Archive for March, 2006

Posted on Mar 26th, 2006

What is worse than being fat? Stretch-marks? Close, but not quite. It’s actually the embarrassment of having unflattering cellulite on your body. Having bits of your body jiggle is one thing but having visible cellulite is actually just as gross for every woman. As we all know, not all of the female population in the world are born with the flawless bodies of Giselle Bundchen, Heidi Klum or Kate Hudson who have incredible sleek bodies. The word cellulite is actually the combination of the French word for cell and the suffix -ite, which pertains to disease.

Q. What Is Cellulite?

A. In the medical community, cellulite is known as localized lipodystrophy which actually pertains to the misshapen fat in one or several specific areas of one’s body. However, recent scientific research has shown that cellulite is in fact has less to do with the fat cells and actually more to do with connective tissue that shapes the fat in our bodies as well as keeps it in place. Most people often refer to cellulite as the fatty deposits that takes the form of uneven, wrinkled and dimply skin which can be found on either the thighs, hips and buttocks of most older women.

Q. Cellulite Only Affects Old People, Right?

A. Unfortunately, cellulite can actually be acquired by younger generations of women given that they have unhealthy eating habits and lifestyle choices that make them fat and prone to getting cellulite even at such a young age. Even when people lose weight and become slimmer in some body areas, their cellulite remains and will actually be the last stubborn fat on your body - it just won’t go away. It’s not impossible, but it is quite a challenge because acquiring cellulite actually occurs when the damaged fatty tissue accumulates.

Q. How To Get Rid Of Cellulite?

A. Exercise can be done to get rid of cellulite. If you are the impatient kind, cellulite lotions can fast track the cellulite reducing process. It is important to note, however, that you still have to be patient in order to see the effects from a cellulite lotion.

Q. Does Cellulite Only Affect Fat People?

A. The truth about cellulite is that you don’t actually have to be fat to acquire it - even Paris Hilton who has long been viewed as a perfect anorexic specimen has these unsightly body marks. Cellulite is basically just the trapped fat that our body can’t just simply burn off which is why we need all the extra help that we can get especially from cellulite lotions.

1. Cellulite Lotion

The miracle that has been brought by cellulite lotions have caused much relief and joy to the whole people population and they are just seeking better and more efficient cellulite lotions that even though may tend to be a bit costly, will be well worth their money spent. One of the most popular cellulite lotions in the market nowadays is the Vitamoor Contour cellulite cream which promises to be well worth your hard earned cash as well as gives you the smooth and even cellulite-free skin that you have always wanted to have.

Vitamoor Contour cellulite lotion that is being advertised on the internet through its cellulite clinic’s online website. Not only does the Vitamoor Contour cellulite lotion aims to metabolize or burn the fat in you body that causes you to have cellulite, this cellulite lotion also promises to be able to stimulate the restoration of the fat circulation in your skin and body.

2. Topical Creams

Topical creams such as the Vitamoor Contour cellulite lotion is far more safe to use as compared to the artificial drugs which tend to lay all sorts of claims when it comes to helping you out with your cellulite problem as the worse side-effect that you may get from cellulite lotions may actually just be as simple as developing a rash as an allergic reaction to a cellulite lotion’s ingredient.

This cellulite lotion actually consists of all natural ingredients from Austrian Moor, Wild Yam and other various plant extracts. These actually help to metabolize the fat that is trapped in your body while you work out in the gym or while you’re walking around and just going through your day-to-day activities. The ingredients of this cellulite lotion helps your body to heal the damaged tissues that are caused by the trapped fat. Austrian Moor is a unique substance that is especially preserved in the Alps during the last ice age and has been used by the ancient Romans for its various healing properties. It improves circulation, detoxifies as well as nourishes one’s skin. People all over Europe, as well as the North America, have been using the Austrian Moor ingredient in spas and clinics for treating stubborn cellulite as well as many other physical disorders for many, many years.

For more great cellulite lotion related articles and resources check out http://www.cellulite-no-more.com

Posted on Mar 26th, 2006

One of the best ways to improve the appearance of your skin is by incorporating raw food into your diet. Beautiful skin starts from the inside out. People who switch to eating mostly raw food often see an improvement in their skin and look younger.

