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Breaking the stereotyped heavy makeup look and going with a comfortable no makeup look is the new trend to follow for brides who like minimalism. Those days are gone when weddings for brides was all about hiding flaws and improvising the perfect skin. Today brides can dress up as they like and go even without makeup that comforts them

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Bored of putting in the four minutes it requires to effectively clean your molars? Then, this product might be just what what you need. Chewable toothpaste while a fun idea has also been hailed as a eco-friendly one, allowing folks to ditch the tube while providing the correct amount of toothpaste per brush on the go. Go ahead, chew on that for a minute.

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6324288/#:~:text=The%20estimated%20prevalence%20of%20diagnosed%20ADHD%20increased%20from%206.1%25%20in,%2D2016%20(Table%202).

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DIY’ healthcare is changing the industry and people’s lives

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DIY’ healthcare is changing the industry and people’s lives

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By Brett Peruzzi, Managing Editor

REGION - It's been increasing in recent years due to technology enhancements. The shortage of medical staff and available appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated it dramatically. DIY (Do It Yourself) healthcare is here to stay and may represent a good portion of the healthcare of many people in the future.

So what is it? Essentially, it's taking a more active role in your healthcare, using everything from smartphone apps to at-home electronic medical devices and tests.

Apps compile data for easy recordkeeping and analysis

Most of us are carrying around very powerful little computers in our pockets or purses: smartphones. People are using smartphone apps (sometimes paired with electronic devices) to record, track, and analyze everything from their medications to their exercise, migraines, foods eaten, to record allergy symptoms or digestive ailments, to glucose levels, for diabetics. It's certainly a lot easier and more efficient than using a pencil and paper, and at your next medical appointment you'll have the data readily available to share with your provider. Many apps are free; some may cost a few dollars to download, and a few sophisticated ones may have a monthly subscription fee.

At-home devices proliferating

Not too long ago, the only medical device you might find in the average household was a thermometer to measure body temperature if you felt feverish. No longer. Fitbit wrist monitors and the Apple Watch can not only check your heart rate, but your oxygen level as well. During the pandemic, many COVID-19 patients have been sent home from the hospital with fingertip pulse oximeters to monitor their own oxygen levels as they recover. Other devices monitor not just your oxygen levels at night but also the overall quality of your sleep.

Blood pressure monitoring has become much easier too, with more compact devices, digital displays and the ability to store readings over time. Checking glucose levels has long been part of the daily routine of diabetics, but new devices that don't require pricking your finger for a blood sample bring ease and convenience for those who aren't diabetic but want some insight into their blood sugar levels. You can even perform your own heart EKGs at home, using a fingertip device like KardiaMobile, which, paired with your smartphone, can detect six of the most common arrhythmias, or irregular heart rhythms, which may be indicative of a serious cardiac issue.

More at-home test options

Nearly all tests to detect infection or disease have typically been performed in medical facilities, often an outpatient lab for blood draws. But the pandemic has changed that too in the past year, as millions of people have self-tested at home for COVID-19. And rather than undergoing a colonoscopy, more older people are choosing to do an at-home colorectal cancer screening via a stool sample using test kits like Cologuard. Nowadays, in addition to doing home blood tests for your glucose level, you can also test for everything from cholesterol and thyroid levels to vitamin deficiencies. And while younger women have been able to do home pregnancy testing with urine samples for decades, you can now screen your urine with a home test for an affliction common with older adults: urinary tract infections.

Patients like having more options for treatment

Robyn Gold has embraced one particular DIY healthcare device. The 62-year-old Framingham resident was diagnosed with sleep apnea several years ago after undergoing an overnight sleep study at a medical facility. She tried and couldn't adjust to using a CPAP machine while sleeping, which involves wearing a mask that delivers air pressure through the nostrils to keep the airway open.

"I discovered the Wellue 02Ring and immediately decided to give it a try," she said. "What makes sleep apnea harmful is that it deprives your body of oxygen. The 02Ring enables me to monitor my oxygen levels overnight and it buzzes me awake when they go below a pre-set threshold," she explained. "It stores sleep data in an iPhone app so I can pore over last night's sleep records and review sleep trends over time."

She noted that her oxygen levels stay high most nights and the 02Ring never wakes her up. When it does go off, the act of waking up restores her normal breathing, and she goes back to sleep.

"So, although I bought the device to monitor the state of my medical problem," Gold explained, "for my mild case, it is able to treat it as well. I am very happy with my device! I even discussed the plan with my doctor, and she approved."

Medical professionals see benefits as well

Nurse practitioner Karen Ashworth of Somerville has seen DIY healthcare strategies work particularly well for people with food sensitivities.

"I've seen people reclaim their lives and feel so much better, " she said. She referred an adolescent patient with multiple symptoms to an allergist who diagnosed her with food sensitivities. "She felt miserable and was missing a lot of school," Ashworth explained.

The patient took control of her diet and avoided foods she was sensitive to, essentially healing herself, now that she had the right information to work with. "A year later I saw her for her well check," said Ashworth. "She said she felt like a new person."

And Ashworth has applied the same DIY techniques to her own healthcare, after suffering from a variety of inflammatory symptoms. "I was frustrated with the care I received as a patient," she said. "Medicine has become very specialized. Sometimes patients get lost in the cracks, and continuity of care can be lacking. I realized that if I wanted to feel better, I needed to learn as much as I could on my own." Ashworth's issues also were related to food sensitivities. "After I removed the foods I had become sensitive to from my diet, my symptoms resolved," she noted.

Not without risks

There are several risks with DIY healthcare. These include misinterpretation of at-home results, self-misdiagnosis, and not seeking treatment for a condition when it is needed and m issing other problems entirely.

While it can be helpful to research your symptoms on the web, relying too much on "Dr. Google" has its pitfalls. First, you can worry yourself needlessly about having an affliction that you don't have, and worse, you could get false assurance that you're fine. It's always a good idea to seek professional medical help to get a definitive diagnosis of any potentially serious health conditions.

DIY healthcare has changed the landscape of the industry forever, with many positive improvements. In some ways it may harken back to the days of folk remedies and home treatment before modern medicine, but it has more scientific backing because of technological advancements. While it's obviously far from a cure-all, it's another tool in the box to managing your health.
RELATED CONTENT: Oral health is key to overall well-being (fiftyplusadvocate.com) Improve your brain health with meditation (fiftyplusadvocate.com) Regular exams are a key step in maintaining eye health (fiftyplusadvocate.com)

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'DIY' healthcare is changing the industry and people's lives

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By Brett Peruzzi, Managing Editor REGION - It's been increasing in recent years due to technology enhancements. The shortage of medical staff and available appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated it dramatically. DIY (Do It Yourself) healthcare is here to stay and may represent a good portion of the healthcare of many people in the future.

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https://www.vogue.co.uk/beauty/article/new-age-healing-therapy-trend

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I am not a particularly mystical person. When I was handed a stick of clear quartz as I filed into The Row's autumn/winter 2018 show in New York, I promptly abandoned it. I blush when it gets to the chanting bits of yoga classes and glaze over when conversation turns to star signs. So, it was to my great surprise that I felt goosebumps rise as I sat at my kitchen table on FaceTime with Jayne Wallace, a clairvoyant and the founder of Psychic Sisters, for my first tarot reading. She calmly explained that she was connecting with my grandmother, and that my grandmother liked my new house - but that I ought not to get overly hung up on adding bifold doors to the back. We'd just moved.

Before you ask, I don't air my domestic dramas nor my interiors dilemmas on social media. There are highly personal details Wallace shared during the 30-minute reading whose provenance I can't account for. It's still tempting to write off new-age healing as bogus. And yet, over the course of a year like no other, more and more of us have been turning to alternative wellness practices, seeking connection with something - anything - from the comfort (or relative discomfort) of our own homes.

Wallace, who helms a team of about 20 healers that has operated out of Selfridges since 2006, and whose clients number Kim Kardashian West and Kate Hudson, says distance-healing services previously offered to clients based abroad have now become the norm. "People are much more open to a Zoom or FaceTime consultation." Sales of her range of crystals, candles, incense and oils, stocked at ASOS and Holland & Barrett, are also booming. "People are not seeing these rituals as a cult or witchcraft anymore. Today, you can walk into Tesco and buy a crystal. And I've never sold so much sage - people are wanting to cleanse their homes of negative energy."

Emma Lucy Knowles, a psychic and healer who has been practising for 16 years, has seen a similar demand. "The last five years has been a real turning point. People have been talking about healing more openly, and social media has helped them feel less embarrassed," she says. The volume of enquiries for distance healing over the last year has been "huge", according to Knowles. "It's made me evolve how I work. Before, if I did distance work, I didn't even need to see the client. But now I spend more time chatting face-to-face on Zoom, teaching people about energy work."

Crystals are perhaps the most accessible gateway to mystical enlightenment, something to physically cling on to when times get tough. Psychic Sisters saw a 50 per cent increase in sales of crystals during the pandemic at its Selfridges outpost. We're wearing rocks, too: Net-a-Porter reports that in addition to chunks of celestine, amethyst and smoky quartz geode crystals from New York-based brand JiaJia selling out (at about £200 a pop), its sapphire necklaces (about £500) have seen surging sales. Meanwhile, TBalance's crystal bracelets, which come in sets with energising beaded slogans, have repeatedly sold out since its October launch with the retailer.

A healing crystal hut is among the star attractions at Bamford's revamped spa in the Cotswolds. This September also saw the launch of a new wellness facial that utilises a crystal gua sha tool to support lymphatic flow and reduce puffiness, alongside sound baths and massages that employ jade and amethyst. Bamford's septuagenarian founder Carole Bamford has been using crystals for decades, having first learnt about their healing properties on a trip to India aged 20. "I originally went for three months to study meditation," she recalls. "It wasn't for spiritual reasons - it was The Beatles that made me go." She sleeps with a rose quartz on her bedside table to promote love. "I don't want people to think I'm woo-woo, because I'm not. But I really believe in instinct, gut feeling. Lots of people can understand that. The pandemic has made many people realise that we do need to take a different approach."

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Why New-Age Healing Is This Year's Buzziest Wellness Trend

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I am not a particularly mystical person. When I was handed a stick of clear quartz as I filed into The Row's autumn/winter 2018 show in New York, I promptly abandoned it. I blush when it gets to the chanting bits of yoga classes and glaze over when conversation turns to star signs.

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Dirt-y wellness: The health of the world’s soil and the impact of soil exposure on human health

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Dirt-y wellness: The health of the world’s soil and the impact of soil exposure on human health

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Regenerative agriculture using new techniques that restore the soil’s biodiversity is big news in farming and is set to become a huge wellness and food trend, with foods grown in regenerated soil expected to bear labels such as ‘Regen’ or ‘soil-certified’. Similarly, wellness and skincare brands will pivot towards regen-farm-sourced ingredients.

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https://medium.com/@amykwilson/vertical-farming-with-hydroponics-33d689f23ea1

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https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health

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Social Determinants of Health - Healthy People 2030 | health.gov

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When it comes to health, it matters where people live, learn, work, play, and age. That’s why Healthy People 2030 has an increased focus on how social, economic, and environmental factors can impact people’s health. Learn more about the social determinant

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https://translational-medicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12967-020-02316-w

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Journal of Translational Medicine 18, Article number: 180 (2020) Cite this article

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Abstract

This commentary presents the vision of the International Consortium for Personalised Medicine (ICPerMed) on how personalised medicine (PM) will lead to the next generation of healthcare by 2030. This vision focuses on five perspectives: individual and public engagement, involvement of health professionals, implementation within healthcare systems, health-related data, and the development of sustainable economic models that allow improved therapy, diagnostic and preventive approaches as new healthcare concepts for the benefit of the public. We further identify four pillars representing transversal issues that are crucial for the successful implementation of PM in all perspectives. The implementation of PM will result in more efficient and equitable healthcare, access to modern healthcare methods, and improved control by individuals of their own health data, as well as economic development in the health sector.

Personalised medicine (PM) represents an exciting opportunity to improve the future of individualised healthcare for all citizens ( citizen herein equivalent to individuals in the society, reflecting the inclusive and fair nature of PM approaches), holding much promise for disease treatment and prevention. There are high expectations for the future, but will PM and its accompanying tools and approaches change healthcare and be widely implemented for the benefit of society and its citizens by 2030? Will scientists, innovators, healthcare providers, and others be able to provide the most suitable medicine, at the right dose, for the right person, at the right time, at a reasonable cost? Will the healthcare sector be able to find the incentives and create appropriate financial models to implement PM in daily clinical practice? These are questions that require immediate attention and coordinated action to achieve the goal of the comprehensive implementation of PM already by 2030.

The International Consortium for Personalised Medicine (ICPerMed) [ 1] believes that advancement of the biomedical, social, and economic sciences, together with technological development, is the driving force for PM. Strong investment in research and innovation is therefore a prerequisite for its successful implementation. Here, we present our vision of how PM will lead to the next generation of healthcare by 2030. Through five main perspectives, our vision affirms PM as a medical practice centred on the individual's characteristics, leading to improved effectiveness of diagnostics, treatment and prevention, added economic value, and equitable access for all citizens.

ICPerMed envisages healthcare within the five core perspectives, further delineated in our white paper [ 2], to be implemented by 2030 as follows:

Perspective 1: Informed, empowered, engaged, and responsible citizens

Health-related data is controlled by the citizen, including input, monitoring, and access.

Easily accessible, reliable, and understandable sources of medical information are available.

Perspective 2: Informed, empowered, engaged, and responsible health providers

The safe, responsible, and optimal use of health information and research results required for PM is routine in clinical settings.

Clinical decisions requiremultidisciplinary teams, integrating novel health-related professions.

The education of healthcare professionals has adopted the interdisciplinary aspects of PM.

Clinicians and researchers work closely to support the rapid development and implementation of PM solutions.

Perspective 3: Healthcare systems enable personally tailored, optimised health promotion and disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for the benefit of patients

Equitable access to PM services for all citizens is a reality.

PM services are optimised in terms of effectiveness and equity.

The allocation of resources within healthcare systems is consistent with societal values.

Secure health data flow from citizens and healthcare systems to regulatory authorities and research is in place.

Perspective 4: Available health-related information for optimised treatment, care, prevention, and research

Personal data in electronic health records (EHRs) is used by healthcare providers and researchers for more efficient PM.

Harmonised solutions to ensure data privacy, safety, and security are applied in health-data management.

Optimised treatment and prevention based on personal data benefit citizens, while minimising costs and risks.

Perspective 5: Economic value by establishing the next generation of medicine

A reasonable balance between investment, profit, and shared benefit for the citizen is a reality for PM.

Appropriate business concepts and models are in place for PM.

Telemedicine and mobile solutions promote PM and are of economic value.

New jobs in healthcare systems are created.

The ICPerMed vision for 2030 is aligned with the goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which sets out a vision for good health and well-being, promoting healthy lifestyles, preventive measures, and modern, efficient healthcare for everyone. To support these goals and sustain the five perspectives of the ICPerMed vision, four pillars representing transversal issues are crucial for the successful implementation of PM (Fig. 1):

The ICPerMed vision for 2030-a framework of five perspectives addressing the role of the individual, the role of health professionals, the implementation of PM in health systems, the use of personal health-related information, and the economic value of PM approaches, sustained by four critical pillars representing transversal issues crucial for the implementation of PM

By 2030, digital technology is a ubiquitous enabler of all aspects of society, including the health and well-being of citizens. Attitudes towards digital technology and data sharing have changed, driven by a new generation for whom digital technology and social networks are fully integrated in daily life. These citizens are more empowered to control their health data than those of previous generations, and thus more engaged in healthcare decisions and data sharing for research. Adequate regulatory frameworks and data management protocols for the protection of personal rights are compliant with international state-of-the-art standards addressing data security, accessibility, storage, and curation.

Comprehensive personal health data is, in 2030, available through EHRs. The widespread use of wearable devices and apps allows continuous and real-time tracking of health parameters and behaviours, which is complemented by biomarker technology. The global efforts to understand genomic variation in millions of individuals allow the definition of individual genomic risk profiles associated with common diseases, placing greater emphasis on prevention. Other levels of biological information, including epigenomics, proteomics, and metabolomics complement genomic-risk estimates and provide monitoring tools for individuals at risk for disease. Data generation is continuously evolving, requiring innovative and flexible information and communication technology (ICT) solutions to address the needs of PM models for data storage, management, access, safety, and sharing. Interoperability and harmonisation concepts are embedded in healthcare and research systems through more homogeneous data collection tools. Significant investments in artificial intelligence methods by 2030 lead to novel and efficient integration and interpretation of multilevel data from a wide range of sources. Finally, creative and trustworthy ICT solutions are available to support clinical decisions by healthcare providers at the point-of-care.

In the ICPerMed vision for 2030, strong synergies between healthcare and research are crucial for the application of PM. Large volumes of routine healthcare data provide a rich source of material for research, allowing patient stratification and the definition of individual profiles and supporting adapted clinical trials. A close alignment between healthcare providers, researchers, and patients, together with improved flexibility of healthcare systems, enables end user-driven biomedical and clinical research and supports the rapid assimilation of research results by the clinic. The healthcare systems of 2030 support research to strengthen the evidence base of novel PM strategies, effectiveness, and value.

Other parameters influencing health outcomes, including lifestyle and behaviour, socio-economic status, employment, and environmental exposure are integrated with personal health and biomarker data. Acknowledging the impact of policies from other sectors enables valuable inter-sectoral synergies, particularly for health promotion and disease prevention.

In 2030, synergies with the private sector are driven by the need for rapid technological progress, along with novel business opportunities and models. PM drives innovation, particularly in areas such as digital technology, biomarker detection, and the development of molecular-targeted drugs. Through close cooperation with the pharma industry, data from clinical trials is available to the medical community, improving patient access to innovative medicines. Health technology assessment clarifies the true value of technologies, incentivizing PM.

By 2030, the primary focus of healthcare has shifted from treatment to risk definition, patient stratification, and personalised health promotion and disease prevention strategies of particular value for ageing societies. Optimisation of healthcare systems until 2030 reflects this change. Economic sustainability and societal benefits of PM are clear and integrate a societal perspective. Economic analysis is at a systemic level, integrating unemployment, social-care systems, new risk-sharing methods, and the entire life cycle of PM approaches. This broader societal perspective is underpinned by shared ethical values and equity of access for all, including marginalised sectors and under-served populations. In 2030, adequate reimbursement models are in place to support this more equitable approach, and consider the long-term value of innovative technology-based approaches.

Significant investments in technological infrastructure and digital platforms until 2030 maximize the enormous economic value of public ownership of data and create the need for new skills and novel professional profiles. Health professionals trained in digital technologies, biomarker examination, and data analysis are members of multidisciplinary teams that make shared clinical decisions. Healthcare systems use flexible working models to accommodate individual needs and incorporate the rapid turnover of technological and scientific innovations streaming from research, and bidirectional data accessibility is facilitated by networking and data-sharing platforms.

Major changes in medical and other healthcare provider curricula (e.g. pharmacists, nurses, and therapists) result in a new generation of informed, empowered, engaged, and responsible healthcare providers by 2030. There is a strong focus on digital literacy and the skills needed to interpret biomarker information. The value of multidisciplinarity in clinical and healthcare decisions is routinely used in practice. Given the fast turnover of technologies and their potential impact on healthcare, lifelong education and training is essential for healthcare providers. Conversely, professionals with non-clinical backgrounds have a better understanding of healthcare and clinical issues, facilitating interactions amongst clinical teams.

For the citizen, health data education and literacy in PM, including ethical, regulatory, and data-control issues, is provided through schools and specific literacy programs. Improved PM literacy is complemented by interfaces capable of providing required rigorous information on demand while preserving the patient-clinician interaction.

In 2030, healthcare managers and policy makers have ample evidence of the benefits of PM to citizens and healthcare systems. This enables the establishment of political frameworks to tackle effectiveness, efficiency, equity, and ethical issues underlying the development and implementation of PM approaches.

Conclusions

PM is not so much a paradigm change as the evolution of medicine in a biotechnology and data-rich era. This development requires extensive adjustments in the way healthcare is provided, including new skills for healthcare professionals and novel tools for delivery. The ICPerMed vision reflects such an evolution. It was supported by consulting European and international experts, covering key sectors, who provided feedback on the opportunities and challenges of PM and highlighted specific concerns and possible solutions [ 2].

ICPerMed supports coordinated research directed towards the progressive implementation of PM and has previously developed an Action Plan [ 3], defining research activities to stimulate the adoption of PM in healthcare. Leveraging the Action Plan, ICPerMed members have been successful in establishing PM research and healthcare programs and actions in their own countries and regions [ 4]. The European Commission already supports many initiatives consistent with the presented vision and, together with ICPerMed, is committed to expanding its efforts globally. The core perspectives of the ICPerMed vision and transversal issues presented herein can further orient policy makers and guide the healthcare community in their planning of future programs and activities for PM implementation. ICPerMed will continue to act as a communication platform for existing and future initiatives and organisations related to PM, paving the way towards this vision of PM in 2030.

Availability of data and materials

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analysed for this commentary. The analysis of data from the mentioned survey to European and international experts is published separately [ 2].

Abbreviations

PM:

Personalised medicine

ICPerMed:

International consortium for personalised medicine

EHR:

Electronic health records

ICT:

Information and communication technology

Acknowledgements

The authors of the present Commentary are acting on behalf of ICPerMed. The ICPerMed vision has been published in full detail as a white paper, available online ( https://www.icpermed.eu/en/activities-vision-paper.php), and disseminated by ICPerMed. In parallel, the methodology and analysis of the ICPerMed expert survey is being published separately. The authors wish to acknowledge the European and international experts who replied to the ICPerMed expert survey on a vision for Personalised Medicine and contributed with their views. The authors further acknowledge the contributions of Derya Donertas, Malin Eklund, Angela Isvak, Adrien Lawrence, Mairead O'Driscoll, Etienne Richer, and Giovanna Trivella to the development of the ICPerMed vision white paper.

Funding

The Coordination and Support Action (CSA) ICPerMed Secretariat receives funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No 731366. It is coordinated by the DLR, Germany, with partners from France (French National Funding Agency, ANR), Italy (Italian Ministry of Health), and Spain (Institute of Health Carlos III, ISCIII).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Health Promotion and NCD Prevention, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Av Padre Cruz, 1691-016, Lisbon, Portugal

Astrid M. Vicente

2. Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Lisbon, Portugal

Astrid M. Vicente

3. German Aerospace Center (DLR), Project Management Agency, Innovation for disease Related Research, Health, Personalised Medicine, Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1, 53227, Bonn, Germany

Wolfgang Ballensiefen

4. Swedish Research Council, Scientific Council for Medicine and Health, Box 1035, 101 38, Stockholm, Sweden

Jan-Ingvar Jönsson

5. Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden

Jan-Ingvar Jönsson

Contributions

All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Astrid M. Vicente.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not Applicable.

Consent for publication

Not Applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How personalised medicine will transform healthcare by 2030: the ICPerMed vision - Journal of Translational Medicine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This commentary presents the vision of the International Consortium for Personalised Medicine (ICPerMed) on how personalised medicine (PM) will lead to the next generation of healthcare by 2030.

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Device for  measuring hair and skin exposure 

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Device for  measuring hair and skin exposure 

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DEVICE FOR MEASURING HAIR AND SKIN EXPOSURE TO HARMFUL LIGHT

AND POLLUTANTS AND RECOMMENDING PERSONALIZED HAIRCARE AND

SKINCARE PRODUCTS

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Patent Application No. 17/084,235, filed October 29, 2020, co-pending U.S. Patent Application No. 17/084,261, filed October 29, 2020, co-pending U.S. Patent Application No. 17/084,269, filed October 29, 2020, co-pending French Patent Application No. 2100514, filed January 20, 2021, co-pending French Patent Application No. 2100571, filed January 21, 2021, and co-pending French Patent Application No. 2100576, filed January 21, 2021; the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

SUMMARY

Personal sensor product that measures exposure of hair to harmful light, assesses possible damage caused by different types of harmful light and recommends more personalized set of haircare products targeted to repair the damage done to hair.

A wearable sensor device and related computer-implemented method ("App") can measure and report hair-affecting air-borne pollutant exposures and/or use known sources of the air-borne pollutants based on GPS proximity to such sources. The method can then recommend haircare products that are specifically tailored to address the effects from specific pollutants. In one embodiment, a database of "Tables" contain information on the possible hair damage attributable to each air-borne pollutants. Using Tables or other databases make it possible to assess the damage to hair and scalp caused by such pollutants and recommends more personalized set of haircare products targeted to repair the damage done to hair.

A wearable sensor device and related computer-implemented method ("App") can measure and report skin-affecting air-borne pollutant exposures and/or use known sources of the air-borne pollutants based on GPS proximity to such sources. The method can then recommend skincare products that are specifically tailored to address the effects from specific pollutants. In one embodiment, a database of "Tables" contain information on the possible skin damage attributable to each air-borne pollutants. Using Tables or other databases make it possible to assess the damage to skin caused by such pollutants and recommends more personalized set of skincare products targeted to repair or prevent or delay the damage done to skin.

In one embodiment, App data management includes time logs of the subject's pollutant exposure, a breakdown of their exposure levels (doses) relative to those that would produce harmful effects on skin, and recommendations on how to treat and avoid these effects using skin products.

The pollutant sensors on this device could be based on Metal-Oxide, Electrochemical, and/or Laser or LED scatting technologies. The pollutant concentration levels measured by the devices sensors are transmitted via Bluetooth to a separate, cellular, or WiLi-connected computing device (i.e., mobile phone, smartphone). These pollutant concentration levels are time-logged by the computing device according to the time at which they are wirelessly received. The computing device can then calculate the total exposure across any time period. Effects of different pollutants on skin relative to exposure amount and duration are understood through prior scientific studies.

With the subject's skin profile understood, the app can determine how close the subject's actual skin exposure is to the various harmful thresholds and/or at what rate they'll reach the thresholds (i.e. if they continue to stay in their present location for X minutes).

A wide variety of products, such as ones rich in B vitamins, and ways to use them can be recommended to mitigate the harmful effects of pollution exposure, but only certain ones and application methods are compatible with the subject's skin type and skin sensitivities and skin characteristics. By knowing the subject's skin profile, the app can make more tailored product suggestions. This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 a schematic diagram that illustrates one embodiment of a system for generating and providing haircare and skincare recommendations to a subject;

FIGURE 2 is a block diagram that illustrates one embodiment of a system that includes a mobile computing device and a server computing device;

FIGURE 3 is a block diagram that illustrates one embodiment of a computing device appropriate for use as a computing device with embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIGURE 4 is a flowchart that illustrates one embodiment of a method of generating and providing recommendations to a subject;

FIGURE 5 is a flowchart that illustrates one embodiment of a method of generating and providing recommendations to a subject; and

FIGURE 6 is a flowchart that illustrates one embodiment of a method of generating and providing recommendations to a subject.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

High levels of different types of light and air pollutants indoors or outdoors can detrimentally affect one's hair. Accordingly, one embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a computer-implemented method and the computer system to make it possible for a subject to understand the damage to hair that can be inflicted by the various type of light pollutants, notifying a subject when possible damage to hair has occurred, and recommending one or more products to mitigate and remedy the hair damage.

As used herein, "light" denotes any radiation of any wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum. In one embodiment, a light can have an adverse effect on a subject's hair. In one embodiment, different types of light include infrared, visible light, and ultraviolet. In one embodiment, light is radiation of any wavelength emitted by the sun.

As used herein, "pollutant" denotes any elements, molecules, particles, environmental factors and the like. In one embodiment, a pollutant can have an adverse effect on a subject's hair or scalp or both hair and scalp. In one embodiment, a pollutant can have an adverse effect on a subject's skin.

When a pollutant affects the scalp, it damages hair follicles which result in damage to hair, such as hair loss. Other hair damage may include loss of color, loss of strength through degradation of proteins in hair, for example.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a computer system and computer-implemented method or App to educate and alert subjects about their exposure (real-time / hourly / daily / lifetime, etc.) to the full range of indoor and outdoor environmental factors, such as harmful light and pollutants, that can damage their hair and skin.

Air-borne pollutants, such as particulate matter (e.g., soot and heavy metals) and volatile organic gases (VOCs) can cause weakened hair that can break. Some hair sprays and other products, as well as the styling method (heat) may even exacerbate these conditions.

For example, studies have determined that prolonged exposure to pollution has several harmful effects, including scalp irritation and redness, exfoliation of the scalp, dandruff, and hair loss. Studies have determined that air-borne particles can cause oxidative stress and biological interaction with scalp cells and hair follicles, leading to hair loss. Hair loss from pollution has been correlated to exposure to free radicals in particulate matter (PM), namely PM10 and PM2.5. Particulate matter exists as dust, smoke, soot, liquid droplets, and organic and inorganic particles.

Scalp irritation from pollution has can result from exposure to particulate matter, as well as arsenic, sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ammonia, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).

There are limits to how much exposure to each pollutant or aggregate of pollutants a subject can encounter before the subject experiences hair damage, such as color change, weakened hair, and hair loss. These limits are a function of hair type, hair and scalp products used, and duration and frequency of exposure to certain pollutants. In one embodiment, the computer-implemented method can recommend products and a treatment regimen to correct the hair damage done by exposure to pollutants. In one embodiment, because pollutants do not affect persons equally, the products and treatment regimen can be tailored and recommended based on hair type, hair products used, and duration and frequency of exposure to each type of pollutant.

Existing studies that show the relationship of hair damage to pollutant exposure can be used to set the limits on the amount of exposure of each pollutant that triggers a notification to the subject that hair damage is possible by continued exposure. Additionally, new studies can be conducted to learn the affects that pollutants have on subjects based on hair type. The learning experiments can be conducted over a period of time by measuring the pollutant exposure and recording the effects on hair given certain pollutant exposure levels. The effects on hair can then be stored in a subject's profile. In one embodiment, exposure is the measure of the concentration of pollutant over time.

Accordingly, one embodiment of this disclosure is to quantify hair damage according to the amount of exposure to one or more pollutants based on a subject's profile.

Studies have also shown that the sunlight can lead to hair damage. The hair damage is not always the same for each person. Sunlight can cause degradation of proteins in hair, and loss of hair pigment. Generally, however, morphological damage, such as protein degradation is caused by exposure to Ultraviolet B (UVB), and biochemical damage, such as color loss, is caused by exposure to Ultraviolet A (UVA). Again, not every person will experience the same damage from the same type and amount of exposure to UVA, UVB, and visible light. For example, studies have also determined that hair damage caused from UVA and UVB is dependent on the hair type, such as color, composition, melanin content, waviness versus straight hair, etc. For each hair type, for example, there can be a different exposure limit at which Ultraviolet (UV) can bleach or fade hair color. The exposure limits can be set to ensure that neither dyed or naturally colored hair does not lose color (and possibly texture). Beyond UV, there are potential consequences for both hair and hair product (its efficacy and texture) when exposed to infrared light (heat).

Personal air quality sensing products output data (air quality indexes and/or safety alerts) tied to known exposure limits and standards. These limits and standards are generally formulated with respect to the respiratory effects that various pollutants can have. In one embodiment, this disclosure can expand or complement existing air quality indexes and/or safety alerts to bring about greater education and awareness about the skin effects, as opposed to just the respiratory effects, that various pollutants can have, and ultimately recommend skincare products that address these effects.

In one embodiment, a wearable personal device is designed to include sensors that measure air pollutants that are known to have harmful effects on human skin, namely NO2, 03, PM1.0, PM2.5, PM10, PAHs (polyaromatic hydrocarbons) and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Measured data from the device is transmitted to a connected App, which logs the data and performs time-derivative calculations to determine if the subject has been exposed beyond a scientifically-proven skin safety limit. Alternatively, the app can determine the subject's risk level by knowing the subject's GPS location over time relative to web-mapped sources of the aforementioned pollutants (i.e. freeways, high traffic roads, industrial factories, and construction sites). The App alerts the subject about their exposure levels relative to the skin safety limits and recommends skincare products that are tailored to the different effects the various encountered pollutants have. High levels of air pollutants indoors or outdoors can detrimentally affect one's skin. Accordingly, one embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a computer- implemented method and the computer system to make it possible for a subject to understand the damage to skin that can be inflicted by the various pollutants, notifying the subject when possible damage to skin has occurred, and recommending one or more products to mitigate and remedy the skin damage.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a computer system and computer-implemented method or App to educate and alert subjects about their exposure (real-time / hourly / daily / lifetime, etc.) to the full range of indoor and outdoor pollutants that can damage their skin.

