Confession #10: Inspired by Courage

Note: This confession has nothing to do with health or any of my usual topics. But it does have a thing or two to do with WELLNESS. Being inspired can surely lead to a healthier mental existence, don’t you think? This confession was featured in the February/March edition of The Minute Magazine.

Writing topics don’t always come easy. I’m always looking for inspiration. Sometimes I use the calendar. I’m writing this column in January, so there are the typical New Year topics: resolutions, weight loss, save more, spend less. But none of those inspired me to write.

So what has inspired me lately? Well, there are lots of things that might provide a moment of happiness: a good story, a good song, a good joke, a good hair day (don’t laugh…you know it’s true), finding the perfect shirt on the 75% off rack (better yet the perfect pair of shoes and the perfect handbag to match), the perfect shade of lipstick. But if we evaluate the truthfulness of an inspiration, I find that many inspirations just fizzle out. We’ll disregard those and say that maybe they weren’t truly inspirational. They were just happy moments.

True inspiration is rare. And the times that we are truly inspired cause life to look differently the next day. They are the kinds of inspirations that stick with the soul long after the moment passes. I have had true inspiration at various junctions in life. Each time, that inspiration has moved me to a new place in my heart. Two of those moments came recently. One was at the movie theater. The other was sitting at my desk.

Movie theater inspiration

My son turned 11 on December 16. His birthday usually falls during the last week of school, so it’s always a tough time to plan a party due to the chaos of class parties, Christmas shopping, and holiday insanity. So each year for the last 4 years, instead of a big party, my son and I opt for a movie day with friends as his birthday celebration. This year, Nicholas, Henry, Austin, Langdon (my son), and I had lunch and hit the theater to see the latest, greatest movie.

Because I had a crew of 11-year old boys, the movie du jour was The Blind Side – a football movie, or so I thought. While I enjoyed the movie, I was unprepared for the inspiration that poured over me as I watched the unfolding story destined to become a classic.

The movie is set in Memphis, Tennessee, a city which I think embodies the soul of the south. The look and feel of the movie were very familiar to me as a native southerner. It gave a piercing glimpse into the darkest parts of American culture – the poverty and abandonment that many children in “that part of town” deal with on a daily basis. That poverty and neglect was then contrasted with the private school-attending, BMW-driving lifestyle of the Touhy family.

The great inspiration of this movie was the courage of its characters. They were real people stepping out of their comfort zones and embracing the plight of others, no matter the cost. Sean and Leigh Ann Touhy had courage when they asked Michael Oher, a virtually homeless African-American teenager who attended their children’s private school on a scholarship, to stay the night on their living room couch because he had no place to go. And Michael Oher had the courage to work hard, think and learn when he must have been overwhelmed by his new circumstances of living with the Touhy family. There was even courage to be found in the Touhy children. Collins Touhy, the older daughter of the Touhy family, had courage to embrace Michael Oher as a sibling, even though he was a different race and not her brother by blood. Imagine the sneers of her peers she must have endured.

Michael Oher played football and eventually graduated from that private school. He went on to play college football at the University of Mississippi (even making the honor roll) and later became the 23rd pick in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft.

The Blind Side is an amazing story on so many levels. The happy ending certainly helps. But in this case, it was the heart-felt courage to step outside of normalcy and into the realm of persecution that stayed with me after the movie. Their internal character proved a more powerful force than the criticism and persecution of others. Now that is inspiring. And that is courage.

Courage is a wonderful thing. We know it when we see it. But what exactly is courage? And where does it come from? By definition, courage is the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, or pain. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is the overwhelming presence of bravery.

No one can have courage without heart. It’s when our heart can’t bear the current conditions around us that courage wells up inside of us and explodes into action. For the Touhy family, courage was defined by crossing racial and socio-economic barriers and helping a young man who needed an opportunity and a whole lot of unconditional love. For Michael Oher, courage was defined by hard work against seemingly insurmountable odds as he regained years of education that had been lost due to his unstable home life. He also courageously dropped the internal walls that surely had became a fortress around his heart and let a family love him. And in return, he loved them back.

For Michael Oher, courage was overcoming himself and his situation. And I think that is where we begin to see the true meaning of courage. When we overcome ourselves and our situation or obstacle – whatever that might be – we have shown courage.

Following my afternoon at the movies with my boy and his buddies and two hours of free-flowing tears (“when you’re a parent, you’ll understand,” I said to him), I knew that courage inspired me.

