PDO threads: An aesthetic trend that is here to stay.
PDO Threads seem to be a daunting procedure for many people. The multiple needles, the fear of pain, the visualization of the pulling technique. The procedure thread can almost appear aggressive (or enjoyable for others), so why even choose to use them? Here are a few reasons why you’d consider threads:
You need “some lift” in your life.
We all feel the heaviness of natural aging. From fat pad displacement, strong ligaments combine with gravity pulling our face down. Overfilling the face with dermal filler can cause an unnatural appearance. Sometimes just lifting that face back can really improve the natural lines/folds that develop with aging without adding additional “heaviness”.
You want to volumize your skin.
The PDO thread in a skin will stimulate a collagen reaction from the body that will improve the texture, thickness of the skin. It’s a great way to add volume to areas of the face that appear gaunt and have decreased skin elasticity.
You’re not quite ready for the knife.
Some skin laxity/texture will require surgical correction. Moderate to severe sagging of the skin will not see a full correction with use of threads and may need a full lift. The use of threads can be used earlier in the aging process to postpone the need for surgical correction.
What’s the difference between monos and barbs?
Mono threads are threads that do not pull or lift. Their only job is to stimulate the production of collagen and growth factors in the skin.
Barbs are used to attach to surrounding tissue and pull the skin in a specific direction.
Where are they made?
Most (almost all) threads are manufactured in Korea- which is the thread-mecca of the world. Koreans have developed unique patterns and techniques to use threads throughout the face/body to tighten, life and rejuvenate the skin. The FDA has approved certain threads for the use in the United States. The amount Koreans use in each area is much higher than used in the US- where we use 5-10, they may used 40+! They believe in threads and love their ability to transform the face.
Where can you place threads?
Threads can be used in numerous areas of the body- pretty much everywhere you have skin!
How long does it last?
Remember that the thread itself will dissolve in the skin weeks after placement. The duration of the results depends on the area it is placed, the amount of threads placed in that area and technique. Threads in the face will require a yearly maintenance routine. Collagen that your body creates usually lasts around 2-3 years.
How much does it cost?
Treatments that include lifting threads are more expensive than mono/volumizing threads due to the time needed to perform and difficulty of the procedure. The price varies widely based on areas/threads need
For more information, come in for a consultation at Vibrant Skin Bar. Would love to talk all things threads with you!
Treating Testosterone: The Good, The Bad & The “Hairy” :)
Many of us can recognize body builders using testosterone at the gym. Huge muscles, lifting huge weights, minuscule body fat percentages- sounds great! Sign up? Well, there may be more to consider with testosterone replacement.
Testosterone is commonly given to both men and women for symptoms of fatigue, libido, mental clarity, improve muscle mass, erectile dysfunction. It can be given in creams, gels, troches, injections and pellets and can easily raise testosterone levels in the blood. Many body-builders will use without supervision from a medical provider, but are there reasons you should avoid using from that guy in the gym?
There are many reasons that you may want a medical provider to evaluate you and determine your need for testosterone. Testosterone is a controlled substance for a reason. While, it is a wonderful treatment for many to feel refreshed, youthful, strong, sexy and energetic, there are also risks of taking. There are also side effects that are important to consider prior to starting therapy.
Hair loss.
Testosterone treatments can lead to hair thinning at the scalp. The conversion of testosterone to DHT at the scalp causes inflammation at the follicle and produces weaker, thinner hair follicles.
2. It could elevate your estrogen levels.
This may be helpful in postmenopausal women, but if you have a history of breast/ovarian cancer, it could put you at higher risk. For men, the extra estrogen could result in production of tissue in the breast, called gynecomastia. Men may also feel more emotional. There are medications to prevent conversion from testosterone to estrogen, but need to be supplied by a medical provider.
3. It could affect your fertility.
If you’re planning on having little ones running around, using testosterone replacement could affect your ability to produce sperm in men, regulate periods in women. Men looking to have a family in the future may want to consider alternative options.
4. It may aggravate that tiny Prostate Cancer (men)
If you are developing cancer of the prostate, it is generally thought that testosterone replacement could make the cancer more aggressive. It does not CAUSE the cancer, but could be like pouring “fuel to the fire” if there are cellular changes occurring in the prostate. Checking the health of your prostate is important prior to taking testosterone, and monitoring while taking the medication.
