Life saving health and beauty appointment: dermatologist
Next time you go into your dermatologist to have an acne treatment or get a lil' Botox, have him/her screen your body for suspicious moles. If your doctor detects melanoma (a deadly form of skin cancer) early, it might be benign and is actually 100 percent curable, says Austin. Also, since your skin is an outer representation of what's happening on the inside, internal illnesses such as heart disease and stomach cancer may actually be discovered by a skin examination from your dermatologist.
How often should you go?
At least once a year, unless you have a previous history of melanoma or are at high risk (factors include: fair skin, history of sunburns, burn easily, live in a sunny or high-altitude climate, have moles, a family history of skin cancer, etc.), then you should go two to three times per year, says Austin. Between appointments, he says it's important to look for the following in your moles:
Symmetry: Should be circular or oval -- not asymmetrical Size: Greater than a quarter of an inch isn't good Color: Brown is generally safer than black
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Impact of living life without regular dermatologist visits
People who don't see a dermatologist could die from skin cancer, says Austin. This sounds harsh, but it's so true. Once the cancer goes below surface of the skin it can metastasize, spreading into other parts of the body.
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Life saving health and beauty treatment: facials
Remember that the skin is our largest organ and we have to take care of it, says Bratschi. "By cleansing, exfoliating and properly hydrating the skin on a regular basis, you will vastly improve the health and condition of your skin and in turn the overall health of your body," she says. Facials that concentrate not only on the face and neck, but also on the hands, arms, feet, shoulders, d�collet� and scalp coupled with aromatherapy and lymph drainage have the benefits of helping your immune system and removing bodily toxins and wastes, she adds.
How often should you get one?
Get a tailored facial monthly to maintain healthy skin, says Bratschi. However, the need for a facial can increase depending on a number of different factors such as "if you travel a lot, live in a large or densely populated area, are exposed to more pollution and contaminants, live in a hot or cold climate, [and/or] have a stressful job or personal life," she says.
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Impact of living life without facials
"Your skin is an outer reflection of your inner being," says Bratschi, and all those aforementioned factors like stress and living in more polluted city can take their toll on your skin. Just think of all the toxins we are exposed to on a daily basis that sit on the skin, clog our pores and work their way in to the bloodstream, she adds.
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Life saving health and beauty appointment: dentist
Let's say you have a class reunion or a wedding coming up and Crest Whitestrips aren't quite cutting it. So you go to your dentist for full-on professional whitening, but while you're there, go ahead and get a cleaning because seeing a dentist regularly will allow you to maintain oral health at its peak, says Golub-Evans. "Everything starts with the mouth, if a patient is healthy within their mouth, it will extend to their condition overall. Strong teeth and gums can even lead to better nutrition (since it doesn�t hurt to chew) and positive self-esteem," he says.
How often should you go?
"Ideally, a patient should see their dentist every six months or at least once every year," says Golub-Evans. And in between those visits? "Brushing and flossing! Flossing is especially important. I recommend that patients floss first, then brush, then rinse every night. In the morning, it's fine to just brush. Once a day flossing is enough for most people. Keeping to an overall healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables is also beneficial. And, of course, people should try to monitor their intake of things like sweets, alcohol and cigarettes. Acidic items are also hard on the teeth," he says.
Gone are the days of having one general physician be your sole, go-to healer and cure-all for every ailment. We are a much savvier generation who thinks more about prevention, drawing from both Eastern and Western wisdom. And you know that taking care of your health and beauty involves getting regular beauty treatments, seeing your doctors for annual or biannual checkups and maintaining good habits -- all which contribute to your overall well-being. But did you know that some of these things might actually save your life?
We sat down (well, not literally) with the following experts from a broad spectrum of fields: Lena Bratschi, a CIDESCO (an international beauty therapy association) trained esthetician and founder of Carasoin Spa in Beverly Hills, Calif.; Dr. Jeff Golub-Evans, a cosmetic dentist; Dr. Craig Austin, a New York City Dermatologist and creator of Cane + Austin Products; Ashley Borden, a fitness and lifestyle consultant (with a hefty celebrity clientele, BTW); and Shelena Robinson, nail professional and educational ambassador for CND (creative nail design). They explain the benefits of certain health and beauty treatments, appointments and habits, how often you should do them for optimal wellness and what might happen to your health if you don't do them. So, if you're pretty diligent about taking good care of your health, you'll find out how this care is benefitting you. Or, if you're not so good about making yourself a priority, you might get a little lesson in prevention and early detection and what you should be doing now to make sure you're around to see your children's children.
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