Newest trends in facelifts

There are more options available today to ward away the premature signs of aging in a woman's face. There are skin care products, microdermabrasion techniques, oxygen masks and a variety of other things that can help a woman retain her beauty. When all else fails, the final line of defense is the facelift, and today's procedures aren't the same as those of yesteryear. Let's take a look at some of the newest options.
The Mini Facelift

This relatively new technique is similar to the standard face lift, but if can be done quickly, and is far less invasive in nature. A mini lift focuses in on a specific area of the face such as the nose, the lines around the mouth or the neck. Either endoscopic or a non-endoscopic techniques can be used, depending on the severity of the situation and the individual.

Endoscopic techniques allow the doctor to use instruments inserted through a few tiny incisions made in the area being treated, lifting and repositioning muscle and tissue to achieve the desired look, while also removing excess tissue if required. Non-endoscopic techniques may require a few additional incisions because the skin is peeled back around the area being treated to afford greater access.

Skin care

One of the problems with skincare is that it is often too late to repair the damage done when it appears on our face or body. Or at the very least, the cost is greater, the road to recovery longer, and more invasive or stronger repair methods are needed.

Fortunately, scientists have developed an imaging system that analyses skin and predicts how it will age. It's called Visia Complexion Analysis, and not only can it predict how our skin will age, but the rate at which it will. It provides a snapshot of what damage has already occurred, and can thus provide a realistic assessment of our skin. The system looks at the major issues in skin aging - brown spots; pores; the bacteria underneath the skin that causes acne, redness, and uneven skin tone; as well as wrinkles, and UV damage. It's a great way to quantify the effects of our environment and our current skin care regime.

Beauticians and store consultants are then able to really tailor a preventative program to address problems before they appear on our face. One advantage, aside from the obvious one of actually having products that will be highly targeted, is that money can be saved by not spending on products we think we need - but actually don't.

Protect your skin

Melanoma is an extremely serious type of skin cancer that, although it doesn't affect as many people as other forms of skin cancer, in fact causes the most deaths. You are at risk of melanoma just about any time when you are without adequate sun protection.
Occurrence of Melanoma

As the name suggests, melanoma occurs in the melanocytes cells. Melanocytes contain a substance called melanin that are responsible for skin pigmentation (skin color) and also help protect the skin against the UV rays of the sun. When you go out in the sun, the melanocytes produce more melanin for protection and thus the skin gets tanned. Melanocytes sometime mutate faster than other normal skin cells; as a result, they accumulate together and form tumors. Malignant tumors can also affect the healthy tissues and further give rise to new tumors in the body.
Risk of Melanoma

Though just about everyone is at risk of melanoma, there are some factors that can increase ones risk factors like

Eat less, live longer?

We are living in an era where women strive to be the ubiquitous size 0 (UK: size 4). About 5 years ago, most of us didn’t even know this size existed, and prior to watching ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, I thought it was a made-up size for 10-14 year olds, not a real dress size for grown-up women.

It may surprise you therefore to learn that there is a movement which has been gathering momentum over the decades which claims that eating less will help you to live longer. I first came across this about 20 years ago watching a documentary about an experiment in America on a small group of people. The group was really too small to show any proven results but the idea was there.

Much research has been done since the 1930s, mainly comparing a group of calorie restricted animals with a control group of normally-fed ones. The experiments revealed that calorie-restricted mice lived longer and were healthier, more active and more mentally alert than their unrestricted counterparts.

Handy weight loss tips

    A person's ideal weight will vary depending on various factors, such as bone structure, quantity of muscle, and genes. You could do the BMI test, or you could take your waist to hip ratio measurement and decide if you need to take action.. Here are some additional interesting snippets that might help:

    Eat more slowly! Researchers at Osaka University in Japan found that people who ate quickly were more likely to be overweight. Eating quickly as well as eating until full had a greater additional effect on being overweight. (ref: British Medical Journal, October 2008)
  
 Dairy foods fill you up and have the ability to bind to fat which is then excreted. So, fill up on low-fat yoghurts or cottage cheese! (ref: The Truth about Food.)
    Soups are good for satiety. Solid food combined with liquid in a soup sit for longer in the stomach, so you feel full for longer.

   Don’t snack at night. Not because you’ll store more fat at night, that’s a myth. But you’re likely to eat more at night if you snack then. After dinner, brush your teeth so you’re telling yourself the kitchen door is closed.
 
  Don’t skip breakfast. You are more than twice as likely to be overweight than those who take breakfast.