Studies have shown uptake of air-borne pollutants occurs transdermally. Depending on the pollutant type, several biochemical and clinical effects can occur. UV light may also interact with air-borne pollutants and exacerbate the effects. Studies have shown the airborne pollutants can lead to increase in production of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, and apoptosis (cell death). Studies have also shown that air-borne pollutants can lead to skin aging, such as skin wrinkles on the face and hands, as well as pigment spots due to particulate matter (PM), namely PM10 and PM2.5. Particulate matter exists as dust, smoke, soot, liquid droplets, and organic and inorganic particles. Studies have also shown that air-borne pollutants, such as PM 10, PM2.5 and NO2, can lead to acne in some populations. Air-borne pollutants can lead to skin dryness and excess sebum production. Air-borne pollutants through skin uptake have also been linked to inflammatory skin diseases, such as eczema. Some air-borne pollutants linked to atopic dermatitis include PM10, NO2, SO2, and 03.

For an in-depth discussion, see "The Impact of Airborne Pollution on Skin," E. Araviiskais et al., J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 2019 Aug; 33(8).

There are limits to how much exposure to each pollutant or aggregate of pollutants a subject can encounter before the subject begins to experience skin damage. These limits can be a function of skin type, skin characteristics, medical history, predisposition to certain conditions, and the like. In one embodiment, the computer-implemented method can recommend products and a treatment regimen to correct the skin damage done by exposure to air-borne pollutants or to prevent or delay skin damage in the first place. In one embodiment, because pollutants do not affect persons equally, the products and treatment regimen can be tailored and recommended based on a subject's profile, which can include skin type, skin sensitivities and other distinguishing skin characteristics. Such recommendations can consider not only the subject's profile but the duration and frequency of exposure to each type of pollutant, and recommend only certain products and application methods that are compatible with the subject's skin type and skin sensitivities. By knowing the subject's skin profile, the app can make more tailored product suggestions.

Existing studies that show the relationship of skin damage to pollutant exposure can be used to set the limits on the amount of exposure of each pollutant that triggers a notification to the subject that skin damage is possible by continued exposure. Additionally, new studies can be conducted to learn the affects that pollutants have on subjects based on skin type or other factors. The learning experiments can be conducted over a period of time by measuring the pollutant exposure and recording the effects on skin given certain pollutant exposure levels. A computer-implemented method can also adjust the exposure limits for air-borne pollutants according to factors in each subject's profile. The effects on skin for each subject can then be stored in a subject's profile. In one embodiment, exposure is the measure of the concentration of pollutant over time.

The primary sources of particulate matter and the other listed pollutants are industrial and vehicle combustion, woodsmoke, refining, industrial and vehicle abrasion, road dust, quarrying, milling, and large scale transfer of dusty materials. Particulate matter itself can be comprised of a multitude of the other listed pollutants, depending on environmental factors, such as ozone concentrations. In one embodiment, a subject's profile can include a geographic region where the subject resides. One embodiment of this disclosure is to quantify hair damage according to hair type based on the amount of exposure to one or more types of light. In one embodiment, exposure can be defined as the intensity of the light over time.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a computer system and computer-implemented method to provide subjects with more information on their exposure levels to harmful types of light as they move through different environments in their daily lives. In one embodiment, the subjects are informed about the harmful effects to allow the subject to purchase a wider range (a set) of hair products specifically targeted to correct or protect against the various effects. In one embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a computer system and computer-implemented method to guide the subject on haircare products that are tailored to their lifestyle.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a computer system and computer-implemented method to provide subjects with more information on their exposure levels to harmful pollutants as they move through different environments in their daily lives. In one embodiment, the subjects are informed about the harmful effects to allow the subject to purchase a wider range (a set) of hair products specifically targeted to correct or protect against the various effects. In one embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a computer system and computer-implemented method to guide the subject on haircare products that are tailored to their lifestyle, and particularly to correct for any damage to hair that has occurred or that might occur according to the pollutants to which they are most exposed to.

One embodiment of this disclosure is to quantify skin damage according to the amount of exposure to one or more pollutants based on a subject's profile.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a computer system and computer-implemented method to provide subjects with more information on their exposure levels to harmful pollutants as they move through different environments in their daily lives. In one embodiment, the subjects are informed about the harmful effects to allow the subject to purchase a wider range (a set) of skin products specifically targeted to correct or protect against the various effects. In one embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a computer system and computer-implemented method to guide the subject on skincare products that are tailored to their lifestyle, and particularly to correct for any damage to skin that has occurred or that might occur according to the pollutants to which they are most exposed to.

In one embodiment, the system 100 in FIGURE 1 can be used for tracking a subject's exposure time to one or more types of light, assessing damage to the subject's hair and skin inflicted by the one or more types of light, and recommending a personalized set of haircare products depending on the damage caused by the types of light, and recommending a haircare product and regimen to prevent or alleviate damage caused by the one or more types of light.

In one embodiment of the system 100, the subject 102 interacts with a mobile computing device 104. In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 104 may be used to receive exposure data of one or more types of light from a wearable UV sensor 106 or pollutant sensor 107 on the subject 102, additionally or alternatively, the data may come from one or more sources on the Internet, for example, online sources can report the air quality for a particular location, for example, online sites can provide the amount of ozone (03), particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), UVA, and UVB light.

In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 104 is capable of performing the computer-implemented method designated by the Haircare App icon 108. The subject may start the computer-implemented method by touching the icon 108 on a touch-sensitive display of the mobile computing device 104. One embodiment of a computer-implemented method is further described in connection with FIGURE 4.

The personal, wearable environmental sensor 106 is for measuring different types of light radiation (i.e. Ultraviolet-A (UVA), Ultraviolet-B (UVB), Blue High Energy Visible (HEV), Infrared (IR)) and air-borne pollutants (i.e., CO, CO2, NO2, NOx, SO2, 03, PM2.5, PM10, VOC, heavy metals, radiation) as well as environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity. The amount of light radiation of different types and air-borne pollutants at given locations is also available for downloading from various publicly accessible sources on the Internet. In one embodiment, the sensor 106 is worn on or closer to the head to more accurately sense the amount of types of light impacting the subject's hair. The sensor 106, for example, can be integrated into eyewear or an earpiece worn by the subject 102. If, for example, the subject 102 is wearing a head covering, the sensor 106 can more accurately measure the types of light impacting on the hair, when the sensor is worn on the subject's head.

In one embodiment, the amount of one or more types of light in any environment is transmitted from the sensor 106 via a wireless technology to the mobile phone 104 running the Haircare App. The Haircare App receives these constantly changing values based on the subject's location and integrates them over time to calculate the type and amount that hair has been impacted by types of light, determines whether or not the subject's hair has been damaged or is at risk of being damaged, and alerts the subject accordingly.

In one embodiment, the system 100 in FIGURE 1 can be used for tracking a subject's exposure time to one or more pollutants, assessing damage to the subject's hair inflicted by the one or more pollutants, and recommending a personalized set of haircare products depending on the damage caused by the pollutants, and recommending a haircare product and regimen to prevent or alleviate damage caused by the one or more pollutants.

In the system 100, the subject 102 interacts with the mobile computing device 104. In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 104 is capable of performing the computer-implemented method designated by the Haircare App icon 108. The subject may start the computer-implemented method by touching the icon 108 on a touch-sensitive display of the mobile computing device 104. One embodiment of a computer-implemented method is further described in connection with FIGURE 5.

In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 104 may be used to receive exposure data of one or more pollutants from the wearable sensor 106 on the subject 102. Additionally or alternatively, the data may come from one or more sources on the Internet,

-l i for example, online sources can report the air quality for a particular location, for example, online sites can provide the amount of ozone (03), particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) for particular geographic locations. The mobile computing device 104 can retrieve pollutant concentrations from known sources of the air-borne pollutants based on GPS proximity to such sources.

The wearable environmental sensor 106 is for measuring concentrations of different types of air-borne pollutants (i.e., CO, CO2, NO2, NOx, SO2, 03, PM2.5, PM10, VOC, heavy metals) as well as environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity. The amount of air-borne pollutants at given locations is also available for downloading from various publicly accessible sources on the Internet. The mobile computing device 104 decides to use the publicly accessible sources based on a GPS on the mobile computing device 104 detecting whether the subject 102 is within a radius of a known source of pollutant concentration data. Once the concentrations are determined, the concentrations are integrated over the period of time that the subject is exposed to that concentration. As the subject 102 moves from location to location, pollutant concentrations can change.

There are a variety of approaches to making the sensor 106 that senses pollutants that are harmful to hair. In one embodiment, sensor 106 is size and/or power and/or cost agnostic and is equipped with a full array of sensors that individually measure each of the aforementioned pollutants. In one embodiment, the sensor 106 is size and/or power and/or cost conscious and is equipped with a small array of sensors that individually measure a small subset of the aforementioned pollutants. In the latter case, determining the concentrations of the non-sensed pollutants could be achieved by extrapolation through data collected by publicly accessible remote sensing devices (that are not size and/or power and/or cost conscious). In one embodiment, the presence of particulate matter can correlate with the presence of the other listed pollutants, and visa-versa, obviating the need to measure or obtain data for some pollutants. In one embodiment, extrapolation can be used to determine pollutant concentrations through a combination of ascertaining a subject's location through GPS data and using local weather station or satellite data including real time and forecasted weather patterns such as wind speed, wind direction, and pollutant concentrations at a known location. For example, a subject 102 can be at a distant location from a publicly accessible source of pollutant data, the mobile computing device 104 can use the data from the publicly accessible source and apply a dispersion model to extrapolate the concentration at the subject's location. A pollutant dispersion model can be based on wind speed, wind direction, atmospheric pressure, weather patterns, meteorological data, and the like to extrapolate the pollutant concentration at the original source to the pollutant concentration at the subject's distant location.

In one embodiment, the sensor 106 is designed to be portable and worn on or near the subject's body for continuously or periodically measuring the subject's environment indoors and outdoors. In one embodiment, the sensor 106 is designed to be portable and worn as a ring. In one embodiment, the construction or chemistry of the individual pollutant sensors may include metal-oxide, hybrid metal-oxide, electrochemical, MEMs, LED scattering, laser scattering, or fuel cell sensors.

In one embodiment, the amount of pollutant in any environment is transmitted from the sensor 106 via a wireless technology to the mobile computing device 104 running the Haircare App. The Haircare App receives these constantly changing values based on the subject's location and integrates them over time to calculate the type and amount that hair has been impacted by pollutants, determines whether or not the subject's hair has been damaged or is at risk of being damaged, and alerts the subject accordingly, and provides recommendations.

In one embodiment, the system 100 in FIGURE 1 can be used for tracking a subject's exposure time to one or more pollutants, assessing damage to the subject's skin inflicted by the one or more pollutants, and recommending a personalized set of skincare products depending on the damage caused by the pollutants, and recommending a skincare product and regimen to prevent or alleviate damage caused by the one or more pollutants.

In the system 100, the subject 102 interacts with the mobile computing device 104. In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 104 is capable of performing the computer-implemented method designated by the Skincare App icon 109. The subject may start the computer-implemented method by touching the icon 109 on a touch-sensitive display of the mobile computing device 104. The computer-implemented method is further described in connection with FIGURE 6.

In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 104 may be used to receive exposure data of one or more pollutants from the wearable sensor 107 on the subject 102. Additionally or alternatively, the data may come from one or more sources on the Internet, for example, online sources can report the air quality for a particular location, for example, online sites can provide the amount of ozone (03), particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) for particular geographic locations. The mobile computing device 104 can retrieve pollutant concentrations from known sources of the air-borne pollutants based on GPS proximity to such sources.

The wearable environmental sensor 107 is for measuring concentrations of different types of air-borne pollutants (i.e., CO, CO2, NO2, NOx, SO2, 03, PM2.5, PM10, VOC, PAH, heavy metals) as well as environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity. The amount of air-borne pollutants at given locations is also available for downloading from various publicly accessible sources on the Internet. The mobile computing device 104 decides to use the publicly accessible sources based on a GPS on the mobile computing device 104 detecting whether the subject 102 is within a radius of a known source of pollutant concentration data. Once the concentrations are determined, the concentrations are integrated over the period of time that the subject is exposed to that concentration. As the subject 102 moves from location to location, pollutant concentrations can change.

There are a variety of approaches to making the sensor 107 that senses pollutants that are harmful to skin. In one embodiment, sensor 107 is size and/or power and/or cost agnostic and is equipped with a full array of sensors that individually measure each of the aforementioned pollutants. In one embodiment, the sensor 107 is size and/or power and/or cost conscious and is equipped with a small array of sensors that individually measure a small subset of the aforementioned pollutants. In the latter case, determining the concentrations of the non-sensed pollutants could be achieved by extrapolation through data collected by publicly accessible remote sensing devices (that are not size and/or power and/or cost conscious). In one embodiment, the presence of particulate matter can correlate with the presence of the other listed pollutants, and visa-versa, obviating the need to measure or obtain data for some pollutants. In one embodiment, extrapolation can be used to determine pollutant concentrations through a combination of ascertaining a subject's location through GPS data and using local weather station or satellite data including real time and forecasted weather patterns such as wind speed, wind direction, and pollutant concentrations at a known location. For example, a subject 102 can be at a distant location from a publicly accessible source of pollutant data, the mobile computing device 104 can use the data from the publicly accessible source and apply a dispersion model to extrapolate the concentration at the subject's location. A pollutant dispersion model can be based on wind speed, wind direction, atmospheric pressure, weather patterns, meteorological data, and the like to extrapolate the pollutant concentration at the original source to the pollutant concentration at the subject's distant location. In one embodiment, pollutant levels can be determined based on the subject's geographic location, such as city, town, zip code, and the like.

In one embodiment, the sensor 107 is designed to be portable and worn on or near the subject's body for continuously or periodically measuring the subject's environment indoors and outdoors. In one embodiment, the sensor 107 is designed to be portable and worn as a ring. In one embodiment, the construction or chemistry of the individual pollutant sensors may include metal-oxide, hybrid metal-oxide, electrochemical, MEMs, LED scattering, laser scattering, or fuel cell sensors.

In one embodiment, the amount of pollutant in any environment is transmitted from the sensor 107 via a wireless technology to the mobile computing device 104 running the Skincare App. The Skincare App receives these constantly changing values based on the subject's location and integrates them over time to calculate the type and amount that skin has been impacted by pollutants, determines whether or not the subject's skin has been damaged or is at risk of being damaged, and alerts the subject accordingly, and provides recommendations.

In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 104 is connected to a remote server computer system 112 comprised of one or more server computers via a network, such as the Internet 110. The network may include any suitable networking technology, including but not limited to a wireless communication technology (including but not limited to Wi-Fi, WiMAX, Bluetooth, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and LTE), a wired communication technology (including but not limited to Ethernet, USB, and FireWire), or combinations thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a block diagram that illustrates a non-limiting example embodiment of a system that includes the mobile computing device 104 and a server computing system 112 according to various aspects of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 104 may be a smartphone. In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 104 may be any other type of computing device having the illustrated components, including but not limited to a tablet computing device or a laptop computing device. In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 104 may not be mobile, but may instead be a stationary computing device, such as a desktop computing device. In one embodiment, the illustrated components of the mobile computing device 104 may be within a single housing. In one embodiment, the illustrated components of the mobile computing device 104 may be in separate housings that are communicatively coupled through wired or wireless connections. The mobile computing device 104 also includes other components that are not illustrated, including but not limited to one or more processors, a non-transitory computer- readable medium, a power source, and one or more communication interfaces.

In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 104 includes, at least, a display device 216, a Haircare Application engine 212 (Haircare App engine 212), and a user interface engine 214. In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 104 includes, at least, the display device 216, a Skincare Application engine 213 (Skincare App engine 213), and the user interface engine 214. In one embodiment, the display device 216 is an LED display, an OLED display, or another type of display for presenting a user interface. In one embodiment, the display device 216 may be combined with or include a touch-sensitive layer, such that a subject 102 may interact with a user interface presented on the display device 216 by touching the display. In one embodiment, a separate user interface device, including but not limited to a mouse, a keyboard, or a stylus, may be used to interact with a user interface presented on the display device 216.

In one embodiment, the user interface engine 214 is configured to present a user interface on the display device 216 when opening the Haircare App engine 212. The Haircare App engine 212 will cause the user interface engine 214 to display a plurality of user interfaces on the display device 216 relating to a computer-implemented method used for the gathering and display of information, including gathering subject specific data, such as hair type, current hair regimen used, and the like to create a subject profile. The user interface engine 214 displays user interfaces for recommending a personalized set of haircare products depending on a damage assessment of hair based on the subject's profile, including the subject's hair type and based on the type and amount of pollutants or on the type and amount of light to which the subject's hair has been exposed.

In one embodiment, the user interface engine 214 is configured to present a user interface on the display device 216 when opening the Skincare App engine 213. The Skincare App engine 213 will cause the user interface engine 214 to display a plurality of user interfaces on the display device 216 relating to a computer-implemented method Skincare App used for the gathering and display of information, including gathering subject specific data, such as skin type, skin sensitivities, current skincare regimen and products used, and the like to create a subject profile. The user interface engine 214 displays user interfaces for recommending a personalized set of skincare products depending on a damage assessment of skin based on the subject's profile, including the subject's skin type and based on the type and amount of pollutants to which the subject's skin has been exposed. In one embodiment, the user interface engine 214 can present the subject with a questionnaire that is useful to elicit information for determining the subject's profile, such as, but not limited to daily, weekly, and monthly schedules, hair type which can be selected from predetermined menu choices, haircare products currently used, hair styling methods currently used, skincare products currently used, but also provide other options and information.

In one embodiment, the server computing system 112 includes one or more computing devices that each include one or more processors, non-transitory computer- readable media, and network communication interfaces that are collectively configured to provide the illustrated components. In one embodiment, the one or more computing devices that make up the server computing system 112 may be rack-mount computing devices, desktop computing devices, or computing devices of a cloud computing service.

In one embodiment, the server computing system 112 includes a user data store 202, a light engine 204, and a recommendation engine 210.

In one embodiment, the server computing system 112 includes a user data store 202, a pollutant engine 205, and a recommendation engine 210.

In one embodiment, the server computing system 112 is configured to perform data analytics for determining the light intensity as a subject's location changes, integrating the light intensity over time, comparing the light exposure to target exposure levels for each type of light, determining the types of light to which the subject has the highest exposure, determining an assessment of the hair damage inflicted by the exposures, and making product recommendations. In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 104 is configured to connect to the server computing system 112 in a cloud computing environment to enable the mobile computing device 104 with the Haircare App engine 212 to use the computing resources of the server computing system 112. In one embodiment, one, some or all of the components of the user data store 202, light engine 204 and a recommendation engine 210 can reside in the mobile computing device 104. In one embodiment, the server computing system 112 is configured to perform data analytics for determining the pollutant concentration as a subject's location changes, integrating the pollutant concentration over time to determine exposure, comparing the pollutant exposure to target exposure levels, determining the pollutants to which the subject has the highest exposure, determining an assessment of the hair damage inflicted by the exposures, and making product recommendations. In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 104 is configured to connect to the server computing system 112 in a cloud computing environment to enable the mobile computing device 104 with the Haircare App engine 212 to use the computing resources of the server computing system 112. In one embodiment, one, some or all of the components of the user data store 202, pollutant engine 205 and a recommendation engine 210 can reside in the mobile computing device 104.

In one embodiment, the server computing system 112 is configured to perform data analytics for determining the pollutant concentration as a subject's location changes, integrating the pollutant concentration over time to determine a running total exposure, comparing the pollutant exposure to target exposure levels, determining the pollutants to which the subject has the highest exposure, determining an assessment of the skin damage inflicted by the exposures, and making product recommendations. In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 104 is configured to connect to the server computing system 112 in a cloud computing environment to enable the mobile computing device 104 with the Skincare App engine 213 to use the computing resources of the server computing system 112. In one embodiment, one, some or all of the components of the user data store 202, pollutant engine 205 and a recommendation engine 210 can reside in the mobile computing device 104.

In one embodiment, the user data store 202 is configured to store records for each subject 102 that uses the system. The records may include the subject's profile including medical or personal records, such as age, weight, hair type, skin type, skin sensitivities, medical risk factors, residence, occupation, athletic activities, schedules, past product recommendations, descriptions of lifestyle, and/or other information collected or determined by the system.

For example, a subject's profile can include daily, weekly, and monthly schedules, hair type which can be selected from predetermined menu choices, haircare products currently used, hair styling methods currently used, skin type which can be selected from predetermined menu choices, and skincare products currently used.

In one embodiment, the user data store 202 may also contain a database of haircare products, wherein each haircare product is identified by or classified according to one or more attributes. For example, a haircare product can be classified as having one or more of the following attributes: a UV blocker, a moisturizer, a humectant, antioxidant source, hyaluronic acid source, collagen source. In this manner, the recommendation engine 210 can recommend products that more precisely are directed to the type of damage caused by a particular light type and a particular pollutant.

In one embodiment, the user data store 202 may also contain a database of skincare products, wherein each skincare product is identified by or classified according to one or more attributes. For example, a skincare product can be classified as having one or more of the following attributes: a UV blocker, a moisturizer, a humectant, antioxidant source, hyaluronic acid source, collagen source, and vitamin B. In this manner, the recommendation engine 210 can recommend products that more precisely directed to the type of damage caused by a particular pollutant.

In one embodiment, the user data store 202 may also contain a database of hair types. Hair types may be grouped according to color, composition, melanin types and content, or any combination of two or more factors. In one embodiment, the haircare product recommendations are based on the subject's profile. In one embodiment, each subject can be assigned one or more hair types.

In one embodiment, each hair type can be related through a series of Tables that relate the hair type to the damage that is inflicted by each type of light and the exposure amount of each type of light. For example, a Table can quantify the type and amount of damage caused by a certain light type according to the amount of exposure to such light type for each hair type or combination of hair type. A Table has the exposure limits at which a light type is capable of inflicting hair damage. For each hair type, for example, there can be a different exposure limit at which UV can bleach or fade hair color. The exposure limits can be set to ensure that neither dyed or naturally colored hair does not lose color (and possibly texture). Beyond UV, there are potentially consequences for both hair and hair product (its efficacy and texture) when exposed to infrared light (heat). As can be appreciated there can be a multiplicity of Tables for each hair type to cover each light type and the exposure amount of light. The Tables also quantify the hair damage, so that a haircare product can be recommended that is specifically targeted to repair the damage.

In one embodiment, the user data store 202 may also contain a database of skin types. Skin types may be grouped according to color, composition, melanin types and content, or any combination of two or more factors. In one embodiment, the skincare product recommendations are based on one or more attributes in the subject's profile. In one embodiment, each subject can be assigned to one or more skin types. Each skin type can be related through a series of Tables that relate the skin type to the damage that is inflicted by each pollutant and the exposure amount of pollutant. For example, a Table can quantify the type and amount of damage caused by a certain pollutant according to the amount of exposure to such pollutant for each skin type or another subject attribute. A Table has the exposure limits at which a pollutant is capable of inflicting skin damage. The exposure limits can be adjusted based on one or more attributes in the subject's profile. The Tables also quantify the skin damage, so that a skincare product can be recommended that is specifically targeted to repair or prevent the damage according to a treatment regimen including the skincare product dosage and frequency. Additionally, skin type is one subject attribute according to which skin damage can be categorized. In one embodiment, a combination of subject attributes are stored in Tables to create multi-dimensional relationships for assessing skin damage based on skin type and one or more subject attributes. As can be appreciated, there can be a multiplicity of Tables for each skin type and each additional subject attribute to cover each pollutant and the amount of pollutant to assess the skin damage. In one embodiment, a weighting factor can be applied to subject attributes to increase the weight of the subject attributes which most affect an assessment of skin damage, and consequently the skincare product recommendation.

In one embodiment, the light engine 204 may be configured to process the data acquired by a wearable light sensor 106 to determine light type levels and exposure times of the subject's hair to one or more types of light. In one embodiment, the light engine 204 may be configured to process the data acquired by online sources reporting the amount of different types of light at the given location of the subject. In one embodiment, the light engine 204 may be configured to both process the data acquired by the light sensor 106 and data acquired through online sources. In one embodiment, the light engine 204 may be configured to calculate the amount of light exposure on a minute, hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or lifetime basis. In one embodiment, the light engine 204 calculates the light type levels by keeping track of a subject's location by global positioning system (GPS) coordinates.

In one embodiment, the light engine 204 is configured to calculate the subject's exposure to one or more types of light and integrate the exposure amount over time to determine a total exposure level. The total exposure level can then be compared to the relationship Tables that describe the damage to each particular hair type by type and amount of light. This comparison can be done on an hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly basis to continually update recommendations for haircare products as more exposure time to types of light leads to greater and greater damage to one's hair.

In one embodiment, the light engine 204 does not use the same target exposure limits for each subject. In one embodiment, the light engine 204 can adjust the target exposure limit based on each subject's profile, and in particular, the subject's hair type. Additionally, other factors in a subject's profile may be used to increase or decrease target exposure limits for a type of light to deem when hair damage has occurred. In one embodiment, the exposure limits of pollutants are adjusted based on the interaction between light, such as UV, and other pollutants. For example, while light can lead to a hair damaging effect, the effect can be multiplied through the presence of airborne pollutants. Also, because light of a certain wavelength and pollutants can independently lead to similar hair damage effects, if the light exposure limit is related to the onset of these effects, then prior pollutant exposure having similar hair damaging effects can reduce the light exposure limit, and visa-versa. In other words, air-borne pollutants can have the same hair damaging effect as light, and the light exposure limit should be determined based on the combined exposure of the light and the pollutant. Therefore, in one embodiment, the exposure limits of light types are adjusted down based the amount of pollutant exposure of the subject or the light type exposure limit is based on counting both the amount of exposure of the light type as well as the amount of exposure to one or more pollutants that has the same hair damaging effect as the light type. The compounding effect is not limited to pollutants, but, can also include other light types that have the same hair damaging effect. In other words, light type exposure limits are based on counting the exposure amounts of more than one light type. In this case, there is a total exposure limit for a group of light types that have the same hair damaging effect. In one embodiment, the exposure limit of a light type or a group of light types is a sum total based on counting the exposure amounts of the all the light types that have the same damaging hair effects. In one embodiment, the amount of exposure of light types that contribute to the same hair damaging effect can be weighted according to the proportional contribution each light type has to cause the hair damaging effect.

The light engine 204 uses the subject's profile, including hair type, such as color and melanin type and content or other attributes to set the target exposure limit.

In one embodiment, the recommendation engine 210 is configured to generate recommendations of haircare products for protection against one or more types of light or for care of damaged hair caused by light. In one embodiment, the recommendation engine 210 provides a set of haircare product recommendations based an assessment of the damage done to hair based on the types of light to which the subject has the highest exposure.

In one embodiment, each hair type can be related through a series of Tables that relate the hair type to the damage that is inflicted by each pollutant and the exposure amount of pollutant. For example, a Table can quantify the type and amount of damage caused by a certain pollutant according to the amount of exposure to such pollutant for each hair type or combination of hair type. A Table has the exposure limits at which a pollutant is capable of inflicting hair damage. The Tables also quantify the hair damage, so that a haircare product can be recommended that is specifically targeted to repair the damage. Additionally, hair type is one subject attribute according to which hair damage can be categorized. In one embodiment, a combination of subject attributes are stored in Tables to create multi-dimensional relationships for assessing hair damage based on hair type and one or more subject attributes. As can be appreciated, there can be a multiplicity of Tables for each hair type and each additional subject attribute to cover each pollutant and the amount of pollutant to assess the hair damage. In one embodiment, a weighting factor can be applied to subject attributes to increase the weight of the subject attributes which most affect an assessment of hair damage, and consequently the haircare product recommendation.

In one embodiment, the pollutant engine 205 may be configured to process the data acquired by a wearable pollutant sensor 106 to determine pollutant levels and exposure times of the subject's hair and skin to one or more pollutants. In one embodiment, the pollutant engine 205 acquires the pollutant concentrations from publicly accessible sources based on a subject's GPS location or extrapolates the pollutant concentrations from the publicly accessible sources based on dispersion modeling.

In one embodiment, measured data from the device is transmitted to a connected App, which logs the data and performs time-derivative calculations to determine if the subject has been exposed beyond scientifically-proven or studied hair and scalp and skin safety limits. Alternatively, the App can determine the subject's risk level by knowing the subject's GPS location over time relative to web-mapped sources of the aforementioned pollutants (i.e. freeways, high traffic roads, industrial factories, and construction sites). The App alerts the subject about their exposure levels relative to the hair and skin safety limits and recommends haircare and skincare products that are tailored to the different effects the various encountered pollutants have.

In one embodiment, the pollutant engine 205 may be configured to process the data acquired by online publicly accessible sources reporting the amount of air pollutants at the given location of the subject. In one embodiment, the pollutant engine 205 may be configured to both process the data acquired by the pollutant sensor 106 and data acquired through online publicly accessible sources. In one embodiment, the pollutant engine 205 may be configured to calculate the amount of pollutant exposure on a minute, hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or lifetime basis. In one embodiment, the pollutant engine 205 calculates the pollutant concentrations by keeping track of a subject's location by global positioning system (GPS) coordinates.

In one embodiment, the pollutant engine 205 is configured to calculate the subject's exposure to one or more pollutants and integrate the exposure amount over time to determine a total exposure level. The total exposure level can then be compared to the relationship Tables that describe the damage to each particular hair type and skin type by type and amount of pollutant. This comparison can be done on an hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly basis to continually update recommendations for haircare and skincare products as more exposure time to pollutants leads to greater and greater damage to one's hair and skin.

In one embodiment, the pollutant engine 205 does not use the same target exposure limits for each subject. In one embodiment, the pollutant engine 205 can adjust the target exposure limit based on each subject's profile, and in particular, the subject's hair type and skin type and skin characteristics. Additionally, other attributes in a subject's profile may be used to increase or decrease target exposure limit for a pollutant to deem when hair and skin damage has occurred. These atributes may describe medical risk factors that indicate certain subjects are more predisposed to a skin condition.

Additionally, the exposure limits may be adjusted according to UV exposure, since UV has been linked to interacting with some air-borne pollutants. In one embodiment, the exposure limits of pollutants are adjusted based on the interaction between the pollutants and UV or other light. For example, while a pollutant can lead to a skin damaging effect, the effect can be multiplied through photoactivation by light of a certain wavelength.

Also, because light of a certain wavelength and pollutants can independently lead to similar hair damage effects, if the pollutant exposure limit is related to the onset of these effects, then prior light exposure, such as UV, can reduce the pollutant exposure limit, and vice-versa. In other words, UV or other light can have the same hair damaging effect as a pollutant, and the pollutant exposure limit should be determined based on the combined exposure of the pollutant and the UV or other light. Therefore, in one embodiment, the exposure limits of pollutants are adjusted down based the amount of light exposure, such as UV, of the subject or the pollutant exposure limit is based on counting both the amount of exposure of the pollutant as well as the amount of exposure to UV or other light that has the same hair or skin damaging effect as the pollutant. The compounding effect is not limited to UV or light, but, can also include other pollutants that have the same hair or skin damaging effect. In other words, exposure limits are based on counting the exposure amounts of more than one pollutant. In this case, there is a total exposure limit for a group of pollutants that have the same hair or skin damaging effect.

In one embodiment, the exposure limit of a pollutant or a group of pollutants is a sum total based on counting the exposure amounts of the pollutants that have the same hair or skin damaging effect. In one embodiment, the amount of exposure of pollutants that contribute to the same hair or skin damaging effect can be weighted according to the proportional contribution each pollutant has to cause the hair or skin damaging effect. The pollutant engine 205 uses the subject's profde, including hair type, such as color and melanin type and content or other atributes to set the target exposure limit. In one embodiment, the recommendation engine 210 is configured to generate recommendations of haircare and skincare products for protection against one or more pollutants or for care of damaged hair or skin caused by pollutants. In one embodiment, the recommendation engine 210 provides a set of haircare and skincare product recommendations based on an assessment of the damage done to hair and skin. In one embodiment, the hair and skin damage assessment is particular based on the pollutants to which the subject has the highest exposure. In one embodiment, the hair and skin damage assessment is based on determining when pollutant exposure levels are a certain percentage from reaching or have reached a target limit set for that pollutant and based on the subject's profile.

In one embodiment, the recommendation engine 210 can further calculate recommendations based on the subject's profile, such as currently used products and styling methods. In this manner, the recommendation engine 210 is able to provide a personalized set of haircare and skincare products unique to the subject.

In one embodiment, products for recommendations are stored in a manner that associates the products' qualities to the hair and skin damage the product aims to repair or alleviate. In this way, once hair and skin damage are calculated, an appropriate product can be recommended.

