Lifestyle Choices

These “professional” cleansing pads are much more efficient for face cleaning than tissues or tiny balls of cotton wool. Make enough for three or four days and store them, flat, in a plastic bag in the fridge. (more…)

Nails are made of keratin, the same substance as hair. The nail we see is ‘dead’, and the growing area of nail is below the cuticle. Poor health is often reflected in the state of the nails: brittleness, cracking, splitting and lack of luster. (more…)

Hands are very important and, if they are not taken care of, can give away the age of a person even more than the face and neck. We use our hands for so many daily chores that, if we are not careful to protect and nourish them, they can soon take on a very poor condition. (more…)

Sunlight is electromagnetic radiation, which is similar to X-rays but of lower energy. The sun’s energy reaching the earth’s surface can be broadly subdivided into 1) infrared (the lowest energy that can be felt as heat); 2) visible light; and 3) ultraviolet (the highest energy that affects the skin). The ultraviolet spectrum is, in turn, divided into three bands — the “ultra-V three” — each of which causes a different, specific, and most unwelcome effect. (more…)

As ears are virtually fully grown by the age of six, ears that are going to be unacceptably prominent will definitely be noticeable by that age. Unfortunately, it is other children not similarly afflicted who tend to notice them most and a child’s life may be made a misery by teasing in the early school days. On the plus side, this is one cosmetic operation which can be carried out in childhood and is usually obtainable on the NHS without more than a few months wait. (more…)

Decreased Immunity

Your skin is your first layer of protection from the environment. These capture foreign substances and organisms to present them to the immune system deeper in the skin and in the blood.

It is known that after exposure to UV light, the number of Langerhan’s cells markedly decreases and can even disappear completely, making us far more susceptible to skin infection. When you suffer sunburn you compound the problem. Not only are your immune cells depleted, but the blistering of acute sunburn breaks down the skin, making infection more likely. (more…)

Baggy Eyelids Removal Pain and Recovery

You can go home the same day, with two small strips of bandage over your stitches to protect them. These can be removed a few days later, when your stitches come out. Your eyelids will ache initially but the pain should not be severe. If it is, call a doctor, as there may be internal bleeding. (more…)

Blepharoplasty is the technical name for correction of baggy eyelids and it is almost as commonly carried out as rhinoplasty (nose correction). The sagging of skin around the upper and lower eyelids is one of the natural signs of ageing and, if pronounced, may be particularly distressing to those who are very conscious of their appearance. It can, however, occur much earlier in life, due to an inherited disposition, but have much the same impact: that is, you feel you look old well before your time. (more…)