The Ups and Downs Cellulite

By

Last night you’ve heard about a plugged expensive cream aimed to give you cellulite-free days. The next day, you are marching down the grocery store in the hope to see the advertised product you saw a night ago. But what exactly is cellulite? Does the word ring a bell?

Most often than not, consumers are lured into the skin care aisle to buy some things that even they themselves are not exactly aware of the use. Are you guilty of this silly deed? Many are, for sure.

Over-the-counter cellulite treatments are among the many victims to impulse buying. For whatever reason it may be, it may not be something so cost-effective in the end.

Before you start pushing those carts and cards, here’s a detailed coverage of what exactly cellulite is and how are you supposed to deal with the treatment options laid out in front of you.

Dimpled…Rough…Lumpy

The disfigurement of the skin causing a dimpling or orange-peel appearance is termed as CELLULITE. It is a medical condition which is otherwise termed as adiposis edematosa, hail damage and mattress phenomenon and orange peel syndrome.

The disorder itself has existed many years ago. However, it was in the 1970’s that the term cellulite was coined – all thanks to a French dietitian.

Misalignment…Disfigurement…Crooked

Normally, the connective tissues underneath the skin are lined in a specific manner. When fat cells in between the tissues start to outgrow their allotted space, they tend to push tissues. This results to a damaged contour. As such, cellulite develops.

There are 3 main grades of cellulite.

  • Grade 1 is characterized by changes which are not visible physically. However, microscopic investigations show otherwise.
  • Grade 2 presents pallor (paleness), decrease of skin temperature and diminished elasticity on affected areas.
  • Grade 3 is characterized by Grade 2 symptoms along with visible roughness.

Treatments…Non-prescribed…In-office

Cellulite is managed in various ways. You can opt for something that you can find in a grocery store. Some individuals, on the other hand, prefer to have it handled by an expert.

Here are some of the treatment options you might want to indulge in.

  • Creams and lotions. These products are usually composed of a compound called methylxanthine (the same compound you see in coffee and bronchodilating medications). This group of compounds is closely associated with an increase in fat breakdown. Though studies claim that fat losses using this technique is minimal, rest-assured that results are evident (in due time).
  • Dietary supplements. These supplements make use of natural and organic compounds aimed to increase fat metabolism. Among the many ingredients of these supplements are grapeseed, gingko biloba and fish oil. Though efficiency of these products is quite individualized, there are no concrete studies and evidences strongly supporting the value of these types of products in the market.
  • Laser therapy. This provides a temporary, fast and expensive resolution of cellulite. It is a FDA-approved technique and granted by many skin doctors worldwide.

Before you plunge in, remember your basics. Would getting rid of cellulite be fulfilling?

Breast Enhancement Options For People With A Limited Budget

By

Women dream about getting better breasts that the ones that they already have. This is because they believe that their breast size defines who they are. They believe that getting bigger breasts mean that they are able to enjoy more opportunities in life.

This is the main reason why more and more women are really obsessed about getting bigger breasts. In fact, it cannot be denied that these women are willing to do anything to get it.

Unfortunately, they are severely limited by financial reasons. For many women, getting bigger breasts is just not feasible particularly if the only available options that they have is very expensive.

It is a good thing that there are breast enhancement options available for those who have a limited budget.

Breast massage

Breast massage is free and they can help provide bigger breasts. Breast massage stimulates breast growth. This happens because the massaging action makes the body think that the breasts need to work more.

This makes the body make more fatty cells in a woman’s breasts. Breast massage is very popular with many teenagers who have budding breasts.

These teenage women often cannot afford more expensive breast enhancement options and they do not want to go with any breast enhancement option that has the risk of them being caught.

Breast enhancement can be done in private. This helps them avoid embarrassment. When done right, breast massage can definitely result to bigger breasts.

Breast enhancement lotions

Breast massage can be further enhanced in its effectiveness by using breast enhancement lotions together with it. These breast enhancement lotions contain special ingredients that seep through the skin and make a woman’s breasts bigger over time.

