Thursday, 25 October 2012

Choosing the Best Hair Loss Treatment Method

Most men are bothered by the idea of going bald, perhaps considering it to be an erosion of their masculinity. However, men aren’t the only victims of baldness and its attendant psychological effects. Women comprise nearly 40% of the U.S. sufferers of hair loss.

Most men are bothered by the idea of going bald, perhaps considering it to be an erosion of their masculinity. However, men aren’t the only victims of baldness and its attendant psychological effects. Women comprise nearly 40% of the U.S. sufferers of hair loss. While men usually experience progressive pattern baldness, women usually see a general thinning of their hair. 

That explains why so much money and energy have been invested over the years, in search of effective ways to cure or hide hair loss in both men and women. Here are some of the most widely known approaches still practiced today:

1. Treatments – There are various treatment compounds available, but the two most commonly prescribed are Propecia® (finasteride) and Rogaine® (minoxidil). Propecia® is taken as a pill, and should never be used or even handled by women that are pregnant or likely to become pregnant. Rogaine® is a topically applied medication, which can be used by either gender. Both can slow or stop balding, but neither can promote new growth; 

2. Toupees – Made from either synthetic fiber or human hair, these are often called "rugs" -just a small mat made to hide the bald spot. They may hide the bald patch, but they are often quite obvious to the casual observer;

3. Wigs – These are most often a total hairpiece, covering the entire scalp and the remaining hair of the wearer. Also made from either synthetic fiber or human hair, the effect usually appears more natural. One benefit of a wig is that one can change both their hairstyle and color;

4. Comb-overs – The simplest, but perhaps the most obvious solution, this is a poor attempt to hide a bald spot by combing long hair from one side of the head over it. The result is neither inconspicuous nor attractive;

5. Spray-on product – This baldness "solution" was invented and marketed by Ron Popeil, a prominent marketer since the 1950s. The aerosol consists of fibers that cling to the existing hair, to fill out a sparse area. The resulting effect is about as convincing as you might expect;

6. Plugs – This was the first method of actual transplant in the U.S., wherein plugs of multiple follicles are transplanted into the scalp, creating an effect not unlike a "doll’s head", with clumps of hair sprouting in a widely spaced and fairly noticeable pattern;

7. Follicular unit transplantation – Follicles are extracted from the donor area, separated into individual units and then implanted individually in tiny incisions. Growth resumes almost immediately.

Only one of these methods is safe, lasting and virtually impossible to detect, as you can see: follicular unit transplantation. Let’s explore how this is done:

What does this preferred method involve?

Follicles are extracted from the patient in a process called FUE (follicular unit extraction). A small strip of hair is harvested from an area that will be normally hidden, and the individual follicles are separated from each other. When enough are ready for implantation, the procedure can begin. 

Each follicle is implanted at an angle consistent with normal growth into its own minuscule incision in the target area. This ensures that the hair will grow in a totally natural manner. These incisions are densely packed, allowing the implantation of over 322 grafts per square inch. 

The procedure can last a few hours, depending upon the number of follicles to be grafted. It is performed under local anesthetic, with very little discomfort, and the person can return to normal activity the following day, with only slight redness in the area, which clears up in a matter of days.

There’s virtually no risk of rejection and this method boasts an extremely high success rate. Recipients of these grafts are always extremely pleased at the undetectable nature of their new growth. 

Naturally, the new growth will need some time to fill out, since the units are very tiny when implanted. But once this procedure is completed, all the recurring issues that other options might entail are left behind, as well. The new hair will grow for the rest of the patient’s life and the recipient will no longer be plagued with expensive prescription medications, replacement wigs or embarrassing moments. 

This state-of-the-art hair transplant technique is the most effective and undetectable method there is, and is arguably the most cost-effective, as well, with the only recurring cost will being more frequent visits to the barber.

Articles By: Steve Peerz
Word Count: 830
How To Get Rid Of Bags Under Eyes!

Having bags under your eyes isn’t a serious medical issue, but it can greatly affect our confidence in everyday life.When you go to work, you’ll likely have co-workers ask you if you’re sick or feeling under the weather.There’s also no denying the fact that bags under the eyes make you look older than what you really are.Thankfully, you don’t have live in embarrassment.Here, we’ll take a look at some of the proven methods for getting rid of them.

First, let’s look at what these "bags" really are.If you ever inspect them in the mirror, you’ll notice they are actually wrinkles in your skin.So, how do you get rid of them? Well, it could be one of a number of contributing factors that cause these wrinkles, from age to allergies, and you must first identify what’s causing it if you want to get rid of them.