Heating food above 105 degrees Fahrenheit destroys the enzymes as well as up to 50% of the protein and 70-90% of the vitamins and minerals. Eating cooked food overtaxes the body’s enzyme reserves. Eating more raw food decreases the amount of digestive enzymes your body has to produce. Raw foods are foods in their natural state with the enzymes left intact. Enzymes are needed to perform many functions in the body including digestion, assimilation and elimination of food. A drained enzyme supply can result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies, premature aging and low energy. Raw foods high in enzymes include sprouts, papaya and pineapple.

Free radicals damage your skin and interfere with collagen production causing premature aging. Antioxidants counteract free radicals that age the skin. Berries, especially blueberries, are potent antioxidants that promote collagen which reduces wrinkles. Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons and grapefruit help rid the body of free radicals keeping the skin looking young. Foods high in the antioxidant beta carotene including carrots and apricots protect the skin against sun damage.

CoenzymeQ10 is an effective antioxidant involved in the energy process and present in every cell in the body. CoQ10 levels in the body diminish with age. CoQ10 destroys free radicals and slows aging. Spinach, broccoli and peanuts are foods high in CoQ10.

Alpha-lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant that boosts the strength of other antioxidants such as Vitamin C and E, and assists the body’s energy production. Alpha-lipoic acid can be found in spinach, brewer’s yeast, broccoli, tomatoes and peas.

Sulfur is a mineral present in every cell in your body. It is needed in collagen production and for healthy skin, hair and nails. Organic sulfur levels in food are lost when processed, heated or dried. Sulfur is known to help improve skin conditions such as acne. High sulfur content foods include asparagus, broccoli, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, red pepper, garlic, onion, watercress and kale.

Silicon is an essential trace mineral needed for healthy skin, hair, nails and bones. Silicon levels decrease with age. Fruits and vegetables are the richest source of silicon including apples, oranges, cherries, grapes, strawberries, beets, cucumber, carrots and green leafy vegetables.

Phytochemicals are plant chemicals that help the body defend against damage and are said to have anti-aging properties. Phytochemicals can be found in berries, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, spinach, carrots, cocoa and bell pepper.

Raw nuts and seeds are high in Vitamin E which is beneficial to the skin. Selenium keeps the skin elastic and can be found in garlic, onions and shallots.

When the body rids itself of toxins, it passes through the skin which is the largest elimination organ. Raw food increases your detoxification rate. Drinking water helps the body rid itself of toxins. Seaweed is high in vitamins and minerals beneficial to the skin and also helps rid the body of toxins.

To achieve a healthy complexion, drink plenty of water and eat plenty of raw food. What goes into your body is reflective in your overall appearance.

Elizabeth Kiely is the owner of EK: http://www.eklbc.com

Posted on Mar 25th, 2006

Highlighting can add the illusion of depth, volume and texture to your hair. The process involves coloring some strands of your hair - making it lighter or darker, depending on your overall look (color of your skin, eyes, hair) and your desired look. Your highlights should compliment your natural color, not giving it an odd contrast or contrived color. Highlighting is also a great way to start if you have doubts in coloring or dying your hair.

Three things to remember before highlighting:

1. Go light or go home

Usually, in using a color for highlights, you go two or three shades lighter than your original hair color. Going beyond three shades will look extremely unnatural and peculiar.

2. Condition your hair to avoid drying

Deep condition your hair or use a clarifying treatment at least three days before highlighting because some chemicals in hair color can seriously dry your hair. After coloring, some prefer to shampoo immediately after. But, it is better to shampoo your hair a day after - this will help maintain the color.

3. Consider lowlights

You also have the option to have lowlights with your highlights which can give your hair more dimension. Lowlights make your hair darker in shade. It will make the top of your hair look heavier than the bottom. But, it is best to go to your professional stylist when trying both highlights and lowlights.

Tips for hair highlighting

- Mix two or more colors. Experiment and be creative. Just remember to use the color mix once you combine them.

- If you bought a highlighting kit, you can observe that the brush they use don’t really give you much control. Flat acrylic brushes measuring ½ - ¼ inch, which can be bought at art supply or hardware stores, give you a better grip thus making the highlights look more natural.