These ingredients stimulate breast growth by giving the body it needs to naturally spark a growth spurt on a woman’s breasts. This is ideally used if a woman’s breast is just starting to develop.

Many teenagers would definitely appreciate these lotions. Another great thing about these lotions is the fact that they are very affordable. One does not need to buy a lot of lotion to eventually help stimulate natural breast growth.

Breast enhancement pills

Sometimes getting bigger breasts do not need to come from the outside. Sometimes, it also comes from the inside. Breast enhancement pills are like food supplements that provide the body everything it needs to maximize breast development.

These pills are safe to ingest and can definitely help stimulate breast growth. However, one must note that the results that these pills provide are not guaranteed to be the same for everyone.

As such, one should approach these pills with some caution. They should not have a lot of expectations to avoid getting disappointed.

For people who have a limited budget, it can be quite frustrating to get the bigger breasts that they want. However this does not mean that there are no options that they can try.

These three popular options are known to be a big help with a lot of women who aspire to have bigger breasts. All it takes is some perseverance and attitude.

Scar Formation and Removal

By

Blemishes are the enemy of the skin. Aside from ruining the normal smooth appearance of the skin, it sometimes catches the attention of other people making a person more conscious and less confident of his or her personality.

Some common examples of these blemishes are acnes, scars, rashes and many more. When these blemishes start to appear on the person’s face, they would want an immediate removal of it from their skin so that it would not bother them anymore in the long run.

That is why a lot of products in the beauty market industry are being advertised in order to remove these imperfections that tend to appear in the skin in the most unwanted times.

Among the mentioned skin blemishes, the scar is probably the one where most people are concerned the most.

This is because in comparison to acne which can disappear for a couple of days, a scar can remain for a long time on the skin or it can stay there permanently. Therefore, as much as possible, people try to avoid scars because it is the most difficult to remove from the skin.

What are scars?

Scars are skin blemishes that could either appear hyperpigmented (darker than the normal color of the surrounding skin) or hypopigmented (lighter than the normal color of the surrounding skin).

These scars are formed as a normal physiologic response of a skin when there is damage to it. In other words, this is just a part of a normal healing process of the body when the skin is involved.

However, the formation of the new skin for replacement of the old one appears to have a different skin cell component making it look different and pronounced when compared to the normal surrounding skin.

Where causes these scars?

The common cause of scar appearance is through a wound or trauma that can range from mild to severe of the skin. As mentioned earlier, scar formation is part of the healing process of the body when it experiences wound.

In relation to acne, a scar can also be formed when these pimples are pricked without the supervision of an expert. That is why it is not good to prick your pimples by yourself because it can form a scar in the long run.

How can these scars be removed?

A lot of methods are actually been devised to remove scars from the body. They can range from products that entail long-term use for complete removal while there are those that after a single use, scars can be immediately removed.

Some of these products are listed below:

  • Chemical peels – chemical agents are used in order to hasten the repair of the dead skin cells and remove the unwanted scar tissue.
  • Filler Injections – these are used to raise a scar has depressed from the normal surrounding skin.
  • Dermabrasion – if the scar is found on the surface of the skin, mild dermabrasion will do the trick.
  • Laser Treatment – this is the most common yet expensive method that is being used to remove scars nowadays.

Indeed there are a lot of ways to remove scars from the body. It is just up to that person to choose which among the many products that he/she can use most effectively.

Approach to Stretch Marks That You Need To Know

By

As each and every one of us would grow old, there would also be the presence of a lot of physical signs of ageing. Included in this list would be fine lines or wrinkles on the skin, age spots, scars or hyper pigmented areas and many more. From this list alone, it can be noted that most of the signs of ageing could be manifested on the skin.

However, there is also a particular skin condition that occurs when a person would grow, literally! This means that when a person is growing, both in girth and length, his or her skin would stretch to accommodate the internal growth of muscles, tissues or even organs. If one would have a normal and healthy skin, increasing in size would not pose a problem to the skin. However, when there is a problem with the normal skin integrity, there would be appearance of stretch marks on the skin.

