The Shape of the Nose

The central feature that gives a distinct identity to the human face is the nose. The shape and position of the nose not only influences the harmony and beauty of the face, but also is innermost to proper functioning of this very important organ of the body.  Myths and mysteries surround the nose down the annals of history and culture of almost all major civilizations in the world. In fact, the history of the nose is as old as the history of the face.

 

One of the earliest mysteries surrounding the nose is how the Great Sphinx at Giza lost its nose. The popular story is that the Sphinx lost its nose to target practice by Napoleon Bonaparte around 1798. The contemporary Egyptian drawings show a noseless Sphinx. However, accounts of British travelers and sailors who saw the Sphinx in the first part of the eighteenth century (1737-40) also point towards a noseless Sphinx; so it is unlikely that Napoleon’s troops who visited the site some 50 years later did the act. An ancient historian has attributed the loss of nose by the Sphinx to “remedy some religious errors” that took place around 1378. But, this disfigurement was also not without its share of woes, as the loss of nose signified bad omen and brought in sands to cover the fertile strips of Giza and affected foodgrain production.

 

Even the ancient societies viewed the nose as an object of pride and honor. There are records to show that sinful acts were punished by cutting off the nose. Indian historians and mythological writers have testified how women who were unfaithful to their husbands had their noses mutilated in condemnation of their disgraceful acts. There are accounts about how mutilated noses were reconstructed using cheek skin flaps in some holy books dating back to 600 BC.

 

The nose is also a part and parcel of culture and thoughts on human aesthetics. The West perceives the nose as a cardinal part of the face, and according to the psychology of Perception, no face is a face without the nose. When the first concepts of plastic surgery started to take shape around 1838, there were ravishing comments about the nose, such as ‘The eye is so used to seeing a nose on a human face, that even an ugly one is preferable to one that is partly or completely missing …’. Loss of nose was considered a social disgrace, and was sometimes related to stigmatizing diseases like syphilis and leprosy, and sometimes moral decay. On the other hand, even anatomists epitomized the nose as the index of a beautiful face: “beautiful face is one in which the facial line creates an angle of 100 degrees to the horizontal”. Rhinoplasty or surgeries of the nose to cure defects in shape and functional deformities first started with the purpose of reconstructing the lost or mutilated nose, and later gained prominence as an adjunct to enhance the beauty of the face by perfecting the nose.

 

The shape of the nose is suggestive of different personality traits. A long nose, for example, points to substantial prudence in worldly matters, a deep probing mind and a capacity to translate opportunities to success using the deep power of observation and penetration. The shape and several characteristics of the nose are influenced by ethnic and genetic considerations. Persons of Mediterranean descent like Greeks, Persians and Italians have a dorsal hump and drooping nose tip. The African Americans lack cartilage; the Asians have a low or flat bridge and Hispanics are characterized by weak, broad, and drooping nose tips. Notwithstanding the diversity, connoisseurs of beauty and perfection always want the nose that lifts facial beauty and adds dignity and personality to the overall stature.

 

The 21^st century global woman, who is much more professionally oriented than her predecessors, is obviously more focused about her personal image and her position in the circles she mingles. Her potential and her inherent qualities that find a true reflection in her face may get compromised with a ‘long’ nose or a ‘blunt’ nose or a ‘pug’ nose or a ‘crooked’ nose on her person. The good news is rhinoplasty can set right an out-of-shape nose and restore confidence and add a harmonious touch of beauty and grace to match a charming and inspiring personality.

Posted by admin Posted in: Facial Surgery No Comments » July 2008

The Proportional Yet Fit Stature as the Ideal

The notion about ideal female body has undergone radical transformation down the ages as is evidenced in the works of art and sculpture. The depiction of the female body is not merely a work of art; it reflects the contemporary social order, particular the position of the woman in the society and how her role in the society is visualized. It also conveys the cultural values of the society and how many aspects of relationship and human behavior, such as friendliness, sexuality, femininity, and motherhood are valued in the societal set-ups.