Nearly everyone has had a long night of working, or partying, and woken up the following morning with bags under their eyes. When your body lacks sleep, your eyes don’t get the necessary time to rest and relax. The result is a formation of droopy skin under the eyes that give the appearance of bags.If you believe this is the culprit, try to get on a better schedule with at least 7 hours of sleep per night.

You may hear people say that anaemia can be one of the cause’s for having bags under our eyes.Well this could be the case but it can easily be treated with the right foods and right diet.People get anaemia when there is not enough oxygen getting to the right body tissue.

Another easily preventable cause for bags under the eyes is poor diet. If you’re consuming excessive amounts of caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, salt and other not-so-healthy substances, it takes a toll on your body and can all potentially cause under-eye bags. It may be hard for some people to change their diet completely, but try and add in more fruits and vegetables and eat less processed foods. This will help supply your body with the nutrients it needs to function properly.

Nearly ¾ of the world’s population walks around in a mild state of dehydration (lack of water). When you’re dehydrated, it affects nearly everything in your body, including your eyes.Drinking the recommended 64 oz of water will help prevent bags under the eyes from forming by keeping your skin and eyes lubricated.

Allergies is another common cause for developing these dark circles under your eyes. Most people can tell if it’s allergies causing their bags because they will notice other symptoms, such as itchy throat, itchy nose, sneezing and red eyes. The best solution for allergies is to first try an over-the-counter allergy medicine and if that doesn’t work, visit your doctor and see what they recommend.

If you’ve tried all of the things suggested here and still suffer from dark circles under your eyes, then you may need to try some eye cream. Some of these creams contain clinically proven ingredients which can help reduce or eliminate under the eye bags. Vitamin E is one such ingredient that’s shown to have remarkable effects when used topically on the skin. Essentially, it feeds the skin with healthy nutrients that allow it to grow and gain more elasticity. When the skin is more elastic, there’s less of a chance of developing wrinkles or bags. However, while these may work for some, they won’t work for others.

Articles by Juan Mack
Word Count: 648
6 Easy Steps to Hair Straightening at Home

Smooth, silky and oh-so-straight, salon straightening can most certainly turn your hair into these three, which is why many women visit salons on a regular basis. But for those of us with limited funds, salon straightening can not only straighten our hair but also burden our budget. This is where hair straightening at home becomes very convenient and economical.

Achieving salon-straight hair at home can be a challenge. For starters, you may not have or know the tools or the products needed and the process you follow may be hit or miss. To make sure you get salon-straight hair, here’s a list of 6 easy steps to doing it right, in your own home.

Step 1. Clean
In straightening or any other treatment and styling process, you need to start with clean hair. It is best to have your hair washed the day before, freshly washed is fine as well.

Step 2. Condition
After washing, make sure to condition your hair using a straightening conditioner. There are several available in the market today and these can make it shinier and more relaxed. After rinsing, make sure to let it air dry or rough dry using a dryer. Do not towel dry aggressively as this can cause frizziness and poufiness.

Step 3. Use a Hair Straightening Product
Apply a good straightening product to your hair. These products come in many forms, including serums, creams, gels and balms and will protect your hair while straightening and keep it in place at the same time. If you’re starting with really dry hair a spray on product will work best, but if it is still quite damp something heavier like a balm would be more effective. Serums are really good for thick hair and add shine once your it is straight. Make sure not to use a mousse or anything "volumizing" as these can have the opposite effect of a hair straightener.

Step 4. Comb
Combing ensures that the straightening product is distributed evenly and that your hair is free of all tangles and knots.

Step 5. Blow Dry
When blow drying, make sure to point your dryer downward while moving a large, round bristle brush down small sections of hair. Make sure to get a good, quality dryer like a ghd Air Hairdryer or any Wahl hair dryer. Cheap drugstore dryers may be tempting but a good quality dryer will give much better results and will be worth the investment.

Step 6. Flat Iron
Using a flat iron or hair straightener should only be done when it is completely dry; and like your dryer, your straightener should also be of good quality, preferably with ceramic plates.

When using a hair straightener, work with one small section at a time and don’t make the temperature too high. A hotter straightener does not automatically equate to straighter it and may only result in damage. Always keep the hair straightener moving to avoid burning your hair and only go over a section of hair 3 times at the most. If it still isn’t achieving the desired result, then work on an even smaller section of it.

Straightening your hair at home can be a breeze when you follow the right steps and have the right tools at your disposal. At Sydney Salon Supplies you will find all the tools you need to achieve salon- styled hair right in your own home. They supply top quality hair straighteners, dryers, clippers, curling iron and so much more.So when you feel like styling without breaking your budget, skip the salon and do it yourself with the help of Sydney Salon Supplies’s fine line of products.


