Start your skin out right in 2013!

My biggest pet peeve?......Wearing your makeup to bed!...... Wash your face at night!!!

Don’t worry: It’s not too late. Here, we break down your bad skin habits and show you how to avoid them—and look 10 years younger.

Skipping sunscreen

The No. 1 way you’re aging your skin? Not wearing sunscreen daily.

“The sun is the primary cause of skin aging,” says Neil Sadick, MD, a New York City–based dermatologist. The sun can reach you on cloudy, rainy, or snowy days as well. Plus, Dr. Sadick adds, “skin-damaging UV rays can penetrate through glass, so you need to apply sun protection even indoors.”

He suggests choosing a broad-spectrum sunscreen, which blocks both types of UV rays, UVA and UVB, with an SPF of at least 30. Antioxidant-fortified formulas containing ingredients such as resveratrol, vitamin C, idebenone, or coffee berry can offer additional protection.

Neglecting your hands and neck

Your face isn’t the only area that needs a little TLC. Overexposure to sun affects your hands and neck just as much as your complexion. These areas show signs of aging, like dark spots, dryness, and loss of firmness, notes Dr. Sadick.

Treat your neck and the backs of your hands as you would your face by generously applying moisturizer and sunscreen. While you can buy body-specific products, they aren’t necessary. Those formulated for your face will work just fine, Dr. Sadick says.

Going to bed without removing your makeup

You may find it tempting to fall into bed after a busy day—or a late night on the town—without cleaning your face. But skipping a cleanser at night can lead to breakouts later.

During the day, environmental toxins (like dirt and pollution) build up on skin and invade pores, which can cause complexion problems, says Dr. Sadick. So don’t hit the sack before you wash. Use a good cleanser and save your skin. Keep a box of cleansing towelettes bedside for added convenience—simply swipe and sleep.

Ditching products too quickly

If you’re frustrated that your new anti-aging moisturizer isn’t doing its job, stick it out longer before switching. Bouncing from product to product may leave you with the impression that nothing works for your skin.

Dr. Jacob recommends that you give a new product at least six weeks to produce a change in your complexion. “One skin cycle takes 30 days [for new cells to reach the top layer of skin], so in order to see a real difference in texture, tone, and clarity, you need to use it for more than a month,” she says. If the product contains anti-aging ingredients, wait even longer. Your skin takes about four months to regenerate collagen and elastin, she says.

Using too many products at once

If a new moisturizer is good, then the combination of a new serum, toner, and night cream must be better, right?

Not so fast. If your skin gets irritated after you use a handful of new products, you won’t know what’s causing the problem and assume they’re all irritating. Instead, “start with one at a time, and integrate a new product every two weeks,” says Dr. Jacob. That way, you’ll be better able to identify what’s aggravating you, or know what combination of them makes your skin go haywire. Plus, you’ll also save some cash by buying only what you need.

Getting insufficient shut-eye can age skin prematurely—and, in the short run, result in dark circles and a lackluster complexion. During the day, our skin cells are battling against an onslaught of stressors, like UV rays and pollution. Sleep is vital because stress hormones drop to normal levels at night, giving cells time to repair and rejuvenate, says Dr. Jacob.

Plus, stress raises the levels of the hormone cortisol, which increases oil production and can lead to bouts of acne, according to Dr. Jacob. So make sure you’re not depriving yourself of the sleep you need.

Skimping on sleep

Getting insufficient shut-eye can age skin prematurely—and, in the short run, result in dark circles and a lackluster complexion. During the day, our skin cells are battling against an onslaught of stressors, like UV rays and pollution. Sleep is vital because stress hormones drop to normal levels at night, giving cells time to repair and rejuvenate, says Dr. Jacob.

Plus, stress raises the levels of the hormone cortisol, which increases oil production and can lead to bouts of acne, according to Dr. Jacob. So make sure you’re not depriving yourself of the sleep you need.

