Sunlight is important to the body, producing vitamin D and helping regulate sleep patterns and mood. However, sun exposure can be harmful to the skin, as ultraviolet radiation damages skin cells. Sunscreen protects against the sun’s rays and helps maintain a youthful appearance.
There are two types of ultraviolet rays that can affect us, ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB). UVA are longer rays and can penetrate deeper into the skin and affect the DNA of skin cells. Cell membranes are attacked by these rays and protein structures are affected. The levels of collagen and elastin in the skin are lowered, therefore leading to wrinkles and sagging. UVB rays are shorter rays that are absorbed by the outermost layer of the skin, the epidermis. These rays inflame the blood vessels, turning the skin red and causing a sunburnt appearance. UVB rays can also affect the genetic material of the skin, leading to skin cancer.
Sunscreen is the best method of protecting the skin from sun exposure as it blocks ultraviolet rays. SPF, or sun protection factor, is a measure of how well the sunscreen prevents UVB rays from causing skin damage. Look for a sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, as these do a great job of protecting the skin from UVB. A broad-spectrum sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Also consider that UVA rays can pass through windows, affecting the skin even when indoors.
Who should use sunscreen? It is appropriate for anyone over the age of six months, and should be used every time you are exposed to the sun. Apply it 15-30 minutes before exposure, and reapply every 2 hours. Try to stay indoors when the sun’s rays are strongest, between 10am and 2pm. Dark-skinned people should also use sunscreen, as everyone needs protection from harmful rays. People with rosacea and other types of sensitive skin should use a mineral-based sunscreen as this is less irritating to the skin. Follow these steps to enjoy your time in the sun while taking care of your skin.
Traveling abroad for treatment, also known as medical tourism, carries risks and complications for patients. A common motivation is lower prices in other countries, or the chance to combine treatment with a holiday. But patients must make sure that the health centers they visit have well-trained staff and safety measures. Countries have different standards for certification and surgical training, so some doctors abroad might offer suboptimal care. Travel itself can also cause complications, especially after cosmetic surgery.
Avoid travel packages that combine treatment with a holiday, as these are misleading and risky. Cosmetic surgery is a big decision and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Never pay to visit a hospital you have never seen or a surgeon you’ve never met without understanding what they can offer you. You should book at least two consultations before deciding on treatment, with a cool-off period to make a decision. When you complete a procedure abroad, aftercare with the surgeon in your home country becomes more challenging. If you sustain complications, it will be harder for them to determine the underlying cause. Fixing the issue can cost more than the original price of treatment. These are important reasons that domestic procedures are preferred for patients.
Choosing a doctor abroad is more difficult since you are not aware of the standards in their country. Language barriers can also make the research harder to do. Whether you book at home or abroad, you must research the doctor and make sure they are reliable. They should fully explain the procedure to you before treatment. You should also prepare for what can go wrong, as this can interfere with your travel plans. You might need to delay your return to make sure you can travel home safely. If you decide to seek treatment abroad, you should return with a detailed report by the surgeon with post-operative instructions. Keep this advice in mind and stay informed to reduce the risks of medical tourism.
Vitamin A, also known as retinoids, is a powerful anti-aging chemical that plays many roles in skincare. It can diminish fine lines and wrinkles, improve uneven skin tone, as well as treat skin conditions such as acne. Vitamin A achieves these benefits through specific actions in the body. It exfoliates, aids in collagen production, and fights free radicals in the skin. Here are four key benefits of vitamin A for skincare:
Anti-aging:
Vitamin A can reduce the impact of aging on your skin and turn back the clock on your appearance. Through boosting the collagen in your skin, wrinkles and fine lines are reduced. The added collagen helps prevent new wrinkles from forming. Through regular use of vitamin A products, the skin becomes thicker and more elastic, leading to a more youthful appearance.
Photo protection:
Vitamin A prevents sun-induced skin damage in addition to treating photodamaged skin. Ultraviolet light degrades collagen and fibrin in the skin and vitamin A counters this effect. It is advisable to apply the product at night due to increase in skin sensitivity. This should be followed by sunscreen the following day.
Treats acne:
Vitamin A has the ability to unclog pores and prevent further build up, which reduces the frequency of acne breakouts. It can also help fade acne scarring, by encouraging dead skin cells to turnover and reveal healthy cells. By acting as an exfoliator, vitamin A is an essential product in improving acne-prone skin.
Improves complexion:
Through normalizing cell turnover, vitamin A improves complexion in many ways. Skin becomes smoother with smaller pores, reduced hyperpigmentation, and less age spots. Allowing healthy cells to replace dead skin cells leads to a brighter and more attractive complexion. If you are frustrated by dark age spots or large pores, then introducing vitamin A to your skincare routine can solve the problem.
