is a physician,” Karen said, “so it was a project that we could both work on together.” Read the rest »