New Running Shoes: Getting Healthy 2013

I buy new running shoes frequently. Love my Asics Gel-Noosa Tri-8!! If you are going to start any new exercise program to get healthy in 2013, start by buying new shoes designed for your particular workouts....i.e., running, aerobics, hiking, etc.

 Runners often push through the last few miles during a workout, but when it comes to replacing a pair of running shoes, those last few miles could be the catalyst for an injury. 

 “The shoes are really your first line of defense against a lot of injuries,” said Dr. Darrin Bright, medical director for the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon and the Capital City and Dublin’s Emerald City half-marathons.

“Every time your foot strikes the ground, four to five times your body weight has to be absorbed by your body.”

Shoes take some of the bullets for runners. Bright said the typical life of a well-built running shoe is 250 to 500 miles. When a shoe reaches that age, it has lost about 40 percent of its shock-absorbing capacity.

“If your shoes aren’t doing it, then it’s your shins, your knees and your hips,” Bright said.

But 250 to 500 miles is a big gap, Bright said, and there are plenty of other factors that help dictate the death of a shoe, such as running surfaces.

“Concrete is a little bit harder than some of the other surfaces we run on,” Bright said. “I think the ideal surface is more asphalt or a very hard, packed-down trail — it’s not quite as hard, and we don’t see the same forces.”

The stature of a runner also influences wear and tear, Bright said. People with larger frames who come down hard can wear out a shoe quickly. On the other hand (or foot, in this case), shoes belonging to light runners with quick gaits could last 500 miles.

Others measure their shoes’ life in months. Bright said, depending on how much a runner hits the trails, running shoes could last six to 12 months.

Bright has completed about 50 marathons and typically runs 50 to 70 miles a week. He replaces his shoes every six to eight weeks and writes on his new pair with a black Sharpie to remember when he bought them and when they should be discarded.

Running on a worn-down shoe can lead to injuries. Bright, the OhioHealth sports medicine physician at MAX Sports Medicine, said the injuries he worries about are shin splints, stress fractures, Achilles tendinitis and other strains. Stress fractures account for about 15 percent of all running injuries.

Some injuries build up over time. When a shoe is worn out, runners can often feel a new ache or pain that might indicate they need a new pair. But other acute injuries could happen without warning.

“I look at running shoes as more of an investment than an expense,” Bright said.

Zach Webster, a sales associate for Second Sole Racing, said the typical pair of running shoes or cross-trainers costs about $100.

But Webster said an athlete can’t judge a shoe’s life by its appearance.

“The shoes can still look good aesthetically, but the internal components start to go,” he said.

Brooke Miller, a 19-year-old Ohio State University student who runs half-marathons, said she buys a shoe that has good support, but even that’s not enough.

“I put different insoles in my shoe,” Miller said. “I want to protect my legs as long as I can.”& amp; amp; amp; amp; lt; /p>

Brice Allen, associate head coach of the OSU track team, said he doesn’t take any chances with his distance runners’ footwear.

Six pairs of shoes are pre-ordered for each athlete at the beginning of the season, and the coaches issue the shoes in two pairs. The runners are expected to rotate the pairs so they last longer.

Allen said that with their workouts, the male distance runners average about 50 miles a week and reach their shoes’ mileage limit in five or six weeks.

Injuries caused by worn-out shoes are a risk Allen said he is unwilling to take.

“It’s not worth it for $90,” he said. “It’s better to be in good equipment.”

msomerson@dispatch.com

Botox for Depression? Read a recent study....

Scientists believe Botox could help to treat mental illness

It has long been recognised for its wrinkle-busting properties. 

Now, scientists believe Botox could also help to treat mental illness.

New research shows that the cosmetic treatment can dramatically improve the symptoms of severe depression in more than a quarter of patients.

Dr Eric Finzi, medical director at the Chevy Chase Cosmetic Centre, in Maryland, has carried out research which suggests that physical expressions of emotion influence our feelings.

For this reason, he believes that smoothing out frown lines using Botox can actually improve the mood of people with clinical depression.

