Healthy Skin during Ramadan Fasting with Silkor

• Silkor experts advise hydrating facials for skin during the holy month, as well as dietary recommendations
• Ramadan special offer launched, with opportunity to win a 5-star Hotel stay and dinner at Le Royal Meridién, Abu Dhabi .

Silkor, the region’s premier laser hair removal center, has announced an exciting Ramadan promotion based on increased demand for quality skincare treatments during the Holy Month. The center, which offers a series of skincare and slimming treatments in addition to the laser hair removal services that remain its core business, has launched ‘Essentials of Life’; a course of two facials, one hydrating and one whitening, available as a promotional package. Customers purchasing the package will receive another two identical treatments free of charge, and will automatically enter a draw to win a one night stay at Le Royal Meridién in Abu Dhabi complete with a dinner for two at the hotel’s Italian restaurant, Amalfi.

Saving your skin

With temperatures in the summer pushing 50°C, you'd think most people would prefer to be in the comfort of air-conditioning. But doctors in Dubai say that more and more of us are spending our days sunbathing - at all times of the year - and that the long-term effects of such a lifestyle are a huge worry. ‘It is a fact that there is an increase in skin cancer cases in Dubai - especially among expatriates from outside of this region,' says Dr Ashraf Reda, a Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services-registered skin cancer expert who has worked in Saudi Arabia, the US, Bahrain and Egypt. A principle factor is that expatriates are not just sunbathing in the cooler months - they are doing so all-year round as they get more comfortable with the temperatures. The amount of time they are exposing their skin to UV [ultraviolet] rays from the sun is lengthy - and it is this exposure that is causing skin cancers to develop.

Some people are spending all day in the sun or cooling off in a swimming pool or in the shade means they are not harming their skin. But the damage is not done by the temperature - it is UV rays penetrating the skin.

Dr Reda also believes myths regarding the use of sunscreen need to be addressed. ‘The absolute minimum factor you need to use is 25. Factor 15 is not protective enough,' he explains. ‘Anything less than 25 will not offer much protection. A total sunblock is best but if people want to use a factor then they need to keep applying all day - even if the bottle suggests just one application is necessary. Applying sunscreen should be taken seriously, as it can mean the difference between staying healthy and not.'

There are basically two types of skin cancer - melanoma and non-melanoma. Melanoma is almost always dark coloured and often grows relatively quickly. It can also occur when moles start changing shape or colour, or when they start to feel itchy and bleed. Non-melanoma poses less of a health risk and mostly comes in the form of a small, painless lump under the skin with a pink or light brown colour. Both can be cured but need to be detected early.

In many hot countries, such as Australia and America, health authorities have invested heavily in public awareness campaigns to reduce the amount of skin cancer cases. In the UAE these types of campaigns have been launched but have been low-key. ‘Having a tan is not a sign someone is healthy - it is a sign they are unhealthy,' says Dr Reda. ‘It is the fashion these days to have a tan, but the reality is that this fashion can put your life at risk.' Source

World Dermatology and Laser Conference

Dubai World Dermatology and Laser Conference and Exhibition was inaugurated yesterday and shall stay on for three consecutive days 17th, 18th and 19th April 2007.

The scientific programme involves different topics on skin pathology especially "benign and malignant tumors" and the modern cure for "Psoriasis" and "Vitiligo" and "Polymorph Acne" as well as the modern cures for skin "Hyper Pigmentation" and "Melasma". The conference also focuses on plastic surgery and skin care dermatology, in addition to the laser treatments and injections. Furthermore, six workshops will be conducted during the conference, and two Continuing Education points will be granted to the sessions’ attendees that shall discuss various chapters on skin care such as wrinkles reduction, BOTOX injections and skin rejuvenation, as well as the updated laser use and other modern skin care techniques. The conference engages 51 symposium that host specialists and doctors from The United States of America, Canada, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Arab Countries to cover the conference scientific programme, in addition to the four day intensive pre-conference course where specialists lectured and interacted with the congress participants who had the privilege of learning the state-of-the-art updates on Dermatology and acquired 28 Continuing Education points accredited by the UAE University.