5. Too much = No Bueno
Excessive testosterone can cause symptoms of irritability, even voice deepening. It can also cause acne and unwanted hair growth. Women may also experiencing weight gain or feeling “thickness” to their body.
6. Libido boost for women… maybe?
A woman’s sex drive is complex and associated with many emotional factors, as well as physical factors. Testosterone replacement may improve sex drive in some women, but may not in others.
7. It may put you at risk for heart attack/stroke.
Regular monitoring of cholesterol and blood levels are important for ensuring that your levels remain in good range. You may want to consider additional cardiac evaluation prior to considering replacement.
Remember, that when considering testosterone therapy, there are a lot of variables. You will want to make sure that you choose a medical provider that will take into account your own personal medical history, work as a team and make the right decision for you and your body!
Counting Macros: What are they and Why are they important?
Macros or Macronutrients are kind of a buzz word when it comes to diet and the health community. Why would you want to count macronutrients? Why does it make a big difference? I always like to think of my low carb patients- eating bacon all day, promoting that protein, but disregarding the other parts of the “macros”, like that high fat.
Counting your “macros” or macronutrients is counting the amount of carbs/fats/protein grams in your diet. The body burns each macronutrient differently (different calories for each gram). Understanding the balance between each of these macronutrients will help your body achieve various goals.
Why does our body need certain macronutrients?
Carbs: energy- carbs are broken down into sugar in the body, can be used immediately or stored as glycogen for the body to use for fuel at a later time
Fats: energy, hormone production, body temperature, regulator for fat soluble vitamins, source of essential fatty acids, and of course support youthful appearance of face!
Protein: building of tissues, enzymes, hormones, balances fluids, maintains proper pH and allows cell signaling in the body.
Certain ratios of carbs/fats/protein will be better for some body types. For instance, you may be interested in building more muscle, or breastfeeding, or you may be a person that just needs more carbs to feel energized…
I have to admit, counting macros seemed overwhelming/too much work. We teamed up with @trifitwellness for personalized dietary instructions and started counting macros. They have apps that will “count” the macros for you after imputing your food information, which can be helpful to skip the math homework. The information you learn about your normal diet and tendencies toward certain food is priceless- learning how each food measures up, will alter the choices you make!
Hair & Aging: How to Navigate the Journey
It’s no surprise, hair is susceptible to changes with hormones, stress, lifestyle, genetics, use of medications, pretty much all the things.
Those beautiful locks that felt so thick in high school, are now a distant memory, and now you’re noticing many changes such as texture, strength, color, and overall thinning? Men you will notice more a pattern of loss on the top of the head and receding hair line, while women you will usually notice diffuse thinning throughout.
Hormones play a lot into the growth and support of the hair. DHT, or dehydroxytestosterone, is one of the hormones responsible for the health of the hair and has many receptor sites on the scalp and causes “shrinkage” of the hair follicle. The smaller follicle will then grow weaker hair and cannot support regular healthy hair growth.
If there is one thing I know about treating hair loss, is that you need to approach it from multiple modalities. My favorite is using PRP or (platelet rich plasma) which is your own blood spun down to a different concentration. This concentration allows a naturally inflammatory response at the scalp to restore the follicle to a healthy state and improve growth. PRP treatments can be combined with PDO threads for further stimulation of the hair follicle. You can also combine with microneedling to improve hair growth.
In conjunction with PRP treatments, supplements are important. There are many on the market that include many important nutrients needed for healthy hair like b complex (biotin, niacin, cobalamin), iron, vitamin D, Zinc, omegas, vitamin A/E, and Melatonin. Certain supplements can also naturally block the formation of DHT. I am loving the Nutrafol supplements at Vibrant Skin Bar.
Medications can also be very helpful, topical applications of medicine that lowers inflammation and prevents conversion of DHT at the scalp. Beware that some of the treatments maintain the hair in a specific phase of growth. Once you discontinue these meds, the hair will then shed at that time!
Taking care of your hair is important to maintain the health of the follicle. Consider hair products, including Monat, that promotes healthy hair from the scalp and has an intensive repair treatment line specifically designed for hair restoration. Avoiding excessive heat from styling tools and avoid wearing that tight hat or pony tail is very important for that hair line!
