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Laser Skin Care – What Laser Treatments Can Do For Your Skin?

February 21st, 2012



The most common laser skin care procedure available today is hair removal. There are many other types of laser skin care treatments which can remove wrinkles, brown spots, blood vessels, and even tighten skin. Laser skin care treatments for skin rejuvenation or anti-aging are becoming one of the most common skin treatments in use today. The applications of this new light technology for laser skin care today are:

o Skin Exfoliation or Skin Peel - Lasers can be used to peel or exfoliate the skin to remove dead skin and smooth wrinkles and fine lines. Once the dead skin and surface of the wrinkles are removed, you see new shiny skin on the surface of your face. The skin can form new cells daily and deep skin peel is a very effective way to stimulate the production of new facial skin cells. These treatments also stimulate new collagen production in the deeper dermal layers of the skin. Benefits are:

Smooth Fresh Skin

Wrinkle Removal

These peels usually requires some down time for redness and healing. This is because the peel is an ablative procedure which means the dead skin cells and wrinkles are ablated or removed. More modern peel or resurfacing called fractional resurfacing is also effective and recovery time is 4-5 days, about a third of the recovery time required by traditional CO2 resurfacing done in the past. Common fractional ablative skin care machines are: Lux2940(TM), Fraxel Repair(TM), ActiveFX(TM) and ProFractional(TM) to name a few.

o Non-ablative Stimulation of New Collagen in The Deep Skin Layer, The Dermis – A major cause of wrinkles and acne scars is loss of collagen in the deep layer of the facial skin called the dermis. Sun damage kills the collagen in the dermis of the skin and when the collagen dies the skin loses volume, shrinks and loses elasticity. These changes result in wrinkles and sagging skin. This effect is not unlike what happens to a nice plump plum which is dried in the sun. After the plum loses its inner water volume, the skin wrinkles and you have a prune.

New Non-ablative Fractional Lasers can stimulate the production of new collagen deep in the dermis of the skin. Because the skin is not ablated or removed, there is no down time as with the ablative fractional machines mentioned earlier. Benefits of the non-ablative fractional skin care treatments are:

Skin Plumping

Scar Removal

Wrinkle Improvement

Pigment Removal

o Treatment of Pigment and Facial Skin Photo-damage – The aging effects of the sun, called photo damage or photo aging, are not only dry skin and wrinkles but also pigment, called brown spots, sun spots, age spots, and “liver spots”. Light technology is very effective for removing pigment and photo-damage. The peel or resurfacing strips away excess pigment. The non-ablative treatments are also effective at deeper pigment removal such as Melasma or mask of pregnancy.

Today Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), also called photo-facial is used most commonly for pigment removal. The IPL is excellent for removing brown spots and is the gentlest method.

o Skin Tightening – Laser skin tightening is possible but less effective than other skin tightening methods. Resurfacing or deep peeling does tighten skin a bit because deep dermal injury stimulates new collagen production in the skin. The new collagen is tighter and the tighter collagen tightens the skin. This effect takes months after the ablative peel skin care treatment and is not nearly as noticeable as a face lift.

Newer and more effective skin tightening treatments are possible. The more effective skin tightening treatments are done with Infrared or Radiofrequency energy with machines like LuxIR Deep(TM), Thermage(TM), Titan(TM), and Refirme(TM) to mention a few.

o Remove Broken Blood Vessels, Red Spots and Rosacea on the Face – Photo-aging and sun damage cause broken blood vessels on the facial skin, especially around the nose and cheeks. Lasers can be used to remove broken blood vessels on the face and legs. Both the 532 and 1064 Yag wavelengths are useful for removal of broken blood vessels.

However the newer IPL and Photo-facial treatments are very effective for removing blood vessels, produce less down time and are used more frequently today. The 1064 Yag is the choice for larger broken blood vessels and leg veins.

o Hair Removal - Hair removal is the most commonly performed medical skin care procedure done today. There are many different machines and IPL’s for hair removal. I prefer the diode called the Lightshear Diode(TM) for hair removal-I believe it is safer for darker skin types.

o Tattoo Removal -Tattoo removal was one of the first applications of this new light therapy for treating the skin. There are many different wavelengths for tattoo removal and the wavelength is chosen for the specific color of the tattoo to be removed. Tattoo removal takes many treatments over a long period of time, but is preferable to surgery which can leave scars.