Other considerations:
An important factor in choosing a vitamin A product is considering the formulation. For the vitamin to be effective, it must be converted to retinoic acid inside the skin cell. You can acquire the product as over the counter or through prescription. Prescription retinoids are strong and might cause skin irritation and flaking so they should be introduced gradually to reduce side effects. Consult your healthcare provider to see if vitamin A in your regimen can meet your unique skin requirements. It is also recommended to avoid it during pregnancy.
You can read about the benefits of vitamin C for skincare here.
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an essential vitamin that the body needs for many reasons. However, it is most beneficial to the skin – particularly the face. Topical serums containing vitamin C have become popular as it is an all-natural ingredient. These serums are preferred over other products because you don’t have to worry about harsh chemicals and their impact on the skin. Excessive exposure to UV light as well as smoking lowers vitamin C content in the epidermis, which is the outer layer of skin cells. These are reasons why you need to replenish vitamin C content in the skin. Here are five benefits of vitamin C serums:
Photoprotection:
One benefit of Vitamin C is that it limits the damage that ultraviolet (UV) light causes to the skin. It protects against and treats UV-induced damage through antioxidant activity. UV light reduces the vitamin C content in the skin; the addition of vitamin C lowers the UV-related damage and increases cell survival. Topical application of Vitamin C is more effective than oral administration because of the more direct route of activity. These serums should be applied before sunblock, and there is also a synergistic effect with vitamin E when it comes to preventing photodamage.
Anti-Wrinkling:
Both photodamage and natural aging contribute to oxidative damage to proteins, which causes wrinkles. In addition to its antioxidative effects, vitamin C plays an important role in the synthesis of collagen. This structural protein keeps the skin elastic and buoyant, contributing to a youthful look. Cell culture models have revealed the benefits of vitamin C supplementation: the vitamin stabilizes collagen mRNA, which boosts protein synthesis and aids in repairing damaged skin.
Improves dry skin:
Topical application of vitamin C can improve the hydration of skin that can’t produce its own moisture. It plumps up the skin and replenishes moisture, without the oils and greasy ingredients of other products. A study on PubMed found a correlation between higher intakes of dietary vitamin C and a decreased risk of dry skin.
Reduces under-eye circles:
Vitamin C serums are especially useful for reducing the appearance of eye bags and puffiness. They can brighten dark circles, and make the skin more elastic and firm. Vitamin C serums that are specifically formulated for the eyes are ideal.
Wound healing:
High levels of vitamin C can speed up the body’s natural healing processes. This makes topical serums ideal for use on the face and other areas to treat small cuts, acne scars, and other blemishes. Vitamin C reduces inflammation and discoloration, helping restore your appearance. People with hyperpigmentation will find vitamin C serums useful for treating their skin condition.
Medical devices in aesthetic medicine vary widely: in type, quality, mode of treatment, and application to certain diseases. The risks attached to the device can outweigh the benefits, so patients should carefully consider their options. They should ask many questions to clarify the procedure, and to ensure that the doctor has had positive experience with the device. The material provided by the manufacturer can be biased, so it is important to consult other sources for information. Here are five questions to ask your doctor about the device used for treatment:
Is the device approved by the FDA?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a regulatory body that examines medical devices entering the market. Approval indicates that they believe the benefits outweigh the risks, therefore the device is safe and effective for treatment. The FDA reviews the results of clinical testing carried out by the companies, it does not develop or test the products itself. FDA approval indicates that the device can be used safely and successfully.
Have you had a positive experience with this device? How was the learning curve? What was the worst outcome?
It is important that the doctor has had successful treatment with the device, and that they have learned to operate it well. There is a learning curve with any piece of equipment, but you don’t have to make yourself the testing ground for it. You should also ask the doctor what was the worst outcome, so that you are aware of what can go wrong with treatment.
What are the risks, benefits and side effects of this device?
The benefits should always be weighed against the risks when choosing a treatment. Your doctor should have a personalized treatment plan that is suitable for your medical history. Side effects should be evaluated against your medical condition, and compared with those of alternate devices.
Can I consult written information on this device? Do you have any information not provided by the manufacturer?
Device makers provide leaflets to doctors that they can provide to patients, but this is biased information. Asking your doctor for external sources and peer-reviewed material can help you get more reliable knowledge. This can also confirm that the doctor has done their research instead of just relying on the manufacturer’s word.
Are there alternatives on the market? What device was used before this one?
New is not always better. New devices can offer benefits that aren’t more substantial than older devices. Worse, they can introduce new risks that the traditional methods avoid. You should find out why the doctor stopped using the old device, and why doctors have shifted to a new device for treatment.
You can find more advice about deciding on a treatment here.
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