The bottom line is, the earlier you start taking care of your hair and treating signs of hair loss, the better your outcome. From postpartum loss, natural aging, or stress induced/lifestyle loss: your hair is your crown. Losing it may feel like an identity change. The sooner you can identify the symptoms, the better your outcome will be!
Navigating Food Sensitivities…
I started investigating food sensitivities when I was unsuccessful at treating my son’s rash that had been on his skin for the first five years of his life. His pediatrician thought it was infectious, his dermatologist thought it was eczema and recommended bleach baths twice a month and periodic steroid cream application.
I did allergy patch testing as soon as he was five (and could tolerate) and it showed he had a significant egg allergy. When we discovered this, I felt sick. He literally had eaten eggs almost daily for this first five years of his life.
We removed the eggs and after two weeks. The rash had resolved.
It got me wondering, if his skin reacted so quickly after removing the allergen, does he have other sensitivities to foods that could affect his body/nervous system/behavior? I knew he acted unusually “crazy” after having sugar. Like he was on speed- his eyes would dilate, his brain would go into “la-la land”. It was nuts.
photo credits: Courtney Lively Photography
So, we thought we would investigate with food sensitivity testing. It showed that he was very sensitive to egg and also whey (milk byproduct). It also showed a mild candida overgrowth. His naturopath had us remove this from his diet for two months and treated the yeast…..(candida overgrowth is a whole other topic that I will get to another time).
During the two months, we as a family, decided to remove egg and dairy from our diet altogether to support my son. We know that these two are considered “inflammatory foods” anyways, and thought it would be interesting to see if we noticed a difference.
I can admit that at first, I didn’t notice much of a difference. Sure, I didn’t have as much of a bloat in my stomach, I felt pretty energized overall, and honestly didn’t miss the dairy and egg much. It was only until I returned to eating those foods two months later, that I realized how desensitized I had become. Now after I ate, I would feel stomach upset for the day, achy joints, headaches, weird symptoms.
My son, however, seemed to have a pretty significant response immediately. I can only describe it as “his brain became clearer”. He wouldn’t have as much trouble with eye contact, he had thoughtful things to say. He seemed to have more patience (most of the time). I felt at times I was almost “getting a window into his thoughts” that I hadn’t been able to see before.
After the 2 months, we introduced egg and dairy back into his diet at times, but overall we try to avoid completely if possible, because he still doesn’t respond well to it. Kids need to be able to have cake at birthday parties (if they are not severely allergic), and I don’t want to deprive him of that, but overall we try to keep it at a minimum.
Removing diary and egg in my diet has helped my skin improve significantly. My response to the removal, prompted me to get my own food sensitivity tested, which confirmed egg and dairy allergies, but also avocado and almond- which I was not prepared for- eek! Sad day!
Overall, the food we put into our bodies can affect us in ways we would never realize. Our skin, our nervous system, our brain, our hormones, our vital organs are affected by the way we eat. It’s nice to have a little “window” into our own body to understand how we should nourish it.
Tips for Family Camping in a RV/Trailer
In the last several months, finding an escape to the wilderness has been therapeutic to help cope with many uncertainties around us. Nature is the place to re-connect with the beauty of the world, and appreciate the life around us. It almost forces mindfulness, being able to focus on the little perfect creatures around us, which in turn, is a gift of slowing our nervous system and helping us relax.
To our family, we wanted to find a sort of “quarantine on wheels” where we could find a safe way to connect with nature, and honestly not drive ourselves crazy with three young kids. There are so many things to explore in just a short drive, and honestly, we just needed a change of pace!
I will say, for those who have been camping and RV-ing your entire lives, these tips are not for you. You are well versed on the “small nuances” you need to be a successful camper. To those who are like myself, who only camped with extended family, or my husband, Zach who never camped in his life, the “learning curve”, was steep. Each weekend has been quite the adventure and the exact thing we all needed.
For all of you interested in renting/borrowing a camper/trailer/RV, as a novice to another novice, we have some tips to share:
1. Apps can be your best friend.
Our favorite camping reservation apps are Campendium and Recreation.gov. Recreation.gov has resources for many camping/lodging as well as ability to purchase permits and passes to federal recreation facilities. It has many resources that remain closed due to COVID restrictions.
