'A complete anti aging site - packed full of anti aging tips, treatments and techniques to help you look younger and feel fantastic - whatever your age.'
Dr. Alex Paziotapulos is an expert in all things anti-aging, including hormone therapy. We sat down with him down to learn more.
LHC: What is hormone therapy?
Dr. Alex: Hormone therapy basically is replacing the natural hormones in your body, anything from the hormones from your adrenal glands like cortisol to your thyroid gland, to your estrogens, your progesterone, your testosterone, your DHEA, all these things. Hormones can fluctuate because of aging, stress levels, hormones can fluctuate because of lack of exercise, it can fluctuate from your diet. If you wait until you feel symptoms of hormones getting out of balance, you’ve waited a little bit too long.
LHC: How does hormone replacement or hormone therapy relate to anti-aging?
Dr. Alex: This natural hormone replacement helps combat many of the signs we generally associate with aging. with thinking, it helps reduce chances for cancer, for cardiovascular disease, for bone loss, for muscle loss.
LHC: How is hormone therapy actually administered? What does this actually look like?
It depends on the hormone. Thyroid you take by mouth, let’s say I had to give you some progesterone, I could do that through a topical cream. Testosterone we do through a pellet.
LHC: What’s a pellet?
Dr. Alex: I’ll show you! (See video below)
Check out the full story below, where host Jane Monzures get’s a full hormone therapy workup, and we spend some time with a patient of Dr. Alex who has seen huge benefits from hormone therapy.
Ponce de León’s Fountain of Youth may soon be more than just a myth. According to Aubrey de Grey, a leading anti-aging researcher, there is likely a person alive today who will be immune to aging. This optimism stems from the promising field of longevity research, which has shed its reputation as a quackery-ridden fringe science. If clinical trials of anti-aging drugs prove successful, it would utterly transform society in far-reaching ways. Could today’s generations live to see a world where 100 is the new 60?
There has been a growing push to examine the basic molecular processes behind aging and find ways to counteract them. Some treatments already exist as on-label drugs for other conditions, while others are experimental. The goal is to target aging itself as a major risk factor for the chronic diseases that cut lives short. “Drugs that lengthen health span,†The Atlantic proclaims, “are becoming to medical researchers what vaccines and antibiotics were to previous generations in the lab: their grail.â€
Of all these possibilities, rapamycin has emerged as the most promising. It inhibits a gene called mTOR, which switches the body’s resources from “growth†to a more stress-resistant “maintenance†mode. This reflex taps into the same biological processes triggered by “caloric restriction,†a faminelike diet that, while known to reliably extend life span in a variety of organisms, would basically require humans to starve themselves. In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health, male and female mice given rapamycin in late middle age lived 9 percent and 14 percent longer, respectively, than untreated mice. As Businessweek explains, this is roughly equivalent to giving 60-year-old women a drug that enables them to live to 95.
What’s more, rapamycin has also produced encouraging results in human trials. A recent study of elderly patients found that small doses of a rapamycin-like drug improved their immune response to a flu vaccine by 20 percent, sating worries that it would suppress immune response. Pharmaceutical companies large and small, from Novartis to Calico, are now pouring resources into a field Big Pharma has long viewed with suspicion.
A scientist examines human cells under a microscope. (Photo by Ted S. Warren via AP)
But many scientists remain unconvinced.The history of anti-aging research is littered with misfires. Rapamycin isn’t without side effects: In mice, it limited fertility and increased the likelihood of developing cataracts and diabetes. The last focus of such hype, the “red wine pill†resveratrol, ended up failing in human trials. Everything from gold to vitamin C to growth hormones has been touted for its supposed life-extending propertiesâ€"often by hucksters.  And the fact that anti-aging drugs will likely first find their way to consumers as repurposed versions of existing medications does not add to their credibility.
In the eyes of these researchers, we’re no closer to finding an “elixir of life†than we were thousands of years ago. “There are no interventions that have been documented to slow, stop, or reverse aging in humans,†S. Jay Olshansky, a professor of public health at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a famed critic of life-extending treatments, tells Businessweek. “The batting average is zero.â€
Even those who are optimistic caution that there is much scientists still don’t understand.A team of German researchers, for example, recently argued that the rapamycin’s effect on mice is largely due to the fact it inhibits tumors that represent their main cause of death. Moreover, even if it does slow aging, it might take decades for researchers to definitively establish its real effects. And in the end, these treatments might not make as much of a difference as the life-extending behaviors doctors have always recommended: exercise regularly and eat healthy food.