- Always protect your skin from hair color because it contains chemicals that can be damaging.

- Use latex gloves and make sure they fit snugly.

- Apply highlights only to the top layer of your head to create that depth and dimension you want to achieve.

Streaking

Streaking is used for a sleeker and glossier effect. You can go for half-head or full-head. Half-head streaking gives your hair brighter effects done really close to the hairline. This is done through bleaching and wrapping small or thick strands of your hair in foil paper.

While whole-head streaking involves bleaching and coloring the entire head, thus producing a blonde effect. Darker streaks are placed closer to the hairline. Both procedures need a touch-up every six to eight weeks before growth of new hair becomes noticeable.

D-I-Y streaking is another method used for dry hair. Best results are seen for medium-brown to light-brown hair. A streaking kit is available at the shop, but it should include a rat-tail brush, toothbrush, a non-metal bowl for the bleach, foil paper and a couple of clips.

To do, part a thin portion of your hair at the top part of the head using the comb. Place a 5 cm foil strip under it. Take the toothbrush with bleach and swathe over the parted hair. Cover it with foil strip. Take another part of the hair about 1.25 cm below and continue the process until the desired effect is achieved.

Check the color of the wrapped hair - it should be golden. If not, reapply bleach and leave for a couple of minutes. While taking out the foil wraps, ask a friend to help you rinse with warm water to take off the bleach. Apply shampoo and conditioner after unveiling the wraps.

Finger painting

Finger painting is a method for a subtler effect. Run four fingers from your hairline to the back of the crown after dipping it in bleaching solution. Do it as if pushing back the hair from your face. Don’t forget to use gloves. Follow the instructions at the back of the carton, like how long to leave the hair before rinsing, shampooing and conditioning.

Shampoos

The most practical and cost effective way to extend the duration of your highlights is the use of color tinted shampoos. Since these are temporary, you just stop using a certain color of shampoo if you don’t like it or if you want to try other colors. You can even use them on their own, although the effect will be less.

For more great hair highlight related articles and resources check out http://haircolor.haircarehaven.com

Posted on Mar 25th, 2006

As a licensed cosmetologist, I would like to share how to develop the art of truly being a makeup artist on your own face.

First, please toss out old ideas you may have had, as well as the “one size fits all” beauty tips you’ve picked up along the way. You don’t want any pre-conceived ideas that may cloud your judgment.

Get in front of a mirror, with natural light. Cleanse your face, moisturize, etc. to get it ready for makeup. Get all your brushes, makeup gathered and pull your hair back out of the way. Imagine yourself as your own artist, with your face as the canvas upon which you are about to create a look.

There are 2 very important principals to remember. Light colors bring out, gives the illusion of an area being forward or front. Dark colors set back, creates a look of depth. Now, really study for your face for a few minutes, don’t focus for now on any particular area, look at shape overall.

It might help to even write down notes about impressions you get. What areas seem to need brought out? What areas seem to need to be set back? An example would be a very round face would need an area in the cheeks set back (darker) to give the illusion of higher cheekbones, more slender face, at the same time using some lighter shades on the forehead area above the temples to also create a look of lengthening the face. A chin that is a bit undercut would need to be brought forth more to give the appearance of being more prominent than it is (lighter color).

When using lighter & darker colors for shading & highlighting, be sure to blend very well and use a light touch. Choose a foundation that is very close to your natural skin coloring. I personally have recently discovered mineral makeup (you can do an online search for several brands) or you can use any brand you want. I just have found these very easy to use for using light & dark colors where needed. Blend, blend and blend more, you don’t want anything that looks obvious or any streaking appearance. Also if you’re a light blonde, you wouldn’t use something super dark for shading because you wouldn’t be able to blend it in a way to look natural. Use a shade that’s 1 or 2 shades darker than your natural skin tone, same with lighter shades, 1 or 2 shades lighter than your own skin tone.