You Tube inspiration.

I was working at my desk earlier this week and received an email. In the email was a link to a YouTube video. The message from my friend was this: “This video motivated me this Sunday morning. The only thing that limits us is ourselves.”

Intrigued, I clicked the link. The next thing I knew, I was watching a humble cell-phone salesman shuffle onto a stage in front of three judges and a huge audience. This man, when asked what he was going to do, said, “I’m going to sing opera.” Eyes rolling, the three judges waited with the look of am-I-going-to-fall-out-of-my-chair-laughing-or-is-he-going-to-be-good on their faces.

The music began and he opened his mouth to sing. The sound that emerged from his humble lips brought me to tears within a matter of seconds. This humble man was motivated to enter a talent contest with the hope of saving he and his wife from the brink of bankruptcy. He seemingly had no self-confidence yet stood in front of those judges, those television cameras, and an at-times-hostile crowd and sang his heart out.

His courage moved me. He overcame himself. He overcame his circumstances. Courage welled up inside of him and gushed out of his mouth with abandon. And what a great performance it was. Paul Potts has become a YouTube sensation, with over 74 million hits on that video of his initial audition for Britain’s Got Talent. His first album went multiplatinum. He has just released his second album.

I love happy endings. But happy endings are endings. Courage, on the other hand, stays with us. So my question is this: when was the last time you overcame your personal insecurities and stepped out in courage to change your life or someone else’s?  We are surrounded by opportunities to be courageous. But our heart must be open and our ears listening. We need to see the needs of others and act when the heart is moved.

February is the month of the heart (it’s Valentine’s Day) and March is the beginning of renewal (it’s spring time). So it seems the right time to start fresh with the heart. Be inspiring. Have courage.

• To watch Paul Potts amazing audition for Britain’s Got Talent, click here.

• To see the movie The Blind Side, catch it at your local theater. If it’s not showing at your theater anymore, don’t hesitate to rent or buy it when it become available. It’s a must-see movie.

From The Doctor’s Desk: Wellness Is Not Band-Aid Medicine

So you wake up one day and you have symptoms. You select a doctor, make an appointment, recite your symptom list, receive a diagnosis, get a prescription, take the prescription and hope that the prescription gets rid of the symptoms.

But the question is this: Are you well?

Symptom relief medicine is great, but it is reactive medicine. I call this band-aid medicine. Just throw a band-aid on it in 5-10 minutes and ignore the real underlying cause. You can relieve symptoms with band-aids, but if the cause is left unchecked (usually an imbalance of some sort), then disease will be the result.

I like to use symptoms as clues to finding the cause. I call it proactive medicine. Symptoms are the result of imbalance. Disease is the result of ignoring the symptoms. It is a progressive cycle: imbalance, symptoms, disease.

Balance is the key.  As I said above, symptoms are the result of imbalance. Medicine today has lost site of this. In the fast pace of the typical doctor’s office (even mine many years ago), all we have time for is symptom focus and treatment. There is no time for focus on cause.

You don’t have to look to far to see the importance of balance.  Look at our bodies.  They are all about balance:  two eyes, two ears, two legs…you get the picture.  This balance is by design. We should not lose sight of the fact that symptoms are the body crying out for help.

Symptoms reveal imbalances, and the imbalances can be quite diverse. They can include hormones: Estrogen/Progesterone, Thyroid/Cortisol, Growth Hormone/Cortisol, just to name a few. But imbalances can involve more than just our hormones. Neurotransmitters can be imbalanced. Have you ever heard of anxiety or depression? Neurotransmitters involve serotinin, glutamic acid, and nor-epinephrine just to name a few.  And no, anxiety and/or depression are not the result of a SSRI deficiency.

Even Fats can be imbalanced.  Everybody has heard of Omega 3.  Omega 3’s are anti-inflammatory, they lower cholesterol and are good for the skin. But have you heard of Omega 6 fats. Omega 6’s are pro-inflammatory. Americans have excessive Omega 6’s in our high processed diets. The typical American diet is 24 to 1 ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3. A healthy ratio should be 3 to 1.

Symptoms are the body’s way of asking for help. Let’s start listening.

Confession #11: Goals, Progress And A Non-Runner’s Venture Into The Running World

I’m a big fan of goal-setting. My mother cultivated this idea in my brain from childhood. She always said, “Elizabeth, you’ll always do better if you are shooting for a goal.”