In one embodiment, haircare products may include water-based shampoos or dry shampoos. Haircare products may also include other ingredients, such as UV blockers, moisturizers, humectants, antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, collagen, EDTA, carriers such as oil and water, and the like. In one embodiment, a haircare product is categorized according to the damage it is aimed to help. The products can be associated with the Tables that show relationships between hair type or any subject attribute, the types of light and pollutants, and hair damage inflicted by types of light and pollutants.

In one embodiment, skincare products may include water-based or oil-based creams, foams, soaps, sprays, and the like. Skincare products may also include other ingredients, such as UV blockers, moisturizers, humectants, antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, collagen, EDTA, vitamin B, carriers such as oil and water, and the like. In one embodiment, a skincare product is categorized according to the damage it is aimed to help. The products can be associated with the Tables that show relationships between skin type or any subject attribute, the pollutants, and skin damage inflicted by pollutants.

"Engine" refers to logic embodied in hardware or software instructions, which can be written in a programming language, such as C, C++, COBOL, JAVA™, PHP, Perl, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, VBScript, ASPX, Microsoft .NET™, Go, and/or the like. An engine may be compiled into executable programs or written in interpreted programming languages. Software engines may be callable from other engines or from themselves. Generally, the engines described herein refer to logical modules that can be merged with other engines, or can be divided into sub-engines. The engines can be stored in any type of computer-readable medium or computer storage device and be stored on and executed by one or more general purpose computers, thus creating a special purpose computer configured to provide the engine or the functionality thereof.

"Data store" refers to any suitable device configured to store data for access by any one or more computing device. One example of a data store is a highly reliable, high-speed relational database management system (DBMS) executing on one or more computing devices and accessible over a high-speed network. Another example of a data store is a key-value store. However, any other suitable storage technique and/or device capable of quickly and reliably providing the stored data in response to queries may be used, and the computing device may be accessible locally instead of over a network, or may be provided as a cloud-based service. A data store may also include data stored in an organized manner on a computer-readable storage medium, such as a hard disk drive, a flash memory, RAM, ROM, or any other type of computer-readable storage medium. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that separate data stores described herein may be combined into a single data store, and/or a single data store described herein may be separated into multiple data stores. In one embodiment, the data store 202 is used for storing the relationship Tables that link subjects' profiles, hair type, light type, hair damage, and haircare products, which are then used in making assessments of hair damage and providing haircare product recommendations according to specific hair types.

In one embodiment, the data store 202 is used for storing the relationship Tables that link subjects' profiles, subjects' attributes, subjects' hair type, pollutant type, pollutant exposure level, pollutant exposure limits that inflict hair damage, the type of hair damage, and haircare products, which are then used in making assessments of hair damage and providing haircare product recommendations directed to the specific hair damage. In one embodiment, an advantage is provided when the hair damage assessment takes into consideration subject attributes from a subject profile.

In one embodiment, the data store 202 is used for storing the relationship Tables that link subjects' profiles, subjects' attributes, subjects' skin type, pollutant type, pollutant exposure level, pollutant exposure limits that inflict skin damage, the type of skin damage, and skincare products with the dosage and frequency, which are then used in making assessments of skin damage and providing skincare product and treatment regimen recommendations directed to the specific skin damage. In one embodiment, an advantage is provided when the skin damage assessment takes into consideration subject attributes from a subject profile.

FIGURE 3 is a block diagram that illustrates aspects of an exemplary computing device 300 appropriate for use as a mobile computing device of the present disclosure. While multiple different types of computing devices were discussed above, the exemplary computing device 300 describes various elements that are common to many different types of computing devices. While FIGURE 3 is described with reference to a mobile computing device, the description below is applicable to servers, personal computers, mobile phones, smart phones, tablet computers, embedded computing devices, and other devices that may be used to implement portions of embodiments of the present disclosure. Moreover, those of ordinary skill in the art and others will recognize that the computing device 300 may be any one of any number of currently available or yet to be developed devices.

In its most basic configuration, the computing device 300 includes at least one processor 302 and a system memory 304 connected by a communication bus 306. Depending on the exact configuration and type of device, the system memory 304 may be volatile or nonvolatile memory, such as read only memory ("ROM"), random access memory ("RAM"), EEPROM, flash memory, or similar memory technology. Those of ordinary skill in the art and others will recognize that system memory 304 typically stores data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/or currently being operated on by the processor 302. In this regard, the processor 302 may serve as a computational center of the computing device 300 by supporting the execution of instructions.

As further illustrated in FIGURE 3, the computing device 300 may include a network interface 310 comprising one or more components for communicating with other devices over a network. Embodiments of the present disclosure may access basic services that utilize the network interface 310 to perform communications using common network protocols. The network interface 310 may also include a wireless network interface configured to communicate via one or more wireless communication protocols, such as WiFi, 2G, 3G, LTE, WiMAX, Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy, and/or the like. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the network interface 310 illustrated in FIGURE 3 may represent one or more wireless interfaces or physical communication interfaces described and illustrated above with respect to particular components of the computing device 300.

In the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIGURE 3, the computing device 300 also includes a storage medium 308. However, services may be accessed using a computing device that does not include means for persisting data to a local storage medium. Therefore, the storage medium 308 depicted in FIGURE 3 is optional. In any event, the storage medium 308 may be volatile or nonvolatile, removable or nonremovable, implemented using any technology capable of storing information such as, but not limited to, a hard drive, solid state drive, CD ROM, DVD, or other disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, and/or the like.

As used herein, the term "computer-readable medium" includes volatile and non-volatile and removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology capable of storing information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. In this regard, the system memory 304 and storage medium 308 depicted in FIGURE 3 are merely examples of computer-readable media.

Suitable implementations of computing devices that include a processor 302, system memory 304, communication bus 306, storage medium 308, and network interface 310 are known and commercially available. For ease of illustration and because it is not important for an understanding of the claimed subject matter, FIGURE 3 does not show some of the typical components of many computing devices. In this regard, the computing device 300 may include input devices, such as a keyboard, keypad, mouse, microphone, touch input device, touch screen, tablet, and/or the like. Such input devices may be coupled to the computing device 300 by wired or wireless connections including RF, infrared, serial, parallel, Bluetooth, Bluetooth low energy, USB, or other suitable connections protocols using wireless or physical connections. Similarly, the computing device 300 may also include output devices such as a display, speakers, printer, etc. Since these devices are well known in the art, they are not illustrated or described further herein.

FIGURE 4 is a flowchart that illustrates a non-limiting example embodiment of a computer-implemented method of recording the type and amount of light to which a subject with a particular hair type has been exposed, assessing the damage inflicted by the particular type and amount of light, and then, recommending a haircare product directly targeted to repair the specific hair damage. In one embodiment, a damage assessment of hair takes into consideration the subject's profile, including for example, hair type or other attributes in the subject's profile. The method 400 may be implemented, in one example, by the mobile computing device 104 alone or in combination with one or more server computing devices 112. The computer-implemented method is performed by the Haircare App engine 212, light engine 204, recommendation engine 210, user interface engine 214 communicating with each other and with the user data store 202.

In one embodiment, the method may be performed in part by the mobile computing device 104 and in part by the remote server computer system 112. In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 104 is configured to upload data regarding the subject to an external system or server (such as a cloud-based system). Such data may include the subject profile. In one embodiment, a subject profile includes the subject's hair type, such as color, composition, melanin types and content, and the like, and haircare product currently used by the subject, and any current styling regimens used by the subject.

The computer-implemented method 400 may start by clicking on the Haircare App icon 108 on the display of the mobile computing device 104 to open the Haircare App engine 212.

From the start block, the Haircare App engine 212 proceeds to block 402, where the Haircare App engine 212 receives the subject's 102 profile, location, and hair type, for example.

If a profile has not been provided, the Haircare App engine 212 can use the user interface engine 214 to present to the subject, a questionnaire with questions regarding all the relevant information needed to complete the profile. The subject can enter the information through the display device 216 thought the use of menu with preselected lists of choices. In one embodiment, the Haircare App engine 212 accesses the user data store 202 for the profile and other information.

In one embodiment, the subject's location can be constantly determined through a GPS in the mobile computing device 104. In this way, the subject's location can be continuously monitored and updated in real time. In one embodiment, the location is used to retrieve information about the light type levels at that subject's current location. The current location can be continuously updated as the subject moves from location to location.

In block 404, the light engine 204 identifies the type of light the subject's hair is currently being exposed to, the light type level, and begins to record the exposure time for each light type as the subject moves from location to location. More specifically, the light engine 204 identifies the types and amount of light impacting hair on a subject. In order to obtain more accurate results, the sensor 106 may be worn on or closer to the head, such as on eyeglasses, an ear piece, or clipped to a piece of clothing worn on or close to the subject's hair. Further, if the subject is wearing a hat or otherwise shielding his or her hair form exposure, the light engine 204 has a way to adjust the light type exposure amount by taking into consideration the type of head covering being used or the sensor 106 is also being shielded by the head covering so the sensor correspondingly senses less exposure.

In one embodiment, the amount and types of light can be retrieved from publicly accessible online sources on air quality by selecting those sources within a radius of the subject's GPS location or the amount of light can be determined by one or more sensors 106 worn by the subject 102 or placed on the mobile computing device 104. Depending on the sensor 106, data can be processed by the sensor 106 or the mobile computing device 104. In one embodiment, the subject 102 scans the sensor 106 with the mobile computing device 104 to establish a connection between the sensor 106 and the mobile computing device 104. Communication pairing is performed between the sensor 106 and the mobile computing device 104 when the two devices are within an acceptable wireless communication range of each other. In one embodiment, the sensor 106 includes RFID and antenna for the subject to obtain the data wirelessly.

To illustrate how a light sensor may operate, an example is provided where the sensor 106 is a UV sensor that contains a UV sensitive LED that will induce electronic current proportional to UV intensity. The amount of UV exposure can then be converted and stored as voltage, which is a measurement of cumulative UV exposure over time. UV exposure can be reported on a per unit of time basis, such as daily, weekly, monthly, etc. The voltage is read each time as the subject scans the sensor 106. The scanned voltage data is converted into a UV-A dosage based on the calibrated correlations. In one embodiment, UV-B exposure is then calculated using a pre-computed lookup table that gives the conversion factor as function of the column amount of ozone in the atmosphere and solar zenith angle (SZA). SZA is determined based on GPS location and time. Other sensors capable of measuring the amount of other types of light can be similarly configured to be read by the mobile computing device 104. From block 404, the method proceeds to block 406.

In block 406, whether the light engine 204 receives the light type levels from sensors 106 or online sources, the light engine 204 keeps track of the light type levels at the subject's location and the time at the location to integrate the light type level of each light type into a running exposure amount over time. In this manner, the light engine 204 can keep track of the subject's location and the light type levels at each location throughout the subject's daily routine. This can be done automatically by the mobile computing device 104, or the subject can decide when to turn the Haircare App engine 212 on and off. The subject 102 can also follow their light type level exposure over time. The light engine 204 can keep a running total of light type exposure in any increments of time, such as by the minute, hour, day, week, month, or year. From block 406, the method proceeds to block 408.

In block 408, the light engine 204 assesses the damage inflicted on the subject's hair by considering the type and amount for each light type. The damage assessment may be performed through the use of data Tables that store relationships of the damage caused by each light type for each hair type. Hair types may be grouped according to color, composition, melanin content, or any combination of two or more factors. The Tables may also store incremental damage caused by higher exposure of each type of light. The Tables contain the light type exposure targets that determine hair damage has occurred for each light type. In one embodiment, the light type exposure limit is the amount of a given light type that when considered alone leads to hair damage. However, hair damage effects can be the result of more than one light type. The light engine 206 can take other factors to derive light type exposure limits. In one embodiment, the exposure limits of light types are adjusted based on the interaction between the light type and air-borne pollutants. Also, because light and pollutants can independently lead to similar hair damage effects, if the light type exposure limit is related to the onset of these effects, then prior pollutant exposure can reduce the light type exposure limit, and visa-versa. Therefore, in one embodiment, the exposure limits of light types are adjusted down based the amount of pollutant exposure of the subject to pollutants having similar hair damaging effects or the light type exposure limit is based on counting both the exposure of the light type as well as the exposure to pollutants that have the same hair damaging effect as the light type. In one embodiment, the light type exposure limit is a sum total of the exposure amounts of light types and pollutants that have the same hair damaging effect.

A Table can quantify greater damage according to greater exposures to different types of light, and consequently recommend higher doses or increase the frequency of treatments with haircare products. Tables may also store any damage that is the caused by two or more types of light. In performing a hair damage assessment, the light engine 204 uses the subject's profile, including hair type or other attributes personal to the subject, the type and amount of each light type, and then, uses the Tables to find the type of hair damage inflicted by the types of light. From block 408, the method enters block 410.

In block 410, the recommendation engine 210 can display a notification to the subject detailing the light type exposure and the damage being caused to the hair. In one embodiment, the user interface engine 214 may display the recommended haircare products based on the hair damage assessment. The Tables storing the hair damage related by type and amount of light type exposure can also store the product or products that aim to help repair the hair damage. In one embodiment, the user interface engine 214 can display the type of hair damage, its causes, helpful information, and the like. In one embodiment, the user interface engine 214 creates tutorials on how to use the haircare products. The user interface engine 214 may create and download protocols for a regimen or routine on how to use the haircare products. The user interface engine 214 may can coach, track usage and compare the tracked usage to the protocol, the regimen, and the routine. Therefore, the Haircare App 212 can keep track of each subject's profile and light type exposure levels and can provide recommendations on product selection, styling methods, haircare regimens that are based on the levels of types of light that can damage hair, an assessment of damage caused to particular hair types by the type and exposure amounts according to individual types of light. Additionally, the user interface engine 214 can be used to make a purchase of any products related to the recommended haircare products . From block 410, the method proceeds to block 412.

In block 412, the user interface engine 214 can display helpful graphs, data, information, warnings, useful links, and help relating to the hair damage and the types of light. In one embodiment, the user interface engine 214 may create a display on the mobile computing device 104 with an indication of the subject risk of hair damage in percentage form, along with a category label such as "low", "moderate," or "high." A graph may also be displayed that tracks the light type exposure levels over time. The subject may recall any prior history on exposure levels for the types of light.

In one embodiment, the computer-implemented method 400 is continuously running to update the types of light and the integrated amount of exposure to different types of light over time to update its hair damage assessment and make new or updated recommendations.

FIGURE 5 is a flowchart that illustrates a non-limiting example embodiment of a computer-implemented method of recording the type and amount of pollutant to which a subject with a particular attribute, such as hair type has been exposed, assessing the damage inflicted by the particular type and amount of pollutant, and then, recommending a haircare product directly targeted to repair the specific hair damage. In one embodiment, a damage assessment of hair takes into consideration the subject's profile, including, for example, hair type or other attributes in the subject profile. The effects on hair from the various air- bom pollutants are described in published works or can be the subject for new studies. The method 500 may be implemented, in one example, by the mobile computing device 104 alone or in combination with one or more server computing devices 112. The computer- implemented method is performed by the Haircare App engine 212, pollutant engine 205, recommendation engine 210, user interface engine 214 communicating with each other and with the user data store 202.

In one embodiment, the method may be performed in part by the mobile computing device 104 and in part by the remote server computer system 112. In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 104 is configured to upload data regarding the subject to an external system or server (such as a cloud-based system). Such data may include the subject profile. In one embodiment, a subject profile includes the subject's hair type, such as color, composition, melanin types and content, and the like, and haircare product currently used by the subject, and any current styling regimens used by the subject.

The computer-implemented method 500 may start by clicking on the Haircare App icon 108 on the display of the mobile computing device 104 to open the Haircare App engine 212.

From the start block, the Haircare App engine 212 proceeds to block 502, where the Haircare App engine 212 receives the subject's 102 profile, location, and hair type, for example.

If a profile has not been provided, the Haircare App engine 212 can use the user interface engine 214 to present to the subject, a questionnaire with questions regarding all the relevant information needed to complete the profile. The subject can enter the information through the display device 216 through the use of menus with preselected lists of choices. In one embodiment, the Haircare App engine 212 accesses the user data store 202 for the profile and other information.

In one embodiment, the subject's location can be constantly determined through a GPS in the mobile computing device 104. In this way, the subject's location can be continuously monitored and updated in real time. In one embodiment, the location is used to retrieve information about the pollutant levels at that subject's current location or dispersion modeling can be used to calculate the pollutant levels at the subject's GPS location from a known pollutant level at a distant location. The subject's current location can be continuously updated as the subject moves from location to location.

In block 504, the pollutant engine 205 identifies the type of pollutants the subject's hair is currently being exposed to, the pollutant concentration, and begins to record the exposure time for each pollutant as the subject moves from location to location to keep track of a total running amount of pollutant exposure. More specifically, the pollutant engine 205 identifies the types and amount of pollutants impacting hair on a subject. In order to obtain more accurate results, the sensor 106 may be worn on or closer to the head, such as on eyeglasses, an ear piece, or clipped to a piece of clothing worn on or close to the subject's hair. Further, if the subject is wearing a hat or otherwise shielding his or her hair form exposure, the pollutant engine 205 has a way to adjust the pollutant exposure amount by taking into consideration the type of head covering being used or the sensor 106 is also being shielded by the head covering so the sensor correspondingly senses less exposure.

In one embodiment, the pollutant concentrations can be retrieved from publicly accessible online sources on air quality by receiving air pollutant information from known sources within a radius of the subject's GPS location or the amount of pollutants can be determined by one or more sensors 106 worn by the subject 102 or placed on the mobile computing device 104. Depending on the sensor 106, data can be processed by the sensor 106 or the mobile computing device 104. In one embodiment, the subject 102 scans the sensor 106 with the mobile computing device 104 to establish a connection between the sensor 106 and the mobile computing device 104. Communication pairing is performed between the sensor 106 and the mobile computing device 104 when the two devices are within an acceptable wireless communication range of each other. In one embodiment, the sensor 106 includes RFID and antenna for the subject to obtain the data wirelessly. To illustrate how a pollutant sensor may operate, the sensor 106 works by inducing and electronic current proportional to a certain pollutant concentration. The amount of such pollutant can then be converted and stored as voltage, which is a measurement of cumulative pollutant exposure over time. Pollutant exposure can be reported on a per unit of time basis, such as daily, weekly, monthly, etc. The voltage is read each time as the subject scans the sensor 106. From block 504, the method proceeds to block 506.

In block 506, whether the pollutant engine 205 receives the pollutant levels from sensor 106 or online sources, the pollutant engine 205 keeps track of the pollutant levels at the subject's location and the time at the location to integrate the pollutant level of each pollutant into a running exposure amount over time. In this manner, the pollutant engine 205 can keep track of the subject's location and the pollutant levels at each location throughout the subject's daily routine. This can be done automatically by the mobile computing device 104, or the subject can decide when to turn the Haircare App engine 212 on and off. The subject 102 can also follow their pollutant level exposure over time. The pollutant engine 205 can keep a running total of pollutant exposure in any increments of time, such as by the minute, hour, day, week, month, or year. From block 506, the method proceeds to block 508.

In block 508, the pollutant engine 205 assesses the damage inflicted on the subject's hair by considering the type and total exposure amount for each pollutant. The damage assessment may be performed through the use of data Tables that store relationships of the damage caused by each pollutant for each subject attribute, such as hair type. Hair types may be grouped according to color, composition, melanin content, or any combination of two or more factors. The Tables may also store incremental damage caused by higher exposure of pollutants. The Tables contain the pollutant exposure targets that determine the limits at which hair damage is likely to occur or has occurred for each pollutant.

In one embodiment, the pollutant exposure limit is the amount of a given pollutant that when considered alone leads to hair damage. However, hair damage effects can be the result of more than one pollutant. The pollutant engine 205 can take other factors to derive pollutant exposure limits. In one embodiment, the exposure limits of pollutants are adjusted based on the interaction between the pollutants and light, such as UV. Also, because light and pollutants can independently lead to similar hair damage effects, if the pollutant exposure limit is related to the onset of these effects, then prior light exposure, such as UV, can reduce the pollutant exposure limit, and visa-versa. Therefore, in one embodiment, the exposure limits of pollutants are adjusted down based the amount of light exposure of the subject or the pollutant exposure limit is based on counting both the exposure of the pollutant as well as the exposure to UV or other light that has the same hair damaging effect as the pollutant. In one embodiment, the pollutant exposure limit is a sum total of the exposure amounts of pollutants or light that have the same hair damaging effect.

The limits can be adjusted for each subject based on the attributes in the subject's profde. For example, a Table can have incremental limits for each pollutant to quantify greater damage according to greater exposures to pollutants, and consequently recommend higher doses or increase the frequency of treatments with haircare products. Tables may also store any damage that is the caused by two or more pollutants. In performing a hair damage assessment, the pollutant engine 205 uses the subject's profile to assign hair damage, including hair type or other attributes personal to the subject, the type and amount of each pollutant, and then, uses the Tables to find the type of hair damage inflicted by the pollutants. From block 508, the method enters block 510.

In block 510, the recommendation engine 210 can display a notification to the subject detailing the pollutant exposure and the damage being caused to the hair. In one embodiment, the user interface engine 214 may display the recommended haircare products based on the hair damage assessment. The hair damage assessment may contain the type of damage, the amount of damage, and the like. The hair damage assessment can be viewed by the subject on the mobile computing device. The Tables storing the hair damage related by type and amount of pollutant exposure can also store the product or products that aim to help repair the hair damage. In one embodiment, the user interface engine 214 can display the type of hair damage, its causes, helpful information, and the like. In one embodiment, the user interface engine 214 creates tutorials on how to use the haircare products. The user interface engine 214 may create and download protocols for a regimen or routine on how to use the haircare products. The user interface engine 214 can coach, track usage and compare the tracked usage to the protocol, the regimen, and the routine. Therefore, the Haircare App 212 can keep track of each subject's profde and pollutant exposure levels and can provide recommendations on product selection, styling methods, haircare regimens that are based on the levels of pollutants that can damage hair, an assessment of damage caused to particular hair types by the type and exposure amounts according to individual pollutants. Additionally, the user interface engine 214 can be used to make a purchase of any products related to the recommended haircare products. From block 510, the method proceeds to block 512.

In block 512, the user interface engine 214 can display helpful graphs, data, information, warnings, useful links, and help relating to the hair damage and the pollutants. In one embodiment, the user interface engine 214 may create a display on the mobile computing device 104 with an indication of the subject risk of hair damage in percentage form, along with a category label such as "low", "moderate," or "high." A graph may also be displayed that tracks the pollutant exposure levels over time. The subject may recall any prior history on exposure levels for the pollutants.

In one embodiment, the computer-implemented method 500 is continuously running to update the types of pollutants and the integrated amount of exposure to pollutants over time to update its hair damage assessment and make new or updated recommendations.

FIGURE 6 is a flowchart that illustrates a non-limiting example embodiment of a computer-implemented method of recording the type and amount of pollutant to which a subject with a particular attribute, such as skin type has been exposed, assessing the damage or possible damage that can be inflicted by the particular type and amount of pollutant, and then, recommending a skincare product directly targeted to repair or prevent the specific skin damage. In one embodiment, a damage assessment of skin takes into consideration the subject's profile, including, for example, skin type or other attributes in the subject profile. The effects on skin from the various air-bom pollutants are described in published works or can be the subject for new studies. The method 600 may be implemented, in one example, by the mobile computing device 104 alone or in combination with one or more server computing devices 112. The computer-implemented method is performed by the Skincare App engine 213, pollutant engine 205, recommendation engine 210, user interface engine 214 communicating with each other and with the user data store 202.

In one embodiment, the method may be performed in part by the mobile computing device 104 and in part by the remote server computer system 112. In one embodiment, the mobile computing device 104 is configured to upload data regarding the subject to an external system or server (such as a cloud-based system). Such data may include the subject profile. In one embodiment, a subject profile includes the subject's skin type, skin characteristics, such as color, composition, melanin types and content, medical risk factors, and the like. Skin sensitivities may also be included in the subject profile, so that the method does not result in recommending products that would lead to a skin rash or allergy.

The computer-implemented method 600 may start by clicking on the Skincare App icon 109 on the display of the mobile computing device 104 to open the Skincare App engine 213.

From the start block, the Skincare App engine 213 proceeds to block 602, where the Skincare App engine 213 receives the subject's 102 profile, location, and skin type, for example.

If a profile has not been provided, the Skincare App engine 213 can use the user interface engine 214 to present to the subject, a questionnaire with questions regarding all the relevant information needed to complete the profile. The subject can enter the information through the display device 216 through the use of menus with preselected lists of choices. In one embodiment, the Skincare App engine 213 accesses the user data store 202 for the profile and other information. In one embodiment, the subject's location can be constantly determined through a GPS in the mobile computing device 104. In this way, the subject's location can be continuously monitored and updated in real time. In one embodiment, the location is used to retrieve information about the pollutant levels at that subject's current location or dispersion modeling can be used to calculate the pollutant levels at the subject's GPS location from a known pollutant level at a distant location. The subject's current location can be continuously updated as the subject moves from location to location.

In block 604, the pollutant engine 205 identifies the type of pollutants the subject's skin is currently being exposed to, the pollutant concentration, and begins to record the exposure time for each pollutant as the subject moves from location to location to keep track of a total running amount of pollutant exposure. More specifically, the pollutant engine 205 identifies the types and amount of pollutants impacting skin on a subject. If the subject is wearing clothes or otherwise shielding his or her skin form exposure, the pollutant engine 205 has a way to adjust the pollutant exposure amount by taking into consideration the amount of protection from pollutants clothes provides.

In one embodiment, the pollutant concentrations can be retrieved from publicly accessible online sources on air quality by receiving air pollutant information from known sources within a radius of the subject's GPS location or the amount of pollutants can be determined by one or more sensors 107 worn by the subject 102 or placed on the mobile computing device 104. These pollutant concentration levels are time-logged by the computing device according to the time at which they are wirelessly received. The computing device can then calculate the total exposure across any time period.

Depending on the sensor 107, data can be processed by the sensor 107 or the mobile computing device 104. In one embodiment, the subject 102 scans the sensor 107 with the mobile computing device 104 to establish a connection between the sensor 107 and the mobile computing device 104. Communication pairing is performed between the sensor 107 and the mobile computing device 104 when the two devices are within an acceptable wireless communication range of each other. In one embodiment, the sensor 107 includes RFID and antenna for the subject to obtain the data wirelessly. The pollutant concentration levels measured by the sensor 107 are transmitted via Bluetooth to a separate, cellular, or WiFi-connected device (i.e., mobile phone, smartphone).

To illustrate how a pollutant sensor may operate, the sensor 107 works by inducing and electronic current proportional to a certain pollutant concentration. The amount of such pollutant can then be converted and stored as voltage, which is a measurement of cumulative pollutant exposure over time. Pollutant exposure can be reported on a per unit of time basis, such as daily, weekly, monthly, etc. The voltage is read each time as the subject scans the sensor 107. From block 604, the method proceeds to block 606.

In block 606, whether the pollutant engine 205 receives the pollutant levels from sensor 107 or online sources, the pollutant engine 205 keeps track of the pollutant levels at the subject's location and the time at the location to integrate the pollutant level of each pollutant into a running exposure amount over time. In this manner, the pollutant engine 205 can keep track of the subject's location and the pollutant levels at each location throughout the subject's daily routine. This can be done automatically by the mobile computing device 104, or the subject can decide when to turn the Skincare App engine 213 on and off. The subject 102 can also follow their pollutant level exposure over time. The pollutant engine 205 can keep a running total of pollutant exposure in any increments of time, such as by the minute, hour, day, week, month, or year. From block 606, the method proceeds to block 608.

In block 608, the pollutant engine 205 assesses the damage inflicted on the subject's skin by considering the type and total exposure amount for each pollutant. Effects of different pollutants on skin relative to exposure amount and duration are understood through prior scientific studies or through performing new studies. With the subject's skin profile understood, the pollutant engine 205 can determine how close the subject's actual skin exposure is to the various harmful thresholds and/or at what rate they'll reach the thresholds (i.e. if they continue to stay in their present location for X minutes). The damage assessment may be performed through the use of data Tables that store relationships of the damage caused by each pollutant for each subject attribute, such as skin type. Skin types may be grouped according to color, composition, melanin content, or any combination of two or more factors. The Tables may also store incremental damage caused by higher exposure of pollutants. The Tables contain the pollutant exposure targets that determine the limits at which skin damage is likely to occur or has occurred for each pollutant.

In one embodiment, the pollutant exposure limit is the amount of a given pollutant that when considered alone leads to skin damage. However, skin damage effects can be the result of more than one pollutant. The pollutant engine 205 can take other factors to derive pollutant exposure limits. In one embodiment, the exposure limits of pollutants are adjusted based on the interaction between the pollutants and light, such as UV. Also, because light and pollutants can independently lead to similar skin damage effects, if the pollutant exposure limit is related to the onset of these effects, then prior light exposure, such as UV, can reduce the pollutant exposure limit, and visa-versa. Therefore, in one embodiment, the exposure limits of pollutants are adjusted down based the amount of light exposure of the subject or the pollutant exposure limit is based on counting both the exposure of the pollutant as well as the exposure to UV or other light that has the same skin damaging effect as the pollutant. In one embodiment, the pollutant exposure limit is a sum total of the exposure amounts of pollutants or light that have the same skin damaging effect.

The limits can be adjusted for each subject based on the attributes in the subject's profde. For example, a Table can have incremental limits for each pollutant to quantify greater damage according to greater exposures to pollutants, and consequently recommend higher doses or increase the frequency of treatments with skincare products. Tables may also store any damage that is the caused by two or more pollutants or interactions of pollutants. In performing a skin damage assessment, the pollutant engine 205 uses the subject's profde to assign skin damage, including skin type or other attributes personal to the subject, the type and amount of each pollutant, and then, uses the Tables to find the type of skin damage inflicted by the pollutants. From block 608, the method enters block

610. In block 610, the recommendation engine 210 can display a notification to the subject detailing the pollutant exposure and the damage being caused to the skin. In one embodiment, the user interface engine 214 may display the recommended skincare products based on the skin damage assessment. The skin damage assessment may contain the type of damage, the amount of damage, a location on the skin, and the like. The skin damage assessment can be viewed by the subject on the mobile computing device. The Tables storing the skin damage related by type and amount of pollutant exposure can also store the product or products that aim to help repair and prevent the skin damage. In one embodiment, the user interface engine 214 can display the type of skin damage, its causes, helpful information, and the like. In one embodiment, the user interface engine 214 creates tutorials on how to use the skincare products. The user interface engine 214 may create and download protocols for a regimen or routine on how to use the skincare products. The user interface engine 214 can coach, track usage and compare the tracked usage to the protocol, the regimen, and the routine. Therefore, the Skincare App 213 can keep track of each subject's profile and pollutant exposure levels and can provide recommendations on product selection, styling methods, skincare regimens that are based on the levels of pollutants that can damage skin, an assessment of damage caused to particular skin types by the type and exposure amounts according to individual pollutants. Additionally, the user interface engine 214 can be used to make a purchase of any products related to the recommended skincare products. From block 610, the method proceeds to block 612.

In block 612, the user interface engine 214 can display helpful graphs, data, information, warnings, useful links, and help relating to the skin damage and the pollutants. In one embodiment, the user interface engine 214 may create a display on the mobile computing device 104 with an indication of the subject risk of skin damage in percentage form, along with a category label such as "low", "moderate," or "high." A graph may also be displayed that tracks the pollutant exposure levels over time. The subject may recall any prior history on exposure levels for the pollutants. In one embodiment, the computer-implemented method 600 is continuously running to update the types of pollutants and the integrated amount of exposure to pollutants over time to update its skin damage assessment and make new or updated recommendations.

While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

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DEVICE FOR MEASURING HAIR AND SKIN EXPOSURE TO HARMFUL LIGHT AND POLLUTANTS AND RECOMMENDING PERSONALIZED HAIRCARE AND SKINCARE PRODUCTS - OREAL

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A computer system and the computer-implemented methods of generating and providing haircare or skincare product recommendations to a subject. The methods include determining, by a computing device, an exposure amount of light or a pollutant impacting a subject's hair or an exposure amount of a pollutant impacting a subject's skin.

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Internet of Things in Healthcare Market by Component (

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Internet of Things in Healthcare Market by Component (

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The global internet of things in healthcare market was valued at $113.75 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach $332.67 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 13.20% from 2020 to 2027.