Look at your eyes closely now. You want to create balance. Not every eye will look best with the typical medium color on the lid, darkest in the crease and highlighter on the brow. Again, look at your eye shape, what needs brought forth (light), and what needs to recede (dark). A person with deep-set eyes for example will do best with a light to medium shade on their lid, the lightest side in their crease, and a medium shade on their brow bone. The person with the deep-set eyes needs to avoid dark colors altogether, it will only accentuate the problem. Having the lightest color in the crease will help bring forth their eyes, making their eyes look bigger, wider and not set back.

This is the opposite pattern of what is typically told.

If a person has eyes that are close set together, you want light colors around the inside areas of the eyes (near the nose) to give the appearance of more space being there, making the eyes look wider apart, and darker colors on the outside edges.

Play with the different looks until you get the right one for your bone structure. It also helps to stand back away from a mirror, from across a room to look, as you get a better feel of overall balance than right up close. Don’t be afraid to try new combos you hadn’t thought of before, it might be the perfect fit for you!

By Valerie Garner-Mother, grandmother and candlemaker / owner of Joyful Designs in Soy. She loves to write on a variety of topics with a warm, and engaging style. http://www.joyfuldesignsinsoy.com

Posted on Mar 24th, 2006

The skin is the largest organ in the body. It defends against disease and infection, regulates temperature and even aids in vitamin production. Keeping skin healthy is crucial for beauty and general health, even if most of us are interested in knowing how to keep skin looking healthy, rather than really keeping it healthy.

The best way to keep skin looking healthy – young, fair, radiant, supple, soft and wrinkle free – is to keep out of the sun.

Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun bring about a healthy-looking tan, but do much damage to the skin in terms of pigmentation, sunburn and loss of elasticity. These can lead to premature aging in the form of wrinkles, fine lines, sagging, dark skin, uneven skin tone, loss of translucency, enlarged pores and dryness. Even the best of genetics, topical skin lightening treatments and oral skin supplements would be of little use if one tans mercilessly and regularly.

Keeping out of the sun helps, but if you cannot avoid it, you will have to ensure that you use a sunscreen. This is especially crucial if sun exposure is for an extended period of time.

Assuming that one is already sensible about sun exposure, how can we then further improve our skin condition? We know that certain oral supplements are effective for good skin health, but which are these supplements and how effective are they?

Supplement From Within

The first group would be vitamins and minerals, essential for proper functioning of every organ.

The vitamins and minerals that can affect skin health include the B-complex, especially B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin) and B12 (cyancobalamine). Overt deficiencies of vitamins B1 and B2 are known to cause special forms of dermatitis (a kind of skin inflammation). B12 deficiency is particularly detrimental to neurons and rapidly dividing cells, including skin cells.

Besides the B vitamins, deficiency of vitamin C, iron and copper also affect skin health. All three are important for the synthesis of collagen, a key structural protein in the skin, which fills the skin and gives it tone.

Vitamin A is critical for the normal life cycle of skin cells. Vitamin A deficiency causes skin to become dry, fragile and prone to wrinkles. On the other hand, excessive Vitamin A intake may cause serious toxicity and should be avoided.

Vitamins C and E, and beta-carotene have been touted as anti-oxidants that reduce free radicals. (Free radicals result in skin degeneration and aging.) However, while free radicals and the role of anti-oxidants are beyond doubt, clinical results have not conclusively proved if supplementary vitamins and other micronutrients improve the skin quality and defy the aging process.

Excessive doses can be just as harmful as deficiencies, so it is best to abide by the recommended daily allowance (RDA).

Topical Help

Oral supplements should go hand-in-hand with topical applications – sunscreen of at least SPF 30, creams (preferably with skin whitening agents) and moisturizer (preferably with skin lightening agents. Compared with topical applications, the effects of oral supplements are slower and more subtle. Consumers have to be realistic about their expectations because results certainly will not be seen in 7 days or 2 weeks.

We recommend a holistic approach to skin health, comprising:

* A healthy balanced diet comprising all food groups as well as vitamins, minerals and micronutrients.
* Keep a happy positive mood. It is well documented that some skin conditions – such as acne and eczema – are more prevalent among the stressed.
* If you smoke, quit smoking. Smoke causes free radicals, damages the microcirculation of skin and also causes staining of teeth and other discoloration.
* Minimize sun exposure and use a good sunscreen on a daily basis.