Want plusher lips, defined cheekbones, or a stronger jawline? One of these fresh options could be right for you. (Photo: Shutterstock)
This month’s beauty innovator, dermatologist Whitney Bowe, M.D., spoke to Women’s Health about her favorite new anti-aging tweaks:
In 2015, women want to look like the best versions of themselvesâ€"not overly plumped or pinched. The good news is that among the cutting-edge tools and technologies we have to help take control of the aging process, there are now great options that give subtle, natural-looking results without a lot of downtime. In other words, small, minimally invasive treatments that can help stave off major wrinkles and sagging. Here are a few ways to look your most youthful and refreshed.
Plusher Lips No more duck face! Restylane Silk is the first filler designed and specifically FDA-approved for not only the lips themselves but also the lines around the upper lip that can look like a bar code. Until now, they’ve been notoriously difficult to treat without making the mouth look swollen. With Restylane Silk, the plumping molecules are so much smaller than those in regular Restylane: Think sand grains versus pebbles. Lips don’t look bigger, just healthier and smoother. It costs approximately $750 and lasts about six months. Plus, since Restylane Silk has an anesthetic built right in, it’s more bearable than the lip injections of old.
Defined Cheeks Smile lines form when the bone, muscle, and fat of the cheeks thin outâ€"something that can happen as early as your late twenties. A new approach, Sculptra (a poly-L-lactic acid filler), is put into the upper cheekbone area to pull and lift the skin back into place. The catch: Since the filler triggers the body to replace lost collagen, results may not be obvious for about three months. With yearly maintenance, its effects last two to three years. Each vial costs around $900.
A Stronger Jawline I rely on two devices to help shore up sagging skin under the jawline and at the bottom of the neck. The first, Ultherapy, uses ultrasound waves to tighten tissue that’s very deep down, above the muscle. It can be uncomfortable, like little zingers. Thermage CPT uses radio-frequency energyâ€"a different type of wavelength that doesn’t penetrate as deeply and is less painful. I find that Ultherapy works better for those with thicker, oily skin, and Thermage CPT for people with thin, delicate skin. The cost is around $2,000 to $3,000 for the lower face, jawline, and neck.
Whitney Bowe, M.D. is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and Briarcliff Manor, New York. She is the clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and a clinical researcher for universities and cosmetic brands.
For more anti-aging tweaks, pick up the April 2015 issue of Women’s Health, on newsstands now.
Botox, an injection that paralyzes facial muscles to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, has a reputation for being the remedy of choice for vain starlets because it’s superficial and fleeting.
But a recent study suggests it may not be quite as superficial or as temporary.
The drug increases skin elasticity for the three to four months that it stays active, according to a Canadian study published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery by dermatologist Dr. James Bonaparte of the University of Ottawa and Dr. David Ellis of the University of Toronto.
“The initial theory for Botox was you paralyze the muscle, you then can’t make the wrinkle anymore because you can’t move. This is suggesting that there’s maybe more going on than just that, that you’re actually remodeling the skin to get rid of the wrinkle,†Bonaparte said.
Dermatologists had observed that even deep wrinkles that weren’t erased by Botox became less severe while it was active. Bonaparte has endeavored to measure the effect scientifically.
In the current study, he and Ellis used a Cutometer, a device that sucks the skin and measures how much it rebounds to its previous position. As we age, our skin becomes less elastic, recoiling about 30 percent less at age 70 than it does at age 20.
Flaccid skin makes us look older. It also makes the skin more prone to wrinkle.
The researchers found that when the effects of Botox were at their most powerful, the drug could increase elasticity by 30 percent. The effect peaked at two months and then waned before dropping off at four months.
The researchers tracked 43 women who were using Botox for the first time.
Bonaparte’s earlier work on the same topic was met with criticism. Critics argued that what seemed to be elasticity could simply be swelling as a result of the injury from injection. As the skin heals from injury it draws in more water and becomes more elastic for a week or two.
The current study ruled that out by showing that injury resulted in a different pattern of resistance to the suction.
“Botox might be doing two things, one to the muscle one to the skin,†Bonaparte said.