The internet of things (IoT) is described as a network of physical devices that uses connectivity to enable the exchange of data. In addition, in healthcare filed, IoT is used for the data collection, analysis for research, and monitoring electronic health records which contains personally identifiable information, protected health information, and for other machine-generated healthcare data. Further, IoT applications in healthcare facilitate important tasks such as to improve patient outcomes, and also take some burden off health practitioners. Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled devices have made remote monitoring in the healthcare sector possible, unleashing the potential to keep patients safe and healthy, and empowering physicians to deliver superlative care. Furthermore, from 2017 to 2022, growth in IoT healthcare applications is indeed projected to accelerate as the Internet of Things is a key component in the digital transformation of the healthcare industry and various stakeholders are stepping up their effort in this field.

The pandemic has caused change in providers' willingness to implement IoT solutions which helped in diagnosing the virus using internet of things. Further, many IoT technology is playing a growing role in helping authorities to prevent the further spread of COVID-19, while also treating those that have been infected. IoT, specifically and especially when combined with other transformative technologies such as Cloud and Artificial intelligence (AI). This led to wide range of applications of IoT in healthcare during this crisis. For instance, According to the WHO, in 2020, patients and staff at a field hospital in Wuhan, China, wore bracelets and rings synced with an AI. This platform from CloudMinds the Beijing-based operator of cloud-based systems for intelligent robots to provide constant monitoring of vital signs, including temperature, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels during Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, in India, the mobile application named as aarogya setu app, launched by the Union Health ministry on April 2, 2020 which helps users identify whether they are at a risk of COVID-19 infection. Therefore, Covid-19 has uplifted the demand of internet of things in healthcare market and provides opportunities for the manufacturers in various applications in the healthcare domain during the forecast period.

The major factors that contribute toward the growth of the internet of things in healthcare market include owing to technological advancements, rising incidence rates of chronic diseases such as COPD, genetic diseases, respiratory diseases, and others, better accessibility to high-speed internet, implementation of favorable government regulatory policies. Furthermore, growing demand for cost-effective treatment and disease management, increased adoption of smart devices and wearables, increasing interest in self-health measurement, and reduced healthcare cost with advanced and cost effectives IoT in healthcare products and solutions. Moreover, rising interest of the startup companies in IoT healthcare industry such as MedAngelONE, Amiko, SWORD health, and Aira, is expected to boost the market growth. However, factors such as high costs associated with IoT infrastructure development, data privacy and security issues, lack of awareness among public in developing regions, and limited technical knowledge are expected to impede the market growth. Various factors such as government initiatives to support IoT platform, improvement in healthcare infrastructure in developing countries, and high R&D spending are expected to boost the market growth.

Global Internet Of Things In Healthcare market Segmentation

This report segments the internet of things in healthcare market on the basis of component, application, end user, and region. On the basis of component, the market is segmented into devices, system & software and services. The devices segment is further segmented into implantable sensor devices, wearable sensor devices, and other sensor devices. System & software segment are further categorized into network layer, database layer, and analytics layer. Moreover, services segment covers architecture, consulting, and application development services. Based on application, the market is segmented into patient monitoring, clinical operation & workflow optimization, connected imaging, fitness & wellness measurement, and drug development. Based on end user, global internet of things in healthcare market is segmented into healthcare providers, patients, healthcare payers, research laboratories of pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, and government authorities. The market has been analyzed across four regions namely North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.

Segment Review

On the basis of component, the market is divided into devices, system & software, and services. In addition, the service segment held the major internet of things in healthcare market share in 2019, owing to growing demand for uninterrupted data flows boost the efficiency of the medical systems, enhance security, and improve informed decision-making in real-time is the key factor driving the services segment. However, the devices segment is estimated to be the fastest growing segment in the global internet of things in healthcare market during forecast period owing to the advancements of the wearable sensor devices, implanted sensor devices and other stationary devices. Among these devices, wearable device is the highest growing devices market. This is attributed to surge in awareness to adopt the wearable devices, increase in trend of self-monitoring and analysis the health data. In addition, medical wearable devices can also help measure information such as blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and others, which resulted in boosting the growth of the devices market during the forecast period.

Internet of Things in Healthcare Market By Component

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Internet of Things in Healthcare services segment holds a dominant position in 2019.

By application, the patient monitoring segment is accounted for the highest revenue generator in 2019, owing to as patient monitoring enables data from devices to be collected and made available to healthcare professionals in real-time.

Internet of Things in Healthcare Market By Application

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Drug Development segment is projected as one of the most lucrative segment.

In 2019, North America accounted for a major share of the internet of things in healthcare market size and is expected to continue this trend owing to rapid technological advancements, increasing investments from top players, supportive governmental rules, rise in prevalence of chronic disease patient population and increase in demand for cost effective disease treatment. However, Asia-Pacific is expected to witness growth at significant rate during the forecast period, by registering a CAGR of 17.40%. This is mainly due to rapidly changing healthcare infrastructure in the developing countries such as India and China, large patient population, rising public awareness, and increasing healthcare spending.

Internet of Things in Healthcare Market By Region

Asia-Pacific region would exhibit the highest CAGR of 17.4% during 2019-2027.

The global internet of things in healthcare market is highly competitive, and prominent players have adopted various strategies for garnering maximum market share. These include collaboration, product launch, partnership, and acquisition. Major players operating in the market include Apple Inc., Cisco Systems Inc., GE Healthcare Ltd., Google (Alphabet), International Business Machines Corporation, Medtronic PLC, Microsoft Corporation, Proteus Digital Health, Koninklijke Philips N.V., QUALCOMM Incorporated, and Abbot Laboratories.
Key Benefits For Stakeholders

This report entails a detailed quantitative analysis along with the current global internet of things in healthcare market trends from 2019 to 2027 to identify the prevailing opportunities along with the strategic assessment.

The internet of things in healthcare market forecast is studied from 2019 to 2027.

The internet of things in healthcare market size and estimations are based on a comprehensive analysis of key developments in the industry.

A qualitative analysis based on innovative products facilitates strategic business planning.

The development strategies adopted by the key market players are enlisted to understand the competitive scenario of the market

Key Market Segments By Component

Devices

Implantable Sensor Devices

Wearable Sensor Devices

Others Sensor Devices

System and Software

Network Layer

Database Layer

Analytics Layer

Services

Architecture (System integration)

Consulting

Application Development (support and maintenance)

By Application

Patient Monitoring

Clinical Operation and Workflow Optimization

Clinical Imaging

Fitness and Wellness Measurement

Drug Development

By End User

Healthcare Providers

Patients

Healthcare Payers

Research Laboratories (Biotech/Pharma)

Government Authority

By Region

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Internet of Things (IOT) in Healthcare Market Size, and Growth 2027

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The global internet of things in healthcare market was valued at $113.75 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach $332.67 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 13.20% from 2020 to 2027. The internet of things (IoT) is described as a network of physical devices that uses connectivity to enable the exchange of data.

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Improving Indoor Air Quality: The Future of Air Purification Tech

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Improving Indoor Air Quality: The Future of Air Purification Tech

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Improving Indoor Air Quality: The Future of Air Purification Tech

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In the wake of COVID-19, there's no doubt that ensuring indoor air purification is a renewed priority in residential and commercial buildings alike. Increased awareness of the cleanli (...)

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Focus Shifts from Sleep to True Circadian Health

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Focus Shifts from Sleep to True Circadian Health

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By Beth McGroarty
Any solution claiming to reset circadian rhythms must have the TIMING of light at its center. This will become a central pillar of wellness: from circadian lighting to circadian diets to apps that use timed light doses to crush jet lag.

A $432 BILLION SLEEP MARKET AND WE'RE STILL NOT SLEEPING

We're at the strangest place culturally when it comes to sleep. We've never been so obsessed: We buy smartwatches and Oura rings to track our sleep quality relentlessly every night; we pony up for the latest, greatest, smartest mattress; we gobble sleep tonics, CBD (and yes, Ambien and Xanax) and "sleep ice cream"; we pay to crawl into nap pods; and we travel far just to bed down at sleep retreats. The wellness world and Silicon Valley have unleashed every device and solution seemingly imaginable, from sleep robots that cuddle us and control our breathing[1] to pricey sleep supplement subscription plans. We have made complex sleep shrines of our (now often desexualized) bedrooms, banishing our partners through "sleep divorces." This has created an entire "sleep economy" set to reach $585 billion by 2024[2].

Sleep has suddenly become such an over-the-top wellness trend that the media has begun mocking our agonizing over it, noting the rise of orthosomnia[3], a condition where anxiety over sleep tracking causes sleep problems. When, in human history, have we ached so much for sleep and unconsciousness? Why, with an avalanche of sleep solutions and a newly sleep-obsessed culture, do we remain in a sleepless epidemic, with around one in three of us sleeping badly and one in 10 having regular insomnia?

The reason is that most of these generic sleep solutions, and our modern lives, defy the basic facts of circadian biology. Humans evolved to be highly sensitive to the 24-hour solar cycle and super-regular exposure to natural light and dark. Nearly all organisms, including humans, have internal daily clocks (circadian rhythms) that control almost every biological system in our bodies, from our sleep-wake cycles and mood and performance patterns to our metabolic, immune and reproductive systems. The bedrock of circadian science is that exposure to regular light-dark cycles provides the daily "time cues" needed to reset our circadian clocks every single day, and not only determines how well we sleep but our very cellular health. We need the sun's bright blue light in the day to be alert and active, and we need dark to kick-start our brain's sleep mode and recovery.

Humans today, however, have never been exposed to so much disruption to their circadian rhythms, such as the glaring disconnect between natural solar time and our social "clocks." We're taking in light and dark in historically whacked-out, unnatural ways. We blast our eyes after dusk with blue-enriched light from ever-brighter, addictive screens, tricking our brains into thinking it's still daytime: Netflix binging, checking social media until we pass out. Work increasingly doesn't conform to solar time. While 20 percent of people are nightshift workers, reversing their day-night behavior, gig work is also soaring: Fifty percent of the world's workforce works remotely at least half the week[4], part of the creeping "always-on" work culture that encourages us to further disconnect from natural cycles. We have a shrinking global world: more airline travel so more circadian disruptions such as jet lag and global conference calls at all hours of the night. Ours is a 24/7 culture (from gyms to supermarkets); light pollution increasingly floods our skies at night; and we're tied to desks, deprived of natural sunlight in the day. Never before have human environments been such a "lightmare[5]."

As Dr. Steven Lockley, associate professor of medicine at Harvard and one of the world's top experts on circadian rhythms and sleep, puts it: "The absolute key to healthy sleep and circadian rhythms is stable, regularly-timed daily light and dark exposure-our natural daily time cues. Sleep negates light input to the brain, and so keeping a regular sleep pattern will also help maintain regular light-dark exposure. After dusk, when natural light disappears, we must minimize the negative impact of man-made light. In the day, we have evolved to be in the light, ideally sunlight, but if not, high-quality blue-enriched indoor light. Period. Given that most of our body systems express circadian rhythms, ensuring proper alignment of our internal circadian clocks, starting with the management of lighting, will have major impacts on human health."

While we've been obsessed with sleep, and trying to get more of it with smart pillows and tonics, it's the timing of sleep that is absolutely key to getting high-quality, restorative sleep. This means sleeping at the right circadian time, and the only solutions that can actually reset circadian rhythms have LIGHT at the center of them.
This trend-from a "sleep" to a "circadian rhythm optimization focus"-takes various forms:
So, we predict a major shift in wellness: less focus on all the generic sleep solutions and a keen new focus on circadian health optimization for not only sleep but for all the brain and body systems that are controlled by the circadian clock. It means that the TIMING of biology will become something we need to measure and manage, and light will be a central part of any solution.

More people will finally bring circadian rhythm-supporting lighting (and behaviors) into their homes, with an explosion of tunable, biodynamic lighting solutions that sync light with the time of day.

New technologies such as the Timeshifter app offer personalized jet lag plans with timed light exposure advice as the foundation to help travelers eliminate jet lag, and could have important applications for "timeshifting" shift workers to new work schedules, or even preparing patients for surgeries and treatments to improve efficacy.

More hotels, wellness resorts and airlines will think beyond generic sleep offerings to offer true circadian solutions for travelers based on their circadian cycle, revolving around the timing of light.

While intermittent fasting is all the rage, people don't realize that this is also usually a circadian-based solution: It's natural for diurnal animals such as humans to eat during daylight when we evolved to digest food. More people will adopt the terminology and practice of "circadian eating": eating when it's light, stopping after dark.

Dr. Lockley predicts: "Circadian health optimization-incorporating the type and timing of light-will become more important than 'sleep' in health and wellness within the next few years. Medical and technological solutions that will help us realign our internal circadian clocks with each other, and our internal clocks with the outside world, will surge."

Mickey Beyer-Clausen's keynote at the Global Wellness Summit (GWS), on how timing light exposure can eliminate jet lag, inspired this wider trend.
Key facts
CIRCADIAN BIOLOGY

The circadian clock in sophisticated life forms (such as mammals) is one extraordinary system. The body's master clock-controller lives in nerve cells in the brain's hypothalamus called the suprachiasmatic nucleus, and it's tuned to the day-night signal by light coming through the eyes and optic nerve. This timekeeping overlord in the brain then orchestrates a network of peripheral clocks that exist in nearly every organ throughout the body (yes, your liver and ovaries have their own clocks), turning on and off a host of clock genes and a wave of timekeeping proteins that rise and fall in a curve in nearly every cell in your body every 24 hours-just like the sun. It's a magnificent, light-timed cellular choreography that runs on a tight daily cycle and controls almost every body function.

In 2017, a group of researchers won the Nobel Prize in Medicine[6] for discovering how clock genes control our daily rhythms. One of the many circadian genes is the period gene that makes a protein called PER that, in concert with other proteins, builds up at night and degrades during the day in a continuous feedback loop. This controls not just when we sleep but also our heart rate and blood pressure, the immune system, metabolism, body temperature, hormones and even mood. This breakthrough research showed how fundamental the circadian system is in synchronizing our daily biorhythms with the 24-hour rotation of the planet-and how we're ruled by an inner clock that adapts our body processes to different times of the day with exquisite precision. These clocks are in our DNA.

Disruptions to our circadian rhythms, from those ever-increasing mismatches between our internal clock and lifestyle, when we override our natural cycles, have significant health consequences, including a higher risk of obesity, diabetes, some cancers, heart disease, depression, gut disorders, allergies, infections, premature aging-and early death. There have been more than 650 studies connecting light to health.

Research also increasingly shows[7] how people are chronobiologically hardwired with genes that make us night owls or early birds-called our chronotype. Early risers' daily peak performance occurs early during the day, while natural night owls' occurs later. Researchers estimate about 40 percent of people are morning or evening types, and 60 percent are in-between. Our chronotype impacts circadian cycles: Early birds have a faster internal clock, for example, as short as a 23.5-hour cycle, whereas night owls have a slower clock, taking up to 25 hours to complete one cycle. These internal clocks need to be reset, just like a watch, exactly 24 hours each and every day, and the light-dark cycle is the synchronizer.

CIRCADIAN & SLEEP MISCONCEPTIONS

Dr. Lockley points out some key misconceptions and misusages of the word/ concept "circadian" that can plague sleep and wellness markets-in an era where frustrating "circadian washing" is on the rise.

"Sleep" is not the same as circadian rhythms: Sleep is an output of the circadian clock in combination with another control system, the sleep homeostat, which measures how long we have been awake or asleep. Many other things affect sleep, so measuring sleep is not the same as measuring the clock, and the differences can be enormous. Circadian rhythms are much wider and more complex than sleep, as they impact and orchestrate all of our organs, our brain, and cellular activity.

The circadian clock anticipates environmental time-it does not reflect it or have anything to do with the "social" time of day. The clock anticipates the timed physiology that will happen tomorrow, when we wake/ sleep, eat, etc., to ensure that we do these things at the right time. To be a real circadian rhythm, it must be generated from within.

Just because something is rhythmic, it's not necessarily circadian: Rhythms that are not generated from within are, by definition, not circadian rhythms. They may have a rhythm peaking in the day (diurnal) or night (nocturnal) but may be generated by an external influence such as physical activity, eating or sleeping. Growth hormone (GH) is a good example. GH is not a circadian rhythm but is a sleep-dependent one: It's only released during deep sleep, which usually happens at night, and while it, therefore, looks circadian, it isn't, as the rhythm would go away without sleep occurring and is therefore not internally generated.

As an anticipator, the biological clock thrives on stability: stable, day-in-and-day-out light and dark cues; regular sleep-wake times; regular lifestyles (exercise, eating).

Light governs human circadian biology: circadian rhythms cannot be meaningfully reset by exercise, stress-reduction, yoga, massage, food, sound baths, etc.
Jet lag solved...and shift from generic sleep solutions in travel to those personalized to travelers' circadian realities
CIRCADIAN TRAVEL

The travel industry-hotels, wellness resorts and airlines-have recently gone all-in on sleep. We have the hotel mattress wars, a profusion of sleep-focused wellness retreats, and sleep scientists designing entire resort sleep programs. Destinations are throwing every kind of amenity and program at their guests' exhaustion: elaborate pillow menus; sleep aromatherapy and massages; guided meditation; oxygen therapy; cryotherapy; special sleep workouts; and minibars and menus filled with sleep tonics, CBD and "sleep bites." Travel companies are increasingly using "circadian" language around this avalanche of sleep products/ services, claiming they "reset circadian rhythms," with the media even predicting "circadian travel"[8] as a 2020 travel trend because of the rise of sleep-focused travel everything.

The problem is these generic sleep solutions, and this huge travel industry focus on sleep and fatigue, while supportive of general wellbeing, are not "circadian." They have no impact on our circadian rhythms and are helpless in fighting what ails so many travelers: jet lag.

Jet lag is caused when our 24-hour sleep/ wake, light/dark cycle shifts too suddenly (as we hurtle across time zones) for our circadian rhythms to catch up. It's a massive travel problem, with huge costs to human health and happiness: In 2018, 448 million passengers traveled on long-haul flights. When asked, 93 percent of them said they struggled with jet lag[9]. Everyone knows the disastrous impact on our mood, sleep and digestion, with frequent travelers suffering the same increase in diseases that shift workers experience: more strokes, diabetes and cancers. The old way people dealt with jet lag was entirely wrong: sleep as much as you can on the flight, take meds such as Ambien (which don't shift circadian rhythms), trust in the airplane's Dreamliner lighting systems, maybe have that on-arrival jet lag massage. Jet lag is so debilitating that we arrive a day early to catch up and opt for business class and five-star hotels in desperation.

The timing of light exposure-not sleep, exercise, food or caffeine-is key to eliminating jet lag and can be the difference between a successful trip or a miserable one. The right light exposure at the right time can significantly accelerate travelers' adaptation to new time zones. Seeing light at the wrong time makes jet lag much worse. Finally, the jet lag nightmare is over thanks to Timeshifter, which helps travelers adapt to new time zones fast by focusing on precisely timed light exposure. It's an app that was literally developed with rocket scientists, as well as with Dr. Lockley, who has worked for more than a decade applying circadian science to NASA astronauts to alleviate their profound jet lag and improve sleep and alertness.

Timeshifter is blissfully simple: You input your sleep pattern (whether you're an early bird, night owl or neither), whether you're open to using a melatonin supplement and/ or caffeine and your itinerary. And presto, you get a crystal-clear schedule of when you need to prioritize bright light and when you need to avoid light, when you should take (small amounts of) melatonin and caffeine and when you should sleep/ nap and for how long. It works like magic. It's easy to control exposure to light (by donning sunglasses in the airport), or see as much light as possible during a flight (watching a movie on a brightly lit screen is enough) when everyone else is trying to sleep. Beyer-Clausen notes that while you may get funny looks from people now, in a couple of years, we will see travelers everywhere in the midst of all kinds of "timeshifting."

Other research centers are developing technology to tackle jet lag: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute just announced[10] it has developed a wearable device that analyzes a person's biometric info and can then recommend the right sleep and light schedule to re-optimize circadian rhythms. The clinical gold standard in measuring a person's circadian rhythm state is blood or saliva tests identifying melatonin and cortisol levels, hardly an instant reading. But the researchers used algorithms that process data such as heart rate and body temperature, collected by the wearable, to convert to a circadian rhythm measurement. They say their bio-sensing tech that can tell you where you are in the circadian phase works in-line with clinical hormone measurements, and it would be a whole new approach to jet lag. (It's being funded by the US Department of Defense.)

Timeshifter is both a shining example and a metaphor for a new trend in travel: more hotels, wellness resorts and airlines expanding beyond generic sleep offerings to offer true circadian, light-centric solutions for individual travelers based on their circadian cycles.

Because Timeshifter is the first app to combine rigorous scientific research with an intuitive interface, it makes it a go-to solution for airlines, hotels and resorts; travel agencies; and businesses with traveling employees looking to tackle jet lag. So far, they've announced partnerships with wellness travel leader Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, United Airlines, Montblanc, CWT (formerly Carlson Wagonlit Travel) and have signed up several Fortune 500 clients.

We will see more circadian "light moves" at destinations. Germany's Lanserhof Tegernsee has launched a new sleep program that has a medical analysis called Chronotherapie, which works on the sleep-wake rhythm; light therapy and blue-light filter glasses for guests at night; high-tech FreshBeds and smart sleepwear that optimize sleep temperature; and a kill-switch in rooms that shuts off all Wi-Fi, light and electrosmog. New York City's new Equinox Hotel is all about sleep and has sleep coaches who analyze a guest's circadian rhythm state. IHG is piloting circadian lighting in rooms from Healthe by Lighting Science (more below), using its GoodDay and GoodNight spectrum light technologies. Note: For the time zone-jumping traveler, these would need to be paired with an app such as Timeshifter to personalize the right light at the right time.

At the GWS, Beyer-Clausen predicted some ways that the travel industry will fight jet lag. He expects that flight-booking sites will add a new "less jet lag" filter in addition to the existing "cheapest" and "fastest" flight searches. In-flight entertainment systems will tell us when to nap, see and avoid light and eat, based on travelers' itineraries. Personalized jet lag-adapted circadian light will rise in airplane seats and in hotel rooms. Airport lounges will have jet lag-reduction areas with light/dark zones/therapy. We would add that hotels and wellness resorts that partnered with a Timeshifter-ish app could precisely customize lighting in rooms and food schedules for their time zone-crossing guests.

We don't expect the hotel pillow wars or sleep massages to disappear, and they're relaxing and wonderful to have. But we expect that circadian science will inform travel experiences in crucial new ways. There will be new clarity about how some of the things now being done in the name of "sleep health" actually make things worse for travelers, for example, exercise or acupuncture at the wrong time, and new clarity about what actually synchronizes circadian clocks: LIGHT and DARK. (Again, not special "sleep" foods, workouts or massages.)

When you think about it, some of the biggest current travel trends seem to be travelers unconsciously seeking circadian health and getting back to their natural rhythms. Slow travel (walking tours, train travel, etc.) is sustainability-focused but also rejects the circadian disruptions of changing time zones fast. The camping/glamping mania, which means rising with the sun and winding down at dark, is a powerful circadian re-calibrator.
Get your home light right...finally
CIRCADIAN LIGHTING

Most of us have read about circadian lighting for years: the new lighting technologies that are tunable, biodynamic and sync with the time of day. You would think with all the talk that most of us would have it. We think 2020 will be the year that the light bulb goes off: More people will finally bring circadian lighting and behaviors into their homes. Some of the change will be no-tech: adopting regimes where you disconnect from devices/TV and dim lights well before bed-banishing iPads/phones from the room. We will naturally learn over time that sleep means avoiding light-and the time to disconnect from our devices well before sleep is NOW.

More people will make a simple switch in their home lighting: using bright, short wavelength, blue-light bulbs in the day and switching to dimmer, warmer, longer wavelength bulbs with red, yellow and orange color spectrums (think: campfire) at dusk-which boosts melatonin. And more people will go highest-tech: with app-, Bluetooth- and Wi-Fi-controlled LED tunable lights in their homes that automatically adjust day and night light color temperature and brightness levels.

Circadian lighting was a $400 million market in 2017, expected to jump to $4 billion by 2024[11], because we now have the technology, and more people will use it. People spend so much on their wellness; they need to spend a few more bucks on their bulbs.

There's an explosion of circadian lighting solutions hitting the market. Healthe, developed with NASA scientists, has a wireless control device that uses GPS to track the positions of its "SunTrac" lightbulbs with the aim of simulating the natural arc of the sun throughout the day, transitioning from daytime blue light for productivity to mimicking light that promotes the brain's natural response to sunset. The straightforward Soraa Healthy Lightbulb emits dimmable "Zero Blue" light. Dyson's new Lightcycle lights adapt brightness and color based on time of day, owner's routine and even age. Savant just launched an app-based home lighting system that is all about flexibility: You can set different light schedules for different rooms (i.e., you need a brighter kitchen, and the kids are on a different schedule)-or just press the button, and it switches rooms to the natural setting, based on astronomical time and your location.

Sleep masks that bring customized light therapy right to your face, serving up dimmer, red light at night when you're trying to fall asleep and blue light to wake you up, such as Sound Oasis or Illumi, are taking off-with Dreamlight's model also letting you set the mask's temperature. Blue light-blocking glasses are going mainstream: Warby Parker just launched its own line.

In the wellness home/real estate wars, "lux" (the measurement unit for light) is the new luxe, with circadian lighting (and every possible sleep design solution imaginable) becoming a key selling point. Delos' new "home wellness intelligence system" Darwin features a circadian lighting system that lights up the home with cool tones in the morning and warm ones in the evening-and it's completely automatic. San Francisco-based Troon Pacific's "ultra-performance homes"[12] deploy every design weapon imaginable to support sleep and natural light cycles: from automated motorized shades to advanced day-to-night lighting systems and even no light-reflecting, shiny surfaces anywhere.

In this newly enlightened age, neuroscientists, doctors and architects are all working hard on nailing the science of circadian rhythm-supporting light: what intensity and color, at what time and for how long. And for whom, because circadian systems differ from person to person: by age, where you live, etc. For instance, when kids hit puberty, they have their circadian and sleep cycles pushed about two hours later than a typical adult, and while human evolution began near the equator, where daylight hours are consistent, most of us live with ever-shortening and lengthening days, becoming more extreme as we head up or down toward the poles.

There are debates among scientists, and certainly among lighting companies (seeking market differentiators), about what the right light at the right time truly is. Scientists will argue that we focus so much on over-lighting our eyes (hence brains) at night that we forget how critical the issue of our under-lit, desk-bound day lives are for our circadian health-and that any great lighting design needs to tackle both. Many of the new lighting systems aim to replicate natural light as it would subtly shift throughout the day. While this is unlikely to do any harm, Dr. Lockley argues that these subtle changes are not needed and not detected by the brain for control of circadian rhythms and alertness. We need bright blue-enriched days and dark nights, with as dim and red-enriched light as possible from dusk to bedtime. He argues nuanced "dawn to dusk" lighting changes throughout the day are unnecessary. And with the rise of all these light therapies and masks, we need to remember that blasting sunlight-simulating light when we're exhausted to perk up or red "sleep" light when we're desperate for shut-eye, if not timed correctly, could further whack out an already whacked out circadian system. Circadian rhythms, we cannot repeat enough, are internal systems, not external quick fixes like a pill. They thrive with regular light-dark cycles, day after day after day.
Not a circadian agent, but a supporter
THERMAL WELLNESS

We all know we should sleep in cool environments, and new solutions to aid us are rising. A key aspect of human circadian rhythms is that after dark, our bodies undergo changes to help transition us into sleep. One big change is that brain and body temperatures drop, and warm bedrooms counteract this. As a recent article in the Atlantic[13] explains, temperature plays a critical role in supporting sleep: We need to be able to lose heat to sleep and being too hot or too cold interferes with this process. Studies show[14] that people with sleep disorders sleep longer-and are more alert in the morning-in 61˚F rather than 75˚F rooms, and people who sleep in hot environments[15] have elevated stress hormones in the morning. Medical experts agree we should sleep in environments somewhere between 60-67˚F.

Climate change makes for more hot nights, air conditioning your bedroom to 60˚F can waste energy and regulating your temperature can be difficult to do. New smart mattresses/pads are here to help: For instance, R&D teams spent over 2.6 million hours in Tempur Sealy's Thermal Lab to create the Tempur-breeze mattress. To dissipate heat and humidity, its materials are engineered at the molecular level to combine pressure-relieving, motion-isolating properties with open-cell foam so it feels up to eight degrees cooler all night long. With the Ooler mattress pad, filled with tubes that bring heated or cooled water to the surface, you can set your bed to that optimal temperature, or you can use the app to schedule temperature changes over the night-a cool bed for sleep and a warmer bed to wake up to. Eight Sleep, a new "sleep fitness company," offers a smart mattress that dynamically warms or cools your bed based on your body temperature, while Sleep Number just unveiled its "Climate 360" smart bed, which analyzes the body's sleep cycles and automatically adjusts the bed's temperature.

"Thermal wellness" solutions, all based on impacting body temperature for greater wellbeing, is a rising wellness trend in general. For instance, Embr Wave is a watch-like device that sits on your wrist, a sensitive area packed with thermoreceptors, and with a press of the button, it changes how hot or cold you feel (not your actual body temperature)-and it features a thermo-sleep mode. Sleep temperature technology, from apps to smart mattresses, will continue to rise. But while temperature has a daily rhythm, it's only circadian when generated internally. As Dr. Lockley notes: "The sidewalk does not have an internal clock but will show a strong 24-hour rhythm in temperature. Obviously, the sidewalk heats up and cools down based on external factors, not, as in humans, due to an internal clock. External temperature therapies do not shift circadian rhythms, but they can support our body's sleep mode directly.
"Light" eating
THE CIRCADIAN DIET

For decades, diets have been all about what we eat (we've scurried from the Mediterranean to the keto diet, etc.)-but the science is mounting fast that when we eat has profound metabolic and weight loss consequences. This new evidence is reflected in the rise of intermittent fasting (Google's most-searched diet of 2019), which typically restricts eating and drinking to an eight-10-hour window a day.

A host of studies now indicate that alternating between periods of daily eating and fasting has eye-opening effects, with researchers hypothesizing that it conforms to the age-old way that humans ate: We experienced periods of food scarcity leading to "metabolic switching." The evidence for intermittent fasting seems powerful.

A recent Johns Hopkins meta-review of studies16 found that it lowers blood pressure, lipid levels and heart rate. A new Salk Institute study[17] shows the implications for the diabetes and obesity epidemic: People with metabolic syndrome who limited food/ beverage consumption to a 10-hour window for three months saw big improvements in body composition and cholesterol levels. Research from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center found that mice that ate a normal amount of calories- but in restricted hours-lived 15 percent longer; if that applies to humans, that would mean increasing longevity from 80 to 92. Intermittent fasting's association with everything from weight loss to forestalling diabetes is putting chrono-nutrition (timed food intake) front-and-center in wellness.

But is it the "intermittency" of eating or the fact that the fasting is circadian-synced that is the lynchpin? Because light and dark are the twin gods of our circadian clocks, and humans evolved to digest food in the day-what's the metabolic (and sleep) impact of eating after dark, which jolts the brain into thinking that it's daytime? How does matching the timing of eating with our circadian rhythms (with light and dark) impact health? More studies suggest that we should be embracing-and adopting the terminology of-a CIRCADIAN diet.

While intermittent fasting can have people taking their first bite (an important cue that impacts other clocks in our organs) way after the light of morning (say, 1-2 p.m.), a body of evidence shows that calories are metabolized better in the morning than evening: Researchers from Harvard University and the University of Murcia, Spain, found that early eaters[18] lose 25 percent more weight (and faster) than late eaters. Hebrew University studies show that synchronizing mealtimes with our circadian rhythms leads to significantly more weight loss and reduced insulin resistance than if you ate the same food (of any kind) without a schedule, concluding that a larger breakfast, a medium-sized lunch and small dinner drive optimal results.

The way that the timing of our eating communicates timing info to all the cells in our body is an extremely complex science. A 2019 study[19] showed how insulin resets circadian clocks by increasing the synthesis of period proteins (controlled by the "clock genes") and how the exposure to light (and its cortisol production) needs to precede the insulin/feeding timing to get the highest amplitude in clock gene rhythm-or optimal circadian rhythms. And scientists are discovering how the circadian clock directly affects the microbiome (our gut has its own circadian clock): Washington University researchers just discovered[20] an immune cell that sets the clock for the gut, suggesting why circadian rhythm disruptions (those late nights, shift work) are linked to gastrointestinal problems and everything from obesity to colon cancer.