Debra Tan is a senior product development consultant at SkinWhite Research Labs. Equipped with a team of experienced cosmeceutical researchers, SkinWhite Research Labs is a company that specializes in the formulation of skin whitening products that help to rectify dark skin and pigmentation problems. Please visit their official website for more skin lightening information and tips.

This article may be reprinted in its original form as long as the resource box is left intact and the links live and the article is not to be modified in anyway.

Posted on Mar 24th, 2006

Tanning is so much in fashion that tanning saloons are mushrooming everywhere. Young men and women frequently visit tanning saloons and use their tanning beds much more often than they did earlier.

Due to its popularity and the health issues related with it, government has laid down many regulations for tanning saloons and tanning beds. While home tanning is convenient and readily available, tanning saloons have some unique advantages including variety and safety.

There are five advantages of a tanning saloon over home equipment. These are:

1. Tanning saloons follow government regulations: Tanning saloons seek the approval from FDA for the tanning procedures and use of tanning beds and strictly follow them. They keep client’s record and history.

Tanning salon operators ascertain client’s ability to tan, history of sunburns, history of skin infections, rashes or other conditions and use of certain medications or cosmetics to prevent phototoxic and photo-allergic reactions. A tanning expert will use this information while planning your tanning exposure on the tanning bed of tanning saloon.

2. Use of Equipment Under Expert Guidance: At the tanning saloons, you use tanning beds and machines under the guidance and care of tanning experts. Well-trained tanning bed operators have thorough knowledge of the equipment and they can program the tanning bed according to individual client’s need. They will indeed control your dose of ultraviolet light and save you from its harmful effects.

3. Better Tanning beds: Tanning Saloons are equipped with sophisticated commercial tanning beds. Commercial tanning beds are more comfortable and safe. They have programmable knobs to control the amount and intensity of ultraviolet light.

You also have control on the tanning bed, especially to switch and open it, when feeling uncomfortable. Tanning salons also have additional equipments like an Oxygen Bar. This releases oxygen, which reacts with the skin and enhances the production of melanin for a better tan.

4. Various tanning modes: Tanning Saloons offer many tanning options. Besides tanning beds, they offer tanning booths, tanning lotions and tanning spray. These alternate methods are for the people who dislike the tanning beds. These alternate tanning options are often a better choice, especially if you are in a hurry.

5. Safety and Style in tanning saloons: Safety devices such as protective goggles are available in tanning salons for safe tanning. They also have tanning accessories such as tattoos and protective clothes. Tanning tattoos create stylish designs on the body by excluding the tattoo area from tanning.

It is therefore evident that while home tanning may be easier and simpler, professional tanning is more effective, safe and flexible. You may like to keep this in mind while weighing your tanning options and use the tanning beds.

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Find out all you need to know about tanning beds. Are they safe? Do they work? Why should you use tanning beds instead of normal sunshine… ? Click http://www.tanning-beds-101.com/

Rachel Stepsen is a lifelong user of tanning beds. She has researched and tested numerous different beds, and investigated all the important safety issues. Now she’s written a series of article to share her knowledge and experience.

Posted on Mar 23rd, 2006

Full, pouty, sensual lips are in the news. And it’s all the same news; i.e. three young, hopeful women trying several topical items hoping they will see noticeable changes in the plumpness of their lips. In truth, the results are so temporary; the user will never experience any substantial lip pouting.

Lips are soft tissue; they easily lose hydration and shrink when men and women reach a certain age. The area surrounding the lips is muscle. As the orbicularis orris muscle shrinks due to atrophy and no exercise, the lips begin to implode. They appear smaller because they are affected by the collapse of the mouth muscle into the soft tissue.

After a while, the lips look dormant; they become thinner and usually lose their well-accentuated borders and contours. Likely, small lines will invade the area where the border was once prominent. Women see little lines that disturb their lipstick and liner; lip putties and topical preparations will slightly help to “fill in the cracks” but these are only temporary.

Many women and some men will try soft tissue augmentation to enhance their lips. There are many injected types of filler offered by physicians; these, too, are temporary and may cause discoloration, lopsidedness and swelling.