Articles By: John Arthur
Word Count: 642

Wednesday, 24 October 2012

Effective Natural Ingredients in Skin Whitening Products


People have different shades of skin. While many white people go to the beaches to get a tan, go sun bathing or even use machines to get an even tanned color, many women with brown and darker-colored skin want a fairer, lighter skin. Most people seem to want something than what they have, and wise businessmen are always on the look-out to fill people’s needs and wants. Skin whitening products utilize chemical substances to achieve skin lightening or even up the complexion by working on the melanin biosynthesis in the skin surface. 

There are many chemicals that have been found to be toxic and were banned but the quest for the effective bleaching cream and skin whitening products continues. Agelessderma offers several skin whitening and anti-aging products from safe and natural formulations for maximum efficacy. Natural ingredients are combined with synthetic base and materials to come up with the most effective and non-toxic combinations that will not only make the skin lighter and fairer but make it smoother, suppler and younger.

Several chemicals have been proven to be effective as skin whitening ingredients that are now widely used, including Alpha-arbutin which is in the list of International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI). Alpha-arbutin chemically identified as 4-hydroxyphenyl-D-lucopyranoside is a biosynthetic, water soluble crystalline white powder. The substance used as an ingredient in anti-aging preparations helps skin lighten up by blocking melanin biosynthesis in the epidermis. As an active ingredient, it has been found effective and works faster and safer in brightening skin and making skin tone more even on all types of skin. Alpha-arbutin also helps in minimizing the dark color of liver spots and in de-pigmenting other skin discolorations. 

The compound alpha-arbutin has been proven to more effectively and efficiently lighten skin color than other single components. The concentration recommended is 0.2% in formulations with penetration enhancers or an exfoliant, but may be used up to 2% as skin lighten ingredient. Formulations containing Alpha-arbutin are best used for a minimum of 2-3 months for best results. Skin whitening products containing Alpha-arbutin includes makeup products, lotions, creams and gels.

Even people with moles and birthmarks will benefit in using a bleaching cream which can lighten the high pigmentation of these marks to match the color of the surrounding skin. A bleaching cream can also be used, formulated to lighten dark facial hair on the upper lips or on the temples, making the complexion appear fairer and lighter with golden undertones. Skin whitening is also applied in the genital area and in the anal area to reduce the pigmentation of the typically darker perianal and upper thigh genital area. 

Skin whitening treatments generally inhibit tyrosinase to reduce or block the production of melanin. Typically, the treatments combine topical lotions and gels with ingredients inhibiting melanin production as well as a sunscreen and retinoid. The response of the skin to the natural and topical ingredients is evaluated so that exfoliants, chemical peels and perhaps lasers may be used for further treatments. The newly developed modern systems use LED lights which have shown very promising results.

Retinoic acid or Tretinoin is another ingredient used in the treatment of skin discolorations. However, those who use the product are advised to avoid sunlight because its use makes the user’s skin more sensitive to UVB and UVA rays. In dermatologic and medical circles, the primary ingredient for topical use effective in inhibiting the production of melanin is hydroquinone which is used alone or combined with tretinoin. According to research, hydroquinone and tretinoin are the main ingredients in a bleaching cream proven to prevent skin melasma.
Alternative skin whiteners are derived from natural sources of hydroquinone including white mulberry extract, bearberry extract and paper mulberry extract. These sources contain hydroquinone-beta-D-glucoside, commonly known as arbutin, an effective ingredient for inhibiting the production of melanin. The pure forms of arbutin are deoxy-arbutin, beta-arbutin and alpha-arbutin, all considered potent chemicals used for skin whitening and skin lightening. Bearberry extract is the common name of beta-arbutin. The alpha conformation of arbutin has higher stability than the beta conformation and is the most common form used in skin whitening products. 

The leaves of blueberry shrubs, mulberry, cranberry and bearberry produces extracts containing arbutin as well as most types of pears. Because they are sourced from plants, they are considered safe ingredients unlike other depigmenting agents commonly used as skin lighten formulations. Skin whitening products and anti-aging preparations by Ageless derma use mostly natural and safe ingredients proven for their effectiveness. Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) and Vitamin E are some of the antioxidants used in skin whitening preparations for its ability to raise the levels of glutathione in the body and helps in skin lightening.


