Sweating to Keep Cool

Credit: iStock While our air conditioners are working hard to cool our homes in the record high heat waves sweeping the U.S. this summer, our bodies are working just as hard to keep cool. Our bodies work to maintain internal organ and tissue temperature at a relatively constant value between 96.8 and 100.4 degrees F. … Continue reading Sweating to Keep Cool

Screening the Sun: The Science of Sunscreen

Credit: iStock Fireworks, concerts, barbecues, picnics, parades, sandy beaches and swimming are just a few of the many ways we celebrate the Fourth of July holiday. Each of these fun outdoor activities increases our sun exposure, which can increase our risk of melanoma or skin cancer. Sunlight consists of infrared, visible and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. … Continue reading Screening the Sun: The Science of Sunscreen

Touching a Nerve: Piezo Receptors

Credit: iStock “Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. … Fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. … If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.” —David, … Continue reading Touching a Nerve: Piezo Receptors

The Skin Is a Mirror to the Heart

Credit: iStock It’s been said that the eyes are the mirror to the soul, but have you heard that the skin is a mirror to the heart? As your largest organ, your skin is literally your armor, the protective barrier between the outside world and inside your body. It turns out, how quickly your skin … Continue reading The Skin Is a Mirror to the Heart

Sea Water vs. Saline: Why Not All Salty Water Is Created Equal

Sunshine, warmer temperatures and no school—summer is well underway. Summer brings with it an abundance of outdoor activities—hiking, biking and trips to the beach—plus cuts, scrapes, bumps and bruises. You might think a jump in the ocean to soak those scrapes in the salt water might help. But this isn’t always the best way to … Continue reading Sea Water vs. Saline: Why Not All Salty Water Is Created Equal

In May, Take Steps to Prevent Melanoma

With the weather getting warmer, you may be tempted to bare more skin in the coming months. However, sunnier days can increase your risk of skin cancer if you don’t protect yourself. May is Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. Read on to learn more about your body’s largest organ and how melanoma grows. Your … Continue reading In May, Take Steps to Prevent Melanoma

Go Ahead and Scratch … Your Brain Is Telling You To

Winter is here, and for much of the country, it’s going to stick around for a while. When exposure to frosty air and the constant hum of the heat pump continue for too long, you may end up with dry, itchy skin. We know that scratching an itch feels good, but why? Researchers studied brain … Continue reading Go Ahead and Scratch … Your Brain Is Telling You To