The ancient Greek art and sculptures depict the ideal female body as a sublime fusion of balance and symmetry creating equality of proportions. The artists of the Italian Renaissance carried forward this vision and later introduced more naturalistic aspects in their depictions of the female body to reveal more athletic forms and portrayed the body as a symbol of movement powered by biomechanics. The concept that the body was a private affair with its demonstration in public being an unethical affair slowly began to wane during the period and female body increasingly became the subject of visual recreation and re-evaluation for artistic, anatomic, scientific and aesthetic purposes.

The later part of the seventeenth century saw more elegant representations of the female body in the works of art with finely tapered necks, wrists, and ankles. However, these forms were considered by many to be disproportionate and far displaced from the female stature in real life. The principles of Enlightenment of the eighteenth century challenged these forms that led subsequently to the preeminence of aesthetics in the depictions of the female body and made it representative of individual taste, moral behavior, ethics, knowledge and lifestyle.

Perceptions about beauty and the female body underwent more changes with time; however, one factor remains true even today: perfect beauty must combine all the characters that are beautiful. From the end of the eighteenth century, the first attempts were made to link geometry to the biology of sex and attractiveness of the female body to introduce more order and design to the feminine form in tandem with harmony, beauty, health and proportion. Even today, when the ideal female body concept still remains largely elusive, the epitome of beauty and appeal of the female body lies squarely on a proportional stature that sparks life and fitness.

Different parts of the female body are attributed with different spirits. The face is the symbol of beauty, attractiveness, and personality; the breasts are the symbols of femininity and sexual appeal, the abdomen represents the spirit of motherhood; the legs depict the spirit of freedom and athleticism. How these features look does a lot of saying about the social, economic and lifestyle status of the woman. For example, a naturally bright face speaks of a healthy and exuberant personality; full and symmetrical breasts speak of a satisfying life. Similarly, the appearance of the abdomen significantly reflects lifestyle and health condition of a woman and how much she cares about her self.

Conditions like pregnancy stretch the abdominal skin and muscles to enlarge the abdomen and let it host the growing fetus inside the womb. The pressure is sometimes so intense that the abdominal muscles and skin constituents lose their elasticity over time, in which condition it is almost impossible for the abdomen to get back to its original form. Moreover, due to formation of scar tissues in the tears of the abdominal fibers from overstretching, stretch marks appear on the abdomen and in other portions of the body, such as inner thighs, breasts, hips and lower back.

The abdominal slackness renders the female body out of shape and compromises its visual appeal and beauty. It also restricts a woman’s range of motion and makes her movement uncomfortable. Though motherhood is a universal symbol associated with women and rotund figures and curvaceous bodylines emphasizing fertility and motherhood have always depicted the grace and beauty of female body in works of art and sculpture, the out-of-shape abdomen caused by pregnancy-related stretching rarely is a point of consolation for a woman who finds herself unpleasantly out of stature. Worst is that exercise and diet changes hardly work to get back the form and shape.

However, it is not a completely hopeless situation. It is possible to surgically reconstruct and contour the out-of-shape portions and silhouette the body to its proportional yet fit stature. The procedure involves meticulous weighing of several options and go for the ones that helps to achieve a total body proportion that appears both attractive and healthy and matches the global image of the 21^st century woman.

Posted by admin Posted in: Body Contour No Comments » June 2008

Darwinian Rationale for the Importance of Facial Appearance

The most discernible feature of a human being that attributes to the person a definitive identification and personality is the face. It is described as the index of the mind, the mirror of the heart, the true reflection of an individual’s inner self and the ultimate reflection of beauty and dignity that bespoke a person.

There is an interesting tale about how facial appearance influences personality. The Captain of HMS Beagle interviewed Charles Darwin for a post on his ship, but finally disqualified him, not because of his academic attainments, but because of his large nose that the Captain found to be suggestive of a sluggish personality.

The face is a communicator of sorts – conveying expressions and emotions almost instantaneously, even through the non-verbal mode, which makes it possible to ‘read’ a person just by looking at the face. No other part of the human body is having the capacity to create impression about a person and present a first-hand projection of the persona so quickly and so effortlessly as that of the face. The protagonists of beauty and personality, therefore, always give maximum importance to the face while shaping up one’s image and visual appeal.

