Skin | Health & Wellness

Gloss How-To: Get Rid of Cellulite

cellulite 300x199 Gloss How To: Get Rid of Cellulite Spring is finally here and with bathing suit season coming up, many of us are cutting back on the carbs and prepping to look our best. One of the big concerns? Cellulite. Many women suffer from the dimply skin — including celebrities who have openly discussed their battles with it including Kim Kardashian, Holly Madison, Tyra Banks and Jennifer Love Hewitt.

What is cellulite?

“The term cellulite refers to dimpling of the skin that results when the fibrous bands attaching the skin to the fascia are pulled tighter – it can happen on its own through weight gain, or it can be simulated when force is exerted on the layer of skin and fat, as when a woman crosses her legs,” explains New York City board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Barry M. Weintraub, spokesman for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. “What this means is that it isn’t a condition in the traditional sense and since the cause lays beneath the skin, no satisfactory results will be seen with popular treatments like lotions, massages, compression garments, or even lasers.”

So, what exactly can be done to erase the cottage cheese-like appearance of cellulite? Dr. Weintraub shares his tips for reducing the appearance of cellulite.

Fight fire with fire. Autologous fat injections are the best way to minimize the appearance of cellulite in qualified patients. Also known as fat grafting or fat transfers, fat harvested from the patient’s body is used to fill in the “divots” that together make up the appearance of cellulite. According to Dr. Weintraub, using fat grafts to treat a particularly irksome area of cellulite is a great option. “If done correctly, treated areas will retain their smooth texture permanently,” he says. “Just be sure to work with a qualified plastic surgeon who has done fat grafts before and will share before and after photos for the patient to evaluate the quality of their results.

Dermal fillers can do for cellulite what they do for laugh lines and wrinkles. Another good option is to use popular dermal fillers to fill in “dimples” the same way fat grafting can. However, the results last only as long as the fillers, and treatment must often be repeated every two to six months.

A healthy diet and good old-fashioned exercise will prevent and reduce the appearance of cellulite. Dr. Weintraub reminds patients that well cared for bodies are the most beautiful. He explains that eating a healthy diet of between 1,500 to 2,000 calories a day, and regular cardio workouts are key to preventing and reducing the appearance of cellulite. “It’s not always easy, but eating sensibly and exercising are really the best non-surgical methods for fending off cellulite. Toned leg muscles especially keep the skin looking great and cardiovascular exercise pushes blood to your skin, laying down elastin and collagen so skin hugs you closer,” says Dr. Weintraub. He added that the most dreaded signs of aging – wrinkles and sun damage – do a number to the skin all over a person’s body, not just on their face. “Women should be diligent about moisturizing and applying sun screen to the skin on their legs and torso because premature signs of aging only worsen the appearance of cellulite.”

Cellulite is a dreaded fact of life for up to 90 percent of women and is just as likely to rear its ugly head in women who are long and lean as it is in those who are pleasantly plump. “One of the greatest misconceptions is that skinny women don’t have cellulite, which can lead to crash dieting,” warns Dr. Weintraub. “That’s just not the case. Just as every body-type can present cellulite, everybody can reduce the appearance or erase it by taking proper, safe steps to do so. With spring and summer just around the corner, there’s no better time to get started with an anti-cellulite regime than right now.”

UPF: The New SPF

MCX0707FA101013 medium new 225x300 UPF: The New SPF Do you wear sunscreen everyday? I’m not just talking about on your face. If you’re frolicking around in the sun wearing shorts and a t-shirt or just a sun dress you may want to think twice before leaving the house without full body sun protection.

Summer clothes are normally looser and actually provide very little natural blockage from the sun – equivalent to about an SPF 8 – when the lowest form of sunscreen you should be wearing is SPF 15.

Tightly woven, dark colored clothes may protect you a bit more, but not nearly as much sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher.

Now, companies are making clothing with UPF – Ultraviolet Protection Factor – which measures the sun’s penetration through the fabric. The higher the UPF, the better protected you are by your clothing. For example, a shirt with a UPF 30 label will let 1/30th of the sun through it, while a top with UPF 15 means that 1/15th — or more of the sun’s harmful properties — get through. Similar to SPF standards, look for clothing with a minimum UPF of 15.

Indoor Tanning Tax Starts Today

tan 299x300 Indoor Tanning Tax Starts Today I will admit that when I was younger, I pretty much lived in tanning beds. Once I began my journalism career and was writing in the beauty department of Cosmopolitan magazine I was forbidden to go tanning by my job description — we practiced what we preached: safe sun. As I learned the truth about sun damage, I didn’t want to go.

Starting today, there will be a 10% tax added to your bill for indoor tanning. Part of the health-care reform bill that President Obama signed in March, by 2019, the “tanning tax” is expected to generate $2.7 billion according to the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation.

I cannot believe that with all the health news about the dangers of tanning — combined with advancements in spray tans and faux tanning products, people are still using indoor tanning beds! Not only are spray tans and tanning lotions not being taxed excessively, but they’re safe and give a great glow.