We're seeing the research on intermittent fasting roll in, but we will see more studies evaluating whether all intermittent fasting is indeed created equal. We need more studies on the impact of timing meals to the light-dark cycle (circadian-synced eating and fasting), and how that impacts insulin levels and fat-burning hormones.

We predict more people will experiment with timing their eating and intermittent fasting differently: eating when it's light, stopping when it's dark. The potential of "clock nutrition" on weight loss and metabolic health-and research unriddling the complex interplay of light, our circadian clocks and our microbiota-is an exciting development and just revving up.

THE FUTURE

So much research is underway in the emerging field of circadian medicine. Scientists are developing molecules that target proteins that could repair and supercharge our cells' clock functions, with a new class of circadian drugs that could chemically reset our circadian systems and prevent some of the worst diseases: obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer's-and even slow aging way down. See the excellent overview in Wired[21] of how the new circadian medicines on the horizon could save lives.

Apps such as Timeshifter, which use timed light exposure to help travelers eliminate jet lag, could certainly be extended to help shift workers, who suffer circadian disruptions every time their work schedule changes, as well as help patients get better outcomes from surgery and treatments. Timeshifter describes itself as a "platform for circadian shifting that will solve large, previously unsolved circadian-based problems"-and looks to extend its commercial applications.

As Dr. Lockley notes, a future development that will revolutionize medicine and wellness is the ability to measure people's unique, precise circadian clock state in real-time, maybe even from a single blood, urine, saliva or breath sample at the doctor's office or at home. A single sample will be able to measure dozens (or even hundreds) of biomarkers at once to pinpoint exactly what our internal circadian time is. The possibility of a circadian "fingerprint" measurement has huge implications for the timing of medicine because when you take different medicines, have surgery or chemo, and what lab tests reveal, depend intensely on where you're at in your circadian clock. University of Pennsylvania researchers are experimenting with pulling data from wearables, phone apps and bio samples to nail each person's chronobiome fast. Given the skyrocketing circadian science research, wearable-driven apps that could tell us exactly when to take in light and dark, when to sleep and rise, when to eat and exercise, and when we're at peak and lowest performance, look to be ahead. Humans are horrible at managing time, light and life: They would be a breakthrough.

Highest-tech circadian solutions are ahead, but this trend is also about changing basic human behavior and the many human clock-destroying social and cultural institutions. Consider the new timekeeping app[22] Circa Solar; it has no 12-hour dial or hour or minute hands but instead displays a full day showing the local hours of light and darkness and where you're situated in light and dark. It might get you fired for missing meetings, but it's a fascinating thought-experiment in re-aligning time to conform to nature.

We need to re-think time, light and human life in deep ways. We need to make hard behavior changes and stop lighting up our nights with screens and get out in the natural light of the sun. We need to adapt work and school schedules respecting solar time, seasons and age chronotypes. We need to address the lightmare of hospitals where people are supposed to heal; daylight savings; our 24/7 and late-night restaurant and gym culture; the light pollution exploding in our increasingly urban world; and how we light our homes.

Not only if we want to sleep...but because circadian rhythms rule our physical and mental health. We expect some circadian market mayhem ahead (some bright and dim ideas)-but the right timing of light and biology will move closer to the heart of wellness Finally.

ENDNOTES

[1]The Best New Gear from CES 2019 That'll Help You Get a Good Night's Sleep by W. Christopher Winter, MD, Men's Health, 16 January 2019.
[2] Frost & Sullivan Assessment, 2019.
[3]Your Obsession with Sleep Trackers Is Way Less Healthy Than You Think by Sara Harrison, Wired US, 3 December 2019.
[4]International Workforce Group, Flexible Working Survey, 2018.
[5]Is the Marvel of LED Lighting Also a Blight on Global Health? by Richard G. "Bugs" Stevens, Fast Company, 7 August 2018.
[6] Press Release: The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2017, The Nobel Prize, 2 October 2017.
[7]Extreme Morning Chronotypes Are Often Familial and Not Exceedingly Rare: the Estimated Prevalence of Advanced Sleep Phase, Familial Advanced Sleep Phase, and Advanced Sleep-Wake Phase Disorder in a Sleep Clinic Population by Brian John Curtis, Liza H. Ashbrook, Terry Young, Laurel A. Finn, Ying-Hui Fu, Louis J. Ptáček, and Christopher R. Jones, Oxford Academic, Sleep, Volume 42, Issue 10, October 2019.
[8]The Top Travel Trends for 2020, According to Experts by Laura Hampson, Evening Standard, 30 December 2019
[9]Condé Nast Traveler survey, 2019.
[10]A New Way to Optimize Sleep and Light Exposure Can Reduce Jet Lag and Improve Alertness, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 18 December 2019.
[11]Lighting Start-up Flips the Switch on an Expected $4 Billion Market by Andrea Lillo, HFN Digital, 25 October 2019.
[12]You Might Get the Best Sleep of Your Life in This House-If You Can Afford It by Rina Raphael, Fast Company, 6 September 2019.
[13]Your Bedroom Is Too Hot by James Hamblin, the Atlantic, 29 December 2019.
[14]Ambient Temperature and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Effects on Sleep, Sleep Apnea and Morning Alertness by Fredrik Valham, MD; Carin Sahlin, PhD; Hans Stenlund, PhD; and Karl A. Franklin, MD, PhD; Oxford Academic, Sleep, Volume 35, Issue 4, Pages 513-517, 1 April 2012.
[15]Elevated Airflow Can Maintain Sleep Quality and Thermal Comfort of the Elderly in a Hot Environment, Department of Architecture, School of Design, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China, 10 September 2019.
[16]Review of Intermittent Fasting Research Suggests Broad Health Benefits by Rich Haridy, New Atlas, December 29, 2019.
[17]Clinical Study Finds Eating within 10-Hour Window May Help Stave Off Diabetes, Heart Disease, Salk Institute, 5 December 2019.
[18]Timing of Food Intake Predicts Weight Loss Effectiveness, International Journal of Obesity, April 2013.
[19]Your Body Clock Cares about When You Eat by Michele Wilson, PhD, Technology Networks, 25 April 2019.
[20]Scientists Find Gut Cells Affecting Circadian Clock, Xinhua, 5 October 2019.
[21]Drugs That Boost Our Circadian Rhythms Could Save Our Lives by Megan Molteni, Wired, 28 May 2019.
[22]This Watch App Will Help You Reorient Your Life to the Earth's Natural Rhythms by Adele Peters, Fast Company, 29 July 2019.

Copyright © 2019-2020 by Global Wellness Summit.
If you cite ideas and information in this report please credit "2020 Wellness Trends, from the Global Wellness Summit".
For more information, email[email protected]

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Focus Shifts from Sleep to True Circadian Health

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By Beth McGroarty Any solution claiming to reset circadian rhythms must have the TIMING of light at its center. This will become a central pillar of wellness: from circadian lighting to circadian diets to apps that use timed light doses to crush jet lag. We're at the strangest place culturally when it comes to sleep.

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For anybody who is on the lookout for the elixir of youth, we have found it for you. Bee venom skin care has been touted as a natural way to combat ageing and acne. Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Middleton have included bee venom in their facials, which is considered as botox of nature. Wild Ferns Bee Venom serum energises the skin’s natural activity and encourages collagen production. It eliminates the appearance of fine lines and gives the skin an extra boost of rejuvenation.

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2022 looks set to see exercise begin to be prescribed by GPs for issues which they call “social needs” – issues that account for one in 5 GP appointments in the UK and span low mood, diabetes, and low-grade depression. This marks the start of a more holistic, community-based approach to medical treatment and further reinforces the notion that exercise can have a significant impact on your physical and mental wellbeing.

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We’re seeing an increase in gyms offering hybrid memberships. Many traditional gyms are noticing that members want to have the option to work out either online or in-person. Online fitness isn’t necessarily a competitor to brick-and-mortar businesses, but an ally as long as you can adapt to the needs of your members. Members want the option to head to the gym a few days a week, but also get a workout in at home. Hybrid gym memberships are all about providing a level of convenience that consumers not only demand but expect.

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The Kenguru is the world's first electric vehicle designed for drivers in wheelchairs and the compact vehicle accommodates a single wheelchair user. Unlike many accessible transportation solutions that open from the side, this one lets wheelchair users press a button to lift the rear door and roll straight into position.

In place of steering wheels and pedals, the EV has handlebars, acceleration and brake buttons, as directional controls. There's also a locking mechanism so that drivers in wheelchairs are kept secure while on the road. The brightly colored car is incredibly lightweight; in fact, it falls under the electric scooter category, so that the Kenguru doesn't even need a driver's license to be operated. In terms of speed, the vehicle is capable of reaching up to 28 mph.

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The conceptual 'Island' tram has been designed by the Ponti Design Studio as a public transportation solution for the post-COVID world that would enable passengers to maintain their distance from one another. The double-decker tram was designed for Hong Kong and is imagined with autonomous driverless technology in order to eliminate the operator cabin for more interior space. The elegantly designed tram has high-end finishes such as wood flooring and discreet lighting, while also featuring floor-to-ceiling windows to maximize views to the outside cityscape.

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LEVIA, a top-selling cannabis-infused seltzer, recently expanded its portfolio with the introduction of a new limited-edition flavor -- Blueberry Cobbler. With its chilling berry flavor and sativa cannabis blend, Blueberry Cobbler gives consumers energy for work or play. In addition, the limited-run seltzer features original artwork from Dean McKeever (“Keever”), a local Massachusetts illustrator specializing in craft beverage can design.

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LEVIA, a top-selling cannabis-infused seltzer, recently expanded its portfolio with the introduction of a new limited-edition flavor -- Blueberry Cobbler. With its chilling berry flavor and sativa cannabis blend, Blueberry Cobbler gives consumers energy for work or play. In addition, the limited-run seltzer features original artwork from Dean McKeever ("Keever"), a local Massachusetts illustrator specializing in craft beverage can design.

"After bringing a series of seasonal and limited-edition products to markets, we see the continued demand for more from LEVIA consumers," says Troy Brosnan, Co-Founder of LEVIA. "Our team will continue to drop limited-edition products throughout the year in an effort to give customers a similar, crisp beverage, with a new twist."

LEVIA's Blueberry Cobbler will be available beginning the week of October 1st, 2022, and only available throughout the entirety of October.

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LEVIA, a top-selling cannabis-infused seltzer, recently expanded its portfolio with the introduction of a new limited-edition flavor -- Blueberry Cobbler. With its chilling berry flavor and sativa cannabis blend, Blueberry Cobbler gives consumers energy for work or play. In addition, the limited-run seltzer features original artwork from Dean McKeever ("Keever"), a local Massachusetts illustrator specializing in craft beverage can design.

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After a year filled with gloomy news, colour has caught users’ attention with a 140% increase in searches for electric blue outfits. On the other hand, goth style is breaking through in an offbeat way, with growing interest in goth pyjamas (+185%) and baby clothes (+120%)!

If originality is the order of the day, the traditional checkerboard pattern looks set to make a comeback just about everywhere, from fingernails (+165% searches) to checkerboard tile floors (+5x searches). All of which shows a certain level of interest in retro trends among younger generations.

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It's back and is here to stay

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The saree has evolved progressively through time. Saree, as seen now, is inspired by the developments in history. A major role in it was played by the British proprietary and morality rules. They believed that the saree in itself lacked modesty as women earlier did not wear blouses along with the attire, thus introducing the blouse and petticoat. Slowly and eventually, the modern-day saree came into existence.

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In the age of mindfulness, many have embraced the meditative value of spending time alone and venturing out into the big wide world unencumbered, interacting and making friends to whatever degree suits. In an effort to make solo travelers feel comfortable, barriers between hotel staff and guests are being lowered, interior design choices made to evoke a sense of homeliness and an informal atmosphere cultivated. This, along with a less stark divide between guests and locals, encourages a feeling of hotel community.

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Working remotely has today become commonplace for many employees and is forecasted to become more than just a passing trend. A shift accelerated by the global public health crisis, an unprecedented number of high-profile companies – with big tech companies like Twitter, Facebook, and Amazon leading the way – announced that they will adopt a hybrid or flexible approach to working remotely. In 2021 alone, the percentage of workers around the world that are permanently working remotely was expected to double.

This means that hospitality venues are being used as make-shift offices for bleisure travelers, as well as locals seeking a change of work environment. This is a great opportunity for hotels and F&B venues to capitilize on the trend and adapt their offering to meet the needs and wants of this emerging segment; ample plug sockets, free high-speed WIFI and great coffee are good starting points.

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Automation ranks high up on the list of hospitality trends to be aware of and robotics is a good example of this being taken further. Hotels, restaurants and similar businesses can use robots to greet customers and provide customer information, while they can also play a vital role in security operations too.

Within the hotel setting, robots have been used to offer room service and perform cleaning and other housekeeping chores. Meanwhile, restaurants can potentially use robots to carry out aspects of food service. This can be especially useful when dealing with restaurant customers who are trying to reduce close contact with people as much as possible.

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Inside China's first AI hot pot restaurant

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https://www.christophejauquet.com/post/aspiration-moderation

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Welcome to "A Healthusiasm World", a newsletter by Christophe Jauquet on making customers healthy & happy.

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Wellness was already taking up 17% of the entire expenditures in the travel industry. This has only exploded in the past Covid years and instigated various wellness centres to focus on medical services as well. As human beings, we were also more interested than ever in other countries' health situations and systems. Don’t be surprised if, in the following years, more and more countries will specialize in attracting patients to specific care pathways.

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Geroscience

We all want to 'get old', but nobody wants to be old. “I will be old later”. This is beginning to translate into just about every stage of life and every aspect of life. This trend is also increasingly visible in science. Geroscience is gaining importance and even promises to have a broader impact on our general health system.

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social, cultural and economic macro trend Healthusiasm. It explains how people are more than ever driven to improve their own health and how they increasingly expect more from companies and brands to help them with this. As a result, Healthusiasm blurs the boundaries between the medical, wellness and consumer industries. This is a significant evolution for any type of company or brand. An evolution that has further accelerated under the influence of Covid.

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Health insurers are starting to roll back coverage for telehealth

https://theconversation.com › health-insurers-are-startin...

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Vincent van gogh's Starry night themed Durga puja mandap at Kolkata

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The famous Vincent van gogh wasn't so famous back in his time. But today his paintings are one of the most popular paintings in the world. Not just because they're old and vintage but also because of the stories twined behind each paining depicting van gogh's mental health.

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Exhaustion, anxiety and stress are limiting people’s interest in complex flavors, according to new research published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology. “Hedonic appreciation of food...varies with the degree to which consumers are mentally depleted,” the study’s authors write, concluding that “cognitive depletion reduces consumer enjoyment of complex-flavored (but not simple-flavored) foods.”
Bringing back good old foods.
Dunkin’ Donuts brought back their fall favorite pumpkin donuts and coffee several months early. 85% of consumers say that eating their favorite snacks makes them feel ‘normal’ and nearly half say that eating them makes them feel happy, according to Frito-Lay’s annual snacking index.

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With improvements in lifestyle, diet and health care leading to increased life expectancies, there has also been an increase in people living with dementia and other age-related mental declines. Taking steps to combat both the physical and mental disadvantages of ageing can help in creating a more fulfilling older age and a higher quality of life.

Exercise helps with both the physical and mental health problems associated with ageing. Studies have found a 20-30% lower risk of depression and anxiety in older adults exercising daily, and a boost in self-esteem.

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@bellahadid and @coperni designers Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant recreated history by live spray painting a futuristic dress on the model. Taking the attendees and fashion lovers back to 1999, when late @alexandermcqueen created a similar finale moment with @shalomharlow. 24 years ago, Harlow wore a voluminous strapless white dress held up by a leather belt and stood on a spinning platform where she was painted by robots.

Bella walked on the ramp in nothing but a thong, until the designers sprayed an off-shoulder dress made out of a foam-like substance—courtesy fabrican, a material-science company founded by Spanish fashion designer and scientist Manel Torres. The sprayed liquid has synthetic fibers in a polymer solution, which evaporate when they make contact with the skin. The designers have been working on the concept with the technology-based company for 6 months.

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Unlike older days when women were supposed to go into isolation when the were pregnant, these days women choose to rather flaunt there pregnancy and make it a norm.

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Bored of putting in the four minutes it requires to effectively clean your molars? Then, this product might be just what what you need. Chewable toothpaste while a fun idea has also been hailed as a eco-friendly one, allowing folks to ditch the tube while providing the correct amount of toothpaste per brush on the go. Go ahead, chew on that for a minute.

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While alternative non-dairy products like soy, almond and oat milks continue to be popular - the latest option is potato milk.

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Manifestation refers to various pseudoscientific self-help strategies that can purportedly make an individual's wishes come true by mentally visualizing them. Manifestation techniques are based on the law of attraction of New Thought spirituality.

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I am a huge proponent of low-level light therapy for both beauty and wellness benefits. However, most at-home devices only treat a targeted area. So when I came across Joovv, a modular red light therapy system that can treat the whole body in one treatment in the privacy of your own home, my interest was piqued. When I later discovered that the founders are two married couples, I wanted to learn even more.

The Joovv concept was initiated after sisters Elizabeth (Liz) Nelson and Melissa Strahan started patronizing a local spa to receive red light therapy to treat various skin and health issues. "After eight-ten weeks of consistent sessions, we noticed some pretty dramatic results," Strahan tells me. "Not only did our skin health drastically improve, but our stretch marks & age spots were significantly reduced, we both felt more energy, and even noticed our sleep quality was better."

But consistency is key to sustain the benefits. "It's hard to do four-five treatments in a commercial setting with kids and a job-and it's expensive. So, I started looking for at-home options and after extensive research, I couldn't believe that there wasn't anything available," says Strahan.

After trying several at-home options that lacked power and didn't yield results, Strahan turned to her engineer husband. "I asked my husband Justin, an engineer, to try his hand at building a full-body light therapy product that we could use at home. At the time, we had no intention of starting a business, but that's how Joovv was born."

Joovv, which is short for "rejuvenate" officially launched in 2016, founded by the sisters and their husbands, Scott Nelson and Justin Strahan. "Prior to Joovv, full-body light therapy devices with large coverage areas were only available in a professional setting, such as spas and health clinics," states Strahan. "These types of products for in-home use simply didn't exist. In an era where consumers are keen to find a convenient (and effective) answer to their needs, we saw an opportunity. Joovv's patented, professional-grade modular system is the first system of its kind, and allows consumers to experience quick, full-body treatments in the comfort of their own homes."

"Fortunately, we've been able to bootstrap Joovv since the inception of the company," states Scott when I inquire if the got investors or self-financed the launch. "Unlike a lot of startups, we've been able to realize strong commercial traction without allocating a significant budget towards paid customer acquisition. This has allowed us to reinvest capital back into the critical, 'long-tail' functions of the business."

One of the coolest aspects of Joovv is its patented modular design that allows you to start with one device and build out a larger system over time. "The modular system lets you connect up to 6 Joovvs in a single system. That way, someone who is new to light therapy can start with just one device to get their feet wet, explains Scott. "Also, unlike a lot of products you might find on the internet, our devices have undergone rigorous IEC safety testing, have been thoroughly analyzed by independent third party diagnostic firms, and are registered with FDA."

Joovv devices emit both red light at 660 nm and near-infrared light at 850 nm wavelengths. " Studies have shown these specific wavelengths enable our cells to perform critical functions at a higher level-leading to enhanced ATP production, reduced oxidative stress, enhanced immune system function, increased collagen production, faster muscle recovery, and many other health benefits," explains Justin.

The original Joovv devices were not modular, but that has since changed. "We were overwhelmed by the positive response to our original Joovv devices," Justin continues. "But many customers expressed interest in even more treatment size options, as well as additional ways to mount their Joovv's. So we redesigned the product from the ground up so they can be connected together over time-with smaller devices like the Joovv Mini, and our largest system, the Joovv Elite."

"Light therapy is both non-invasive and clinically proven. While red light therapy has become more commonly known, near infrared (NIR) wavelengths can actually penetrate much deeper into the body. NIR can even penetrate through bone, which leads to a whole host of positive results like faster muscle recovery, pain & inflammation reduction, and even cognitive enhancements," states Scott. "These red and near infrared light wavelengths optimize cellular function, helping people heal from the inside out."

The company launched its latest product offering, Joovv Go in February 2019. It's a smaller device that is available in either red or near infrared model that offers the same medical-grade power the larger units provide-but you can take it with you on the go. "It slips into a purse, backpack, or suitcase and recharges wirelessly for maximum portability and convenience. At $295, it also lowers the barrier to entry for consumers interested in medical-grade red light therapy treatments," states Scott.

Prior to co-founding Joovv, Scott Nelson spent his professional career in leadership positions with some of the largest medical device companies in the world, including Medtronic, Covidien, Boston Scientific, and C.R. Bard. "My time at those companies, in addition to my natural interest in digital marketing, helped inform how I approach commercialization strategy and execution at Joovv," Scott tells me when I ask him how his past experiences in medical devices has helped him with Joovv.

Scott, who also founded and hosts Medsider Radio, where he regularly interviews healthcare executives, continues, "One of the key things I learned from my corporate experience is the importance of being human in any aspect of business. It may sound overly simple, and it's something I'm continually working on, but just like in life, it's essential to be yourself. Put yourself in your customer's shoes, and ask, 'How can I help solve their problem'? Practicing this is simple and will always prove effective when launching and growing a business."

When I ask the sisters what the best part is about founding Joovv Liz responds, "It's so fun to see such a variety of professional athletes and celebrities using our products. But what were most excited about is how these well-known people can help us spread our message of 'light for a modern world'," Melissa adds, "Launching a business is never easy and can certainly have its challenges. But we've learned so much about ourselves and our customers, and are thrilled to continue developing products that can make a true impact in the lives of so many people."

I have both the red light and NIR version Joovv Go and love them both. Although, I must admit, I cannot wait to create an entire Joovv room where I can reap the full body benefits from all angles.

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Create A Full-Body Red Light Treatment Area In Your Home With Joovv's Modular System

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I am a huge proponent of low-level light therapy for both beauty and wellness benefits. However, most at-home devices only treat a targeted area. So when I came across Joovv, a modular red light therapy system that can treat the whole body in one treatment in the privacy of your own home, my interest was piqued.

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Software developer in healthcare industry

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Software developer in healthcare industry

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Data Requirements Make Healthtech an Interesting Puzzle for Developers

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Darshan Desai has worked in other industries before, writing software in both enterprise SaaS and finance spaces. But since starting in healthtech, he's noticed a difference in the way his role as a developer at the company works.

"As a developer in the healthcare tech space, you have to really be fairly cross functional and work with different groups of people," he said. "Because you're dealing with regulations and a lot of legal handcuffs, shipping a product ends up taking a lot of different folks."

Desai works as a software developer at Chapter, a healthtech startup that compares and recommends Medicare plans for its users. Desai said he gets a lot of satisfaction out of helping users navigate the complicated Medicare landscape and seeing the impact his work can have on users' lives.

Because the healthcare industry encompasses everything from clinical visits to medical software, developers who work in different areas and at different companies will have a variety of experiences. But the developers that Built In spoke with all talked about how rewarding the work can be. At Chapter, Desai has seen first-hand how technology can make healthcare processes much easier and faster, and he enjoys doing work that helps make users' lives less stressful.

But software development in the healthcare industry also poses unique challenges. Desai said being a developer in healthtech means wearing a lot of different hats and taking on diverse responsibilities. That's because existing technical infrastructure is often outdated, and it takes bringing everyone's skills to the table to create good products that will benefit real users.

Even more than in other industries, software developers working in healthtech must build strong relationships with end users, learn how to work within strict legal regulations and build many technical tools from scratch.

More on Software Development Careers Why Developing Automotive Software Is a Bit Different

All Developers in Healthcare Are Affected by HIPAA

Regulations around patient data affect everything healthtech companies do. Non-compliant companies are subject to significant fines and even prison time for severe violations. The law that governs all this is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, known in the industry as HIPAA, which outlines privacy, security and breach notification standards for all protected health information.

"HIPAA leads to a very different way of building out some of the software," Desai said. Not only do software products have to protect patient data from leaking out externally, but they also have to tightly restrict and track internal employees' access.

That has big implications on how software is architected and developed, and also on the availability of external tools development teams can rely on. In many industries, software development piggybacks off the work of existing products and libraries created by other developers, both from open source and enterprise products. But in the privacy-conscious healthcare industry, developers can't just use any tool that's available online. Tools have to be approved for HIPAA compliance, and many simply are not equipped to handle the necessary security and logging concerns HIPAA requires. That results in a much more limited pool of tools available for developers, and the ones that exist are usually more expensive.

"There's a higher barrier of entry," Desai said. "It's harder to start a healthcare tech company because you just need more capital to get HIPAA compliance."

Chapter is currently dealing with that issue managing their own customer data platform. There are many CDP products available, but none HIPAA compliant, so for now, developers have created workarounds and internal systems for storing that information until one becomes available.

HIPAA Concerns Are Especially Important for Internal Data

At ESO Solutions, where Jessica O'Connell works as a senior software development engineer, all developers are required to complete annual HIPAA training. The company helps hospitals share patient care data with emergency medical services like ambulance and fire response teams, so developers are well acquainted with the challenges of wrangling patient data under HIPAA.

ESO's annual training gives its employees a foundation for understanding the purpose and responsibilities of HIPAA, but the real education occurs on the job, when developers deal with the real-world implications of the law on software development. One effect is that development environments, where developers have access to data and do the bulk of their work, must mask all protected health information so employees cannot see personally identifiable information.

"So having completely scrubbed databases and no identifying data about any patients," O'Connell said. "Any piece of information that would be an identifier, like first name, last name, address, phone number, any kind of personal information, we just swap it out."

O'Connell said the company's old process was to "scrub" the development environment databases by removing any identifiable information that can be removed, substituting others with random strings, and breaking links across tables to prevent developers from executing data queries. That might involve actions like removing names and replacing addresses with random strings.

"This has to be secured, and there can't be any points where this data is traveling over the internet in plain text."

Those processes help the company stay HIPAA-compliant, but doing so introduces new challenges developers have to work around. One of ESO's primary services is providing EMS companies and hospitals with patient care data that gives insight into patients' entire care experience, from before their EMS pickup all the way to when they are discharged from the hospital.

"It links your pre-hospital care to the outcome you've had at the hospital, and it will give feedback to the EMTs on how well they did and how it impacted what happened to the patient while at the hospital," O'Connell said.

Having enough data and the right data for each patient is essential to that service, but it's tricky to accomplish - patient data comes from many disparate sources and needs to be pieced together by ESO developers. Because they aren't allowed to access identifiable patient data in the development environment, developers have to find creative ways to compile patient data so the information is accurate and compliant with HIPAA.

These challenges are common in healthtech software development, and any system that has the possibility of dealing with protected health information needs to be accounted for.

"From the beginning, we have to mark the components in our system that are going to be interfacing with [protected health information]," said Michael Wilkinson, a software developer for Intelligent Medical Objects, a platform that streamlines data entry workflows for physicians. "This has to be secured, and there can't be any points where this data is traveling over the internet in plain text."

IMO's product has a search component where physicians can input a patient's health concerns to find corresponding resources. That search capability opens up a potential source of incoming protected health information, so developers have to assume that all information coming in from the search input is protected data. HIPAA compliance also requires healthtech companies to carefully track all interactions with protected health information, including internal interactions by developers and other employees.

"Any point where it's going to be accessible, intentionally or unintentionally, by someone within the system, there needs to be accountability built in - so we know if it was accessed, who it was accessed by and if they had the means to do so," Wilkinson said.

That means developers have to build out robust logging systems, so any interaction with protected health information can be recorded and traced back in the event of a breach.

Healthtech Developers Need to Deal With Older Systems

Software development in healthcare also requires interfacing with systems that aren't standard in other industries and are often significantly older and out of date.

"The main method of integrating with hospitals is using a really old file format called HL7," O'Connell said. "It's a way hospital center systems integrate with other systems."

No other industry uses the standard, so support for troubleshooting can be spotty. The format is delimited text files that need to be parsed by developers and, according to O'Connell, can be challenging to work with. Finding the right pieces of information is sometimes difficult, especially when hospitals send different versions of the format that have alternative structures.

Like most things in healthtech, the difficulties of interfacing with hospital data are slowly changing. O'Connell said there is a push for hospitals to adopt the new FHIR format, which allows developers to connect using APIs and bring hospital-data interactions into the modern age.

Old technology processes in healthcare can manifest in different ways. Desai said that until recently, Chapter developers could only get the data they needed about drug prescription plans from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services shipped through physical mail.

"Prescription drug data would change every month, and the only way for developers to get access to that data was getting mailed a 512 megabyte flash drive," Desai said. "CMS would mail it as a flash drive when we first started, and that's how we would get data from them."

Covid finally forced CMS to modernize that process to avoid delays in the mail delivery system. Developers are now able to download the data off the CMS website.

More on Career Development What Can You Do With a Computer Science Degree?

Getting Customer Needs Right Is Most Important

Healthtech developers often emphasize the importance of understanding customer needs in the industry. Systems are often complex and interdependent, easily disrupted by new processes that can create frustrations for healthcare workers if they aren't well designed. Each healthtech company's success depends on how well its product can fit within existing healthcare processes.

Developers trade cautionary tales about creating products that hinder rather than help users. Since working in healthtech, O'Connell started noticing healthcare workers' frustrations when interacting with her own healthcare providers.

"I would go to the doctor's office, and they would complain about their software," O'Connell said. "They had engineers designing it, not UI engineers - it makes a big difference when you invest in the way you input data as well as how you capture it."

"Knowing that your software is helping get people better healthcare, you can take pride in that."

Jessica Emond, director of communications at IMO, said physicians sometimes experience burnout when using poorly designed software tools.

Wilkinson said products should be designed intuitively so they cater to the users and not the other way around. "The thing [users] care about most is they want to spend as much time away from the computer, and with the patient, as possible," he said. "So anything we can do to make it so that our applications are intuitive, and faster and work the first time."

"You want your application to be performant," said Eswar Chennupati, who also works as a software developer at IMO. "You think, 'What can I do to make the applications better? How can we design it better?'"

ESO tries to get ahead of this problem by recruiting people who have worked in the types of roles the company's users work in. Many employees have backgrounds in emergency services and now work at ESO as product managers to shape how products are developed.

"We have ex-fire chiefs, we have EMTs ... some people even used our software before we hired them," O'Connell said. "They know how to prioritize what needs to come first ... We need to increase our feature set in the right order to most effectively help [EMT] customers and give them what they need, as fast as possible in the best order."

This close connection to the product's users contributes to developers' sense of satisfaction working in the industry, and some developers also find its regulatory and technical hurdles exciting because they are opportunities for developers to make significant impacts.

"One thing I like about working in healthcare is the helping people aspect," O'Connell said. "Knowing that your software is helping get people better healthcare, you can take pride in that."

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Data Requirements Make Healthtech an Interesting Puzzle for Developers

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Darshan Desai has worked in other industries before, writing software in both enterprise SaaS and finance spaces. But since starting in healthtech, he's noticed a difference in the way his role as a developer at the company works.

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synthetic healthcare data startup Syntegra releases free datasets with realistic-but-fake patient data.

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Welcome to The TechCrunch Exchange, a weekly startups-and-markets newsletter. It's inspired by the daily TechCrunch+ column where it gets its name. Want it in your inbox every Saturday? Sign up here.
Spotting new trends is one of my favorite parts of my job. But I like it even more when several trends converge into a transformative wave. That's exactly what's happening in health tech right now, as the sector benefits not only from the rise of open data, but also from the democratization of data analytics and privacy-preserving synthetic data. Let's explore. - Anna
Data for health tech builders

When I heard that synthetic healthcare data startup Syntegra would release free datasets with realistic-but-fake patient data, it caught my attention. Not because it was releasing open data, not because it was sharing synthetic data and not because it's a health tech company - but because it was doing all of those things at once.

You wouldn't be wrong to think open data is cool in itself. For instance, I loved hearing earlier this week about the launch of BigScience's large language model, BLOOM, a free and open alternative to OpenAI's GPT-3. But the expectation is that BLOOM will mostly be used by researchers. In contrast, the datasets made available by Syntegra and Tuva Health are meant for health tech startups.

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Empowering a new wave of health tech startups - with data

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The synthetic data company Syntegra confirmed that its target audience for this project is health tech startups and data scientists.

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Big tech moves to enter healthcare

Last year, more than 36 different hospitals partnered with big tech companies for various purposes. Some were looking for better cloud infrastructure to store patient data, while others displayed an interest in advanced tools. For example, Kettering Health Network and Premier Health partnered with Google's parent company Alphabet as part of a plan to build a tech-based rehabilitation center for patients addicted to opioids.