The face does so much due to a complex array of anatomic features that it possesses, which gives it a distinctive appearance and expression. The foundation of facial anatomy lies in its bones and muscles. The facial skin gives the final touch.

How the face communicates has been a subject of intense research among the scientific community and thinkers in aesthetics. One study described that the face conveys information by four general classes of sign vehicles. Relatively permanent features of the face, such as the bony structure and soft tissue masses that make up an individual’s enduring appearance represent the static facial sign vehicles. Changes in the appearance of the face that occur gradually over time, such as the development of permanent wrinkles and changes in skin texture represent the slow facial sign vehicles. Adds-on to the face, such as eyeglasses and cosmetics represent the artificial sign vehicles. Finally, the changes in neuromuscular activity that lead to visually detectable changes in facial appearance over phases represent the rapid facial sign vehicles. Nearly eighteen different classes of messages can be derived from these sign vehicles. So, it is evident that a host of features together give the face the ubiquitous power to convey expressions and create recognitions.

What makes a face attractive vary across individuals, cultures, ethnic and geographical considerations. Attractiveness has many connotations, the most common one being how others perceive and rate a person’s desirability. The face obviously is in the center of focus when it comes to the issue of attractiveness, as it is the most publicly exposed part of the body that represents a person’s identity to a significant extent.

Although perceptions about facial attractiveness vary, with different cultures underlining different features, few aspects about facial beauty and attractiveness are always common. The first thing is facial symmetry where the features are mirrored across the vertical midline of the face. Asymmetrical features like a crooked mouth or a deviated nose are considered as spoilers. Symmetry is followed by proportion – none of the features on the face should be too short or too long, and then by their proper placement – the eyes should not be too close or too apart or that the eyes and the mouth should be placed upon lines dividing the face into thirds etc. The shape and fullness of the face are among the prominent deciders of facial attractiveness and straight profiles always get preeminence over different facial forms in highlighting beauty and attractiveness.

Other features such as natural youthfulness, familiarity, babyfacedness, and appearance of features like moles, scars and beauty spots also significantly influence beauty and attractiveness of the face and define a personality. Studies have shown that facial babyishness correlates positively with warmth and negatively with power.

Facial features can now be reconstructed to optimize facial beauty and facial attractiveness. The focus is obviously on creating symmetry, enhancing proportion and perfecting positioning to give the face a more naturally beautiful and vibrant look. Dr. Belsley is offering comprehensive facial surgery service at New York. Her approach is supplementing the natural beauty and disposition of an individual taking into account all options by leveraging the beauty and appeal of the face that is the most remarkable and distinguishable aspect of human aesthetics.

Posted by admin Posted in: Facial Surgery No Comments » June 2008

Femininity, Symbology and the Shape of the Female Breast

The most distinguishing feature of the female body that evokes femininity in its highest order is the breast. Throughout all known annals of mythology, history, art and literature, breasts have symbolized the divine beauty that woman is and have displayed some of the most awesome themes such as feminine power, abundance, nourishment, hunger, and eroticism that a woman is known to portray. Breasts have been known and revered to reflect the true mood of a woman and her position in society.

Different cultures around the world are abounding with legends about the breasts. Hercules is said to have got his super-human strength by biting the chest of Hera. The Greek goddess Artemis was said to have twenty breasts symbolizing feminine fruitfulness. Milk from Virgin Mary’s breasts was considered to be the most holy and miraculous of fluids next to the blood of Jesus Christ. The Minoan society on the island of Crete gave the women a position of dominance and supremacy over men and their breasts were symbols of material wealth, sacredness and political power. Their women designed and wore dresses that displayed the breasts very prominently. The Minoans were the first to begin wearing corsets. Judges were said to have exonerated a fourth century prostitute after she bared her breasts before them and they were absolutely impressed by their graceful beauty.

