Tag: sun

Safe Solutions for 6 Common Beach Body Concerns

Summer is approaching! It’s the time of year met with mixed emotions. On one hand you’re excited for the warmer weather, open toe shoes and weekends at the beach or pool. On the other hand you dread revealing the stubborn cellulite, dull skin, stretch marks, scarring from breakouts on the chest shoulders or back not to mention coarse hairs.

Dr. Kirk Brandow, founder and director of the Brandow Clinic for Cosmetic Surgery in Philadelphia who has appeared on national programs such as Good Morning America and 20/20, offers some insights and tips on these top 6 beach body concerns.

1. My skin is so pale!

It’s been way too long since you have seen a glimmer of sunshine and realize how your skin matches the white of your office walls. You want to avoid tanning beds and load up on sunscreen. “Opt for a bronzing cream or spray tan instead of tanning beds. Many of the women who come to me for facial procedures including Botox, fillers and laser treatments could have slowed down the aging process by being vigilant about sun protection and avoiding tanning beds,” cautions Dr. Brandow.

2. I have acne scarring on my shoulders and chest.

The quickest and most permanent way to remove these infuriating scars is with a laser. “Lasers are a very efficient way to remove scars and improve over all skin texture with minimal side effects. Patients are pleased with the fast results, which can be seen after the first treatment with optimal results by end of a treatment cycle based on your own needs,” explains Dr. Brandow.

3. I exercise but there still that little bit of tummy flab.

Stubborn tummy flab won’t disappear even with all of that exercising and dieting. Some people who have had children even consider a full tummy tuck. “It is very important to find a doctor who understands all options and can recommend one that will address your specific concern. Some pricey non-invasive body contouring procedures will offer a temporary result making it necessary to repeat them,” advises Dr. Brandow whose specialty is the Jersey Shore Tummy Tuck given his practice’s proximity to the Jersey Shore.

4. Cellulite.

There is no easy way to remove cellulite; you are either using a coffee scrub or going in to see the doctor for a laser procedure. Dr. Brandow recommends the professional treatment called Smartlipo, which is a small laser that goes into the skin and melts the fat away. Smartlipo is a less invasive procedure than liposuction, is costly and time consuming but the results can last up to five years.

5. Stretch Marks.

An inevitable result of weight fluctuation, are stretch marks.

Coolbeam laser is a new hit to eliminate stretch marks thanks to Kim Kardashian, who posted on her Snapchat about the procedure. Dr. Brandow explains, “lasers are far less invasive than a surgical procedure, which has a much longer recovery time.” Another option for stretch marks that Dr. Brandow recently spoke of on a recent TV segment is using PRP (platelet rich plasma), which involves pricking the scarred region with a special roller instrument then using the body’s own plasma to stimulate healing and collagen regrowth. “This is the same thing as the ‘Vampire facial’ but done on stretch marks. Results are incredibly impressive,” he says.

6. Unwanted body hair.

Hair removal is always a beach season battle. For a more effective long-term hair removal option, Dr. Brandow highly recommends investing in laser hair removal. “Laser hair removal is the most permanent way to remove unwanted body hair. It takes ups to 6-12 treatments offering the best results.” Waxing is a popular option, which can last up to 3-6 weeks depending on how your hair grows. It is the quickest and long-lasting hair removal technique that doesn’t require any laser and it can be done at home.

Dr. Brandow also reminds people to check with their dermatologist for an annual skin screening before exposing themselves to another season of sunshine.

About Dr. Kirk Brandow

Dr. Kirk Brandow, founder and director of the Brandow Clinic for Cosmetic Surgery is a plastic surgeon with 2 locations in the Philadelphia metro area and a 3rd one at the jersey shore. Named a “Top Doc” in Plastic Surgery by Philadelphia Magazine as well as nationally recognized for one of America’s “Best Plastic Surgeons” of this decade, Dr. Brandow is a trusted expert who has developed many innovative, minimally invasive procedures for the face, body and skin. He has been featured on local, national and international television programs including 20/20, CNN’s Headline News, Good Morning America.

