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HEALING NEWS Conquering the Barrier Seeking Silence Not to take anything away from the soothing effects of spa music, but in some cases silence may be the most powerful therapy you can provide for your clients. This is especially true in urban centers, where the underlying hum of the big city is particularly pronounced. But regardless of where it comes from, noise pollution is proving to have some seriously negative effects. Among them: disrupted sleep; damaged hearing; compromised cognition in children; compromised heart function; reduced productivity; and even an increase in accidents. Moreover, its impact on the natural soundscapes by which land and sea animals communicate is affecting their ability to thrive. "It's like this unrecognized tsunami of potential impacts; we are growing louder and louder and no one is noticing," says Dr. Mike Webster, director of Cornell University's archive of biodiversity audio and video recordings, Macaulay Library. Although it's unlikely that we can put the noise genie back in the bottle, it is still possible to reduce its effect on our lives and the lives of the people around us by minimizing our own unnecessary hums and beeps—turn off electronics when they aren't in use, for example. Affected individuals can wear earplugs or soundblocking headphones for an occasional break from the racket (not while driving, cycling or walking near traffic, though!). And visit quiet places, like unpopulated beaches, libraries and, of course, spas. Skincare professionals know only too well the importance of a healthy skin barrier in warding off premature aging. But now scientists are confirming the long-suspected connection between a compromised skin barrier and food allergies. According to a study conducted at King's College London and the University of Dundee, and published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, the skin barrier breakdown that occurs in cases of eczema in babies may trigger food sensitivities. This points to the possibility that food allergies may develop via immune cells in the skin, and not the gut as previously thought. "This work takes what we thought we knew about eczema and food allergy and flips it on its head," says Dr. Carsten Flohr, National Institute for Healthy Research clinical scientist at King's College London. "The skin barrier plays a crucial role in protecting us from allergens in our environment, and we can see here that when that barrier is compromised, especially in eczema, it seems to leave the skin's immune cells exposed to these allergens. It opens up the possibility that if we can repair the skin barrier and prevent eczema effectively then we might also be able to reduce the risk of food allergies." (For more on this subject, be sure to check out DAYSPA's feature on protecting the skin barrier, coming in November!) Do you know someone who seems "hooked" on tanning, be it indoor or the old-fashioned variety? They might very well be. According to a 2011 study conducted at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, UV rays can have an opiate-like effect on the brain, with some subjects even reporting withdrawal-like symptoms when forced to refrain from their tanning "habit." On a psychological level, it has been noted that some people suffering from SAD, or seasonal affective disorder, use indoor or outdoor tanning to treat their own condition. As with other addictions, those who start tanning at a young age are more likely to become hooked, which could account for the rising rates of melanoma in young women. In this population especially, education is key. Remind your younger spa clients that they are not immune to the potential dangers of UV exposure. If you have any clients with SAD, recommend LED therapy at your spa. There are also special lamps they can purchase to safely provide the relief they crave. 38 DAYSPA | SEPTEMBER 2013 © ISTOCKPHOTO Craving Rays