If indeed Botox makes the skin more elastic, it may also help prevent the formation of wrinkles. That could expand the market for cosmetic injections significantly. More than 6.6 million Americans underwent treatment with Botox or a similar drug last year, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Bonaparte, who also works in private practice, performs Botox injections for a fee. His study was funded by Allergan, the pharmaceutical company that makes Botox. All of the research to date on the potential anti-aging effects of Botox has been funded by Allergan, Bonaparte said.
Two other products, Dysport and Xeomin, can also legally be used to mute the furrow between eyebrows. Like Botox, they are derived from the naturally occurring botulinum toxin. Only Botox has the approval of the Food and Drug Administration for use on crow’s feet, but the others are often used off-label.
“There’s not reason to believe the other drugs wouldn’t have the same effect,†Bonaparte said.
To nail down exactly how the botulinum toxins ramp up elasticity, the next step will be to remove small bits of skin from participants before and after the procedures.
I love Rob Lowe. He strikes me as the kind of guy who punctuates every sentence with “We have fun here!†He probably claps people on the shoulder a little too hard, smiling impishly, eyes a-twinkling. (Apparently, Rashida Jones once described him as a “benevolent narcissist,†which has the ring of truth.)
In keeping with his “relatable and earnest, but just vain enough to keep it interesting†celebrity #brand, Rob Lowe is launching a skincare line! It’s called PROFILE™, and it launches this week at Profile4men.com.
Is it a skincare line for men? Yes, it is for men: “This is not a repackaged women’s line with macho print,†Lowe explained to Women’s Wear Daily. “This is formulated specifically for men’s skin, which is up to 30 percent thicker than women’s skin.â€
And who designed PROFILEâ„¢? Rob Lowe did: “The thing I really want people to understand is that I built this line from the ground up. …I’m not the celebrity endorser, I’m not the face of the product. I’m the developer of it.â€
In an interview with The Cut, Lowe revealed some of his own health and beauty secrets, including wearing a sleep mask during his commuteâ€"not while driving! Rob Lowe has a driver, thank youâ€"and sticking to a high-protein “Paleo†breakfast. (In the same interview he discussed his “dadbod†obsession.)
Whatever Rob Lowe is doing, it’s working: he’s 51 somehow.
PROFILEâ„¢ will initially launch with five products, including cleanser, aftershave, and one of those anti-aging rollerball thingies for around the eye area. Still in the works: a moisturizing sunscreen. Besides being available at Profile4Men.com, the skincare line is also slated to appear in 60 Nordstroms.
LONDON: A new anti-aging drug may be just five years away , say scientists who have identified the role of an enzyme in muscle wasting and associated age-related problems. Researchers at the University of Birmingham believe that inhibiting the enzyme could hold the key to developing ways of preventing, or reversing, the adverse effects of aging.
The research is a significant step in understanding the role played by the enzyme 11beta-HSD1 in the degenerative effects of aging -including sarcopenia (age related muscle wasting).
Researchers claim the anti-aging drug could be available to the general public within the next five years. The expression of 11beta-HSD1, responsible for activating the steroid hormone cortisol, was increased in the muscles of older females.
About 134 healthy volunteers, aged between 20-80, underwent physical and biochemical tests at a clinical research facility. The findings show that expression of 11beta-HSD1 in skeletal muscles is increased 2.72-fold in women over 60 years of age, compared to those aged between 20 and 40. In male participants, no difference was seen.
"As yet, we don't know why it appears to only occur in women, it is obviously an interesting area for further research. We are planning to look at whether hormones such as estrogens could be involved," Dr Zaki HassanSmith, from the University of Birmingham, said. The researchers wanted to investigate novel ways of increasing healthy life span -the years in which people can maintain active lifestyles without the debilitating impact of muscle wasting.
"Looking at this particular enzyme seemed like an intriguing way forward. We knew how it works in relation to Cushing's Syndrome, which is characterised by similar symptoms, and thought it would be worthwhile applying what we knew to the aging population," said Hassan-Smith.
LONDON: A new anti-aging drug may be just five years away , say scientists who have identified the role of an enzyme in muscle wasting and associated age-related problems.
Researchers at the University of Birmingham believe that inhibiting the enzyme could hold the key to developing ways of preventing, or reversing, the adverse effects of aging.
The research is a significant step in understanding the role played by the enzyme 11beta-HSD1 in the degenerative effects of aging -including sarcopenia (age related muscle wasting).
