Microdermabrasion

Micro-dernmabrasion is one of the most popular procedures performed by dermatologists today. In this procedure, a tiny jet-stream of micro-fine aluminium oxide crystals are steeredacross the skin's surface, breaking apart the surface layer of dead cells to smooth the complexion.

The result is rejuvenated skin with a radical reduction of pores, uneven pigmentation and fine lines. But this aggressive exfoliation procedures tends to leave skin blotchy, red, inflamed and flaky. following the procedure, it is important to moisture frequently and use sunblock daily.

picture from 123rf.com

READ MORE .....

How to Make Waffle (Waffle Recipe)

The best way to make a Belgium waffle recipe is to use yeast. Yeast will make Belgian waffles fluffy, soft and yummy. You could also use baking powder or cake flour but you will get the best result with yeast. If you use yeast then eat them when they are done - they are not that good the next day.

Tools You'll Need to make waffles.
• Iron Waffle maker
• measuring cup and spoons
• whisk or hand mixer
• small sauce pan
• large mixing bowl and spoon
• heat safe spatula

Ingredients:
• 3 1/4 cups (1 lb. — 500g) all purpose flour
• one sachet (7g) instant dried yeast
• 4 medium eggs
• whole milk (you can also add some sparkling mineral water and make them even fluffier)
• two sticks (1/2 lb. — 250g) butter
• vanilla sugar
• some salt

Yeast is where many North American attempts at the Brussels/Belgian waffle fall down: the yeast raising changes the chemistry of the batter, producing a tenderer crumb in the finished waffle than a baking-powder raising can. The yeast and the beaten egg whites which are folded into the batter work together to produce a light crisp waffle.

Directions for Basic Belgium waffle recipe:
1. Take a cup of milk and heat it until it is lukewarm then mix in your yeast. You can now leave the yeast standing for a while.
2. In the mean time – melt the butter, but stop as soon as it melts, don’t over heat it or even burn it – you will lose the taste.
3. Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites and beat the egg whites until you get snow.
4. Now take a big giant huge bowl and throw in all the flour, vanilla sugar (one sachet) and some salt. Make a hole in the middle of the flour and fill it with melted butter, dissolved yeast and egg yolk.
5. Mix while you are adding milk (and some mineral water if you want). You should mix it really well so there are no lumps. The question you might ask here is how dense should the dough be, how much milk? It should be thick, think pancakes and then make it a bit thicker.
6. Gently mix the beaten egg whites into the dough.
7. Leave the dough to rest and rise at room temperature for a while. How long? Until the volume of the dough doubles or even triples! We told you to take a really big bowl. If you are in a hurry then wait for 30 minutes to one hour, but if you can, make the waffle dough in the evening and leave it overnight.
8. Use the oil to grease the waffle iron (which should be very hot) so your waffles don't stick to it and pour the dough in it. Bake the until they turn golden brown.

article from http://www.antwerp-tourist-guide.com
image from 123rf.com

READ MORE .....

Ten Tips for Healthy Hair

Here are ten top foods that should be the foundation of your healthy hair diet.

Healthy Hair Food No. 1: SalmonWhen it comes to foods that pack a beauty punch, it's hard to beat salmon. Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, this high-quality protein source is also filled with vitamin B-12 and iron. "Essential omega-3 fatty acids are needed to support scalp health," says Andrea Giancoli, MPH, RD, a dietitian in Los Angeles and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. "A deficiency can result in a dry scalp and thus hair, giving it a dull look." Vegetarian? Include one or two tablespoons of ground flaxseed in your daily diet for some plant-based omega-3 fats.

Healthy Hair Food No. 2: Dark Green VegetablesPopeye the Sailor Man didn't eat all that spinach for healthy hair, but he could have. Spinach, like broccoli and Swiss chard, is an excellent source of vitamins A and C, which your body needs to produce sebum. The oily substance, secreted by your hair follicles, is the body's natural hair conditioner. Dark green vegetables also provide iron and calcium.

Healthy Hair Food No. 3: Beans Beans, beans, they're good for your ... hair? Yes, it's true. Legumes like kidney beans and lentils should be an important part of your hair-care diet. Not only do they provide plentiful protein to promote hair growth, but ample iron, zinc, and biotin. While rare, biotin deficiencies can result in brittle hair. Blatner, who is also a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, recommends three or more cups of lentils or beans each week.

