4 Practical Skin Care Tips for Anti-Aging

We all want to look our very best for as long as we can. While there are many cosmetic procedures – both surgical and non-invasive – to help us look younger, there are also practical every-day things that we can do for good skin care.

As a dermatologist I suggest that you start out with the practical, and you might be surprised how far it will get you in your quest to look your best.

1. Skin Discoloration.

Problem:  You have spent too much time in the sun (age/sun spots) or you could be suffering from melasma (a skin condition that can appear with hormonal fluctuations such as during pregnancy or being on birth control pills).

Helpful to Do: Use skin lightening creams and sunscreen, hats, sun protective clothing and even oral sunscreen pills.

2. Leathery skin.

Problem: This is a true tell tale sign that you have spent a lot of time under the sun. Usually seen on older people who loved tanning their skin.  Remember that tanning beds damage your skin just like getting a tan under the sun.

Helpful to Do: Minimize sun exposure. Use products with lactic acid or glycolic acid to help smooth the skin. Get weekly facial scrubs. Also remember to consult your dermatologist if there are any new growths on your skin! With all the sun damage, you will be more prone to skin cancers.

3. Dark circles and puffy under eyes.

Problem: Could be hereditary but can also be a sign of chronic allergies. This can also appear from constantly rubbing the eye area.

Helpful to Do: Good ol’ cool cucumbers and tea bags can temporarily decrease swelling and constrict blood vessels that can create the appearance of dark circles.  Potato juice can have skin bleaching properties as long as it does not irritate your skin.

Using your favorite eye moisturizer and gently massaging the area once or twice per day can help mobilize fluid in the under eye area and lessen puffiness.  There are also good non-irritating brightening products that can be used to decrease the dark circles.

4. Dry, Itchy Skin.

Problem: You can have a condition called “atopic dermatitis” or eczema, or you could be suffering from a thyroid condition.  Hypothyroidism is not uncommon with adult women and can cause dryness of the skin and also generalized thinning of the hair.

Helpful to Do: Apply body oil before taking a shower.  Use lukewarm water and avoid scrubbing the skin.  Apply cream moisturizer immediately after showers when skin is still slightly moist. At night apply Vaseline balm and wrap with saran wrap to instantly soften and moisturize skin.

Be sure to check with your personal physician or dermatologist to make sure you have no medical issues that might be causing these typical skin problems.

Dr. Tess Mauricio, “America's Favorite Dermatologist,” is an author, renowned international speaker, physician, educator and nationally known media personality. This http://www.scrippsderm.com

">San Diego dermatologist is the Founder of the MBeauty by Dr. Tess clinics with locations throughout Southern California.  

Top 4 Myths about Liposuction

Do you exercise and watch what you eat, but still just can’t seem to lose weight where you’d like to? Belly fat, hips and buttocks, and thighs can be problem areas that might need some professional help, such as liposuction.

Liposuction can contour your body to bring it more in line with your vision of what you want to look like. According to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, liposuction (also known as lipoplasty and liposculpture) is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures, and close to 400,000 patients had it done in 2012.

As popular as it is, liposuction continues to generate misunderstandings. So, before you make a decision to have a liposuction procedure, learn more about it as we debunk these top 4 myths:

Myth 1. Liposuction isn’t really surgery. Perhaps its popularity and commonality have helped perpetuate this myth. It is true that the liposuction procedure often does not require general anesthesia the way most other surgeries do, the incision areas are small, and you can often have it performed as an out-patient, make no mistake, you are still undergoing surgery.

The procedure of liposuction actually breaks up fat which is then suctioned out. The tissue that is involved is therefore disrupted significantly. And as with all surgeries your body could experience adverse reactions during the procedure or later during the healing process. Make no mistake that this is serious surgery.

Myth 2. Good-by cellulite. Contrary to what many women believe – and wish – cellulite does not disappear by being broken up and suctioned out with liposuction. When liposuction is performed on the thighs, if there is an apparent improvement with cellulite, it is generally a consequence of the area smoothing out when the underlying fat has been removed. However, even this is not always the result

Myth 3. The fat is gone – permanently. This is actually partly true. What happens with liposuction is that the amount of fat cells is reduced. But some fat cells necessarily must be left intact. That doesn’t cause problems unless you gain weight, in which case the fat cells that remained after surgery can get bigger. Weight gain can obviously affect your liposuction outcome long-term.  

Myth 4. An easy way to lose weight. At first glance liposuction can look like a dieter’s dream – just suction the fat away and you’ve lost your weight. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Some of the confusion might be coming from the discussion of what liposuction does with fat.

It’s true that liposuction removes fat cells which in turn changes the body’s contour and shape. But the actual weight of those fat cells that are suctioned out is minimal, and can result in very little actual pounds of weight lost.

The purpose of liposuction is to help get rid of visible fat pockets that stubbornly refuse to be eliminated through diet and exercise. The risk of gaining weight does not change, nor do problems associated with obesity such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

What physicians call “visceral fat” – the fat that accumulates around deep internal tissues and that can’t be seen but adds to your weight as measured by the scale -  is a threat to your health, and is not at all affected by the liposuction procedure.

Now that you know more about the truth of liposuction, you can still discuss the procedure with a Board Certified plastic surgeon, and you might discover that it is, indeed, a good choice for your body complaints. Areas on the body that are commonly treated by liposuction include the belly, buttocks and hips, and thighs that we’ve already mentioned, as well as “ love handles,” “saddlebags,” calves and ankles, and even breasts, your back, underarms and the neck.

