Looking to save money on facials and other spa treatments?

A day at the spa is a fun way to pamper your body and make your skin glow, but it can be an expensive proposition. The good news is you can create some of the same effects by just opening your cupboards or reaching into your vegetable crisper.

Homemade beauty remedies are nothing new and a lot of the same things that are good for the inside of your body are also great for your skin.

Of course, that also means that any food that you're not supposed to eat shouldn't be used on your skin either, because it will absorb into your body and could cause an allergic reaction. Even if you don't think you have any allergies, it's always best to test any new product (even homemade ones) on a small area of skin and wait 24 hours to see if you have any redness or irritation.

Donna Wood Eaton, owner of Cedar Spring Herb Farm in Harwich since 1982, has a Chartered Herbalist degree from Dominion Herbal College in Vancouver, British Columbia. She makes a full line of facial and body care products that are registered with the Safe Cosmetics Compact (www.safecosmetics.org) in which company owners pledge to avoid harmful substances and to fully identify everything in their beauty products. She teaches classes in gardening, herbalism and how to make your own natural products.

We asked her advice for the best food or garden ingredients to use to create skin-care products. Honey was at the top of her list.

Source: http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090729/LIFE/907290303/-1/NEWSMAP

Looking to save money on facials and other spa treatments?

A day at the spa is a fun way to pamper your body and make your skin glow, but it can be an expensive proposition. The good news is you can create some of the same effects by just opening your cupboards or reaching into your vegetable crisper.

Homemade beauty remedies are nothing new and a lot of the same things that are good for the inside of your body are also great for your skin.

Of course, that also means that any food that you're not supposed to eat shouldn't be used on your skin either, because it will absorb into your body and could cause an allergic reaction. Even if you don't think you have any allergies, it's always best to test any new product (even homemade ones) on a small area of skin and wait 24 hours to see if you have any redness or irritation.

Donna Wood Eaton, owner of Cedar Spring Herb Farm in Harwich since 1982, has a Chartered Herbalist degree from Dominion Herbal College in Vancouver, British Columbia. She makes a full line of facial and body care products that are registered with the Safe Cosmetics Compact (www.safecosmetics.org) in which company owners pledge to avoid harmful substances and to fully identify everything in their beauty products. She teaches classes in gardening, herbalism and how to make your own natural products.

We asked her advice for the best food or garden ingredients to use to create skin-care products. Honey was at the top of her list.

Source: http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090729/LIFE/907290303/-1/NEWSMAP

Pure honey and its' benefits

Starting on July 14, 2009, honey produced, sold or processed in Florida must be all natural. Florida has become the first state in the nation to prohibit additives, chemicals or adulterants from being added to sweetener.

According to Florida's Agriculture Commissioner, Charles H. Bronson, " We want to assure consumers that the product they are buying is pure. Too often in the pas, honey has been cut with water or sugar and sometimes even contaminated with insecticides or antibiotics. In the future, when you're paying for honey in Florida, pure honey is what you will get."

All natural honey has been a beauty product since the days of Cleopatra and is still used today in both hair and skin care products. Honey is a natural humectant, which means it has the ability to maintain softness, suppleness and elasticity. As skin ages, or as it is exposed to environmental stresses and chemical agents, it loses its' ability to retain water, it becomes dry and appears wrinkled. Honey's natural hydrating properties make it idea for use in moisturizing products and is suitable for sensitive skin products.

Studies have also revealed that honey has significant natural antioxidant properties too. Antioxidants play a role in protecting the skin from the damage of UV rays and aiding the skin in rejuvenation. Prolonged exposure to the sun's UV radiation can cause skin damage, premature aging and even skin cancer.

More is here: http://www.examiner.com/x-7157-Miami-Health-and-Beauty-Examiner~y2009m7d13-Pure-honey-and-its-benefits

The Wrong Offender

In 2006, the European Union banned antibiotics from animal feed, yet our government continues to sanction healthy animals being fed huge amounts of antibiotics to get fat, while sick Lyme patients are denied antibiotics to get well.

Supporters of the Lyme doctor protection law include respected medical professionals: Connecticut Medical Society, American Academy of American Physicians and Surgeons, and the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS). The national Lyme Disease Association and its 33 associated organizations nationwide support it.

Opposition comes from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), whose members' vested interests and exclusionary conduct in Lyme guidelines' development were cited by Connecticut Attorney General Blumenthal in legal action against IDSA.

The American Lyme Disease Foundation (ALDF), whose current president, Phil Baker, formerly worked as the National Institutes of Health program officer overseeing Lyme grants, can't be perceived as an independent entity in assessing IDSA guidelines. The ALDF, in fact, consists of many of the same individuals and researchers who developed the IDSA guidelines.

Many medical conditions are treated long-term with antibiotics, for example, acne Treatment is sometimes for years - only chronic Lyme is singled out to deny its patients any treatment, except palliative care. IDSA guidelines recommend against all antibiotic treatment for chronic Lyme, against alternative treatments, against supplements, and against doctor discretion in diagnosis - recommendations that seem punitive, not medical in nature.

IDSA hasn't limited its opposition to this bill. It's also lobbied against the federal bill for research monies and against having long-term treating physicians on a Lyme federal advisory committee. IDSA doesn't want patients to have a voice in their disease either, despite the fact that other disease committees permit all stakeholders to participate. IDSA views itself as the ultimate authority on a disease they don't recognize or acknowledge.

Complete Coverage: http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=a46fde9f-dbf6-4b60-9b66-cc65b82742cc

Acne Treatment - Past to Present

Vitamin A acid (Retin-A) was developed in the late 60's and became another important acne treatment when it came to the market in the early 1970s. Vitamin A helps acne by normalizing exfoliation inside the follicle which helps to reduce the formation of blackheads, whiteheads and other acne lesions. However, many patients have experienced significant swelling and redness in the first few weeks of use, this causes some patients to stop using it.

