Season of Beauty / body
Everybody loves summer . Long days , warm nights and lots and lots of sun , that ’ s what all of us wait for all year long . The sun makes everything we do a bit happier ; it warms us up and tans us . However , in our enthusiasm we tend to forget that the sun is most of all an immensely strong power unit than can affect us without us even noticing . How ? Well , everybody is aware of the danger of sunburn but the sun does not only cause this . It can make your skin age faster , it can bring up a pigmentation problem you did not know you had and can even endanger your life . Let ’ s not be pessimistic , though , the sun is also greatly beneficial for your health . The key is to know how to manage it .
Our neighbours from Australia and New Zealand will tell you things about the sun you probably wouldn ’ t believe are true . Life in a country with such high sun activity or under the hole in the ozone layer is very different from a mild central European climate . Sun protection is not a joke there ; here in the Czech Republic , on the other hand , we tend to trivialize it . And the increasing numbers of melanoma cases every year don ’ t seem to be changing our opinion .
Of course melanoma is a very serious life endangering problem , but it is only one of the many negative effects the sun has on us beginning with such small symptoms we don ’ t even notice – like ageing . The sun dehydrates the skin which loses its elasticity and becomes wrinkly and rough to touch , looking far older than it should look for your age . Dehydrated skin also doesn ’ t breathe well and closes itself down ; therefore there is not much good you can do with a hydrating cream anymore , since it doesn ’ t penetrate the surface layers of the skin and doesn ’ t reach the areas where it ’ s desperately needed .
Hydration , Hydration ...
There is never enough hydration . Our bodies are 70 % made of water , which is essential for the correct functioning of all our bodily functions , starting on a cellular level . If you lack water , you ’ re tired and sore , you ’ re weary and looking significantly older than how old you actually are . Deep hydration is the key to health . The most efficient deep hydration we can use , in order to make up for the damage done to our skin by the sun is mesotherapy by hyaluronic acid ( so called bio-revitalization ). This acid is normally present in the human body , its main functionality is to bind water and activate the growth of collagen fibres . It does not only hydrate the skin down to its deep layers but it also increases its elasticity and suppleness .
Natural colour , smoothness and elasticity of the skin can also be returned by a unique Swiss DNA therapy called RegenPlasma ®. Our own plasma can repair and regenerate cells as nothing else can . It can order those tired cells to recover and fix the damaged ones . All that needs to be done for it is to centrifuge it and reapply . While most procedures of aesthetic medicine only cover ageing , RegenPlasma ® PRP ( platelet rich plasma ) stops it completely on a cellular level .
Enough of Pigmentation
The high production of melanin , as the body reacts to sunshine , is almost always a problem . Not talking just about melanoma , the increased level of melanin cause the development of excessive pigmentation . Brownish spots or larger areas of pigmentation , freckles , all of this can be harmless or it can be a problem . Definitely , it is an aesthetic problem but nothing modern medicine couldn ’ t solve .
Laser treatments are considered the most effective methods for removal of unwanted pigmentation . Through fractional ablative laser Candela CO2 , vascular Candela V-Beam™ laser or their combination a total removal of all treated pigmentation and pigment spots can be achieved . Resurfacing Candela CO2 laser renews surface layers of the skin completely . The current one with unwanted pigmentation is therefore replaced with the brand new layer without pigmentation after the treatment as the treatment stimulates the body to do so . Apart from pigmentation , this type of laser is also used for removal of wide spectre of other unpleasant structures on the skin surface such as freckles , warts , acne scars and so on .
The vascular Candela V-Beam™ laser on the other hand doesn ’ t interrupt the surface layers of the skin and treats pigmentation through them . It can solve pigment spots , sun spots and spots caused by age . It is great at treating acne too .
“ Modern medicine provides us with many options for treating skin problems caused by the sun . The greatest of them , however , is and will always be prevention ,” concludes Dr . Helena Reisingerová , dermatologist at Mediestetik clinic .
Myths & Facts about Sunbathing
> 50 SPF sun cream is enough to only apply in the morning and you ’ re protected for the whole day . Not true . No sun cream will protect you for such a long time , no matter how high its SPF is . Every sun cream should be applied 30 minutes before exposing to sun and should be re-applied every one or two hours .
> Waterproof sun creams are more effective because they protect us in the water , too . Not really . No sun cream is waterproof forever . Yes , they protect us in the water but in a matter of minutes , not hours . It is then necessary to reapply sun cream once an hour or two , even if it ’ s waterproof .
> The sun rays don ’ t go through glass and clouds . Not true . Neither glass nor clouds can protect you from UV rays . The sun can easily go through both even without you noticing it – that is why , for example , driver ’ s tan exists , which is the situation when after long hours spent behind the steering wheel in summer months drivers tend to have burned hands , forearms and thighs .
> If you want to get tanned , you shouldn ’ t use sun creams . Absolutely not true . No sun cream protects you 100 %. Even when using SPF 50 sun cream , sun rays still reach your skin but the cream only lets through a reasonable amount of them . In order to get a healthy tan , it is essential to avoid burning . The ideal time for tanning is in the morning until 10 or 11 before lunch and after 5 o ’ clock in the afternoon , always with proper means of protection .
> A solarium is healthier for your body than natural tanning because you can regulate it . Not true . Almost all dermatologists strongly object to solariums because they dry the skin out and significantly accelerate its ageing process . Wrinkles and shrivelled skin tend to appear much sooner when you ’ re a solarium enthusiast than if you ’ ve never been to one and you only tan naturally .
What causes melanoma ?
“ High-risk factors for the development of melanoma are genetic predispositions , hormones , a weakened immune system , a history of melanoma in the family or previously experienced melanoma . The most serious factor , however , is the sun which stimulates the body to produce melanin , skin pigment that naturally protects the skin from UV radiation . Every case of sunburn increases the risk of melanoma development , especially in childhood .” – Dr . Helena Reisingerová , dermatologist of Mediestetik clinic
# 4 spring / summer 2016 9