The conference is achieving a remarkable progress every year and it has registered a global growth exceeding 40%. And due to the success continuity, mini-conferences shall be organized in different Arab countries namely Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and the Arabian Gulf countries. The conference and exhibition activities shall stay on for three days at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre as the latest innovations and researches on dermatology, laser and skin care will be presented and analyzed.

Your Skin and How It Functions

Skin is an amazing structure. The body’s largest organ, covering between 1.5 and 2 square meters (15 and 20), it measures a tent of a millimeter tick (one twentieth of an inch) and weight anything from 2.75 to 4 kilograms (to 9 pounds). This wonderful “waterproof” and washable coat serves as a temperature regulator, a major route for the elimination of waste and, given the right nutrients, has the incredible capacity to heal it self when injured and act as an efficient defence against trauma, infection and invasion.
Healthy skin is slightly acid and is protected by the “acid mantle”, a naturally lubricating mixture of sebum and sweat which provides additional protection against assault by harmful bacteria. The skin and its padding also cushion internal organs against impact.
Trough approximately two and half million sweat glands, the average adult human being loses around 850 milliliters (a pint and half) of sweats each day. In every squire inch there are hundreds of pain, heat and cold and touch sensors, 5 meters (15 feet) of blood vessels, 4 meters (12 feet) of nerves 100 sebaceous glands and over 1500 sensory receptors, totaling three million cells, all shedding constantly – at an amount equal to an entire layer every seven to ten weeks.
This perpetual “moulting” means that to maintain the status quo, new cells need to be formed at an equivalent rate.
The outer surface (the epidermis) is actually a layer of dead keratin cells which are continually being shed and replaced by new cells working their way up from the dermis bellow. When this exfoliation process becomes sluggish – as we grow older or when health is under par – cell renewal slows right down, elimination pathways can become blocked, skin less supple and so becomes more prone to injury and disease.
To remain in good condition and to work efficiently, your birthday suit needs to be fed and cleaned from the inside as well as the outside.

Here is a Four-point Protection Plan:
Diet and Nutrition: Healthy skin depends on a healthy diet brimful of healing and nurturing nutrients.
Detox: A regular one- or two-day detox diet, using cleansing skin foods and purifying fluids, improves your beauty routine from the inside out, helping to clean out internal sludge, encourage efficient elimination of wastes and reenergize your system.
Beauty on the outside: It’s just as important to take time to pamper your self and attend to the external care of your skin – deep cleansing, exfoliation, massage, toning and moisturizing.
Well-being: Stress, poor quality sleep, shallow breathing, inadequate exercise? They are all seriously bad for your skin and do nothing for your long term wellbeing.

Show off your legs again!

Varicose veins are common problem for the both genders at some age. And spider veins usually occur during pregnancy as the body is heavier on the legs. Both are ugly for the eye and embarrassing for the one who has them.
Not any longer!
Dr. Sarmad Aji is American Board Certified General Surgeon
He performs various treatments at The CosmeSurge (click on the link) . The CosmeSurge is now a day’s nick named The Anti-Aging Center as the experts there deal with all kind External and Internal Aging.
Dr. Aji specializes in the most advanced, safe and effective treatments of varicose veins (all types and degrees), spider veins and facial capillaries utilizing the best and most up to date methods, equipments, and non-invasive techniques, including Veinlite sclerotherapy, Laser therapy, Endovenous laser treatment (Endolaser), Micro-phebectomy.
Telangiectasia & Spider veins are best removed with External Laser,
Medium sized veins are injected with sclerotherapy.
For very large veins remover under local anesthesia with no scars the most recommended is the Internal Laser.
If you are intrigued and need help, please call 04 344 59 15 for appointment. The cost is affordable and financing is available.