For example, he claims his latest research shows that forcing a frown can cause a depressed mood, while deliberately smiling can temporarily increase happiness.

As American actress Phyllis Diller once said: 'A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.'

This is the second of Dr Finzi’s studies which comes to this conclusion.

He first proposed the theory that by preventing frowning, the toxin is interrupting signals to the brain that indicate the body is under stress or cannot cope.

For the newest study, Dr Finzi worked with 84 people with severe depression that lasted for an average of two years and which had not fully responded to treatment with antidepressants.

 

The patients all received either Botox treatment to smooth out frown lines, or a placebo injection into the same facial region. They were then assessed three and six weeks later.

By the end of the study, 27 per cent of those receiving Botox reported nearly complete remission of their depression compared to just 7 per cent of those who received the placebo.

Dr Finzi said: ‘This trial shows that inhibition of frowning can lead to remission in depression.’

The researchers suggests that physical expressions of emotion influence our feelings

Botox is a well-known cosmetic treatment for age-related wrinkles around the eyes and forehead. 

However, the powerful toxin also has a wide range of medical applications, and is used to treat stroke victims' muscle spasms, can ease migraine and even helps people with Parkinson's disease control their movements.

It works by 'paralysing' small groups of muscles to prevent them going into spasm or contracting regularly. This stops the surrounding skin from wrinkling.

Scientists have also recently discovered that Botox could help fight cancer by boosting the effects of chemotherapy, speeding up the destruction of tumour cells.

In another experiment, Australian scientists have been trying to establish whether applying Botox gel to the nose could give hay fever sufferers relief from sneezing, itchy eyes and runny noses for up to three months.

It is hoped that the botulinum toxin will affect the nerves in the nose and potentially block some of the chemicals released by the nerve endings which play a large role in causing hay fever symptoms. 

To try and treat the allergy, the Botox molecule has been re-engineered to be able to penetrate through the skin but also through the lining of the nose.

 

'My life did a 360-degree turnaround': A patient's verdict of Dr Finzi's earlier experiment

In his first study, in 2006, Dr Finzi and his colleague Dr Erika Wasserman recruited ten women aged between 36 and 63 with a medical history of depression.

The average period of depression was 3.5 years, although one patient had been ill for 17 years and had not responded well to conventional treatments.

'Patients who have had their frown lines treated with Botox are perceived by others to be happier'

Seven out of the ten had been on anti-depressants but continued to be dogged by severe depression before taking part in the study.

Each volunteer - none of whom had had Botox before - underwent a thorough assessment by a clinical psychologist before the experiment began.

They were then injected with the toxin and told to report back in two months, when another psychological assessment was carried out.

Using a questionnaire designed to measure the scale of depression, the researchers discovered nine were no longer clinically depressed and the one who still was reported a significant improvement in symptoms.

'Patients who have had their frown lines treated with Botox are perceived by others to be happier,' says Dr Finzi.

One woman with an 11-year history of depression said her life 'did a 360-degree turnaround' after the experiment. She got a new job and rekindled an old romance.

Some of the volunteers were seen again eight months later and their symptoms had returned as the toxin's effects wore off.

Dry skin? Try increasing your Vitamin D

(NaturalNews) One of the major drawbacks of winter is the effect cold, dry weather has on your skin. The good news is, research shows that upping your vitamin D intake could actually help mitigate that problem and keep your skin looking and feeling better.

One recent study by the Johnson and Johnson Skin Research Center found a link between low vitamin D levels and drier skin, "which was subsequently ameliorated by topical application of vitamin D," according to a summary.

Researchers conducted an observational study of two groups of 83 and 61 subjects. In the first part of the study, blood serum levels and skin conductance measurements were taken in the group of 83 participants following a one-week washout period.

"Results showed subjects with lower levels of vitamin D had lower average skin moisture," the summary said.

Sound vitamin D levels mean moister skin, less irritation

From that group, a subset of 61 study participants with insufficient vitamin D serum levels were given a topical ointment containing vitamin D. "Results showed increased skin moisture and improved clinical grading of dry skin," said the summary. Overall, the findings "suggest a relationship between vitamin D3 levels and hydration of" skin.

