Microdermabrasion is one of the more recent skin-care techniques to have crossed over from Hollywood to the mainstream. It’s being advanced as an “instant facelift” — an effective alternative to costlier and more invasive procedures like plastic surgery, chemical peels and Botox injections. Recently, more and more men are trying it, instead of pursuing cosmetic surgery.

So what exactly is microdermabrasion, what does it promise and what effect does it actually have on your face? Do you need a doctor, or is it something you can do yourself? In this article, we’ll look at the science behind microdermabrasion, see what a treatment is like and find out what it does to your skin.

The Basics
Microdermabrasion is a general term for the application of tiny rough grains to buff away the surface layer of skin. Many different products and treatments use this method, including medical procedures, salon treatments and creams and scrubs that you apply yourself at home. It’s usually done to the face, chest, neck, arms or hands. Before we can understand how microdermabrasion does what it does, it’s important to understand how skin works.

Your skin is made up of two main layers, the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis is the layer closest to the outside world. It’s a set of dead skin cells on top of another layer of cells that are in the process of maturing. The topmost layer is called the stratum corneum. The stratum corneum mostly acts as a barrier between the outside world and the lower skin layers. It keeps all but the smallest molecules from getting through.

When you put lotions or creams on your skin, some of the moisture passes through the stratum corneum, but not all of it. This layer is home to many minor skin imperfections like fine wrinkle lines and blemishes.

All of the action in microdermabrasion takes place at the level of the stratum corneum. Since it only really targets the epidermis (and not the dermis), it is more accurate to call it micro-epi-dermabrasion. Affecting deeper layers of skin would be painful and harmful, and it would risk permanently embedding the tiny grains into the skin.

by Dave Coustan taken from health.discover.com

Fine lines and wrinkles tend to occur on virtually every male and female at a certain age. Certain physical changes occur within the body that cause wrinkles to form. A majority of fine lines and wrinkles occur as a result of collagen depleting under the skin’s surface. Fortunately, those concerned with removing the physical signs of aging will get to choose from a number of treatments to rejuvenate their skin; those with even the driest skin have multiple options.

Dry Skin and Rejuvenation Treatments

Patients with dry skin who receive skin rejuvenation treatments generally notice similar results when compared to patients with normal to oily skin. Many treatments serve each patient in a similar matter with little to no variance on a procedural basis. Though, some product developers create products that match each individual’s specific skin condition in order to provide the best possible rejuvenation results.

Treatment Options

Patients with dry skin who choose to reverse the signs of physical skin aging will select one or multiple treatments. Treatment types range from the simplest creams and lotions to highly advanced laser based procedures.

Moisturizers and creams tend to fluctuate in results due to skin texture and tone. Those with dry skin will often require an extended amount of treatment in order to notice desirable results. Even some more advanced treatments, such as chemical peels, provide less desirable results to those with severely dry skin.

The most advanced skin rejuvenation procedures tend to provide optimal results to those with dry skin as well. Fractional resurfacing will provide patients with a hypoallergenic, precise rejuvenation choice.

Dermal fillers also work well on patients with dry skin. These solutions work beneath the skin’s surface so that skin texture has no effect on the procedural results.

What is SPF?  How to Choose a Good Sunscreen

With millions of people suffering with skin cancer or sun related skin damage every year, the use of sunscreen is more important than ever before. The good news is more people are becoming aware of the risks associated with sun overexposure and are taking the necessary steps to protect themselves in the future. The even better news is there are a multitude of products on the market which make it very easy to take care of your skin and protect it from the sun’s damaging rays. However, many people are quite confused over which sunscreen they should purchase and use. There are many confusing terms often used on sunscreen packaging which make it difficult to know what can protect in the most effective way.

What Is SPF?

