If your skin is very dry, or if you have an associated red dermatitis, it is a good idea to seek the advice of your dermatologist or family physician.
Treatment of dry skin
An important aspect of treatment is to identify and tackle any factors that may be contributing to the dry skin. It is natural to think that applying water alone to dry skin would help control the problem. However, water alone (especially hot water) can actually worsen the problem of dry skin by removing the normal, protective skin oils. Hot, soapy water depletes the natural skin oils to the greatest degree. Anyone who has tried to wash a skillet covered with bacon grease in cold soapy water knows how effective heat is in softening up oils and fats so that they can be washed away. However, water followed by the application of oil such as a moisturizer (also known as an emollient or lubricant) is of great benefit for dry skin. The oil in the moisturizer helps trap and seal water in the stratum corneum and makes the skin softer, smoother and less likely to become dry, cracked and itchy.
By Satwinder Kaur
Cosmetologist & Laser therapist
Cocoona Intl Centre for Aesthetic Transformation
Delhi
India

Modeling is a career where appearance is of paramount importance. Because many models are between the ages of 15 and 25, when hormone levels are fluctuating the most, and because the heavy cosmetics, bright lights and stress some forms of modeling require, can wreak havoc on the skin; preventing blemishes can be a concern for many models and hopeful models.

I want to be a model but i have several body/skin problems?

I have a shoot tomorrow and my skin looks awful?

Even photoshop cannot hide my excess skin, what can I do?

These are some of the many concerns I hear from models, actors and aspiring models. I have been researching the reason behind the physical problems models and actors go through. How can they prevent such problems? What can they do to treat such issues? How can they learn to understand their skin and body?
What can a model or actor do to keep the harsh effects of stage lights, constant changing of makeup with skin-drying makeup removers, and the high stress level of this profession from taking its toll on the skin by actually aging it more quickly than it ever should?

Challenges to be “FACED”

Lights- Heat can add to dehydration of the skin and adds stress to the muscles off face causing skin wrinkling.

 Makeup (with its colored salts and chemical dyes) used frequently and drying makeup removers often are the source of serious skin problems.

Makeup removers (which remove the protective acid mantle) are harsh on skin.

Artificial Eye lashes- glues can cause severe irritation and redness

Sun exposure- causes dehydration and sun damage to the skin

Dehydration- due to inadequate fluid intake and all other factors including air conditioners

Hormonal changes normal or abnormal such as in Polcystic ovarian disease (PCOD) has significant influence on the skin and body

Stress physical and psychological worsens the situation

Skin type- Oily, dry, and sensitive

            Pigmented and nonpigmented

Common Problems of the skin- So how does the above factors affect your skin

Black and White heads- These are due to excessive sebum production and blockage of pores

Acne- the BW heads get infected by Acne bacterium and cause different kinds of acne

Skin hypersensitivity- Acne can also be caused due to hypersensitivity from perfumes, chemicals, dyes, synthetic scarfs. Fequent skin redness due to sensitivity can cause postinflammatory pigmentation

Pigmentation – occurs due to excessive sun exposure, skin sensitivity, skin burns due to substance abuse

Premature wrinkling can occur because of skin dehydration

Loss of skin tone can occur due to dehydration and fluctuating body weight

Folliculitis, Shaving bumps underarms and Bikini line are caused by improper method of hair removal such as plucking, shaving etc

Other Body Issues-

The body goes through lot of physical and psychological stress particularly due to hectic schedules, improper sleep, irregular and unhealthy eating habits, lack or overindulgence of exercise, body dysmorphophobia etc.

The pathological problems these can cause include-

Double chin occurs due to fat accumulation under the chin or skin laxity

Arm flabs- It can be hereditary but also due to excess fat accumulation and lack of tone in triceps muscles

Waist line Muffins – Apart from hereditary it can be due to fat accumulation

Tummy flabs- fat excess, skin laxity and poor abdominal tone can cause this problem.

Saddle bags- it is often hereditary but weight gain also adds to the problem

Banana rolls near the buttocks- It is a small pocket of fat under the buttock crease

Inner thigh & Knee bulges- Often due to fat excess

Cellulite formation- there are two types primary due to uneven and excess fat deposits and secondary due to sagging skin

Skin sagging- The most common cause is fluctuating weight or sudden loss of weight.

Smartness lies not in believing the promises of the product and experimenting for experiments sake but understanding the true type and texture of your skin, your body responses to your behavior and caring for it wisely.

It is wise to engage a specialist to educate you on the routine care and do’s and don’ts. You may require seeking specialist treatment to control your skin problems.