Healthy Hair Food No. 4: Nuts Do you go nuts for thick, shiny hair? You should. Brazil nuts are one of nature's best sources of selenium, an important mineral for the health of your scalp. Walnuts contain alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that may help condition your hair. They are also a terrific source of zinc, as are cashews, pecans, and almonds. A zinc deficiency can lead to hair shedding, so make sure nuts are a regular on your healthy hair menu.

Healthy Hair Food No. 5: Poultry Chickens and turkeys may have feathers, but the high-quality protein they provide will help give you the healthy hair you crave. "Without adequate protein or with low-quality protein, one can experience weak brittle hair, while a profound protein deficiency can result in loss of hair color," Giancoli tells WebMD. Poultry also provides iron with a high degree of bioavailability, meaning your body can easily reap its benefits.

Healthy Hair Food No. 6: Eggs When it comes to healthy hair, it doesn't matter whether you like your eggs scrambled, fried, or over easy. However they're served up, eggs are one of the best protein sources you can find. They also contain biotin and vitamin B-12, which are important beauty nutrients.

Healthy Hair Food No. 7: Whole Grains Sink your teeth into hearty whole grains, including whole-wheat bread and fortified whole-grain cereals, for a hair-healthy dose of zinc, iron, and B vitamins. A whole-grain snack can also be a great go-to food when your energy is zapped halfway through the afternoon, and you've still got hours to go before dinner.

Healthy Hair Food No. 8: Oysters Oysters may be better known for their reputation as an aphrodisiac, but they can also lead to healthy hair -- and who doesn't love that? The key to their love and hair-boosting abilities is zinc -- a powerful antioxidant. If oysters don't make a regular appearance on your dinner plate, don't despair. In addition to getting it from whole grains and nuts, you can also get zinc from beef and lamb.

Healthy Hair Food No. 9: Low-Fat Dairy Products Low-fat dairy products like skim milk and yogurt are great sources of calcium, an important mineral for hair growth. They also contain whey and casein, two high-quality protein sources. For some healthy hair foods "to-go," try throwing a yogurt or cottage cheese cup in your bag when you head out in the morning to snack on later in the day. You can even boost their hair benefits by stirring in a couple of tablespoons of ground flaxseeds or walnuts for omega-3 fatty acids and zinc.

Healthy Hair Food No. 10: Carrots Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, which promotes a healthy scalp along with good vision. Since a healthy scalp is essential for a shiny, well-conditioned head of hair, you'd be wise to include carrots in your diet as snacks or toppings on your salad.

image from 123.rf

READ MORE .....

Sports for Children

Sporting skills and enjoyment learned in childhood build foundations for enjoyment of sport throughout life. Sport is a way of making exercise an enjoyable and social event.

Children and young people who play and enjoy sport are less likely to join in anti-social activities. If children have a disability or ongoing medical problem there are many sports they can play. Discuss this with your child's doctor and then find out what is available in your area.
If children are started in competitive sport before they are emotionally or physically ready they are likely to experience disappointment and stress and may give up playing altogether.

Young children
* Children under 8 need to have the freedom to play, explore and learn the skills of throwing and catching, kicking and hitting a ball, jumping, running and swimming in an enjoyable way.
* It is having these skills that enables them to confidently move on to the next step.
* Parents can play an important role in playing games with children that help them to learn these skills in an enjoyable way without pressure. For example kicking a ball to each other in the backyard or park, throwing a ball through a hoop, or playing bat and ball games where everyone has a turn and the scores are not counted. Children need lots of practice at doing well before they can learn to lose. See the topic 'Winning, losing and cheating'.

8-10 year olds
* Depending on their individual development 8-10 year olds can join in organised competition (eg inter-school competition) that is adapted to meet the children's developing needs.
* They will still need help with skill development and with coping with disappointment.
* Children who lose too often are most likely to give up, so making sure that each child has some successes is important.
* This is a time when children can try lots of different sports to see what they enjoy most.

11-12 years and over
* Children and young people can enjoy the competition and still be learning skills.
* Some children at this age are showing special talent at and interest in a particular sport and can benefit from individual coaching.
* Children and young people need to learn about how to behave when playing, and when winning and losing.
* Sport at this stage can involve trips away with a team and opportunities for team leadership.
* It is important not to push any young people beyond what they are physically ready for and to find out about what is appropriate in relation to their age and the sport they are playing.
* For young people who want to drop out of competitive team sport, activities such as bush walking, orienteering, gymnastics (or exercise classes at the local gym), roller-skating or horse riding may take their place. See the topic 'Physical activity for children'.

article from http://www.cyh.com
image from 123rf.com

READ MORE .....

