If you follow what’s new in the field of cosmetics, you have probably heard the words cosmeceuticals and dermaceuticals, but do you understand what they are?

Popular in Europe, these products are now gaining popularity in Canada. Cosmeceuticals and dermaceuticals are products that combine cosmetics with pharmaceuticals (medicines). While all of these products contribute to appearance, there are differences among them.

• Cosmetics are products that are applied to the skin surface and add colouring—such as lipstick and blusher. Cosmetics sit on the top layer of the skin and don’t claim to make long-term changes to the way you look.
• Cosmeceuticals contain active ingredients that are meant to restore the skin, but they are not classified as drugs. They are absorbed by the skin below the top layer, so they can do more than add a temporary colour boost. They are used for removing wrinkles, decreasing the signs of aging, keeping the skin moist, preventing acne, and healing scars. Some can even act as a sunscreen. In general, the word cosmeceuticals refers to cosmetic products that have effects similar to medical effects.
• Dermaceuticals are promoted as products that repair sun-damaged skin and can make skin look younger. They feature many high-grade skin care ingredients similar to those recommended by dermatologists. In fact, some dermaceuticals require a prescription. Dermaceuticals are cosmetic treatments that are adapted to the physiological needs of individual skin to produce changes to the skin.

While cosmetics can improve your appearance, cosmeceuticals and dermaceuticals can actually improve the condition of your skin. These next-level products can make your skin softer and smoother, moisturize it, remove dead skin cells, and boost the production of collagen and elastin, which help protect your skin.

Even within the categories of cosmeceuticals or dermaceuticals, not all the products are the same. The actions they have and the skin benefits they provide depend on the type of ingredients they contain. The chart below describes some of the common types of ingredients and what they are able to do.

How to use these products

Cosmeceuticals and dermaceuticals have opened up a new world of products that marry beauty enhancement with medical results. So which products are right for you, and how should you use them? These are excellent questions, and we can answer them for you by tapping into the expertise of both our pharmacists and the cosmetics experts in our beauty departments. Bring your questions to London Drugs, and we will help you find the answers.

Spending time outdoors soaking up the sun is something many people look forward to as the winter turns to spring and then to summer. But too much exposure to the sun’s rays can damage the skin and cause long-term problems far more serious than the temporary pain of a sunburn.

The damage the sun can cause reaches below the surface of the skin and affects the skin’s underlying structure. This damage is known as photoaging, and it can lead to significant problems, even skin cancer. Photoaging can result from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from artificial tanning devices as well as from repeated exposure to the sun’s rays.

The most common types of sun damage to the skin are:

• Actinic dermatosis: Tiny rough bumps or scaly patches with a brown, pink, red, or yellow tint. Unlike a tan or sunburn, this condition generally doesn’t go away on its own and must be treated by a doctor.
• Dry skin: Skin that is regularly exposed to the sun can lose moisture and essential oils, leaving it looking dry, flaky, and wrinkled, even in younger people.
• Sunburn: Mild cases of sunburn may cause only painful reddening of the skin, but severe cases can produce blisters or fluid-filled bumps called vesicles.

In addition, long-term sun damage can lead to changes in the skin’s collagen, which supports the walls of the tiny blood vessels in the skin, making the vessels more fragile and more likely to rupture.

Signs of photoaging

Damage from the sun’s radiation can lead to spots and lumps on the skin. Freckles are one type of spot that the sun can cause; others are moles and melanoma (a form of skin cancer).

Freckles are small, flat spots that usually appear on the areas of the skin that get the most sun—the face, neck, back, upper chest, hands, and arms. They are usually harmless, but if you notice any changes in their appearance, you should tell your healthcare provider right away so they can be checked.

Moles can appear anywhere on the body. They can be either flat or slightly raised, and they can grow and can change in colour and shape. Moles most often appear during the first 20 years of a person’s life, but they can develop after that. Most moles are benign (not cancerous), but some can turn cancerous later. Most moles don’t require treatment; however, if a mole changes colour, shape, size, or height, it should be checked by a doctor.

Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. Most melanomas are brown or black, but some can be pink, red, purple, or skin-coloured. They grow quickly and can spread to other organs.

The A-B-C-D-E guide

Spotting skin problems early can help you get any necessary treatment sooner, when the treatment is more likely to be effective.  The following is the A-B-C-D-E guide to help you identify any problems related to skin spots.

• A = asymmetry: This means the two sides of the spot are different. If you draw an imaginary line through the centre of the spot, the two sides wouldn’t match each other.
• B =border: The spot’s border has a ragged, blurred, notched, or irregular edge.
• C = colour: The colour of the spot is not the same all over and may contain different shades of black, brown, ta n, red, pink, white, or blue.
• D = diameter: The size of the spot is the same as a pencil eraser or larger.
• E = evolving: The spot as changed in size, colour, or shape.

If you notice any of these signs, see your healthcare provider right away.

Protect your skin

Even if you enjoy spending time in the sun, you don’t have to become a victim of the sun’s harmful UV rays. There are steps you can take to protect your skin from sun damage.

• Apply sunscreen regularly. Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and look for a product that is water resistant and that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Apply a generous amount, put it on before any insect repellent or makeup, and reapply it at least every two hours. Your London Drugs pharmacist can help you select a sunscreen that is right for you.
• Wash your face properly. You will sweat more in hot weather, so wash your face carefully—all the way up to your hairline. If necessary, your pharmacist can recommend cleansers that unclog pores and kill acne-producing bacteria.
• Use moisturizers and choose cosmetics that have moisturizing properties in addition to applying sunscreen.
• Wear sun-protective clothing. Light weight long-sleeved shirts and pants can cover and protect your arms, legs, and torso. Do not pick open-weave fabrics such as lace that allow the sun to reach your skin. Dark colours provide more protection than light colours.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat that protects your face and neck.
• Wear shoes that protect your feet.
• Wear sunglasses that provide UV protection. This will be indicated on the label. Just because the lenses are dark doesn’t mean they are UV protective.
• Protect your skin as much as possible, especially between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. when the sun’s rays are strongest.

Don’t leave your skin health to chance. Take the necessary precautions to protect your skin from sun damage. If you have any questions, be sure to speak with your healthcare providers.

Mental health problems rarely stay in one place. If we catch them early, they often improve. If we wait too long, they can easily get worse and turn into a true mental health disorder, like anxiety or depression.

Mental health and substance use also feed into each other: having a mental illness double the risk of having a substance use problem, and people with substance use problems are three times as likely to have a mental illness¹

Mental health and substance use disorders are common and not to be taken lightly. Consider these facts:^1-5

Frequency:

• In any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians experiences a mental illness or addiction.
• By age 40, about half of Canadians have had (or still have) a mental illness.
• About 4.6% of Canadians have an anxiety disorder, while 5.4% have a major depression.
• Over a lifetime, about 18% of Canadians meet the criteria for alcohol use disorder (the most common substance use disorder).

Impact:

• Mental illness is the leading cause of disability in Canada
• People with mental illness and substance use disorders are more likely to die early.
• Tobacco is the leading cause of premature death, responsible for 17% of cases.
• Depression reduces cognitive (thinking) performance on the job about 35% of the time.

Recognizing when you need extra help can make all the difference. Reach out to a health professional if you experience symptoms like this:⁵

• Excessive worrying or fear
• Feeling excessively sad or low
• Confused thinking
• Extreme mood changes
• Difficulty carrying out daily activities
• Avoiding friends and social activities
• Changes in eating patterns, sleep habits, or sex drive
• Overuse of substances
• Physical symptoms without obvious cause (such as headaches or stomach aches)
• Thought about self-harm

Such symptoms could signal depression or anxiety. Talk to your doctor to learn more. Once you have a diagnosis, you and your doctor can lay out a treatment plan, which in most cases will include talk therapy and/or medication. In fact, research suggest that combining therapy and medication has the strongest and most lasting effect for both depression and anxiety.⁶

Don’t hesitate to use your London Drugs pharmacists as a resource. Your pharmacists can provide general guidance on mental health and substance use, help you navigate the healthcare system, and connect you to community resources. If you start a medication for a mental health disorder, your pharmacists can answer your questions about the drug and help you manage side effects.

Cancer impacts most Canadians’ lives, whether that be from a personal diagnosis or with supporting a friend or family member affected by the disease. The Canadian Cancer Society estimates that about 2 in 5 Canadians will develop cancer in their lifetime, and about 1 in 4 Canadians will die from the disease. Some of the most common types of cancer in Canada include non-melanoma skin cancer, lung, breast, prostate and colorectal cancer. Cancer is a disease that in general results from changes in the growth cycle and differentiation of cells, and it can affect multiple organs and body systems. The disease is complicated and researchers have not identified all causes yet. We know some risk factors are beyond our control, like gender or hereditary factors. But there are some positive lifestyle measures that can be implemented to reduce your risk for cancer and other health concerns.

The 4 most common cancers in Canada:

1. Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer is the most common cancer in Canada. Regular skin self-screening, such as assessing moles and spots, and protective measures, such as wearing sun screen, can help reduce your risk of skin cancer. The main risk factors for skin cancer include exposure to UV radiation, light coloured skin, eyes and hair, a personal history of skin cancer, radiation exposure, and chemical exposure.
2. Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer associated death and is the most commonly diagnosed in people over the age of 50. Some risk factors for lung cancer can be preventable and it is important to be aware of these risks. The main risk factors for lung cancer include smoking tobacco, radon exposure, asbestos exposure, physical inactivity, a diet low in vegetables and fruits, increased age, and a family history of lung cancer.
3. Breast Cancer: It is estimated that 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. It is important for patients to understand their risk factors for developing breast cancer and screening recommendations. The main risk factors for breast cancer include a personal or family history of breast cancer, gene mutations, an earlier age of menstruation onset, a later onset of menopause, exposure to radiation therapy, alcohol consumption, obesity, and physical inactivity.
4. Prostate Cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in men. Most cases occur in people older than 50 years of age. The main risk factors for prostate cancer includes an older age, African American and Caribbean ethnicity, family history of prostate cancer, certain gene changes and chemical exposure.

Colorectal Cancer

Most cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed in people between the ages of 50 and 74 years old. Knowing your risks for colorectal cancer can help you make screening decisions and inform lifestyle changes to reduce this risk. The main risk factors for colorectal cancer include family or personal history of colorectal cancer, physical inactivity, obesity, alcohol use, smoking, a diet high in red meat and processed meats, a diet low in fiber, and sedentary behaviour.

Actions you can take to reduce your risk factors:

Risk factors for cancer can be modifiable or non-modifiable. Modifiable risk factors are behaviours or items that someone can change to alter their risk of developing cancer. Non-modifiable risk factors are items that someone cannot change to alter their risk of developing cancer such as family history, age and sex assigned at birth. We cannot change our non-modifiable risk factors but understanding ways to manage modifiable risk factors can help you reduce your personal risk of developing certain cancers. Here are some actions you can take to reduce your risk;

In addition to making positive lifestyle changes, following recommended screening protocols, such as mammograms, can help you detect certain cancers early on leading to better outcomes. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about ways you can reduce your risk factors for cancer and whether screening is recommended for you.

Sources:

• Canadian Cancer Society
• BC cancer agency
• Health Canada- “physical activity tips for adults (18-64 years)”
• Public Health Agency of Canada – Prevent Skin Cancer: Stay Safe in the Sun
• Colorectal Cancer Canada – What is colorectal cancer?
• VGH & UBC Hospital – Prostate cancer
• American Cancer Society – Prostate Cancer Risk Factors