The period after the French Revolution ascribed to the breasts a position of emotion and naturalism. Women who breast fed their babies would only be eligible for Government support was the diktat of the then French Government. Breast-feeding was viewed as more of a civic duty. Corsets were being given up and women preferred to look more natural. Later, as Romanticism faded, corsets once again came back to prominence and the proper display of the breasts and the waist through the corset became an important component of beauty and style of the contemporary woman.

After the First World War, the position of woman as more equal to man gradually began to emerge in America and other countries. During this period, the beauty of the breast and its identification with femininity suffered a little low, as women started sporting more boyish looks. The legs replaced the bust as the most prominent feature of the female body. But, this wave did not last long. Just after the Second World War, situations began to reverse, bringing the breasts once again to the position of being the ubiquitous symbol of femininity. The breasts began to be identified with familiarity, security and prosperity. Women started sporting large busts, and with motion pictures becoming popular, fancied actors with distinctive cleavage like Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot, and Sophia Loren began to be revered as symbols of upper class sophistication and wit. Many women also started walking topless to portray the image of the free women with free breasts.

Apart from these historical progressions, art in sculptures, murals, paintings and pictorial descriptions down the ages have displayed the breasts as symbol of femininity, gracefulness, romanticism, motherhood, and unbounded beauty. Several artistic presentations also depict the female breast as a symbol of sexual prestige.

Several factors such as cultures, geographic locations, historical antecedents, individual personality, value perception and sense of aesthetics influence our notion on the ideal size of the breasts. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, the breast manifested sacredness, and was believed to be the “spiritual nurturance of all Christian souls”. Works of sculpture corresponding to the period displayed prominent breasts and full bodies in female figurines that are somewhat inconsistent with our modern aesthetic standards. The Renessaince Period saw small, round, firm and wide apart breasts as the ideal ones and such images denoted youth, fertility and sexual pleasure, and overshadowed any sacred or maternal meaning, especially among aristocratic society . On the other hand, women belonging to lower socioeconomic groups, the breast did not depict such contour and was merely regarded as an occupational tool or a source of income, i.e., women often earned a living as wet nurses.

Notwithstanding such notions and influences, one fact about the female breast has always stood the test of time – symmetry and a round full shape make the breasts look aesthetically best. This has, therefore, been the fancy of women transcending across all borders and social and economic settings. Women have always wanted to add a distinctive touch to their beauty, personal value and appeal, and maintain a harmonious body proportion by nurturing beautiful breasts that are symmetrical and satisfyingly full. For women who already have them, it’s a huge boon. For those who don’t have them, breast reconstruction presents a very positive opportunity to get into shape. In fact, altering the size and shape of the breast through breast reconstruction is a matter of personal decision that can profoundly affect aspects of an individual that are not physically perceptible, such as self-esteem, self-confidence and mental vibrancy. Moreover, it can create a very positive change in the woman’s body proportions that can completely transform a woman’s visual appeal to give her an awfully impressive silhouette.

Posted by admin Posted in: Breast Surgery No Comments » June 2008

Philosophy of Facial Surgery

The face is the most individualized and identifiable human characteristic. The magnificence of its form is rivaled only by its amazing functional abilities. By virtue of the complex array of anatomic features that make up the human face, it can transmit an unbelievable wealth and variety of expression, telling the most complex story in a matter of seconds.

It is an amazing fact that facial surgery has been practiced by humans for over eight millennia. Skulls, dated back 8,000 years have been found with precise holes in them; this is the earliest record of a facial surgery. The procedure is termed trephination and was carried out to release pressure in the skull.

Ancient records tell us that it was in India that facial reconstruction surgery truly flowered some three thousand years ago. Indian surgeons evolved the pedicle flap method of plastic surgery and used it to reconstruct noses of those unfortunate men who were convicted of adultery and had their noses chopped off. Acadians, Egyptians, Chinese were all fairly skilled at cosmetic surgery and had developed specific tools, techniques, procedures, and medication for facial surgery that included cataract removal, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, etc.

It is interesting to try and understand the reasons behind the practice of facial surgery by our distant ancestors. Two main reasons stand out – reconstructive surgery to restore features that may have been damaged in a war scenario or hunting incident and secondly to try and improve on existing looks in order to come closer to the ideal of a beautiful face as may have been prevalent then.