Articles By: Dr. Farid Mostamand
Word Count: 824


Get Rid of Back Acne Fast - 2 Effective Tips To Treat Back Acne

Pimples are not limited to the face. They may pop out in other places in the body like the neck, scalp, arms and back. Back acne, or bacne, is a rather common problem for many people. Back acne, like other kinds of zits, is formed when skin pores become clogged due to dirt or excess oil. When these pores are clogged,dead skin cells attract bacteria leading to acne. It doesn't help that the back is prone to sweating. There are simple ways how to get rid of back acne fast so you don't need to fret too much.

Simple Tips to Treat Back Acne
There are natural ways to treat back acne. Tea tree oil has been used for centuries as a remedy for various skin infections including pimple breakouts. Its antibacterial property makes it effective against such skin infections. Apple cider vinegar also fights off bacteria and helps balance the body's pH level allowing better absorption of oil. Mix equal amounts of apple cider vinegar and water then apply on your back. To reduce the inflammations and redness of the affected areas, apply Aloe Vera gel after washing. This will also help reduce the chances of scarring. Witch hazel also helps reduce swelling.

For those who prefer to take prescription medicines, there are topical treatments that most doctors advise pimple prone people to use. Benzoyl peroxide is one of them. It is a proven acne remedy and most dermatologists recommend you dab some on the affected areas after washing. Some doctors may prescribe oral antibiotics for severe cases of back acne. A little caution should be observed here as antibiotics may have some side effects. In such severe cases, chemical exfoliation may also be advised.

Easy Ways to Prevent and Get Rid of Back Acne
One simple technique in battling back acne is to take a shower regularly, especially at the end of the day after you've been exposed to dirt and pollution. However, refrain from taking a bath too often. Don't take more than two showers a day. Also, when taking a shower, use warm water. Cold water will only close the pores while hot water will dry up and damage the skin. You may also use a mild exfoliating soap or body wash that helps moisturize the skin. To keep up with the idea of staying clean, make sure to have your bed sheets and pillow cases replaced with clean ones regularly. Sweat is absorbed by old sheets allowing germs to proliferate. He same goes with the clothes you put on. For more reasons than one, refrain from repeating or wearing used clothes, especially shirts and bras. Do your laundry regularly using mild detergent.

Avoid actions that will make your back rub against other surfaces. Wearing tight clothes is one way to worsen back acne. Always wear clean and loose shirts to allow your back to breathe and to keep it from sweating. Excessive sweating will block your skin pores paving the way for germs to thrive and produce pimples. Another thing to avoid is carrying backpacks and other things that will make your back sweat and feel restricted.


Articles By: Thomas Henry
Word Count: 543
Best Tips for Healthy Skin Care

Healthy skin is a pledge of person's attractiveness, which is extremely important for any lady. Unfortunately, not every woman can boast of ideal skin. Acne, scarring, wrinkles, skin pigmentation are our enemies in the war for healthy skin. Luckily, there are efficient methods of natural care and cosmetic procedures, which are our allies in this war, and the chances to win are quite high. 

It's very easy and good to apply natural masks with lemon juice for the skin, affected by acne, scarring or pigmentation. Lemon juice can be mixed with starch or honey. Such a mask is applied on the affected skin areas for 20 minutes. After, the mask is rinsed off thoroughly.

A positive effect is achieved from rubbing of the parsley juice into the skin. Skin, affected by pigmentation, can be also smeared in the mornings and evenings with the solution of lemon juice and water (1:10). You may substitute water by the infusion of parsley roots.

Commercial skincare products also include effective bleaching creams, which are picked up individually, depending on the skin color and condition. Creams and ointments, containing mercury are very popular. These creams are applied overnight on the previously cleansed skin. However, skincare products with mercury can't be used longer than 7 days. It's recommended to test creams for allergic reactions before application.

Looking for effective solutions of how to get rid of age spots, try such bleaching substances, such as hydrogen peroxide, lemon acid (2-3%), vinegar acid (6%). Salicylic, lactic, benzoic acids are successfully applied for exfoliation of the skin areas with age spots.

The fastest and the most effective method of skin repair is laser treatment. It allows in a bloodless and almost unpainful way to evaporate the uppermost skin layer together with wrinkles, age spots, scarring and skin formations, i.e. with all those signs of ageing, causing so much anxiety to a woman. With laser therapy, besides renewal of the uppermost skin layers, renewal of collagen fibers of the dermis deeper layers occurs, which causes an effect of facelift and helps to get rid of deeper wrinkles.

So, if age spots are your only concern, you may start their treatment from simpler natural methods, while laser therapy will provide you with a complex approach to the problem of skin ageing and dealing with its signs.


Articles By: Alex Bister
Word Count: 411