So from my earliest remembrances, I have had a goal. And it’s when I haven’t had a goal in mind that my life becomes a little derailed. When my mom notices my derailment, she will always ask, “So what’s your goal?” Sometimes I had no answer.

One thing I love about getting older is gaining wisdom. And I now truly appreciate the wisdom of my mother’s words. And in November of last year, I decided to set a goal. When spring rolled around in 2010, I wanted to wear the clothes that stayed in the back of the closet last year. However, one thing I’ve learned about myself over the years is that I cannot diet. It won’t last. For me, it’s about a healthy lifestyle.

I am a healthy eater. But the big issue for me (and most women my age) is the exercise issue. I love to walk. But it just wasn’t enough. I have always wanted to be a runner (there’s nothing more beautiful than a lean runner’s body) but one ache from a knee was all I needed to quit.

And then….the opportunity arose to have THE GOAL.

I am on the advisory council for Healthy Woman at Northern LA Medical Center in Ruston, Louisiana. During a meeting with the Healthy Woman Coordinator, Audrey Buskirk, we were brainstorming ideas to help women become more educated on being healthy. With the new year rapidly approaching (our meeting was in November 2009), we were seeking to create some sort of event or series of events that would help motivate women to pursue their fitness and nutrition resolutions they might make at the beginning of the new year. You know. THE RESOLUTION. I think I have made that resolution every year for the last 20 years. The lose weight resolution. Ugh. I said it out loud. I HATE the words lose weight.

And so, the Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge was born. Who knew it would end up changing my life. The one thing I’d been looking for was THE GOAL — a reason to take that first step. As I worked on putting together tools for women to become healthier such as nutrition presentations (by Valerie Costanza, RD, and staff member at Seasons) and customized fitness programs (by Sharon Jackson, CPT and owner of Sharon’s Slammin’ Boot Camps), I found myself in therapy. Yes. What I was creating for others would end up helping me as much or even more than those who have attended!

The Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge began in January with a kickoff party. Every good event begins and ends with a party, right? Then every three weeks was another session which included healthy food (with recipe cards for each menu item), and a nutrition and fitness presentation. As I write this column, I am preparing for the fourth and final wellness session. However, the real life-changer of the Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge is the final event — a fitness goal for me and all my friends — the Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge 5K Run/Walk.

One of my greatest pet peeves in the whole world is a hypocrite — say one thing, do another. And so my own hypocrisy immediately convicted me. I CANNOT RUN A 5K. I cannot even run to my mailbox.

There you go. The beginning of the journey.

And here I am. The non-runner. I now own my first pair of running shoes purchased from Sport Spectrum in Shreveport. I love that place! Great customer service! They even watch how you walk to make sure that you are fit with the proper pair of shoes. I bought 2 running outfits. Every girl needs the right outfit for the occasion! And I downloaded the Couch-to-5K running program for my iPod. If you’ve never run before, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this program. In 9 weeks, you can go from couch potato to running a 5K.

It hasn’t been easy. I have had to make myself get out of my warm , cozy bed and run in 27 degree weather. I have posted my running status on Facebook to force myself into accountability. And it’s working. It’s not an overnight-wake-up-the-next-morning-and-your-skinny sort of solution. It’s a life change. And that’s what it takes for a 40-something to be healthy into her 50’s, 60’s, and beyond.

I WILL RUN that 5K on Saturday, April 24th. (Actually, since I’m in charge of the race, I may have to run it the afternoon before so I can work during the race!) I may lay down on the ground after I cross the finish line, but I will cross the finish line.

If you can’t run, then come join us and walk. The point is this: everyone needs a goal. I know. My mother said so! And just for the record, I AM wearing one of those outfits that hung in the back of the closet last spring. Oh happy day!

Click here for more information about the Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge 5K Run/Walk, Saturday, April 24, Lincoln Parish Park, Ruston, LA at 8 a.m.  Train Hard. Live Well.

Confession #13: What I Learned During Summer Vacation

Do you remember the first day of school? It seemed like every year, in a new classroom with a new teacher, the same old question came up.

The question was always a derivative of these: summer activities, summer learning, what I did, what my family did, vacation destinations, etc. Sometimes the question involved an essay. I always enjoyed the essay. My husband? Not so much. Not an essayist. A great storyteller in person, for sure. But I am definitely the English-minded one of our family and he is solidly the math/science guy.

