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In this week's blog, I am sharing what I learned about KERATIN. How did I come up with that subject you may ask? Well, the topic of KERATIN came up twice this past week, so I read up on it, and I am sharing what I learned. Before I tell you what it is, let me tell you how it came up!
The first time the subject of keratin came up was while I was shopping at an Ulta store this past Friday. My best friend from medical school gave me an Ulta gift card in February for my birthday, and I finally got around to using it last week. My goal for the afternoon was to purchase a new flat iron. I have a Chi, but wanted to see if there were any other new improved products to choose.
Oh my goodness, just like skin care, there are so many brands and choices---ceramic, ionic, titanium, tourmaline, in addition to a wide range of prices.
So, I literally sat down in the aisle of the flat iron section of the store. When one of the store workers came over to see if she could help me, I replied: "No thank you, I am reviewing all these straighteners." And she said: "That's a good way to do it." and she let me do my thing.
Thanks to my smart phone, and to some terrific fellow bloggers/reviewers on the world wide web, I was able to read the reviews right there in the store and make a decision. It took me a few hours to read on it and go up and down the aisles several times, but I completed my mission. Quick Word of advice: Never take your boyfriend/hubby on this type of mission! Mine was not there so I could ponder my decision, lol!
In the middle of my research on flat irons, along came a middle age gal, also on the mission to get a new hair straightener. Of course, eager to share my knowledge, and save her time, I told her what I had learned and became a volunteer Ulta employee for a bit! We chit chatted and commiserated about how thick our hair was, and how getting a good flat iron is so important. We really bonded. That is when my fellow flat iron hunter shared with me that the best thing she ever did to straighten her hair was to get a salon keratin treatment on her curly frizzy thick mane. She told me it was expensive, (of course, I asked her how much to which she replied $300) but quickly added it was well worth the money spent and lasted about 3 months. She thanked me for my help and info on flat irons, we exchanged pleasantries and parted ways. What a nice afternoon it was, and now a salon keratin hair treatment is on my bucket list to do someday.
The next day keratin came up again as I was listening to a product education call by Nurse Mary Radford RN of RF Connection. As a Rodan + Fields Consultant, I am currently learning about our brand new product (launched at the October Convention) called LASH BOOST. This product was fully researched and designed by our Doctors to make the eyelashes (and eye brows) look longer, thicker, and darker....and guess what? LASH BOOST contains keratin.
Two quick comments before I tell you what keratin is: 1.) I plan on doing a future entire blog dedicated to our brand new LASH BOOST. Truthfully, I am still educating myself on it and need to try the product myself before I share my experience on it And 2.) I think that this is a good time to let you know that before I became a Rodan + Fields Consultant, I did not spend only a few hours researching it like I did with the hair straightener at Ulta, I literally spent months researching it and comparing it with other lines before I decided that it would be my main skin care line. I did decide to become a consultant due to many reasons as listed in my blog : 31-reasons-i-became-a-rodan-fields-consultant-a-special-shout-out-to-entrepreneurial-minded-skin-loving-australian-friends.html
So what is keratin that can be used on your hair and lashes to make it healthier, longer, fuller and darker looking? Keratin is a naturally occurring fibrous protein forming the main structural building block of hair. Keratin used in health and beauty products is considered a restorative treatment, meaning that when applied to your hair, lashes or brows, it strengthens the hair shaft and makes your hair/lashes/brows more resilient.
Well, aren't I a fortunate that I will be getting my keratin treatment soon on my eyelashes?! Thank you Drs. Rodan + Fields for designing the best of the best in eye lash serums! Who wants to try it with me!? I need to find my flat iron friend I met at Ulta! I bet she would love it. And after seeing the before and after eyelash results done in the clinical trials, I know I am going to LOVE it!