In general, these institutions all want to take advantage of at least one of two resources these technology companies provide — cloud data storage to support new health record systems and cutting-edge data analytics.

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How Big Tech Is Changing the Way Hospitals Are Run

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Like other industries across the economy, healthcare saw new developments in technology through 2019. Now, as big tech becomes more interested in the industry and looks for ways to partner with hospitals and other medical institutions, these changes are likely to deepen — and they may even transform…

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BIG TECH IN HEALTHCARE: Here’s who wins and loses as Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft target niche sectors of healthcare

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BIG TECH IN HEALTHCARE: Here’s who wins and loses as Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft target niche sectors of healthcare

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Consumer demands for fast healthcare services is causing companies to adopt digital tech.

The Big Tech in Healthcare report explores strengths tech giants bring to healthcare.

Do you work in the Healthcare industry? Get business insights on the latest tech innovations, market trends, and your competitors with data-driven research.

Healthcare organizations have to contend with the coronavirus pandemic and its lingering impacts, and shifting consumer demands for fast and convenient services. Healthcare players are being forced to move on their digital transformation efforts, and Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft are lending their tech-savviness to become partners for the job.

The Big Four tech companies - Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft - are accelerating their pursuit of the healthcare market, and they're starting to hone their strategies in on specific corners of the ecosystem. Below, we break down how these players are ramping up their efforts to reshape healthcare by developing and collaborating on new tools that could be a boon to consumers, medical professionals, and insurers.

Amazon Healthcare

Amazon has been aggressively infiltrating as many healthcare sectors as possible over the last few years. It's relying on its cloud arm Amazon Web Services (AWS) and voice tech expertise to get through hospital doors, and it's using acquisitions and large-scale partnerships to launch new healthcare projects.

Amazon is using acquisitions and large-scale partnerships to launch new healthcare projects.

How Amazon is changing healthcare

Amazon is setting up initiatives to transform pharmacy, the medical supply chain, health insurance, and care delivery. Amazon is leveraging its delivery power to carve into the medical supplies distribution space and using its massive employee base to test the telehealth waters.

Some of the top healthcare solutions and platforms offer by Amazon include:

Apple Healthcare

Apple is eager to build out its health division and live out CEO Tim Cook's goal of having health be Apple's 'greatest contribution to mankind.' Apple is striving to turn its consumer products into portable patient health hubs and valuable clinical research tools.

Apple is striving to turn its consumer products into portable patient health hubs.

Each iteration of the Apple Watch has been beefed up with new health features, and it's leaning on the iPhone's Health Records feature to link with provider organizations looking for ways to better communicate with patients' many points of care.

How Apple is changing healthcare

Apple is using its popular consumer-facing products, like the Apple Watch and iPhone, to forge partnerships with payers, health systems, and clinical researchers. Apple has been boosting the number of health-related features accessible on its Watch to establish the wearable as a clinical tool to be used in medical research.

Some of the top healthcare solutions and platforms offer by Apple include:
Like what you're reading? Click here to learn more about Insider Intelligence's leading Health research.
Google (Alphabet) Healthcare

Alphabet is focusing on its expertise in AI and data storage to help drive the industry-wide push for predictive analytics, precision medicine, and interoperability. Alphabet hopes to enhance consumer health and clamp down on healthcare costs.

Alphabet's FitBit acquisition opened up new possibilities for it to enter the digital health sector.

Further, Alphabet announced its acquisition of wearable giant Fitbit for $2 billion in November 2019 - opening up a world of new possibilities for the tech titan when it comes to health-tracking and employee benefits.

How Google (Alphabet) is changing healthcare

Alphabet is using its dominance in data storage and analytics to patch up interoperability challenges and streamline clinical research. The company is leaning on its cloud platform artificial intelligence (AI) to land strategic hospital partnerships by solving issues with electronic health record (EHR) interoperability and limited computing infrastructure.

Some of the top healthcare solutions and platforms offer by Google include:

Microsoft Healthcare

Microsoft is facing off against Alphabet and Amazon in the race to control the healthcare cloud market. Microsoft is largely staying out of the consumer-facing realm with its health play-zeroing in on Azure, and enabling providers and payers to target specific pockets of populations for better health outcomes and helping to optimize data storage.

Team collaboration on Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare.

How Microsoft is changing healthcare

Microsoft's health play hinges on its cloud platform, Azure, and the data analytics prowess it can provide healthcare firms. These efforts stem mainly from its Healthcare NExT program, which aids in providing the company with a focused brand as it explores how its tech can be used within the healthcare setting.

Some of the top healthcare solutions and platforms offer by Microsoft include:

Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare

Healthcare NExT

Microsoft Genomics

Medical Scribe

Microsoft Health Bot

Future of tech in healthcare

Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft have been dipping their toes into the healthcare industry, and some of their endeavors have the potential to change healthcare at large.

As the Big Four move steadily onward into healthcare, it's necessary for legacy players (hospitals, insurers, pharma companies, health IT firms) to know exactly what their strategies look like, and what they stand to lose and gain.

Here are some key takeaways from the report:

Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft are gunning to carve out spaces within the healthcare market, and each is targetting its own set of sectors to transform or disrupt.

Microsoft is focused on its race with Amazon and Google to lay claim to the healthcare cloud market, Apple is knuckling down on clinical research initiatives via its wearables, Alphabet is focusing on its AI expertise to drive precision medicine, and Amazon is shaping up to disrupt the pharmacy, virtual care, and telehealth realms.

Their moves into healthcare are providing health systems with tech needed to patch up interoperability and data sharing gaps, giving healthcare payers a chance to collect a more comprehensive set of health data for members, and granting pharma companies the ability to streamline drug development and manufacturing.

But tech giants' forward march into healthcare is, in some cases, troubling incumbents. Amazon's prescription delivery play has traditional pharmacies looking for ways to retain their customer bases, for instance, and Alphabet is building an ecosystem that we think could put it at odds with top dogs in the EHR industry.

And their inroads into the healthcare space may be stymied by consumers' meager trust in tech companies handling their health information as well as a rampant cybersecurity crisis that could have healthcare firms holding off on tech investments.

In full, the report:

Provides an overview of Alphabet's, Amazon's, Apple's, and Microsoft's most prominent healthcare projects and plans.

Highlights the persistent gaps in the US healthcare system that provide these companies and their cutting-edge technologies with entryways into the industry.

Identifies the incumbent healthcare players that will benefit from and be threatened by big tech companies' foray into healthcare.

Outlines the barriers that are still in place that are stifling tech giants' dive into the health space.

Other companies and healthcare providers using tech in this report

AbbVie, Adidas, Aetna, Allscripts, Alphabet, Amazon, Ancestry, Apple, Ascension, Berkshire Hathaway, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Bright Health, Calico, Cerner, Cleveland Clinic, Clover Health, Color, CVS, CVS Caremark, Deepmind, Devoted Health, Dexcom, Duke University Health, Eli Lilly, Emory Healthcare, Epic, Fitbit, Giant Eagle Pharmacy, Gilead Sciences, Google, GSK, Haven, Health Navigator, iRhythm, JPMorgan Chase, Mayo Clinic, Meditech, Microsoft, Moorfields Eye Hospital, New York-Presbyterian, Nike, Noom, Northwestern Medicine, Novartis, Nuance, Oasis Medical Group, Onduo, Optum, Orbita, Otsuka, Pfizer, PillPack, Premera, Providence St. Joseph Health, Quest Diagnostics, ResMed, Rite Aid, Sanofi, Seattle Children's Hospital, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Stanford University, Suki, Summit Pacific Medical Center, Surescripts, UnitedHealthcare, UnitedHealth Group, University of California, University of Chicago, Verily Life Sciences, and Walgreens

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BIG TECH IN HEALTHCARE: Here's who wins and loses as Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft target niche sectors of healthcare

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This report explores the key strengths and offerings the Big Four tech giants - Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft - bring to healthcare.

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From facility to home: How healthcare could shift by 2025

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From facility to home: How healthcare could shift by 2025

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When patients enter a healthcare facility, their primary aims are to become well again and to go home. While increasing disease burden and rising healthcare costs in the United States have already contributed to a boost in Care at Home services, the COVID-19 pandemic has created a catalyst to truly reimagine their future.

Based on a survey of physicians who serve predominantly Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) and Medicare Advantage (MA) patients, we estimate that up to $265 billion worth of care services (representing up to 25 percent of the total cost of care) for Medicare FFS and MA beneficiaries could shift from traditional facilities to the home by 2025 without a reduction in quality or access. That number represents a three- to fourfold increase in the cost of care being delivered at home today for this population, although how the shift will affect reimbursement rates is not yet clear. What's more, Care at Home could create value for payers, healthcare facilities and physician groups, Care at Home providers, technology companies, and investors. It also could improve patients' quality of care and experience.

That said, several factors could affect adoption of these services. We outline those factors below, along with actions that stakeholders can take to address them. We also discuss why Care at Home services are rising, how Care at Home could create value for stakeholders and lead to higher-quality care for patients, areas where care could shift from traditional facilities to the home, and strategies for successfully adopting Care at Home.

How the COVID-19 pandemic has catalyzed Care at Home

A variety of pandemic-related factors have created an opportunity to rethink Care at Home. These include the following:

Growth in virtual care: In February 2021, the use of telehealth was 38 times higher than prepandemic levels. While the future of reimbursement parity for telehealth is not yet clear, payers and providers have an opportunity to respond to evolving consumer needs. About 40 percent of surveyed consumers said that they expect to continue using telehealth going forward. This represents an increase from 11 percent of consumers using telehealth prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

More patients with post-acute and long-term care needs may be evaluating their options: As baby boomers age and families contend with the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 crisis, a growing number of patients and families may be considering their options for post-acute and long-term care. Ideally, eligible individuals would receive care in the most appropriate setting, whether that is at home or in a facility for rehabilitation, assisted living, skilled nursing, or long-term care. A combination of remote monitoring, telehealth, social supports, and home modification may enable more patients to receive some level of Care at Home. The share of Medicare visits conducted through telehealth, for example, rose to 52.7 million in 2020, from approximately 840,000 in 2019, according to a December 2021 report from the US Department of Health & Human Services.

Emergence of new technologies and capabilities: New technologies are making Care at Home possible for more people. Remote patient-monitoring devices, for example, allow providers to monitor patient progress remotely and receive alerts if there is an issue. In an April 2021 poll, more than one in five healthcare leaders said that their practice offers remote patient monitoring. The pandemic has accelerated the use of remote patient monitoring. For example, the Mayo Clinic used remote patient monitoring for ambulatory management of patients with COVID-19 and found that it was effective, with a 78.9 percent engagement rate; 11.4 percent and 9.4 percent 30-day emergency-department-visit and hospitalization rates, respectively; and a 0.4 percent 30-day mortality rate.

Growing investment in the digital health market: Venture funding for digital health companies was a record-breaking $29.1 billion in 2021. Comparatively, there was $14.9 billion invested in 2020 and $8.2 billion invested in 2019.

Care at Home may deliver more value and higher-quality care

As the United States faces the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, stakeholders are exploring ways to provide higher-quality care, especially for an aging population. The answer may lie with Care at Home, with examples that include primary-care visits via telehealth, self-administered dialysis at home, and skilled nursing-facility services at home with remote patient monitoring and support for activities of daily living. These interventions can be delivered to different kinds of patient archetypes (for example, high-risk patients with chronic conditions or those who are healthy and at low risk) throughout the patient journey (for example, diagnosis, treatment and discharge, or self-care) as either point solutions or as a comprehensive offering.

To examine the current and future impact of this type of care, we have created hypothetical journeys with Care at Home for various patient archetypes (Exhibit 1). For example, consider 75-year-old Bernadette, who has coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and diabetes. She lives with her husband, has limited mobility, and struggles to access healthy food. Under a traditional-care model, she may be admitted to the hospital with a heart attack and then discharged to a skilled nursing facility because of concerns about her ability to stay safe and engaged at home. Under a Care at Home model, she might be evaluated by a physician and sent home, where she could have an assigned nurse and care manager, remote patient monitoring, daily telehealth visits with a physician coupled with in-person care from a nurse, and meals delivered to her home by a community-based organization.

Care at Home could improve the quality of care and the patient experience by providing patients with care in the comfort of their homes and by potentially reducing preventable adverse health events. Additionally, stakeholders-including payers, healthcare facilities and physician groups, Care at Home providers, technology companies, and investors-could see substantial value, although the types of benefits and costs would vary by stakeholder (Exhibit 2). For example, a payer could benefit from lower medical costs resulting from the reduction of preventable adverse health events and the use of a lower-cost site of care. Value could also result from enhanced quality performance and more clinically appropriate and accurate risk coding. This value may be partially offset by the reimbursement for Care at Home services and the potential for induced demand through more convenient care. Ultimately, the value from Care at Home will likely depend on which specific opportunities are pursued and adopted.

Where care could shift from traditional facilities to the home

Care at Home cannot succeed without physician buy-in. To understand the percentage of care being delivered in an office or facility today that could be provided at home-in clinically appropriate and cost-effective ways-for different service categories by 2025, we conducted a survey of physicians who serve predominantly Medicare FFS and MA patients. We focused on Medicare FFS and MA because beneficiaries expressed an appetite for Care at Home ( McKinsey's Consumer Health Insights survey from June 2021 found that 16 percent of respondents aged 65 and older said that they are more likely now than they were before the pandemic to receive home health services), and some have conditions that could be treated at home at a substantially lower cost. As a result, the opportunity to expand Care at Home services for Medicare FFS and MA beneficiaries could be broader than for other groups.

The survey investigated the extent to which care for a given service can shift to the home in a clinically appropriate and cost-effective way. Based on the results, we estimate that up to $265 billion worth of care currently being delivered in traditional facilities for Medicare FFS and MA beneficiaries (representing up to 25 percent of the total cost of care) could shift to the home. This represents a three- to fourfold increase in the current spend at home for this population today, although how the shift will affect reimbursement rates is not yet clear (Exhibit 3).

We categorized the services that can be delivered at home into three groups:

1. Services with capabilities in place that may benefit from scaling: These services include primary care, outpatient-specialist consults, emergency-department and urgent care, hospice, and outpatient mental- and behavioral-health visits. Many of these services have seen an increase in usage during the COVID-19 pandemic. These services have the potential to scale at home as point solutions. Our survey results suggest that roughly 15 to 40 percent of additional Medicare FFS and MA spending for these services could be delivered at home, with emergency-department and urgent care on the lower end, at 15 to 20 percent, and outpatient mental- and behavioral-health visits on the higher end, at 30 to 40 percent (Exhibit 4).

2. Services where capabilities exist that could be stitched together into a comprehensive offering: These services include dialysis, post-acute care (PAC) and long-term care (LTC), and infusions. Our survey results suggest that roughly 15 to 40 percent of additional Medicare FFS and MA spending on these services could be delivered at home, with dialysis and PAC and LTC on the lower end (15 to 25 percent) and infusions on the higher end (30 to 40 percent).

The capabilities needed to deliver many of these services at home are available today: for example, infusion services of intravenous therapies, post-acute nursing and rehabilitative therapy, and dialysis are already being provided at home, but these services could grow further by bringing together capabilities in a comprehensive offering.

For PAC, such an offering may include a nurse to deliver Care at Home, a remote patient-monitoring device to check patients' vitals and alert providers if there is a concern, a care manager to follow up with patients to make sure they understand the discharge instructions and to schedule follow-up visits, and prepared meals to be delivered to the home.

3. Services with some capabilities but others that could be further developed: This category includes a single service: acute care. Our survey results suggest that roughly 20 to 30 percent of additional Medicare FFS and MA spending for acute care can be delivered at home. Some acute-care services can be treated at home today, but others rely on capabilities that require further technological advancement. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has stated that "treatment for more than 60 different acute conditions, such as asthma, congestive heart failure, pneumonia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) care, can be treated appropriately and safely in home settings with proper monitoring and treatment protocols." However, higher-acuity and more complicated conditions (for example, severe sepsis, unstable cardiac arrhythmias) cannot yet be treated at home in a high-quality and economical way.

Factors that could affect adoption

The growth of Care at Home services could vary based on several factors. First, stakeholders will need to evaluate which services can be delivered at home to treat patients' physical, behavioral, and social needs effectively. Care at Home providers, technology companies, and investors could play a role here by accelerating innovation.

Second, adoption could depend on the economic viability of Care at Home. Some healthcare facilities and physician groups have had less incentive to pursue Care at Home for their patients because of the potential for lower (or nonexistent) reimbursement for care if provided at home instead of in a higher-cost setting. New reimbursement policies or payment innovation (for example, payment parity for telehealth or value-based payment arrangements) could improve adoption.

Third, physician awareness, perceptions, and capabilities may be factors. Physicians could learn about the capabilities of Care at Home, investigate case studies and results of how high-quality care can be delivered at home, and receive training to administer the interventions. Payers could play an important role in spurring awareness and providing training and education to providers.

Finally, adoption will depend on how patients feel about Care at Home. Patients could be made aware of Care at Home options, and they could state a preference for them over facility-based care. To encourage adoption, payers could cover certain services, and providers could recommend Care at Home to patients where clinically appropriate.

How to accelerate growth

To help accelerate the adoption of Care at Home services, payers, healthcare facilities and physician groups, Care at Home providers, technology companies, and investors could consider a variety of potential actions:

Payers

Develop a value-backed Care at Home strategy with specific use cases. This may include situations where the reduced medical costs and increased revenues will outweigh reimbursement for services and potential for induced demand.

Redesign benefits to support direct delivery of Care at Home, as well as enabling services (for example, remote monitoring, care management, social supports, or assistance with daily living).

Create awareness and provide training and education to providers on the technologies available for Care at Home, as well as their uses and benefits.

Develop a network of high-value Care at Home providers and technology companies, as well as community-based organizations (for example, food banks), that can support Care at Home.

Expand reimbursement policies (for example, Care at Home reimbursement at parity with traditional reimbursement) or payment innovation models (such as shared savings on total cost of care) to encourage providers to support Care at Home.

Adopt utilization-management policies (for example, determination of appropriate discharge destination as part of transition-of-care programs) to facilitate the shift of care to the home from other settings where medically appropriate.

Leverage care management to raise awareness of Care at Home options with members.

Healthcare facilities and physician groups

Create value-backed Care at Home strategy with specific use cases in which the economics are favorable and patients benefit from higher-quality and more accessible care.

Develop Care at Home clinical models to deploy with patients (for example, primary and specialty telehealth care, in-home acute care, or in-home infusion services).

Establish partnerships with other providers or technology companies that can provide Care at Home or enabling services (for example, remote monitoring, care management, social supports, or assistance with daily living) or build capabilities internally.

Establish contracts with payers to ensure that Care at Home services are reimbursed in an economically viable way (for example, reimbursement at parity with traditional reimbursement or value-based payment arrangements).

Develop analytics to identify patients who would benefit from Care at Home based on the use cases (for example, high-risk patients with chronic conditions who could benefit from more support at home to prevent exacerbations).

Care at Home providers, technology companies, and investors

Develop business cases or investment theses for Care at Home (for example, primary telehealth care, in-home dialysis, and remote monitoring). Size the market potential, evaluate the market landscape, and understand how the market may be evolving.

Evaluate opportunities, with providers and technology companies assessing how to build, buy, or partner for capabilities, and investors identifying potential assets.

Implement theses, with providers and technology companies creating new offerings in these markets, and investors investing in assets in the market.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a catalyst to fundamentally reimagine Care at Home to help improve quality of care and patient experience while also creating potential value for payers, healthcare facilities and physician groups, Care at Home providers, technology companies, and investors. The ultimate value will depend on a variety of factors that are in the hands of stakeholders.

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From facility to home: How healthcare could shift by 2025

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When patients enter a healthcare facility, their primary aims are to become well again and to go home. While increasing disease burden and rising healthcare costs in the United States have already contributed to a boost in Care at Home services, the COVID-19 pandemic has created a catalyst to truly reimagine their future.

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Hapbee CEO. Expert in building world-class, high-growth companies in mobility, tech, e-commerce, telecom and fashion retail. .
Not too long ago, wearing a watch to track your health and fitness or grabbing your smartphone for a mindfulness break felt not just counterintuitive, but downright sci-fi. Now it's so commonplace, we don't blink an eye at it.
The Early Days Of The Well-Tech Revolution
According to McKinsey & Company, wellness is a $1.5 trillion market. Well-techhas long been a hotspot of innovation within it. From the first Fitbit tracker in 2009 to today's immersive, interactive wellness solutions, the category is constantly evolving. The more sophisticated the tools get, the more we expect from them.

We use technology to streamline how we shop, travel and run our businesses. So it's only natural that we'd look for new, innovative ways technology can optimize our health.

Fitbit's first activity tracker debuted in 2009, allowing people to monitor their steps taken, calories burned and other basic health indicators. Early adopters included professional and amateur athletes, and branches of military service were monitoring and tracking biometrics as a critical part of improving performance. With the first Apple Watch release in 2015, biometrics tracking went mainstream. Consumers quickly grew accustomed to logging their health data (either manually or through wearable devices) and using visual dashboards.

Solutions weren't limited to physical activity, either. The first meditation apps launched in 2008 with the release of Apple's App Store. In 2012, both Headspace and Calm debuted, with the mission to bring mindfulness to the digitally connected masses.

These trackers and apps changed our relationship with wellness. For a while, they set the standard for how technology was used to impact everyday health. By allowing users to track their personal data and even gamifying the experience, these apps and tools encouraged better habits.

Over time, features evolved with new iterations. The Apple Watch Series 4 introduced the ability to take an electrocardiogram (ECG) in 2018. But for the most part, the most common features still focused on monitoring and tracking wellness indicators.
The State Of Well-Tech Today
But innovation doesn't sit still. Whoop and Oura set new standards for ease of use, appealing form factors and interfaces to meet the needs of athletes and sleep-focused bio-hackers. Wearable monitors have gone from geeky to sexy, and wearing one is now a recognized personal branding symbol that says, "I care about my physical and emotional well-being." The natural next step in well-tech is to complement tracking by adding technology that can actually affect how we feel.
What Is Bio-Streaming?
Now that we're equipped with all this personal biometric data, the next instinct is to want to effect change and empower improvement. This is the driving force behind the current phase of well-tech, where new tools can actually help impact our health and well-being. New apps and wearables offer the ability to optimize your mood, improve your sleep or even improve your blood circulation. Sophisticated tools and technologies that have been tested and applied in adjacent fields for years are being adapted to be smaller, less expensive and more accessible for everyday, personal use.

One such advancement in this phase is bio-streaming. Similar to how you stream music or movies through an app, bio-streaming lets you stream physical sensations. Cutting-edge technology emulates the effects of common compounds like caffeine and melatonin digitally and stimulates their impacts on your biometrics.

This has the potential to transform how we think of wellness technology, from measurement to action, and how we approach our everyday mental and physical well-being. It promises to lower our dependencies on ingestible substances, democratize anxiety and pain management and give us greater control over everything from how we sleep to how productive we are at work and play.
Predicting The Future Of Well-Tech
While still at the early stages of this shift, the commercially available solutions are effective and popular with a growing base of wellness wearables consumers. These solutions will only get more sophisticated and elegant as time goes on. But it's already tipping the well-tech scales more toward greater personal control, and the future has become reality.
Collaboration And Automation
The leap to bio-streaming is huge, but don't expect the innovation to stop there. Tech companies are already imagining the future of well-tech and engineering the solutions that will bring that future to life. So what's next? Expect to see at least two more massive shifts in the category, which will bring us closer to a truly integrated experience.

Now that platforms and technology can both monitor and influence our wellness, the next stage would be to integrate those solutions. Then, devices could learn to recognize patterns and even anticipate our needs.
Whole-Health Integration
For example, a device that tracks your sleeping habits may notice you tossing and turning more than usual, then tell your bio-streaming app to send calming signals to your body so you can sleep more soundly. Technology could begin to self-regulate and automate the entire experience based on your real-time needs and preferences.

Finally, as the technology becomes more elegant and streamlined, we'll see it move beyond wearables. You'll be able to integrate it more naturally into your daily life with smart wellness technology built into mattresses, car seats, headphones, clothing and more.

To some, this may sound a bit science fiction, but most of the components are already here, waiting to be integrated into an end-to-end solution. The key will be cooperation between parties who bring elements of the solution together. Companies will need to put the power in consumers' hands: Allow people to set their own goals, determine what data gets shared and, of course, start, stop or schedule the experience whenever they choose. Because after all, the whole mission of wellness technology is to provide a better alternative where people have access and are in control.

Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?

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Council Post: The Future Of Well-Tech: From Health Tracking To Bio-Streaming And Feeling Good

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Hapbee CEO. Expert in building world-class, high-growth companies in mobility, tech, e-commerce, telecom and fashion retail. . Not too long ago, wearing a watch to track your health and fitness or grabbing your smartphone for a mindfulness break felt not just counterintuitive, but downright sci-fi.

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Mental health professionals are using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and treatments.

Therapists are turning to AI to help with stretched workloads.

84% of psychologists have seen a rise in demand for anxiety treatments.

The technology is helping with the quality control of treatment and the training of therapists.

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Mental Health

'The long-term efficacy of AI in mental health therapy is yet to be thoroughly tested, but the initial results appear promising.' Image: UNSPLASH/LinkedIn Sales Solutions

Senior Writer, Formative Content

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Mental health professionals report increased workloads since the start of the pandemic as demand for therapy soars. Image: American Psychological Association

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- Arnaud Bernaert, Head of Shaping the Future of Health and Healthcare, World Economic Forum

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4 ways artificial intelligence is improving mental health therapy

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Mental Health 'The long-term efficacy of AI in mental health therapy is yet to be thoroughly tested, but the initial results appear promising.' Image: UNSPLASH/LinkedIn Sales Solutions Senior Writer, Formative Content Stay up to date: Mental Health Follow Mental health professionals report increased workloads since the start of the pandemic as demand for therapy soars.

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Infrared heat is not associated with a specific light color. But many people also use chromotherapy — or colored lights — for additional health benefits. These lights lie on the visible spectrum (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet) and are all different wavelengths, which is said to treat medical conditions,

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Infrared saunas may enhance your health and wellness. Here's what experts and research say, plus, tips for beginners trying sweat therapy.

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Studies on the effects lights have on the body have amplified over the last decade and it is helpful to understand the role that bioactive light plays in all aspects of health and wellness. These are the five types of bioactive light which can influence positive change in our bodies:

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In the digital age of today, there are an endless number of gadgets and devices that have been created to aid a variety of health problems using modern technology. One such example are infrared lamps.

Did you know that the heat you feel when exposed to the sun's rays is infrared light? Our skin also naturally radiates infrared heat. In this blog post, we will discuss how infrared light therapy (also known as Photobiomodulation) works, plus ten of the many transformative health benefits that infrared lamps have to offer.

What do infrared lamps do and how do they work?

Using infrared LEDs, these electrical devices are able to emit infrared radiation. The warming light which occurs within the infrared spectrum (seen by the human eye as the colour red) helps the body to regenerate and promotes relaxation.

Studies on the effects lights have on the body have amplified over the last decade and it is helpful to understand the role that bioactive light plays in all aspects of health and wellness. These are the five types of bioactive light which can influence positive change in our bodies:
Image source

Blue lights help to set and regulate our internal clocks

UV light enables the body to synthesise vitamin D for sunlight

Far infrared light heats up the body and assists with circulation

Red and near infrared light (such as that which is emitted from a Beurer infrared lamp) stimulates cellular energy production

Our bodies need ample amounts of these types of light in order to achieve optimal health, but due to the fact that modern humans typically spend a large amount of our time indoors and in front of computer screens, many of us are deficient in various forms of bioactive light - this can negatively impact our overall wellbeing.

With this in mind, infrared light has been proven to have powerful effects on cellular health. Infrared lamps help to target cells in your body and assists them with absorbing more energy. The lamps can be aimed at a specific area of the body for a certain period of time to relieve colds and tension, and improve blood circulation. This process is regarded as a form of light therapy and involves very low heat levels and does not burn or harm the skin.

Keep reading to discover more ways in which infrared lamps can help to uplift your physical wellbeing.

1) Chronic pain management

Many patients with acute or chronic pain are experimenting with using infrared light therapy to assist with chronic pain management. This therapy involves using wavelengths of light on certain areas of the body that have injuries. While ultraviolet light can have damaging effects upon the tissues and cells of your body, infrared light by contrast can help cells regenerate or repair themselves. Because the infrared light helps to circulate oxygen-rich blood, it can help promote faster healing of deep tissue and can also aid pain relief.

One of the most advantageous effects of infrared light therapy is that it can penetrate below layers of skin to provide more effective pain relief. The process is invasive without being painful and will not damage your skin.

2) Anti-inflammatory

For the same reasons listed above, the warm and soothing effects of infrared lighting can help to promote healing, relieve inflammation and protect the body from oxidative stress which is why an increasing number of people are turning to this form of light therapy.

3) Relief from muscle tension

Infrared therapy increases the action of mitochondria (an organelle that is found in large numbers in most cells) within the body's cells thereby activating the growth and repair of new muscle cells and tissues, which is why infrared lighting can advance the recovery process after a muscle injury.

4) Detoxing

Detoxing involves removing harmful toxins from the body which can help to strengthen the immune system, improve food digestion, aid weight loss, boost liver function and leave you feeling more rejuvenated and energised. While an infrared lamp may not be able to provide this level of detoxification, it is worthwhile to note that infrared therapy can also be applied

through saunas.

During this process, the body's core temperature increases which results in a deep sweat facilitating powerful detoxification at a cellular level. In fact, pop sensational Lady Gaga has shared that she uses an infrared sauna to deal with her chronic back pain and describes it as an effective detox and weight loss aid.

5) Super skin solution

Research suggests that infrared light therapy can help to sooth your skin and decrease wrinkles as the light stimulates collagen and elastin production. Infrared light therapy is therefore regarded as a safe and effective method to promote anti-aging and skin rejuvenation.

Plus, it can also heal or diminish acne scars, burns and signs of UV sun damage. Reversing UV damage requires repairing cellular and DNA damage which, thankfully, can be achieved through infrared light therapy.

In addition, many doctors are starting to recommend infrared light therapy to help manage psoriasis, which is a skin condition and autoimmune disease that results in the rapid changing of skin cells. While the process isn't visible to the human eye, the end result often leads to painful areas of skin. Unfortunately, there is no known cure as of yet however light therapy has been said to ease the symptoms of psoriasis, provide pain relief and reduce skin sores.

6) Wound healing

Near-infrared light is extremely conducive to healing wounds; this is achieved in a number of ways:

Dead and damaged cells in the skin are cleaned up

ATP in skin cells is increased, giving cells more energy to repair themselves as mentioned above

The production of fibroblasts is increased

Blood flow is increased which supplies the wound with additional oxygen and nutrients to speed up the repair process

The health of the extracellular matrix is stimulated

Formation of new connective tissue and blood capillaries on the surface of the wound are stimulated

7) Cardiovascular health

Ongoing trials are exploring the ways in which infrared light therapy benefits cardiovascular health. So far, some promising results have been noted as infrared light is being used to promote the creation of nitric oxide which is essential for healthy blood vessels.

Nitric oxide lessens the risk of blood clots and helps to regulate blood pressure while reducing oxidative stress.

8) Better cognitive performance

Researchers have discovered that infrared light therapy benefits the brain and supports cognitive performance in young, healthy adults - improving attention spans as well as short-term memory.

In addition, it was found to improve brain memory among older adults with significant memory impairments, which has made scientists hopeful about the possibilities of near-infrared light potentially providing future treatments and preventative measures against Alzheimer's disease.

9) Low risk

Infrared therapy is regarded as a safe, effective, pain-free and drug-free way to reduce pain and treat a number of conditions from joint and muscle pain to inflammation, spine injuries and sports injuries.

While this form of light therapy will be well-suited for the majority of individuals, if you are pregnant or have a heart disease, we do not advise the use of infrared therapy. Similarly, if you have an underlying health condition, we recommend speaking to your medical practitioner to find out if this option is viable for you.

10) Access and affordability

Up until quite recently, infrared therapy was limited to the confines of laboratories and doctors' offices which unfortunately limited accessibility for many. The good news is that with the rise of modern technology being adapted for at-home use, more people are able to benefit from this form of light therapy - thanks to devices like Beurer's Infrared Lamp, available from All Office.

Having your own personal infrared lamp offers more convenience for individuals who can't or don't wish to travel and is also more cost effective. Because these devices are designed for safe use without the assistance of a medical professional, you can simply plug it in at home and apply infrared light to the affected area of your body.