SPF is an acronym which stands for Sun Protection Factor. Bottles with higher SPF numbers will protect better against harmful UVB rays from the sun. Basically, the SPF number is an indicator of how long you can stay in the sun without burning. For instance, if a person usually gets burned in 15 minutes, a lotion with SPF 15 protection would allow them to stay in the sun 15 times longer (or for 225 minutes) without burning.  It’s recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology that everyone wear a product with at least SPF 15. Of course, some people wonder if this means an SPF of 50 will protect loads more than lotions with SPF of 30. However, this is not necessarily the case. A lotion with SPF 50 only protects about 2% more than a lotion with SPF 30.

UVA and UVB

When you’re looking at lotions and sunblock products, be sure to check out the protection they offer from UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays are those which result in the aging of the skin and they may cause skin cancer. Without UVA protection from Coppertone lotions or any other sunscreen lotion, you’ll get more wrinkles. Thus, one factor to think about when choosing your daily makeup or moisturizer is whether or not it offers included UVA protection. Neutrogena offers high rating products to help you combine both makeup coverage and skin protection in one. UVB rays are those which can also give sunburn and are related to the cause of skin cancer.

Waterproof Sunscreen

While years ago white zinc oxide was required for beach goers, today there are many options when it comes to skin protection. You no longer are forced to look like a clown to get ultraviolet protection. Instead, you can now find waterproof sunscreen to help you be able to frolic in the ocean or at the pool without worrying about sun damage. Be sure to look for a type that is both noncomodegenic and hypoallergenic. Also be sure to remember most “waterproof” lotion provides up to 80 minutes or protection but “water resistant” lotion might only give up to 40 minutes of protection.

With so many great products on the market for every day skin protection, there is no excuse to not protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. Skin damage from the sun not only causes cancer but it can also cause things like early aging of the skin and wrinkles. While cancer is much more terrifying to consider, most women aren’t motivated to protect themselves due to it because they think it will never happen to them. However, all women are concerned about wrinkles so take action today and protect yourself from both!

Wrinkle formation is an inevitable phenomenon that comes out as it ages. However, by following some important tips one can definitely put off the emergence of wrinkles. Following are few important tips to delay wrinkle formation:-

1. Try not to indulge in smoking.

2. Never use tanning beds.

3. Drink a lot of water daily.

4. Eat juicy fruits as much as you can.

5. Exercise regularly as it improves blood circulation, thus keeps away wrinkles.

6. Keep stress out of your life.

7. Keep your skin well moistened with creams and lotions.

8. Avoid exposing your skin to direct sunlight as far as possible.

So, these are some of the important tips that would surely help you keeping wrinkles at bay.

SKIN - It protects you, it is accountable for covering 70% of our body mass – but how do you appreciate the skin that you’re in – the external canvas to the world.

Well for 32 years I didn’t – I was a typical 80’s (Wham) loving teenager, wild hair, lots of make-up, sunbeds as often as I could get to them & certainly never sunblock! After years of hard work, 5 kids, a great life, which I love every minute of, my external canvas (skin) certainly needed some serious rejuvenation – you know one of those ‘truth moments’ when you suddenly catch that reflection in the mirror & think – who’s that staring back – is that really me?

So a project, a journey, another encounter and another chapter ending in my life and an ongoing quest for self-improvement, perfection and rejuvenation. I entered the skin care market – with lot’s of lotions, potions, pills & pots, the choice was immense & cost thousands to research, it consumed all my free time. So what did I do – find the best science, researcher & clinicians I could to develop a skincare regime.

With leading scientists , a noble Peace Prize and sheer determination, a potent chirally corrected skincare range – SkinScription™ was born.

SkinScription™ – lets educate, renovate, revive, restore, correct and perfect. Your skin, your canvas – let the reinvention begin.

So why SkinScription? – The Science-

Spin Trap

The key formula in all of our SkinScription products is Spin Trap.

