Skin Actives Products
May 18th, 2022 by Dr. Hannah Sivak
I am worried about all that talk about “plant-based” you see in skincare advertising. Why? Because it seems that in pursuit of anything and everything “plant”, we are going in the wrong direction. Example: alkanes. I love alkanes: linear carbon and hydrogen chains, make up waxes that will protect leaves and fruits from losing water. They also work great at preventing water loss from our skin, and the most expensive skincare products use inexpensive petrolatum and mineral oil to make a cream that will prevent water loss and accelerate healing. Most of the petrolatum and mineral oil we use comes from ancient organic matter, the same source of the gas/petrol…
May 16th, 2022 by Dr. Hannah Sivak
This sounds big, but that’s because we are! Synergy is an interaction or cooperation giving rise to a whole that is greater than the simple sum of its parts. Our products contain amino acids and other nutrients that will be better used by your skin because there are growth factors and antioxidants. Your hair will be stronger because apocynin will support your stem cells while ROS* BioNet prevents damage to the cell membranes. Skin Actives has never been about the one “magic ingredient” because we understand how a living system works. We see the skin as it interacts with the rest of the body and we look at the epidermis…
May 16th, 2022 by Dr. Hannah Sivak
In radiation treatment for cancer, noxious radiation is used, in a VERY focused way, to kill cancer cells. Using information from PET scans and more, the physician/math/physics expert, designs a treatment strategy suitable for the type and location of cancer cells. The objective is to kill cancer cells without harming the healthy tissue around them. This is easier said than done. There will always be damage to healthy tissue, even when using top-of-the-line methodology and equipment. Fort example, the skin is on the way when targeting breast cancer cells “hiding” within the bones. What will happen? Let’s concentrate on the fact that cancer cells will be destroyed, adding months or…
April 20th, 2022 by Dr. Hannah Sivak
Are you having fun extracting blackheads with a nose strip? They can be useful, but they are just a start. But first, what’s a blackhead? From my book Pores secrete sebum. One of the effects of the not-very-useful sebum is acne, so I can see why pores’ popularity is low. Pores get larger and more visible during adolescence when hormones increase sebum secretion. Pores can get clogged with sebum, keratin, and dead cells, resulting in an environment lacking in oxygen and favorable to the growth of the acne bacterium, C. acnes. The products of bacterial metabolism cause the inflamed pimples characteristic of acne, a real problem that good skincare can…
April 15th, 2022 by Dr. Hannah Sivak
More clothes? More tchotchkes? More jewelry? At 60+, we have accumulated as many souvenirs of travels and people as we want. Our shelves and walls are full. But our skin remains a priority, even when we forget it. It’s itchy, delicate, easily bruised, and sunspots “decorate” it all over. Skin Actives has real people with skin problems, so we care about every age, from babies to the elderly. What can you get for our over-60 mothers, and grandmothers (or yourself)? Hannah and her mother Slawa (Zulema), z”l. ELS: Every lipid serum. Will help prevent bruises if you apply it (immediately, if you can) after hurting yourself against the open fridge…
March 17th, 2022 by Dr. Hannah Sivak
If you look now at our Alpha Beta exfoliator, you will see that we added glycolic acid. Why? Because glycolic acid is popular. Sometimes we may add an ingredient because it is very popular, as long as it is OK, i.e. safe. There is nothing special about glycolic acid. It’s a hydroxy acid like lactic acid (which I like better) but it has no specific problems. Why is glycolic acid so popular? The legend goes that it is smaller than other hydroxy acids so it “penetrates” better. There is no evidence that this is the case. Lactic acid molecular weight: 90 Glycolic acid molecular weight: 76 This small difference would…
January 4th, 2022 by Dr. Hannah Sivak
There are acne patches that will cover up the lesion, they are small, sticky, and made of hydrocolloids. What can they do? Very little but they may be enough if the acne lesion is very minor. The hydrocolloid will absorb the fluids produced by the acne. It will also hide the lesion and help prevent you (or your kid) from touching the zit and spreading of infection. You can improve on these “inert” patches by using them in conjunction with Zit-ender. Apply just a hint of Zit-Ender to the pimple and stick an acne patch on top. If you don’t have acne patches at home, you may be able to…