Why do stretch marks appear on a growing person?

Stretch marks, from the name itself, appear when there is stretching of the skin and this stretching of the skin usually happens when growth is happening in the phase of a person’s life. This phase may be due to increase in height during the puberty years. It could also be the growth brought about by a woman’s pregnancy wherein the abdominal wall needs to stretch in order to accommodate the growing baby inside. Another reason would be when a person appears to be increasing in weight that in order to accommodate the amount of fats in the body, the skin has to stretch.

If the skin is intact, it will just undergo a couple of cell division in order to create more cells and make a new layer of skin. However, if there is a problem with the cell division of the skin, the skin could not accommodate the growing phase thus it would weaken and break the bonds that are in between skin cells. And when these bonds weaken or gets broken, these broken area would create lines that are hypo pigmented and are sometimes visible to the naked eye. This is your stretch mark!

Can these stretch marks be removed?

In the mild form, stretch marks can still be removed. The younger the age of a person, the easier it is for him or her to remove and treat the stretch marks compared to those who are of the older age. However, if the presence of a stretch mark has been staying in the skin for a long time already then its removal would entail some complicated and sophisticated procedures (such as laser therapy) so that it can be removed permanently from the body.

How can one prevent stretch marks?

No one can really get away from the wrath of stretch marks. Each and every one of use would really come to a point to experience having this. Probably, the best thing to do is that if you don’t like stretch marks appearing on your body, you must immediately seek the help of a dermatologist at the moment that you see these fine lines.

Reading Beyond Acne Treatment Impulse

By

Acne treatments are way over publicized in the market. From all-skin-type-friendly products to the most detailed and specific, hundreds of consumers flock over what they think is the perfect solution to their acne issues.

Have you ever tried thinking for a moment if the cream you saw on the television last night will actually resolve what you wanted it to resolve? Will it bear the expectations you wish it to fulfill?

One thing is for sure, you can’t say before you even tried. However, there’s a smarter thing than grabbing everything on the shelf, paying bucks for tubes and bottles and ending up frustrated when it didn’t work out.

Read! People tend to forget the basics of reading and the very purpose why it existed. Before you start pushing your credit cards to the cashier, take a moment to realize what exactly is best when shopping for an acne treatment.

Looking Into

The best acne treatments are characterized by:

  • Inhibition of sebum production
  • Limiting, if not preventing, bacterial growth
  • Increases shedding of the skin to unclog pores
  • Has minimal side effects

Treatments vary in purpose and recommendations. If you think you are not ready to try on something that hasn’t worked out for you before, seek a medical advice.

Dermatologists are the most apt individuals who can tell you which of the things in the market might be cut out for your needs.

Non-Prescription Treatments

  • Soap and water. Nothing beats the classic hygiene practice of using soap and water. Gentle cleansing of the face twice a day can help you prevent and get rid of acne.
  • Cleansers. These products are usually bought over-the-counter. The most common ingredients of these products are benzoyl peroxide, sulfur and/or salicylic acid.
  • Sulfur. There is no clear explanation as to how sulfur works in treating acne. However, it does work. It is, though, mixed in with other ingredients to mask the unpleasant odor of the pure substance.
  • Salicylic acid. This substance is most helpful in correcting the shedding abnormalities of skin cells. Though it doesn’t kill bacteria or limit sebum production, it is helpful in unclogging pores and preventing acne lesions from developing.
  • Acetone and alcohol. The former works as an antiseptic and antibacterial solution while the latter acts as a remover of oil on the skin surface. They are usually used as adjuncts with other treatments. Moisturizers are used supplements as both substances can cause drying of the skin.
  • Benzoyl Peroxide. This substance is believed to work by preventing accumulation of acne-causing bacteria on the skin. It doesn’t affect sebum production or skin cell shedding and may cause dryness of the skin. However, it is widely recommended by doctors in treating mild to moderate acne outbreaks.

Healthy Tips

Do not prick or squeeze you pimples. If pus-filled ones are ready to break, apply a hot towel over the area to induce natural bursting. If inflamed, seek a medical consult. It is always important to know the boundaries of self-help treatments to avoid further injuries.

