May 2008
 

Wellness Newsletter

BODY FOCUS
Laser & Longevity Center
 
(432) 688-1900
www. Midlandlongevity.com
 
 
 
Welcome to May issue of our Newsletter. Spring is nearly over and everyone is getting ready for hot Summer. Many of you are dreading swimsuit season but we have plenty of ways to help you feel and look better.  Our new Lipotron procedure is amazing and our guests are seeing incredible results.  LED (Red Light) helps with stretch marks and firming of the flaccid skin, MediLift tones the muscles and we are also planning to add new advanced formulas to Mesotherapy protocols.
 
 
Dr. Anna
What You Need to Know: Tryptophan
How lack of Tryptophan makes you Depressed, Fatigued, and Overweight
  • Serotonin is a brain biochemical that promotes restful sleep, well-being, and satiety. When serotonin levels are low, people often experience depression, anxiety, insomnia, and the urge to overeat.

  • The amino acid tryptophan is needed to produce serotonin in the body. While foods contain some tryptophan, the diet may not provide enough tryptophan to make adequate amounts of serotonin. Additionally, enzymes that are influenced by inflammation and aging can break down tryptophan before it converts to serotonin.

  • Individuals suffering from the adverse effects of low serotonin levels can now restore sleep, appetite control, and mood by supplementing with an advanced L-tryptophan formulation. Best formulas combine L-tryptophan with nutrients and herbs that help optimize its ability to convert to beneficial serotonin in order to counteract appetite and sleep disorders, and low mood.

 
ALL ABOUT SUNSCREENS
 
 
What are Sunscreens?
 
Sunscreens are chemical agents that help prevent the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation from reaching the skin.  Two types of ultraviolet radiation, UVA and UVB, damage the skin and increase your risk of skin cancer.
 
UVB is the chief culprit behind sunburn, while UVA rays, which penetrate the skin more deeply, are associated with wrinkling, leathering, sagging, and other effects of photoaging. 90 percent of wrinkles are caused by the sun's UVA light and sun damage is the #1 cause of premature aging in women and men.

Why are UVA rays so bad? Even at low-level exposures, UVA light breaks down collagen, which causes wrinkles. Even worse, scientists have found that UVA is the main culprit for many melanomas because it reaches deep into the underlying support structure of the skin.

 
Though far less capable of causing sunburn than UVB, UVA is present during all daylight hours year round, while the amount of UVB in sunlight varies by season, location and time of day.
 
Most sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher do an excellent job of protecting against UVB. SPF - or Sun Protection Factor - is a measure of a sunscreen's ability to prevent UVB from damaging the skin. Here's how it works:  If it takes 20 minutes for your unprotected skin to start turning red, using an SPF 15 sunscreen theoretically prevents reddening 15 times longer - about five hours.
 
But there are problems with the SPF model:  First, no sunscreen, regardless of strength, should be expected to stay effective longer than two hours without reapplication.  Second, "reddening" of the skin is a reaction to UVB rays alone and tells you little about what UVA damage you may be getting.  Plenty of damage can be done without the red flag of sunburn being raised.
 

ACNE CORNER
Blemishes caused by Blemishes
 
Once healed, acne lesions can leave temporary red or purple marks than can give rise to dark marks called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or PIH. While scars result from damage to the epidermis and the collagen, PIH is caused by damage to the cells that contain melanin.

A little restraint goes a long way when you're tempted to pick, but if you find yourself with PIH, a vitamin C serum or lightening products with kojic or azelaic acid can improve the appears of these spots and help get your complexion back on track.
 
We recommend: Revision and Medicalia brands of physician-only skin care available at our office.
 
Another solution for PIH is a Jessner's Peel, a  deeper peeling solution of resorcinol, lactic and salicylic acids. The Jessner's solution is layered on the skin to treat pigmentation, acne, acne scarring and other skin irregularities. Aggressive peeling and occasional crusting forms within two to four days of the peel. Redness and swelling may last a week or more.
Results are visible with new, clearer skin within seven to 10 days.
 
WHAT ABOUT TANNING?
Is Tanning Safe?
 
Tanning is the skin's reaction to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.  When skin is exposed to UV rays, cells called melanocytes produce the brown pigment melanin, which darkens the cells of the skin.  This darkening of the skin cells is the skin's natural  defense against further damage from UV radiation.
 
Darker skin does offer greater protection than light skin against sunburn and skin cancer. However, that applies only to people with naturally darker skin. Tanning, like sunburns, attacks the skin's DNA, producing genetic defects that may cause skin cancer.
 
It is safe to say that both burning and tanning play major roles in skin cancer.
Studies has shown that sunbed tanning increases the risk of both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.
 
The facts bear out: There is no such thing as a safe tan.
 
ORGANIC vs. NATURAL
Read Food Labels
 
Organic means that the food has not been genetically modified and has little, if any, chemicals, preservatives, flavor enhancement, herbicides, pesticides, growth factors, antibiotics or other drugs.
 
"100% organic" means hundred percent organic.
"Organic" means that the product is approximately 80% organic.
"Made with organic ingredients" means approximately 30% of the product is organic.
"Natural" means absolutely nothing.
 
If there is something in the ingredients list that you can't pronounce, don't buy and definitely, don't eat it!
 
 
 
 
Thank you for taking the time to read this month's Newsletter.  Please call our office at 432-688-1900 if you need additional information on any of our procedures, wellness programs, 
or to schedule your appointment.
 
Sincerely,

Anna Rosinska, MD
BODY FOCUS
 
Mother's Day Offers:
 
                  BOTOX

 1st area- Regular price, 2nd area- 30% OFF

Stretch Marks Treatment

15% OFF package of 8

   Bikini Wax Club

                      Buy 3, get 1 FREE

 
 
Offer Expires: May 31, 2008