Some fillers are human derived (cadaver material!); some are animal and non-animal sources. These materials are “purified” before use then dehydrated, re-hydrated and then either injected or pulled through tunnels underneath the lip. Does that sound scary? These methods and modalities will have to be repeated over and over again for the user to maintain the enhancement.

So how does one enlarge the lips without pain, recovery time and expense? If you are serious about protecting your lips, your face, here is a proven exercise to give new life to your mouth:

While standing in front of a mirror, put the heels of both hands together. Place your thumbs in your mouth in a “V” position. Push the lip muscle outward without creating any lines around the mouth or lip area. The entire upper lip surface should be smooth and oval. Compress the upper lip muscles against your thumbs and hold for a count of five seconds. Remove your thumbs, take a deep breath, exhale and repeat the above movement for 10 seconds. Again, remove your thumbs, take a deep breath and exhale. Repeat the above movement twice for another twenty seconds.

Stand back and look at your face…keep it still and relaxed while you experience the rush of oxygenated blood and strength to your upper lip. Watch closely as your mouth corners turn upward…and your lips feel fuller, now marvel at the new, appealing you.

Cynthia is widely recognized as an expert in natural facial fitness and has appeared on ABC’s popular morning TV show The View, Fit TV, KTLA Morning Show and Good Day L.A. This author, speaker and television personality is leading the crusade to keep men and women looking vibrantly younger. “When You Use Facial Magic it Shows” http://www.facialmagic.com

Posted on Mar 23rd, 2006

Everyday you see people with all color and style of hair. But did you know that you have a hair type? Yes! Not all hair has been created the same.

Lets start with the basic structure of hair:

1) Hair grows from the follicle, which is long and bulbous. If you were to pull out a strand of hair you would see the bulge at the tip of the hair. The cells at the base of the follicle divide rapidly and is where you get your hair growth.

2) Each strand of hair consists of three layers, the first being the innermost layer called the medulla. This is only present though in thick hair though.

3) The middle layer is known as the cortex. This layer provides the strength, color and texture of your hair.

4) The outer most layer is called the cuticle and this is what protects the cortex. It is completely colorless.

5) The entire strand of hair is made up of a protein called keratin. And that is hair!

There are 2 basic kinds of hair:

1) Terminal hair is the hair that grows thick and long and is found on the head, armpits, pubic hair face and chest. (Face and chest on men)

2) Vellus hair is soft short hair that you will find over the rest of your body.

The type of hair you have seems to have to do with geography.

1) If you are of Asian descent, then the hair strands are round and thicker than all other types of hair. With the exception of the red head who has the thickest hair of all.

2) If you are of European descent with blonde or dark hair, then your hair strands are thinner. The strands are round to oval shaped.

3) If you are of African descent, then the hair strands are flat and that is the reason for the frizziness and curl.

It’s interesting to see when you get a mix of Asian genes with African genes or Caucasian with African. I am a white girl with blonde, curly frizzy hair. My parents came from Holland where there is a high concentration of people with African descent. So it’s not hard to see where I got my hair type, which I personally love.

So you can now figure out why your hair is the way it is. You just need to do a bit of research into your family tree and there you’ll have it.

Enjoy!

About the Author

Willie Jones
http://www.hairfactor.com

Willie is a researcher and freelance writer who enjoys sharing her views with others. Hair Factor

Posted on Mar 22nd, 2006

What is Mesotherapy?

Mesotherapy is a fat and cellulite treatment that is practice by over 20,000 doctors in France. The Mesotherapy treatment consists in injecting a micro amount of medicamentous substances right under the skin, in the direct vicinity of the problem to be treated. Mesotherapy is used for a variety of things including, weight loss, Cellulite removal, face and neck rejuvenation, and hair loss.

Mesotherapy origins

The origins and principle of the Mesotherapy is a medical treatment consisting in managing drugs by microinjections in the skin. This technique was developed in 1952 by Doctor Michel Pistor a French doctor. The overall philosophy of Mesotherapy treatment translated from French is: "To inject little, seldom, at the good place". In other words, a drug must traverse the smallest possible way. This philosophy is key to insuring that the solution is injected to benefit the problem which one wants to deal with, versus treating the entire body.