Every minute of every hour our skin cells are being broken down and attacked by free radicals and as we age our cell turnover slows down too. This is why our skin can begin to look dull or slightly discoloured, its elasticity reduces and the production of collagen decreases, so our skin actually loses its supple, plumpness, which is associated with youth.

SPIN TRAP is the intelligent formula that holds everything together and defends against free radicals. It’s a combination of the latest in Chirality, Anti-aging Technology, Dermatological Formulas and *Airless Delivery Systems brings you a purification of product and gives you results without prescription.

*All of the APT SkinScription Products are packaged to you in an Airless delivery System with dispensers and lids which prevents the product from oxidizing and diluting its properties and benefits. So it retains its purity and potency.

The range of cleansers, toners, moisturizers and targeted treatments is the closest thing to a prescription for your skin.

Chirality

We always choose natural, and natural is the same as Chirally Correct. We use ingredients that come direct from the earth: plants, etc. And sometimes we must purchase ingredients that are only available as mass-produced in a lab. This process is called “organic synthesis”. Organic synthesis is the science of producing chemicals in the laboratory. Organic chemistry can produce ingredients made in the lab that are exactly the same as those that grow naturally outside the lab, with a few exceptions:

Some—NOT ALL—but some of these “lab-born” ingredients end up having the mixture of two chemicals instead of just the one we want. This is the case with CHIRAL molecules. For these chemicals, there are two molecules with the same chemical formula but with different spatial arrangement, with the two versions being mirror images of each other, NOT identical. They are often called left and right, L (for left) and D (for right, “dextro”). In these cases, for the body to accept the molecule in a healthy and “natural” manner, it has to be either the left or the right version, depending on the chemical (e.g. L for amino acids, D- for most sugars). These molecules can be separated in the laboratory so that only the body-friendly choice will be used, but it is very expensive to do this.

The concept of chirality and the left-right molecule connection with the body—-goes to the very core of the origins of life. It is the subject of investigation by the most brilliant scientists in the world, and at least two Nobel prizes have gone to scientists working on chirality. As such—it’s well beyond our abilities to discuss, certainly in the time we have available.

So what is “NATURAL”? well it is what comes from the ground or from a lab that has produced Chirally-Correct ™ mirror molecules, compatible with our bodies. There is no difference to the body. What is NOT natural is using a combination of both “left and right” molecules (what is called a “racemic” mixture). It might not seriously hurt the body—but it’s also not using the “natural” version.

Organic Synthesis: This is done not just to imitate natural molecules but, more and more, to make new molecules with pharmacological activity.

The Story

The story is told, bringing together a practical common sense hands on approach, utilising science, the derm and clinical experience – the skin wants & solutions determined. From anti-Ageing to Acne, and peels for perfection.

Skin Management at its finest.

The Results

Speaks for itself really. Now I like what I see in the mirror and so do my patients. Visibly improved results, at home, in clinic, at work or spa – SkinScription™.

Potent, purified, perfect – Chirally clever Skin Care SkinScription™ – let it do the thinking.

LET ME HAVE YOUR THOUGHTS

Unilevers latest round of research – fuller lips really do make you look younger.

Get Lippy

Totally agree – lip enhancement and augmentation really does make patients look younger, feel better and most of all gives them the confidence to smile.

I’ve used all types of lip fillers, Restylane, Perlane and Juvederm. However, I always use a semi- permanent one – for example, one that doesn’t last forever. Why? Simple, a lip enhancement or augmentation should be produced to be in harmony with the rest of the face, to look natural.

We all age, whatever magical treatments, lotions, potions or surgery we may have – age is inevitable. So a set of lips placed permanently at the age of 21 may not look quite as good at 50! Think about it – Jackie Stallone.

So my advice – use a product that’s simple, safe and effective – always ensure its pain free – yes it can be. Ask your practitioner for a local anaesthetic – most important ladies and gents – keep it natural, keep it semi-permanent (you are much better having it enhanced every 6 months or yearly, but most of all keep them in harmony with the rest of your face.