Looking to purchase an infrared device? Beurer has you covered

We are proud stockists of Beurer South Africa, specialists in health and wellbeing since 1919. The brand's German-engineered range of professional, state-of-the-art equipment is designed to aid health - in terms of both prevention and diagnosis - while ensuring ease of use.

The Beurer Infrared Lamp IL 11 provides you with soothing heat for colds and muscle tension. You can find the right angle for you, with 5 adjustable inclinations.
Purchase an infrared lamp from Beurer today to start enjoying the many health benefits.

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*Please note: This information is not intended as a substitute for medical help or advice but simply to provide education and insight on the benefits of infrared lamps for common health problems. Always consult a medical professional when seeking medical advice.

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#BeWell: Ten Terrific Health Benefits of Infrared Lamps | Beurer

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In the digital age of today, there are an endless number of gadgets and devices that have been created to aid a variety of health problems using modern technology. One such example are infrared lamps. Did you know that the heat you feel when exposed to the sun's rays is infrared light?

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Why Financial Wellness Is the Latest Self-Care Trend

https://theeverygirl.com › financial-wellness

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https://www.blackswan.com/the-rise-of-the-anti-inflammatory-trend/

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Traditionally we'd tend to think of anti-inflammatory as a type of medication, like aspirin or ibuprofen, for alleviation of physical ailments like sports injuries. As we're seeing with so many other health-related trends, the conversation around anti-inflammatories is now significantly broadening - not only in application but category expansion too.

A demonstration of this is the health-conscious consumer increasingly turning to diets proclaimed to be high in anti-inflammatories - essentially eating more fruits, vegetables, lean protein, nuts, seeds and healthy fats and moving away from overly processed, unbalanced diets. Suggested benefits range from boosting energy and fitness levels to having glowing skin or reducing and alleviating inflammatory illnesses.

This step change in conversation has been highlighted in our datasets, putting ant-inflammatory as a trend with one of the highest growth potentials in the snacking category in the UK. It ranks as 4 out of 194* themes, born out of 2.9k conversations resulting in a 15% YoY growth. This theme is clearly one to tap into.
Why is the conversation around anti-inflammatory growing?
As well as looking at where the theme ranks within our datasets, we dive deeper into what's driving this trend and why it's on the rise:
1. Health conscious consumers
We're seeing a shift with consumers increasingly making the link between what they consume and its associated health benefits. While the health-enhancing role of specific foods - or "functional foods" - is not a new concept, the interest rate in functional foods is growing rapidly.

As we become more educated on illness and interested in elongating life expectancy with a healthier body and mind, our attention has turned from just taste to the tangible benefits our food can provide.

As part of this, themes are becoming more and more specific, with anti-inflammation a leading example.
2. Trending ingredients
Alongside the growth of the over-arching anti-inflammatory benefit is the rise of specific ingredients with strong anti-inflammatory functionalities. These are wide-ranging from fruits like berries, roots and spices such as turmeric and cinnamon to oily fish like mackerel.

Turmeric is a great example of a huge anti-inflammatory ingredient trend that hit the mainstream a few years ago and soon found its way in everything from coffees to cocktails. Among it's many claimed benefits, turmeric includes a substance called curcumin which is said to both prevent and reduce joint inflammation contributing to the mega-trend that was turmeric.
3. Rise of herbal supplements

In the East, food and medicine are often treated as one and the same thing. In Korea, this is based on Taoist philosophy, which sees health as a state of balance. Food choice is key and a person's body is only deemed to be healthy when the Yin and Yang energy and the five elements of fire, wood, water, metal and earth are in balance. Traditionally, ginseng is one such ingredient proclaimed to restore an harmonious balance with its anti-inflammatory properties to strengthen the immune system. The plant has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and is now being adopted in the West with its medicinal benefits as a herbal supplement, rich in antioxidants, consumed as a powder, capsule or oil, or as a fresh tea ingredient.

Another Korean ingredient used in tea that's growing in our Non-Alcoholic Beverage datasets is Butterfly Pea - a herb that's native to tropical equatorial Asia - ranking #46 of 1689* ingredients with +21% YOY growth.

Known for its luminous indigo colour, Butterfly Pea is packed with health-promoting antioxidants, flavonoids and peptides. Found in almost all fruits and vegetables, flavonoids are powerful antioxidants with anti-inflammatory and immune system benefits. So it's no surprise that with consumers turning to anti-inflammatory diets, this tea is gathering momentum in the West.
Riding the Korean Wave
We dive further into the wave of Korean culture, or Hallyu, in our Hallyu cross-category report. Here you'll discover the growing and emerging Korean-inspired themes, ingredients and products to watch within Beverages and Snacking, as well as the Alcohol and Skincare space. It's a must-read if you wish to exploit opportunities within this macro trend.

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The rise of the anti-inflammatory trend - Black Swan Data

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Traditionally we'd tend to think of anti-inflammatory as a type of medication, like aspirin or ibuprofen, for alleviation of physical ailments like sports injuries. As we're seeing with so many other health-related trends, the conversation around anti-inflammatories is now significantly broadening - not only in application but category expansion too.

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https://www.wellandgood.com/fitness-wellness-trends/health/psychedelics-mental-health/

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Prepare To Hear More About Psychedelics for Mental Health | Well+Good

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If you haven't yet had a conversation about psychedelics and mental health, get ready. Although many people still associate hallucinogenic drugs with Woodstock and raves, they've shown significant promise in treating certain mental health conditions-and in 2022, we can expect to see them taken more seriously than ever before.

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https://www.globalwellnesssummit.com/2022-global-wellness-trends/global-wellness-trends-report-2022-wellness-welcomes-the-metaverse/

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Global Wellness Trends Report 2022: Wellness Welcomes the Metaverse - Global Wellness Summit

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Global Wellness Trends Report: The Future of Wellness 2022 with Mid-Year Update The 2022 annual Global Wellness Trends Report offers expert-based predictions on the future of wellness. The updated edition features a “What’s Making Headlines” section for each trend that illustrates numerous examples…

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https://www.dsm.com/personal-care/en_US/trends/healthy-beauty-trend/skin-microbiome-cosmetic-ingredient.html

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The skin microbiome: a new dimension in skin health and beauty care

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The skin microbiome is increasingly thought to be the key to enhancing skin appearance. By combining our expertise in microbiology and epidermal science, we create new innovative skin microbiome personal care solutions.

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Mushroom Coffee: Are There Health Benefits? - WebMD

https://www.webmd.com › ... › Reference

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https://southmill.com/blog/experts-say-mushrooms-big-wellness-trend-2021/

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Everything You Need to Know About the Adaptogen Trend

https://www.baltimoremagazine.com › section › health

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https://www.xda-developers.com/oura-ring-gen-3-horizon-launch/

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After launching a premium version of its fitness tracking ring in collaboration with Gucci earlier this year, Oura is back with another new product. Its latest release, the Oura Ring Gen 3 Horizon, is essentially the same as the Oura Ring Gen 3 Heritage from last year, with a minor design change and a new colorway.

The new Oura Ring Gen 3 Horizon offers the same hardware and software features as the older model. However, it now features a perfectly round titanium case with no flat edge. In addition, the newer model is also available in a Rose Gold colorway, which is not available on the Heritage lineup.

In terms of features, the Oura Ring Gen 3 Horizon boasts of an impressive seven-day battery life, detailed sleep analysis, heart rate tracking, and blood oxygen monitoring. It also comes with a new Restorative Time feature that tracks your physical and mental recovery by understanding how much time you need to spend in a relaxed state each day. Other noteworthy features include workout and activity tracking, period prediction, guided audio sessions, and Readiness metrics.

Talking about the new Horizon model, Oura's CEO Tom Hale said, "One of the most powerful attributes of the Oura Ring is its form factor. Our research shows that consumers want a tracker that empowers them to live healthier, seamlessly fits into their lives, and looks and feels good on the body. The new Oura Horizon furthers our promise to deliver the most innovative and advanced health tracker while maintaining exceptional comfort and design."

The Oura Ring Gen 3 Horizon is available in Silver, Black, Stealth, Gold, and Rose Gold colorways through Oura's website. It will set you back $349. If that's a bit too expensive, you can get the Heritage model for $299 instead.
What do you think of the Oura Ring Gen 3 Horizon? Do you like its updated design? Let us know in the comments section below.

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The Oura Ring Gen 3 Horizon features an updated design

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After launching a premium version of its fitness tracking ring in collaboration with Gucci earlier this year, Oura is back with another new product. Its latest release, the Oura Ring Gen 3 Horizon, is essentially the same as the Oura Ring Gen 3 Heritage from last year, with a minor design change and a new colorway.

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Tired of the glucometer prick? This diabetic 20-year-old ...

https://www.edexlive.com › News

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https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare-systems-and-services/our-insights/the-dawn-of-the-femtech-revolution

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Women's healthcare enables better outcomes for women patients and consumers, investors and other stakeholders across the value chain, and society at large. We explore many of these opportunities, and the broader context in which they have developed, in a related article, " Unlocking opportunities in women's healthcare." In this article, we focus specifically on FemTech: defining what it means, taking the measure of its already impressive growth, and exploring its potential to help better match resources, talent, and capital to women's unmet health needs.

Understanding FemTech

The term "FemTech" was first coined in 2016 by entrepreneur Ida Tin. In the course of just a few years, it has grown to encompass a range of technology-enabled, consumer-centric products and solutions.

For purposes of this research, we analyzed 763 FemTech companies, designated as largely tech-enabled, consumer-centric solutions addressing women's health, excluding biopharma and incumbent medical devices. We included select nondigital consumer products (with materials science innovations), devices (that are patient friendly), and health clinics (that are consumer-centric). We excluded companies that are more than 20 years old or are not focused exclusively on women's health (diagnostics, supplements, telemedicine). Companies with both men's and women's health solutions were included in the data set but were excluded from funding calculations.

In the course of just a few years, FemTech has grown to encompass a range of technology-enabled, consumer-centric products and solutions.

FemTech provides a wide range of solutions to improve healthcare for women across a number of female-specific conditions, including maternal health, menstrual health, pelvic and sexual health, fertility, menopause, and contraception, as well as a number of general health conditions that affect women disproportionately or differently (such as osteoporosis or cardiovascular disease). While it's still early days, our research indicates that the dynamics underlying FemTech are accelerating: public awareness, company formation, and funding are surging (Exhibit 1).

FemTech companies are already validating their investment hypotheses. Among others, Progyny, which manages fertility benefits for employers, went public in 2019 at a valuation in excess of $1 billion; its current market capitalization is about $4 billion. And Maven Clinic, a virtual clinic for women's and family health, was valued at more than $1 billion in a recent Series D investment. In fact, the opportunities for multiple players, including investors, researchers, providers, payers, and legacy pharmaceutical and medical-device companies, are becoming increasingly evident.

A market of opportunity

Depending on scope, estimates for FemTech's current market size range from $500 million to $1 billion. Forecasts suggest opportunities for double-digit revenue growth. On the digital health front, FemTech companies currently receive 3 percent of all digital health funding. In our scan of hundreds of FemTech companies, we found concentration in maternal health patient support, consumer menstrual products, gynecological devices, and solutions in fertility. Funding reached $2.5 billion by early December 2021. In some cases, FemTech companies are filling gaps not yet addressed by biopharma and device incumbents, such as in the area of maternal health. Yet this is clearly, and promisingly, only the beginning of what FemTech can address. There are still significant white spaces (Exhibit 2).

On the cusp of disruption

FemTech companies could disrupt healthcare in a number of ways. Initial breakthroughs are already being achieved across a range of areas, including the following:

Improving care delivery: Virtual clinics such as Tia, innovative brick-and-mortar clinics such as Kindbody, and direct-to-consumer prescription delivery services like those of The Pill Club, all enable women to access care in a more convenient, consumer-centric manner.

Enabling self-care: Trackers and wearables offered by companies such as Bloomlife, and at-home diagnostics like those provided by Modern Fertility, are among the FemTech solutions that are helping women take greater charge of their health and health-related data.

Improving diagnoses: Clinical diagnostics companies are pushing the scientific frontier to address unmet medical needs in areas such as endometriosis (DotLab) and preterm birth (Sera Prognostics).

Addressing stigmatized areas: Companies are addressing what had been considered to be stigmatized topics head on, such as menstrual health (Thinx), sexual health (Rosy Wellness), pelvic care (Elvie), and menopause (Elektra Health).

Delivering culturally sensitive and tailored care: Solutions tailored for subpopulations are emerging for Black women (such as Health in Her HUE), LGBTQ+ populations (FOLX Health), and women in low- and middle-income countries (Kasha).

The categories in which FemTech is having an impact are increasing-and also, in some cases, starting to evolve, overlap, and redefine themselves as FemTech companies begin to scale up and seek new ways to expand. For instance, Maven started in maternity care and then expanded across the reproductive life cycle. Peppy, which was founded to offer a solution for organizations to better support their people once they had brought their new babies home, now also addresses challenges around menopause. Other businesses, among them models that were launched on a direct-to-consumer model, are now seeking to obtain regulatory approval and reimbursement, as they build upon their experiences and real-world data to provide improved solutions for a broader set of stakeholders who benefit from better women's healthcare.

Looking forward, early movers can stake out opportunities in prominent white spaces, including by leveraging technology to address women's health issues beyond reproduction, and by helping to meet the needs of underserved populations such as low-income or minority communities. FemTech also presents significant partnership opportunities for legacy players in traditional sectors. Cosmetics leader L'Oréal, for example, recently unveiled a partnership with the period-tracking app Clue to deepen knowledge on the relationship between skin health and the menstrual cycle. As FemTech companies increasingly gain traction and change the competitive landscape, stakeholders within and beyond the healthcare ecosystem could well provide additional momentum.

Moreover, FemTech-and indeed, improved women's healthcare overall-could help catalyze positive social changes across the healthcare ecosystem and beyond. Consider menopause, which frequently occurs when women are most likely to step into senior roles. Its effects can have an impact on the number of women in top positions and the quality of women's experiences throughout organizations. Deploying technological and consumer-centric solutions to address menopause can serve as a model and an enabler for future female leaders.

Along those lines, FemTech is powered to a significant extent by female entrepreneurs-more than 70 percent of FemTech companies we analyzed had at least one female founder, compared with a 20 percent norm for new companies. Indeed, across the value chain, a more inclusive, gender-aware healthcare system could help support more women to become inventors, investors, physicians, founders-and healthier human beings, solving for the health conditions of other human beings. Research has shown that when inventors set out to solve a health problem, male inventors are more likely to solve for a male-oriented condition; women-led teams solve for both.

Increasing female representation among researchers, inventors, investors, and founders can create more consumer-centric products and solutions that recognize and target women's specific healthcare needs. Indeed, the market is not just women consumers but also payers and providers that seek better products and tools to engage more effectively with women end consumers. FemTech solutions are not only achieving commercial success; they are contributing to the conditions for continued innovation. Because women are not just consumers but the primary healthcare decision-makers for themselves and often for their families, better health outcomes for women can lead to better outcomes for society.

As women's healthcare becomes an increasing priority, FemTech is rising to meet the challenge as it matches capital and talent with unmet needs. In a short period of time, FemTech has already demonstrated impressive early wins. An even greater disruption could be ahead.

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Women's healthcare enables better outcomes for women patients and consumers, investors and other stakeholders across the value chain, and society at large. We explore many of these opportunities, and the broader context in which they have developed, in a related article, " Unlocking opportunities in women's healthcare."

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https://www.eatingwell.com/article/7962897/jennifer-aniston-collagen-coffee-is-it-healthy/

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Jennifer Aniston Starts Her Day with Collagen Coffee—but Is it Healthy?

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We looked at the science surrounding the potential health benefits and risks of the star’s morning ritual.

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Ditch the laces and get outside. These kicks feature Nike’s revolutionary FlyEase technology, making on-and-off a breeze. With a heel that pivots open for a totally hands-free entry, they’re great for people with limited mobility—or anyone who wants a quicker way to get going.

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Taking 'tech support' to the extreme, the health tracking bra is for women in all stages of life. This bra uses micro-sensors embedded in the fabric to monitor tissue and detect any abnormalities in the breast which are early indicators of breast cancer, as well as everyday monitoring of steps, sleep and wellness.

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Wellness Gurus: Who’s Turning to Light Therapy for Full-Body Treatment - Kaiyan Medical

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Wellness - Mar 09, 2021- Wellness Gurus: Who’s Turning to Light Therapy for Full-Body Treatment

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Pastels have become a popular choice for wellness products and environments over the years due to their low saturation level, which evokes a sense of rest and calm. Going forward in order to appeal to Gen Z, brands will need to avoid cliché pastel aesthetics and build authentic connections to mental wellness and sustainability.

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With cognitive heath now placed on a par with physical health, meditative wellness workouts evolve. Using a mix of light therapy, soundscapes and natural scents in preset sequences, these classes stimulate the senses to calm, restore, uplift or reinvigorate. Feeling lethargic? Then an energising Red or Yellow session at Chroma Yoga may be in order. Alternatively, Humming Puppy’s yoga
studios vibrate at the same frequency as the Earth, creating a grounding effect.

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Nature offers the ideal escape from our hectic lives. The growth of climbing and forest bathing, and the biophilic gyms and wellness movements are all attributed to this need for liberation.

Studies have proven that spending time connecting with nature can boost our immune systems, lower blood pressure, ease stress and improve mood, energy levels, sleep and ability to focus. And to top that, the phytoncides emitted by trees can cut the risk of cancer by encouraging a boost in natural killer cells and anticancer proteins.

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Health holidays are gaining traction among health-conscious consumers who are looking for wellness vacations that offer beauty treatments combined with medical check-ups.

Palacio Estoril Golf & Spa Hotel in Portugal offers a range of health and wellness treatments, including an intensive preventative health programme, alongside a team of specialist doctors, nutritionists and therapists.

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Using food as medicine isn’t new and has been around for thousands of years; food has been used in ancient Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine to heal, prevent and even treat illnesses. Studies have shown that diets rich in fruit, vegetable, whole grains and plant foods can reduce risk of chronic diseases. For example, shiitake mushrooms offer anti-cancer and cholesterol-lowering benefits, while broccoli, which features phytochemicals, can help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress which is good for cardiovascular health

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Beauty brands are focusing on preventive care solutions with personalised digital devices that help users understand  skin health and offer long-term solutions.

Neutrogena’s SkinScanner is a digital scanner that attaches to a smartphone and uses sensors, including 12 LED lights, a 30x magnification lens and moisture sensors on the edge of the camera, to provide a close-up image of the skin. Paired wirelessly with the Skin360 app, it offers insight into the user’s skin health and how they can improve it by measuring moisture levels, pore size and wrinkles.

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Scientists and researchers are now working on advancing technology that can monitor diabetes and deliver smarter insulin into the body without injections. At present, people with diabetes have to prick their  fingers to release blood to measure glucose levels in their bodies and inject the hormone insulin, but new solutions are currently being explored.

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As we seek to improve our emotional wellbeing, chakra balancing or healing is increasing in popularity. Each of the main seven chakras has a corresponding colour that follows the formation of the rainbow, serving as inspiration for Instagrammable in-store visuals. Dichroic films are applied to surfaces, spectrum lighting effects punctuate product, and coloured objects are layered and suspended, instantly transforming spaces.

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Ancient forms of healing and spiritual-wellness products such as crystals and stones are believed to cleanse the soul and heal the mind. Introduce elements of spiritual healing into store design through fixtures, props and lighting. Product is placed on pedestals and surrounded with stone circles, while tabletops perch precariously on top of rocks. Stone balancing inspires artful arrangements, resulting in refined, Insta-worthy visuals.

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Spirituality is the new luxury, providing serene respite from the pressures and woes of everyday life. Soothing and tranquil design aesthetics help to ease anxiety, while celestial undertones add a sense of magic and mystique to lure spiritually minded shoppers. Crystal-encrusted surfaces, tree-shaped structures and fluid, organic forms reflect a mood which is ethereal and otherworldly, but anchored in nature.

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Again, you'll want to cleanse your face first and then make sure it's 100% dry-not even a little damp-before applying the retinoid, Dr. Bowe says. (Damp skin boosts the penetration of the retinoid, which could potentially lead to more irritation for some people.) A pea-size amount of product for your entire face is plenty.

If you haven't used a retinoid before, apply a light layer of a simple moisturizer to sensitive areas (under the eyes, around the corners of the mouth, at the base of your nostrils, and on the neck) first. Then apply your retinoid, and finish with another layer of moisturizer on top. This "sandwich" technique creates a protective buffer to help reduce things like peeling and dryness as your skin builds up some tolerance. (Trust the process and be consistent, the side effects should level out over time.)

Okay, your skin has been hard at work. Now you should ease into recovery nights. You can simply cleanse your face and apply any hydrating serums or moisturizers that don't include active ingredients like the ones mentioned above-and that's it! Look for fragrance-free products that contain skin-repairing add-ins like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides. In this case, it's okay if your skin is a bit damp because you want to lock that water in. "Hold off on the exfoliating acids and retinoids and give your skin a chance to recover," Dr. Bowe says.

What are the benefits of skin cycling?

Skin cycling can be really effective because it gives your face a chance to heal in between treatments. "Exfoliating serums and retinoids are powerful, highly effective products that I use in my skin care routine and recommend to my patients," Dr. Bowe explains. "However, they can be very irritating for many people if used too frequently." Essentially, applying too much too often can lead to sensitive, tight, or dry skin, she explains; people with darker skin tones, in particular, have a higher risk of hyperpigmentation when overusing these products.

So, skin cycling may help you reap the benefits of these (often pricey) products with a lower risk of annoying side effects. "When it comes to skin care, less is more," Joshua Zeichner, MD, an associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and a cofounder of JORI Skincare, tells SELF. You can think of your skin care routine almost like your fitness routine. "This is similar to the idea of working out different muscle groups in your weekly gym session," Dr. Zeichner explains. "Giving your skin 'work days' and 'rest days' allows for improvements without causing the potential irritation or skin barrier damage you may experience from overdoing your routine every day."

Also worth noting: You don't have to reinvent the wheel to start skin cycling, and it's generally safe-even for those of us who have trust issues because one too many serums did major damage. "This is an easy routine to use, and it is particularly useful in people who are sensitive and can't tolerate harsh [ingredients] on a daily basis," Dr. Zeichner says.

Are there any potential downsides to skin cycling?

Anyone can try skin cycling, but your routine may need to be tailored to your personal needs over time, Dr. Bowe says. "The beauty of skin cycling is that you can adjust your cycling schedule to meet your skin where it is," she explains. "If you are experiencing sensitivity and irritation, you can increase your recovery nights. If you are seasoned and well-adjusted to your retinoid and want to dial up, you can omit one recovery night for a three-night cycle." Basically, it's crucial to listen to your skin. If it's inflamed, rough, and itchy, it's probably time to give it a break and go back to the basics: gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF. (Please, please don't forget your sunscreen in the morning. It helps protect your skin from further damage as your exfoliants and retinoids do their thing.)

People with certain skin conditions-including severe acne, rosacea, eczema, or psoriasis -and people who use prescription medications for their skin should always check in with their dermatologist before trying out a new routine. Your doctor will be able to personalize the skin cycling regimen to best suit your complexion, Dr. Bowe says.

Even if you don't have any known persistent skin issues, it's still worth checking in with a dermatologist, if you can, if something feels off when you start skin cycling, Dr. Bowe says. For instance, some people with oily skin may need a stronger exfoliant on night one, and your dermatologist should be able to help with this and recommend a solid product. Fortunately, there's almost always a workaround. "Sensitive skin can be a diva," Dr. Bowe says, but "it tends to respond incredibly well to our classic four-night routine."

Related:

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'Skin Cycling' Is the Buzzy TikTok Trend That Dermatologists Actually Like

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Again, you'll want to cleanse your face first and then make sure it's 100% dry-not even a little damp-before applying the retinoid, Dr. Bowe says. (Damp skin boosts the penetration of the retinoid, which could potentially lead to more irritation for some people.) A pea-size amount of product for your entire face is plenty.

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The attraction to this kind of skin treatment has grown because it’s noninvasive (meaning no downtime and minimal side effects), it works on almost all skin types and tones, and it's said to help with a host of skin issues, from acne and inflammation to signs of aging, including fine lines and wrinkles.

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Related Condition Centers

Experts shed some, uh, light.

Red light therapy has made its way to the skin-care obsessed masses: While it was once a treatment only at the doctor's office, the number of devices you can now use at home has grown at a viral pace. Just search "red light therapy" on TikTok or Instagram for evidence. Red light therapy is one form of multiple light-emitting diode (LED) therapies-but of all of them, red light penetrates the deepest into the skin. The attraction to this kind of skin treatment has grown because it's noninvasive (meaning no downtime and minimal side effects), it works on almost all skin types and tones, and it's said to help with a host of skin issues, from acne and inflammation to signs of aging, including fine lines and wrinkles.

Celebs and influencers alike have touted the treatment's skin-enhancing effects with posts of themselves in their homes casually wearing glowing masks, or waving red-light wands over their faces. But as technology and skin care continues to merge, it's often hard to tell what's real from what's hype.

The good news is that, depending on what you're using it for, experts say the evidence behind the benefits of red light therapy ranges from solid to solidly promising. To help clarify exactly what these devices can (and cannot) do-and whether at-home red light therapy devices are worth your money-we asked a few leading dermatologists some of our most pressing questions on the subject. Read on to see how they broke down red light therapy for us.

What is red light therapy and what is it used for?

As you may have seen in your dermatologist's office or in online ads for home devices, red light therapy usually takes the form of a face mask, light panel, or wand built with tiny LED bulbs that emit low-level wavelengths of red or near-infrared light. ¹ These devices are then "applied"-panels and some masks are kept a short distance from your face; other masks and wands are applied directly-to the skin for brief periods of time (typically around 15-30 minutes) to help treat various skin conditions. These skin concerns can range from the medical-including actinic keratosis (a common skin growth that can lead to cancer), acne, and rosacea-to the cosmetic, namely fine lines and wrinkles.

So how does all of this happen just from pointing red light at your face? "Red light waves stimulate the mitochondria, which is the energy center within each cell. We believe that sets off a cascade of changes within the cell that allow for the different benefits that we're able to see, such as the upregulation of collagen production and the reduction of inflammation, pigmentation, and redness in the skin," Jared Jagdeo, MD, founding director of the center for photomedicine at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and chief medical officer of Ever/Body cosmetic dermatology spa in New York City, tells SELF. ² "We've also found it helps prompt cellular repair and circulation, which, along with the increase in collagen, can lead to healthier-looking skin and a more vibrant complexion." 3 4

When it comes to skin health, red light therapy is primarily used to treat actinic keratosis. "We use it as part of something called photodynamic therapy, in which we apply a photosensitizer to the skin first," Angela Lamb, MD, an associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai in New York City, tells SELF. Topical photosensitizers are creams or solutions that "allow the red light to be better absorbed by the skin so that the rays penetrate deeper and have more of an effect," she explains. The red light can destroy the abnormal skin tissue without harming the healthy skin. ⁵

Because of its anti-inflammatory effects, doctors may also use red light therapy to help treat acne, often in conjunction with blue light, which doesn't penetrate as deeply as red light but has been shown to kill the bacteria on the surface that causes acne. ⁶ "Both blue and red light have been reported to be helpful in acne-the choice really depends on physician expertise, preference, and the kind of devices being used," Elma Baron, MD, professor of dermatology at Case Western University and chief of dermatology service at VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, tells SELF. "For light-based therapies, a lot of parameters are a little more flexible than prescribing a drug, which has a definite dosage and duration." (More on how frequently experts recommend red light therapy below.)

So does red light therapy actually work?

When it's used for its indicated medical treatments, red light therapy absolutely can. "When used with a photosensitizer, the therapeutic effects of red light-whether it's the anti-inflammatory effects for acne or the destructive and anti-oxidative-stress effect on pre-cancerous cells-have been proven," says Dr. Baron. Research also shows it can help with wound healing, psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea. ⁷

"But of course, there are many other things that people are using red light for, and the evidence for those applications is not as strong," adds Dr. Baron. Namely, its use strictly for anti-aging purposes. "There have been some preliminary studies that show that this type of light has some effects on cells known as fibroblasts. ⁸ These are the cells that produce collagen, so we know that red light has some beneficial effects in terms of promoting the growth of and maintaining healthy collagen in your skin," says Dr. Baron.

Experts say you will likely see some skin-enhancing effects with red light therapy, but as with most skin rejuvenation treatments, most visible results will be temporary. "This is not going to stop the clock," says Dr. Baron. But that's why regular use is recommended, either in an office, spa, or at home. "The results you get from red light therapy work cumulatively, additively, and synergistically," says Dr. Jagdeo. In other words, if you're looking to achieve smoother skin and see a reduction in fine lines, you'll need to keep up your sessions so that each one builds onto and supports the other; then over time-usually in a matter of weeks or months-you should start to see noticeable changes, according to the doctors we talked to.

I hear it's safe, but what side effects of red light therapy should I expect?

Yes, all of our experts agree: Red light therapy is generally safe. The great thing about red light therapy is that it's noninvasive and, when used properly, does not damage the skin. (Improper use can damage skin, though-see "How often can you use red light therapy?" below for more.) Side effects are minimal and downtime, which is sometimes necessary with common skin laser treatments, is nonexistent. "In an office treatment, you might feel a little bit of stinging when using a photosensitizer with the light, but for most people, you might feel your skin get warm, and maybe you'll look red right after the treatment, but that should go away in a day or two," says Dr. Baron.

Also unlike some lasers, people of all skin tones and types can undergo this kind of treatment, say our experts. "I conducted research that was funded by the NIH that looked at red light therapy and its safety amongst different skin types. We found that with short treatment times-30 minutes or less-there was no concern with redness or hyperpigmentation," says Dr. Jagdeo. Once you start trending up towards much longer treatment times, though, then the risk for those issues increases." ⁹

That said, if you know you're easily prone to hyperpigmentation, you might want to talk to your dermatologist for help with choosing a home device, says Dr. Lamb. "If a patient came to me who was prone to pigmentation, I probably would recommend that they avoid getting a device that rests directly on their face and instead stick to ones that are held away from your skin."

The bottom line is that, when done correctly, "Red light therapy is something that's safe and very manageable for the average adult," says Dr. Baron. When used medically for treatment of actinic keratosis, photodynamic therapy may be covered by insurance, but don't expect your insurance to cover it for acne, rosacea, or skin rejuvenation. Out-of-pocket prices vary depending on treatment area and office locations, though they typically fall between $35 to $400 a session.

So red light therapy at home is safe and effective too?

Yes: In-home devices are as safe to use as in-office ones, according to our experts. Remember though, the devices used in a medical office will be bigger and emit more energy than those you can use at home, says Dr. Baron, so at-home ones will be milder, which means you may not see the kind of results you might get from an office visit. That said, "these less powerful home devices can be safely used more frequently, without any redness," says Dr. Baron.

The price range varies widely for at-home devices-anywhere from $100 to $2,000-plus. Again, they should all be safe when used as directed, but there isn't a lot of research on the efficacy of specific models, adds Dr. Baron, so choosing one is somewhat of a guessing game. Dr. Jagdeo recommends the Omnilux Contour Face mask ($395), which has clinical trials behind it (full disclosure: He sits on the company's medical advisory board), and he also suggests reading reviews and asking a dermatologist if you're not sure about a particular device. Once you do find one you like, you should eventually see a softening in the appearance of fine lines, better texture and tone, and a decrease of any redness of the skin, says Dr. Lamb. "It's a really nice home treatment," she adds.

How often can you use red light therapy?

"For actinic keratosis treatment, we ideally aim for a single session, but the more severe cases will need more than one," says Dr. Baron. "A patient should expect to be under the light for about 20-30 minutes, depending on the light source. For acne, we really don't have great data, but multiple sessions are definitely needed. It's reasonable to prepare for a series of 3 to 4 sessions."

For photorejuvenation-reducing redness and promoting collagen production-Dr. Jagdeo says that since in-office devices have higher power outputs, "I'd recommend going in for treatment a minimum of once a month, but preferably every other week." If you're going to do your treatment at home by using a facemask, for example, he says you could probably use that three to five times per week, or whatever the manufacturer recommends. "It's usually on an every other day regimen for about 5 to 15 minutes per session," says Dr. Jagdeo.

You can also do a combo of in-office and home treatments to get the most noticeable results, he says. As noted above, since any changes you might experience will be temporary, keeping up a regular schedule of treatments is key to maintaining the desired results.

