The Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid

This week I would like to discuss one of my favorite skin care secrets: Hyaluronic Acid. This substance is naturally present in the human body and is, interestingly enough, found in highest amounts in the eyes and joints.

So how exactly does Hyaluronic Acid benefit the skin? One word: MOISTURE. “Used as a serum each morning and night, Hyaluronic Acid is able to penetrate the skin’s upper layers. Hyaluronic Acid forms an air permeable layer and penetrates into the dermis, thus boosting the elasticity and hydration of the skin. The protective barrier on the skin locks in moisture, which gives the skin a youthful appearance”. In addition, Hyaluronic Acid also serves as protectant from UVB rays! This stuff is really a win-win.

Hyaluronic Acid and Collagen are vital to maintaining the skin’s elasticity and structure. Collagen gives the skin its firmness and Hyaluronic Acid nourishes and hydrates the collagen. My favorite analogies and explanation of the two: Collagen is like a rubber band, stretch that rubber band a million times, like what we do with our skin and without any moisture. Eventually that rubber band gets overstretched (saggy) and dried out and will most likely break. This is much the same way the collagen in our skin reacts leaving our skin in need of moisture. Now imagine that same rubber band stretched a million times while under water the whole time. Chances of that rubber band drying out and breaking are minimal. Consider the Hyaluronic Acid as the water that keeps the Collagen moist and elastic. Collagen is continuously surrounded and nourished by the gelatinous Hyaluronic Acid substance. Young skin is smooth and highly elastic because it contains high concentrations of Hyaluronic Acid, which helps skin stay healthy. As we grow older, the body loses its ability to maintain this same concentration in the skin. With decreasing levels of Hyaluronic Acid in the skin, so goes the ability of the skin to hold water. The result, the skin becomes drier and loses its ability to maintain its hydration. Hyaluronic acid acts as a space filler by binding to water and thus keeping the skin wrinkle free.

At New Leaf Wellness, we use this serum in several of our services, like Microneedling, it is a topic often brought up to educate our clients about ‘the best kept secret’. Juvederm is a family of injectable hyaluronic acid dermal fillers used to provide 9 months to one year of correction for moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds (lines from the nose to the corners of the mouth).

We also suggest hyalo gyn containing Hyaluronic acid for vaginal dryness for our Natural Hormone Patients.

 

Care for the Neck & Décolleté: An Important Step in any Skin Care Regimen

Skin on the neck and décolleté is easy to overlook in a skin care routine. This commonly neglected area of the body can reveal a patient’s true age, so it requires as much attention as the face. Some experts say unprotected skin on the neck ages seven times faster than the face. Hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles on the décolleté from years of sun damage become more noticeable as patients age. A consistent regimen that includes Renewal Facial products and a sunscreen daily can help reverse and prevent visible signs of aging. Additional products at New Leaf Wellness along with in-office procedures like the VI Peel and Microneedling will Refresh and Revitalize the skin.

Characteristics of Damaged Skin on Neck & Décolleté

  • Hyperpigmentation and unwanted dark spots
  • Uneven texture and tone
  • Loss of elasticity, fine lines and wrinkling for Neck & Décolleté
  • Firms and tightens skin on neck and décolleté
  • Treats unwanted signs of hyperpigmentation
  • Stops damaging inflammation that leads to aging

 

Cosmetic Medicine: Feel Great, Look Terrific!

Age 60 is the new 40 for both men and women. Thanks to the advancement of medical science, people are living longer and staying healthier. People want to be well and look well too. Cosmetic medicine is evolving with new, non-invasive procedures to make you look as young and healthy as you feel.

At New Leaf Wellness we perform procedures safely in the office that require very little recovery or downtime for our busy patients. Our treatments can tighten your skin, eradicate age spots, remove unwanted hair, resurface your skin, and reduce wrinkles.

Botox injections can remove or reduce worry lines, frowns, and wrinkles. It can also change the shape of your eyebrows or perk up sagging eyelids. Facial fillers turn back the clock by filling in the hollow areas of your face.

Skin care products have been improved, too, and are very effective in maintaining a healthy and youthful skin. “Cosmeceuticals” are most effective when prescribed by a knowledgeable health care provider or aesthetician. Consultation is required to determine the products best suited for you. And remember: Always use a good moisturizer and sun block!