Top ten advices to all the beautiful models:

1. Always remember to drink a glass of water every hour as long as you are awake
2. Keep dabbing your face with moisturizers particularly around the eyes and lips
3. Do not use harsh chemicals to remove makeup, just rinsing with water can be very effective.
4. Do not use scrubs on your face and body
5. Keep some fruits and dry fruits to provide you with instant energy and avoid binging on unhealthy food.
6.  Regular exercise and toning of individual muscle groups help maintain your skin tone.
7. If you have problem of black and white heads, go to a specialist for Micro drainage & extraction, just a facial in saloon is not good enough.
8. Avoid playing and pinching your skin
9. There are lots of organic and household products that you can use as facial, information is available in most health magazines
10. Refrain from smoking and excessive alcohol intake

You can logon to www.facebook.com/cocoona and educate yourself. Our experts are available 24/7 for your assistance.

Dr Sanjay Parashar

Specialist Plastic Surgeon

Director

Excess fat

Excess fat is accumulated all over the body more in primary reservoir ( part of body that stores majority of fat) then secondary. Primary reservoirs are different in individuals such as tummy and waist in majority, thighs and buttocks in some and upper part of the body is others. Some people accumulate more fat inside the tummy around stomach and intestine called as Intrabdominal fat whereas others accumulate more under the skin called as extra abdominal fat.

Stubborn Fat

There are two types of fat- Stationary and labile fat. Labile fat is lost easily by weight loss program (exercise and nutrition). Stationary fat is more stubborn and sometimes dopes not move in spite of vigorous weight loss program.

Fat reduction

The fat can be reduced by reducing the size of fat cells or by removing the number of fat cells.

Fat cells can be shrunken by two methods-

1)      Burning calories and reducing calorie intake

This is done by nutrition and exercise.

2)      Destroying fat cells in some parts of the body by non surgical techniques utilizing technologies.

There are different ways of targeting fat cells under the skin to reduce in size- It is important to evaluate the medical history of the patient, lifestyle and identify the distribution pattern of fat. Only after this analysis a particular technology or combination of technology can be used to mobilize the fat cells. There is no point using  a machine to reduce fat if it is more inside the stomach than under the skin.

1. 1.       Powershape machine-

In this technology a vacuum roler grasps / pinches skin and the machine emits Low level laser that penetrate the skin and destroy the fat cells, It also emits radiofrequency waves that mobilizes the fat cells and causes skin tightening. The mechanical action drains the fat cells and immediately reduces the skin thickness and reduces the size of the tummy, waist or any part of the body where it is applied.

2. Twin Polar machine- has mono and bipolar radiofrequency that penetrates deeper into the fat and mechanically disrupts fat cells. Once the fat cells are disrupted body metabolizes and disposes the fatty acids through kidneys.
3. Injection Lipolysis- this is a technique where combination of medications such as phosphatidylcholine is injected deeper into the fat cells that causes disruption of the fat cells.
4. Carboxytherapy- It is a technique where Co2 gas is used to break the fat cells and increase blood circulation to metabolize the fat cells.
5. Ultrasound cavitations is high intensity focused ultrasound waves that disrupts fat cells through the skin

Cocoona under the guidance of Dr Sanjay Parashar, Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Laser specialist has been successful in providing successful results to people suffering from excess fat deposits, body shape problems and post pregnancy tummy flab’s by unique protocols that use a professional approach and combination of skills and technologies.

Other way is to remove the fat cells out of the body by

1)      Destroying and removing the fat cells by laser (Smart Lipo or laser lipolysis)

This is minimal invasive way of burning the fat cells and removing the liquid fat out of body.

2)      Syringe suctioning of fat- This is liquefying the fat with a cocktail of medicine and removing it with injection.

3)      By Sonic X Liposuction- It is a modern technology that allows to melt the fat with a unique device and at the same time removes the liquid fat.

4)      Traditional liposuction – It is a traditional surgical procedure where fat is removed in large volume from 5- 8 litres under general anaesthesia.

Dr Sanjay Parashar FICS, MCh, DNB, Fellowship Royal Australasian college of surgeons

Consultant Plastic Surgeon

Member of International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Member American Society of Plastic Surgeons

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrcjC2BeSi0&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy5Are9vDsA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XKCFg1JfC0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZImwhEcfsIo&feature=youtu.be

What are the different ways one can reduce pain, excessive swelling and bruising?

Tumescent infiltration- In this technique the fat is injected with cocktail of fluid that not only provides additional analgesia but helps to remove the fat with minimal avulsion injury.

PreLipo Mobilization- The next stage os to mobilize the fat without suction using a basket type cannulae, this prevents tissue avulsion and minimizes trauma.

MicroCannulae- Small cannula helps to gently aspirate the fat again by minimal avulsion of fat.

Violin Strokes- Liposuction should be done like playing music with violin, gently without thrusting and poking the cannulae.

