Archive for June 12th, 2006
By: Yvonne Stephens
An estimated 129 million Americans or 64 percent of the U.S. population is overweight or obese, reports the Department of Health and Human Resources.
Many say that the diet industry is to blame for America’s expanding waistlines as the lucrative market for obesity fighting products and services
(banking over $100 billion a year) continues to grow, offering a virtual menu of fix-its from controversial new diet drugs to celebrity diets to extreme surgeries.
“Knowing what’s in your food is the key to healthy weight loss and weight management. Make it yourself with no trans-fatty fats, no enriched flours and no chemicals,” says Yvonne Stephens, a graduate of the Art Institute of Philadelphia, a cooking instructor, private chef and freelance food stylist. “No time is no excuse. It takes less than ten minutes to cook a healthy and delicious meal for every taste from all over the world: Italian, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Hawaiian, Asian, etc.”
Stephens has easy advice for beginners wanting to get cooking at home, or people who gave up cooking due to lack of time. In her new book “Amazing 7 Minute Meals” (Synergy Books, April 2006, 1933538201, $22.95), Stephens provides a practical advice for healthy, easy recipes - over 100 recipes that are all cooked in seven minutes or less, stocking your first kitchen with detailed information about herbs, spices and the right carbs.
After a long battle with bulimia and experimentation with every fad diet on the market, Stephens realized the underlying reason why many people spend more time and money on diet plans and fast food than in their own kitchens – lack of time and energy. Because an active lifestyle combined with healthy eating is the only way to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight, Stephens introduced a homegrown approach to eating for today’s dieters. The only items needed for a successful healthy eating and weight loss plan are pre-cut ingredients, a wok (or skillet) and seven minutes.
“Good tools really make your prep-time shorter, and the job easier,” says Stephens. She suggests that kitchen novices invest in a wok, or another large non-stick skillet, which are ideal for stir-fry dishes. The non-stick surface cleans easily, and because you only have one pan, cleanup is also fast. Other beginners will want to add these to their shopping list as well: a chef’s knife, paring knife, cleaver, tongs, whisk, spatula, juicer, peeler, and food saver containers.
By using the stir-fry technique, Stephens says healthy and delicious meals can be prepared and cooked in less time than it takes to cook macaroni and cheese. All the dishes in her cookbook are made with fresh ingredients and are low in calories and fat. Breaking the myth that healthy home cooking is expensive and time consuming, she provides a detailed shopping list in the book outlining the cost of ingredients for four of her meals.
Stephens was born in the Netherlands, and into her family’s rich tradition of Dutch cooking. The recipes in “Amazing 7 Minute Meals” originate from traditional world cuisine she found through her travels.
For more information and free recipes, please visit getrealhealthyfood.com.
June 12th, 2006
By: American Academy of Dermatology
Healthy nails are an important part of overall health. When nails are in good physical shape, they are not only aesthetically pleasing, but they make it easier to perform
everyday tasks. However, not many of us put a lot of thought into our nails, either finger or toe, until there appears to be something wrong.
Speaking at ACADEMY ‘05, the American Academy of Dermatology’s summer scientific session in Chicago, dermatologist Richard K. Scher, M.D., professor of clinical dermatology, Columbia University, New York, N.Y., discussed common nail problems and how to keep them healthy.
“The nails can be windows to a patient’s overall health, and while the nail itself is dead tissue, the areas under the cuticle and beneath the nail are alive,” stated Dr. Scher. “These areas are particularly vulnerable to infection and damage, which is why it is important to see a dermatologist with any nail changes, so that the problem can be diagnosed and treated.”
Cosmetics
Keeping the nails healthy and neat looking has become an important grooming ritual for both men and women as the number of consumers that frequent nail salons and use nail cosmetics at home has increased.
“Nail cosmetics and salon services are generally quite safe, but there are potential problem areas associated with the use of nail cosmetics and salon services: infection, allergic reactions and mechanical damage to the nail,” said Dr. Scher. “While these are fairly rare occurrences, they can be serious and consumers should take some simple measures to guard against these potential health concerns.”
