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Quick Tips for Healthy Winter Skin
Winter can be hard on everyone’s skin. If you’re stressing about upcoming holiday photo-ops, there are few steps you can take to maintain glowing, radiant skin. Just follow our top five tips below:
1) Incorporate Plants
Not into your décor, into your diet! Green veggies like kale and spinach provide the necessary nutrients (e.g., protein, minerals and vitamins) to nurture and support skin health. Avoid heavier foods like meat and dairy, which have been shown to cause an inflammatory response in the body, resulting in dull, dry skin.
2) Avoid Excess Caffeine and Alcohol
This can be a difficult one, especially during the holidays, but caffeine and alcohol aren’t good for your skin. Alcohol turns to sugar in the body, and too much sugar can skin cell damage – decreasing skin elasticity and firmness; while caffeine can result in skin inflammation.
3) Rejuvenate with Winter Laser Skin Resurfacing
Laser skin resurfacing can treat a variety of skin imperfections including wrinkles, uneven skin pigmentation, enlarged pores, acne, scars and more. And winter is the best time of year for laser skin resurfacing because your skin is less exposed to direct sun light, which can negatively impact recovery.
4) Avoid Too Much Sodium
A high-sodium diet is one of the main causes of fluid retention, and fluid retention can make your skin look puffy. Cutting sodium intake to 1500 mg a day or less will do wonders for your skin (and your blood pressure).
5) Avoid Spicy Foods
Though spicy foods can be delicious, they can also be terrible for your skin – especially if you have fair, sun damaged skin. Spicy foods can cause your face to appear red and blotchy. They can also aggravate an episode of rosacea.
Image Source: Flickr
Gen-Xer’s Beauty Secrets for Aging Gracefully
The women of Generation X are staying younger longer thanks to advances in beauty products, more knowledge about healthy lifestyles and freer attitudes, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Gen X, the 46 million Americans born from 1965 to about 1979, is more than willing to spend money on anti-aging products and procedures. Gen-Xers rely on preventive anti-aging beauty regimens to a greater extent than boomers do, according to a marketing study on the generation for JWT, one of the largest advertising agencies in the United States.
Women of Gen X tend to look younger than their mothers and grandmothers did when they entered their 40s. This is thanks in part to less cigarette smoking, more sunscreen use and more knowledge about nutrition and the beauty industry.
Gen-Xers feel the need to look younger. A recent survey in Allure magazine found that 93 percent of female and 84 percent of male respondents said there is greater pressure to look younger today than ever before.
Here are some beauty “secrets” for aging gracefully that Gen X women are taking advantage of, according to the LA Times:
- Better hair dyes and thickening products that keep hair full and fight the thinning that comes with age.
- Advances in sunscreens and an increased awareness of the importance of protecting skin from the sun.
- Makeup with luminizers that deflect the focus from wrinkles.
- Advanced skin creams, such as those that speed up cell turnover or decrease the appearance of age spots.
- At-home teeth-whitening kits and lip-plumping lipsticks.
- An array of cosmetic procedures that reverse the signs of aging, including fillers and Botox.
Want to look and feel fabulous at 40? Schedule a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon to learn about the non-surgical and surgical cosmetic procedures available to help you look your best at middle age and beyond.
Anti-Aging Treatments for Hands Include Fillers, Lasers
When it comes to fighting the signs of aging, emphasis is often placed on the face, but your hands are just as likely to reveal your age.
Cosmetic surgeons are now using many facial rejuvenation techniques as anti-aging hand treatments. The techniques are approved by the FDA to treat the face, but can be used as off-label treatments for other areas of the body, including the hands.
“As we age, our hands tend to lose their firmness and volume and the veins and tendons become more pronounced,” said Dr. Dee Anna Glaser, a dermatologist and fellow in the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. “In addition, changes in texture where the skin appears crinkled or is marked with spots, commonly called ‘liver spots’ or ‘age spots,’ are the hallmarks of an aging hand.”
Anti-Aging Hand Treatments
Fillers have long been used to restore volume to the face. Now they’re also being used to re-establish fullness to the hands. Adding volume to the hands helps to diminish the appearance of veins and tendons.
Popular fillers for the hands include Restylane and Juvederm. Some patients may experience bruising, and results last about a year, according to Dr. Glaser.
Lasers can also be an effective anti-aging procedure for the hands. They are great for treating uneven skin tone and texture and pigmentation and discoloration on the face, and they can be used to treat the same problems on the hands.
