Have you tried to lighten your skin with over-the-counter lightening agents like hydroquinone but grew exasperated with waiting? Are you wondering what your options for removing age spots and acne scars will be if and when the Food and Drug Administration takes hydroquinone off the shelves? In that case, you may want to know about another skin whitener called mequinol (4-hydroxyanisole).
Even though the FDA approved the combination of mequinol and tretinoin to treat solar lentigines ("age spots" or "liver spots") back in December of 1999, it has taken almost seven years for this drug to prove its effectiveness at treating ethnic skin types.
Research conducted by dermatologist Zoe Draelos has established mequinol and tretinoin as an effective treatment for lightening age spots or sun spots in Asian, Latin/Hispanic, and African American ethnic groups.
The study involved 259 subjects and according to report in Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, the majority of subjects experienced clinical level improvements in their skin discolorations four weeks after starting the mequinol treatment.
In addition to treating age spots, Dr. Susan Taylor of Columbia University, New York has told Skin and Allergy News that doctors should consider combination mequinol and tretinoin therapy for treating post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). Taylor explains that PIH occurs in areas of the skin that become inflamed from a skin injury, a cosmetic or surgical procedure or from acne lesions.
Mequinol safety testing
While mequinol may soon displace hydroquinone as a trusted skin lightener, the question remains, "How safe is mequinol for human use?" Mequinol is actually a hydroquinone derivative, which makes one wonder about its possible toxicity.
However, members of the American Chemistry Council have administered oral dosages of mequinol to lab rats and rabbits. The animals did not die after exposure. Such experiments make mequinol seem non-threatening. However, the FDA does not recommend combination mequinol and tretinoin for pregnant women. Plus, women who are able to become pregnant should take effective birth control measures when using this pigment correcting treatment.
Potential side effects mequinol include redness, stinging, burning, irritation, peeling and itching. Moreover, you will need to exercise caution when using mequinol if you do facial waxing or use astringents that dry the skin. And, you can't forget to use a sunscreen when using any skin lightening agent.
In the United States, the 2.0% mequinol and 0.01% tretinoin skin whitening treatment is sold under the trademark name Solage. While mequinol may soon supplant hydroquinone as a skin lightener, you will still have to visit your doctor to get a prescription in order to benefit from this drug.
Sources:
American Chemistry Council Hydroquinone Precursors and Derivatives Panel Hydroquinone Monomethyl Ether Task Force. High Productive Volume (HPV) Challenge Program Hydroquinone Monomethyl Ether Category Test Plan 4-Hydroxyanisole. December 20, 2002.
Food and Drug Administration. Solage Consumer Information. http: //www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/druginfo/solage.htm, January 6, 2006.
Draelos, Zoe Diana. The combination of 2% 4-hydroxyanisole (mequinol) and 0.01% tretinoin effectively improves the appearance of solar lentigines in ethnic groups. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology; September 2006, vol 5, no 3, pp. 239-244.
Muirhead, Greg. Combo Therapy May Be Hydroquinone Alternative Skin & Allergy News; April 2007, vol 38, no 4, pp 1,34.
Copyright (c) 2007 Naweko Nicole Dial
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Thursday, 25 June 2009
The Best Guide To Breast Plastic Surgery And Breast Augmentation
A breast implant is a prosthesis used to enlarge the size of a woman's breast; one of many types of breast plastic surgery. If you're considering breast plastic surgery, it's important to know all the pros and cons related to the type you want. Non-cosmetic clinical indications for the use of breast implants are for breast reconstruction, sex reassignment surgery, and for abnormalities, usually congenital, that affect the shape and size of the breast.
Since the saline implants are empty when they are surgically inserted, the scar is smaller than is necessary than for the silicone gel breast implants which are already filled with silicone before they are placed. In the mid 1980s, advances in manufacturing principles brought about elastomer-coated shells to decrease gel bleed, and are filled with thicker, more cohesive gel; these implants are sold under restricted conditions in the U.S. and Canada, and are widely used in other countries. Dr. Thomas Cronin and Dr. Frank Gerow, two Houston, Texas, plastic surgeons, developed the first silicone breast prosthesis with the Dow Corning Corporation in back in 1961.
In the 1970s plastic surgeons wanted softer and more lifelike implants so breast implants were redesigned with thinner gel and thinner shells; these implants had a greater tendency to rupture and leak, or "bleed" silicone through the implant shell into the body cavity and complications such as capsular contracture were common. There are two primary types of breast implants: saline-filled and silicone-gel-filled implants. Compared to silicone gel implants, saline implants are more likely to cause cosmetic problems likes rippling and wrinkling, and can be noticeable to the eye or to the touch.