   If you’re eating a healthy, balanced diet but still can’t shift the pounds…. cut portion sizes!. We’ve got so used to supersizing our portions that most of us don’t know what a portion should be. Either use a smaller plate or, better still, use a portion-control plate with compartments for protein, carbs and veg. See www.thedietplate.com.

   Chromium can help you reduce weight. It improves sensitivity to insulin which then curbs fat and sugar cravings and reduces appetite. A recent study also shows that chromium can reverse diabetes (ref: Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics)

I hope these tips help make a difference!

Fighting middle

With the influx of food programmes on TV telling us how we should be eating to stay healthy and to slim down, it appears that we have become a nation enthused by weight loss.

If you’ve been watching any of these programmes, you will have heard the term BMI (Body Mass Index), which indicates your recommended weight taking into account your height. Experts have been popularising the term BMI to assess whether you are in your healthy weight zone. If you haven’t already done so, to calculate your BMI, divide your weight in kg by your height in metres, or just look use a BMI Calculator to have it done for you.

Having taking your BMI as a rough guideline, the next thing you have to do in the name of your health is to get out your tape measure. Measure your waist at the narrowest point and your hips at the widest, and divide the waist by the hip measurement.

Eating plan - yes, diet - no!

Today, people are beginning to realize that fad diets don’t work. While some of them may cause short-term weight loss, that is seldom the case over the long term, and many people end up gaining more weight than they started with. The true road to weight reduction begins with a change in the way one thinks about food - and that doesn’t come in a pill or any kind of diet trend.

Everyone has foods that are difficult to resist. For some people it is bread, for others it is sweets; still others like things that are both salty and high in calories. These become comfort foods that are turned to when the day isn’t going right or when life spins out of control. The problem is that most of us don’t quit with one or two bites; instead, we continue eating until the whole loaf of bread, carton of ice cream, or bag of pretzels is finished. It is this binge-eating routine that must be broken. That is not to say that anyone should be forced to give up the foods they love - the trick, instead, is learning how to balance those with a healthy diet.

Nutrition should be key in any eating plan. Notice that I purposely said "eating plan" and not diet. It is important to remove the word diet from the vocabulary when it comes to weight loss, as "diet" implies everything bad, meaning also that you are only allowed only small portions. Even then, the food that is allowed is often bland and boring. "Diet" also means that one is deprived of even the most occasional treat. For that reason, the process is destined to fail.

Choosing the right exercise program

Exercise is something that a lot of people try to avoid because they equate it to pain and hard work. Unfortunately for those who want to lose weight, exercise of some sort must become part of the magic formula. However, there is hope on the horizon, as many exercise programs today can actually be fun - the trick is in finding the right one.

Many physicians and weight loss gurus recommend a combination of cardiovascular exercise for stamina along with strength training to firm and tone muscle. But which exercises will help with that leftover sagging skin that comes with drastic weight loss? The answer to that question is not one that most people want to hear. A lot of the skin’s natural elasticity is lost as people begin to age, so those over 50 may not be able to get rid of excess skin without surgery. But everybody - and every body - is different, so the only way anyone will know for certain is to try!

Choosing the right form of exercise depends a lot on each individual’s health and physical capability. For that very reason it is imperative that anyone planning to embark on an exercise program meet with a physician beforehand. He will likely want to do a complete physical prior to the program’s implementation. After his examination is complete, he can recommend the best type of exercise programs to explore.

Are permanent makeup tattoos safe?

In recent years more and more women, and men, have turned to permanent makeup options; tattoo grade inks that are permanently applied to the skin.

This type of makeup application is seen by some as more convenient and less time-consuming than having to reapply makeup constantly, while others view it merely as another option in routine cosmetic surgery. But is it safe?

The most common forms of permanent makeup involve tattooing of eyebrows and the application of permanent eyeliner or lipstick. A few people use a variation of the same process to help conceal skin conditions or skin pigmentation problems. However few people take into consideration the possible long-term problems.

Body slimmers

To some women, today's new body slimmers seem like a return to the dark ages, but this attitude is mistaken. While it is true that some slimmers still flatten the tummy like the girdles of old, others accomplish the task without all the discomfort grandmother use to experience.

Additionally, modern body slimmers aren't just relegated to the stomach and upper thighs; they may include the entire torso, the arms and the legs as well. Today there is something available to suit just about any woman's need.

Today's fabrications are designed to smooth out the edges by removing any unwanted bulges, redistributing body weight evenly to give a slimmer appearance and allow clothes to fit the way that they should - and modern slimmers manage do it without telegraphing to the world "body slimmer on board!"