Talk to your cosmetic surgeon about the available options to treat aging hands. Meanwhile, don’t forget that prevention is best, so wear sunscreen and be sure to cover all exposed areas of skin, including the backs of your hands.
Sources: AAD.org, WebMD
Reasons Why Your Friends Might Look Younger Than You Do
Do you sometimes worry that your friends are aging more gracefully than you are? Perhaps it’s all in your head, or maybe there’s some truth to your suspicions. There are a number of contributing factors that can lead to premature signs of aging. Before considering popular anti-aging treatments like laser skin resurfacing it may be a good idea to identify the underlying source. Check out some of the most common reasons for premature aging below.
Skincare Regimen
Taking care of your skin from a young age is an essential anti-aging component that shouldn’t be overlooked. Unfortunately, when we’re young, it’s easy to skip the sunscreen in lieu of a golden tan or to forget to wash dirt and grime from our faces on a nightly basis. Unfortunately, these seemingly harmless habits can wreak havoc on your skin in the long run. While it’s never too late to adopt a healthy skin care routine, it may a little difficult to play catch up with friends who started taking care of their skin at a young age. Laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels and microdermabrasion are great ways to rejuvenate your skin.
Healthy Habits
If you want to maintain youthful, glowing skin, tobacco use is a huge no-no. Smoking dehydrates the skin and has been shown to accelerate facial aging. If you’re a current smoker, quitting is probably long overdue. In addition to your smoking habits, eating habits are also important. Healthy eating will not only keep your waistline slim and slender as you get older; it can also have a huge impact on your skin. A low-fat diet that contains plenty of whole grain wheat, vegetables, fruits and lean proteins is the best way to keep your skin glowing.
Genetics
Even if you’ve been taking pristine care of your skin for years, genetics can still play a role in your body’s natural aging process. Check in with mom and dad to find out how they’ve aged over the years. Chances are that if your mom struggles with sagging skin, forehead wrinkles or eye bags, you will too. If this sounds like you, there are a number of cosmetic surgery procedures and non-invasive injections that can be used to correct significant signs of facial aging. The best way to find out if you’re a good candidate is to schedule a consultation with a qualified cosmetic surgeon or dermatologist.
WHY FACIAL SURGERY IS GAINING POPULARITY IN THE WORKPLACE
Competing in a Youth-Driven Economy
Take a quick look around the office. In many cases, companies are favoring youth more than ever before when it comes to who they choose to hire. It is this shift in the average age of employees that is prompting more men and women to seek the help of facial surgery procedures like the face lift.
Continue reading “WHY FACIAL SURGERY IS GAINING POPULARITY IN THE WORKPLACE” »
New Survey Reveals Seniors Optimistic About Aging
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, senior citizens make up the fastest growing portion of the U.S. population. And these older Americans are living longer, healthier and happier than ever.
A telephone survey of 2,250 seniors conducted by the National Council of Aging, UnitedHealthcare and USA Today showed that more than 75 percent of seniors were optimistic about the years to come. A majority of those polled were also confident that they could maintain good health and manage stress effectively.
“The reason they are upbeat is because we have changed our definition of aging. People are working longer. They see people that are older being healthier,” said Donna Shalala, the president of the University of Miami and a former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services during the Clinton administration.
The poll also revealed that 20 percent of those 65 and older are still maintaining employment –full or part-time. However, it’s unclear whether seniors are working longer out of financial necessity, to feel productive or because they enjoy their job.
Seniors and cosmetic surgery
But how does all of this information relate to the cosmetic enhancement industry? Well, because seniors compose such a large segment of the U.S. population, it should be no surprise that they’re responsible for shaping many of our nation’s current trends – including cosmetic surgery. More and more seniors are going under the knife to look and feel younger.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), 84,685 cosmetic surgery procedures were performed in patients 65 years of age or older in 2010. They included:
The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that around 10,000 baby boomers will turn 65 each day for the next decade. What kind of impact will this have on the cosmetic enhancement industry? Only time will tell…
Mask Early Signs of Aging with Cleavage Rejuvenation
Your face isn’t the only place to show early signs of aging. The state of your cleavage can also make you look older. Excessive sun exposure and natural aging can ultimately lead to wrinkling and a loss of subcutaneous fat.
The easiest way to prevent this type of aging is to wear sunscreen – but for some of us – it’s already too late. Fortunately, there are ways to rejuvenate the delicate skin on your chest – just like on your face.