Saline-filled implants are the most common implant used in the United States due to some restrictions on silicone implants, which may change, but are seldom used in other countries. For women with very little breast tissue, or for post-mastectomy reconstruction, plastic surgeons believe that silicone gel implants are the superior device; but in patients with more breast tissue, saline implants can look very similar to silicone gel implants.
Capsules of tightly-woven collagen fibers form as an immune response around a foreign body like breast implants, which tends to wall it off; capsular contracture happens when the capsule tightens and squeezes the implant. The risk and treatment of extracapsular silicone gel is still controversial; plastic surgeons agree that it's difficult to remove, but there is disagreement about the lasting health effects. Countries outside of the United States have not endorsed routine MRI screening, and have taken the position that MRI's should be reserved only for cases involving suspected clinical rupture or to confirm mammographic or ultrasound studies that suggest rupture.
The age and design of the implant are important factors in rupture, but estimating rupture rates of contemporary devices has been difficult for a variety of reasons, mainly because implant designs have changed somewhat over time. One study reported that only 30 percent of ruptures in asymptomatic patients are accurately detected by experienced plastic surgeons, compared to 86 percent detected by MRI. When breast implants are removed that have been implanted for a long period of time, a mastopexy is often performed to tighten up the loose skin: this is additional surgery usually done at the same time and at an additional expense.
Thousands of women claim they have become ill from their breast implants; complaints include neurological and rheumatological problems. Some studies have suggested that subjective and objective symptoms of women with breast implants may improve partially or entirely when their implants are removed.
When breast implants are removed that have been implanted for a long period of time, a mastopexy is often performed to tighten up the loose skin: this is additional surgery usually done at the same time at an additional expense. Since the early 1990s, a number of independent reviewers have examined studies concerning links between silicone gel breast implants and systemic diseases; the consensus of these reviews is that there is no clear evidence of a causal link between the implantation of silicone breast implants in breast plastic surgery and systemic disease; it's always wondered who is funding these studies and that should clearly be stated.
Just a reminder; breast augmentation is an elective cosmetic breast plastic surgery. Although the international consensus is that silicone implants in breast plastic surgery has not been shown to cause systemic illness, one must keep in mind that many women have reported a connection to symptoms they are having and to their breast augmentation. After breast plastic surgery, depending on the level of activity required, patients are usually able to return to work or school in about a week, sometimes sooner.
Since the saline implants are empty when they are surgically inserted, the scar is smaller than is necessary than for the silicone gel breast implants which are already filled with silicone before they are placed. In the mid 1980s, advances in manufacturing principles brought about elastomer-coated shells to decrease gel bleed, and are filled with thicker, more cohesive gel; these implants are sold under restricted conditions in the U.S. and Canada, and are widely used in other countries. Dr. Thomas Cronin and Dr. Frank Gerow, two Houston, Texas, plastic surgeons, developed the first silicone breast prosthesis with the Dow Corning Corporation in back in 1961.
In the 1970s plastic surgeons wanted softer and more lifelike implants so breast implants were redesigned with thinner gel and thinner shells; these implants had a greater tendency to rupture and leak, or "bleed" silicone through the implant shell into the body cavity and complications such as capsular contracture were common. There are two primary types of breast implants: saline-filled and silicone-gel-filled implants. Compared to silicone gel implants, saline implants are more likely to cause cosmetic problems likes rippling and wrinkling, and can be noticeable to the eye or to the touch.
Saline-filled implants are the most common implant used in the United States due to some restrictions on silicone implants, which may change, but are seldom used in other countries. For women with very little breast tissue, or for post-mastectomy reconstruction, plastic surgeons believe that silicone gel implants are the superior device; but in patients with more breast tissue, saline implants can look very similar to silicone gel implants.
Capsules of tightly-woven collagen fibers form as an immune response around a foreign body like breast implants, which tends to wall it off; capsular contracture happens when the capsule tightens and squeezes the implant. The risk and treatment of extracapsular silicone gel is still controversial; plastic surgeons agree that it's difficult to remove, but there is disagreement about the lasting health effects. Countries outside of the United States have not endorsed routine MRI screening, and have taken the position that MRI's should be reserved only for cases involving suspected clinical rupture or to confirm mammographic or ultrasound studies that suggest rupture.