KOA sites or Kampgrounds of America are franchised campgrounds that have family-friendly options. Each location is different, amenities vary, and customer service is great. However, you may not have the “picturesque campsite” you’re looking for.
Consider RV Parks, they are privately owned but can be located in beautiful areas.
For rentals of RVs/Trailers: Outdoorsy and RV Share. *Always consider towing capacity of your vehicle.
When reserving, CALL the campgrounds if possible. Yes, use your phone. They sometimes will have electric sites available that are not found on the apps and are helpful at choosing a site that will work for you. Remember that certain sizes of campers are restricted in certain campgrounds (usually >28 feet) Also, ask about water accessibility and if there are places to dump your waste. This is not always and option. Campendium is a great resource for finding your nearest “dump station”. Yuck, I know, but who wants to travel hundreds of miles carrying waste in the toilet!
Also remember that you will most likely not get great cell or wifi service, but Campendium does list cellphone carriers and amount of service available at that site. I mean the point is to get “off grid”, but still nice to know.
2. How do you pack your RV/Trailer? Packing/unpacking the RV may be the hardest part. I recommend small containers that you can place on the floor/under tables until you arrive and can unpack. Remember that when you’re pulling your trailer, it is equivalent to a magnitude 10 earthquake on the Richter scale. Things are going to move like crazy! Make sure to evaluate the trailer prior to leaving and confirm that latches are closed on freezers/fridges and drawers. Having raw meat fly out of the freezer and simmer on your floor is NOT the way you want to start a vacation.
3. Buy a topographical map! Remember those things we used to check the route/roads before our phones told us every direction? They are helpful, but regularly you’ll lose service and you’ll have to rely on your good ol’ mile marker counting abilities. Plus many of the maps include trails, recreation information, and national park information. They are helpful and worth the small investment. While we are mentioning this, remember to ALWAYS look ahead to see you’re upcoming route on a map. If you see some crazy turns ahead, look into the route further, or maybe choose a different route. You do not want to get stuck carrying a trailer onto some questionable bridge/cliff and do not have the ability to turn around. NOTE: signs will NOT warn you about this. We learned the hard way!
4. Dispersed camping and forest roads-fun but you’re on your own in many ways! Many people prefer to get off the grid and not participate in public campgrounds which is smart during the COVID times. Dispersed camping is when your camp on National Forest lands outside of actual campgrounds. You are on your own and what you bring in, you’ll need to bring out- included your own restroom waste. This type of camping is called “dry camping” or “boondocking”. It’s super fun, you just need to be aware of your water/electricity use and will need to use your generator to do this. *You may need to bring your own gas for the generator.
5. Riding in the RV-do you wear seatbelts? Depends. Each state has different laws for seatbelts when it comes to riding in the RV. Some states require that only the front seat passengers have to wear seat belts, while other states, like Arizona require all passengers to be restrained, especially children ages 5-15, younger children to be restrained in their car seats. Remember to also consider the safety of car seats facing sideways or rear-facing.
6. Consider a Propane Fire pit. If you’re camping in the dry southwest, chances are the area is going to be too dry for building your own fire, or charcoal. What’s camping without the fire? Investing in a propane fire pit is well worth the money, and allows you to have a fire during the ban. The difference is, it is quickly turned off (which is most of the risk for fire), and you will never have that smoky smell on your clothes! Here is the model that we purchased, you can also purchase a converter device to use with a smaller propane unit (1 lb), otherwise it hooks to a larger propane tank.
7. Bring yummy food to cook for meals. Having quality food/coffee while camping is a luxury that elevates the experience completely, whether that is yummy waffles in the morning, or quality meat kabobs for dinner. Making recipes like chili to prepare ahead and have one night you do not feel like cookingis also really helpful. We also love to order meals from Sunfare, a local business that delivers meals to your doorstep- they even come in a cooler bags, ready to go!
8. Plan for quality time with the kids- whether its outdoor crafts, fishing poles, outdoor games. You’ll have time to do things that you normally wouldn’t. I highly recommend kiwico crafts to travel with, they come with every part of the craft in the box and are age appropriate. I also bring metallic pens to decorate rocks. We also love our inflatable kayak that we picked up on Amazon.