What is all this worth? A healthy, radiant glow on the outside increases the warm feelings of health and self esteem on the inside. Feeling good and looking your best have proven beneficial health consequences.

 

What’s Your #1 Skin Concern?

Drop by for a Complimentary Skincare Consultation! 

A special time where we can discuss cosmetic services and medical grade skincare that can help you look your best!  We will listen to your concerns and explain cosmetic services and products  that are best suited for your needs, of which may be Botox and facial fillers, a series of peels or microneedling or skin care products. Call to schedule your preferred consultation time.

Top 5 Skin Concerns

#1: Dull Skin – After being exposed to the sun and harsh outdoor elements, dead skin cells may have accumulated on the surface of your skin. A simple procedure or the right skincare products may be just what you need.

#2: Dry Skin – Mature, aging skin is prone to being dry and dehydrated. During the cold winter or in the hot sun on vacation your complexion may be thirsty. Medical Grade Skincare products are formulated to deliver noticeable and long lasting results.

#3: Lines & Wrinkles  – Ultra Violet rays all year long cause and worsen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Start early to prevent fine lines and wrinkles and erase and smooth current lines.

#4: Dark Spots – Sun and heat exposure triggers skin discoloration like freckles, dark spots and uneven skin tone. Fall and winter is the best time to treat hyperpigmentation.

#5: Redness & Acne – Weather changes and going from extreme cold into a warm house can initiate breakouts and rosacea. A combination of good skincare products along with IPL Rosacea treatment can help keep rosacea at bay.

We have SOLUTIONS to Re-Energize your Anti-Aging Skincare Regiment!

 

Reposted from Innovative Directions in Health
http://idinhealth.com

B-12 I love them!

Even though I HATE SHOTS (did I mention I hate shots?), I get a weekly B12 shot, and here is why:

There is a lot of information out there like..

♡ This site states “B12 is a great energy boosters. It works through the red blood cells, by enabling them to carry oxygen more efficiently. An oxygenated cell is a cell that is at its optimum, full of energy and won’t tire easily. B12 is also great for the skin. These are just some of the benefits— overall, it’s an essential vitamin that the body must have to stay in balance. The only problem is that it is not that easily found in food— very few foods are B12 rich and these are essentially meat and eggs. This leaves especially vegans to look for sources elsewhere, in fortified foods, supplements or vitamin B12 shots. Shots are a preferred option because of their direct and immediate absorption into the bloodstream.”

♡ According to another source, “B12 increases metabolism, the side effect of which can be weight loss. With regular B12 injections and a combination of other weight loss regimens, people have reported to lose weight much faster and they attribute it to the shot.”

♡ Also it boosts energy— & delivers an energy booster straight to the bloodstream.

♡ YOU RETAIN ALMOST ALLLLL THE B12!! This source states “none of it gets lost in the digestive process. For comparisons sake, a B12 tablet leaves you with only 1.2% of B12 in the tablet. A shot will lose very little, if any.”

♡ They’re mood boasters. Seriously though. I feel so much better after my weekly B12. Basically Vitamin B12 is really important for a properly functioning central nervous system. If you’re nervous system isn’t functioning properly it can lead to depression.

♡ You need B12 to maintain a properly functioning cardiovascular system. It things the blood & prevents blood stickiness.

The recommended dosage is every other day or every other week or whatever floats your bloat!

You can get your B-12 at New Leaf Wellness.  Also, wanted to note: I always prefer to get the methylcobalamin ( it absorbs better & is used better in your brain, liver, & nervous system ) B12, not the cyanocobalamin (does not occur in plants or animal tissue ).

Basically I’ve been getting them for years & they rock. I would consult with your doctor first to see if you’re a candidate (a lot of men and women are low on B vitamins ). Ultimately, I do what works for me, you should do what works for you.

Ok, so do you get B12 shots? SPILL!

-Lynn

 

Three Tips for Beautiful Skin this Winter

How is your skin handling the winter weather? It is no secret that winter weather can wreak havoc on an otherwise healthy complexion. Don’t fret! New Leaf Wellness has put together a list of three tips to keep your skin healthy and beautiful this winter.

Use Sunscreen
Don’t be fooled by the overcast skies! Just because the sun is not out as much in the winter does not mean it cannot affect and damage your skin. Make sure your skin is protected by wearing sunscreen year-round.

