Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Top 3 FAQ about Fine Lines and Wrinkes

What are Fine Lines and Wrinkles?


Fine lines and wrinkles are signs of intrinsic or chronological aging; there's no way to entirely avoid them. As we grow older, our skin becomes thinner and drier. Weakened collagen makes the skin less elastic. Static wrinkles begin to appear. The rate of intrinsic aging occurs at a variable, genetically determined rate; the process is often first noticeable between the ages of 30 and 35.

We do have control over extrinsic aging, a result of exposure to the environment. Extrinsic aging is the critical element in determining who looks older or younger than their biological age. Over-exposure to sunlight is responsible for the majority of problems associated with extrinsic aging. Sun-damaged skin is photoaged from a decrease in collagen and other dermal proteins. This gradual process results in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Over time, these can progress into deep wrinkles and furrows. Photoaging also causes pigmentary changes; "age spots" (sun-induced freckles), uneven skin tone, spider veins and dilated capillaries. A great product for sun exposure is one that is loaded with Vitamins and Minerals and protect your skin, morning and night. For only $24, you can try MDF's Antioxidant Creme. http://www.mdfcosmetics.com/

The simplest way to see the contrast between intrinsic and extrinsic aging is to compare skin commonly exposed to the sun (face, hands, neck) and skin not exposed to the sun (usually on the breasts, inner arms or buttocks).




Top 3 FAQs

What causes fine lines and wrinkles?
Fine lines and wrinkles are an unavoidable part of the aging process. As we grow older our skin becomes dryer and less elastic. Most people begin to develop fine lines and wrinkles by the age of 30 or 35. However, overexposure to the sun can greatly enhance the aging process. Sun exposure promotes the formation of deep wrinkles and furrows, along with changes in pigment and skin texture.

How can someone avoid fine lines and wrinkles?
Avoiding overexposure to the sun should be the key element of any skin care regimen. Sunscreen with an SPF of 15 should be used on the face every day. Staying out of the sun when it is at its peak (between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.) is also advisable.

Are topicals available to treat fine lines and wrinkles?
Topical application of prescription drugs, most notably synthetic derivatives of Vitamin A (retinoids), can improve the appearance of sun-damaged and aging skin. For instance, topicals can be effective in diminishing fine wrinkles. However, most tretinoins are skin irritants and often produce skin reactions.

Monday, August 23, 2010

The 7 Components of Wellness

Wellness encompasses almost every aspect of one's life. From moving and eating to religion and sexuality, one cannot be truly fullfilled without being completely well.


What is Wellness?

Wellness is the integration of mind, body and spirit. Optimal wellness allows us to achieve our goals and find meaning and purpose in our lives. Wellness combines seven dimensions of well-being into a quality way of living. Overall, wellness is the ability to live life to the fullest and to maximize personal potential in a variety of ways. Wellness involves continually learning and making changes to enhance your state of wellness. When we balance the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, occupational, spiritual, and environmental aspects of life, we achieve true wellness.

Physical: A healthy body maintained by good nutrition, regular exercise, avoiding harmful habits, making informed and responsible decisions about health, and seeking medical assistance when necessary. To remain well, physical wellness requires that you take steps to protect your physical health by eating well, getting plenty of exercise, maintaining a proper weight, getting enough sleep, avoiding risky sexual behavior, and restricting intake of harmful substances.

Intellectual: A state in which your mind is engaged in lively interaction with the world around you. This dimension of wellness implies that you can apply the things you have learned, that you create opportunities to learn more and that you engage your mind in lively interaction with the world around you.

Emotional: The ability to understand your own feelings, accept your limitations, achieve emotional stability, and become more comfortable with your emotions. Emotional wellness implies the ability to express emotions appropriately, adjust to change, cope with stress in a healthy way, and enjoy life despite its occasional disappointments and frustrations.

Social: The ability to relate well to others, both within and outside the family unit. Social wellness gives us the ease and confidence to be outgoing, friendly and affectionate towards others. It involves not only a concern for the individual, but also an interest in humanity and the environment as a whole.

Occupational: Preparing and making use of your gifts, skills and talents in order to gain purpose, happiness and enrichment in your life. Occupational wellness means successfully integrating a commitment to your occupation into a total lifestyle that is satisfying and rewarding.

Spiritual: The sense that life is meaningful and has a purpose; the ethics, values and morals that guide us and give meaning and direction to life. Spiritual wellness is a search for meaning and purpose in human existence leading you to strive for a state of harmony with yourself and others while working to balance inner needs with the rest of the world.

Environmental: The capability to live in a clean and safe environment that is not detrimental to health. To enjoy environmental wellness, we require clean air, pure water, quality food, adequate shelter, satisfactory work conditions, personal safety, and healthy relationships.

To learn more about Wellness, visit www.mdfcosmetics.com. We are always updating our site to help you stay up-to-date with the most current information.