Skin Perfection - Center for Aesthetics

Today’s message actually was written by Karl Benzio, MD, director of the Lighthouse Network in Chalfont, PA in his morning newsletter … so I thought you’d enjoy his insights.

“Today’s message is focused on those parents who are sending their children off to college over the next few weeks, and a little memory lane for those that who crossed this Stepping Stone in their life’s growth path.

The moment, that moment where you say goodbye to the child you are dropping off at college for the first time, will get burned into your minds forever.  It was in mine.

We have taken this child from diapers to diploma… been the primary influence in their lives…so many celebrations…some times of sadness and hurt…being involved in most details of their lives….many fears and surprises filling our memory banks.  We want to protect them from so many dangers and hurts…save them from the wrong turns we took.  Concerned they won’t have a protector or advocate like us around anymore. During those two decades you have seen your child change so much.

But now it’s your turn to change. The love for your child when he or she leaves home stays pretty constant…but the way you will interact with your child will be drastically different. As you shift roles, be quick to listen and slow to speak. Listen instead of lecture. Begin to create a relationship that fosters communication.  Listening first shows you respect them, are giving their ideas and views honor and dignity, are interested and care, and understand that this particular issue is important to them.  Listening builds a bridge from your island to theirs (even though the geographical distance is growing) so you can send the important information you want them to hear.

Today, as you make this transition, try and forget about the litany of “who, what, when” interrogation techniques you have relied on since your child became a teenager. Shift your focus now to a more faith based approach. Try praying more. Try an inquiry with your child like: “How would you like me to be praying for you today?” Remember, they have an advocate and protector more powerful, skilled, and with better access to God than we ever could dream of doing ourselves.

If your kids are adults, never to late to employ this strategy.  If they are younger, never to early to start.”

Karl Benzio, MD

Yes, he comes from a spiritual mindset … but then don’t we all when faced with life’s milestones?  I well recall how devastated I was … especially driving away and leaving my firstborn, my son, at college … by himself.

I realized all I could do was to surrender him to a higher power who would function in my place.  I’d done my work — now it was up to him and the person he’d become.

Turned out fine — they do return you know.  Then marriage and children — MY grandchildren — a whole paradigm shift.

So, you’ve done your work … trust that it was enough and he or she is in good hands.

And if you pray … surround you child with prayers and love.

You won’t regret it.

Best,

James C. Fairfield, MD FAAD

My clients often ask me if I can recommend changes they can make to their lifestyles to promote and maintain youthfulness. Here’s what I tell them. If you make just one change in 2009, let it be to achieve proper hydration on a daily basis.

There are several reasons why I feel so strongly that clients need to drink enough water.

For one, our bodies require water to keep things functioning smoothly; things like getting waste products out of our cells and vitamins and nutrients into them. Over time, this extends our cells’ working lives and fights aging.

For my clients who are looking for weight loss, the news is even better. Water is a great metabolism booster, which means it allows the body to easily clear toxins associated with fat breakdown.

And there’s another, more immediate reason to make sure you drink enough water. Hydrated cells are plump cells, so the more water we have in our cells, the more youthful our skin looks. In fact, one of the basic tests for dehydration is to check for “skin tenting” by pinching and releasing some skin on the back of your hand. If it instantly pulls back into place, chances are you have a water bottle or a cup of tea within arm’s reach.

If you don’t, however, keep reading for four tips to help you stay hydrated:

Make it easy to hydrate. Use common sense. The best rule of thumb is to be aware of the quality of the water you’re consuming, and to make sure that awareness isn’t keeping you away from the tap. Consider buying a pitcher filter or using a water delivery service if that will help you feel good about drinking plenty of water. And, don’t shy away from other liquids in your quest for hydration. With the exception of alcohol, all liquids, and even many of the foods you consume, are going to contribute to your overall level of hydration including coffee and tea. While it’s true caffeine has a diuretic effect, at least half of the caffeinated fluids you drink will reach your tissues.

Create hydration habits. Establish habits with regard to drinking, such as drinking a tall glass of water when you first wake.  Buy a sturdy water bottle to carry with you. If you tend to eat due to boredom or nerves, try drinking water instead. And of course, remember to drink plenty of fluids whenever you’re exercising.

Make sure you’re getting enough. The typical advice to drink eight glasses of water per day often overwhelms my clients and may not even be necessary. So how do you know how much water to drink? Well, pay more attention to output than input! To make sure you’re getting enough water, just watch your pee. If it smells strong or is darker than a pale yellow, you need to drink more fluids. Other signs of dehydration include headaches and fatigue. In fact, one of the best ways to boost your energy and stamina is to drink more water!

Tap into the hydrating powers of hyaluronic acid. Back when you were a baby, your skin was bursting with hyaluronic acid, a water-binding compound that’s crucial to maintaining the skin’s volume and preventing dryness and wrinkling. And while hyaluronic acid remains present in the middle layer of your skin throughout your life, it does so at decreasing levels as you age. In my office we rely on hydrating moisturizers that incorporate hyaluronic acid. We also offer Restylane® and Juvederm®, hyaluronic acid-containing fillers, to eliminate facial wrinkles and folds like those extending outward from the edges of the nose and down toward the mouth. Both topically and as an injection, hyaluronic acid helps keep the face looking fuller and more youthful.

So, why drink water? Because it’s the most direct way to get proper hydration — and that will get you a healthy body and youthful skin!

James C. Fairfield, MD has established the oldest and most respected dermatology practice in the Delaware Valley. For more free cosmetic dermatology information and resources, visit his web site at www.cmderm.com.