Health & Fitness

Ageing Skin Care - What Is Chemical Peeling?

As the name implies Chemical peeling peels the skin with chemicals. It is also called dermapeeling or chemexfoliation.

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As the name implies Chemical peeling peels the skin with chemicals. It is also called dermapeeling or chemexfoliation. By peeling off the skin layer, it allows new skin to form, which is new and fresh, and without some wrinkles. Chemical peeling is used to remove photo aged skin damages.

How chemical peeling is done for skin care- in chemical peeling, chemical solutions are applied on the skin. The choice and strength of chemical depends upon the results desired. For mild peeling, mild chemicals are used and so on. Sometimes, light peel is repeated over time to get desired effect. With mild peel, superficial wrinkles and sun damage is removed. For more damaged skin such as skin having age spots, freckles and acetinic keratoses, a medium peel is used.

Skin care and strength of chemicals- depending upon the skin damage, and the results desired, the dermatologist decides about the kind of peeling to be performed.

Skin care and peeling chemicals- common peeling chemicals include alpha hydroxy acids, trichloroacetic acid, carbolic acid and other chemicals.

Skin care and side effects of chemical peeling- the chemicals peel the old skin and that is like sunburn. What the doctor is doing is to remove the old skin to a certain depth. That naturally causes redness and scaling of the skin. as new skin forms, the redness and scaling disappear. With medium or deep chemical peeling, the skin may develop blisters and swelling along with redness and peeling that may last for up to two weeks.

Skin care and discomfort with chemical peeling- some discomfort is the result as the skin peels. Your doctor will prescribe some lotions to reduce the discomfort. Exposure to sun must be avoided for some time and protection must be taken from sun till the new skin forms and all the side effects disappear. With chemical peeling, surface skin damage is removed. Please consult your doctor for further details.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

Facelifts Explained

The rhytidectomy, or much more commonly known as a facelift, is a cosmetic surgery specifically designed to restore a more youthful appearance by removing major obvious wrinkles and sagging skin from the facial area

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cosmetic surgery

The rhytidectomy, or much more commonly known as a facelift, is a cosmetic surgery specifically designed to restore a more youthful appearance by removing major obvious wrinkles and sagging skin from the facial area. The procedure involves tightening of the facial and neck muscles, as well as actual removal of any excess skin. In doing so the patient should find his or her appearance to be several years more youthful than before. In some good cases, a patient may look as many as ten years younger!

The skin naturally begins to wrinkle and sag as a result of age, sun exposure, and genetics. Children and young adults have smooth, round faces due to evenly distributed tissues in facial contours. Over time, the skin sags and folds. This is particularly occurs around the chin, jaw line, and neck. Not only does a facelift improve facial appearance but also has a dramatic effect on the chin and neck, enhancing the patient’s profile. Though as dramatic as the end results are, unlike several other types of cosmetic surgery, a facelift is not a simple procedure, and requires anywhere from one to two weeks of rest to make a full recovery.

This is a procedure that does actually demand some work from the patient beforehand. Before going in, avoid drugs that contain aspirin for several weeks prior to surgery to minimize excess bleeding. You may be required to take antibiotics to prevent infection. Depending on the doctor, you may be instructed to shampoo your hair the night before surgery.

For the procedure the surgeon will make incisions inside the hairline at the temple, then around the earlobe and behind the ear, ending at the scalp area. Excess skin is removed and sagging muscles and connective tissues are tightened. In some cases, fatty deposits may be removed from beneath the chin and neck. Incisions are closed with small sutures. The surgery may take up to 5 hours, depending on how many other facial procedures are being done in conjunction with the facelift.

There will be a lot of swelling afterwards, but after about two weeks the patient should notice a steady recovery beginning. Scarring fades quickly. In the time following surgery the patient should avoid the sun for several weeks after surgery. The main thing to remember is that the healing process takes time. It is gradual, and so the final results may not be noticeable for even half a year. Keep patient, and soon enough the positive results will become clear.

Dealing With Dandruff - Natural Treatments

Messy and embarrassing, dandruff is one of the most common of hair woes. A few simple techniques and natural and inexpensive home treatments can help prevent and keep dandruff at bay.