Fish Spa, Fish for Spa (Garra Rufa fish)

The use of fish baths is also known of in the field of Wellness services.
The fish themselves (garra rufa) are freshwater fish belonging to the carp family, they grow to a maximum size of 12 cm. They have no teeth, the use their mouths to rub off the plaque softened in the warm water from the patient’s body. They clean the skin thoroughly, accelerate blood circulation, sooth out muscle knots and help to reduce stress.

This natural “fish eraser” frees the skin of dead skin cells, it thins the thick skin built up on the elbows and feet, it helps in the treatment of cellulitis, it massages and tightens the skin. The duration of the fish spa is 14-18 days; every day you need to spend 1-1.5 hours in the company of 200-220 doctor fish in an especially developed spa bath, which is followed by a short UVB light bath.

A warm shower is recommended before the fish spa, then after the light bath the body is treated with a special ointment. The aim of the fish spa is to significantly improve the skin overall and to relieve the condition of the guest until all symptoms disappear completely for months at a time.

READ MORE .....

Treating Aging Skin

How Can I Maintain Healthy Skin?

The best way to keep skin healthy is to avoid sun exposure beginning early in life. Here are some other tips:

* Do not sunbathe or visit tanning parlors and try to stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
* If you are in the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. always wear protective clothing–such as a hat, long-sleeved shirt, and sunglasses.
* Put on sunscreen lotion before going out in the sun to help protect your skin from UV light. Remember to reapply the lotion as needed. Always use products that are SPF (sun protection factor) 15 or higher. It is also important to choose broad spectrum products that privde both UVB and UVA protection.
* Check your skin often for signs of skin cancer. If there are changes that worry you, call the doctor right away. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests that older, fair-skinned people have a yearly skin check by a doctor as part of a regular physical check-up.
* Relieve dry skin problems by using a humidifier at home, bathing with soap less often (use a moisturizing body wash instead), and using a moisturizing lotion. If this doesn't work, see your doctor.

What are the Treatment Options for Aging Skin?

The doctor's palette of resurfacing options continues to expand. In patients with early skin aging changes, nonsurgical treatment methods such as tretinoin, vitamin C, and alpha hydroxy acids may provide satisfactory improvement. Chemical peels, dermabrasion and laserabrasion may be used alone or in combination with other surgical procedures to treat moderate to severe degrees of facial photodamage.

Deeper facial lines may be treated with botulinum toxin or soft tissue enhancement, including collagen, autologous fat, and Goretex implants. Patients with more sagging, excess skin may benefit from additional procedures such as a facelift, browlift, or blepharoplasty (surgical reconstruction of the eyelid). Treatment must be individualized according to the patient's facial characteristics and cosmetic concerns.

Here is more detail about some of the more popular treatment options:

* Chemical peels. Chemical peels are effective for removing fine lines and smoothing out the skin. Chemical peels remove the upper surface of the skin to expose newer, clearer skin. After the upper layers of the skin have been removed, a new layer of skin develops. Chemical peels can be used in areas, such as around the eye and mouth, that are not improved by a facelift. Depending on the patient's skin type and degree of sun damage, a superficial, medium or deep chemical peel may be the appropriate treatment.
* Dermabrasion. Dermabrasion removes lines and some scarring and can be used to treat moderate to severe photodamage (sun damage). In dermabrasion, the doctor sands away the top layer of skin, thus it has similar side effects and complications as medium to deep chemical peels. However, because of the bleeding associated with dermabrasion and variations in skill and technique, the control of wounding is not as accurate as with current resurfacing technology. Dermabrasion is not done on the thin skin around the eyes. Care must also be taken when dermabrading the skin around the mouth.
* Laser resurfacing. In the past few years, the development of high-energy lasers has enhanced physicians' ability to improve photoaged skin, various types of scars and other dermatologic conditions. The precise depth control and ability to treat large areas in a relatively short amount of time makes these lasers valuable tools. Before laser resurfacing is performed, your doctor will discuss with you other treatment options, what to expect during recovery, how to take care of your skin after the procedure, and possible side effects and complications. Camouflage makeup suggestions will also be discussed.

image from 123rf.com

READ MORE .....