Due to the increasing number of reports about possible serious side effects from collagen, many people are looking for a safe, effective and inexpensive alternative face-smoothing treatment. There are actually many such treatments available. Here are four of the most recommended alternatives to collagen injections:

1) Dermabrasion— this is a technique which has been around for awhile. It involves the use of a hand-held machine which a doctor uses to sand down the skin. The procedure is effective in smoothing out deep scars caused by acne. lt has also been used effectively to smooth out fine-line wrinkles, especially those around the mouth. After the procedure is done, it will take about two weeks for the swelling to go down completely. You’ll also have to avoid exposure to the sun, and use a sunscreen with a SPF of at least 15 all year long. This is a permanent procedure, so give it plenty of thought before you have it done.

While this treatment can be highly effective, it can also result in some problems. In some cases, the treatment has resulted in uneven pigmentation, and it can cause deep and permanent scars. Dermabrasion can cost up to $5,000, depending on the extent of the treatment.

2) Chemical peel— this is a newer version of dermabrasion which peels off layers of skin, using acid instead of sanding. There are three types of peels: superficial, for people with active acne and fine surface lines or wrinkles; medium, for people who have skin that has been damaged beyond its years by the sun, and excessive wrinkling; and deep, for those people with excessive sun damage, obvious pigmentation irregularities, and moderate to severe wrinkles.

The chemical used for the peel is a mixture of two or all of the following, in various combinations: Retin-A, alpha hydroxy acid and trichloroacetic acid. The exact mixture depends on the level of the peel. Following the treatment, you should not be exposed to the sun at all for about six months. When the six months is up you have to wear a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 year round.

The procedure, incorrectly performed, can cause scarring, burning or infection, and possibly even heart damage. Make sure you have plenty of information before you opt for this procedure. A superficial chemical peel will cost from $300 to $700, and a deep peel will cost approximately $2,000 to $3,000.

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A boil is an inflamed, pus-filled area of skin— usually a blocked oil gland or hair follicle. The inflammation and pus are a result of a pitched battle between the body’s immune system and staphylococcus bacteria which have invaded instigating the fight. The next thing you know, you have a boil. These “battle scars” are common on the arms, groin, back, and buttocks, and just about anyplace where the skin gets rubbed.

Boils are both unattractive and painful, and they sometimes leave scars. Here’s how you can treat them yourself and get some relief.

1) Apply warm compresses— at the first sign that a boil is developing, begin applying warm compresses over the boil several times a day. Leave the compress on the boil 20 to 30 minutes at a time. This treatment should bring the boil to a head. Continue to apply warm compresses for a few days after the boil opens to help drain the pus.

2) Take a shower instead of a bath— doing this helps to minimize the likelihood that the infection will spread to another area.

3) Keep your hands clean— it is especially important that you wash your hands well before you handle food. That’s because the germs which caused the problem can multiply in warm food and produce toxins that can cause food poisoning.

4) If the boil fails to open, or if you are plagued with recurring boils, consult your doctor.

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Studies have shown that strenuous exercise causes physiological stress and strain on the body. And without adequate time for the body to rest, recover and rebuild, injury or illness can result. That’s why experts agree that moderation is the key to safe and effective exercising.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine most healthy adults should workout 3 to 5 days a week, with no more than 2 days between workouts. Exercising an average of less than 2 days a week doesn’t result in any significant improvement in your overall physical fitness. But, if you exercise more than five times a week, you increase the risk of injury. That’s why 3 to 5 times a week is the recommended “course of action”.

You should take care to monitor the intensity of your workouts. Work your heart rate at 60 percent to 90 percent of capacity and exercise nonstop for 20 to 60 minutes. You can calculate your ideal training zone by determining your maximum heart rate, using the following formula: Subtract your age from 220; then multiply that number by the percentage of how hard you plan to work out. For example, the maximum heart rate for a 40 year old is 180 (220 minus 40 equals 180); 60 percent of 180 is 108, and 90 percent is 162. Therefore, the ideal training zone is a pulse rate between 108 and 162.

For nonathletes, or people who haven’t exercised in quite some time, the American Heart Association recommends working at a target heart rate of between 60 and 75 percent of the maximum rate. Older people or those in poor health should start out at the low end of the range, while better-conditioned people can start at the high end. And after 6 months or so, exercisers may want to increase up to 75 to 85 percent of maximum heart rate. Most people can stay fit working out at 75 percent of maximum heart rate.

Another key to safe and effective exercise is to “listen to your body”. Many times we may experience pain, stress or exhaustion from the whole body or from particular joints and muscles. The concept of ‘working through the pain” is, at best, foolhardy. To avoid injury, you must acknowledge and respond to pain and/or discomfort swiftly and positively. This means changing your pace or switching to another activity that uses different muscle groups, or stopping the activity altogether.

Here are some signs of a high-stress workout. The symptoms may indicate that an individual is exercising too hard, too long or too often, and should take the necessary steps to modify his or her exercise routine:

1) Muscle aches and pains 2) Muscle cramps 3) Pain in the feet, knees or hips 4) Generalized fatigue 5) Chest pains 6) Light-headedness or confusion 7) Loss of appetite Sleeping difficulty 9) Nausea or vomiting 10) Pale or bluish skin tone 11) Shortness of breath (lasting for more than ten minutes) 12) Palpitations

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No doubt about it, most people can find nothing good to say about having twisted, distended, superficial veins just below the skin. Varicose veins are not at all popular. They affect 1 out of every 2 women over 40 and 1 out of every 4 men. If untreated they tend to grow worse. So how do you treat them?

1) Wear elastic support stockings— generally available in medical supply stores, elastic support stockings can help provide relief. You can consult your doctor about the weight and length of the stocking you need. While support stockings can relieve discomfort, they are not a cure.

2) Get your feet off the ground— whenever possible, elevate your legs above hip level. This should help relieve the discomfort whenever they are aching.

3) Avoid high-heels and cowboy boots— this type of footwear can only aggravate the condition.

4) Maintain a trim figure— excessive weight places more pressure on your legs. If you keep your weight down, you’ll probably have fewer problems with varicose veins.

5) Walk, walk, walk— if you sit or stand for prolonged periods of time you wind up causing problems in your legs because the blood will most likely pool. Walking throughout the day is not only a way to prevent the blood from pooling, it’s also great exercise.

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Several Scottish scientists say they have discovered biochemical differences in the brains of breast-fed and bottle-fed babies. Even though the differences in the brain did not necessarily affect brain functions, the new information lends support to mounting evidence that mother’s milk is better for baby than cow’s milk.

The Scottish scientists studied the brains of 22 babies who had died within 43 weeks of birth. Five of the babies who had been breast-fed had a higher level of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is a polyunsaturated fatty acid, in their brains, compared to five babies of the same age who were on formula.

Even though no one is sure of the exact role of DHA in the brain, scientists believe it may be a substance for nerve cell conduction and cell membrane fluidity. None °f this means that higher levels of DHA yield smarter children, but researchers say the results of the study should encourage more women to breastfeed their babies.

New research suggests that mothers should nurse or collect milk before doing exercises, rather than after. That’s because babies don’t seem to care very much for breast milk produced after the mother exercises.

In a study at Indiana University in Bloomington, researchers discovered that working out increases a mother’s level of sour-tasting lactic acid. Babies in the study reacted negatively or refused altogether to nurse when their mothers fed them post-exercise milk.

Lactic acid remains at an elevated level in breast milk for about 90 minutes or longer after vigorous physical activity. That’s why mothers are advised to nurse their babies before working out.

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