Cellulite in a Nutshell

By

Cellulite – the word itself is a threat to many women. Instead of why shouldn’t it be why not? The orange-peel skin which characterizes cellulite is not something that you would gladly flaunt.

Can you imagine walking down the beach with your ‘itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny yellow polka dot bikini’ and your misaligned fat cells (causing a rough-looking area on your seemingly flawless skin) are trying to vie for the limelight as well?

Cellulite is a rampant issue among many women worldwide. And regardless of age or race, it simply is a tricky issue yet to be resolved.

The Brighter Side

Don’t get your hopes up just yet. Years have gone by and the idea of not being able to treat cellulite is so yesterday. More than the upgrades in science and technology are the recent breakthroughs and findings in practices that may inhibit cellulite progression or might entirely prevent it from developing.

The Science Behind

Cellulite is termed as a medical condition by most, if not all, dermatologists. It is a misalignment of the fat cells underneath the skin’s surface. They are predominantly seen in areas with large fat deposits such as the thighs, hips, arms and buttocks.

The disfigurement is caused by the misaligned fat cells which push the supposedly aligned tissues.

The Truth

Women are at a higher risk to develop cellulite compared to men. This is because of the structure of the female connective tissues (which are linear – makes misalignment easier); whereas, the male connective tissues are patterned and tightly knit.

This, however, does not exclude males from developing the same condition.

Individuals of all ages and race are at risk to develop cellulite. If you think slim and thin individuals are at a lesser risk, you are dead wrong.

Even petite and paper-thin individuals can develop cellulite. Remember that fat cells aren’t only present in individuals who are voluptuous and a bit more than that in nature.

Diet may play a role in cellulite development, but these two variables aren’t exactly and directly related to each other. Though studies may suggest that keeping a diet congruent with your caloric needs is beneficial, there are no strong evidences linking both diet and cellulite formation.

Exercise may be helpful in maintaining weight, keeping the body fit and getting rid of the extra fat stocks. This, however, may not be entirely beneficial in thwarting cellulite. Though it may be a good preventive measure, it is not an assurance for cellulite-free days forever.

The Hope

  • Dietary Supplements are among the most famous anti-cellulite products. Most of these merchandises are composed of natural and organic components aimed to increase fat metabolism.
  • Creams and Lotions which are methylxanthine-derivatives. This compound is said to increase fat breakdown.
  • Laser Therapy is the fastest, easiest and yet the most expensive type of treatment. It reduces cellulite appearance but does not guarantee permanent results.

Think about how many times you’ve asked yourself about cellulite and the times you’ve overlooked knowing it. Probably, it’s about time to be informed.

Saline Breast Implants For Breast Enhancement

By

Women these days are very lucky because they have tons of options to help them look good. They can take advantage of different surgical procedures to improve their looks.

One of the most commonly chosen procedures by most women these days is breast enhancement procedure. There is one preferred breast enhancement procedure that is gaining a lot of popularity these days and that is using saline implants.

To know more about this specific procedure, here are some of the advantages and disadvantages associated with it.

Advantages

  • One of the many reasons why people opt for saline implants as compared to silicone implants is the fact that saline implants are cheaper as compared to silicone implants. People could definitely have the chance of getting fuller and bigger breasts without having to worry about spending too much. This is definitely the hope for those women who have been dreaming of undergoing a breast enhancement procedure but are short of some funds.
  • Another great advantage about this amazing breast enhancement procedure is the fact that there is less scarring if this procedure is considered. This is because what needs to be done is just a small incision and then the solution will be injected. Always consider having this procedure performed by a plastic surgeon to ensure safety.
  • Lastly, taking advantage of this procedure is a lot safer since in case the implant would rupture, it can be detected right away. This means that the woman would know if there is something wrong. All they have to do is visit their surgeon and the surgeon will certainly fix it.

