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Healthy Aging welcomes you to our interactive patient blog community. Written by physicians and health care professionals, the blogs will highlight news, legislation, research, events and candid observations related to the anti-aging field. Our experts will tell you what works, what doesn't, how to prevent disease and whether you can truly slow the aging process. Voice your opinions and submit feedback to the bloggers through the comment section.
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It must just be human nature, this tendency to judge other people's motives and decisions. Certainly, it is defensible when the actions of others affect might us, but there seems to be no end of interest in who has had plastic surgery, or who might, and why. So this installment of the "who-what-why-when-where" series is the "who."

Plastic surgeons themselves are at least partly to blame, presumably because any interest ...


 
November 18, 2009 2:53 PM by Melissa Bogle of MD Expertise: Skin & Beauty

Just over one year ago, the United States FDA announced the approval of Evolence, a second-generation collagen filler derived from a porcine (pig) source. The product had a favorable safety profile and a steadily growing fan base among both patients and physicians due to a decreased incidence of post-procedure bruising and swelling. It has been used in other countries as far back as 2004.

Earlier this month, ...


 
November 18, 2009 12:47 PM by Gene Bruno of Smart Supplementation

To answer the title question, let us begin with an explanation of bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is a chemical produced in large quantities for use primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics have many applications including use in some food and drink packaging (e.g., water and infant bottles), compact discs, impact-resistant safety equipment, and medical devices. Epoxy ...

 
November 10, 2009 10:23 AM by Melissa Bogle of MD Expertise: Skin & Beauty

One of the easiest things a person can do to take 10 years off their appearance is to whiten their teeth.   Teeth naturally come in a range of colors from white to yellow or grey, but ...


 
November 10, 2009 10:08 AM by Richard Baxter of MD Expertise: The Science of Anti-Aging

Given that I have been practicing it for nearly twenty years, I thought I knew what plastic surgery was. But lately I'm not so sure what others mean by it; stories in the news routinely lump every Botox injection in with 12-hour major makeover surgeries together under plastic surgery's banner. So this installment of the "who-what-why-when-where series" is the "what."

Plastic surgery is defined differently ...


 
November 9, 2009 10:31 AM by Gene Bruno of Smart Supplementation

In order to answer this question fairly, we must first agree upon the definition of what constitutes a natural vitamin.

Definitions of natural

Some would choose to define a natural vitamin based upon its source. In this instance, the definition of a natural vitamin would be, "Vitamins provided from food or plant sources."  In this case, the vitamin C found in a fresh ...


 
November 2, 2009 12:13 PM by Gene Bruno of Smart Supplementation

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a bright yellow, ancient spice and a traditional remedy that has been used as a medicine, condiment and flavoring based on records dating back to 600 BCE.  Turmeric's natural curcuminoid content inhibits 5-lipo-oxygenase (LOX) and cyclo-oxygenase (COX), resulting in a healthy inflammatory response (Chandra 1972; Arora 1971; Mukhopadhyay 1982). 

Protects ...


 
November 2, 2009 11:09 AM by Melissa Bogle of MD Expertise: Skin & Beauty

Dermal fillers are an increasingly popular form of non-invasive surgery to restore volume and improve the contour of the aging face.  With most of the currently available fillers, the process is about the same.  A physician injects the filler substance into an individual line or region of the face that needs plumping.  After a little molding to smooth out any bumps, the patient is on their way.

In ...


2 comments  
October 28, 2009 1:01 PM by Melissa Bogle of MD Expertise: Skin & Beauty

Fall is always one of my favorite times of the year.  The leaves are changing, the holidays are just around the corner and my local coffee shop is serving up Pumpkin Lattes.  To get into the spirit, pumpkins can be used to make a homemade mask tailored to almost any skin type.

Pumpkins are naturally high in vitamins A, C, and zinc.  Vitamin A helps to gently dissolve dead skin cells, vitamin C acts ...


 

 

By all accounts, the coming flu season is going to be a doozy unless we all get our H1N1 vaccination soon. There's always the plain old cold too of course. I can never remember whether we are supposed to starve a cold and feed a fever or the other way around, but new findings suggest that regardless of the symptoms, respiratory viruses can be kept at bay by drinking wine.

It's not as far-fetched ...


1 comments  
October 26, 2009 9:08 AM by Gene Bruno of Smart Supplementation

Excess body fat around the waist (abdominal and visceral fat; "having an apple shape") is not only undesirable from a cosmetic/fitness standpoint, but it can also be characteristic of metabolic syndrome-a cluster of conditions that occur together, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes[i]-which ...


 
October 21, 2009 8:23 AM by Melissa Bogle of MD Expertise: Skin & Beauty

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  As breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, patients should be aware of skin changes on or around the breast that may be a sign of breast cancer.

Breast cancer occurs when abnormal cells start to grow in one or both breasts and invade the surrounding tissue.  Important things to look for include a reddish discoloration ...