This has been a problem with many traditional acne treatments, they can cause extreme irritation and are proinflammatory. It seems contradictory that the cure is similar to the problem - both were inflammatory.

Building on the discovery of vitamin A, the retinoic acid derivative isotretinoin was released in 1982. Known by the trade name Accutane it has been proven effective for the treatment of an extreme form of acne known as cystic or nodular acne. It is normally taken over a 20 week course and for those affected by severe cases it has proven nothing short of a miracle. However, it has a number of possible severe side effects such as: a sudden inability to see at night (so night driving can be dangerous), intra-cranial pressure, inflammation of the liver and severe birth defects.

Oral contraceptives have also proven effective for women with acne. They work by normalizing hormonal surges that can cause acne.

Alpha hydroxy acids, such as glycolic acid and citric acid are other over-the-counter acne treatments. They proved effective at increasing the shedding of skin cells, this helps to clear out blocked follicles. They are also popular for their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

In addition to these, acne patients have been subjected to some other unusual treatments in search of a cure. Over 50years ago X-ray was used by German physicians to treat their acne patients. It was considered extremely effective at drying up the oil glands, it was even used to remove facial hair. Fast forward to today and this therapy, used on many thousands of patients, is known to have caused multiple skin cancers and cancer of the thyroid in these patients from the radiation.

Go for acne scar removal for the latest on quick, safe and effective acne treatments.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Acne-Treatment---Past-to-Present&id=2414261

NSERTING and REPLACING Spear Dermatology Products

Spear Dermatology Products, Inc. announces Refissa a new formulation of Tretinoin, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Refissa is the only 0.05% prescription strength, fragrance-free, emollient-based Tretinoin Cream. This topical Tretinoin cream helps to reduce fine facial wrinkles, rough skin, and irregular pigmentation. Refissa’s emollient formulation is for patients with normal to dry skin, who should also protect their skin from the sun by wearing a daily sunscreen.

Most dermatologists view topical retinoids as the cornerstone of treatment for sun damaged skin and acne.¹ Most retinoids, however, are formulated and indicated exclusively for the acne treatment. Among topical retinoids, Tretinoin is the “Gold Standard” of treatments, and Refissa, formulated in a moisturizing base, is an ideal option for mature patients with drier photo damaged skin.

With the launch of Refissa, Spear Dermatology Products, Inc. is well-poised to be at the forefront of the booming prescription topical facial rejuvenation market. Total sales for this market exceeded $394m in 2002 and increased to more than $494m in 2007. It is expected that market sales will surpass $513m by 2012. Refissa stands out from all other facial rejuvenation products as it’s the only 0.05% strength prescription Tretinoin cream on the market that is both fragrance-free and contains a moisturizing, emollient base that is proven to be clinically safe and effective.

Refissa has gone through the extensive testing required to earn FDA approval and offers patients a safe, cost-effective prescription alternative to expensive cosmetic surgery or procedures. A 40 gram tube of Refissa may last 2-3 months, depending on individual usage patterns and costs on average, less than $2.00 per day. Refissa will be available for distribution during the first week of June, 2009.

“Despite the recession, luxury items like skin care and anti-aging products continue to be in high demand,” said Stephen Basile, Sr. Vice President Sales and Marketing, Spear Dermatology Products, Inc., “This growing shift of consumers opting to use less invasive skin rejuvenation products is fueling an ever-growing market for Baby Boomers who want to spend less to effectively treat their sun damaged skin and improve the appearance of their skin.”

Source: http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090603005379&newsLang=en

Mario Badescu Skin Care Launches New Website

Mario Badescu Skin Care, a leading manufacturer of skin care and acne treatment products, as well as operator of a 36 room Manhattan beauty salon, has launched a new website with updated usability features in order to make their customers' skin care shopping experience as easy and enjoyable as possible.

Mario Badescu Skin Care Logo

We are very excited about the launch of these new website features
The efforts of our skilled and dedicated team to design and implement these features are all part of our larger attempt to better serve our customers. It is our first priority to make our customers' shopping experiences more pleasant and efficient, and to better serve them with personalized skin care advice and product recommendations.
The new website, which launched Tuesday, features a new look and feel, as well as increased organization, allowing shoppers to view their selection of over 200 skin care products in a neat and efficient manner. In addition to the updated appearance and organization, several functional changes have been made to increase the usability of the website, including convenient one-click add to shopping cart functionality.

The website also incorporates a new Wishlist functionality, allowing users to browse around Mario Badescu's extensive line of skin care and acne treatment products and select products that they may be interested in purchasing in the future.

These new changes are just a few in a series of initiatives to bolster the customer shopping experience. Mario Badescu's existing MyMario feature, for example, allows shoppers to view their past orders, as well as personalized skin care product recommendations. This allows customers to build an optimal skin care regimen to treat their specific skin type or get rid of acne.

Mario Badescu is hoping to use these new website features to continue their tradition of offering customers their famous skin care and acne treatment products, which are renowned as much for their quality and effectiveness as their celebrity use.

"We are very excited about the launch of these new website features," said Joseph Cabasso, Executive Vice President of Mario Badescu Skin Care. "The efforts of our skilled and dedicated team to design and implement these features are all part of our larger attempt to better serve our customers. It is our first priority to make our customers' shopping experiences more pleasant and efficient, and to better serve them with personalized skin care advice and product recommendations."


Source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/skin_care/acne_treatment_products/prweb2450344.htm