Study finds Vitamin D effective for reducing flu and colds 

People who boost their vitamin D levels with supplements reduce their risk of respiratory tract infections, such as the flu, by up to 12%, according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis study of 25 randomised controlled trial (RCT) studies published recently in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

The study reported that this equates to one person being spared a respiratory tract infection (RTI) for every 33 taking vitamin D supplements. The benefit is greater in those receiving daily or weekly vitamin D versus bolus or monthly dosing, with the number needed to treat dropping to 20. The impact in Canada, based on a population of 35 million people, shows vitamin D could spare 1.75 million people having one RTI per year.

“The results are likely to change the cost/benefit analysis relating to fortification of foods with vitamin D significantly,” said Adrian Martineau, clinical professor of respiratory infection and immunity at Queen Mary University of London.

The magnitude of potential healthcare savings is great when you consider the impact of RTI’s such as time off work, doctor appointments, and prescription costs. Just last year a study found if Canadians could raise their mean level of vitamin D to at least 100 nmol/L, it would prevent approximately 23,000 premature deaths and save $12.5 billion annually in direct healthcare and related costs.

Vitamin D researchers have suspected for a long time that RCT studies which used bolus or monthly dosing and reported minimal benefits were diminishing the true positive effects of vitamin D especially in systematic review and meta-analysis. This new study by Martineau et al. was able to prove that bolus or monthly dosing is ineffective. It found:

• 12% reduction of respiratory tract infections based on all studies and all dosing regimens
• 19% reduction of respiratory tract infections for those receiving daily or weekly vitamin D doses
• No statistically significant effect on risk of respiratory tract infections for those receiving bolus or monthly dosing
• 70% reduction in respiratory tract infections for those with low vitamin D blood levels below 25 nmol/L and receiving weekly or daily dosing of vitamin D

“You can’t expect a monthly bolus dose of vitamin D to provide adequate blood levels of 25(OH)D to respond to daily infectious attacks,” said Dr. Gerry Schwalfenberg, a scientific advisor to the Vitamin D Society and an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Alberta. “Vitamin D levels would spike immediately from the bolus dosing and then drop throughout the month back to low untreated levels leaving you open to infections. You need daily vitamin D intake for best results and immune response.”

In Canada, 35% of people or approximately 12 million people have vitamin D levels below 50 nmol/L. This increases to 40% in winter. More than 50 vitamin D scientists recommend that you reach a vitamin D blood level of between 100-150 nmol/L for optimal health.

“This study proves that by increasing your vitamin D blood levels through daily intake you could significantly prevent flu, colds and other respiratory infections,” said Perry Holman, Executive Director of the Vitamin D Society. “One of the reasons we have more flu and colds in the winter is due to the lack of UVB sun exposure and the resulting lower vitamin D levels.”

About the Vitamin D Society:

The Vitamin D Society is a Canadian non-profit group organized to increase awareness of the many health conditions strongly linked to vitamin D deficiency; encourage people to be proactive in protecting their health and have their vitamin D levels tested annually; and help fund valuable vitamin D research. The Vitamin D Society recommends people achieve and maintain optimal 25(OH)D blood levels between 100 – 150 nmol/L (Can) or 40-60 ng/ml (USA).

To learn more about vitamin D, please visit www.vitamindsociety.org.

Study Urges Public Health to Embrace Sunlight Benefits

Just weeks after research warned Canadians that vitamin D deficiency was costing Canadian healthcare $12.5B annually by leading to a higher risk of developing life-threatening illnesses, a new study from the US is supporting the Canadian research and challenging conventional sun exposure advice. The study calls for public health organizations to re-evaluate their current message of sun avoidance and to promote non-burning sun exposure for vitamin D and other health benefits.