Here is to Good Health and Much Happiness,
Dr. Younger You :)

PS Lash Boost will be available to my preferred customers beginning Nov.2, 2016. It is available immediately for anyone choosing to become a Consultant with the purchase a business kit.
Feel free to browse and shop and take a skin consultation on the Solution Tool on my product website http://DrYoungerYou.myrandf.com

As we age, our once full and luscious lips become dry, thin appearing and much less smooth appearing. And most women notice the top lip thins more than the bottom lip. Thinning of the lips occurs from the aging process due to both environmental damage from the sun, wind, and cold as well as hormonal changes within the body. Decreased estrogen as we age affects our skin and lips. My recent blog menopausal-skin-changes-and-how-to-deal-with-it.html describes fully the affect that menopause has on our skin. After menopause,the oil producing glands of the lips become diminished, and the result is the once plump lips look deflated.
So what is a girl to do to battle the loss of her pouty lips before, during, and especially after menopause?
Let's go back to the basics of good skin care and apply it to your lips. In my blog, getting-religious-about-a-skin-care-routine-is-essentail.html, the basic steps of a good skin care regimen is reviewed. The same steps apply to your lips.

Cleanse and Exfoliate: Use a good facial wash daily and cleanse your lips. Once a week, be sure to gently exfoliate the cracked,dry peeling skin.
Moisturize and Protect: During your skin routine you can apply your favorite facial moisturizer over your lips and it will absorb quickly. During the day, apply lip balm with at least SPF 25 every few hours to keep the lips looking supple. My favorite lip balm is featured here essential-product-rodan-fields-lip-shield.html. Use your favorite colored creamy lip gloss or lipstick with a built in moisturizer to keep your lips soft. I personally love shades of pink lip gloss with shimmer and shine when I am getting dressed up and I find very reasonably priced lip gloss choices at Ulta and Walmart.
Repair: A clinically proven micro dermal roller can be used lightly over your lips 6 nights a week, with the 7th day being for the exfoliation step. The rolling should be followed by applying a lip serum that is loaded with a combination of antioxidants and peptides. Repair serums can be applied at bedtime so that they work their magic as you sleep. A good serum will stay on all night and it works by stimulating collagen in your lips.

Besides a good lip care routine, there is the option of fillers available to inject into the lips. If choosing that route, be sure to seek out an appropriate medical provider so that the result looks natural. There are many women who want lips like Angelina Jolie, and what they end up with can look extreme. I think all of us have had the opportunity to spot injected lips; they do not look good nor do they look natural.
As a physician, I personally opt for using a good skin care regimen. I would recommend to YOU to take care of and enhance your natural features, including your lips, with clinically proven skin care products.
There are so many good products, and it can become overwhelming to know which to choose.
I personally decided to become a Rodan + Fields consultant. There are many reasons listed in my blog below.
Basically, our Cosmetic Dermatologist Docs (who by the way created Proactiv) know what a woman experiences and you bet they have created products they use themselves. They have done the research and clinical trials to ensure their line of products work. 31-reasons-i-became-a-rodan-fields-consultant-a-special-shout-out-to-entrepreneurial-minded-skin-loving-australian-friends.html

Here's to Good Health & Much Happiness,

Dr. Younger You:)

PS All of the featured skin care products in this blog: Microdermabrasion paste, Amp MD Microderm Roller, REDEFINE Lip Renewing Serum and ESSENTIALS Lip Shield can be reviewed at
DrYoungerYou.myrandf.com