 
October 19, 2009 10:16 AM by Gene Bruno of Smart Supplementation

D-limonene a major constituent of several citrus oils (orange, lemon, mandarin, lime, and grapefruit), and is listed in the Code of Federal Regulations as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for a flavoring agent that can be found in common food items such as fruit juices, soft drinks, baked goods, ice cream, and pudding [1-2]. In addition, d-limonene has some specific medicinal properties for human health, ...


 

You might think that because of awareness campaigns and earnest research on the causes and treatment of breast cancer, women would have a good sense of what their options are these days. To be sure, it's not a happy thing to dwell on, and anyone hearing the word "cancer" from their doctor for the first time has a hard time hearing anything ...


 
October 12, 2009 2:49 PM by Gene Bruno of Smart Supplementation

Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) occurs naturally in the body. Carnitines (amino acids) produced in the body exist as a "carnitine pool" consisting of L-carnitine and several acetyl-carnitine esters. Intracellular enzymes and cell membrane transporters can rapidly interconvert the carnitines to the needed form and transport them between the tissues and extracellular space. ALC, the most important carnitine ester, is ...


 
October 6, 2009 8:55 AM by Gene Bruno of Smart Supplementation

When you think of dietary supplements for the joints and arthritis, chances are that you're thinking of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate--which makes sense since there is good research to support the use of these nutraceuticals for this purpose.  What many people don't know, however, is that there are other nutraceuticals which also can be used effectively for arthritis.  Three of these are hyaluronic ...


 

Patients often spend enormous efforts to find the right surgeon, but may give little thought to where the surgery is to be done. 

Complications can occur for a variety of reasons, and whenever there is a high-profile disaster, such as the death of rapper Kanye West's mother Donda last year, legislators and regulators clamor to show that they are on top of the situation.

Several states have passed ...


 
September 28, 2009 3:00 PM by Gene Bruno of Smart Supplementation

Methylsenocysteine (MSC) is a relatively simple organic selenium compound formed naturally in various plants, including garlic, wild leeks, onions and broccoli grown on high selenium soil.[1] It is the preferred form of selenium for a few different reasons. First, for the past 15 years or so, selenium ...


 
September 21, 2009 3:16 PM by Melissa Bogle of MD Expertise: Skin & Beauty

Like watching a good movie, I laughed and I cried when I read a recent editorial published in a college newspaper by the manager of a tanning salon extolling the virtues of indoor tanning (http://breezejmu.org/2009/09/03/some-sunny-perspective/).  I thought it deserved a professional response.

The tanning ...


 
September 21, 2009 12:33 PM by Gene Bruno of Smart Supplementation

In analyzing hundreds of articles published over three decades, researchers have concluded that current recommendations for vitamin K are not being met, which may place people at increased risk accelerated bone fragility, arterial and kidney calcification, cardiovascular disease, and possibly cancer.[1]

Although ...


 
September 14, 2009 11:13 AM by Gene Bruno of Smart Supplementation

In order to answer this question fairly, we must first agree upon the definition of what constitutes a natural vitamin.

Definitions of natural

Some would choose to define a natural vitamin based upon its source. In this instance, the definition of a natural vitamin would be, "Vitamins provided from food or plant sources."  In this case, the vitamin C found in a fresh ...


 
September 10, 2009 3:58 PM by Richard Baxter of MD Expertise: The Science of Anti-Aging

People are more open about having "a little work done" than they used to be, no doubt about it. But there are still those who feel the need to share only with friends and co-workers on their own terms and not have it broadcasted through the gossip grapevine. Unfortunately, you can't always count on others to be discreet and respect your privacy. So is there a middle ground?

You will be helped by choosing a ...


 
September 10, 2009 1:55 PM by Melissa Bogle of MD Expertise: Skin & Beauty

Medical lasers have become increasingly common over the last two decades, mostly for cosmetic and dermatologic indications.  As their use becomes more widespread, it is natural for scientists to develop novel ways to harness the technology.  ...


 
September 8, 2009 10:39 AM by Gene Bruno of Smart Supplementation

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a bright yellow, ancient spice and a traditional remedy that has been used as a medicine, condiment and flavoring based on records dating back to 600 BCE.  The rhizome (underground stem) is the part of the plant used, and its key constituents include curcumin and essential oils (p-tolymethylcarbinol). Its health value is essentially due to its curcumin content.  ...


 
August 31, 2009 9:28 AM by Gene Bruno of Smart Supplementation

In 1999, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially recognized the cholesterol-lowering effects of soy protein, but allowing a new health claim which stated that 25 grams of soy protein per day may reduce the risk of heart disease. Now, in a new study published in the Journal of Nutrition, researchers have found that in increased intakes of soy protein may reduce cholesterol levels in people with type-2 ...


 

ABOUT OUR BLOGS

Nutritionist and author Gene Bruno, MS, MHS, explores the science behind dietary supplements in order separate the facts from the marketing hype.

Science has revealed intriguing possibilities that can slow down aging. This blog will explore options to slow the clock down beyond just counteracting the effects of gravity on the skin.

Skin and Beauty combines Dr. Melissa Bogle's expertise and in-depth knowledge of dermatology and cosmetic procedures with the latest anti-aging and medical technology.