Researchers claim the anti-aging drug could be available to the general public within the next five years. The expression of 11beta-HSD1, responsible for activating the steroid hormone cortisol, was increased in the muscles of older females.
About 134 healthy volunteers, aged between 20-80, underwent physical and biochemical tests at a clinical research facility. The findings show that expression of 11beta-HSD1 in skeletal muscles is increased 2.72-fold in women over 60 years of age, compared to those aged between 20 and 40. In male participants, no difference was seen.
"As yet, we don't know why it appears to only occur in women, it is obviously an interesting area for further research. We are planning to look at whether hormones such as estrogens could be involved," Dr Zaki HassanSmith, from the University of Birmingham, said. The researchers wanted to investigate novel ways of increasing healthy life span -the years in which people can maintain active lifestyles without the debilitating impact of muscle wasting.
"Looking at this particular enzyme seemed like an intriguing way forward. We knew how it works in relation to Cushing's Syndrome, which is characterised by similar symptoms, and thought it would be worthwhile applying what we knew to the aging population," said Hassan-Smith.
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VANCOUVER, BC, May 20, 2015 (Marketwired via COMTEX) -- Sirona Biochem Corp. (SBM) (frankfurt:ZSB) is pleased to announce that its lead anti-aging compound also shows antioxidant properties in early preclinical studies.
As part of the anti-aging project, the Company has selected several potential lead compounds. One of these, SBM-TFC-837, showed a significant preservative effect against different stressors, such as starvation or ultraviolet radiation. Studies now indicate that SBM-TFC-837 also shows high preservative effect against oxidative stress induced by H2O2.
Oxidative stress response in humans causes free radicals which can damage cells and genetic material. The effect on cells can be degeneration, aging and various disease states. Antioxidants prevent this damage.
"An antioxidant effect on cells is a huge plus for our glycoprotein program for anti-aging," said Attila Hajdu, Chief Business Development Officer of Sirona Biochem. "If aging is the result of oxidative stress that leads to further cell damage, these new results suggest multiple mechanisms by which our glycoproteins exert their protective effects. This discovery will certainly be beneficial to our current partnering discussions."
Further studies are ongoing and will continue to assess cell stressors and viability. The compounds may have applications in:
-- Anti-aging cosmetic product since 80% of visible aging is directly related to cell death -- Cryopreservation -- Regenerative and protective cosmetic or pharmaceutical product for healing, wound care, hypothermic protection, sunscreen, post burn / radiotherapy -- Regenerative and protective pharmaceutical product against stress response in renal reperfusion and the improvement of engraftment -- Pharmaceutical product used in organ transplantation solution (for example Wisconsin solution) -- Regenerative and preservative product for preservation of stem cells, beta-islet cells, red blood cells, adipocytes and platelets as well as tissues including reconstituted human epithelial cells, skin explants and cornea -- Preservative for vaccines
The global anti-aging market is forecast to reach up to $345.8 billion US in 2018 from $249.3 billion in 2012. The related market for regenerative medicine, which aims to restore functional ability to tissues and organs, is set to hit $67.6 billion US in 2020.
We would like to acknowledge and thank Bpifrance and the region Haute Normandie for their ongoing support on the anti-aging project
About Sirona Biochem Corp.
Sirona Biochem is a cosmetic ingredient and drug discovery company with a proprietary platform technology. Sirona specializes in stabilizing carbohydrate molecules with the goal of improving efficacy and safety. New compounds are patented for maximum revenue potential.
Sirona's compounds are licensed to leading companies around the world in return for licensing fees, milestone fees and ongoing royalty payments. Sirona's laboratory, TFChem, is located in France and is the recipient of multiple French national scientific awards and European Union and French government grants. For more information please visit www.sironabiochem.com.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Sirona Biochem cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon current expectations and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of release of the relevant information, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, Sirona Biochem's forward-looking statements due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Sirona Biochem's business including, without limitation, statements about: the progress and timing of its clinical trials; difficulties or delays in development, testing, obtaining regulatory approval, producing and marketing its products; unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of its products that could delay or prevent product development or commercialization; the scope and validity of patent protection for its products; competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies; and its ability to obtain additional financing to support its operations. Sirona Biochem does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law.