Cosmeceuticals

Cosmeceuticals are cosmetics that also contain pharmaceutical properties. Dandruff shampoo is a great example of a cosmeceutical, as it has both a cosmetic purpose - cleaning hair - and a medical one - eliminating dandruff. Other examples of cosmeceutical products are a makeup foundation that contains SPF protection or toothpaste that contains a fluoride treatment.

Unfortunately, the governing bodies that regulate cosmetics and pharmaceuticals do not always recognize cosmeceuticals as a viable product category. In the U.S., for example, such products can be legally labeled as a cosmetic or a drug, but not both, and while cosmetics are not regulated, pharmaceuticals are. Therefore, anything claiming drug properties falls under the auspices of the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). That, in turn, can cause problems when it comes to marketing claims and labeling. However, products labeled as cosmetics do not have the same strict guidelines to follow, leaving the consumer wondering whether or not he or she can count on their effectiveness.

Some examples of pharmaceutical products infused into cosmetics are: alpha hydroxy acid, collagen, peptides and retinol. Used in some skin care and makeup products, it appears those ingredients may provide some long-term physiological effects. In particular, a lot of cosmeceuticals claim to reduce the signs of aging or even to "turn back the clock." These products usually contain a combination of anti-aging helpers like antioxidants, enzymes, essential oils, herbs, minerals and vitamins. Each is known for its regenerative properties; what isn't always known is the amount contained within the product.

Keep your eyelashes looking great

Many women covet long and thick eyelashes. Unfortunately, eyelashes don't always cooperate with the program; over time they may thin out, become sparse, or shorten in length. That will send most women scrambling for a quick solution.
What causes eyelash loss?

While aging is the most common cause for eyelash loss, also known as mandarosis, it isn't the only one. Other reasons are allergic reaction, mite infestation and medical-related problems.

Eye trauma can result in lash loss, from something as simple as too much rubbing of the eyes. It can also result from pulling lashes out of the eyelid, which is a condition known as trichotrillomania.

Nail fungus - causes and treatments

Nail fungus, medically known as onychomycosis, is actually quite common. However, in the past couple of decades the number of reported cases seems to be on the rise. That may partly be because people are more comfortable with talking about the condition than in past years.

Unfortunately, onychomycosis has become a beauty problem for women. While it most often associated with toenails, the disease can also affect fingernails. The problem is further compounded by the fact that there are a number of reasons behind nail fungus, making it even more difficult to both diagnose and treat.

Nail fungus often begins at the tip and, if not controlled, begins to grow backward down the nail into the cuticle. It can also infect the sides of the nail, and sometimes it can even infect the surrounding skin.

What to do about hair loss

Hair loss is becoming as much of a problem for women as it is for men. Some of it is normal; like grass, hair grows in cycles, but not all of it grows at the same rate. About 10% of a person's hair is either growing or resting at any given time. During resting cycles, hair growth may be minimal.

Also like grass, certain things can interfere with hair growth, the most common being the natural aging process. That's why women watch their hair fail to grow or start thinning. Sometimes it will even produce thicker spots in some places and nothing at all in others.

Other factors that can affect hair growth include exposure to chemicals, illness, improper diet and infections. Certain medications, like birth control pills, can contribute to hair loss.

Weight loss products

Weight loss products are easy to come by these days, but do any of them actually work, and are they safe?

The answers are never simple. Much depends on individual needs; for people in good health without serious medical conditions to contend with, there are more options available. People who are taking a variety of medications, however, must be cognizant of the dangers of drug interaction, as the wrong combinations can be lethal.

Another factor to be considered is the amount of weight a person needs to lose. Those needing to drop a lot of weight to regain their health need to be under a physician's guidance. Only he or she can determine if weight loss products are advisable. Those wishing to drop just a few quick pounds may find relatively healthy, short-term solutions.

Vitamin supplements

Every woman has beauty problems, but not everyone has the money for what can be very expensive solutions sold on the high street. But with a little basic knowledge many of those problems can be eliminated or at least diminished. In this article we'll look at how vitamin supplements can sometimes be that cost-effective solution.
Vitamin supplements for hair problems

Damaged hair is usually hair that's deprived of the important vitamins it needs in order to look healthy, shiny and strong. The damage can come from over-processing the hair with color treatments or permanents. It can also stem from the use of too many heat-based products. The environment in which a woman lives can be another contributing factor - even the act of shampooing can lead to hair damage.

There are, however, vitamin supplements that can be added back into the hair through shampoos, conditioners, beauty treatments, pills and food. If they are used properly, hair can return to normal or, at the very least, look better than it did after the damage occurred.