September 12th, 2021 by Dr. Hannah Sivak
What is a beta-glucan? β-Glucans are large molecules made out of small sugars like glucose bound to each other in a particular way called a beta glycosidic bond. These basic characteristics leave a lot of variation in size, branching, and sugar composition, leading to great variation in physical properties like solubility, capacity to form gels and films, viscosity, and the physiological effects on animals, including humans. Figure: beta 1,4 glycosidic linkage in cellulose (by NEUROtiker, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons). The orientation of a linkage (as alpha or beta) changes the properties of the resulting oligo o polysaccharide. Starch, for example, has glucose monomers linked to each other in alpha…
September 11th, 2021 by Dr. Hannah Sivak
…and that oral antibiotics work on too slowly (for an inpatient grandmother)? …and that adapalene doesn’t seem to alleviate? Try Skin Actives Zit Ender! It makes me happy that my grandson now thinks that I am a genius. Eventually he will realize that I’m not, but in the meantime it feels great. What’s in SAS Zit Ender? Sea Kelp (Lactobacillus/Kelp Ferment Filtrate) Bioferment, Salix Alba (White Willow) Bark Extract, Water, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Epigallocatechin Gallate, Kaempferia Galanga (Galangal) Root Extract, Oleanolic Acid, Zinc PCA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate (Licorice Extract), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Extract, Galactoarabinan, Fucoidan, Beta Glucan (Yeast), Beta Glucan (Oat), Opuntia Ficus Indica (Prickly Pear) Extract, Pyrus…
July 1st, 2021 by Dr. Hannah Sivak
There is more than hair loss as we age or are “hit” by menopause or illness. The hair becomes more fragile and thin; you will notice a change in the way it “waves” when you comb it. The good news is that Skin Actives can help in both these aspects. Our hair serum (patent pending) is the most complete topical treatment for hair loss, and it also increases hair thickness. If you like scalp massage, make sure you get triple benefits by applying hair serum first and and then some ELS with the massage. The bonus? You nails will also be stronger, because your nail beds need the same nutrients…
June 19th, 2021 by Dr. Hannah Sivak
You will not find duplicates in Skin Actives products, because I believe that every product should have a good reason to be made. But, when it comes to acne, we give you quite a few choices. Why? Acne is a complex affliction, and many clients arrive at Skin Actives after using other companies products. Some of these products can be harsh, both short and long term, on the skin. So you may come to Skin Actives with sensitive skin which was made sensitive by the regime and products you have been using. If you are new to acne and your first provider is Skin Actives, you could probably go for…
June 11th, 2021 by Dr. Hannah Sivak
…it’s just as sweet. And gentle on your skin. Ultra Clarifying Blemish Oil Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil, Salicylic Acid, Calophyllum Inophyllum (Foraha) Nut Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn) Fruit Oil, Bisabolol, Retinyl Palmitate, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Coleus Forskohlii Oil, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Tocotrienols, Tocopherol, Astaxanthin, Lycopene, Xanthophyll, Thioctic Acid, Beta Carotene, Alpinia Galanga Root Oil, Cedrus Deodara Oil. The idea behind the product That acne is a complex problem with several components. Work on all of them and you can take control of your skin. Discourage and/or kill acne bacteria Keep pores open (no anaerobiosis here!) No food for you, nasty acne bacteria Decrease…
June 9th, 2021 by Dr. Hannah Sivak
What happens when you drop some oil on water? The molecules in the oil form a very thin layer at the top and that’s it. They are not going anywhere. What is my answer to itchy, sensitive skin? I prepare a bath with warm (but not hot) water, drop some Nourishing skin serum with hemp extract in it, and then I go in. The thin layer of nourishing lipids that my skin needs so badly transfers instantly to every square inch of my body, much more efficiently than if I try to apply it patiently (I have no patience). The myriad itches go away and my skin looks great. A…
April 28th, 2021 by Dr. Hannah Sivak