Low Power vacuum- low power vacuum minimizes the avulsion of tissue and gently removes the fat.

Liposcution is an art, using the above technique surgeon will enjoy this piece of work and patients will love the outcome.

Before they visit the surgeon however, UAE women should consider an alternative and less severe way to turn back the clock. Skin peeling can work wonders on wrinkles, particularly the fine lines on the cheeks and forehead, around the eyes and the mouth. In addition, they might also be used to soften the appearance of scars or remove pre-cancerous skin growths. Treatments vary in strength and penetration. All, however, work to remove the upper layers of the skin and stimulate the cells. A wide variety of different chemicals are available to combat a range of skin problems. Some are more severe and remove deeper layers than others. At the softest end of the scale is microdermabrasion, commonly known as facial scrubs. This is something most women are familiar with and provides a simple way to remove some of the dead cells on the surface of the skin. According to S.L. Paul, MD of Spectronix,”Among the best of these is Clinicians Complex Microdermabrasion cream, which has been specially formulated to mirror the effects of peels on a scale that can be carried-out at home.” Microdermbrasion is excellent to exfoliate sun damage or dead skin cells. As it is rubbed into the face, tiny crystals exfoliate the skin, which leaves it silky, smooth and revitalised. It can also be applied before professional peels to prepare the skin and achieve the best possible results. With the home care products, skin preparation is done before having a stronger peel at clinics for instance with AHA facial cream or gel. Foaming gel cleanser has AHA in it and slowly exfoliates the dead skin in every wash. The skin becomes more prepared for a stronger peeling session, and they can be started two to three weeks prior to a stronger peel. A step up from this is the AHA peel. It uses light acids, including glycolic, lactic or fruit acids to provide smoother, brighter-looking skin and is ideal for those who can’t spare the time to recover from a stronger phenol or TCA peel. The mildest form of peel, AHA removes some of the dead cells, improves the texture of the skin, reduces acne and causes some cell rejuvenation. One of the advantages of this procedure is that after one professional peel, women can incorporate the product into their daily facial routine. AHA facial cream and AHA facial gel contain rejuvenating products, including citric acid, plant extracts and aloe vera, which keep the skin clean and youthful. Both of these products can be used at home to maintain the benefits of a recent peel and reduce the need for repeat visits to the doctor. The addition of Salicylic acid forms a medium-strength peel. Commonly known as the Blue peel and the Green peel, these moderate solutions remove more layers of skin to reduce lines, scars and blemishes. Deeper skin problems can be targeted by a TCA or Phenol peel. These remove even more layers of the skin but can cause pigmentation if sufficient precautions are not undertaken. After the peels, the Clinicians Complex range offers a fantastic Skin Recovery Serum, this restores the skin’s moisture content back much faster even after strongest peel and heals sun damaged skin. It can undo negative effect of sun, or strong chemical peels preventing any reaction or irritation. It is used after microdermabrasion, laser surgery and chemical peels. It is not always possible to ascertain the exact level of penetration these stronger chemicals will have and permanent scars can be caused if a peel breaches the dermis layer. Fractioned Laser is a new technology that uses a thermal reaction to remove the dead cells. With this, the depth of the peel can be controlled, which makes it a safer option for those who seek to remove more than the outer layers. It is vital to seek expert advice before undergoing a facial peel. In addition, the skin needs to properly protected throughout, which includes the days leading up to the treatment and those that follow. “For the best results, explains Dr. Sanjay, “Skin must be prepared beforehand and nourished afterwards.” That way, he says, “You can shed the older layer of skin and reveal a new one in the safest possible manner.”

You will be surprised to know that Plastic surgery may be one of the world’s oldest healing arts. In fact, there is documentation of the use of surgical means for correcting facial injuries dating back more than 4,000 years ago. Sushruta an ancient surgeon in India performed first reconstructive work in 600 BC, he described reconstruction of the nose by cheek flap, repair of cut earlobe, piercing of earlobe, repair of cut lip, skin grafting, classification of burns, wound care and wound healing in his writings.

Physicians in ancient India were utilizing skin grafts for reconstructive work as early as 800 B.C. Plastic surgery advances were slow in coming.

Overall progress in plastic surgery, like most of medicine, was slow over the next few thousand years, as techniques used in India were introduced to the West and then subsequently refined and adapted for new applications.

However, the next major advances in plastic surgery weren’t to be until the 20th century, when the casualties of war made reconstructive plastic surgery a necessity for many soldiers. In fact, it was World War I that brought plastic surgery to a new level within the medical establishment.

Military physicians were required to treat many extensive facial and head injuries caused by modern weaponry, the likes of which had scarcely been seen before. These grave injuries necessitated brave new innovations in reconstructive surgical procedures

It was in fact around this time that surgeons began to fully realize the potential influence that one’s personal appearance could exert upon the degree of success experienced in his or her life. Because of this understanding, aesthetic surgery began to take its place as a somewhat more respected aspect of plastic surgery.