Disadvantages

  • One thing that women should bear in mind in terms of undergoing such procedure is the possibility that it might have some disadvantages. In this particular procedure, there are two known disadvantages that women need to take seriously.
  • The first disadvantage of using saline implants is the fact that it might cause rippling. This is something that might affect the appearance of the breast so this might be the reason why women would not want to risk it.
  • The second disadvantage that is associated with saline implant is the fact that some women claim that it does not feel natural. Silicone implants are said to offer the same feeling as having natural breasts as compared to the saline implants.

These are just few of the advantages and disadvantages that people should know in case they wish to try out saline implants as their breast enhancement procedures.

Breast enhancement seems to be one of the favored surgical procedures of women because it helps them achieve their dreams of having bigger, fuller and better breasts.

There are a lot of procedures that people could consider in terms of breast enhancement and to those who would like to try out saline implants, at least they now have something to help them decide.

With the information provided, it is up to the many women who wish to try this out to decide whether or not this is the type of breast enhancement procedure that they wish to consider.

Common Techniques for Scar Removal

By

Who wants to have scars on their skin? I bet no one would want to answer a ‘yes’ to my question. Well, a scar is a common knowledge for most people. This is because everyone gets at least a scar at one point in their lives.

Even the children who are at the playing and exploring age gets a scar. Adults too can get a scar from various sources. Therefore, no one is really spared from getting a scar.

Where do we get these scars?

Scars are formed when there is trauma to the skin. Scars are usually acquired from doing activities that may cause infliction or wound to the skin. In short, we get scars when our skin is bruised.

Thus when there is a break on the skin, the body would tend to produce skin layers in order to replace the area that was damaged but the new skin formed has different components from the normal skin thus it tends to appear differently from the normal surrounding skin.

Do scars appear differently?

Yes, in fact they do.

Scars can appear in various types and these are:

  • Acne Scars – acne scars are found on the skin of those individuals who experienced severe acne since this type of acne can produce scars in the long run.
  • Hypertrophic Scars – these scars are those that appear to bulge over the normal skin surface. In other words, they are raised scars. This occurs when the healing process was too much that it produced too much skin cells.
  • Contracture scars – one the other hand, this type of scar is depressed. It appears when there is a wide gap of skin cells during repair the body tend to tighten the skin together in order to close the damage.
  • Keloid scars – these scars are also produced when there is highly aggressive repair of the skin. it appears to be more raised than hypertrophic scars.

Can these scars be removed?

With the advancements in technology, there are now a lot of ways of removing scars aside from just using creams and lotions.

These techniques are listed below:

  • Creams and Lotions – over the counter creams and/or lotions can be used to treat scars. However, these products are only limited for use to those scars that appear superficial only. What these creams and lotions does is to increase the new skin cell regeneration of the superficial layer of the skin (also known as the epidermis) to remove the unwanted scar and reveal its normal skin beauty.
  • Surgical Removal – another way to remove scar is through surgery and the most common among these is the laser therapy. It may be more expensive than the usual creams and lotions, but this procedure is much faster than just using the creams and lotions.
  • Injections – for those scars that were overly produced, the physician may want to administer injections that contain steroid to initially minimize the appearance of the scar. It will then be furthermore subjected to other techniques that can fully remove the scar from the skin.

Understanding Stretch Marks and How To Deal With It

By

When a woman is pregnant, it is common for her to have stretch marks. After all, pregnancy results to the increase of the body hormones called glucocorticoids, which is responsible for the tearing apart of the collagen and elastin of the skin. However, it is not only pregnant women who get stretch marks; people who lose or gain weight suddenly get them, too.

Can Stretch Marks be Treated?

The answer to this question is no. So, does this mean that you will have to deal with your stretch marks for the rest of your life? Well, again, the answer to the question is no. After all, the symptoms of stretch marks can be minimized. They can become less visible to the naked eyes. So, even if stretch marks are still underneath the skin, they don’t really matter as long they are unnoticeable.

What is the Most Common Way to Make Stretch Marks Less Visible?