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Vitamin C for Your Skin

10/13/2016

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In this week's blog, I am featuring the wonderful antioxidant Vitamin C and its effect on the skin. The reason this topic came to mind is because I usually use a topical formulation of Vitamin C as one of my facial skin care routine steps. Truthfully, I did not apply it for several weeks. When I recently resumed it, I noticed very quickly that my my skin looked brighter, smoother, and overall more revitalized. Thus, I did some reading on Vitamin C to share with my Readers.
First, a quick history lesson on how VITAMIN C, which is also known as ASCORBIC ACID, came to light. Vitamin C has a prominent role in history. We now know that individuals lacking in this vitamin were known to have the condition called Scurvy. Scurvy is a horrendous disease that caused slow wound healing, bleeding gums, tooth loss, pneumonia and eventually death. It is written about in the very ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman literature. Also, the British and European explorers of the Renaissance era were ravaged by scurvy. Scurvy was a major cause of morbidity and death among much of Europe during the great potato famine, the United States Civil War, the exploration of the North Pole, and the California gold rush.
Captain James Cook was one of the first to demonstrate that sailors who spent months at sea could avoid scurvy by maintaining a diet rich in vegetables. James Lind, a British naval surgeon, published his experiences and studies on scurvy aboard ships in a book titled Treatise of the Scurvy. Here is a fun fact: Sailors were eventually saved from Scurvy by the addition of fresh limes to their diet. Hence, the nickname "Limey" was born and it is "pirate lingo" we use to this day! Personal Editorial: One of my best friends from high school says: "I need a lime with my Corona to prevent scurvy!" I chuckle every time she says it!
During 1928 to 1931, a man by the name of Albert Szent-Gyorgyi discovered what we now call Vitamin C by isolating hexuronic acid from cabbage, oranges, paprika, and adrenal glands. Hexuronic acid was subsequently termed Vitamin C and is found to prevent the development of Scurvy.
Linus Pauling PhD in Physical Chemistry (1901-1994) is known as the Vitamin C Guru. He is the most famous modern day proponent of high dose vitamin C treatment for colds and other diseases. Linus Carl Pauling was also a peace activist who in his lifetime won two Nobel Prize awards; one in chemistry in 1954, followed by a Nobel Peace Prize in 1962.
As a scientist and physician, I really appreciate these amazing men who discovered and studied the effects of Vitamin C in the early and mid 1900's. Since then, Vitamin C has been studied excessively in the medical literature, including its role in our skin's health.
So let's focus on Vitamin C for the skin. Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) has several effects on the skin, and can be formulated into creams and serums.

Skin elasticity: One of the benefits of vitamin C is thought to be improved skin elasticity with regular use. This is achieved through the stimulation of collagen fibers within the skin, which act as the skin’s support network. Stronger, more plentiful protein fibers create a tighter look in the face and diminish the appearance of wrinkles. Vitamin C works on the skin as a co-factor for our bodies' ability to make the protein collagen. Collagen is the strong connective tissue that essentially holds us together. Collagen, underneath our skin surface, is responsible for holding our skin in place on our face as well as on the rest of the body. That is why as we age, collagen stores become depleted, and the skin starts to sag.

Hyperpigmentation: Vitamin C is also believed to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation by encouraging skin healing, thereby reducing pigment clusters. However, this is not the primary benefit of the ingredient, and other chemicals (like hydroquione) are believed to be more effective for skin brightening.
Anti-Inflammatory: Another benefit of vitamin C is the ability to reduce inflammation in the treatment area. This can have several benefits, including inflammatory relief in the short term like in sunburns, as well as anti aging effects in the long term. Vitamin C does so by hindering the production of arachidonic acid, which causes inflammation. This acid has been found to play a role in the formation of certain skin conditions like psoriasis.
Antioxidant: Vitamin C also acts as an antioxidant to address other skin damage, beyond hyperpigmentation and inflammation. Vitamin C can penetrate deeply, and is effective at stimulating healthy skin.

In summary, the verdict is out there that Vitamin C is great for the skin. I recommend eating a diet rich in Vitamin C, as well as taking oral supplements of Vitamin C and using clinically proven Vitamin C containing creams and serums. If you have any questions or comments on Vitamin C for your skin, please leave a message below.

Here's to Good Health & Much Happiness,
Dr. Younger You :)

PS Click now to shop DrYoungerYou.myrandf.com Look for Step 3 of Reverse Regimen, called the Dual Active Brightening complex. It is the Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) containing product that I use. This product is clinically proven and third party dermatology tested, and carries a 60 day money back guarantee.

