Skin Tight?

Slight shifts in your routine can help alleviate dry skin, advises our friends at Consumer Reports. Try these:

 
1. Wash with a mild soap.
2. Shower in lukewarm water.
3. Use moisturizer directly after bathing.

Unfortunately, the problem may worsen in cooler weather because dry air from the heating system in your Triangle home can rob your skin of moisture. Good rule of thumb: When it's cold outside, use a humidifier inside.

I Can See Clearly

Do you wear prescription eyeglasses? If so,
you've experienced the excitement of a sparkling new pair. The thrill isn't just about the fresh look for your face but also the clarity of the lenses. Unfortunately, even the new pair soon starts to show wear and tear.

That's why we're sharing a strategy from one of our editors. She simultaneously orders two pairs online and dubs each one either "inside" or "outside."

As she's about to leave her Garner condo for the day, she slips on the "outside" specs. When she arrives back home, she switches into the "inside" pair. Why? The "inside" glasses get pulled on and off her face a lot, so they suffer scratches in the twinkling of an eye. Meanwhile, the life of the "outside" pair is extended and improved with fewer signs of use.

Diagnosis Hits Close to Home

When a member of the Carolina Woman family learned she had ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS, an early breast cancer, we researched everything about it.

Our teammate, now doing great, was fortunate to be treated by Dr. Shelley Hwang, a world-renowned expert on DCIS who is chief of breast surgery at Duke University Medical Center.

We want all our readers to know about this disease. Here's a snapshot.

DCIS is a non-invasive form of breast cancer, discoverable on a mammogram. Typically, there are no signs or symptoms, so it's important to have regular screenings. Contained in the milk ducts, DCIS is treated to try to prevent the development of invasive breast cancer.

Researchers don't know exactly what triggers the abnormal cell growth that leads to the illness. Factors that may play a part include lifestyle, environment and genes.

The exact treatment varies from person to person. Surgery, often followed by radiation, is a common recommendation. Afterward, some women are advised to take hormones. Active monitoring as an alternative to surgery may be another option.

Left untreated, it's estimated 40 to 50 percent of ductal carcinoma in situ cases may progress to invasive breast cancer. But with treatment, the prognosis is usually excellent.