Putting pen to paper and developing the line of the the summer tale was, I think, an activity we all enjoyed, but at the same time, dreaded. It was great to tell of your summer travels and hope they sounded more interesting than those of the child in the neighboring desk. But jumpstarting the brain into putting all those sentences together on the first day of school was, well, let’s just say it required coffee but I was too young to drink coffee.

As the summer winds down, once again I put pen to paper. Well, actually, I put fingers to keyboard. And the tale begins. What have I learned during summer vacation?

Honestly, the learning comes from the parenting. As mom to two precious kids aged 11 and 5, I dare say that I learn more from them than they learn from me. Don’t get me wrong. I love a great teaching moment with my kids when chance offers me an opportunity to share a pearl of wisdom that hopefully lasts a lifetime. But by and large, this summer I have done the learning and my babes have done the teaching. So my back-to-school essay will be entitled “What I’ve Learned From My Kids This Summer.”

1. Dream Big. We’ve heard it before. It has come out of my mouth a million times. But it’s watching the big dreams unfold that is inspiring. My son has played baseball since he was three. There’s nothing cuter than the tee ball pile-up. All the little kids run for the ball and have more fun making a pile than actually catching the ball. Every year for the last eight years, springtime means evenings at the ballpark, lawn chairs, extended conversations with other moms in between our kids’ at-bats, siblings playing, and dads coaching. It’s a springtime ritual that I’ve grown to love. Well this spring ended on a high note. After a super-exciting season in which our team (Drewett + Brenden Architecture) placed 1st for the league and 3rd in the season-ending tournament, Langdon was selected to play on the 11 year-old All-Star team. He was so honored to have earned a coveted spot among this group of boys. Our summer of All-Star practice and tournaments was like dessert over and over — SWEET! He’s now planning how he’ll practice and prepare for next year’s baseball season. The All-Star team finished third in the state. But the best part was the smile on my boy’s face when the big dream became reality.
2. Laugh More. I’m a pretty serious and focused person. Yes, I have a sense of humor. And I married the funniest person I’ve ever met. But being as goal-oriented as I am, I tend to get lost inside of my focus and forget to enjoy the life I’m living. My daughter is the cure for that. Every day, she reminds me that laughing is a key part of life. Dinnertime has become a ritual of the same old jokes told in slightly different ways. She’s just young enough that she thinks her knock-knock jokes are funny even when they don’t make sense. All we can do is laugh. And kids say the darndest things (wasn’t that a TV show?). Here was our conversation last night. Me: Oh, Reagan, you’re sleeping with Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Reagan: Yes, mom. They got married  yesterday. Me: Oh, that’s wonderful. Are they going to have a bunch of little mouse babies? Reagan: Well, Minnie is only pregnant on Thursdays. [I’m laughing all over again.]
3. Pray Daily. The economic fall-out of the last two years has been devastating for so many. I’m thankful to be in Louisiana where we seem to be so insulated from the national economic woes (but certainly not those of hurricanes and oil spills).  And my heart aches for Arizona, where we spent 14 years living life with wonderful friends and family. Arizona has felt the impact of the Great Recession so severely that the state currently operates on 70% of it’s 2006 income. It drives me to pray daily for those who are suffering. I’ve always said that it’s the valleys in life that help us appreciate and give thanks for the mountains. The tough times remind me that I am not in control. And I am thankful for the One that is. Praying daily reminds me that my life remains in the capable hands of a creator who made something from nothing. Every night after prayers, the Drewett family shares one or two things for which they are thankful that day. Hearing those sweet words from the lips of my babies is another reminder of the many blessings, undeserved, that God has heaped into our lives.
4. Play Outside. You know, southern girls don’t sweat, they glisten. I’m not a big fan of glistening. Once I get the hair done and the makeup just right, I’m done for the day. A redo is not on my agenda. But the kids entice me to join their fun. One Sunday afternoon this summer, the Drewett family got dressed and headed to the tennis courts. Yes, it was terribly hot. But ice water poured on your head will cool you down quickly. Our afternoon swatting at tennis balls and mostly chasing the ones we missed was a much-needed and long-remembered family bonding. We all got some much needed Vitamin D from the sun we soaked up, and the exercise was great for the body and the soul. I was gently reminded on this day that any girl can get motivated for anything (even 95 degree heat and impending sweat) if she has the right outfit. There’s just nothing cuter than a tennis skirt.