The recently published study, written by one of the most qualified and diverse groups of researchers in the fields of pigment cell research, photobiology, melanoma research, dermatology and vitamin D, “The Risks and Benefits of Sun Exposure 2016” by David G. Hoel, Marianne Berwick, Frank R. de Gruijl and Michael F. Holick, has found that insufficient sun exposure is an emerging public health risk.

Published in Dermato-Endocrinology, the report says that the current state of the science behind the risks and benefits of sun exposure suggests that public health advice should be changed to recommend that all men, women and children accumulate sufficient non-burning sun exposure to maintain their vitamin D blood levels at 75 nmol/L (30 ng/ml) especially in northern climates. The research goes further, reporting about the positive benefits of vitamin D and outlines how many other photoproducts produced by sunlight exposure are beneficial to our health.

In Canada, lab tests relied upon by doctors, consider the sufficient vitamin D blood level range to be between 75 to 150 nmol/L or higher in some provinces. Currently 65% of Canadians, or 2 out of every 3, do not meet the 75 nmol/L vitamin D blood level and have insufficient vitamin D levels.

“The results of our study show that to live a healthier life, it’s important for North Americans to increase their vitamin D levels through non-burning sun exposure,” says Dr. Michael Holick, Scientific Advisor for the Vitamin D Society and Professor of Medicine at Boston University Medical Center. “Insufficient sun exposure has become a major public health problem, demanding an immediate change in the current sun-avoidance public health advice. Generating vitamin D with non-burning exposure to the sun every day or under artificial UVB sources can help prevent the development of serious diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis and others. Remember that the UV index must be above 3 and your shadow shorter than you are to produce vitamin D from the sun.”

A new Canadian study reported that increasing vitamin D intake could spare 23,000 Canadians premature deaths annually and save Canada $12.5 billion in healthcare spending and associated costs. The study found that Canadians vitamin D levels have been dropping  due to lower sunlight exposure putting more people at risk of life-threatening illnesses.

“More and more research is being published urging individuals to increase their vitamin D levels through non-burning sun exposure,” says Perry Holman, Executive Director of the Vitamin D Society. We need to start looking at UV exposure differently and embrace the benefits while controlling for the risks of overexposure.”

Canadians can get their vitamin D levels checked by their physicians, or online, through a simple 25(OH)D blood test to ensure they aren’t deficient.

About the Vitamin D Society:

The Vitamin D Society is a Canadian non-profit group organized to increase awareness of the many health conditions strongly linked to vitamin D deficiency; encourage people to be proactive in protecting their health and have their vitamin D levels tested annually; and help fund valuable vitamin D research. The Vitamin D Society recommends people achieve and maintain optimal 25(OH)D blood levels between 100 – 150 nmol/L (Can) or 40-60 ng/ml (USA).

To learn more about vitamin D, please visit www.vitamindsociety.org

5 Tips to Help Keep Skin Safe in the Sun

Berlin, Germany, 23/8/16 - Over recent decades beauty standards have altered to place a larger importance on bronzed, sun-kissed skin. Changing leisure habits have made regular use of sunbeds acceptable, and a culturally agreed importance of boasting a year-round tan as a sign of health - and expendable wealth - mean that tanning is more pervasive than ever before.

Sporting a gorgeous glowing skin tone may make some among us feel better about our looks, but the potential health effects have been widely reported on. Specifically in Canada, a recent study from dermatological platform Derma.plus showed that the country has the 19th highest diagnoses annually of skin cancer worldwide. And at this time of year, it’s not just those who use artificial tanning methods who need to be careful to keep their skin protected.

Below are five simple ways to ensure you don’t over-expose your skin this summer, boosting your chances of keeping skin healthy.

1. Wear practical clothing...
A simple technique to avoid strong solar radiation is to wear sensible, skin-covering clothing, suitable for the environment around you. Loose fitting linens are very popular in summer, providing adequate ventilation as well as cover from the sun’s rays. Likewise, don’t underestimate the power a simple hat can have in protecting your face from the sun’s heat. At the beach or swimming pool don’t assume these garments need to come off before you get into the water; UV rays are more intense when refracted through liquid, so stay covered for as long as required.

