5 Things You Didn’t Know About Anti-Aging Products

For a lot of people, aging is a natural process which they simply don’t want to deal with.  It reminds them of the years that have passed by in front of them, letting them know that they are starting to look older and nothing like their youth.  They have to deal with a lot of wrinkles on their skin, blemishes and age spots which don’t look attractive at all and many other signs of aging.

This is due to the fact that they’ve exposed themselves to harsh weather conditions, inordinate amounts of stress, a rather unhealthy diet and a lack of exercise.  Because of this, they would look for ways in which they can go back to the same appearance they’ve once had in their younger years.

Myths vs. Facts

There are a whole lot of cosmetic products and beauty treatments made available for purchase, with some being produced and manufactured by the biggest and most reputable brands in the world.  However, there just may be a few things you didn’t even know about when it comes to anti-aging products.  Below are some of the myths that have been debunked regarding the use of anti aging creams. Continue reading “5 Things You Didn’t Know About Anti-Aging Products” »

Are Stem Cells Effective At Reversing Aging?

Who does not want to look and feel young? People are ready to try out anything that can help them maintain their youthful looks and bodies. After all looking good has many implications, it not only boosts you social standing but also fills you with immense confidence and happiness.

So what can help you in your quest for looking young and beautiful? Stem cell is the answer to all your worries. Modern medical science has blessed us with this brilliant anti aging method that does not involve any operations or procedures. Just a few injections and you will find yourself on the road to youthful glory that is not cosmetic at all.

Demystifying Stem Cell

Stem cell research has off late gathered a lot of attention. People have started realizing the benefits of stem cells especially due to its anti aging properties and are embracing this technology with all their heart.

So what exactly is a stem cell? Stem cells are found in all multi cell organisms; their most special quality is that they can divide and form into specialized cell types and also regenerate further to produce more stem cells of their kind. A stem cell can replace a dead or aging cell and thus maintain the balance of healthy cells required for all the organs to work the way they should.

The Answer to All Aging Woes

As we age our body goes through a lot of changes. The most obvious signs of aging are wrinkles, heart diseases, low level of energy and stamina. Stem cell research aims at exactly these conditions to renew old cells which do not perform their functions as desired. The self replicating characteristic of a stem cell is what gives it its anti aging properties. Research has proven that stem cells not only replace non performing cells but also produce new healthy cells which make people feel much healthier and younger for their age.

Healthier Heart through Stem Cells

Stem cell therapy has been used extensively on people suffering from coronary artery disease or peripheral vascular disease. The results have been quite amazing as the stem cells have successfully been able to reproduce heart tissues which in turn helps build healthier arteries in the heart. This therapy is certainly a better option compared to expensive cardiac procedures like heart transplants.

Combating Degenerative Diseases

Aging of the human body leads to ailments like Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease which affect the brains ability to function properly. Stem cell research has made some huge inroads in curing these conditions as well. With age the brain cells lose the ability to regenerate and introduction of stem cells in the body helps the brain in building new and healthier cells thus lowering the chances of these diseases affecting the brain.

Curing Cancer

A lot of good work has been done in the field of cancer research and stem cells are helping medical science give cancer patients all over the world a ray of hope. Stem cell research has helped people recover from blood cancer or leukemia where stem cells have been able to rebuild healthy bone marrow which is an important part of leukemia treatment.

Modern technology has helped us reach new heights and it was only a matter of time when it helped medical science as well. Stem cell research has shown us the way to a healthier life, free of all diseases. Anti aging properties are just one aspect of the scientific marvel called the stem cell; it has renewed people’s faith in medical research by helping people fight fatal diseases and look forward to a beautiful and youthful life.

How Rays From The Sun and Tanning Beds Affect Our Skin

Technically, aging means a process that includes changes in the structure and elasticity of the skin over time. Usually, it starts as early as your late teenage years and may start as late as in your late twenties.

Our skin does a lot of things. It analyzes sensations such as pressure, pain and touch. It also protects us from the environment, helps balance fluid and electrolytes and most of all, helps in the regulation of our body temperature. With that said, our skin is clearly overworked. The least we can do is protect it from further harm.

Aging is caused by two main factors. It is caused by normal physiological aging. No matter what we do we will eventually wrinkle in time. It’s also caused by UV exposure which accounts for 95% of the wrinkles that you might have now.  The enemy that we have to combat is the UV exposure. How can we beat it?

KNOW YOUR ENEMY

There are three kinds of UV rays, the UVA, UVB and UVC. These are graded according to their wavelength. The longest wavelength rage are UVA rays and the shortest, UVC rays.

UVA wavelengths are almost harmless. The hazard is not completely non-existent but it’s highly negligible. Sunlight, when passing through ordinary glass contains UVA wavelengths. Short UVA wavelengths are those used for sun and UV tanning. However, this form of tanning is not completely safe. It still exposes your skin to UV rays and hastens its aging. Furthermore, around 50% of skin cancer is acquired through sun tanning.

UVA does not damage DNA directly, unlike UVB and UVC. It doesn’t cause sunburn but it can penetrate deeply. UVA can produce reactive chemical intermediates which can harm the DNA such as hydroxyl and oxygen radicals. UVA rays damage the collagen fibers of your skin.

Next, let’s talk about UVB. Your skin can only take small amounts of UVB rarely. Meaning, no matter how small the exposure is, it is dangerous if it’s every day.  UVB, like UVA, can deplete the Vitamin A in your skin. Unlike UVA, UVB light causes DNA damage directly. It awakens the DNA molecules in the skin cells, causing a modification on the DNA’s growing strand. This is a mutation that is commonly found in most skin cancer cases.  UVB also causes collagen damage, albeit slower than UVA.

UVC is the least penetrating since the outermost portion of your skin, the epidermis, is made of dead cells. This portion protects you from UVC. UVC is quite damaging to living cells and has burning effects.

The best that you can do to combat these culprits is to wear sun block/sunscreen every day. The higher the SPF (Sun Protection Factor), the better. Experts suggest wearing sun block/ sunscreen with at least SPF 15 for everyday use. However, if you are at the beach, or biking, or hiking, your sun block should have a minimum of SPF 30. It’s like having 15 layers of skin every day or 30 layers of skin when you are heavily exposed to the sun.

Don’t think that if there’s no sun you can steer clear from UV damage. Wear sunblock EVEN IF there is no sun. Remember that the stronger UV rays can penetrate through the clouds and these can still damage your skin. These are the rays that you should protect yourself from. Also, some bulbs contain UV rays, albeit weaker. So even if you’re just indoors, it’s still advised to wear sunblock.