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CAUSES OF DANDRUFF

Although the cause of dandruff is not completely understood, it is currently theorized that one of the main causes is a breakdown of the scalps natural lipid barrier, leaving it more exposed to infection by the microscopic yeast that is commonly found in the scalp. When the yeast overgrows, it leads to an inflammatory response that kills off scalp cells at a high rate, which in turn slough off in sticky patches and flakes.

The condition is identified by:

 White or clear flakes on the scalp, through the hair, and on clothing.
 Itchy scalp which may be red and inflamed.

Some young teens find they develop dandruff when they hit puberty because their hygiene habits haven’t changed to meet the challenges of newly accelerated sebum production.

Stress, poor hygiene and poor diet can make the scalp more susceptible to dandruff. High sugar foods in particular are known to exacerbate yeast infections.

The hair should be brushed regularly to loosen flakes and stimulate blood supply to the scalp, which will accelerate the natural immune response to infection.

TREATING DANDRUFF

There are few habits you can develop and natural treatments you can use to treat dandruff.

Nutrition: An excess of sugar in the diet can exacerbate any yeast infection. Try reducing your intake of all sugars and refined starches while treating for dandruff.

Cleansing: Massage your scalp thoroughly with your fingertips when shampooing. This will help loosen and remove any dead skin flakes and help prevent the infection from continuing. Wash your hair daily until the infection is cleared up.

Conditioning: Use a protective hair condition on the ends of hair only. Avoid getting conditioner on your scalp where it can clog pores and interfere with healing of the skin.

Other Treatments:

○ Massage: Massaging your scalp several times a day with the pads of the fingers only will stimulate blood supply to the hair follicles and help loosen the dead skin flakes.

○ Brushing: Brushing your hair thoroughly on a daily basis will help loosen and remove dead skin flakes, increase the smooth flow of sebum along the hair shaft, and increase blood supply to the hair follicles.

○ Wash Hands After Brushing and Grooming Hair: Fungal infections of the skin are highly contagious, and it is easy to reinfect and spread to other areas of the body. This is why it’s important to wash your hair daily and to brush out any loose dandruff flakes – so that healthy areas of the scalp will not be infected. Washing your hands after brushing, massaging and grooming your hair will also help prevent reinfection or cross infection.

The following herbs and nutrients have been shown to reduce dandruff infections:

Natural Internal Treatments for Dandruff

Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Vanadyl Sulfate, Gynema Sylvestre and Chromium are all natural regulators of blood sugar levels. The can help prevent feeding the infection by keeping blood sugar levels normalized.

Olive Leaf and Oregano Leaf are both natural systemic antifungal agents.

Natural External Treatments for Dandruff

The following herbs can be used as a tonic for reducing fungal infections on a topical basis. Extracts of these herbs or a several drops of their essential oils dissolved in aloe vera gel or witch hazel can greatly relieve the symptoms of itching and flaking in dandruff. Tea tree oil is particularly effective against fungal and bacterial infections.
Clary Sage
Desert Sage
Eucalyptus
Fumitory
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginsen
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Grapefruit Essential Oil
Grapeseed Extract
Juniper Berry Essential Oil
Lavender Essential Oil
Lemongrass
Myrtle
Oregano
Poke Root
Rosemary
Tea Tree Oil

Trans Fats are Another Cause of High Blood Pressure

About 150 years ago, the shortage of butter created the need for margarine. Since then trans fats have become a part of our diet … and they are killing us. Discover how you can avoid these dangerous fats … and the heart disease and high blood pressure they cause.

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trans fats, blood pressure, cholesterol, hydrogenated, arteries, linings of arteries

When the demand for butter exceeded the ability of farmers to supply this desirable fat … the search for a substitute started us on a road to trans fats, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Not until 20 years ago did we finally discover the dangers of trans fats.

How Did Trans Fats Enter our Food Supply?

In the 1860s butter was in great demand and there just wasn’t enough to satisfy everybody. Emperor Louis Napoleon III offered a prize for a substitute … and so, the first margarine was invented by a French chemist. It was created from clarified beef fat.

It wasn’t until 40 years later that the process of hydrogenation was developed … and the door to deadly trans fats was opened. Butter rationing during two worlds wars and the lower cost of margarine … had more and more people switching to this butter substitute — made from cheap vegetable fats.