The indications listed above are the most widely used applications for lasers in treatment of the skin. Each of these applications is best accomplished with a specific wavelength which is best and most appropriate for the skin condition to be treated.

Chose the Right Doctor

I strongly recommend that you seek consultation with two board certified doctors who specialize in laser treatments. Typically board certified dermatologists and plastic surgeons are the most experienced doctors with this new technology.

These new forms of light therapy can achieve remarkable benefits in skin care but the treatment is only as good as the doctor who is giving the treatment. In untrained or unskilled hands these new technologies can burn the skin, damage the eyes, and cause injury. I certainly do not recommend having these treatments in a Spa unless a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon with experience and expertise is present.

Learn more about what these remarkable technological marvels can achieve on our skin.

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Fight Against Cancer

February 20th, 2012



Touchdowns: Cranberries are loaded with antioxidants and help fight cancer and protect your heart and teeth. It is beneficial to fight different kind of diseases, most of all to fight cancer. This wonder food is purported to fight cancer, control cholesterol, increase energy, improve your sex life and help you lose weight.

They have two important ingredients that are known to fight cancer. It has the great potential to fight cancer especially in the role of prevention of breast cancer. Federal Government on research to fight cancer and other deadly diseases.

Lignans, which help fight cancer are found in high quantity in wakame (kelp) and may provide protection against certain cancers. Likewise, eating a lot of fruits and vegetables can prevent colon cancer because these foods are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that can fight cancer. Those who promote the hormone theory believe it can slow down or reverse aging, fight cancer and enhance sexuality.

These Brassica veggies including watercress, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli sprouts, Brussels Sprouts, arugula, and kale, have been shown to fight cancer by inhibiting carcinogenesis, excreting carcinogens via liver detoxification, inducing death of cancer cells, and inhibiting tumors.

“My hope is that through my work, other women will enjoy these original jewelry pieces while knowing they are raising awareness and supporting one of the most important issues facing women today – ovarian cancer.

One of the issues all breast cancer survivors must deal with is the long-term side effect that can arise post therapy. Antiandrogens have seen a connection to producing fewer issues of sexual dysfunction than other types of hormonal prostate cancer medications. For instance, a Japanese research team addressed those issues in their article, “Regular Consumption of Green Tea and the Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence: Follow-up Study from the Hospital-based Epidemiologic Research Program at Aichi Cancer Center (HERPACC), Japan.

Another organization is Cancer Care Incorporated who provide a telephone support service for all cancer issues, and this includes medical information, cancer terms and definitions, counseling, guidance on local services, free information material, as well as information on local support groups to the patients area as well as an abundance of educational programs on cancer matters. Joel Evans Brame brings effective transformation to people facing weight issues and cancer.

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Living With Cancer – Where To Get Help And Support

February 18th, 2012



Cancer affects more people than the sufferer alone. Although they bare the brunt of the physical pain, their suffering has a huge affect on friends and family too, which can be very distressing. It’s therefore not surprising that in addition to cancer help groups for sufferers themselves, many forms of support for friends and families of cancer sufferers have also risen up. Help is available in a range of mediums; self help groups, one on one counselors, phone lines, internet forums and traditional publications such as books and leaflets.

Cancer tends to have more than just emotional implications; the cost of cancer can be very substantial, especially if the sufferer is a bread winner. However, help is at hand as there are benefits that sufferers and their families can apply for. The Disability and Carers Service is a government body that is responsible for the disability benefits, disability livings allowance and attendance allowance and also carer’s allowance, and there are help lines which you can ring to see whether you qualify for financial help.

These help lines will also be able to offer advice on other financial matters such as insurance. As cancer is considered a pre-existing medical condition by most insurers, getting travel insurance from a normal broker can be difficult. Therefore, it’s normally better to go to a specialist who is prepared to look into your individual circumstances in detail and evaluate the situation.

It’s not just financial information that cancer sufferers and their friends and family need. Often, there is a great desire for more knowledge of the condition itself. People want to know as much as they can about what’s happening to them, what is likely to happen to them in the future, and how they can do things to help themselves.

Thankfully, the world is awash with books, magazines, journals and websites about every type of cancer that exists. There are also cancer support information centres throughout the UK which you can visit in person to speak to specialists and pick up leaflets, booklets and audio-visual materials.