For more information regarding this press release, please contact: Christopher Hopton CFO Sirona Biochem Corp. Phone: 1.604.282.6064 Email: chopton@sironabiochem.com
1888PressRelease - Lifetimeskincare.com launches its new website and 2 new products - Vitamin C Serum & Hyaluronic Acid Serum. These 2 products are introduced on the website along with the benefits that users can gain from its continued use. Lifetime Skincare strives to produce the highest quality natural anti aging serums available today. Please check out our product reviews and descriptions for yourself.
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA - Lifetime Skincare Inc. announces the launch of two new products. Lifetime Skincare is less than a year old but has experienced explosive glow throughout the United States. Lifetime Skincare is committed to creating the most effective natural and organic ingredients possible for our products. Our mission is to help women diminish fine lines, wrinkles, and slow down the aging process. We take great pride in making women feel more confident with younger more radiant looking skin. Through extensive research Lifetime Skincare has combine natural and organic ingredients in two different products that have proven benefits to aging skin.
Skincare has become difficult in this fast paced world, women are on the go and hardly have time to pause and focus on their skin. The growing pollution in the air has further deteriorated the skin conditions, making the need for rejuvenating techniques all the more urgent.
With demand on the rise Lifetime Skincare has made the move online at http://www.lifetimeskincare.com. We are excited about providing our customers with an easy and accessible way to purchase our products. This launch was made possible by two outstanding products including the all natural Vitamin C Serum and Moisturizing Hyaluroninc Acid Serum.
Lifetime Skincare's 20% Vitamin C Serum is designed to revitalize aging skin, providing the key nutrients needed to restore skin to its beautiful, youthful appearance. As we age, collagen breaks down and wrinkles begin to form. Stabilizing our skin's levels of vitamin C can help to counteract wrinkle formation by increasing collagen production.
On the other hand Hyaluronic acid known as HA, is a natural compound found in skin that has many important functions, including holding in moisture, holding together the skin structural components, collagen and elastin, and helping create a protective barrier. Since hyaluronic acid holds moisture so well--holding up to 1,000 times its weight in water--it is commonly used in moisturizers. It serves to deliver AND hold water in the skin. The loss of natural hyaluronic acid is one of the most common causes of wrinkles, so the idea of putting HA back into the skin to repair wrinkles makes sense.
About Lifetime Skincare
Lifetime Skincare creates the best natural and organic serums developed to diminish fine lines and wrinkles.
Medicine merges with beauty to create technologically advanced skin care products in this line. The latest products help to reveal the skin's fountain of youth. (Photo : VENeffect)
Skin care is more powerful and potent than ever before, with advances in science and innovations in technology. More and more products are tapping into the world of medicine and including physicians in the development process.
One such example is VENeffect, a line of skin care developed by sisters Rebecca Booth, M.D., a nationally recognized gynecologist and hormonal wellness expert, and Cecil Booth, a 20-year beauty industry veteran. The products aim to recreate the skin vitality that accompanies peaking estrogen that typically occurs in a woman's 20s. This is what the sisters describe as "The Venus Effect."
Many variables affect skin aging. For women, one of the most influential variables is attributed to the shifts in hormonal balance throughout the month and decades. This affects mood, metabolism and the quality of skin.
"Estrogen has been shown to increase collagen content, elasticity and the production of hyaluronic acid," Dr. Booth says. Thus, the decline of estrogen from its peak in a woman's 20s leads to a number of issues, including signs of skin aging, most notably a significant loss of skin elasticity that ultimately results in lines, wrinkles and reduced luminosity. The sisters believe women can offset the challenges of aging via a healthy diet, lifestyle and proper skin care.
Utilizing advanced proprietary phytoestrogen complex, their products address the hormonal aging process. In simple terms, these plant-based molecules safely and effectively restore collagen, dramatically increasing the skin's elasticity and reversing the signs of aging.
VENeffect inspires collagen production, replenishing what women naturally lose to improve the vital glow of healthy skin. VENeffect phytoestrogens, similar to those found in the seeds, nuts, roots, and sometimes in the bark of many plants, provide further health benefits for the skin, including anti-oxidants, photo-protection and natural anti-inflammatory effects.
All the products are hypoallergenic; non-comedogenic, meaning they don't clog pores and are generally oil-free; fragrance-free; silicone-free; gluten-free; and paraben-free, meaning they are free of a certain type of preservative; and made in the United States. Prices range from $85-$195 and the items are available at select beauty retailers and the brand's website.