Traditionally the definitive characteristics of a beautiful face have remained more or less constant across cultures. These include a high forehead indicating intelligence, big eyes indicating sharp vision, dark thin eyebrows, a narrow nose, full lips, dark eyelashes, and a narrow face shape indicating less fat in the body. These idioms of facial prettiness have guided the trends of cosmetic makeup as well as cosmetic surgery for both men and women who are driven by the desire to look good.

Geometry too is an important consideration when we talk of facial beauty. Symmetry of features is highly prized, slight asymmetry can add to the charm of a face but easily discernible deviations such as a crooked nose or one eye being smaller than the other surely call for corrective remedy. Along with symmetry, proportion is another element that defines facial beauty. In fact, a very interesting thing to know is that the Greeks had arrived at a concept of perfection in aesthetics based on the Golden Ratio. The golden ratio is approximately 1.6180339887 and now we know from science that it is widely distributed in nature in all things that we find aesthetically pleasing including petal arrangements in flowers and in crystals of chemicals. The Golden Ratio is a universal law of beauty that the artists of the renaissance period made liberal use of when depicting the perfect visage.

The philosophy of facial surgery can be explained in terms of the driving forces behind an individual’s choice to opt for cosmetic surgery. Dimensional aspects such as a youthful countenance influence not only our perception of attractiveness but also our ideas about a person’s nature. The overriding reason behind facial surgery is to improve our countenance in order to positively influence the behavior of people we interact with. Of course, this is more often than not to achieve our own ends. An attractive face is a persuasive argument in your favor and promises a good start to many endeavors be they dating, searching for a mate, in fields such as acting, advertising, law, teaching, etc.

The face is responsible for communication and for recognition. It is what defines us as unique and allows us to recall an individual in our memory. It can attract the interest of others. What draws us to an individual’s face, however, varies individually, culturally, ethnically and geographically, as do most aspects of the human form.

A naturally youthful and healthy facial appearance, however, is almost universally perceived as beautiful. Dr. Belsley recognizes the care that must be taken when discussing options intended to improve the appearance of this amazing instrument. The results of these efforts must enhance natural beauty, promoting symmetry and proportion. They should complement that which is unique and beautiful in each one of us.

Dr. Belsley has helped her clients refresh their physical appearance by means of face lifts that rejuvenate the countenance and project a more energetic and fresh appearance. Neck lift surgeries performed at her clinic have enabled both men and women achieve litheness in the neck that helps exude svelteness in women and underscores masculinity in men. Baggy eyes can distract from the beauty of an otherwise beautiful face; they are often an unavoidable accompaniment to aging. Eyelid lifts or blepharoplasty is performed to redefine the shape of the eyes so that their beauty is accentuated instead of being hidden by fatty folds of the upper and lower eyelids. Brows are not the most prominent aspect of a face unless they are a little out of the ordinary, like being too bushy or too bald. Streamlined and well-shaped eyebrows are a great asset in defining facial beauty; they draw attention to the eyes in a very subtle manner. Adjustments to the shape of the nose constitute rhinoplasty, nasal aesthetics vary considerably with culture and Dr. Belsley is well tuned into the significance of nasal proportion and shape for the working woman. A shapely nose that accentuates the other features of a face is a real confidence booster and an invaluable asset for those whose job involves interacting with people.

Posted by admin Posted in: Facial Surgery No Comments » May 2008

The Breast as a Ubiquitous Symbol of Femininity

The most distinguishing feature of the female body that evokes femininity in its highest order is the breast. Throughout all known annals of mythology, history, art and literature, breasts have symbolized the divine beauty that woman is and have displayed some of the most awesome themes such as feminine power, abundance, nourishment, hunger, and eroticism that a woman is known to portray. Breasts have been known and revered to reflect the true mood of a woman and her position in society.

