The American Heart Association made a startling announcement recently: Within the next 25 years, about 61% of American adults will have some form of heart disease. And that doesn’t include high blood pressure, which nearly half of the adults in this country are already living with.
This is a dermatology blog. Why, you may be wondering, are we discussing heart disease?
Because of its prevalence. This forecast suggests that if you don’t have heart disease now, you may in the future. Or someone close to you likely will. And with that comes limitations, not only with regard to diet and lifestyle, but also skincare. For example, someone with a pacemaker or a defibrillator needs to avoid most skincare devices because they can interfere with the electrical signal of the cardiac device and its ability to function properly.
But, really, anyone with a heart condition should take extra caution with the products and tools they use in their daily skincare regimen. What follows is some specific guidance on how to go about that.
Use even gentle tools with caution
For people taking certain medications, even non-electrical skincare tools, like face rollers or gua sha, should be done with caution because they can cause bruising. Blood-thinning medications such as aspirin or warfarin can make the skin more prone to bruising.
Talk with a doctor before using anything new
Regardless of the type of heart condition you have or its severity, it’s best to talk with your primary care doctor or dermatologist before adding a new product to your skincare routine. This is because ingredients that are widely used in these products can trigger surprising side effects for those with heart issues.
For one, urea, a humectant that’s often found in body moisturizers, can release formaldehyde into the bloodstream and cause heart palpitations. Additionally, vitamin K could reduce a blood-thinning medication’s effectiveness. This, despite the mounting research that indicates the vitamin helps facilitate a host of good things all over the body, including a reduction in the appearance of aging skin, the maintenance of healthy skin, hair, and bones, and efficient wound healing and blood clotting.
While the systemic absorption of vitamin K through skincare products may not be as high as it is through eating certain foods like leafy veggies, any sudden increase in vitamin K while on blood thinners poses the risk of fatal bleeding.
Since those on blood thinners have frequent blood work to ensure they’re taking an appropriate dosage of the medication, starting an ongoing conversation with your PCP and/or dermatologist about your skincare routine will help you avoid problematic interactions between products and medications.
Wear sunscreen, as always
Applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 is a good practice for everyone, but it’s especially important for those with a heart condition. Melanoma commonly metastasizes to the heart, for one, creating new complications. Also, sun damage makes the skin more vulnerable to bleeding, which is problematic for people taking blood thinners.
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