2. ...And adequate sun protection!
   The most popular kind of sun protection is still the classic sunscreen. But make sure that you’re using the correct SPF for your skin type, as well as the right amount to actually protect the skin. To reach the SPF level on the bottle, adults should use at least 30-40ml sunscreen for the whole body. If you have sensitive skin, if its midsummer, of if you’re in a hotter country than your skin is ordinarily used to, be sure to raise your SPF factor accordingly, and always reapply several times throughout the day.
3. Allow skin to acclimatise
   If your skin is not used to hot weather or intense sunlight be careful about subjecting it to these factors too quickly. Allow it time to become accustomed to more intense solar levels to avoid any nasty sensations or shocks. Keep sunbathing to shorter periods of time in the first instances, and avoid being in the sun too long during it’s peak, between 10am-4pm in the northern hemisphere.
4. Avoid sun beds
   Straight-up great advice; sun beds should be avoided! It has been proven time and again that simulated solar radiation can drastically increase the risk of developing harmful diseases such as skin cancer. Such intense solar levels coupled with a lack of protection not only increase the risk of cancer, but also age the skin faster than usual. Some among us use sunbeds ahead of holidays in an attempt to acclimatise skin by creating a base layer of tan. However due to the intensity at which sunbeds work, this is not a sensible approach. A far better option is to follow the advice above and slowly acclimatise your skin whilst on location, timing exposure and ensuring skin is never exposed to levels which are too intense.
5. Take special precautions with children
   As far as the usage of sunscreen on children’s skin goes, debates rage on regarding the age at which they can safely start to have it applied. Some experts state that babies under 6 months of age should never have it applied, whilst others argue children should never use it under the age of two. Whichever argument you’re more inclined to believe, most experts and parents agree that sunscreen should never be the first and only line of defence for children. Opt instead for physical barriers such as clothing, hats or umbrellas.

Toms - The Gift of Sight #TOMScanada @TOMS

Today I received a very special gift from TOMS - The gift of sight.  The package came right to my door with a cute note in it. "Enjoy summer in these traveler shades from TOMS!" So cute!

The TRAVELER is a resilient frame designed to endure outdoor excursions (perfect for my lifestyle), world travel and life on the move! I am pretty sure that is a perfect description of me. These special Toms sunglasses are constructed in SOLAFLEX™, TOMS unique rubberized material used for its Traveler collection is designed to provide long-lasting durability, comfort and fit.

With every pair of TOMS eyewear purchased, TOMS will help restore sight by providing the necessary surgery, medical treatments or prescription glasses, allowing patients to return to work or school and live independent lives. To date, TOMS has restored vision to over 325,000 people in 13 countries around the world.

I encourage you all to give sight and see your give in action at www.toms.com/gift-of-sight

Thanks so much TOMS CANADA!

Register NOW for The Train It Right and @ketangafitness Cancun Mexico Trip  - Train It Right

Hey Guys!

I am teaming up with Ketanga Fitness to offer you a chance to travel with me to Cancun Mexico January 2016 from he 21st to the 25th! This trip will be all inclusive and will include give aways from sponsors, outdoor excursions and of course training! For more information and to register visit:

http://www.KetangaFitness.com/Train-it-right

I promise you that it will be a trip of a life time under the gorgeous Mexico sun!

TRAIN IT RIGHT!

Fitness isn’t all about working out hard in the gym everyday. It's a lifes It is much more than that. It not only includes exercise but diet and hydration. I call water, “liquid courage.” It gives your body life, regulates your core temperature, lubricates joints, gives your skin a healthy glow, and keep you from being bloated. “Liquid courage” is particularly important during exercise. Your body sweats to get rid of toxins and to cool off your body. However, you need to rehydrate yourself before, during and afterwards.