"Some people use vitamin D for skin conditions including vitiligo, scleroderma, psoriasis, actinic keratosis, and lupus vulgaris," added a summary of vitamin D in general from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health.

In fact, a number of studies have shown that vitamin D is very crucial in maintaining the correct balance of tissues present in skin. A lack of balance "can lead to wrinkled and parched skin due to disruption in this balancing phenomenon," writes Pratima Sharma for OnlyMyHealth.com. "The relationship between skin balance and vitamin D is a mutually beneficial one. One is responsible for the other, and vice versa."

The skin consists of a special layer designed to convert ultraviolet B radiation from the sun into vitamin D; a lack of sun can hamper this conversion, and in the winter, when it is much more cloudy, that can have a substantial impact on the dryness of your skin.

"Another smart way of treating vitamin D deficiency is by exposing yourself to the sun, optimally," Sharma says. "You need to consider making the most of the morning sun as much as possible."

Boost your 'D' with diet

That said, she and other experts caution that too much exposure to sunlight can also be harmful. Fortunately, besides taking vitamin D capsules and using topical vitamin D-containing lotions, you can obtain much of the supplement in the foods you eat:

-- Catch a plate of salmon. "In addition to providing more than 100 percent of your vitamin D requirements for the day, this fatty fish is chockfull of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help combat dry skin and hair. Other good fish sources containing vitamin D include sardines, cod liver oil and tuna," writes registered dietician Kristin Kirkpatrick, for the Huffington Post. Eggs also contain a healthy dose of vitamin D.

-- Enjoy a glass of sunshine - orange juice. By starting your day off with an eight-ounce glass of fresh, tangy orange juice you can get about one-third of your daily vitamin D requirement. And here's an additional benefit: You get vitamin C as well, which strengthens collagen, an element that is key to slowing the rate of aging of the skin.

-- Grab a cup of yogurt. A regular helping of this tasty food provides about 20 percent of your daily requirement of vitamin D, and comes with the added benefit of being a probiotic food that adds "good" bacteria to your intestinal tract for better digestion and fewer infections.

-- Healthy whole-grain breakfast. Choosing a healthy, whole-grain breakfast cereal to start your day off right can give you a quarter of the daily vitamin D you need, as well as a good dose of fiber, which can help you maintain a better weight. Check the label before you buy and make sure you're getting a cereal fortified with vitamin D.

Sources:

http://www.vitasearch.com/get-clp-summary/40491

http://www.huffingtonpost.com

http://www.onlymyhealth.com/dry-skin-vitamin-d-deficiency-1320819921

Fight Dark Spots in Dark Skin

Credit: Thinkstock

Melanin, in the simplest terms, is the pigmentation found within our skin that gives it a brown or dark color. And how much melanin you have in your skin determines how you treat it, especially as you age.

Very dark skin, for instance, is prone to sun damage and is more susceptible to developing brown spots from acne. "When you have more pigment in the skin, the melanocytes (cells that make pigment), have a tendency to release the pigment granules upon being injured. Therefore, it is easier to have dark pigment left behind after an injury (such as a burn, scratch or inflammation from acne), says Coral Gables, FL, dermatologist Janelle Vega, MD.  

However, "melasma is the most common affliction for women with ethnic skin," she says. "Many don’t grow up with the idea that they should be wearing sunscreen on a daily basis for sun protection, especially since some have an easier ability to tan and not burn." But the sun doesn’t care what color skin you have, it still wreaks havoc and sun exposure is one of the main influencers of melasma.  

While hyperpigmentation and dark spots are not limited to light skin, many treatments for it are. Some in-office lasers are a great way to help hyperpigmentation for lighter skin, but actually can make dark skin look worse. So if you have a deep skin tone, Dr. Vega says to avoid heavy resurfacing ablative lasers, as they will cause more problems than not.