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A few months ago, I learned the name of a woman who does microcurrent facials out of a small studio in Beverly Hills. The space isn’t anything fancy, but whispers about Mila Morgan’s transformative anti-aging treatment have been quietly (seriously, I’ve seen women get into fights about whether or not to share this secret) spreading through Los Angeles. I finally went to meet this miracle worker, whose reputation travels only via word of mouth, to find out about her process and experience the facial for myself.
What’s your background? “I have four degrees in the sciences and anesthesiology and a master’s in psychology. Before I attended my anesthesiology residency, I was the head nurse of a level-one trauma ICU. Later, I trained at the Mayo Clinic as a nurse anesthetist doing mostly neuro, facial plastics, general, pediatric, orthopedic, and cardiothoracic anesthesia.â€
How does your device work? “It provides a current through the applicators that I apply to the face. Because of aging, the environment, diet, sun, smoking, medical issues, and more, the body slows down. This is a 'reboot' of the electrical system. In 1991, research at the University of Washington found that microcurrents could stimulate the production and storage of collagen and elastin. Also, it was shown that the quality was betterâ€"10 percent thicker collagen and 45 percent stronger elastin.â€
What are some of the most impressive results you’ve seen? “Consistently, dark circles and swelling under the eyes improve, fine and deep lines diminish, pores get smaller, eyes and brows lift, cheeks sculpt, the jawline tightens, and skin looks bright and dewy. I have a 75-year-old client on the dating scene, and she loves microcurrents! She had some loose skin and deep lines around her mouth and crow’s-feet. When she walked into the studio at the six-month mark, I thought she had gotten filler. She my poster child for my work! She easily looks 15 years younger.â€
Morgan’s treatment doesn’t involve the typical cleansers, extractions, or masks. It’s just a solid hour of facial massaging. She slathers on a conducting gel and then works two wands with opposite currents over your face. She also tells you what you might expect: a sensation that your hair is being pulled at the hairline, twitching, and a mild metallic taste in your mouth. But as odd as it all sounds, I never experienced any pain during my sessions, and I surprisingly drifted into a semidream state every time. And here's the best part: Now that I've completed my series of treatments, my face looks rested, full (in a youthful way), andâ€"drumrollâ€"the lines that were settling above my lip are noticeably better! All I can say is if there’s ever an at-home version, I will use it every single day.
A few months ago, I learned the name of a woman who does microcurrent facials out of a small studio in Beverly Hills. The space isn’t anything fancy, but whispers about Mila Morgan’s transformative anti-aging treatment have been quietly (seriously, I’ve seen women get into fights about whether or not to share this secret) spreading through Los Angeles. I finally went to meet this miracle worker, whose reputation travels only via word of mouth, to find out about her process and experience the facial for myself.
What’s your background? “I have four degrees in the sciences and anesthesiology and a master’s in psychology. Before I attended my anesthesiology residency, I was the head nurse of a level-one trauma ICU. Later, I trained at the Mayo Clinic as a nurse anesthetist doing mostly neuro, facial plastics, general, pediatric, orthopedic, and cardiothoracic anesthesia.â€
How does your device work? “It provides a current through the applicators that I apply to the face. Because of aging, the environment, diet, sun, smoking, medical issues, and more, the body slows down. This is a 'reboot' of the electrical system. In 1991, research at the University of Washington found that microcurrents could stimulate the production and storage of collagen and elastin. Also, it was shown that the quality was betterâ€"10 percent thicker collagen and 45 percent stronger elastin.â€
What are some of the most impressive results you’ve seen? “Consistently, dark circles and swelling under the eyes improve, fine and deep lines diminish, pores get smaller, eyes and brows lift, cheeks sculpt, the jawline tightens, and skin looks bright and dewy. I have a 75-year-old client on the dating scene, and she loves microcurrents! She had some loose skin and deep lines around her mouth and crow’s-feet. When she walked into the studio at the six-month mark, I thought she had gotten filler. She my poster child for my work! She easily looks 15 years younger.â€
Morgan’s treatment doesn’t involve the typical cleansers, extractions, or masks. It’s just a solid hour of facial massaging. She slathers on a conducting gel and then works two wands with opposite currents over your face. She also tells you what you might expect: a sensation that your hair is being pulled at the hairline, twitching, and a mild metallic taste in your mouth. But as odd as it all sounds, I never experienced any pain during my sessions, and I surprisingly drifted into a semidream state every time. And here's the best part: Now that I've completed my series of treatments, my face looks rested, full (in a youthful way), andâ€"drumrollâ€"the lines that were settling above my lip are noticeably better! All I can say is if there’s ever an at-home version, I will use it every single day.