Contracting an infection is the most serious health risk related to nail cosmetics, particularly from manicure and pedicure tools and implements that have not been properly sterilized. Viral, bacterial and fungal infections may be transmitted to unsuspecting consumers from improperly sterilized implements.
Most nail salons take sanitation very seriously and follow strict sanitation and disinfection guidelines, but consumers should not be afraid to ask how implements are cleaned. “Look at the salon with cleanliness in mind and ask yourself these questions: Are the stations clean? Does the nail technician wash her hands between clients? Are there dirty implements lying around? If the salon does not appear clean, then move on,” recommended Dr. Scher, who also recommended that consumers bring their own tools and implements to be used at the salon in order to protect against infection.
Allergic reactions occur when a nail cosmetic ingredient sensitizes the skin which may results in itching, redness, blisters and pain every time the ingredient is used. Some of the more common ingredients that can create an allergic reaction are the acrylic materials found in a wide variety of nail products. Another potential allergen is tosylamid formaldehyde resin, an ingredient found in some nail polishes. If consumers experience itching or burning of the skin following a nail salon service or the application of nail cosmetics at home, Dr. Scher recommends removing the product as soon as possible and visiting a dermatologist to determine which ingredient is responsible for the allergic reaction.
Fungus
Fungal infections, known as onychomycosis or tinea unguium, make up approximately 50 percent of all nail disorders and since the infection occurs under the nail plate or in the nail bed, it can be difficult to treat. Fungal infections often cause the end of the nail to separate from the nail bed, the skin on which the nail rests. Fungus – colored white, green, yellow or black – may build up under the nail plate and discolor the nail bed. Toenails are more susceptible to fungal infections because they are confined in a warm, moist, weight-bearing environment. Candida or yeast infections are common in fingernails especially if the hands are always in water, as they are in professions such as fishermen, dishwashers or those who work at aquariums or aquatic theme parks.
Fungal infections are contagious and organisms can sometimes spread from one person to another especially where the air is often moist and people’s feet are bare. This can happen both at home and in public places like shower stalls, bathrooms or locker rooms or they can be passed around by sharing a nail file or emery board. In fact, a recent study noted an increase in athlete’s foot, a fungal infection that can grow and multiply on human skin, at boarding schools where students share the same living spaces.
“One way to reduce the risk of contracting toenail fungus is to always wear shower slippers in public showers, lockers rooms and around swimming pools,” recommended Dr. Scher.
The Psoriatic Nail
Approximately 50 percent of patients with psoriasis, a disease of the immune system which causes skin lesions that range from patches of mild scaling to extensive thick, red, scaling plaques, have psoriatic changes in their finger and toenails.
“Nail changes in psoriasis fall into general categories that may occur singly or all together,” stated Dr. Scher. “These changes can include a deeply pitted nail plate, yellow or yellow-pink discoloration of the nail, white areas under the nail plate or a nail plate that flakes off in yellow patches.”
In some cases, the nail is entirely lost due to psoriatic involvement of the nail matrix, where the nail and cuticle meet, and nail bed. Psoriasis of the fingernails also can resemble other conditions such as chronic infection or inflammation of the nail bed or nail fold, the hard skin overlapping the base and sides of the nails. Psoriasis of the toenails can resemble a chronic fungal infection.
Psoriatic nails can be treated by the dermatologist as part of the overall treatment of the disease and dermatologists are beginning to study the use of biologic treatments. “Therapies for the psoriatic nail have been limited because topical treatments do not penetrate down into the nail fold where the psoriasis is actually disfiguring the nail plate,” said Dr. Scher. “The introduction of biologic therapies to control skin psoriasis also may be beneficial for patients with psoriatic nails since these treatments work with the body’s immune system to prevent the body from triggering a psoriasis flare.”