To prevent melasma, first and foremost, she recommends using a physical sunblock of at least SPF 30 every day. To treat it, medium strength peels including glycolic acid or a very low percent tricyclic acid peel can help break up some of the pigment and allow topical creams at home help to penetrate the skin better. 

If you have post-inflammatory dark spots, IPL (intense pulsed light) can be used with caution, she says. There are also resurfacing treatments that can help. "One of the newest technologies is sublative rejuvenation (eMatrix), which uses radiofrequency technology to tighten the skin and improve the texture and tone of the skin.  It helps to lift the superficial pigment without the risk," she says.

If you are looking to go the cosmeceutical route, there are certain ingredients in over-the-counter skin care products that have been shown to reduce pigment. Look for emblica, kojic acid, licorice and niacinamide, to name a few. 

December 2012 Newsletter

I know we're almost halfway through the month, but I wanted to at least get you a quick update out... 
In January, hope to start focusing on some health and beauty topics I thing you'll find interesting each month..

Sei Bella Med Spa

Merry Christmas everyone!

    Hope this letter finds you starting to enjoy the holidays! I'm really looking forward to the family time, but still have some decorating to do and a little more shopping. We have had a very blessed year as a family and as a business! Thank you to all who supported us with your business and especially to those who supported me on the NF Endurance Team as I ran in support of the Children's Tumor Foundation. Although the New York Marathon was cancelled, CTF still received the research funds and we will run next year! Plus, St. Jude reopened their marathon to us this month, so I was able to support two of my favorite charities!

      A few new products to tell you about..... The first two go with our VIPeel. We have the VIDerm bleaching cream that has 4% hydroquinone, plus Vitamins A and C And there is the Ultra A which has 0.1% tretinoin (Retin-A), Vitamin C and Vitamin A. I originally ordered these at a patient's request because they was equivalent to some of the Obagi products and less expensive. They have become very popular. 

      If you like to masque once a week, Bionet has a few new masques that feel and work great. My favorite is the Detoxifying Mint Masque. And FINALLY, Obagi has come out with a moisturizer.....the Hydrate Facial Moisturizer. It's much lighter than their sunscreen and goes well under make up.

     If you're looking for another way to lose weight, remember Qsymia. We have had about 25 people start on it so far and I've seen really good results. Most people have seen 12- 13 lb weight loss with the first prescription. 

     Just a quick newsletter this month, because I know you are all busy. I'll start covering some topics of interest in January.

     Have a wonderful Christmas and God Bless in the New Year!

Anne R Trussell MD

owner/physician

Sei Bella Med Spa

Children's Tumor Foundation!

Drew is just one of the many reasons Lesley Gerke Oslica, Jennifer Hussey-Welter, Pete Tanguay and I run on the NF Endurance Team. It's good to see Drew stand up out of that wheelchair! Chad is a great brother who works tirelessly for the Children's Tumor Foundation.      www.ctf.org

Last Thursday, this happened (see pic), and reaffirmed that miracles DO happen. What it also affirmed is that these things happen because people believe and hop

e and work and pray and work some more that this dream of fixing something terrible is not a fantasy, but a very real possibility.

There are no words or enough hours in a year for our family to thank those who have believed with us. We are truly blessed to be doing this work together, and I know I speak for Drew, Ben, Mom ( Fran), and Jon when I say we are grateful for every one of you. We are not done yet, and we will not stop until there is no more NF, this will be a BIG year! Let's do this!

Running Pictures

St. Jude Half Marathon

December 1, 2012

Frozen Feet 5K

 December 8. 2012

Soaring Wings Half Marathon

      October 27, 2012

You all know how much the Children's Tumor Foundation means to me.

Thought I'd share a few pictures of races the NF Endurance Team did this year to raise funds and awareness for NF (neurofibromatosis) research.

Want to say thanks to teammates Pete, Lesley and Jennifer for inspiring me to run and to my wonderful husband Larry for his support of each race and for driving me everywhere.

I've even got him to join the team as a runner for next year!

Thanks to all of you who donated this year!