Reflections on Beauty

According to ScienceDaily.com, focusing on the negative aesthetic effects of indoor tanning may effectively reduce indoor tanning behavior, even in young women. The report, which was published in the May issue of Archives of Dermatology, claims that this approach can even curb behaviors in women who tan to alleviate seasonal mood disorders or to relax.

Multiple studies to date have proven the cancerous effects of ultraviolet tanning beds on skin. Although this information is readily available, there are still many women who actively tan at indoor salons. While focusing on the health risks of tanning may work for some people, stressing the aesthetic downsides may be more beneficial.

Joel Hillhouse, Ph.D, of East Tennessee State University, alongside his colleagues, analyzed 430 female student tanners from one university. Two hundred women were randomly given a booklet that described the history, sociocultural context, and damaging effects of tanning on the skin. The booklet also contained recommendations on how to reduce indoor tanning use alongside healthier image-improvement advice. The remaining 230 subjects did not receive the booklet.

Hillhouse and colleagues assessed the participants for seasonal affective disorder and four pathological tanning motives: opiate-like reactions to tanning, insecurity in one’s skin tone, evidence of tolerance to the effects of tanning and the feeling that one has lost control of their tanning behavior.

Six months following the booklet distribution, the authors re-evaluated tanning frequency. The findings showed that tanning behavior had reduced in women who received the booklet, even in participants who reported a pathological motive for tanning.

“In other words, providing young patients who tan with information on the damaging effects of tanning on their appearance is effective even if they are addicted to tanning or using it to ameliorate depression symptoms,” the authors told ScienceDaily.com.

Although they may have pathological motives, tanners can also show concern about their appearance. The booklet may have also affected non-appearance motives in participants. Once scenario, the authors note, is that women who tan to relax may have become more anxious about the process after reading up on the harmful effects of tanning.

Aesthetically or medically, there is no argument that indoor tanning is bad for you. From wrinkles to melanoma, sunspots to immune system suppression, the drawbacks of indoor tanning blatantly outweigh any benefits.

According to the report, the market for wrinkle-reducing injections like Botox Cosmetic is expected to grow to approximately $543 million by 2017. The report also predicts that aesthetic light and laser therapy, as well as laser liposuction, will be the fastest-growing cosmetic segments.

Just because you act your age it doesn’t mean you  have to look it. According to a recent  study, men and women over the age of fifty are more fixated on their appearance than ever before.

A survey, administered by UK’s Saga Magazine, interviewed 10,000 people. The findings showed that baby boomers of both genders show a high interest in plastic surgery, wrinkle reduction and fake tanning.

StyleList.com reports that people over the age of 50 are 10 times more likely to use fake tanner or tanning beds and 14 times more likely to use wrinkle reduction products. Not only that, in one generation the frequency of cosmetic surgery has nearly doubled.

The study also found that the annual spending on cosmetics for the 50+ crowd has increased from $2.8 billion to $3.3 billion in one decade. Fifteen percent of women over fifty admitted to wearing padded bras—5 times as many as the previous generation.

So what is driving this trend of aging vanity? Perhaps it is because cosmetic surgery has become more mainstream and accepted than in previous generations. Celebrities like Kim Cattrall and Jane Fonda are also putting a new face to the phrase “aging gracefully.”

“Cosmetic surgery is not such the taboo it might once have been, and for the over-50s it is certainly an option,” Saga Magazine editor Emma Soames told The Daily Mail.

There are a plethora of treatments available to reduce the signs of aging in women over the age of 50. Botox and dermal fillers are very popular non-invasive treatments, while blepharoplasty and facelifts top the list for plastic surgery. At Reflections Center for Skin & Body in New Jersey, we have an array treatment options available to create a customized rejuvenation plan for any age.

Knee rejuvenation usually only require 1-2 days of downtime, although some patients may return to activities immediately following their procedure. The patient does not feel the SlimLipo during the treatment thanks to anesthetics. The patient will, however, feel pain equivalent to that of muscle strain after a rigorous workout following SlimLipo. Patients are usually required to wear a compression garment for 1-2 weeks following liposuction and may return to physical activity, such as running, soon after treatment.

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Two of the latest body sculpting technologies, both of which are available at Reflections, were on the Today Show this morning.  Watch the clip and give us a call if you’d like more information on either of these breakthrough technologies or other body sculpting options.

In addition, consumers can now reap the benefits of anti-aging effects and an array of different treatment options. In a nutshell, there is a cosmetic product available for any and every skin type.

As seasons change, so should your skin routine. With autumn comes cooler temperatures, less humidity and a whole new array of skin concerns to address. Don’t forget that just because jeans and sweaters cover your skin it doesn’t mean you can get lazy on your skincare. Here are a few tips on how to keep your skin healthy through the fall months:

Find A Body Cleanser for the Season:
Make sure your body wash isn’t going to dry out your skin. Look for products that are soap-free and hydrating to keep your skin in tip-top shape. Now would be a good time to trade in gel body washes for creamy body washes.

Exfoliate with Oil-Based Scrubs:
Exfoliation shouldn’t equate to dry skin. By finding face and body scrubs enriched with oil, you are not only cleanses your skin, you are keeping it hydrated as well.

Don’t Skip The Moisturizer:
To keep dry skin at bay, moisturize everyday! By applying lotion right out of the shower, you are sealing in the moisture that your body has just absorbed.

Assess Your Skin:
Your skin type can change with the seasons and environment. Look for dry skin, changes in breakout or oil levels. To ensure you are treating your skin type appropriately, seek out a skin consultation from a medical professional.

Sort Through Your Skincare Routine:
Using too many products together—such as facial masks and exfoliators—can irritate skin. If you have to, label your products with designated days so that you don’t overlap treatments. Also, remove and replace any expired products from your routine.

Sunscreen Is A Necessity:
Do you know that UV rays can damage your skin through clothing? Sunscreen is essential to protecting your skin against premature wrinkling, skin cancer and dryness. We recommend using at least and SPF 40 sunscreen daily. Don’t neglect your lips, either! A great SPF lip balm can prevent painful, cracked lips.

Don’t Forget Your Hands:
Your hands can show signs of aging just as much as any other part of your body. Indulge in a new hand moisturizer to keep in your bag, car or office. The cold weather, wearing gloves and constant hand washing can cause painful splitting. The more you moisturize your hands, the easier it is to prevent dryness.

If you have fall skin concerns, our physicians at the Reflections Center for Skin and Body would be happy to recommend the best skincare routine for your skin type.

The serum works in a similar way.  By tricking skin cells into believe that they are being damaged, the body will respond by producing the compounds that boost the skin’s resistance to the damage. This would in turn slow down the rate of aging in the skin.

Rather than focusing on the factors that contribute to the acceleration of cell aging, Professor Rattan’s research focused on the body’s protection system that is triggered once cells are under stress. During experiments, different cells, including skin cells, were exposed to high temperatures for short periods of time. The exposed cells were found to age slower, live longer and function better than cells exposed to normal temperatures.