Alice Perkins is a Customer Service Representative for http://www.drbucko.com, plastic surgeon Dr. Dennis Bucko and the Belladerma Cosmetic Surgery and Skin Care Center located in La Jolla, CA. Dr. Bucko is Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a Fellow with the American College of Surgeons.

Erbaviva for natural, healthy skin

Pregnant women have long been known to have a certain glow about them — and newborn babies famously have the softest skin around. But the bottom line is, women and babies still need to take care of their skin and they should do so with the best natural products. Erbaviva, a company that produces natural body products, specializes in its products for young babies and mothers to be. Erbaviva believes that by utilizing pure, natural products women are benefitting not only themselves but also the environment.

Erbaviva carries several products in its natural skin care line, from lotions to deodorants to diaper creams. The Erbaviva organic stretch mark cream is a wonderful product for women to use during pregnancy in order to reduce the appearance of stretch marks, and it also works well for a new mother who is trying to diminish the stretch marks that she has. For a woman who needs some "me" time after she has her baby, the Erbaviva back rub oil is a wonderful gift that her husband can give to her. And of course, natural products are always best for baby — the Erbaviva diaper cream helps to cure diaper rash without exposing baby's skin to harsh chemical products.

With women and children foremost in their mind, and a commitment to the environment as well, Erbaviva strives to create the best products from the highest quality organic materials. All of their products are all natural, using the benefits of the Earth to help rejuvenate the skin and also the soul. Erbaviva products make a wonderful gift for an expectant mom, or a young mother with a new baby. It provides women with the opportunity to treat themselves and their children while being able to rest easy, knowing that only the best natural products are being used to protect their skin.

Get a Sun-Kissed Glow in the Middle of Winter

Did you know that we are fast-approaching one of the most depressing days of the year? That’s right; it even has the nickname “Blue Monday.” Blue Monday falls on the last Monday of January each year and experts say it’s depressing because the holiday season has gone and there isn’t much to look forward to besides more cold days. However, I’ve got some good news. Have you ever heard that phrase “fake it til you make it”? (Of course you have.) Well, we’re going to tell you how to fake a happy, sun-kissed glow in the middle of winter without damaging your skin.

            Tanning beds have long been under fire for overexposing individuals to concentrated harmful rays. Laying out is also a no-go since most of the country is in a blanket of gray cloud cover. Tanning lotions might do the trick but they are loaded with chemicals that can seep into your skin and wreak havoc. So what are you to do?

A face lift without using scalpel

Want to Look like You’ve had a Face Lift, but Without the Surgery?

These days more and more people are agreeing that it’s okay to do a little nip and tuck to assist nature in keeping us attractive as we age. And while face lifts are becoming more mainstream, did you know that there are some great – non-surgical – treatments to help eliminate unwanted lines and wrinkles?

All of the treatments I’ll be mentioning here do require medical expertise, meaning you will have

to go to a dermatologist, a certified aesthetician, or a cosmetic surgeon clinic. But knowing that you have these options will give you choices.

1. Dysport.

This treatment to eliminate and prevent lines has been widely used

Bigger breasts and being happy with your body without using scalpel

Breast enhancement surgery is very popular nowadays. Girls, as young as 18, are getting bigger breasts for their birthday. Is it really necessary to have a surgery at such a young age? Most doctors will never tell you true about consequences of operation and that it is not just one off operation but you will need to keep repeating it.
Originally the breast enlargement operation was created for women who had their breasts deformed, who had to have their breasts removed for healthy reasons (because of cancer ex) and later for stars as part of their job was to look perfect. Although some stars decided not to go ahead with scalpel, some were happy to use Photoshop to show them in a better light and others were happy to show their real appearance.

Appropriate bra will give you bigger breasts

The bra which you need is a push-up bra which is similar to a normal bra. It differs from a usual bra by a thick layer of sponge, which is pushing your breasts and they appear to be bigger.

Many bras have special pockets, which are used to put silicon pillows (inserts) or just normal bra inserts, so your breasts will be bigger.

Healthy weight loss

Budgeting for Weight Loss

Recession is affecting a lot of people in many ways these days. Even so, you should keep in mind that these hard times don’t have to hold you back from your weight loss efforts. Weight loss is far more important than worrying about finances, especially when your health is at stake. But if you are still finding yourself frozen with the fear of spending money, consider the following tips on how to lose weight on a tight budget.

Don’t Waste Your Money on Miracle Pills or Supplements

Counting on expensive pills and diet supplements to do the trick is the last thing you should do when trying to lose weight, especially if you don’t have a lot of extra cash on hand. Never waste money on things that ultimately give you little or no long term results. Often flashy ads promising miraculous results are so powerfully compelling that they convince hundreds or even thousands of people surrender and throw their money away. This shouldn’t be the case, so don’t let yourself get lured in. Learn to control yourself, carefully question the validity of each pill you hear about, and never make purely impulsive purchases. Many weight loss methods that come with a hefty additional cost but remember that no amount of money will do for you what truly healthy weight loss methods can achieve. Be smart about your weight loss, recognize that real and lasting success does not happen overnight, and ignore the temptation to turn to pills in desperation.

Don’t Fall for Fad Diets