9. Bring your dog! Don’t leave your best friend at home if you can manage it- they usually have the most fun! Remember, some National Parks do not allow dogs, so check ahead- you’ll need a sitter for your dog if you go out and explore. Most campsites will allow dogs, as long as they remain on leash at ALL times. You may need an indoor and outdoor leashing option so they do not sneak away while you’re not paying attention.
10. Don’t be afraid to ask for tips/help from your fellow campers. Camping neighbors can be/will be angels sent from Heaven, many of the times. They are usually the nicest people you’ve met in awhile, are helpful, handy, and always eager to share their tips. They can be a highlight of your experience so be friendly and reciprocate the nice gestures.
Overall, camping is a LOT of work, but so worth the effort and the memories. Plus, the mistakes that you make will be part of the experience and adventure! Don’t be afraid of the challenge- Go for it!
Ways De-Cluttering Can Improve Your Health
During this time of quarantine, many of us have been prompted to de-clutter or organize a portion of our home. At first, maybe it was because we had the extra time. Extra time that we normally would have filled with other activities. Extra time to reflect about our environment around us and determine ways to feel peace and comfort in our own home. Possibly this quarantine is now bringing us a second reason for the need to de-clutter. Maybe it is also allowing us to reassemble and reorganize ourselves, possibly “pulling-out” portions of life that are no longer serving us anymore?
The term clutter has its own definition for each person. For some, even a few things out of place can cause anxiety, while with others, they hardly notice multiple things piled in their room. It is also a very personal process. People need to be able to choose for themselves whether or not the item serves a purpose in their lives.
Once we do pull the clutter out of our lives, the following positive findings occur that improve our own mental health:
1. Organized home, organized thoughts!
We are able to be more efficient throughout our day when our items all have a specific place. Mental “clutter” or mental fog has been linked to symptoms of anxiety, nervousness and fear. It also leads to a feeling of being unable to make decisions, focus and concentrate.
2. Relaxed & Healthier Body:
The stress from clutter is real! There is a feeling of uneasiness when we have many things surrounding us. The stress can cause us to feel overwhelmed and even possibly trigger over-eating/stress eating. The process of releasing our items can be difficult. If we are able to rid of many unnecessary things around us and live in a cleaner, calmer environment, our stress and cortisol levels can return to a healthier state.
3. A better connection to your own home:
My home- my mess? Maybe not so much… Clutter prevents us from feeling a connection to our home. This was outlined in a study from New Mexico University. It discussed that clutter can have a negative effect on our ability to establish feelings of well-being that should be developed in our home. Removing that clutter can help you feel a deeper connection to home and create a healthy “home base”.
4. Improved levels of personal happiness:
Donation helps to foster happiness in our own lives when we help the lives of others. Finding organizations that would benefit from our items are opportunities for us to serve others. Multiple studies have shown that giving to others creates joy in our lives. For example, donating all of your maternity items to a shelter for single mothers may make it easier to part with those pregnancy items and turn a chapter in your own life.
5. It rejuvenates and organizes connections in your brain!
Organizing tasks can be helpful with young, developing brains to aging brains. They have been found to be especially beneficial in people who have processing disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder. During treatment, giving tasks of organization under a timed variable will improve ability to recall and process information in the brain. Studies are also showing that aging brains can also benefit from organization skills. Organizational tasks allow a person to feel in control in their environment and give an overall sense of accomplishment.
Have you ever decided to keep a pile of clothes/items because you may need it for some moment in the future? Do you tell yourself, “I’ll wear that outfit once I get down that 15lbs” or “maybe someday I’ll need it for some future project?”. It is good to surround yourself with items that serve and support you in the moment. We may be afraid to part with a specific period in our lives and release the connection we have with the item. How do we find ways to separate ourselves from our things? Check out the Marie Kondo KonMari Philosophy that pulls every item into a room and then asks “does this item spark joy?” She introduces a way to rid yourself of items that are not serving a specific purpose.
What if it feels too overwhelming?
Start small! Maybe begin with one drawer. Most experts will recommend removing all items from the space and then examining each item separately. You can make three piles, keep/donate/throw-away. If this process causes significant distress and anxiety/fear, you may need additional support. Maybe you have the means to hire a personal organizer? There are also specialists that will assist using cognitive behavioral therapy techniques and personal home visits to ease the process. Many times, past trauma could be at the source of your fear and inability to let go.