Different cultures around the world are abounding with legends about the breasts. Hercules is said to have got his super-human strength by biting the chest of Hera. The Greek goddess Artemis was said to have twenty breasts symbolizing feminine fruitfulness. Milk from Virgin Mary’s breasts was considered to be the most holy and miraculous of fluids next to the blood of Jesus Christ. The Minoan society on the island of Crete gave the women a position of dominance and supremacy over men and their breasts were symbols of material wealth, sacredness and political power. Their women designed and wore dresses that displayed the breasts very prominently. The Minoans were the first to begin wearing corsets. Judges were said to have exonerated a fourth century prostitute after she bared her breasts before them and they were absolutely impressed by their graceful beauty.

The period after the French Revolution ascribed to the breasts a position of emotion and naturalism. Women who breast fed their babies would only be eligible for Government support was the diktat of the then French Government. Breast-feeding was viewed as more of a civic duty. Corsets were being given up and women preferred to look more natural. Later, as Romanticism faded, corsets once again came back to prominence and the proper display of the breasts and the waist through the corset became an important component of beauty and style of the contemporary woman.

After the First World War, the position of woman as more equal to man gradually began to emerge in America and other countries. During this period, the beauty of the breast and its identification with femininity suffered a little low, as women started sporting more boyish looks. The legs replaced the bust as the most prominent feature of the female body. But, this wave did not last long. Just after the Second World War, situations began to reverse, bringing the breasts once again to the position of being the ubiquitous symbol of femininity. The breasts began to be identified with familiarity, security and prosperity. Women started sporting large busts, and with motion pictures becoming popular, fancied actors with distinctive cleavage like Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot, and Sophia Loren began to be revered as symbols of upper class sophistication and wit. Many women also started walking topless to portray the image of the free women with free breasts.

Several factors such as cultures, geographic locations, historical antecedents, individual personality, value perception and sense of aesthetics influence our notion on the ideal size of the breasts.In the Judeo-Christian tradition, the breast manifested sacredness, and was believed to be the “spiritual nurturance of all Christian souls”. Works of sculpture corresponding to the period dispalyed prominent breasts and full bodies in female figurines that are somewhat inconsistent with our modern aesthetic standards. The Renessaince Period saw small, round, firm and wide apart breasts as the ideal ones and such images denoted youth, fertility and sexual pleasure, and overshadowed any sacred or maternal meaning, especially among aristocratic society . On the other hand, women belonging to lower socioeconomic groups, the breast did not depict such contour and was merely regarded as an occupational tool or a source of income, i.e., women often earned a living as wet nurses.

Notwithstanding such notions and influences, one fact about the female breast has always stood the test of time – symmetry and a round full shape make the breasts look aesthetically best. This has, therefore, been the fancy of women transcending across all borders and social and economic settings. Women have always wanted to add a distinctive touch to their beauty, personal value and appeal, and maintain a harmonious body proportion by nurturing beautiful breasts that are symmetrical and satisfyingly full. For women who already have them, it’s a huge boon. For those who don’t have them breast reconstruction presents a very positive opportunity to get into shape. In fact, altering the size and shape of the breast through breast reconstruction is a matter of personal decision that can profoundly affect aspects of an individual that are not physically perceptible, such as self-esteem, self-confidence and mental vibrancy. Moreover, it can create a very positive change in the woman’s body proportions that can completely transform a woman’s visual appeal to give her an awfully impressive silhouette.

The good news is that Dr. Belsley is offering complete consulation and plastic surgery service in breast reconstruction at New York. Dr. Belsley’s focus is complete image makeover – something like creating a proportionate figure and appearance that brings out the best in beauty, charisma and appeal, and gives femininity an overwhelming prominece. Her mission is to uphold the beauty that breasts since times memorial have conferred upon women.

Posted by admin Posted in: Breast Surgery 1 Comment » April 2008

Retin-A and How it Improves the Appearance of your Skin.