Nail Malignancies
Subungal, or under the nail, melanoma appears as a brown to black-colored streak underneath the nail, which is often mistaken for a bruise or the nail streaks that frequently occur in people with dark skin. Subungal melanoma accounts for approximately 2 percent of melanomas in Caucasians, and 30 to 40 percent of melanomas in patients with skin of color. Subungal melanoma occurs with equal frequency in males and females, appears most often in people over 50 years of age, but can develop at any age and is seen most often under the nail of the thumb or the big toe.
“Subungal melanoma should be suspected whenever a nail streak appears without known injury to the nail, the nail discoloration does not gradually disappear as would a bruise or the size of the nail streak increases over time,” said Dr. Scher. “It’s important to see a dermatologist immediately if any changes are noticed on the nail since treatment for this condition should begin as soon as possible.”
“Overall, it’s important when caring for the nails at home or having a service in a salon, to make sure that the nails are being treated gently and safely,” said Dr. Scher. “Paying careful attention to the nails can help ensure that any infections or diseases are identified early and that treatment is begun as soon as possible.”
The American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. For more information, contact the Academy at 1-888-462-DERM (3376) or www.aad.org
June 12th, 2006
By: OSU.edu
Using makeup to cover a severe facial blemish may not improve the quality of a woman’s life, a new study suggests.
It did not matter how severe or what kind of blemish she had, whether it was a case of severe acne, a noticeable facial scar or pronounced dark spots covering the face.
“The women who used foundations to cover these kinds of marks reported having a lower health-related quality of life than did the women who didn’t wear the same kind of makeup,” said Rajesh Balkrishnan, the study’s lead author and the Merrell Dow professor of pharmacy at Ohio State University.
While it may seem obvious that anyone with a severe blemish on their face contends with psychological issues, until this study, no one had systematically evaluated how such blemishes affect women psychologically, said Balkrishnan.
“Though they may not have much effect on physical health, severe facial marks may have a significant impact on self-image and over time, that could adversely affect a woman’s health,” he said. “In this case the psychological impact often outweighs the physical aspects of the problem – the women in our study reported having more problems with social and sexual functioning than with physical functioning.”
The study appears in a recent issue of the International Journal of Dermatology.
Of the 73 women in the study, 66 used what Balkrishnan calls “corrective cosmetics” while seven did not. Corrective cosmetics are skin-colored foundations meant to conceal serious blemishes. It’s not the kind of makeup that would typically be found in the cosmetics aisle of a drug store, and a dermatologist usually recommends these foundations to her patient.
“The women who used foundation to cover blemishes may have had a tougher time psychologically dealing with their blemishes than did the women who didn’t use corrective makeup,” Balkrishnan said. “Although it’s difficult to say why this is, it may be that the women who didn’t wear makeup to cover their blemishes felt more confident in their appearance.”
These kinds of cosmetics are also fairly expensive – one company sells a 1-ounce jar of its corrective foundation for $27.50.
The majority of women that Balkrishnan and his colleagues surveyed had severe facial scarring, acne, melasma – a pronounced pigmentation of the upper cheeks, bridge of the nose, forehead and upper lip – or hyperpigmentation, a condition in which patches of facial skin become very dark. Most of the women had only one type of blemish. Participants’ average age was 37.
The overwhelming majority of women (90 percent) reported that they used some type of corrective foundation to cover the blemish, although the researchers did not record the brands of makeup that the women wore. Overall, the women were in good physical health.
The researchers used the Blemish Area and Severity Index (BASI) to quantify the area of the face covered by the blemish and to rate the severity of the blemish. Included in the BASI survey were questions that measured health-related quality of life issues, as well as questions that measured each woman’s fear of negative evaluation by others.
The researchers asked each woman to rate their health in general – answer choices ranged from excellent to poor. The women were also asked questions about any recent problems with physical or mental health, and how often poor physical or mental health kept them from doing their usual activities.
The survey also asked women to describe what they thought life would be like if they didn’t have to contend with the blemishes.
Not surprisingly, having a severe facial blemish negatively affected how most of the women perceived the quality of their lives. But the women who wore foundations to conceal their blemishes reported having a lower health-related quality of life than did the seven women who said that they did not wear this kind of makeup.