Expert tip! Look for makeup that also has SPF protection. Available at most of our clinics is SPF-50 Compact, either in Beige or Honey, the perfect way to incorporate SPF into your daily routine.

Stay Hydrated
Winter weather is synonymous with dry skin. When it’s cold outside, our skin struggles to stay hydrated as there is less moisture in the air for our skin to absorb. Even if you consistently hydrate your skin, you may find that your skin still lacks the deep hydration it needs. In office treatments at New Leaf Wellness can deliver results that you cannot achieve at home. Our Eclipse Microneedling treatment can nourish dehydrated skin by introducing an infusion of HA to hydrate and protect your skin from harsh elements that winter brings.

Exfoliate
Built up damaged and dead skin cells can dull your complexion and work against a healthy and luminous glow. As cellular turnover slows during the winter season, it is important to kick-start your skin’s renewal through manual exfoliation. A patient favorite all year long, The VI Peel is especially popular during the winter months.

After your skin peels from the VI Peel, your skin will be soft, smooth and supple with reduced winter related congestion, fine lines, and dry, flaky skin.

Don’t let your skin fall victim to the winter weather. Take care of your skin at New Leaf Wellness. Get your glow back by scheduling your one-on-one consultation today.

Turn Back the Hands of Time

There is no escaping the effects of aging on your body, whether it’s a decrease in energy or increase in aches and pains or any other unwanted signs of aging such as excess weight gain or drop in libido and sexual performance. Sermorelin Therapy, offered by New Leaf Wellness, can help with those aging symptoms and many others.

Research has shown that up to 75% of the ailments, aches, pains, limitations, decreased energy levels and loss of vitality associated with aging are preventable! Sermorelin Therapy is the answer!

The pituitary gland, which is located in the brain, is what determines how much human growth hormone is released into the human body. As we age, the pituitary gradually slows down this process, which brings about the common signs of aging – hair loss, decreased strength, and energy and so forth. Growth hormone is just one of a long list of hormones that begin to decrease in the body as we age. Maintaining sufficient levels of growth hormone allows men and women to hold on to signs of youth longer.

The pituitary gland usually secretes enough growth hormone until an individual reaches their late 30s or into their 40s. After that, proper balances in men and women get “out of whack” and only medical treatments can bring these balances back to normal.

Our Providers at New Leaf Wellness offer a variety of hormone therapy methods to supplement an individual’s body with the crucial hormones they’re lacking. One of the methods which we specialize in has essentially become known as a medical miracle.

Sermorelin Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone (GH-RH) therapy targets the source of hormone production – the pituitary gland – and prompts it to continue naturally releasing sufficient amounts of growth hormone to stave off the negative effects of aging. This treatment essentially turns back the hands of time to transform an aging individual into his or her more youthful self and that is a miracle!

What is IV Nutritional Therapy

IV therapy is a method of delivering vitamins, minerals and amino acids into the body, through the bloodstream. A small intravenous catheter is placed into a vein so that these nutrients can be delivered into the body over a period of time. IV therapy is firmly based on medical and scientific research, and it is used in a variety of treatment regimens because of its power to heal the body, improve health and well being and prevent certain conditions.

Below are some of the nutrients commonly used in IV therapy:

Magnesium
Calcium
Zinc
Vitamin B5, B6, B12
Vitamin C
Glutathion

All of these vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids work together to restore what is depleted in the body.

What are the Benefits of IV Therapy?
There are clear cut advantages to IV therapy, and the benefits differ depending on the condition treated, the protocol used, the overall health of the client, and how many treatments are done.

The greatest advantage to IV nutritional therapy is that the body gets vital nutrients, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. These nutrients bypass the stomach and go directly to the organs. Levels in the body are restored so that addicts feel stronger and healthier. This is a complete turnaround from the addicted body that is exhausted from drug use, irregular sleeping, poor diet and other harmful behaviors. Withdrawal only depletes the body further.