In the quest for younger-looking skin, it seems like some people will do just about anythingâ€"and we mean anything. The billion dollar skin care industries are privy to the desperation of consumers and respond accordingly. Bird poop! Placenta! Blood! But should we really be slathering these things on our faces? Below, some of the weirdest anti-aging trends we've stumbled across:
Snail Slime
Back in 2013, a spa in Japan started an unusual anti-aging procedure: snail facials. The procedure involved live snails being placed on a patient's face, letting the snails do what they do best: slither around leaving trails of slime. The secreted slime mucus is full of antioxidants and copper peptides that reportedly repair damaged skin cells. For those who aren't crazy enough to put a live snail on their faces, cosmetics manufacturers have been adding slime mucus to their products, a few of which have been positively reviewed here at TIA. Maybe not so crazy?
Baby Foreskins
The use of cells from baby foreskins have been in the news recently thanks to Hydrafacial, a new cream that promises to prevent wrinkles, reverse sun damage, lighten dark spots and prevent acneâ€"all while using stem cells from an infant's foreskin. If this sounds familiar, it's probably because Oprah endorsed a foreskin-derived cream back in 2013 (and was attacked for it). Foreskins are supposedly full of growth factors that stimulate cell renewal. A writer over at The Cut gave the cream a favorable review, but we just can't get over the ick factor.
Silkworm Cocoons
A writer over at The Daily Mail insists on using silkworm cocoons to keep the ravages of age at bay. The cocoons, which are casings silkworms spin before becoming moths, are soaked in hot water before being rubbed all over the face. The water unleashes sericin, a substance rich in protein and amino acids, that coats the skin and locks in moisture. Apparently Japanese geishas have been doing it for centuries. The result? A reduction in wrinkles and a clearer complexion. Although it sounds strange, this trend is worth a gamble since it's all-natural and causes no bad side effects.
Face Shaving for Women
Most women, once we reach a certain age, start seeing sporadic hairs around our upper lip or chin, and so we wax them away accordingly. But would you shave your face if you didn't have to? Your entire face? Earlier this year, beauty blogs and websites erupted with the strange premise that women should shave their faces like men. By shaving, the blades exfoliate the skin, removing dead skin cells. Of course, you don't need us to tell you that this is rubbish.
Peat From Irish Bogs
Ã"gra Skincare founder Bill Kenny accidentally discovered the key to anti-aging when he discovered a perfectly preserved corpse in the bog by his home. He realized peat, a carbon-rich material found in bogs, had tremendous skin benefits, including intense preservation power. After realizing this, Kenny started bottling the bog soil and using it in anti-aging products, like Peat Face and Body Mask ($66). Other Irish skin care companies have jumped on the peat bandwagon as well, producing their own bog-derived miracle products. We love all-natural creams, but 9,000-year-old bog juice? We'll pass.
Julie uses fractal laser treatments to keep her skin looking young with improved texture.
“There is very, very little down time, and there is not very much pain involved and it is an extremely natural result,†she said.
That natural look is what experts say more patients are opting for. A host of minimally invasive treatments are aimed at achieving it.
“We have so many new technologies, so many new procedures, and there is so much interest,†said Dr. Arielle Kauvar.
Interests in treatments like focused ultrasound to tighten the skin; fractal lasers to treat scars, wrinkles and improve texture; or micro needling, which uses small needles to create a tiny injury to the skin.
“You can create microscopic wounds to the skin, and that stimulates the skin to produce new collagen by essentially tricking the skin into going into this wound-repair mechanism, we can reverse some of the aspects of aging,†Kauvar said.
Some experts recommend starting treatment early at the first signs of aging in order to slow the process. Dr. Scott Glasberg, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, sees a trend toward minimally invasive procedures, but he feels some treatments border on too little for some patients.
“There are times where surgery or more invasive procedures are the best option for patients and that's generally later in life,†he said. “More extreme situations, where patients have waited and not had minimally invasive to start.â€
Kauva points out that sometimes a combination of treatments works best, and says lasers can't prevent wrinkles from returning in areas with a lot of muscle movement.
