Even if exposure is limited to brief outdoor lunches or a 20-minute walk, cumulative exposure is enough to cause the signs of skin aging. The first line of daily defense against sun damage is daily use of SPF. Even on cloudy or overcast days, UV light can strike skin and cause damage, so simply wearing sunscreen on sunny days isn’t enough. 

Fortunately, more sophisticated sunscreen formulations with skin health benefits (think less chalky, less greasy) have made SPF a convenient addition to our morning routine. Speak with your professional skin therapist about SPF moisturizers that can be worn comfortably under make-up, or alone to deliver defense against skin aging UV light.

Exfoliation delivers a tighter, firmer, smoother look and feel of skin. Because of this result, many fall into the trap of over-exfoliation: an over-zealous approach that can actually reduce skin’s vitality and make it more susceptible to damage from UV light.

Over-exfoliation triggers the inflammatory response, leading to a compromised lipid barrier that won’t function properly, a sensitised skin condition, and accelerated premature aging. 

Tell-tale signs of over-exfoliated skin include:
   •    noticeable dehydration
   •    patchy areas of dryness
   •    skin tautness
   •    redness and itchiness
   •    increased sensitivity
   •    inflammatory acne and irritation

If you’re showing the signs of over-exfoliation, speak with a professional skin therapist, who will most likely prescribe a calming cleanser and toner, and a protective moisturizer to start the recovery process. Sun protection is a must: wear a sunscreen with physical UV blockers Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide that won’t irritate skin.  After skin recovery, begin exfoliating with a gentle exfoliant designed for daily use. If you desire a more intense level of exfoliation, look to non-abrasive exfoliants containing chemicals like Salicylic or Lactic Acid. Pair a gentler regimen with professional exfoliation treatments from your professional skin therapist to enjoy smoother skin without the undesirable side effects.

Hyper pigmented conditions occur when the skin produces more melanin than normal, sparking discoloration. CosMedix targets hyper pigmentation through gentle renewal and the inhibition of melanin-catalyzing enzymes. Usually sparked by sun damage, inflammation or skin injury, hyper pigmentation and melasma occur when the skin produces more melanin, or natural pigment, than normal, resulting in the formation of dark, irregular patches.

Botox can dehydrate your body and you will need to follow a couple of instructions to minimise and prevent this.

(a) We recommend to drink plenty of water after the procedure, at least 2 litres of water in the first 24 hours.

(b) We also advise to avoid alcohol for the first 24 hours.

(c)  You may want to take your normal painkillers a few hours before the procedure and after the procedure to prevent any headaches.

Tip 2.How To Prevent Drooping eyelids

There are a number of reasons why this may occur:

(a)  Too much Botox has been given in the forehead. This muscle lifts your eyes, so if it is relaxed too much it will not be able to maintain the    position of your eyes.

(b)  Not enough Botox has been administrated in your frown muscle. This muscle pulls your eyes down, so if this muscle is still active, then it will have a downward pull on the eyes

(c)  The Botox may have travelled downwards to the eyes. This could have been caused by exercising straight after the procedure or bending downwards. So we recommend not to exercise for 24 hours after the procedure and also not to bend down too excessively

(d)  We also advise against having any facial massages or facials within 24 hours of having Botox. This may migrate the material towards the eyes.

(e)  Also if you have a saggy upper eyelid, this would indicate your forehead muscle does not want to be frozen as this will most definitely cause the eyelids to drop. So in this instant you may not be suitable for Botox and may need to seek alternative procedures.

Tip 3.How To Prevent The Frozen look

This will occur if too much Botox has been administrated. We would normally recommend to underdose initially and if you require further treatment then to have the Top Up after a couple of weeks. The frozen look will disappear over time as the effects of Botox begin to wear off. This is different for each person and can be anything between 3-6 months.

Tip 4.How To Make Sure Your Wrinkles are still not there

The effects of the treatment will normally take around 2 weeks to work. The first few days your skin will feel tighter at the injection area. You should have a review appointment 2 weeks after the initial visit. At this visit the Doctor will see if you require any further Botox, known as the Top Up. This will take on average a week for you to see the results. If the wrinkles are still present then either you will need more Botox or you were not suitable for the procedure, e.g deep lines or lines at rest only (i.e no lines on facial expression).

Tip 5.How To Reduce Any Inflammation and Swelling

You will experience slight redness at the injection sites. This is common, so don’t be alarmed. This will normally resolve within an hour of having the procedure.

Due to the amount of fluid being injected you will also expect to see some swelling at the injection sites. This will be similar to a bee sting and will resolve within an hour of the procedure.

This can be minimised by having the area frozen by an ice pack and also ask to have an ice pack given so you can apply it to the area for a couple of hours after the procedure.

You may experience some bruising in certain areas. To reduce this make sure the operator uses a thin needle. Also you want to avoid being directly injected into a vein and this risk increases the deeper the needle goes into the skin. If bruising does occur then you can use Arnica cream or Vitamin K cream to encourage healing and mask the bruise.