The women who didn’t wear makeup did not necessarily have less severe blemishes, either, Balkrishnan said.
“Overall, the women who used foundation treatments felt that they were worse off physically and mentally than the women who weren’t using these treatments,” Balkrishnan said.
Whether or not they wore makeup, participants overwhelmingly felt that without their blemish other people would see them in a less negative light, and that the overall quality of their lives would improve.
Interestingly, the researchers found no difference in health-related quality of life scores based on the type and size of a blemish. For example, a woman with bad acne did not feel any worse or any better than a woman with melasma. But the more fearful a woman was of being negatively evaluated in public, the lower she rated her health-related quality of life.
Researchers aren’t certain exactly how severe blemishes affect a woman’s mental health, and a study like this one may help in designing better treatments, including corrective cosmetics, for women, Balkrishnan said.
He conducted the study with researchers from the departments of dermatology, psychiatry and public health services at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C.; the division of management and policy sciences at the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston; and Vichy Laboratoires and Tarnier Hospital, both in Paris.
The study was funded by a grant from Vichy Laboratoires, which makes DermaBlend, a line of corrective cosmetics. Vichy Laboratoires is owned by L’Oreal. Ann Bouloc, a study co-author and a scientist with Vichy , is the only researcher in this study with a financial link to Vichy.
June 12th, 2006
By: Baylor College of Medicine
Beautiful Lips
Want a puffy pout like Angelina Jolie? A simple technique called lip suspension may work better than injections alone to achieve bee-stung beautiful lips.
“As a woman ages, gravity causes the length between the nose and the lips to become longer,” said Dr. Esser Yuksel, an assistant professor of microsurgery and aesthetic
surgery in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. “The red part of the lips shows less and less, the lips become narrower and the corners drop.”
Using a technique called “lip suspension,” Yuksel inserts sutures through the inside of the nose to the underside of the upper lip, lifting the lip up and out. The procedure takes 10 to 15 minutes and is done under local anesthetic. Healing takes about two to four weeks.
The final result restores the upper lip to its more youthful position and makes it look fuller. For an even fuller look, fat or scar tissue harvested from the patient can be injected into the lip.
Foreign materials like collagen add volume when injected into the lips, but in the long run may give gravity an extra boost in causing the lips’ downward slide, unless the injections are paired with lip suspension.
“Adding more volume to the lips may make them heavier and cause the lips to drop even lower,” Yuksel said.
The lips are often overlooked when women consider enhancing their features, Yuksel said. He believes that is changing.
“Lip enhancement has long been the “foster child” of plastic surgery, because other areas of the face have received more attention.” Yuksel said. “More people are realizing that the lips are a central element of the face. They are one of the first things you notice when you look at someone.”
June 12th, 2006
By: Baylor College of Medicine
An innovative breast surgery designed by a Baylor College of Medicine in Houston surgeon focuses on shaping the breasts for better long-term results.
“There are a number of different techniques used for breast reductions, breast lifts,” said Dr. Eser Yuksel, an assistant professor of plastic and cosmetic surgery in the
Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at BCM. “The advantages of dermal suspension are better shaped breasts with better projection, and in some groups of patients we’re able to eliminate the vertical scar used in the standard procedure,” Yuksel said.
Yuksel places suspension sutures in key places on the body wall to help keep the shaped breasts in place. An internal support system is made from the patient’s own skin, which would otherwise be discarded with the standard surgery. This provides an extra layer of support and is akin to the improved strength afforded by the structure of a suspension bridge. Other methods depend on the skin’s elasticity, which can eventually cause the breasts to droop.
Recovery time depends on each individual, but most patients are able to return to work after a week, he said. The complication rate is similar to the standard method.
Dermal suspension surgery is not only for women seeking relief from shoulder, neck and back pain caused by very large breasts, but also for those who want only cosmetic improvement of sagging normal size or slightly large breasts by lifting them.
“I believe that this new technique with its improved shaping and reduced visible scars, provides an attractive alternative to the currently applied surgical approaches,” Yuksel said.
June 12th, 2006