“So injectables, which is neurotoxin and fillers, accomplished one kind of change, where as lasers and ultrasound treatments accomplish another,†Kauva said. “And often to get the total picture and best rejuvenation we combine them.â€
If you do consider opting for a newer, minimally invasive anti-aging treatment, Kauvar recommends seeing a physician who is well-qualified and has a lot of experience with the treatment device.
“Although they are extremely safe when used properly, these are high-energy devices, and it is possible to create side effects when they're not used properly,†Kauvar said.
As for Julie, she's happy with the results she has seen.
“My skin is tighter, it's smoother without looking blown up,†she said.
PhotoA collaborative project is studying ways to preserve deteriorating animation cels, like this one from “Snow White.â€Credit Disney Enterprises, Inc
PROTECTING ANIMATION CELS
FROM THE VAGARIES OF AGE
The hand-drawn animation cels used to create cartoons before the advent of computers have aged poorly. Their cellulose and polyester backings have buckled, cracked and yellowed, and the watercolor paint is peeling. To determine the best way to prevent further damage, the Disney Animation Research Library, which owns millions of these works, is collaborating with the Getty Conservation Institute.
Michael R. Schilling, a senior scientist at the Getty institute, said researchers are studying which protective materials to wrap around the cels, what temperature are best for storage and how to reattach lost paint.
The original opaque paints were designed to be durable and flexible enough to withstand rough treatment as the cellulose sheets were passed around during filming sessions. Disney animators mixed the paints themselves instead of buying commercial brands that might not have adhered to the plastic. “Too much was at stake when they made these movies to leave anything to chance,†Mr. Schilling said.
Researchers will subject tiny cel samples to lab tests to simulate years of exposure to conditions like extreme temperatures, light, moisture and air. The results will also be useful to conservators working on 20th-century sculptures that contain plastics, Mr. Schilling said.
The Getty’s efforts will help preserve the animation collection not only for historians interested in Disney studies but also for future generations of cinephiles.
In September, a four-hour documentary about Walt Disney will air on public television. Sarah Colt, the director and producer, said the movie will have footage of animators at work. “It just took an army of artists†to make the early films, she said.
Cels from Disney productions have ended up on the market, selling for as little as a few hundred dollars each.
Heritage Auctions in Dallas, which regularly offers them, notes occasional condition problems in its catalogs, such as wrinkles and cracks.
SHAKESPEAREAN OBSESSION
Biographers only recently started poring over the voluminous documentation that Henry Clay Folger and his wife, Emily, made of their purchases of Shakespearean works. “The Millionaire and the Bard: Henry Folger’s Obsessive Hunt for Shakespeare’s First Folio,†due out on Tuesday from Simon & Schuster, by Andrea Mays, explains how the couple divided up responsibilities in their shared mania.
The Folgers built their Shakespeare collection with little input from others. From the 1880s to the 1920s, they invested Mr. Folger’s Standard Oil earnings in hundreds of thousands of publications, manuscripts and paintings. They paid tens of thousands of dollars each for rarities, including editions of plays printed in 1623, known as First Folios. When the Folgers traveled, they took along boxfuls of file cards of their cataloged acquisitions. To ensure everything would stay together, they built the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington.
“Emily read thousands of booksellers’ catalogs, marking them with dog-eared corners and making pencil squiggles in the margins,†Ms. Mays writes in “The Millionaire and the Bard.†Henry Folger negotiated with dealers and tracked what was for sale around the world. “He took meticulous notes on condition, completeness, binding, provenance, and prices paid,†she continues.
One of the couple’s favorite dealers was A. S. W. Rosenbach, whom Stephen H. Grant, the author of “Collecting Shakespeare: The Story of Henry and Emily Folger†(published last year by Johns Hopkins University Press), describes as “the most erudite rascal in the book business.†When Mr. Rosenbach needed quick cash, Mr. Grant writes, he would show an associate “something printed in the Shakespearean period and plead: ‘Can you make this into Shakespeareana? I want to sell it to Folger.’ †References to Denmark and Falstaff’s basso singing were sometimes enough to persuade Mr. Folger to write checks.
Next year, for the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, the Folger library will team up with the Cincinnati Museum Center and the American Library Association on exhibitions of the 1623 First Folios, which will travel to all 50 states.
Daniel De Simone, head librarian at the Folger, said that despite the recent biographies, the Folgers’ innermost thoughts and feelings remain a mystery.
“The nature of their private relationship is even unknown to us,†he said.