I’m sure there’s more learning to come. I think a lot about how to be a good parent. I consider constantly what my actions are teaching my children. But this summer, it seems that their actions were the defining part of my summer. They reminded me to live. And to enjoy. And to be thankful. And to soak up the sun.

And that, my friends, completes my essay on “What I Learned During Summer Vacation.” I wonder if Mrs. Barmore (my fifth grade teacher) would give me an A?

(The above article was published in The Minute Magazine, August/September edition).

Seasons Team Members Take Advanced Course in The Big Easy

Susan McWhorter, RN and Anna Stephens, WHNP, recently returned from New Orleans where they received comprehensive Aesthetic training for Botox and dermal filler procedures. Anna has previously received advanced training but it was Susan’s first opportunity to complete a course in Botox and dermal fillers. The Aesthetics course was a comprehensive certification program that provided Anna and Susan with extensive, hands-on, live patient training along with lectures and written materials. They learned essential physiology and anatomy of unique facial skin types to help in determining the best treatment for their patient’s desired results.

Being a nurse has always been my passion. In 2005, I became a Registered Nurse and have always been interested in furthering my education to help my patients. I wanted to complete a course on Botox and dermal fillers because I have had Botox and was thrilled with the results. I wanted to be able to offer that experience to others. Being a nurse for the past 5 years, having extensive knowledge about the human anatomy and giving injections on a daily basis has prepared me for this next step in my career. I felt I could successfully apply my knowledge towards the use of Botox and dermal fillers.

The course I recently completed was an in depth muscle training course with lots of hands-on practice. I studied the uses of Botox and creating desired looks for patients such as: bringing up the eyes, helping to move the eyes further apart, and relax and smooth the muscles to lift the eyebrows. Botox is also great for pre-existing conditions such as hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), brow asymmetry, frown lines, sad smile (down-turned smile), gummy smile, bunny lines (nose), and smoker’s lines (mouth). Our course instructor is an expert physician who worked closely with me to ensure my sculpting technique with dermal fillers were sufficient. I now have ease and comfort and feel 100% confident in performing procedures. This course provided me with the ability to use Botox, Juvederm, Prevelle and other collagen products on patients.- Susan McWhorter, RN.

I love my job and I love New Orleans. Taking an advanced course on Botox and Dermal fillers in The Big Easy? Yes, Please! Susan and I were more than happy to support the city’s economy while furthering our education in aesthetics.

I have previously completed an advanced course in Botox and dermal fillers but I wanted to learn different techniques and stay up on the newest and best products. The instructor was really engaging and taught more efficient methods. One interesting fact: Botox isn’t just for your “mean face”- There are over 90 different uses for Botox! This advanced course taught cosmetic applications that focus on the art and science of Botox and dermal fillers. At our training course, we were introduced to a new product, Prevelle Silk. Prevelle Silk is a dermal filler that compliments Botox because it lasts 3-4 months. This product is great for those who may be interested in dermal fillers but not ready for a longer lasting product like Juvederm or Radiesse. The Prevelle Silk is mixed with lidocaine which makes the procedure virtually pain-free. I enjoyed how smooth Prevelle Silk was to inject so I decided to jump in the chair – I had Susan inject my lips! This was my first opportunity using Prevelle Silk and I really enjoyed the results. -Anna Stephens, WHNP

Book your next appointment with Anna or Susan at Seasons – The Spa at 318.255.1155 or It’s Permanent at 318.340.1778.

Hormones And Their Effects On The Body

People ask me all the time for more information about hormones and why we need them. Hormones are the communication tools of the body. They deliver messages. So here is a list of a few hormones and what they contribute to your body.

Estrogen

• Protects against osteoporosis, heart disease, memory loss, colon cancer, incontinence and tooth loss
• Enhances sleep, emotional well-being, mental acuity and focus, memory, attention span, communication ability, vision, hearing, taste, touch, smell, digestion, libido and skin tone.
• Relieves menopausal symptoms and depression
• Increases tolerance to pain

Progesterone

• Has a calming effect and enhances mood
• Regulates fluid balance
• Increases blood sugar, thyroid function and mineral balance
• Relieves menopausal symptoms
• Decreases risk of endometrial cancer and may help protect against breast cancer and fibrocystic breast disease
• Protects against osteoporosis and heart disease

Testosterone

• Builds muscles and promotes muscle tone
• Increases energy and libido
• Enhances sense of well-being
• Helps strengthen bone