A shocking 30 million Americans (10% of the population) still use indoor tanning beds. If you’re one of them, you better start saving your money, or better yet, opt for safe sun!

New Study: Botox Freezes Emotions

botox 298x300 New Study: Botox Freezes Emotions You may want to think twice before injecting your face with the magical wrinkle eraser, Botox. Yes, it can instantly freeze the lines in your forehead, rid crows feet and make you look about ten years younger, but recent studies show that the youth may turn you into a robot.

Some who have faces full of the injectable aren’t able to show their emotions on the outside – well, little did they know – it’s also been effecting their emotions on the inside.

“With Botox, a person can respond otherwise normally to an emotional event, like a sad movie scene, but will have less movement in the facial muscles that have been injected, and therefore less feedback to the brain about such facial expressivity,” researcher Joshua Davis, a psychologist at Barnard College in New York, told LiveScience.

Davis then compared a group of Botox patients with a group of Restylane patients and found that the Restylane fans’ emotions weren’t affected.

Eat This to Help Prevent Skin Cancer

salmonmedley 200x300 Eat This to Help Prevent Skin Cancer Being a huge beauty junkie and health freak – I will never tell you not to apply (and re-apply) your SPF. However, research shows that what you eat can also help protect you from sun.

If you’re a fan of Mediterranean food, then you’re in luck. The diet consisting of fish –- which is filled with omega-3 fatty acids –- veggies and herbs may help prevent you from getting melanoma. Studies in the International Journal of Epidemiology suggest a Mediterranean diet, which has a host of other health benefits as well, can actually cut your risk of getting deadly skin cancer in half.

The news sounds as delicious as the meal. One of my favorite Mediterranean inspired meals? Salmon Medley — it’s simple to whip together, low-fat and oh-so-good for you: 4 oz. grilled salmon coated in pistachios, 1 cup of spinach, 1/4 cup of carrots, 1/4 cup of cucumbers and a 1/2 cup of wild rice.

Yum!

Are You Addicted To Tanning?

getty rr photo of girl with tan lines 300x203 Are You Addicted To Tanning? Despite the studies that link of the sun tanning to skin cancer, one in five college students and about 70% of indoor tanners are not only still tanning, but they’re “addicted” to it. New research suggests that tanning – like alcohol – can be an addiction.

Many feel that a deep tan makes them appear healthier, thinner and more toned. Because of this, the indoor tanning industry is now a multi-billion dollar industry — despite the new tanning tax.

The truth about tanning? This healthy-on-the-outside misconception will only lead to sagging skin, lines and wrinkles down the road – and possibly skin cancer.

Studies found that indoor and outdoor tanners alike have all of the knowledge about the harmful effects UVA and UVB rays have on the skin – but claim they do it for mood enhancement and relaxation.

So tell us: are you addicted to tanning?

Relieve The Burn: Four Natural Sunburn Remedies

sunburn 300x199 Relieve The Burn: Four Natural Sunburn Remedies Even with the best of sun protection planning — sunscreen, big hats and protective clothing — sometimes too much fun in the summer sun can result in painful sunburns. If you find yourself with a little more sun than you were going for, don’t fret. We’ve got the scoop on some soothing, sunburn remedies that you can find in your kitchen!

Celebrity aesthetician Scott-Vincent Borba shared his tips for cost-effective and fast-acting sunburn remedies that you can make at-home in minutes:

The Milky Way. Achieve instant, head-to-toe relief by simply taking a milk bath. Milk contains essential fats that create a temporary barrier on the skin and soothe pain. Fill the tub with cool water and add one gallon of Milk (rich in Vitamin D) plus two Alka-Seltzer tablets. The carbonation will immediately work to calm down any skin irritation. Slowly add in 12-24 ice cubes, allowing your body to acclimate to the cool temperature.

Feeling The Burn (in a bad way?) Chill out with a skin smoothie! Yogurt contains different types of fat that create a temporary protective barrier on the skin and soothe pain. Fill a large ziplock bag with yogurt and freeze it for at least thirty minutes. Remove the bag from the freezer and puncture the front and back with a fork. Then, wrap a towel around the bag and set it on the sunburned area.

One cool dip. Sour cream contains fatty ingredients that work to alleviate the pain and redness that comes with sunburn. The cooling sensation from the cream can last longer than aloe vera. Slather a dollop of sour cream on the burnt skin and cover with an ice cold wash cloth. Repeat until any stinging or burning sensations dissipate.

Feeling fried? Starch found in potatoes can offer an immediate relief from overly sun-kissed skin. Take two large potatoes, chop them and toss them into a blender. Add a tablespoon of honey to give the mixture adhesive qualities. Puree the ingredients and place them on sensitive areas of skin, you should feel instant relief. You can also use green granny apples instead of potatoes, this popular fruit contains high anti-inflammatory agents that work to reduce the redness in sun burned skin.