Latest news with #AsmiBerry
Time Magazine
07-07-2025
- Health
- Time Magazine
Why Am I Sweating More Than I Used To?
If you think you've started sweating more than usual—and it's not just because of the weather or your workout—you're probably not imagining it. Many people notice changes in how much they sweat as they get older. Why? Aging, hormones, medications, stress, and underlying health conditions can all tweak your body's thermostat. Here's how sweat patterns typically change over time—and when those shifts signal something more serious. In your 20s and 30s During early adulthood, your sweat glands are typically at their most active. This is when your metabolism is still running high, muscle mass is relatively abundant, and hormone levels (especially estrogen and testosterone) are more stable. You may notice you sweat more during workouts or stressful situations—but unless you have an underlying condition, your body generally regulates heat efficiently. In your 40s and 50s This is when many people—especially women—begin to notice changes in how and when they sweat, says Dr. Asmi Berry, a California-based dermatologist. 'Hormones play a huge role in regulating sweat,' she says. 'Estrogen and progesterone shifts like those during perimenopause or menopause can disrupt the body's temperature regulation and lead to hot flashes or night sweats.' Your thyroid levels also increase as you enter midlife, which can raise the body's baseline temperature and trigger more sweating. Read More: What's the Most Refreshing Drink That's Not Water? During this time, men may also experience changes due to a gradual decline in testosterone, though it's typically less dramatic. In your 60s and beyond As you get older, your sweat glands can become less active. This may mean you sweat less overall—but there's a downside, too. Your body may also become less efficient at cooling itself. 'This makes older adults vulnerable to heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke,' says Dr. Marjorie Jenkins, professor and dean of health affairs at the University of North Dakota and chief clinical advisor at Incora Health, a health technology company focused on women's wellness. 'This reduced sweating capacity is a normal part of aging, but it's something we need to be aware of, particularly during hot weather.' Sweat triggers Sweating can be triggered by various factors beyond just heat. 'Vigorous exercise is the most obvious trigger, but anxiety and emotional distress are also major culprits,' says Berry. 'Physical pain, spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol, hot drinks, humidity, certain medications, and fever from infections can all cause increased sweating.' Read More: How Heat Waves Could Have Long-Term Impacts on Your Health Remember: sweating isn't a bad thing. It's a way for the body to automatically regulate temperature. 'When our body isn't able to do this, it can cause a heat stroke and even cause a medical emergency,' Berry says. Medications might be making you sweat Certain drugs list excessive sweating—also called diaphoresis—as a common side effect, either because they affect your nervous system, hormone levels, or how your body regulates temperature. Antidepressants, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine (Prozac) or sertraline (Zoloft), are among the most common meds to cause sweating, says Jenkins. 'They can increase serotonin levels in the brain, which in turn affects thermoregulation and can lead to excessive sweating, particularly at night,' she says. Opioid pain relievers, such as oxycodone or morphine, can also disrupt the body's ability to manage heat, triggering perspiration. Read More: Why Extreme Heat Is So Bad for the Human Body Jenkins says other drug classes to watch include diabetes medications (like insulin or sulfonylureas)—which can cause low blood sugar, a well-known sweat trigger—and thyroid medications, which can ramp up metabolism and make you feel warm or flushed. Fever reducers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can induce sweating as your body breaks a fever. 'Even some blood pressure medications can trigger sweating,' adds Jenkins. 'What's particularly concerning is that medication withdrawal, from substances like opiates, alcohol, nicotine, or benzodiazepines, can also cause excessive sweating and should be monitored carefully.' If you suspect your medication is increasing your sweat levels, don't stop taking it abruptly. Instead, talk with your health care provider. They may be able to adjust your dosage, recommend timing strategies, or switch you to a different treatment that's less likely to leave you drenched Could it be hyperhidrosis? Hyperhidrosis, which affects an estimated 5% of Americans, is a medical condition where the body sweats excessively, beyond what's needed for temperature regulation. It causes the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, underarms, or the face to sweat, sometimes resulting in skin rashes, bacterial infections, and yeast infections. Hyperhidrosis can occur without an obvious trigger—often starting in adolescence or early adulthood—and can persist for years without a clear cause. Secondary hyperhidrosis is caused by an underlying issue like medications, infections, endocrine disorders, or even certain cancers. 'While hyperhidrosis isn't life-threatening, its impact on quality of life can be profound,' says Jenkins. 'Many people experience social anxiety, isolation, and distress that can prevent intimacy and lead to embarrassment about going out in public.' If sweating is severe, persistent, or affecting your quality of life, it's important to talk to a dermatologist or your doctor. There are effective treatments ranging from topical prescriptions to Botox.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Tanning Is "Trending" Again—But Seriously, Don't Do It