According to Dr. Rod Rohrich, chairman of plastic surgery at the University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, a wrinkle-fighting combination of Botox and diluted Sculptra is the best way to rejuvenate your chest.
Botox® Cosmetic is an injectable treatment made from a purified form of botulinum toxin that temporarily relaxes muscles in the treated area to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Sculptra® Aesthetic, another cosmetic injection, contains poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) that works to counteract signs of aging by correcting collagen breakdown beneath your skin.
This in-office procedure usually takes about 15 minutes and doesn’t require any downtime. Your chest may appear slightly red or swollen for a few hours to a couple of days.
Additionally, you may need a couple of treatments sessions (performed about four weeks apart) to achieve the best results. The full results from Botox treatments should be visible in about 14 days and last for about 3 months. Sculptra will take a little longer to kick in, but the results can last for up to two years
“Patients love the results and sometimes combine that with a series of chemical peels that help address skin pigmentation changes,” Rohrich said.
Are you interested in learning more about Botox injections or other skin rejuvenation procedure in Urbana? Contact us!
Source: United Press International
This Week Is National Women’s Health Week
National Women’s Health Week began yesterday and continues until May 15, 2010. This week, we should “recommit to breaking existing barriers and improving the health of American women for generations to come,” says a proclamation by President Barack Obama.
The official whitehouse press release recommends several steps to help achieve these goals, including the following:
- Lead healthy lives and set an example for your children.
- Take advantage of preventive care with routine screenings and checkups.
- Practice the simple everyday activities like using sunscreen, exercising regularly, and eating healthy.
- Emphasize the role of women in promoting the vitality of our children and communities.
The federal government also offers several online resources for promoting the goals of women’s health week, including the Whitehouse Council on Women and Girls, womenshealth.gov, and girlshealth.gov.
Part II — The Many Forms of Facial Rejuvenation: Exploring Minimally Invasive Treatment Options
In our previous blog post, we explored the benefits of surgical facial rejuvenation. While highly effective, we, at Will Surgical Arts, understand that for many of our patients, a surgical procedure may be more than they have in mind. Fortunately, we are pleased to offer a number of non-surgical and minimally invasive procedures to freshen your appearance—helping you to look, and feel younger.
Continue reading “Part II — The Many Forms of Facial Rejuvenation: Exploring Minimally Invasive Treatment Options” »
Top 4 Affordable Anti-Aging Treatments
Not everyone wants to spend thousands of dollars on cosmetic enhancement – and luckily they don’t have to. These days, there are a number of cosmetic procedures, medications and injectable treatments on the market designed to turn back time without breaking the back.
The treatments below all cost less than one thousand dollars:
1) Chemical Peels
One of the oldest cosmetic treatments in the world, a chemical peel is an acid-based solution that removes the top layer of skin, revealing a more youthful complexion underneath. Chemical peels can be used to treat a wide range of skin imperfections, including fine lines and wrinkles, sun damage, uneven skin tone and superficial acne scars.
2) Intense Pulsed Light therapy
Intense pulsed light therapy (or IPL) is similar to cosmetic laser treatment – but instead of emitting only one wavelength of light, IPL treatments emit a broad spectrum with each pulse. This makes IPL diverse enough to offer significant improvement after a single treatment. IPL is an effective treatment for sun damage, wrinkles, vascular birthmarks, rosacea, broken capillaries and facial redness.
3) Botox Injections
Botox is the most popular minimally-invasive procedure in the world – and for good reason. It’s both effective and affordable. A quick and easy injection, Botox can be used to treat wrinkles between the brows, forehead creases and lines around the eyes. It can also be an effective way to rejuvenate cleavage or eliminate neck bands.
4) Tretinoin (Retin-A)
Originally developed to treat acne, Tretinoin is a topical cream also known for its powerful anti-aging properties. Continued use of Tretinoin speeds up the cell turnover process and increases collagen production beneath the skin. The result is a reduction in fine wrinkling, sun damage, skin roughness, and loose skin. Tretinoin creams are available in prescription-strength doses, as well as over-the-counter.
Are you interested in learning more about our anti-aging treatments? Contact us to schedule a personal consultation today!
Winter can be hard on everyone’s skin. If you’re stressing about upcoming holiday photo-ops, there are few steps you can take to maintain glowing, radiant skin. Just follow our top five tips below:
