ASCP Skin Deep

May | June 2014

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38 ASCP Skin Deep May/June 2014 ascp and you: news notes Smog and Aging Skin Air pollution may be a major factor in premature skin aging, according to Zoe Draelos, MD, consulting professor of dermatology at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. Dermatology Times reported Draelos's comments in February this year. A soon- to-be-published study compared the skin and facial sebum of individuals living in a city with high rates of air pollution to that of people living in rural areas, and found that the city dwellers had more pigmentation issues and a decreased amount of vitamin E and squalene in their sebum. Like ultraviolet radiation, air pollution increases oxidative stress within the skin cells. While Draelos says ordinary washing is an effective way to remove the hydrocarbons that smog can deliver to the skin, analysis of squalene levels in facial sebum may someday be a useful tool for skin care professionals to find out how much the client's skin is affected by air pollution. Read more at http://dermatology times.modernmedicine.com/dermatology- times/news/pollution-stress-take-toll- skin-aging. Who's Booking Spa Travel? According to the State of Spa Travel study conducted by Spafinder Wellness 365, 2013 was another growth year for spa travel, continuing the upward trend that began in 2012 after several years of recession. In fact, 73 percent of travel agents reported growth in bookings to hotel, resort, and destination spas last year. One significant finding is that the baby boomer generation, which has made up the majority of resort spa clients for many years, is now on the verge of being overtaken by younger generations. The age group that booked the most spa travel in 2013 was 46–55 year olds (the very youngest baby boomers), followed closely by 36–45 year olds (Generation Xers). The oldest baby boomers, those over 68, are now booking less spa travel and have been surpassed by the 26–35 age group. Most spa travel in 2013 was booked by women traveling together: the female bonding trip is definitely a major factor drawing clients to resort spas. Women traveling with men accounted for the second largest number of bookings, followed by women traveling solo. Relaxation remained at the top of the list for what clients wanted from a destination spa, with 96 percent of clients saying it was important to them. Wellness features like exercise and weight loss programs were important to 84 percent, mind-body-spirit programs were important to 68 percent, and nature and adventure activities were important to 67 percent. The fact that all four of these components were important to at least two-thirds of clients is evidence that the spa traveler increasingly sees the resort spa experience as one in which all these options are expected to be available. For the complete State of Spa Travel report, visit www.spafinder.com/about/press_room.jsp.

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