The age and design of the implant are important factors in rupture, but estimating rupture rates of contemporary devices has been difficult for a variety of reasons, mainly because implant designs have changed somewhat over time. One study reported that only 30 percent of ruptures in asymptomatic patients are accurately detected by experienced plastic surgeons, compared to 86 percent detected by MRI. When breast implants are removed that have been implanted for a long period of time, a mastopexy is often performed to tighten up the loose skin: this is additional surgery usually done at the same time and at an additional expense.
Thousands of women claim they have become ill from their breast implants; complaints include neurological and rheumatological problems. Some studies have suggested that subjective and objective symptoms of women with breast implants may improve partially or entirely when their implants are removed.
When breast implants are removed that have been implanted for a long period of time, a mastopexy is often performed to tighten up the loose skin: this is additional surgery usually done at the same time at an additional expense. Since the early 1990s, a number of independent reviewers have examined studies concerning links between silicone gel breast implants and systemic diseases; the consensus of these reviews is that there is no clear evidence of a causal link between the implantation of silicone breast implants in breast plastic surgery and systemic disease; it's always wondered who is funding these studies and that should clearly be stated.
Just a reminder; breast augmentation is an elective cosmetic breast plastic surgery. Although the international consensus is that silicone implants in breast plastic surgery has not been shown to cause systemic illness, one must keep in mind that many women have reported a connection to symptoms they are having and to their breast augmentation. After breast plastic surgery, depending on the level of activity required, patients are usually able to return to work or school in about a week, sometimes sooner.
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Beauty Salon Spas: Why You Should Visit One
When it comes to visiting a beauty salon spa, many individuals wonder exactly why they should do so. As previously mentioned, traditional beauty salons and beauty salon spas are not the same, despite the fact that many people actually think that they are. Therefore, you should think about visiting a beauty salon spa just for the point of trying something new. In all honesty, it is something that you will likely remember for years to come.
One of the reasons why a beauty salon spa visit will likely be a memorable one for you is because of the services that you have access to. When examining the services that could be provided to you, it is important to remember that not all beauty salon spas are the same. For that reason, if you are looking for a particular service, like a spray on tan, you may want to think about contacting your local beauty salon spa ahead of time to first make sure that they do offer spray on tans.
Despite the possibility of various services being offered, there are many services that are offered by most beauty salon spas. As a reminder, beauty salon spas are similar to traditional beauty salons, even though there are a few differences. In terms of the similarities, you will find that beauty salon spas regularly offer common treatments like hair care, such as hair trimming and hair coloring. Nail care, tanning, and makeup applications are also commonly offered at most beauty salon spas.
As for the difference between a beauty salon spa and a traditional beauty salon, it is the spa setting. Spas are known for their peaceful surroundings. Some beauty salons are too, but many are focused more on seeing as many customers as possible, as opposed to making everyone feel like they could stay all day. In addition to the spa-like settings, you will also find that many spa treatments are offered at many beauty salon spas. For instance, you may be able to undergo acupuncture, get a massage, or even get a body wrap. Additional spa treatment may also be available, but it tends to depend on the beauty salon spa in question.
Although not always common, you may find beauty salon spas that offer cosmetic procedures. Each year, more beauty salon spas are making the decision to offer these types of procedures. A number of beauty salon spas are now starting to offer BoTox injections, laser hair removal, and so forth.
As a reminder, the above mentioned beauty salon spa services are just a few of the many that you may find available at your local spa, but there are no guarantees. Since different beauty salon spas are operated in different ways, you may want to think about contacting your local beauty salon spa for additional information, particularly before making any appointments. This will help make it easier for you to find the beauty salon spa that can best fit you and all of your needs.
One of the reasons why a beauty salon spa visit will likely be a memorable one for you is because of the services that you have access to. When examining the services that could be provided to you, it is important to remember that not all beauty salon spas are the same. For that reason, if you are looking for a particular service, like a spray on tan, you may want to think about contacting your local beauty salon spa ahead of time to first make sure that they do offer spray on tans.
Despite the possibility of various services being offered, there are many services that are offered by most beauty salon spas. As a reminder, beauty salon spas are similar to traditional beauty salons, even though there are a few differences. In terms of the similarities, you will find that beauty salon spas regularly offer common treatments like hair care, such as hair trimming and hair coloring. Nail care, tanning, and makeup applications are also commonly offered at most beauty salon spas.