The face is the most exposed part of the body, vulnerable to the harsh rays of the sun. The face is also subject to acne, rashes, allergic reactions, and injuries that may leave permanent scars. Although the exact mode of action of tretinoin is unknown, current evidence suggests that topical tretinoin decreases the cohesiveness of follicular epithelial cells with decreased microcomedo formation. Additionally tretinoin stimulates mitotic activity and increased turnover of the follicular epithelial cells causing extrusion of the comedones. Tretinoin skin preparations are a family of drugs all similar to Vitamin A. In general, tretinoin gels are stronger than tretinoin creams because the medicine penetrates better when in a gel form. Tretinoin is used to treat acne and aged, sun damaged skin. Tretinoin works best when used in combination with alpha hydroxyacid preparations. If used over a period of years, tretinoin will continue to reverse aging of the skin and can continue improving the skin’s appearance even ten years after starting treatment. Tretinoin will reverse some of the changes of photoaging. It causes lightening of brown sun spots and leads to the disappearance of fine lines and wrinkles. There are three different forms of RETIN-A — cream, gel and liquid. They are available in different strengths that are available from your health care professional. Unlike many over-the-counter acne treatments, RETIN-A has the ability to get beneath the surface of your skin and work where acne begins. While the exact mechanism of action is unknown, RETIN-A is thought to loosen and expel existing acne plugs in the skin and prevent new lesions from forming. It directly attacks the cause of acne, the plug. RETIN-A should be applied to the face once a day, before bed, using enough to cover the entire face lightly. Patients should wait 20-30 minutes after washing before applying RETIN-A. Therapeutic results should be noticed after two to three weeks, but more than six weeks of therapy may be required before beneficial effects are seen. During the first few weeks of therapy, an exacerbation of pimples may occur. This is due to the action of the medication on deep, previously unseen pimples and should not be considered a reason to discontinue use. During the first few weeks of therapy, some irritation, including redness and peeling, will be experienced by most patients. Generally, these effects are manageable and diminish over time. However, some people with sensitive skin may experience excessive irritation. The manufacturer recommends application of RETIN-A once daily in the evening after washing. This product must also be used with caution in the sunlight, as it thins the stratum corneum (outermost layer of the skin), making the skin sensitive to sunlight In general, Retin-A is most effective in older patients who have some fine facial wrinkles, or blotchy pigmented areas caused by sun damage. However, Retin-A is often prescribed to younger, active individuals who want to combat the aging effects of sun exposure. Though the degree of change varies from person to person, with continued use of Retin-A, you will begin to see subtle improvements in the texture and tone of your skin. Retin-A users notice a rosy glow during the beginning months of use, followed by the disappearance of fine lines and the shrinking of large pores. After about six months, many Retin-A users report that wrinkles are barely visible and that age spots have faded.

Posted by admin Posted in: Skin Care No Comments » April 2008

Smart Living Means Healthy Skin

Beautiful skin is an index of health and one sign of the well-being of an individual. The skin is an organ and it is on this surface of the body that the first signs of disease or imbalance may create their first impression

It is also where aging first begins to show up. While a few of the phenomena can be unavoidable or inevitable, some basic protection to the skin is very important, not only to maintain a glowing look, but also to defray premature aging. The process of skin damage begins right from the childhood, and the two biggest offenders are the sun and environmental pollution.

The sun emits ultraviolet rays. Falling in three categories: UVA, UVB and UVC, the first two are the most important contributors in early skin damaging. UVC category rays are easily absorbed by the ozone layer. A large chunk of UVA and UVB rays permeate the ozone layer to enter the earth’s atmosphere and hit our skins. This ozone layer is also getting fast depleted due to global warming and other environmental hazards, thereby enhancing the health related risks of UVA and UVB rays on human bodies. When these rays hit the skin excessively, sunburns, premature aging and even skin cancer can result.

Protection is the best remedy. Direct exposure of the skin to the hot sunrays should be avoided. Although there is validity to the fact that exposure to sunlight is essential the natural synthesis of vitamin D in the body, Umbrellas, caps, sunglasses are highly recommended as outdoor gears when venturing out in the sun. UV sunscreens are also available that protect the skin by bouncing off the harmful UV rays, yet giving the skin the opportunity to bask in the warmth of the sun. Marketed either as lotions or as additives with various facial and skin cosmetics, UV sunscreens come in a variety of strengths and choices.