When vegetable oils are hydrogenated … their molecules are chemically re-arranged. This produces a fat — trans fat — that becomes semi-hard at room temperature. Basically, trans fats mimic the saturated fats that our taste buds love. We are naturally drawn to the taste and the consistency.

The semi-solid trans fats are great for baking … and not expensive like butter or lard. This is a big plus for food processors … and the reason trans fats are found in most baked goods — as well as fried foods. While this cheap alternative to butter is a boon for the food makers … it is a dangerous bust for consumers. In the US alone, an estimated 100,000 people die prematurely every year … due to the use of trans fats.

So What’s so Bad About Trans Fats?

Trans fats have the worst effect on your cholesterol levels of all fats. They drive up your levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol … at the same time lowering your levels of heart-protective HDL cholesterol. Trans fats’ overall effect on your cholesterol levels is … twice as bad as the effect of saturated fats.

Recently, trans fats have also come under fire for damaging the lining of your arteries. It’s this damage that leads to hardening of the arteries and higher blood pressure. The linings of your arteries play a very important role in controlling blood pressure. When these vital linings become damaged, their function is impaired — resulting in high blood pressure.

How Can You Avoid Trans Fats?

Although trans fats were first used in margarine … most margarines have eliminated this deadly fat. But, they’re still found in many baked goods and fried foods. In fact, because of their low cost and convenience — trans fats keep foods from spoiling — hydrogenated oils are being used even more.

Keep clear of donuts, French fries, pastries, fast foods … even the seemingly healthy granola bar often contains this dangerous fat. Check labels carefully … avoid any food that contains hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

Finally, a Little Help from the FDA

Fortunately, it is starting to get easier to find these dangerous trans fats — and avoid them. As of January 2006, the FDA is requiring food makers to list the trans fat content … on the Nutrition Facts label found on all products.

Even a small amount of trans fats in your diet is bad for your heart health. Switch over to healthier fats today. Not all fats are bad for you. In fact, some fats will even help you lower your blood pressure. Olive oil, nuts, and fatty fish will give your body a good dose of healthy fats.

Anxiety Depression: Learn How to be worry free.

“Which of you by worrying can add a single hair to your head?” Jesus.
“That thing I so worried about has eventually happened to me” Job.
“Anxiety depression from worry is that great modern plague” Anonymous.
From the quotes above, needless to say friends, to overcome anxiety depression, we’ve got to break the worry-habit. Let’s see how we can be worry-free today folks.

Keywords:
Anxiety Depression

From a religious stand-point, Jesus once asked his 12 disciples: “Which of you by worrying can add a single strand of hair to your head?” Now, you may be of a religious background or maybe not, but, think about that statement and you’d see why worrying, a main symptom of anxiety depression is quite unnecessary.

Reduced to its simplest form, what is worry? It is simply an unhealthy and destructive mental habit that- believe it or not folks-you were not born with but simply acquired out of practice. The good news is, with aggressive actions, as with any habit and acquired attitude; we can be worry free and eliminate it from our lives successfully.

In the words of Dr. Smiley Blanton, a noted Psychiatrist: “Anxiety depression is the great modern plague.” Other psychologists go on to say ‘worry’ a noted symptom of any form of depression, is the most subtle and destructive of all human diseases. When we worry excessively, we disintegrate our inner workings as humans and really put a lot of things out of order. Needless to say avoiding worry as a step of treating depression and anxiety will be the first step for our own benefit.

Anxiety Depression: Steps to take to be Worry Free:

The following steps should be used to deal with anxiety depression and its main symptom, worry. When used wisely and effectively, you will inevitably be successful at these natural depression help techniques.

1. Practice Mind-drainage: Empty your mind of pessimistic and negative thoughts, especially before going to and after waking up from sleep. This involves some degree of imagination friends. (the same imagination-mind you-that you are actually using to aggravate your present situations…didn’t realize that eh?). This mind-draining strategy cannot be overemphasized as I will let you know, if you fear something for a long period of time, it may actually come to pass. “For the thing which I feared has come upon me…” (Job 3:25)

2. Fill up the mind with powerful thoughts of faith and success to fill up the vacuum now left in the mind. You become a worrier by practicing it, you can be worry-free by practicing the opposite.