• Stress
• Lack of sleep
• Poor diet
• Dehydration
• Incorrect products
• Over stimulation
• Sun damage
• Pollution
• Hormones

Keep your skin clean, protected and hydrated and your are on the right path. But make sure you always check the ingredients before buying a product. So many cheap cosmetics bulk up their products with irritating ingredients that can cause all sorts of skin problems that can take a while to correct.

Avoid: mineral oil, talc, dyes, glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide, petroleum, (are a few of the common triggers).

Speak to a skin care consultant if you feel you are suffering with redness, breakouts, sensitivity, heat, dry or cracked skin.

Obviously thinner cell mean the appearance of the skin is thinner.

The lack of stickiness reduces how effective how the barrier function is. This means moisture in our skin is released rather than being kept in making it drier.

The amount of cells decreases by 10% every 10 years, as the reproduction of cells slows down the speed in which our skin repairs itself also slows and becomes less effective.

The natural production of collagen also decreases and our elastin fibers start to wear out. These are the building blocks of our skin; the elastin is what keeps everything in place. As this starts to wear out the building blocks of our skin start to crumble, this is what causes our skin to sag and wrinkle.

Our sweat glands reduce in numbers and although our sebaceous glands increase in size they produce less moisture. This causes again a drier skin. Dry skin looks dull and tired.

You fat cells also shrink no longer plumping out those wrinkles/folds.

It is important to keep the skin well hydrated to prevent loss of water, keep it protected so it doesn’t have to work harder to repair itself. Eat well with lots of healthy non saturated fats (omega oils). Look at products that target free radical damage (free radicals are around us all the time in the environment (pollution) and cause aging. Antioxidants will help fight the free radical damage.

aesthetics Valentines Promotion 2011

Professional Teeth Whitening for an amazing £175 only (saving £352)

Why not treat your loved one to an extra special Valentines gift this year…..one that can last a lifetime, and give them something to really smile about?

Our amazing Valentines deal includes the following:

• Free Smile & Teeth Whitening Consultation
• Free 60 minute New Patient Consultation & Examination (worth £75)
• Free 45 minute Initial Periodontal Assessment & Treatment with our Senior Hygienist (worth £55)
• Free Professional Whitening Gel & Custom made Whitening Trays..yours to keep for life (normal price £397)
• For an additional £100 you can upgrade to a Professional Power Teeth Whitening Treatment …to give that ultimate whiteness (5-9 shades lighter) 
• As an additional special gift any of our aesthetics existing members will receive a free box of Home Whitening Top Up Kit (worth £55) for every new patient they refer to us for this offer

This offer will run for the whole month of February 2011 only!!

Don’t miss out on this fantastic offer & book now call us now on 01707 261367

** Please present this voucher on arrival of your appointment **

www.aesthetics-dentistry.com

To make your veneers last longer, follow a good oral hygiene program. We strongly recommend regular visits to your dentist and hygienist.  With their professional advice you will get much longer timespan with your veneers.

For more information telephone us on 01707 261367 or visit veneers Hertfordshire

Recently, aloe vera has gained some popularity as an active ingredient in tooth gel. Similar to its use on skin, the aloe vera in tooth gels is used to cleanse and soothe teeth and gums.

Aloe vera tooth gel is intended to perform the same function as toothpaste, which is to eliminate pathogenic oral microflora—disease causing bacteria—in the mouth. The ability of aloe vera tooth gel to successfully perform that function has been a point of contention for some dental professionals. However, research presented in General Dentistry may alleviate that concern. The study compared the germ-fighting ability of an aloe vera tooth gel to two commercially top toothpastes and revealed that the aloe vera tooth gel was just as effective, and in some cases more effective, than the commercial brands at controlling cavity-causing organisms.

Aloe latex contains anthraquinones, which are chemical compounds that are used in healing and arresting pain because they are anti-inflammatory in nature. But, because aloe vera tooth gel tends to be less harsh on teeth, as it does not contain the abrasive elements typically found in commercial toothpaste, it is a great alternative for people with sensitive teeth or gums.

But buyers must beware. Not all aloe vera tooth gel contains the proper form of aloe vera. Products must contain the stabilized gel that is located in the center of the aloe vera plant in order to be effective. Products must also adhere to certain manufacturing standards.

Thanks to Smita for finding this article.

Our own Jenna volunteered to have botox administered under her arms. Not many people know that it can be used to treat excessive sweating in this area – botox herts

Would like to thank all the team at aesthetics – Smita, Jenna and Pub for their help and to the people that braved the weather.

What are you hoping to achieve from the procedure? More confidence, to look good for a event?

Do you want something subtle or a more dramatic change?

Ask around, research online then speak to a professional.

For more inforamtion contact us on 01707 261367 or visit anti wrinkle hertfordshire

This is why after every orthodontic case, whether it be invisalign hatfield, inman aligner hatfield or 6month smiles hatfield we insist on a retainer at the conclusion of the treatment.

There are normally 2 choices.

A fixed wire behind your front teeth. This has the advantage that it is there all the time. However some people might not like the thought of something permanent in their mouths.

The second choice is a clear removable retainer. This is normally worn full time for the first 3 months and nightly after this.

So if you don’t want to go back to crooked teeth, make sure you wear your retainers.

call us on 01707 261367 or visit orthodontics herts for more information.