There is no questioning that one of the most popular ways to make stretch marks less visible to the naked eye is through the use of various stretch mark creams or lotions that are sold in the market today. They are not only convenient and easy to apply, they deliver results, too. All you have to do is to religiously apply the cream or lotion to the affected skin once or twice daily for 3 months at least. In time, your skin will become even and smoother. Hence, the crevices that are caused by stretch marks are flattened and the marks become less noticeable.

What Make Stretch Mark Creams or Lotions Effective?

For a product to be effective, it has to have good ingredients. So, what ingredients do stretch marks creams or lotions have? Well, it depends on what brand you go for. However, the most common ingredients that can be found in stretch mark creams or lotions are onion extract and retinol. Onion extract are good at dealing with the skin discoloration brought about by stretch marks. It also plays a role in smoothening the skin. Retinol, on the other hand, is a derivative of Vitamin A. It aids in the production of collagen. When the skin produces more collagen, the skin becomes firmer and smoother. If the skin is smooth and firm, the marks become less visible.

Are There Other Ways to Deal with Stretch Marks?

In the event that you are not sold to the idea of using stretch mark creams or lotions, then, the next option you have is to go for the costly fractional laser treatment. For this treatment to work, you need to do it once every 3 weeks for 2-4 months. However, you have to bear in mind that this process, even though it is pricey, cannot eradicate stretch marks, too. Just like the stretch mark creams and lotions, they can only make the stretch marks less noticeable.

You see, stretch marks may not be eradicated, but they can definitely be made less visible. So, why do you care if they can’t be removed? After all, stretch marks are only an aesthetics issue; they are not life-threatening.

Acne 101: It Isn’t Questioning – It’s Thinking

By

Everybody has experienced acne breakouts once in their entire lifetime. No one is especially immune to these pesky skin issues. Even you and your undying hygiene practices might not be enough to keep you acne-free forever.

Acne is a common skin disorder suffered by all individuals across the world, regardless of age, sex and race. In the US alone, it affects a rough estimate of about 40-50 million Americans.

A lot of research and scientific studies have been published to discover the real reason behind acne formation, yet personal questioning still ensues.

Why is acne common among teens?

Development of acne is closely associated with hormonal fluctuations. When you reach puberty, hormones (especially testosterone) run amok. Surges of these hormones contribute to acne breakout.

If it’s so common in teenagers, does it mean adults are acne-free for good?

This is a common misconception. Though acne breakouts are common during puberty, it is not exclusive to teens. Women experiencing hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy, menstrual periods and menopausal periods may experience acne breakouts.

Certain medications such as steroids and anticonvulsants might trigger acne formation as well. More than that, some individuals have genetic predisposition to acne. About 50% of individuals with acne have a parent, a child or a sibling with the same skin issue.

Is acne forever?

Acne goes away when you reached your post-pubertal stage. This, however, is not true to all adults. There are some who lives with acne even past the age of young adults. The bright side is that there are solutions and treatments for acne breakouts.

Some of these treatments may be brought over-the-counter while some remains to be prescribed by a doctor. They are still treatments, nonetheless.

Can your diet induce breakouts?

Acne is, generally, not inclined towards a specific food cause. The main reason as to why acne develops is hormonal fluctuation. Hormonal changes occurring during pregnancy, menstrual periods and puberty years have a bearing on acne breakouts regardless of the type of diet you have.

However, some studies claim that diets do affect acne formation. A research conducted by an assistant clinical professor at Yale School of Medicine showed that consumption of large amounts of dairy products may put you at a higher risk for developing acne.

It was theorized that hormones from these products are still the culprits of the breakout.

Is wearing make-up a no-no during acne breakouts?

Definitely not; but you might want to consider taking the thickness down a notch or switching brands. Make-up is occlusive.

If you are suffering from a break-out, it is important that you wear it a bit lighter, switch to water-based products and keep all your toiletries within the noncomedogenic zone.

For many years, people believed that eating too much sweets and greasy food contribute to acne breakouts. This, however, was already ruled out by new doctors.

Though historical acne questions have been answered, there still lies a margin of unsolved acne issues. At some point, even you might have asked these questions yourself.