The modern history of plastic surgery really started to take shape in the 1960s and the 1970s.

In the 2000s, cosmetic surgery has enjoyed an explosion in popularity, and medical advances have made possible reconstructive feats that were once only a dream of what might one day be.

Thankfully, some of the media coverage surrounding plastic surgery has been focused on the miraculous reconstructive work that plastic surgeons are doing to improve the quality of life for those who would otherwise not have access to help. It is becoming more and more common for plastic surgeons to donate their time and considerable talents to performing reconstructive surgery on children with debilitating birth defects who live in disadvantaged parts of the world. For many of these surgeons, it is their cosmetic surgery practices which allow them to offer their services to these less fortunate young people.

These displays of altruism have helped to improve public perception of plastic surgery, and to drive home the idea that reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery can work hand in hand to improve the quality of life for many.

The primary aim of Plastic surgery is to restore form and function.

Absence of body parts due to birth defect or loss of body parts due to trauma or diseases results in various kinds of deformities involving face, trunk, genitals and limbs. This not only results in visible deformity but can interfere with normal functions.

Reconstructive plastic surgeons and their surgical technologists  use the concept of a reconstructive ladder to manage increasingly complex wounds and deformities. This ranges from very simple techniques such as primary closure and dressings to more complex skin grafts, tissue expansion and free flaps.

Then there are changes in the body due to aging, hormonal influence, lifestyle and other external & internal factors. This results into deformities, disproportions & degenerations.

Plastic surgeons then combine their artistic skills & specialized knowledge to perform procedures to reduce or to some extent reverse these body alterations. This is called as Aesthetic Surgery.

Dubai represents modern living, lifestyle, glamour and hence a hub for Aesthetic “Cosmetic Surgery”.

But there is far more to offer in dubai particularly in the health industry. With an excellent infrastructure, internationally trained medical personals the scope for reconstructive surgery is phenomenal.

Congenital cleft lip deformity is still a common birth defect in the middle eastern region. Accidents and injuries lead to damages to face and other parts of the body. Industrial development brings with it several injuries and accidents. Many a times these patients only receive primary care and are left with residual functional and physical deformities.

It is partly due lack of awareness in our community and also amongst primary health care providers. Plastic Surgeons can deal with severed fingers, crushed hands, facial anomalies and traumatic injuries primarily and reduce functional and physical deformities.

Smoker’s face occurs because toxins involved in the process of inhaling tobacco fumes constrict the blood vessels and tiny capillaries located near the surface of the skin. The increased carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen being circulated to areas of the skin, causing a series of changes. These include prominent lines and wrinkles emanating from the corners of the eyes, which are colloquially known as ‘crow’s feet.’ These may even extend to the cheek, with the cheeks themselves appearing sunken. Other wrinkles become etched perpendicular to the lips, with shallow lines forming on the cheeks and lower jaw. Male smokers may also develop a distinctive feature referred to as ‘cobblestone wrinkles,’ which are lines that run down the back of the neck. The skin may take on a dry, tough and leathery appearance with a mottled effect or grey, unnatural pallor because it is more atrophied (withered) than a non-smoker’s skin.

Smoking doesn’t just induce changes that only have cosmetic implications and there can be other, more serious, dermatological consequences for those who regularly light up. These include an increased risk of their skin thinning and the development of some types of cancer. Tobacco smoke contains a dense population of free radicals, so it increases the number of these damaging compounds within the body. Inhalation of tobacco smoke can also reduce the body’s store of Vitamin A, which is used in its repair process. Tobacco toxins impede the regenerative properties of the skin and this is one of the reasons why smokers are advised to refrain from their habit prior to undergoing surgery. There is evidence that smoking can damage DNA, which in turn has a deleterious effect on the skin. It has been discovered that people who smoke around 11 to 20 cigarettes a day were over three times more likely to develop a certain form of skin cancer, known as squamous cell carcinoma.

The bottom line is that smoking clearly damages the skin and that this damage is noticeable.  Many of the harmful effects of tobacco consumption are hidden from view, with damage to the lungs, for example, requiring X-rays or invasive scope observations to assess the extent of injury. The effects of smoking on the skin, however, are easily visible and this is something that can have psychological as well as physical implications. As well as performing a myriad of important functions, such as barrier protection, temperature regulation and fat and water storage, the skin has an important role in aesthetics and communication. Others see our skin and make significant judgments from it on our mood, physical state and attractiveness. If you are a smoker, the signals you give off from your skin’s appearance may well be doing you a significant disservice.

Cocoona in association with health Factory