Here are some of the improvements that are seen from IV Nutritional Therapy:

Improved energy
Improved mental focus
Decreased cravings
Increased pleasure
Pain relief
Enhanced mood
Increased calmness and relaxation
Balanced blood sugar
Improved sleep patterns

How Can You ​Get Started?
Even though IV therapy involves placing a needle into the arm, the process is very comfortable. It starts with getting labs drawn and having them reviewed by the Provider.  Then when you​ get the IV Nutrition, you​ will sit in a bright and clean room with comfy chairs during the process, and ​enjoy beautiful images and messages on the TV screen. The rest and rejuvenation that comes from IV therapy makes this experience positive, laying the foundation for a long-term, healthy recovery.

Understand the Role of Testosterone

Testosterone is created by the male body in the testes. The hormone is responsible for maintaining bone density, muscle mass, strength, sex drive, distribution of fat, sperm production and the production of red blood cells. As the male body ages, the production of testosterone slows. After the age of 40, the production of testosterone starts to decline.

Testosterone replacement therapy can help older men deficient in the hormone reduce their risks of heart disease, diabetes, and death, according to new research presented at ENDO 08, the annual meeting of The Endocrine Society.

”The goal of testosterone treatment is to keep the levels within normal range,” says Farid Saad, director of scientific affairs for Bayer Schering Pharma in Berlin. Saad presented two of the studies at the meeting, held in San Francisco. Bayer Schering Pharma makes several testosterone products.

Low levels of testosterone are common with age, Saad says, occurring in about 18% of 70-year-olds. Low levels of testosterone, he says, are associated with the metabolic syndrome — a cluster of risk factors such as abnormal cholesterol and high blood pressure that boost risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes as well as other risks to health.

In the studies, Saad and his colleagues found that testosterone replacement therapy reduced the metabolic syndrome risk factors and did so in a similar way in all the age ranges studied.

By Kathleen Doheny
WebMD Health News

The Importance of Proper Hydration on your Weight Loss Journey

As you start your journey of weight loss, one thing you are very likely looking at is your meals. You want to make sure that you’re giving your body precisely what it needs but not over feed it where it stores fat. But, are you overlooking another critical element in the game? Many people aren’t giving nearly as much consideration to what they’re drinking in and around weight loss…but they should.

The impacts of dehydration on weight loss are significant and this could be one factor that improves weight loss. Let’s look at how dehydration will impact you so that you can get straight how important this is.

Muscular Endurance
The very first manner in which dehydration impacts you is with your muscular endurance. Basically, you are going to feel fatigue quicker during the day. Your body needs to move in order to loose weight.

Fluid losses equal to just 1-2% of your total body weight will negatively impact your weight loss. The primary reason this tends to occur is because the maximum pumping capacity of the heart that can be achieved during the day will decrease, which then decreases overall activity capacity. In addition, the decrease in plasma volume will mean that there is a lower blood pressure and blood is thicker, which can also induce feelings of fatigue.

Muscular Strength
Don’t think that if you aren’t exercising you’re protected from these harmful effects of dehydration. That is not the case at all.

In addition to seeing declines in endurance, you’ll also see declines in physical strength. When around 3% of total body weight in dehydration occurs, this can result in strength losses of up to 5%, showing a greater magnitude than the dehydration itself.

Therefore, this is going to be very problematic for those who have more weight to loose. This again is going to be due to decreased reduction in blood flow and blood pressure along with an increase in core temperature.

One additional point to know here is that dehydration can also increase the rate of glycogen use by the muscle tissues, and since during strenuous activities muscle glycogen is the primary fuel being utilized, this will have a significant influence on your ability to generate force over time.

Focus And Concentration
Finally, dehydration can also influence your ability to focus and concentration. This is huge as weigh loss takes a lot of focus and concentration. When we loos focus we tend to look at the here and now not the what can be. At this point it is easy to give up.

If you don’t have the mental tenacity that you need to pursue weight loss due to dehydration, you won’t be concentrating on your future goal, thus you will be mentally weaker overall and give into temptation.

Maintaining a strong level of concentration is imperative for weight loss and dehydration will prevent you from doing so. Some may also find they start experiencing headaches during weight loss as well and some may even become light-headed or dizzy if blood pressure gets too low. This could then go on to impact balance, making it harder to focus.

So there you have the main areas that dehydration will influence your weight loss. To maintain adequate hydration, make sure to drink when you are thirsty. At New Leaf Wellness we recommend at least 96 oz– but you could do an IV Nutrition session, that will help also.

If you do this, you can rest assured you are keeping yourself well hydrated.