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Menopausal Skin Changes and How to Deal With It

10/6/2016

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Menopause is part of the natural aging process in women. It is often referred to as the "change in life" and women suffer from various "lovely" symptoms as they reach this time in their lives. Menopause occurs when a woman's ovaries stop producing estrogen, and the menstrual period subsides. By definition, a woman has reached menopause when she no longer gets a period for 12 straight months. In the USA, the average age of women reaching menopause is 51 years old.
Your Doctor or Gynecologist can confirm if you are menopausal by a blood test called a FSH (Follicular Stimulating Hormone). When this test result is very high, it confirms you have gone through "the change". It is important to know if you are in menopause, because if you are not getting your periods and your FSH is still normal, your Doctor or Gynecologist may want to put you on some medication to induce a period until you officially reach the menopausal status. The reason they do this is to prevent build up of the lining of the uterus, which can lead to cancer.
In regards to skin changes in menopause, several occur.

Dry, Itchy Skin occurs due to decreased estrogen levels. This leads to reduced sebum which is the body's natural moisturizer. It is best taken care of by using a good body and facial moisturizer on a regular daily basis, treating the dryness that occurs on your body and face. Getting into a routine of applying a good moisturizer to both areas is essential. And the soap you used in the shower for decades may now have a drying effect. This is battled with a nondetergent soap or a facial cleanser with moisturizer in it. Do not spend excessive time in the shower, and use warm rather than hot water to battle the dry skin of menopause.
A Drawn in look of the face starts to occur during midlife. The change in contour is due to a decline in elastin which gives the skin its elasticity and also due to a decreased level of collagen which gives the skin its firmness. Research shows that some 30% of the skin's collagen is lost in the first 5 years after menopause, with an average decline of 2.1% every year thereafter. Gravity for 50+ years has an effect on the skin as well. Give your skin a plumped up look by investing in a clinically proven skin care regimen that gives you the right mix of skincare products. Invest in a microderm roller, which when used correctly and with the right skin products, will stimulate elastin and collagen production, giving your skin a vibrant look and will battle sagging, heavy cheek jowls.

Adult Acne occurs along the chin and the neck and is a result of change in the balance of the androgen and estrogen hormones. This can be battled with a good acne face wash, benzoyl peroxide, and topical Retinoid.
Fine lines, wrinkles and texture changes including frown and smile lines and crow's feet suddenly become much more noticable once the estrogen is no longer abundant. Skin products with alpha-hydroxy acids, retinols, antioxidants and peptides are the answer. Hyaluronic acid type of products will lead to filling in deeper lines. These are popular injectables, but Rodan + Fields have a patented patch that delivers the products while you sleep.
Dullness and hyperpigmentation become also more noticable, again due to the body's hormonal changes. Regular exfoliation of the skin and products with hydroquinone that reverse the brown spots and patches are available. Again, you want to be sure that the products you are buying are clinically proven.
Random course hairs begin to pop up on the chin and upper lip due to higher androgen levels, which is primarily a male hormone. Get out your tweezers and keep a pair everywhere to pluck the individual hairs. Going to the salon for waxing is a very cost effective way of getting the whole chin and upper lip area taken care of quickly. Electrolysis is a more expensive intervention because it removes hairs permanently by killing the hair follicle.

In summary, there are many skin changes that start to occur due to lack of estrogen. Estrogen hormone replacement therapy is not considered to be a good long term solution in today's medical literature. Thus, finding a good skin consultant to discuss your skin care needs is essential if you want to battle all the listed effects.
As my readers are aware, I am a Rodan + Fields Executive Consultant. I am able to use the clinically proven products by Drs. Rodan + Fields, Board certified cosmetic dermatologists, to help myself and others to battle the skin effects of menopause. I personally have all the tools and products to use right in the privacy of my own home. Please message me with any questions on menopause or on Rodan + Fields products or business opportunity.

Here's to Good Health and Much Happiness,
Dr. Younger You

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What is Keratin?

Luscious Lips for Life

Vitamin C for Your Skin

Menopausal Skin Changes and How to Deal With It

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