DHEA

• Helps protect against heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, cancer, memory loss, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis
• Can increase and enhance energy levels, libido, memory and immunity
• Protects against the effects of stress
• Aids weight loss and healing of burns
• Helps to prevent wrinkles and dry eyes

Cortisol

• Helps in responding and coping with stress, trauma, and infection
• Increases energy and metabolism
• Helps regulate blood pressure
• Enhances the integrity of blood vessels
• Reduces allergic and inflammatory response

Balance of each of these hormones is a key element of optimal health and absence of disease. Proper testing, a customized treatment plan for out-of-balance hormone levels, and follow-up testing are all important for achieving healthy hormone levels in your body. For more information about metabolic testing at Seasons, contact our office at 318-255-3223 (Ruston) or 318-387-2828 (Monroe).

Shaping A Smoother You With SmoothShapes

Have you ever wondered if your cellulite could disappear? At Seasons, we have the technology to do just that.  SmoothShapes, a state-of-the-art machine, is a pain-free treatment that uses dynamic laser and light energy to smooth and tighten skin. Collagen is regenerated, circulation is improved and metabolic processes are restored. This system is recommended in a series of eight treatments over a four-week period.

“Dermatologist Cheryl Karcher, MD. was very excited about SmoothShapes, a new laser treatment that she believes can significantly reduce the appearance of cellulite. ‘At this time, this is the only technology with a laser that’s specifically designed to melt fat.’” (Oprah Magazine; May 2009, p. 204)

A recent study was done in Phoenix with 83 patients that showed the SmoothShape system to effectively reduce thigh circumference. When the results came in, the average overall reduction among the thigh areas treated was 1.9 cm, with the maximum loss being 8.7 cm. “We generally saw the greatest results in the upper thigh,” said Dr. Robert A. Weiss, director of the Maryland Laser, Skin, and Vein Institute in Hunt Valley, Md. He concluded that the SmoothShapes system “was highly effective in producing thigh circumferential reduction at each thigh location and at each evaluation time-point in the study with 1- and 3-month follow-up.”

We all want to look better in our swimsuit, or maybe just feel better in our clothes. Anytime is a good time to think about cellulite. Give us a call to set up a consultation to see if SmoothShapes is right for you! SmoothShapes is available in our Ruston location at Seasons – The Spa, 318-255-1155.

You don’t have to be a teen to get acne!

For years, acne mainly plagued teens and those in their 20’s. We are now seeing it in people who are in their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and even 60’s. Where does this dreaded plague come from? Acne may develop from a variety of things including hormones, stress, and unfortunately, your inherited genes.

Food choices are a huge factor contributing to this dreaded skin problem. What you eat directly and indirectly affects your acne. This is one factor that we can easily control by being mindful of what goes into our bodies. So, here are a couple of things to remember:

1. Take your vitamins. Whole foods multi-vitamins taken daily are a good choice to fight acne. Acidophilus B and garlic are also great acne fighters.
2. An apple a day. Eat red or golden delicious apples daily.
3. Drink water, water, water.
4. Clear is better. Soda drinkers, change to clear sodas. The ingredients that make sodas dark can make acne worse.
5. Go natural with your sweets. Too much refined sugar can aggravate acne. This means stay away from candy, sodas, cakes and pies! Try to use natural sweeteners, like honey or stevia!

Not only do we need to be cautious in making food choices, but we need to take care of our skin with good products! Here are a couple of ways to do that:

1. Don’t wash TOO much! Over washing your skin can stimulate the sebaceous glands, causing breakouts. Twice daily is enough!
2. Go BLUE! LED Blue light therapy greatly reduces acne-causing bacteria.
3. Clean sleep. When you are experiencing breakouts, change your pillow case daily.
4. Treat with tea tree. Tea Tree Oil is a great natural anti-bacterial apply to acne lesions, use as directed on bottle.
5. Be careful with the POP! When done incorrectly picking, mashing, squeezing your acne can cause more flair up.Using fingernails to “POP” pimples will cause scarring.
6. Opposite effect. Using antibiotics can actually increase the number of acne breakouts over time.
7. Don’t rely on THE PILL. Using birth control pills will only clear breakouts for a short period of time if at all, and may even cause breakouts.

There is not just a simple cure for acne. I wish there were. However, I am dedicated in helping you customize YOUR fight with acne! Call us at Seasons, 255-1155, for more information or to schedule an appointment.

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