A sun-kissed tan might look good and make you feel great, but what if we told you that UV exposure is damaging your skin? From lying out beside the pool to hitting the tanning salon, the pursuit of a tanned, bronzed glow is growing increasingly popular these days. But trust us (and dermatologists) when we say: this is a habit that's truly best to avoid. Keep reading to gain a deeper understanding of the differences between natural tanning outdoors, tanning beds, and self-tanners, and why the golden glow may not be worth the skin-damaging trade-offs that come with it, as shared by board-certified Sung, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of The Perq in Seattle. Asmi Berry, DO, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Los tanning outdoors is the most well-known method of tanning. The premise is simple: after spending time outside and being exposed to the sun's UV rays, the skin becomes darker. But not without significant cost. "These rays cause DNA damage in skin cells almost immediately, even before a tan or sunburn is visible," says Sarah Sung, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist. "Once the damage is underway, the body responds by activating melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells in your skin." These cells produce and distribute melanin, which contributes to the appearance of a tan. The more melanin, the darker the tan. Although it may feel good to soak in the sun's warm rays, it's essential to understand that tanning can be very harmful to your skin. When you spend time in a tanning bed, UV light darkens the skin, mimicking the effects of sun exposure. One interesting aspect of tanning beds is that they primarily use UVA rays. They're designed to minimize UVB rays, which are the primary cause of sunburn. So, you may not experience redness, pain, and other signs of a sunburn after spending time in a tanning bed, but this doesn't mean a tanning bed tan is safe for your skin. On the contrary, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has stated that tanning beds are carcinogenic to humans. "The absence of warning signs leads to a false sense of safety, though the cellular damage is even more severe," Sung says." Dermatologists agree that is the only safe way to tan. You have several options here, including mousses, lotions, and sprays containing dihydroxyacetone (DHA). All of these can mimic a tan by staining the top layer of the skin—no sun exposure involved. (We've even taken the liberty of testing the best self-tanners for a natural-looking glow.) "There is no UV radiation involved in self-tanning, meaning no melanin production, no inflammation, no DNA damage, and thus, no increase in skin cancer risk," Sung says. "It is the only safe way to appear tan. A real tan is your body's response to injury. A self-tan is just color on the surface, like makeup, but longer-lasting." However, there are still a few minor risks to consider. Dermatologists suggest using caution not to inhale spray tan products. As with other skincare products, there's also a risk of allergic reactions when using self-tanner. Of course, there's always a chance your self-tanner might leave streaks or orange tones on your skin if it isn't applied properly, but with proper application, self-tanner can look natural. When you tan, your skin ramps up production of melanin. And that increased production of melanin? That's your body's attempt to protect your skin from more damage. "That tan may look like a glow, but it's actually a visible sign of skin injury," says Asmi Berry, DO, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist. Tanning comes with many risks. In the short term, you may experience sunburn, oxidative stress, dehydrated skin, and an inflammatory response that can cause skin damage. Meanwhile, the long-term risks include skin cancer and photoaging, which can lead to wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, sagging skin, and collagen breakdown. However, there are some differences in the ways that outdoor tanning and tanning beds impact your skin. When you tan outside, your skin is exposed to both UVA and UVB rays. "UVB rays cause sunburn, while UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin, leading to DNA damage, collagen breakdown, and long-term aging," Berry says. "Even if you don't burn, tanning outdoors accelerates the aging process and increases your risk of developing skin cancer, including melanoma." Using a tanning bed definitely isn't doing your skin any favors either. "It is fast, silent, and damaging in a way you can't feel right away," Sung says. "You may think it's safer because you are not burning, but UVA goes deeper and does more lasting harm. You're skipping the warning signs and heading straight for the long-term consequences." Compared to outdoor tanning, tanning beds are worse for your skin health (for the record, outdoor tanning definitely isn't much better). "The concentrated UVA rays cause deeper skin damage and are linked to higher rates of melanoma, especially in younger people," Berry says. "Just because there's no sunburn doesn't mean there's no harm." When you lie in a tanning bed, you're getting a massive dose of UVA rays that can be stronger than that of the midday summer sun, Sung tells us. This increases the risk of melanoma, especially when tanning beds are used before the age of 35. "Tanning beds fast-track DNA damage, accelerate visible aging, and dramatically increase skin cancer risk, even more than natural tanning, which already makes dermatologists cringe," Sung says. The best way to protect your skin from sun damage is to limit your time in the sun. But not tanning doesn't mean you need to hide indoors all summer. Here are some tips: First things first, wear sunscreen. In most cases, dermatologists would say this is a non-negotiable. "Wear a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every day and reapply every two hours if you're outdoors," Berry says. "If you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, opt for a mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide." If you're going to be outdoors, wide-brim hats, UV-protective sunglasses, and long clothing can all help keep the sun off your skin. You can even buy ultraviolet protective factor (UPF) clothing that blocks some of the sun's damaging UV rays. Some people use UV-protecting gloves while driving. "Hands and forearms get sun daily without you even noticing, and that's where I see some of the earliest sun damage in patients," Sung says. "The skin on the hands is some of the thinnest and most delicate on the body." If you're committed to a sun-kissed glow, there's one shortcut that doesn't require sun exposure: self-tanner. According to Dr. Berry, this is the safest way to get a tan without causing skin damage. The most important thing to keep in mind is that there's no safe way to tan. A tan can lead to skin cancer, signs of aging, sunburn, dehydrated skin, and other adverse effects. "Any tan is a sign of skin damage," Berry says. "The safest way to get a sun-kissed glow without the cellular damage is with a self-tanner or bronzing product. Just make sure to apply sunscreen on top." Read the original article on Byrdie
