As our skin ages, it gets thinner and laxer. It is more prone to wrinkles and fine lines than younger skin but also more susceptible to injury and ulcers. Now a study at the University of Michigan Health System says that lotions containing retinol have been shown to reduce wrinkles and also increase collagen production, making skin stronger and less prone to injury.

The U-M study used a lotion specifically designed for the experiment that contained retinol, an ingredient found in many commercially prepared skin lotions. In a double blind study, they applied the lotion with retinol to the skin on one arm and regular skin lotion on the other. The results were dramatic. The skin that was treated with the retinol lotion improved in appearance, looking younger, firmer and less wrinkled.

“With the population aging so rapidly, it is important that we find ways of treating skin conditions of elderly people – not just for purposes of vanity, but also for the healing of wounds and the reduction of ulcers,” says senior author Sewon Kang, M.D., professor of dermatology at the U-M Medical School.

This research serves as an important step forward in the understanding of how aging skin can be improved, researchers say.

Retinol lotion reduces the fine wrinkles from natural aging of skin, University of Michigan study finds

If you want to get more than just exercise while you walk, walk in the green. A study done in the UK found that walking out of doors, and experiencing nature was more beneficial to mood that exercise taken in an indoor shopping mall. In fact, people walking in shopping centers reported a lower sense of self-esteem than those walking in outdoor, green areas.

The concept is called eco-therapy. The study found it enhances connections between people and nature and encourages social interaction and companionship. Your senses are more stimulated during a nature walk, the colors, scents and fresh air lift the mood. You escape the stress of modern life and relax and even just the exercise itself gives you a feeling of confidence and a sense of achievement.

Gardening, helping to clean up a park or just taking a nature walk are all outdoor activities that can boost your physical health and your mental health.

Read more about eco-therapy

Millions of Americans take aspirin daily to prevent blood clots, heart attack and stroke. But are they taking too much?

A recent study by researchers at the University of Kentucky suggests that a 325 mg dose of adult aspirin is not more effective than an 81 mg dose of baby aspirin but carries a higher risk for bleeding of the gastrointestinal tract.

A review of the published data found no benefit to higher doses of aspirin and cited the dangers of bleeding as a reason for patients to take the lowest effective dose. According to Dr. Steve Steinhubl, one of the study’s authors, there is almost no one who needs to take more than 81 mg of aspirin a day but cautions patients to check with their doctors to be sure.

UK Study: Baby Aspirin Better for Your Health

Botox, made popular by aging celebrities to make forehead lines disappear has become so commonly used that Botox injections are available nearly everywhere. But Botox may now have a place in the treatment of pain and spascticity of muscles in stroke patients.

The conclusion of a study at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, showed that repeated treatments with Botox (botulinum toxin type A) over the course of one year, reduced pain intensity, pain frequency and decreased spasticity in upper limbs following stroke.

“In the clinical setting, limb stiffness and pain are the most commonly reported symptoms of spasticity following a stroke, and relief of spasticity-related pain is a priority treatment goal for many patients,” said Allison Brashear, M.D., professor and chairman of neurology at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and head of the spasticity clinic at Wake Forest Baptist.

Study Shows Repeated Treatment With Botox® Decreases Pain And Intensity Of Spasticity Following A Stroke