3. Say positive things about those things you previously spoke negatively of.

4. Never participate in a worry conversation. Induce your conversation with faith and worry-free statements.

5. Make friends with optimistic people, practice prayer and meditation.

6. Exercise and eat right. You’ll be making yourself look and feel better and consequently stronger through the process for overcoming depression, anxiety and becoming worry free.

No one is saying things will be automatically changed overnight. No, it takes work. However with direct and equally aggressive actions as the destructive worry habits one may be indulging in, anxiety depression can be overcome and you too can be worry free if you believe in your mind you can.

Anti-Aging Skin Care

The aging of your skin may be inevitable. But why rush it? There are ways to slow down sagging and wrinkles. Using skin creams and treatments may already be a part of your daily grooming regimen. However, topical creams cannot be expected to work alone for full efficacy. The best way to start your anti-aging effort is on the inside.

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anti-aging skin care, prevent aging

The aging of your skin may be inevitable. But why rush it? There are ways to slow down sagging and wrinkles. Using skin creams and treatments may already be a part of your daily grooming regimen. However, topical creams cannot be expected to work alone for full efficacy. The best way to start your anti-aging effort is on the inside.

First of all, are you drinking enough water? There are varying opinions about how much water an individual actually needs for good health, but the general consensus remains that you probably aren’t drinking enough. If you’re thirsty, your skin is thirsty too — which means dryness and wrinkles. Hydrate your skin by drinking water regularly.

Drink water . . . but avoid alcohol and soft drinks. The contents of these beverages — alcohol and caffeine — dehydrate skin, wreaking havoc on its structure. An acceptable alternative to water is green tea, which is low in caffeine (but enough for a pick-me-up). Green tea, as you probably already know, is loaded with antioxidants that destroy free radicals, which cause aging.

A multivitamin is always a good idea, but our bodies most easily absorb nutrients from food. Include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet. In addition to vitamins and minerals, you’re fortifying your body with more antioxidants. Blueberries are one of nature’s “super foods,” having one of the highest antioxidant values.

Exercise! Exercise helps keep us from aging by keeping weight down, working the heart, toning muscles, and getting the blood flowing (to the skin!). People who exercise look younger and feel younger. It’s a most beneficial habit to get into.

People who look younger than their age repeatedly reveal one vital secret: getting enough sleep. If you aren’t, find ways to work it in. Instead of sitting up in front of the television, turn it off at a reasonable time and take a book to bed. This quiet practice can lead to an easier time getting to sleep — sometimes the colors and movement of the television keep our brains working even after we’ve begun to relax.

You may feel that you don’t have the time to take care of your skin, but keep in mind: by the time you do “have time,” it will be too late. The time to protect your skin is now! Years later, you’ll be thanking yourself for it — and not only will you look younger, you’ll feel younger too.

Anti Aging Supplements - Fight Wrinkles From Within

Good beauty supplements can help improve skin tone, elasiticity, and prevent wrinkles. They do this in a way that is much more effective than any anti aging creams, although those do improve the appearance of skin. Learn about the best ones, with recommended dosages.

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beauty supplement, beauty food, beauty, alpha lipoic acid, anti aging

Choosing antioxidants to supplement your regular skin routine is an approach that has been validated scientifically. A study by French scientists found that woman taking vitamin C, vitamin E, and betacarotene had 23% fewer new wrinkles, and a reduction in existing wrinkles of 8%. Antioxidants stop the breakdown of collagen and elastin by free radicals.

Foods with the highest levels of antioxidants, as measured by the ORAC (oxygen radical absorbence capacity), listed from the highest: prunes, raisins, blueberries, kale, cranberries, spinach, raspberries, brussel sprouts, plums and broccoli.

Vitamin A is another important nutrient for the skin. A deficiency in vitamin A will reduce the effectiveness of skin treatments. Vitamin A is needed for the normal growth and renewal of skin cells. Our skin cells are constantly replacing each other, and new ones are pushed up to the surface as the old ones slough off. Not only is vitamin A an antioxidant, but it also nourishes the fat layer underneath the skin. Vitamin A keeps skin supple, and may prevent skin damage.