Their efficacy varies across the category of rays- some are effective against only the UVB rays, while some are effective against both UVA and UVB rays. The UVB rays were earlier known to be the only damaging agent in the sun’s ultraviolet band. However, UVA rays were also taken in the fold subsequently. The strength of sunscreen is measured in SPF: Sun Protection Factor and usually ranges from 15 to even 50, with the higher strengths being recommended for skins that are extremely sensitive to light. Irritants in the atmosphere like dust, suspended particles, oil, and smoke and emissions damage the skin significantly. These micro-particles floating in the air settle on the surface of the skin, clogging the tiny pores on its surface that enables the skin to ‘breathe’ and maintain healthy balance of the body’s interior with that of the external world.

These clogs lead to appearance of pimples. Regular cleaning of the skin with water is very important to keep the pores free. Moreover, water hydrates the skin and maintains it in proper tone. Dehydration of the skin surface may lead to appearance of wrinkles, lines and spots on the skin. All of them may make the skin look older than its actual bio-age. Water balance in the skin can be effectively maintained by drinking enough water everyday and using skin moisturizers regularly.

Anti-aging skin lotions are also available in the market that can help prevent discoloration of the skin and reduce lines and wrinkles, making the skin look more bright and supple. With eternal youth being on almost everybody’s agenda, proper care and attention to the skin is absolutely important to stay on track. Newer techniques, therapies and products like massage, spa, Dead Sea Salts, Human Growth Hormone, DHEA etc. are offering a fantastic array of possibilities to arrest youthfulness and delay aging. But, few things remain basic to good skin: Drink lots of water; take balanced diets with lots of green vegetables, high-fiber foods, vitamins, minerals; cut oils and fats; and protect you from direct exposures to the sun for long. The health benefits of smart living will shine through with healthy skin and provide positive reinforcement every time you look in the mirror.

Posted by admin Posted in: Skin Care No Comments » March 2008

What are wrinkles?

Like other parts of the body, the skin too is susceptible to aging. As we grow old, several biochemical changes take place in the elastin and the collagen, which are the connective tissues that give elasticity and firmness to our skin. This causes the skin to become less elastic and dry. Thin, creased lines appear on your face, especially below your eyes. These lines, which are signs of skin aging, are known as wrinkles.

How are wrinkles caused?

Genetic predisposition and age might be the major causes of wrinkle but other factors like over exposure to sun, smoking, facial expressions like frowning or squinting, lack of adequate sleep can also trigger wrinkle formation. The first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey done by a group British scientists also showed faulty dietary habits, which included less or no inclusion of vitamin C, and vitamin E in daily diet, could also etch fine lines into the skin.

What can you do to prevent them?

The best way to ensure a youthful-looking skin is to minimize exposure to direct sunlight, have a healthy lifestyle, and ensure a proper diet. Make skin care a part of your daily regime. Clean, moisturize and tone your skin daily. Use an exfoliator with enzymes every week, as this will help you to dissolve dead skin cells without being too abrasive, thus giving your skin a healthy glow. Usually wrinkles first appear in the skin around your eyes, which is much finer than the rest of your face. These wrinkles under the eye that is popularly known as crow’s feet can be effectively combated using proper eye creams that are lighter than the facial moisturizer, and can thus be easily absorbed by the fine skin below the eyes. If you are above 30, use anti aging creams and lotions, which contain liposomes. Liposomes, when deposited on the skin, begin to merge with the cellular membranes releasing ingredients, which induce the growth of healthy new skin cells.

Exercising the muscles in your face and consciously avoiding gestures like frowning, squinting can go a long way in delaying the onset of wrinkles. Avoid smoking as it reduces blood flow to the skin, thereby reducing the flow nutrients and oxygen that are necessary for growth and healing, making the skin look much older than it really is. Make Vitamin C that manufactures collagen, or vitamin E that effectively helps in sun blocking an integral part of your daily diet. Foods rich in vitamin E and vitamin C include wheat germ, spinach and sunflower seeds, oranges, lemons among others.

Aging cannot be stopped, but for sure it can be delayed. All it takes is maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating proper food and ensuring adequate skin care. That’s the best route to ageless complexion!

Posted by admin Posted in: Skin Care No Comments » February 2008