Quarantine may be the best time to re-evaluate the items that surround you. Use this time to feel more at home in your environment and cultivate happiness and balance in your life.
Life Lessons Learned While Pruning Roses
I would argue that there really is no better scent than a fresh garden rose. I am fortunate that the entire front of our house is lined with rose bushes, and I have the opportunity to smell fresh roses throughout the year.
I have to admit, however, when we first moved in, I was quite intimidated by them.
I have always had an affinity to roses. My grandmother had a rose garden in her backyard. She lived alone and enjoyed looking out at her yard and admiring the roses blossoming. When she passed away, our family transplanted her rose bushes to my uncle’s home. He created a special garden specifically to house her plants and playfully named it “Gramms’s Garden”. Often I will notice a flowering bud in my yard that appears so unique, like she’s trying to send me some secret message and watching over me. My best friend and I frequently talk about our life in retirement, arranging florals and living this zen, relaxed lifestyle. She recently has turned these thoughts into a new passion project. She is currently building an urban flower farm that is highlighting the garden rose, and I could not be more proud of her.
I have never been one to have a “green thumb”. I grew up in the Midwest where you could literally drop a plant into a hole and be successful with the fertile soil. I have tried gardening in Arizona on several different occasions. The first was in college, where I used my lab chemistry skills to measure pH, salt levels, mineral levels and thought I would try to balance the normally acidic Arizona soil- that did not turn out well. I had another opportunity when a patient offered to share a garden plan to create a polycultural organic garden. I thought I had all of the tools, but ended up with worms, some random fungal infection (not me, the plants) and still no homegrown food.
So how would I care for multiple rose bushes in my new home? They seemed so harsh and the branches so thick, quite intimidating to a novice pruner. Did they need a special diet? How do I start? I asked my friends for their opinions, bought a book about pruning (but could not find my varietal) and did multiple online searches. Finally after speaking with a friend’s mother who said, “just listen to your instincts, the plant will show you what it needs”, I got started.
To my surprise, I enjoyed the process. Even more surprising, I found that pruning roses taught me a lot about life.
Lesson #1
Just get started. So many times we shuffle our feet before taking that first leap into an adventure or opportunity. We hesitate, we reconsider, we worry, we think of every reason to not start, but if we can just take that first step, the path begins.
Lesson #2
Flowers do not grow well on busy plants- keep it simple. When you allow many branches to stem off a bush, the branches will compete for attention, and the result will be less flowers and an aggressive, complicated bush. The same goes for our lifestyle. When we have so many things going on in our lives, we limit our ability to “flower” in one area. We need to trim back the extra, so we can allow our true passions and dreams to grow uninhibited.
Lesson #3
Be prepared to pivot. Whenever a rose flowers, that entire stem will die and you must trim off the entire stem or “cane” for a new branch to continue to grow. The plant will literally pivot and grow perpendicular from the previous dead flower. We can see this in life. When one opportunity or relationship comes to an end, we must be able to pivot and move forward to find our path, even if that area of our life was previously so beautiful. I have seen this a lot with changes in health. Many times something changes drastically and dramatically. We must deliberately pivot to find our new course.
Lesson #4
Learn from your past, but keep moving forward. Pruning rose bushes tells a story. It tells you what has worked and what does not. Learn from those mistakes and keep moving forward. You all remember the definition of insanity???…
Lesson #5
Regular self-care is vital to keeping yourself healthy. I have to admit, this year after having my third baby, my roses were not a priority. I waited months and months before pruning and have had, as a result, a far less flower yield this spring. Keeping yourself on a regular self-care schedule, will keep you vibrant.
Lesson #6
Recognize the problem and fix the root of the problem early, to avoid having to deal with a mess later. If you start to get off-track in life, or develop a problem with your health or relationships, “Nip it in the bud”!
Lesson #7
Finally, remember the most beautiful flowers grow from the most harsh stems. You have to get through those rough times to reveal the beauty ahead. It is so worth the wait- do not give up!
“We need to trim back the “extra”, so we can allow our true passions and dreams to grow uninhibited. ”