By using the localized Mesotherapy treatment philosophy a Mesotherapy doctor avoids the problem of substances passing in blood and from going in the stomach or the liver. With other type treatments the body can be faced with unintended damage that is often caused by the sometimes aggressive drugs.

What occurs at the first consultation?

To insure the body is maintained with proper care during the treatment period the first consultation is very significant, and should revolved around collecting much in the way of personal background and health information. This is necessary because it helps the doctor decide when and if to begin the treatment.

Do Mesotherapy injections hurt?

The Mesotherapy injection is almost painless and is practiced without anesthesia. For individuals with more sensitive skin it is possible to apply an anesthetic cream 1/2 hour before the treatment.

What is the cost of Mesotherapy?

Mesotherapy treatments range from $300-$550 per area per treatment. An initial consultation and examination is needed. The costs for these initial consultations typically run $250 to $275. As with any treatment, Mesotherapy in Houston will cost less than Mesotherapy in Los Angeles.

Are there Mesotherapy side effects that I should be concerned with?

Barring allergy to a Mesotherapy ingredient, the side effects are usually limited to bruising. The bruises as a rule fade within one week. It is recommended that allergies and other sensitivities should be discussed during the first consultation.

How long does the treatment take?

The procedure generally takes 30 minutes and requires no preparation or recovery time.

Can I go back to work after the treatment?

The patient is able to return to work immediately after treatment.

How long do the benefits last?

Doctors practicing Mesotherapy treatment claim that the areas undergoing Mesotherapy treatment areas will remain free of undesired fat as long as the patient continues to practice healthy dietary habits and ongoing exercise. Mesotherapy treatments for cellulite will require maintenance on a six month to one year basis.

Will my insurance cover Mesotherapy treatment?

Because a Mesotherapy injection is considered an elective procedure, insurance usually will not cover the procedure.

Read more about Mesotherapy Cellulite Treatment Alan Hood is a contributing writer at Houston Medical Center.

Posted on Mar 22nd, 2006

Long debates on advantages and disadvantages of tanning beds and sunbathing are a good reason for many people to view a tan with suspicion.

This has led companies to undertake extensive research to reduce the harmful effects of Ultraviolet rays associated with tanning bed and sunbathing. This resulted in a few lotions. These come in two categories: Tanning bed & Sunbath lotions and Sunless tanning lotions.

Tanning Bed and Sunbath lotions

Tanning Bed Lotions - People use these lotions before or after taking tanning bed treatments. Tanning bed lotions protect the skin from excess ultraviolet light and accelerate indoor tanning.

Tan accelerators are another group of products used for tanning. These lotions are used while sunbathing. They contain a natural enzyme that stimulates the production of melanin (the body’s natural tan creating enzyme) with exposure to sunlight, as a result they are much more effective. This group of lotions accelerates tanning and reduces the harmful effects of sunlight.

Sunless Tanning: A Good Alternate to Ultra Violet Light Tanning

Self-tanning lotions will help you avoid the sun and decrease the risk of ultraviolet exposure related problems, yet will make you look good. The following are common types of generic sunless tanning lotions.

Self-tanning lotions - Research has proved them safe and effective. The Food and Drug Administration has also tested them safe. The active ingredient in these products is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA gives color to the skin through a "browning reaction" when it combines with amino acids in the skin to form a chemical compound known as Melaninoid. Melaninoids are brown in color and this gives a long lasting tan to skin.

Tanning sprays are temporary but a harmless means for tanning. They save you from harmful UV rays and you do not need to make inconvenient trips to tanning saloons. Aerosol tanning sprays can leave you with a perfect looking, even tan with no hassles. All you need is to spray them on your exposed body parts. Within minutes, you will have a tan skin that you can show off anywhere.

Bronzers are yet another tanning product. They come in the form of lotions and gels. Bronzers produce a darker color on the skin by using water-soluble dyes. Bronzers color the skin almost immediately and it dries very quickly. However, it is temporary and starts fading after the first wash.

If you like healthy looking tanned skin, you never had it so good. With the products available in the market, you can become a bronze god in no time!

Find out all you need to know about tanning beds. Are they safe? Do they work? Why should you use tanning beds instead of normal sunshine? Click http://www.tanning-beds-101.com/tanning-bed-lotions.html

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