As for the difference between a beauty salon spa and a traditional beauty salon, it is the spa setting. Spas are known for their peaceful surroundings. Some beauty salons are too, but many are focused more on seeing as many customers as possible, as opposed to making everyone feel like they could stay all day. In addition to the spa-like settings, you will also find that many spa treatments are offered at many beauty salon spas. For instance, you may be able to undergo acupuncture, get a massage, or even get a body wrap. Additional spa treatment may also be available, but it tends to depend on the beauty salon spa in question.
Although not always common, you may find beauty salon spas that offer cosmetic procedures. Each year, more beauty salon spas are making the decision to offer these types of procedures. A number of beauty salon spas are now starting to offer BoTox injections, laser hair removal, and so forth.
As a reminder, the above mentioned beauty salon spa services are just a few of the many that you may find available at your local spa, but there are no guarantees. Since different beauty salon spas are operated in different ways, you may want to think about contacting your local beauty salon spa for additional information, particularly before making any appointments. This will help make it easier for you to find the beauty salon spa that can best fit you and all of your needs.
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
How to change eye color permanently?
Eyes are the organs of vision and therefore occupy a very prominent role in the functioning of the body. Recently, many methods have emerged to change eye color and some of them change the eye color permanently. There are many reasons for desiring a change in the eye color and there are also several methods for the same. One of the most common reasons for eye color change is to look better during parties and other such events. The eye color also changes due to other factors such as age and exposure to sunlight. There are artificial methods to change one's eye color such as surgeries and also colored contact lenses.
Many people also try to change their iris color. The iris is a pigmented layer that has colors. In spite of this layer containing many pigments, its color depends on melanin. The melanin found in the iris is slightly different from the melanin pigments found in the hair and skin. The iris color is described as eye color as the layer before the iris (the cornea) is transparent and the outer sclera is out of consideration as it is white and opaque. So changing eye color is actually only changing the iris color.
It is commonly mistaken that the melanin wholly influences the eye color or the iris color. This is totally wrong as this color cannot extend more than brown or black color and the other iris colors such as blue would become practically impossible. Melanin lies behind the iris and is yellowish brown to some shades of dark brown in color. Besides the regular brown or black iris, other colors are due to absorption as well as reflection from the stromal components. Blue is also a possible eye color. People with blue eyes can pass this to their offspring.
Sometimes certain eye colors appear very attractive. In such cases contact lenses can be used to conceal the natural eye color. This is done just for fun or excitement. Such changes are not necessary and are never recommended by any doctor. As with the development of technology and introduction of various machines, iris patterns can be analyzed automatically. This is one of the reasons that few of them have opted to colored contact lens or deliberately injure the iris with lasers. This is done to intentionally avert personal identification. However, there is no genetic determination for any such complex characteristics, as the significance is higher to iris color.
A bizarre color in both eyes is known as hererochromia. This is a case where one iris is unique from the other. Though it is rare in humans, it is an indication of optical disease such as chronic iris. This may transpire as a normal variation. Patches of varied colors in one iris is hardly found. Iris patterns with variations are commonly found in veterinary profession owing to interbreeding. This hererochromia is found among some horses. They may have brown, white as well as blue in the same eye, but without any eye disease.
Many people also try to change their iris color. The iris is a pigmented layer that has colors. In spite of this layer containing many pigments, its color depends on melanin. The melanin found in the iris is slightly different from the melanin pigments found in the hair and skin. The iris color is described as eye color as the layer before the iris (the cornea) is transparent and the outer sclera is out of consideration as it is white and opaque. So changing eye color is actually only changing the iris color.
It is commonly mistaken that the melanin wholly influences the eye color or the iris color. This is totally wrong as this color cannot extend more than brown or black color and the other iris colors such as blue would become practically impossible. Melanin lies behind the iris and is yellowish brown to some shades of dark brown in color. Besides the regular brown or black iris, other colors are due to absorption as well as reflection from the stromal components. Blue is also a possible eye color. People with blue eyes can pass this to their offspring.
Sometimes certain eye colors appear very attractive. In such cases contact lenses can be used to conceal the natural eye color. This is done just for fun or excitement. Such changes are not necessary and are never recommended by any doctor. As with the development of technology and introduction of various machines, iris patterns can be analyzed automatically. This is one of the reasons that few of them have opted to colored contact lens or deliberately injure the iris with lasers. This is done to intentionally avert personal identification. However, there is no genetic determination for any such complex characteristics, as the significance is higher to iris color.