What causes uneven skin? Life does. From the day we are born, our body accumulates changes and scars as we grow up and grow old, but nothing is as visible as this scar or that sunspot on our face. Our skin changes color in response to the sun, the environment, and stress in general, including the products we apply to our skin. Skin pigmentation is a very complex process that involves different types of cells that originate in different parts of the embryo, several biochemical reactions, and transport across the cell and between cells. With so many interconnected processes, it is not surprising that things can go wrong. In my…
April 18th, 2021 by Dr. Hannah Sivak
We ignore the menstrual cycle at our own peril because it matters. Acne is common in postadolescent women, and an increase in lesions may be noted in the last 7-10 days of the menstrual cycle. Why? Changing hormones across the menstrual cycle produces measurable variations in immune function and susceptibility to disease. The skin and scalp have estrogen and progesterone receptors in both the dermis and epidermis. Levels of estrogen and progesterone fluctuate during the cycle and influence numerous characteristics of the epidermis, including lipid secretion and sebum production, skin thickness, fat deposition, skin hydration, and barrier function. Dermal collagen content, which contributes to skin elasticity is also affected. Estrogen…
April 12th, 2021 by Dr. Hannah Sivak
It’s obvious (or it should be!). A good diet is necessary for health. Your heart, your lungs, your bones depend on a good diet. No proteins in your diet? No heart! You will find a long list of ailments that follow the deficiency of any vitamin. Why? Vitamins are chemicals we can’t make ourselves but, at the same time, are essential to the functioning of our body. For example, all of the water-soluble vitamins and two of the fat-soluble vitamins, A and K, function as cofactors or coenzymes. Coenzymes participate in numerous biochemical reactions involving energy release from food, as well as the accompanying anabolic reactions. In addition, vitamin cofactors…
April 9th, 2021 by Dr. Hannah Sivak
Do yourself a favor and don’t use a magnifying glass. Why? Even if your skin looks great, your stressed brain may tell you differently. Start by being nice to yourself, and that starts by avoiding the magnifying glass. You can use it to look at interesting insects or to do embroidery (I am told that embroidery is great at relieving stress!). Think moisture. Start by cleansing your skin with a mild cleanser that will not strip your skin of valuable lipids and proteins. Skin “cleaned” with detergents and alcohols will dry it and kill cells, including stem cells that reside in the basal layer and the pores. After rinsing the…
April 4th, 2021 by Dr. Hannah Sivak
What is a toner in skincare parlance? A liquid, mostly water, with additions like ethanol or surfactants, is used to remove oils and sebum. The objective: to strip the skin of oily substances and whatever else a cleanser may have left behind. Remember, however, that sebum has a purpose: it lubricates the skin and prevents water loss from the skin, so a toner may well be a waste of money or, worse, a waste of a valuable skin resource. A “typical” toner, whatever its price (you can buy one for $200) it will contain water, ethanol (or another solvent), surfactant (synthetic or saponins). The water may be replaced by floral…
February 16th, 2021 by Dr. Hannah Sivak
Make your nails grow faster when you have been biting them or accidentally trimmed them badly Make them grow stronger when you are ill or on a diet You decided you want pretty nails! They break easily You are having toenails problems! Your nails protect your fingers and you use them more than you realize for multiple tasks within the house and office. Skin Actives has the products you need: Nail serum with ROS Bionet and apocynin Nail and Cuticle oil serum Read more about nails here Claims on this page have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or…
December 20th, 2020 by Dr. Hannah Sivak
2+2=4 One can pretend that reality does not exist but then a virus reminds us that it does. 2020 has been a tough year for all of us, and too tough for some. I feel lucky that I did not lose anybody to Covid19 and that a vaccine is around the corner, less than a year after we found out about the new virus. Having read the books by Laurie Garrett, The Coming Plague, in 1994, and Betrayal of Trust, in 2001, I was not surprised when the pandemic came. I was, however, dismayed by the lack of awareness of many about what the virus was about to do to…