One note of caution: Don't get overzealous and think the more you use red light therapy, the better results you'll get. Remember that great safety profile we mentioned above? That will go out the window if you don't follow the directions with your device, says Dr. Jagdeo. "Overuse of your device could result in undesirable adverse events such as redness lasting longer than one day, blistering, burns, decrease in collagen, increase in wrinkles, tanning or darkening of skin that may take several months or longer to resolve, and other side effects or complications," he warns.

I heard it can also help with hair loss. Is that true?

Yes, it may very well be an effective treatment for hair regrowth. "There is actually over a decade worth of research using red light-oftentimes LEDs, sometimes lasers-to promote hair growth," says Dr. Jagdeo. Indeed, a 2020 review in Skin Apendage Disorders examining the safety and efficacy of low-level light therapy looked at ten randomized controlled trials and found that devices using wavelengths that included red light appeared to be effective for treating pattern hair loss in both men and women. 10 "I know some clients who have had a great outcome by using this sort of treatment," says Dr. Jagdeo. "It's a really promising approach."
Sources:

1. The Journal of Clinical & Aesthetic Dermatology, Phototherapy With Light Emitting Diodes

2. Photochemistry and Photobiology, Mechanisms and Mitochondrial Redox Signaling in Photobiomodulation

3. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, Light-Emitting Diodes in Dermatology: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

4. Photomedicine and Laser Surgery, A Controlled Trial to Determine the Efficacy of Red and Near-Infrared Light Treatment in Patient Satisfaction, Reduction of Fine Lines, Wrinkles, Skin Roughness, and Intradermal Collagen Density Increase

5. British Journal of Dermatology, Testing a New Light Therapy for the Treatment of Actinic Keratosis

6. The Journal of Clinical & Aesthetic Dermatology, Clinical Efficacy of Self-Applied Blue Light Therapy for Mild-to-Moderate Facial Acne

7. Lasers in Medical Science, Photodynamic and Photobiological Effects of Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Therapy in Dermatological Disease

8. Current Dermatology Reports, Visible Red Light Emitting Diode Photobiomodulation for Skin Fibrosis: Key Molecular Pathways

9. Journal of Biophotonics, Safety of Light Emitting Diode-Red Light on Human Skin: Two Randomized Controlled Trials

10. Skin Apendage Disorders, Examining the Safety and Efficacy of Low-Level Laser Therapy ßfor Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Review of the Literature

Related:

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Does Red Light Therapy Actually Reduce Wrinkles?

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Related Condition Centers Experts shed some, uh, light. Red light therapy has made its way to the skin-care obsessed masses: While it was once a treatment only at the doctor's office, the number of devices you can now use at home has grown at a viral pace.

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Dust off your Jane Fonda VHS: the 1980s workout is back. Inspired by the aerobics boom of the 1980s, step-aerobic dance classes are reinvented as intense conditioning workouts. Tapping into the nostalgia trend, these classes are high-energy and fun and Frame now offers a 1980s aerobics class, while Zumba is fighting its decline in popularity by reigniting itself as high-energy Strong by Zumba. Virgin has brought back Step, while Rise Nation and BXR have dusted off the classic Stairmaster.

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As life-expectancy increases, future-proof workouts that focus on longevity are emerging. Health-conscious Boomers are leading the way, hitting the gym and making getting fit their new retirement goal. However, Millennials and Gen X-ers are following suit, seeing exercise as an investment for the future. Weightlifting and HIIT classes are championed for their anti-ageing benefits, increasing bone density, improving skin tone and combatting cognitive deterioration. Restorative yoga and pilates counteract sedentary lifestyles, improving flexibility and keeping people mobile for longer.

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Perhaps the ultimate in body positivity and female empowerment, pre- and postnatal workouts are set to boom. Millennial wellness mums embrace maternal fitness, continuing their workouts throughout pregnancy and into motherhood. Offering a mix of core strength, pelvic floor (key for post-pregnancy recovery) and wellbeing exercises, these workouts celebrate motherhood. Post-pregnancy, baby is incorporated into workouts. #Breastfeedingyoga is trending while Insta-moms such as Ms Boston show how toddlers can become part of a workout.

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Arising from an increased need to be connected to nature, biophilic gyms that bring the outdoors in are set to grow in popularity. Highlighted in the A/W 18/19 HumaNature macro trend, new design principles and natural materials are integrated into urban workout environments. Biofit's beautiful gym uses only natural and sustainable materials, while Movnat and Sandbox Fitness use organic materials to bring the outside in. The popular Japanese therapy of forest bathing is recreated in Tokyo in Ikebukuro’s Konica Minolta Planetarium.

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Embracing the Hatha Yoga Pradīpikā mantra that "one of the obstacles to yoga is adhering too strictly to rules", a new genre of more relaxed, social classes is emerging. Designed for 'real people', clean eating and clean living are no longer a prerequisite. Instead the focus is on balance between health and fun. Beer yoga is now a thing, while retreats such as Yoga for Bad People are a healthy mix of yoga and nightlife. Metal, hip-hop Y7 and industrial Black Yoga are especially appealing to guys.

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Stressed consumers are powering down to power further, embracing kinder workouts, and bridging the gap between mental and physical wellness. Breathwork becomes an essential focus for improving performance and awareness via meditative apps and podcasts, and stretch rooms appear in gyms so that fatigued muscles can be revived. In response, sloungewear takes on a new importance, with seam-free base layers and loose silky knits that feel superb on the skin, ensuring no distractions.

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Femme fitness focuses on the needs of women of all ages, emerging from the body positive movement and the so-called ‘vagina economy’. Once taboo subjects such as body image, menstruation and menopause are addressed, and a new wave of activewear emerges. Sports shorts come with leak-proof 'period pants', while support leggings have incontinence liners for post pregnancy and complications that can come with age. Bio-ceramic fabrics soothe inflamed or aching joints, and an intimate wearable helps track sexual health.

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The active office trend evolves as focus grows on workplace wellness. Forward-thinking companies are investing in staff wellness, incorporating areas in their offices for workouts, stretching or meditation. As a result, the workplace wardrobe becomes more functional, fusing performance fabrics and athleisure styling with formal pieces. Bio-intelligent wearables also target office-based stresses, alerting wearers to bad posture or prompting the wearer to take a break at times of high anxiety.

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Activewear incorporates bandage-like details, inspired by the Japanese wrapping therapy of Otona Maki, which is said to alleviate joint stiffness and bad posture caused by sedentary desk-bound lifestyles, as well as improving wellbeing by reseting the mind and body. Borrowing heavily from lingerie and hosiery, active base layers use seam-free engineering to recreate the cocooning effect of wrapping.

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For those who ditched their New Year’s resolutions or for those who want to get fit without the hard work, there’s now Fit Freeway. Fit Freeway is a new face and movement-reading app that allows users to burn calories while playing a game. The game is played on a stationary bike, with a user controlling the car using face recognition. A special vibration technology is used to monitor how fast you pedal, and then adjusts the car’s speed accordingly.

Fit Freeway will have gamers everywhere pedaling off the fat as they race to the finish line and a healthier lifestyle. Fit Freeway takes the Wii’s idea and runs with it to a mobile platform that has a more specific focus on fitness and the competitive nature of its players. Fit Freeway is created by BitGym and is a competitive and addicting retro app sure to have many speeding to a lower waist size.

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Patient Empowering Video Games-Engineers, artists and 3D designers at the University of Utah have pooled their resources in order to help develop PE Interactive, a therapeutic video game aimed at children diagnosed with cancer.

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Healthcare gamification is defined as the process of applying game mechanics, gaming principles and design techniques to non-game applications so as to amplify the user engagement and substantial health related awareness. These largely incorporate daily trackers, progress bars and the capability to share results and also enabling users to socialize with peers. Largely, healthcare gamification has significantly influenced apps targeted for self-managed medication, fitness & nutrition, physical therapy as well as emotional health. With increasing smartphone usage and internet affordability, the demand has witnessed a spike in the recent years.

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Neo -collectivism act as a protective factor for depression

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Neo -collectivism act as a protective factor for depression

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The current study examined the longitudinal relationship of collectivistic orientation and depression and the mediating effects of acculturative stress and cultural self-efficacy between collectivistic orientation and depression. We expect that collectivistic orientation would decrease acculturative stress and increase cultural self-efficacy, and in turn, improve depression.

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50%

predicted that people will eat less meat- by VICE

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World Vegan Day is November 1st, and it's a day to honour those who do not eat animals, dairy, or anything else that originates from or involves an animal. They also don't wear any animal-derived apparel, accessories, or objects. The vegan day started in 1994 to mark the Vegan Society's golden jubilee. Here's a look at a brief history of veganism, present and what the future holds for the vegan industry.

Vegan Industry - Past: What is Veganism and who started it?
Vegan Industry - Present: Present Scenario and Its Impact on Different Industries
Vegan Industry - Future: What does the Future Hold for Vegan Industry?
FAQ

Vegan Industry - Past: What is Veganism and who started it?

Veganism is an advanced version of vegetarianism that traces its origins to India and eastern European communities, although the name was developed in 1944. In 500 BC, the Greek thinker and statistician Pythagoras of Samos initially proposed vegetarianism. He preached compassion amongst creatures, notably humankind, in contrast to his theory about right triangles. Vegetarianism was also espoused by Buddhists, Hindus, and Jain, who believed that people mustn't impose agony on other species.

While it would occasionally flare up amid fitness trends and spiritual renaissance, the vegetarian diet never attracted the West. Vegetarianism and chastity were promoted by the Ephrata Cloister, a rigorous congregation founded in 1732 in Pennsylvania. Jeremy Bentham, an eighteenth-century pragmatic thinker, considered that animal slaughter was exactly as bad as mankind's misery, and compared human supremacy to bigotry.

In 1847, the 1st veggie group was founded in England. The American Vegetarian Society was co-founded shortly afterwards by Rev. Sylvester Graham, the originator of Graham crackers. Graham was a Presbyterian preacher, and his disciples, known as Grahamites, followed his rules for living a good life, which included veganism, sobriety, celibacy, and daily baths.

In Nov 1944, an English carpenter named Donald Watson declared that since vegetarians consume eggs and dairy, he coined the term "vegan" to denote those that don't. Last year, it was discovered in 40% of Britain's dairy cattle, which Watson exploited by arguing that the vegan diet protected individuals from unsafe meals.

He offered a precise clarification of how the name must be spoken 3 months into saying the word: "Vegan, not Veejan," he stated in his own Vegan Society magazine that had 25 readers. There would have been 2.5 lakh, vegans, in the UK and 1.9 million in the US when Watson passed in 2005 aged 95.

Vegan Industry - Present: Present Scenario and Its Impact on Different Industries

Folks often say they won't become vegan as they believe being a vegan themselves won't matter, or that the world will not go vegan, so it's meaningless for them to go vegan. Is it fair, though?

Veganism has the potential to save over 1000 species, over 1 lakh tons of water, over 32,000 sq. of forests, nearly 44,000 lbs of grains, and more. Isn't it incredible how much of an influence one can make in just 3 years as a vegan?

People change and demand change, and when more people change, this becomes a greater trend, which can lead to social reform.

Is the Vegan Industry growing?

Yep. I'd want to highlight plant milk as non-dairy milk substitutes and options such as soy milk and rice milk weren't viable two decades ago, certainly not publicly. Today, go to any supermarket and you'll notice soy, cashew, hazelnut, and other forms of milk. The non-dairy milk aisle at these shops is the same size as the dairy milk aisle. As a result, things are changing.

According to recent findings, as many as 6% of U.S. consumers identify as vegan, up from 1% in 2014. According to a 2018 study, about 40% of millennials identify as vegans, and economists have declared 2019 to be the year of veganism, with no signs of slowing off in 2020. Veganism is becoming trendier, and the number of vegans is rising.

It has a significant effect on the food industry. The worldwide food sector was estimated to be valued at over 12 billion in 2018, and vegan food sales in the U.S. climbed 11% from 2018 to 2019. In 2016, the worldwide dairy segment was worth more than $8 billion, but by 2024, it is predicted to be valued at more than $11 billion. This indicates that vegan products are on the rise, while non-vegan ones are on the decline.

Impact on the Food sector

The worldwide vegan meat sector is also rising, with estimates that it will reach 7.5 billion dollars by 2025, driven by firms like Beyond Meat, which had the top overall public offering by a leading U.S. firm in over 2 decades when its shares went public.

The vegan food business in the United States rose by 29% during 2017 and 2019, with a world average of $27.9 billion by 2025. Due to the recent spike in tofu sales during the pandemic, Canada issued new food rules that are more vegan forward, and the Chinese govt-issued new regulations that aimed to cut meat intake in half.

Vegan brands such as the veggie grill and plant power fast food are also seeing progress. Vegan and veg have been top Meta keywords on services like UberEats and Grubhub recently, and this shift in expansion isn't just happening for vegan sectors; a lot of big chains, such as Subway, Dunkin' Donuts, Taco Bell, and KFC, are currently adding vegan food to their menus, allowing even more change.

This shift is so pervasive and dangerous that certain animal-based firms and organizations have begun to sue plant-based enterprises in an attempt to prevent them from using terms like "milk" or "butter" on their items.

Impact on Fashion and Entertainment Sector

Veganism isn't all about diet; it's about all forms of animal suffering, which encompasses a wide range of sectors. So, are those sectors undergoing any shifts as well? Vegan culture is gaining popularity.

By 2025, the vegan leather business is expected to be worth $85 billion. By 2025, the global demand for vegan makeup is expected to reach $20.8 billion. Like Ringling Brothers, non-vegan theatre is losing steam and closing. Whales, dolphins, and porpoises are no longer held captive for amusement in Canada.

Vegan Industry - Future: What does the Future Hold for Vegan Industry?

Veganism is gaining popularity in civilized countries. A major study put the plant-based diet to the trial, examining a hypothetical case in which the world becomes vegan by 2050. Greenhouse gases could be decreased by three-quarters if this occurs.

Cows are the primary source of greenhouse gases. Methane is produced by bugs in their digestive tract, while co2 is injected by deforestation for their grazing. These gases cause global warming. Cows would be the 3rd largest producer of greenhouse gas if they were a nation.

Animals raised on farms have a strong desire to graze on the land. Animal farming takes up more than 80% of all farmland on the planet. However, it only yields 18% of the world's calories. To gain by one kilo, a cow needs roughly ten kilos of food, pigs six kilos, and poultry 3 to 4 kilos. A lot of food is lost as cattle feed, which we would then consume.

More diverse vegan diets with low calories can save lives with a well-balanced vegan diet. Early death might be lowered by 20% if the world went vegan in 2050, making the world economy healthy as well.

A lot of money is spent on treating illnesses like stroke, cancer, and diabetes that are linked to diets. In 2050, around one trillion dollars might be saved. That'd be around 3% of the total cost of healthcare.

Since 1960, worldwide meat consumption has grown at a rate of over 3% per year. No one loves how factories treat their animals. Because meat firms don't own the farms, shifting from chickens or pigs to vegan meat is simple. If the market and the customers want it, they're willing to adjust.The world may potentially hit peak meat and descend another way due to a lack of economical and available options.

If you look at historical statistics, it's improbable that the world will be vegan by 2050. We'd have a little chance to stay below toxic levels of global warming unless we made massive diet adjustments further towards vegan diets. However, switching to a vegan diet may be beneficial.

A vegan diet could bring us three-quarters of the way there. Authorities can play a key role by setting effective nutritional guidelines. They can implement sourcing standards that make it apparent that the baseline foods bought are plant-based, healthy, and environmentally friendly.

Is Vegan Meat better than Regular Meat?

We are addicted to the taste of meat, yet the only way to break this habit is to create goods that provide the exact taste minus the use of an animal. Plant-based meat employs the same machinery as meat processing factories. Only this time, there won't be any blood all over the place. Components like soy, lupine, wheat, peas, and others can be utilized in the preparation of replica meats to provide a similar experience.

Conclusion

Vegan meat is simply the next step on the path of agricultural advancements. In the farming sector, things are forever evolving. There were billions of horses to move and plough a century ago. They are now on the endangered list because we no longer require them. The meat will be made using automation in the future, and slaughter species will be endangered as well, leaving room for wild poultry and feral pigs. That, I hope, is destiny.

FAQ

Is the vegan food industry growing?

Yes, the global vegan industry is projected to expand at a CAGR of 9.6% from 2019 to 2026.

What is the vegan industry worth?

The Vegan Food market size was valued at $14.2 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach $31.4 billion by 2026.

What percentage of the world is vegan in 2021?

Around 79 million people are vegans in 2021.

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The Rise of Plant-Based Food: Past, Present & Future of Veganism

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World Vegan Day is November 1st, and it's a day to honour those who do not eat animals, dairy, or anything else that originates from or involves an animal. They also don't wear any animal-derived apparel, accessories, or objects. The vegan day started in 1994 to mark the Vegan Society's golden jubilee.

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Emerging sustainable  food consumables brands

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Emerging sustainable  food consumables brands

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64%

predicted that people will only consume food from environmentally conscious companies

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11 Sustainable Food Brands You Should Know About

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Who are the most sustainable food brands out there? Check out our top 11 eco-friendly food brands, to make your next shop as planet-friendly as possible.

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Climate change and its effects on anxiety among genz

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Climate change and its effects on anxiety among genz

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62%

said that their future causes them the most anxiety today, and 67% said they believe that climate change will cause them the most anxiety in the future

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Genz -not being brand conscious and accepting newer brands

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Genz -not being brand conscious and accepting newer brands

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“Compared to any generation [Gen Zers] are less trusting of brands… They have the strongest bullshit filter because they’ve grown up in an era where information was available at all times. Generation Z’s doubling down on the wellness lifestyle—exercising more, eating well, and prioritizing mental health and sleep—should inspire more brands pivot to join the booming wellness economy. But for those who attempt to take the same tack as what worked with Millennials may find that they’ve lost their cool.

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Genz and the price impacting their working out routines

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Genz and the price impacting their working out routines

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Forty-three percent of respondents work out at home, with only 23 percent using a student recreational facility. Yet, 61 percent of respondents say they’d take advantage of fitness classes if student pricing plans were offered.

Forty-nine percent work out one to three times a week. Weights and cardio are the top workouts for both men and women.

Forty-three percent discover new health clubs through blogs and influencers, compared to only 25 percent who find them from TV commercials. Seventy-one percent discover new eateries and find new fitness opportunities through social media. Thirty-three percent find new places to eat through blogs and influencers.

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"Generation Z commands up to $143 billion in U.S. spending power, and this offers a huge opportunity to marketers looking to capture this audience as customers," said Alex Gallagher UNiDAYS chief strategy officer.

New Year's resolutions are staged to be more interesting this year as Gen Z, soon to be the largest group of consumers in the U.S., takes over. This group of teens and young adults believe healthfulness is more than losing a few pounds or hitting the gym.

According to a survey of more than 12,000 of its student members across the U.S., U.K., Australia and New Zealand, UNiDAYS found that Gen Z believes in a holistic approach to health, incorporating physical fitness, healthy eating and mental well-being. This group of digital natives also uses technology to support wellness, with 65 percent of respondents using workout apps, often instead of expensive gym memberships. A majority of respondents also use food tracking or diet apps, and 28 percent depend on wearable technology to track workouts and eating.

Other top findings include Gen Z's focus on mental health -- 72 percent say managing stress and mental health is their most important health and wellness concern and 60 percent believe getting enough sleep is important. They are also overwhelmingly healthy eaters - 68 percent say eating a well-balanced diet as critical. Though 41 percent say they eat fast food at least weekly, that doesn't necessarily mean fries and burgers. For Gen Z, "fast food" can also mean quick, healthy, on-the-go meal options, such as salads, which 32 percent of respondents say is the go-to healthy meal.

"Generation Z commands up to $143 billion in U.S. spending power, and this offers a huge opportunity to marketers looking to capture this audience as customers," said Alex Gallagher chief strategy officer. "Health and fitness brands that want to capture their share need to abandon their categories and mirror Gen Z's holistic approach that incorporates physical and mental fitness, healthy eating, and bridges both digital and physical realms."

Additional Survey Findings:

Forty-three percent of respondents work out at home, with only 23 percent using a student recreational facility. Yet, 61 percent of respondents say they'd take advantage of fitness classes if student pricing plans were offered.

Forty-nine percent work out one to three times a week. Weights and cardio are the top workouts for both men and women.

Forty-three percent discover new health clubs through blogs and influencers, compared to only 25 percent who find them from TV commercials. Seventy-one percent discover new eateries and find new fitness opportunities through social media. Thirty-three percent find new places to eat through blogs and influencers.

Eighty-two percent get tips on new restaurants and 64 percent find new gyms from family and friends.

Fifty-two percent would subscribe to a healthy meal delivery service if it were available.

The most popular diet trends for Gen Z men and women are high protein, low carb diets.

For restaurant marketers, Gen Z names salad (32 percent), a smoothie (20 percent), a wrap (19 percent), sushi (16 percent), and a bowl (8 percent) as their top healthy food picks. Forty-one percent eat fast food at least weekly, but as the results show, burgers and fries are not necessarily on the menu. For Gen Z-ers, fast food can also mean quick and healthy.

Additional U.S.- Specific Survey Findings:

Eighty-five percent named money/finances as their top worry.

Almost 75 percent of respondents said managing stress and mental health is their biggest health and wellness concern.

Over 80 percent work out at home or at their school's gym.

Most (49 percent) said weights and cardio are their favorite form of exercise.

Sixty-six percent use an app to track their workouts.

High protein (44 percent) and low carb (39 percent) are the most popular diet.

Over 80 percent learn about new restaurants from friends and family.

Sixty-eight percent use social media to learn about new fitness opportunities.

About UNiDAYS
UNiDAYS is the world's leading Student Affinity Network. Today, UNiDAYS connects brands to more than 10 million Gen Z college students around the world, giving them the power to make every experience more valuable and rewarding. The UNiDAYS award-winning marketing platform provides student verification technology and integrated marketing solutions to some of the world's most recognizable brands, including Levi's, Adidas and Samsung. Founded in 2011 by CEO Josh Rathour, and headquartered in Nottingham, U.K., UNiDAYS also has offices in London, New York and Sydney. UNiDAYS was honored as one of the top ten fastest-growing companies in the UK by the Sunday Times Tech Track 100. For more information, visit http://www.myunidays.com/genz

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New Study by UNiDAYS shows Gen Z Redefines Health and Wellness

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NEW YORK (PRWEB) January 03, 2019 -- According to a survey of more than 12,000 of its student members across the U.S., U.K., Australia and New Zealand, UNiDAYS found that Gen Z believes in a holistic approach to health, incorporating physical fitness, healthy eating and mental well-being.

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A holistic approach to wellness

Most Gen Zers grew up with a holistic perception of health, understanding the link between their physical, emotional and mental well being. They’re ready to try new cuisines and like to jump on the latest food trends. They’ll be the first to sample plant-based meats, make ethical dietary choices and challenge what's harming the environment. And thanks to their exposure from a young age, they’re embracing mindful activities, meditation, and sports as a means to socialize.

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Generation Z- More Holistic Approach Towards Health?

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Health and wellness companies have found that one generation leaned away from intense workouts and fad diet trends. Generation Z is starting to take a holistic approach towards health, emphasizing stress and anxiety management.

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Previously, health was dominated by clinical science, a “white coat era” deemed necessary to establish credibility and trust for consumers. Millennials then ushered in a “natural era,” an expansion of wellness into alternative care options beyond primary care.

Now, Gen Z is changing the game once again.

While they piggyback on millennials’ views of holistic health, Gen Z was raised under political and economic turmoil, meaning they’re more pragmatic than their idealistic elders. Further, they are happy to leverage the latest tech to support their health, instinctively adopting everything from connected fitness to wearables. And unlike their privacy-protecting predecessors, Gen Z grew up with apps and are more willing to trade data for convenience.That is, they integrate health and wellness into their day-to-day life but, as digital natives, will heavily vet the brands they select into their routines.

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Gen Z is in touch with their emotions. They believe that mental health is a holistic state of well-being that grows from the inside out. And they recognize that if they don’t take care of it, that neglect will emerge externally in physical and behavioral ways. They’re especially concerned about stress and anxiety, and access to mental health care.

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Over the past five months, we've had to consider survival tactics on many fronts-from protecting ourselves and others from coronavirus exposure to shifting strategies and expectations for school and work. Our sense of normalcy has changed in nearly every way, and adaptation will remain important as society transitions back to its more regular routines.

"People often use the expression 'ride the wave,'" says Moustafa Shafey, MD, board-certified psychiatrist and chief of psychiatry at CentraState. "We are in that wave right now-one unlike any that we have ever experienced. Be aware of it and take the ride with it, but don't let the wave control you."

That wave and the related uncertainty will continue as we return to work, school, and other relevant activities-a process that can't be accomplished at full speed. Dr. Shafey provides these tips to maximize your mental health during this time:

Take your mental temperature. Each day brings new information and potentially new stressors. While it's common to feel some anxiety based on what's happening in the world, look for any significant changes in emotions you might be experiencing.

Get in touch with your feelings. When you're upset, it's OK to cry. Discussing your feelings with a trusted friend or loved one also can provide a therapeutic release. Holding in feelings can be compared to a balloon that keeps getting bigger-it eventually pops.

Take care of your physical health. Mental health and physical health go hand-in-hand, so when one is disrupted, the other tends to follow suit. Good nutrition, hygiene, and exercise are important components of mental well-being.

Focus on the present. Try re-centering yourself through practices like meditation or mindfulness, the ability to focus your awareness on the present moment. You can practice mindfulness in simple ways.

Rethink your priorities. Despite the challenges and sorrows many of us have experienced, we've also seen positives shine through, such as resiliency and stronger connections with family. Consider what matters most in your life, and hold tight to those values moving forward.

Know that help is always available. Talk to your physician or a mental health provider if you're experiencing ongoing:

Sleep disturbances

Anger, anxiety, irritability, or restlessness

Difficulty with relationships

Physical symptoms like nausea or diarrhea

Lack of interest in activities or difficulty handling downtime

"Every problem has a solution, and we can find those solutions by taking our time, tuning ourselves down, and riding the wave," says Dr. Shafey. "Part of psychotherapy is letting people talk, listen, and come to realizations. When we really listen to ourselves, we'll get the right answer."
Learn more about Behavioral Health Services at CentraState at Help is just a phone call away with our 24-hour crisis hotline: 732-780-6023 centrastate.com/behavioralhealth or 866-CENTRA7 (866-236-8727).

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Cultivating Mental Vigilance During a Crisis

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Over the past five months, we've had to consider survival tactics on many fronts-from protecting ourselves and others from coronavirus exposure to shifting strategies and expectations for school and work. Our sense of normalcy has changed in nearly every way, and adaptation will remain important as society transitions back to its more regular routines.

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Regular virtual conversation for mental health- hr perspectives

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Regular virtual conversation for mental health- hr perspectives

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With the coronavirus-induced lockdowns resulting in thousands of people working from home and unable to leave their houses for extended periods, there are a number of concerns with employee wellbeing during this time. As social distancing measures could be in place for a much longer time, the toll isolation is taking on our wellbeing is likely to become more pronounced before the measures are lifted.

With so many teams now working remotely, this could threaten workers' mental health and their productivity. However, there is evidence that virtual communication can help mitigate the effects of loneliness and isolation and thanks to the wide range of virtual tools being used to conduct virtual meetings, remote teams have a lot of options to choose from. With the coronavirus crisis already causing us enough stress and anxiety, there is some evidence that regular virtual communication can support workers' mental health and encourage productivity even when our lives are in such turmoil.
The negative effects of isolation
There is some evidence to suggest that extended isolation can have an effect on both our physical and mental health. Isolation:

Can cause depression and heighten anxiety

Can affect our sleeping pattern

Can even make people more susceptible to disease

Many of us may be living alone at this time and therefore seeing very little of other people in person and experiencing next to no contact with our friends and loved ones. Though we may also be keeping in contact with friends and relatives virtually, work is where most of us experience most of our socialising. With this support framework gone, it's important for teams working remotely to keep in contact to provide that social interaction.

Thanks to the social, economic and health implications of the coronavirus, it's also more important than ever to protect against the damaging effects of isolation and combat feelings of loneliness wherever we are.
The importance of routine
Routine is important in managing the effects of negative mental health and keeping yourself healthy. For those who struggle with poor mental health, routine and exercise are often recommended ways of improving self-awareness and overcoming the challenges of living with mental health issues. Though we are now limited in what we can do and how often we can leave the house, finding a routine which is also within the limits of our activities can still be a simple and effective way of keeping on top of our mental health.

Routine will always mean different things to different people, even down to whether we eat breakfast or not in the morning, but often attending work is most of our daily routine so to now be without that can be difficult to adapt to. Finding ways to substitute our typical work routines with virtual contact can help workers orientate themselves from home. Whether this is a weekly meeting at a regular time or keeping in contact via instant messaging, encouraging socialisation during work hours even while at home can help us to establish new routines.
How to get the most out of virtual meetings
Virtual meetings may not be common for most workplaces and many people may be finding themselves in charge of running them for the first time. To ensure everybody finds worth in regular meetings, there are a few steps that can be taken to get the most from them.

Deciding the intention of your meetings will help you understand what value attendees will draw from them. Whether their key aim is socialisation to ensure all workers are regularly involved with each other or whether there are business objectives to each meeting, having a clear awareness of this will help you record success and structure your meetings accordingly.

Choosing the right tool

With so many options to choose from, finding the right tool that works for your team and for your meetings is important. Whether it's Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangout or even Facebook Messenger, ensure every team member has access to the tool and is able to join on at the specified time. This may mean trialling different tools until you settle on a consensus, but this will help people to be engaged and prepared for each meeting.

Organisation

Preparing properly is an essential part of any meeting and it's no different for virtual communication. Outlining your intentions for the meeting, as well as encouraging attendees to come prepared if necessary, will ensure a smooth progression that correctly hits the targets you are planning to hit.

During meetings, following a structure will help keep it organised and keep everyone on-task. If the main intention of your meeting is for socialising, a structure may still encourage everyone to join in and contribute.
How remote meetings can promote productivity
No matter the intention of your meetings, having regular meetings and encouraging staff to share their plans for the day, week or month will help them to organise themselves and make their goals seem more achievable. Speaking our intentions is a good way of manifesting them and this may be lacking for those at home with nobody to talk to. This can add extra support for people in isolation while encouraging work productivity.

Mandating regular attendance, especially early in the day, ensures staff are awake and in a working mindset. With isolation potentially having an influence on our sleeping patterns, regular meetings and communication can help people stay in a regular rhythm which is also helpful in sticking to routines. Some companies host coffee mornings or quick catch-ups in the morning which can be especially helpful for staff who are struggling to cope with the lockdown.

By banishing the negative effects of isolation through virtual communication, we can ensure that workers' mental health is being supported while working from home and that productivity is being maintained in the remote workplace. The coronavirus pandemic is causing an unprecedented change in all aspects of life but we must all remember that humans are social beings and that keeping in touch with each other is good for our mental and physical wellbeing.
This article was written by Ben Fielding from Criterion Systems, business telephone systems provider in the UK.

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The mental health benefits of regular virtual communication - HR News

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With the coronavirus-induced lockdowns resulting in thousands of people working from home and unable to leave their houses for extended periods, there are a number of concerns with employee wellbeing during this time. As social distancing measures could be in place for a much longer time, the toll isolation is taking on our wellbeing is likely to become more pronounced before the measures are lifted.

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Not surprisingly, living through a global health crisis has made people ultra-aware of their immune systems. So-called “immune boosters'' were always popular, but a new understanding of how the immune system works has led to a rise in immune balancers. The idea is that the immune system can't be boosted, but simply optimized to work as effectively as possible. Incidentally, sales of elderberry have skyrocketed. Elderberry and other superfood immune products are now almost impossible to find.

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Rhythm with Nature Using Biophilic Technology

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Rhythm with Nature Using Biophilic Technology

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We spend 90% of our time indoors. This disconnection with nature has a negative impact on our health and wellbeing. If this is our future, how can we create our indoor spaces to be more in rhythm with nature and gain all the amazing health benefits? Join us in this great conversation with Luis Cortez of Echo Workshop on how Biophilic Technology can enhance your health and wellness. It's the wave of the future.

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#016 | live in rhythm with nature using biophilic technology with luis cortes of echo workshop

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health + dwellness: everyday living in health

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‎Health + Dwellness: Everyday Living in Health, Wellness and Design: #016 | Live in Rhythm with Nature Using Biophilic Technology with Luis Cortes of Echo Workshop on Apple Podcasts

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We spend 90% of our time indoors. This disconnection with nature has a negative impact on our health and wellbeing. If this is our future, how can we create our indoor spaces to be more in rhythm with nature and gain all the amazing health benefits?