Cancer can be very tough for all involved, but remember there is help available to you every step of the way. From the medical help you’ll receive at the hospital, to the emotional support you can get from phoning a help line or attending a self help group, to the help available online when you log on to a cancer sufferers’ forum and share your problems with hundreds of people who are going through the same thing, help, support and advice is always there.

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Critical Condition: How Health Care In America Became Big Business-And Bad Medicine:

February 17th, 2012



Title: Critical Condition: How Health Care In America Became Big Business-And Bad Medicine:

Authors: Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele

ISBN: 038550453

The following review was contributed by:NORM GOLDMAN: Editor of Bookpleasures:

REVIEW

Investigative reporters and the only journalists in history to be awarded two Pulitzer Prizes and two National Magazine Awards, Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele have presented a riveting expos

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The Hidden Health Dangers of Diet Soda

February 16th, 2012



Can sugar free drinks make you fat? Is diet soda just as detrimental to your healthy eating and your fat loss goals as drinks with added sugar? Let’s find out…

First off, I’m going to ask you if you can do me a little favor. Can you raise your hand if you believe diet soda is a “healthy” alternative to full-sugar soft drinks?

Yep, that’s quite a few hands I see raised in the air.

Here’s another question: Hands up if you know somebody, or you’ve ever heard a stranger talking out loud about how they love to choose sugar free soft drinks.

“I’m on a diet, better get the diet soda.” Or my old favorite: “Diet soda is good for you, did you know it has no sugar content at all?”

Here come those hands again. Even more waving at me this time!

Better put them down now though, you look kinda weird sitting there waving your hand at the screen. :-)

Well it might shock you to learn that there is absolutely nothing even remotely healthy about diet soda!

Artificial Sweeteners Can Make You Fat

It might sound crazy, but even though the artificial sweeteners in sugar free drinks have no calorific value (zero calories) there is evidence to show that they cause you to gain weight.

But that’s not all. There is good evidence to support the theory that “diet” drinks are even more fattening than those loaded with sugar!

Wait a minute, what the deuce!?

How Your Body Reacts To Artificial Sweeteners

Did you know that the number of calories you eat is actually less important than where your calories are coming from when it comes to weight loss? It’s all about your body’s hormonal response to the calories you eat.

In the case of diet soda there are no calories, but the chemicals you are drinking trick the body into believing it’s eating something sweet.

One of the most commonly used artificial sweeteners is Aspartame (just check your ingredients). This little bad boy will actually prevent your body from producing serotonin (responsible for controlling appetite amongst other things).

And what does your body do when it is suffering from low serotonin levels? It tells your body to go and get some of the foods that it knows will stimulate the release of the chemical.

And guess what, this just happens to be the waistline expanding, high-calorie, carbohydrate-rich, processed “junk” foods that every dieter fears!

So there you have it; sugar free soda is encouraging your cravings for junk food. Bad news.

Your Insulin Response

As strange as this may sound, scientist have gathered evidence that zero-calorie artificial sweeteners stimulate the release of insulin. Insulin causes your cells to absorb blood sugar. Your cells then use this blood sugar for energy.

However, artificial sweeteners contain no sugar (of course). So your body is left feeling tricked with no food to feed your cells. Not to be outdone, if there is no food for your body to process, it had better go out and get some! And of course, this triggers your appetite!

Again you will be experiencing strong junk food cravings as you search for that “quick sugar fix”. But as we all know, the quick fix is closely followed by a “crash” and yet more hunger pains and cravings. Not to mention the fact the sugar low leaves you feeling terrible!

Just think about how many time you’ve told yourself “man, I need a sugar hit”. You know that candy bar is bad for you, but you NEED it! Wouldn’t you like to get rid of these cravings or control them if you had the chance?

Diet Soda Linked To Obesity?

A study conducted at the University of Texas has proven some very frightening links between drinking diet soft drinks and obesity.

Sharon Fowler and colleagues conducted an 8-year study on the links between soft drink use and weight gain.

“What didn’t surprise us was that total soft drink use was linked to overweight and obesity,” Fowler tells WebMD. “What was surprising was when we looked at people only drinking diet soft drinks, their risk of obesity was even higher.”

The researchers made a shocking discovery when it came to diet soda.

“There was a 41% increase in risk of being overweight for every can or bottle of diet soft drink a person consumes each day.”

I think the results of this study are very conclusive. It just goes to show that diet soda is not the “healthy” alternative that soft drinks companies would have us believe. If you are serious about your health, and serious about losing weight then you need to leave soda on the shelf.

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