A bizarre color in both eyes is known as hererochromia. This is a case where one iris is unique from the other. Though it is rare in humans, it is an indication of optical disease such as chronic iris. This may transpire as a normal variation. Patches of varied colors in one iris is hardly found. Iris patterns with variations are commonly found in veterinary profession owing to interbreeding. This hererochromia is found among some horses. They may have brown, white as well as blue in the same eye, but without any eye disease.
Friday, 12 June 2009
The Body Suit From The 90s Is Coming Back In Style
The body suit is a multi-function clothing option. Body suits can range from supportive undergarments to everyday outer wear to sexy lingerie. Similar to a leotard but often with snaps in the crotch, body suits come in a variety of fabrics, colors, and styles.
Supportive body suit undergarments are designed to help you look better in your clothes. They help to hold you in where you need it and to smooth your body. There are body suits that are slimming and help disguise extra weight. These help you clothes to fit properly and you will look better. Styles come in varying degrees of support as well as differing styles. You can purchase a supportive body suit that targets only certain areas or ones that slim all over, depending on what your needs are.
Alternatively, there are support body suits that create shape where there wasn't any or where you may feel you need a bit more shaping. There are suits that can lift the bottom up a bit or pad it out a little for curvier styles. There are also body suits that can help lift, shape or even augment your bustline as well as holding you in for strapless clothing designs. Whether you need to slim down or shape up, there are many alternatives available.
Another use for supportive body suits is in athletic competition such as biking. A full-bodied style of support body suit makes the wearer more aerodynamic and reduces wind resistance. With biking, the smoother style and reduction of friction can give them that little boost of speed in order to be a successful competitor. The same principle applies to water resistance in water sports, as well.
Body suits as everyday shirts were very popular in the 1990's. These body suits had the snaps in the crotch which gave you a shirt that wouldn't come untucked but still allowed easy access when one had to go to the bathroom. Unfortunately, sizing these body suits was difficult. Often styles would be too short or too long in the crotch for most women. This made them uncomfortable to wear all day and the style fell from fashion after a few years.
Of course, the lingerie has found many ways to adapt the body suit to make sexy night apparel. Everyone has seen a version of the ever popular teddy in every type of material from satin to lace. Another option is the full neck to foot body suit. This can be a very sexy choice when made of spandex and lace. Other materials for those intimate moments can include rubber or leather for the more daring people.
As you can see, there are many choices when it comes to body suits. Slimming in the right spots or shaping up spots that need a little lift, support body suits will always be popular. While body suits are not as common a choice anymore for outer wear, if you search there are still some available. Body suits as lingerie come in an almost infinite variety for any tastes imaginable. There are few clothing options as versatile as the body suit.
Supportive body suit undergarments are designed to help you look better in your clothes. They help to hold you in where you need it and to smooth your body. There are body suits that are slimming and help disguise extra weight. These help you clothes to fit properly and you will look better. Styles come in varying degrees of support as well as differing styles. You can purchase a supportive body suit that targets only certain areas or ones that slim all over, depending on what your needs are.
Alternatively, there are support body suits that create shape where there wasn't any or where you may feel you need a bit more shaping. There are suits that can lift the bottom up a bit or pad it out a little for curvier styles. There are also body suits that can help lift, shape or even augment your bustline as well as holding you in for strapless clothing designs. Whether you need to slim down or shape up, there are many alternatives available.
Another use for supportive body suits is in athletic competition such as biking. A full-bodied style of support body suit makes the wearer more aerodynamic and reduces wind resistance. With biking, the smoother style and reduction of friction can give them that little boost of speed in order to be a successful competitor. The same principle applies to water resistance in water sports, as well.
Body suits as everyday shirts were very popular in the 1990's. These body suits had the snaps in the crotch which gave you a shirt that wouldn't come untucked but still allowed easy access when one had to go to the bathroom. Unfortunately, sizing these body suits was difficult. Often styles would be too short or too long in the crotch for most women. This made them uncomfortable to wear all day and the style fell from fashion after a few years.
Of course, the lingerie has found many ways to adapt the body suit to make sexy night apparel. Everyone has seen a version of the ever popular teddy in every type of material from satin to lace. Another option is the full neck to foot body suit. This can be a very sexy choice when made of spandex and lace. Other materials for those intimate moments can include rubber or leather for the more daring people.
As you can see, there are many choices when it comes to body suits. Slimming in the right spots or shaping up spots that need a little lift, support body suits will always be popular. While body suits are not as common a choice anymore for outer wear, if you search there are still some available. Body suits as lingerie come in an almost infinite variety for any tastes imaginable. There are few clothing options as versatile as the body suit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)