Symptoms of vitamin A deficiency include dry and rough skin, localized breakouts, fragile skin, wrinkle prone skin, poor skin texture, and splitting nails.

One thing to remember with taking vitamin A supplements is not to exceed the recommended daily dose, as it can build up in your body if taken in excess. Taking 10000 IU per day is fine.

Vitamin C is another important beauty supplement. Not only does it help in skin repair by building collagen, but lower levels of vitamin C in the skin are associated with aging and UV damage. Taking 500mg to 2000mg per day, in divided doses, is recommended.

An excellent antioxidant supplement to take is alpha lipoic acid (ALA), especially if you’re taking the other antioxidant vitamins C and E, and coenzyme Q10. Alpha lipoic acid is not only an antioxidant in its own right, but it has the capacity to recycle these other antioxidants. Alpha lipoic acid is also an anti inflammatory agent, and improves insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is associated with obesity and heart disease. ALA increases the rate at which glucose is removed from the bloodstream, and helps the body detoxify metals that have accumulated. Alpha lipoic acid also prevents the cross linking of fibers, which leads to aging and the development of wrinkles.

Alpha lipoic acid is produced by the body, but only in small amounts. It is used by the cells in their production of cellular energy, and we only benefit from its antioxidant effects if the amount of ALA in our bodies is greater than that which our cells need for normal functioning. And, unfortunately, the levels of ALA in our body decline as we age.

One advantage of alpha lipoic acid is that it is both fat and water soluble. This means it can work in all parts of our body, making it very versatile. Most antioxidants are either fat or water soluble, but not both. For example, vitamin A is fat soluble, and vitamin C is water soluble.

Taking about 50 to 100mg of alpha lipoic acid supplements a day has been suggested, though this supplement has not been tested on pregnant or breast feeding women.

References: Nature and Health, April/May 2006

Medium Hair Styles Don’t Have To Be Boring

Short hairstyles and long hairstyles are usually considered to be the most dramatic. But medium hairstyles dont have to be boring! This article explains how to get the best from medium length hairstyles.

Keywords:
medium hairstyle, medium length hairstyle, hairstyle, hair care

Not too long and not too short, the medium hair style is perfect for just about everyone. From the straight and limp to the thick and naturally curly, you can be sure that there is a medium hair style to suit your unique tastes and hair type.

The popularity of the medium length hair style has never waned, and it remains extremely popular today. In fact, most hair styles that you see can be considered medium hair styles. Just think about the textured bob or the layered hair cut. Most of these styles look their best at a medium length.

There are a lot of reasons why people choose the medium hair style over other types of styles. The medium hair style is easier and quicker to style than longer hair and it affords more versatility than shorter styles. No matter whether you wear it up or down, the medium hair style offers a great deal of variety to the wearer. Here are just a few ideas:

” Quick and Casual. No matter if your medium length hair style is straight or curly, you can whip it up in a flash to create a simple, casual updo at a moment’s notice. Simply pull your medium hair style up into a bun, French twist or ponytail, allowing a few sprigs to escape here and there, and you’re done. You can also practice variations of the ponytail and add interest to your medium hair style by changing the amount of hair that you pull through your scrunchie.

” Funky and textured. Probably the most popular medium hair styles of today feature a lot of textured, creative cutting techniques. By using a combination of scissors and razor, your stylist can turn your medium hair style into a fashion statement complete with wispy layers and interesting movement.

” Cute and curled. This medium hair style is extremely easy to accomplish if you have natural curl or a perm adding texture to your medium hair style. If not, you can easily add interest to your medium hair style with hot rollers, tube rollers or a curling iron. Simply, roll your medium hair style, spritz it a little, take it down, run your fingers through your medium length hair style, spray and go.

” Captivating color. The medium hair style is perhaps the perfect length of hair in which to try funky and fresh color techniques. From chunky highlights to ink-dipped tips, make your medium hair style stand out from the rest with interesting color.

As you can see, there are numerous things that you can do to make your medium hair style stand out among your peers. While others are stuck pulling their long tresses up or styling their short locks the same old way, you can quickly change your medium hair style to reflect your mood or the occasion. And the beauty of the medium hair style is that almost everything you do will be quick and easy.