Many people associate a woman’s beauty with her hair. And for that matter, many people associate a man’s health and wellness by the thickness and health of his hair

That is why so many people want beautiful and healthy hair. Unfortunately for women, it can be quite difficult to grow hair out of you are unaware of the ways to make your hair grow longer, faster.

OK, ladies…here are five effective ways to grow hair fast!

1. Massaging your scalp and hair with natural oils such as olive and coconut oil speeds up hair growth. Natural oils are very good for the hair and scalp. Not only do oils help increase hair growth but also it improves hair texture.
2. Use high quality moisturizing shampoo and conditioner makes hair grow faster. Hair needs a considerable amount of moisture. If your hair is not properly moisturized it will not grow quickly.
3. Maintaining a healthy diet provides hair with the vitamins and minerals that it needs in order to grow quickly 4. Trimming your hair regularly helps to get rid of split ends and maintain shape. When hair is growing, it can start to look uneven without a trim.
5. Cleansing the scalp prevents the build up which stops hair from growing. A healthy clean scalp produces healthy hair.

Overall, growing hair faster is easy. All you ladies have to do is follow these five easy steps to grow hair longer, faster.

Let’s face it, you put so much time, effort, and money into your skin’s appearance, why not put the same time and attention into your hair??

(c) 2012 Total Social Solutions.

We are all busy….right??

When it comes to getting and staying in shape, it is not always possible to hit the gym whenever you need to get some physical activity in to your routine.

To help this, here are three great exercises you can do at home to make up for those times and situations when you are stuck inside of your home. Whether the weather has you snowed in or if you are home caring for a sick child, you can still find ways to get some exercise in, even while at home.

The first is to use your stairs. If you have stairs in your home, find reasons to walk and jog up and down the stairs. If you want to make the exercise more challenging, carry items such as laundry as you go.

The second way to exercise at home is to clean. Getting on your hands and knees to scrub floors, reaching high and far to dust and clean windows and really using some elbow grease to clean your home will have you getting both your house and your body in shape.

The third way to get some physical activity in at home is to get up and walk. You can walk or jog in place, just about anywhere in your home. In fact, if you have a favorite television show, use that time to walk, jog and jump in from of the television so not only are you up and moving, you are also passing the time by catching up on your favorite show at the same time.

Getting the blood pumping has all sorts of benefits, including detoxifying the body and purifying your skin’s appearance.

So try one of these three at-home exercises today!

(c) 2012 Total Social Solutions.

Common moles are usually smaller than the width of a pencil eraser, or about ¼ inch in diameter. A common mole is either round or oval and has a smooth surface. Often common moles are dome-shaped on top, but they may be flat to the skin surrounding them. This type of mole is pink, tan or a shade of brown from a very light color to a very dark brown or black color.

If you have a mole that changes color it may be developing into melanoma. Moles with two different colors denote a change that needs to be seen by a doctor. If a mole changes in size by growing bigger or smaller suddenly and into an uneven shape that is not circular or oval, it is time for a doctor’s checkup.

Moles may change in height by getting taller from the skin or have a scaly texture. These changes signify the need for professional help. When moles become very hard or feel as they have lumps in them, they could be turning into melanoma. Consult with a physician if your moles are very itchy or they ooze fluid or start to bleed.

Basically, any change in a common mole signifies the need to see a doctor to make certain that you are not contracting skin cancer. Melanoma is a serious skin cancer that if left untreated can spread to your lungs, bones, liver and to your brain. Measuring and observing your common moles at least once a month will keep you advised of the changes they incur so you can visit a doctor at the first sign of change.

Bottom line is that any mole that looks all all irregular should be taken seriously, and you should consult with your dermatologist. Annual skin checks are a great way to make sure that ‘hidden’ moles on your back and other hard to see places are not problematic.

(c) 2012 Total Social Solutions.

Chemical peels are used to reduce the appearance of acne scars, pigmentation, lines, and wrinkles. The skin treatment can be used on the face, neck, and chest. Chemical peels are true to their name in that the treatment uses chemicals to peel away the top layer of skin.

The skin has a natural exfoliating tendency in which old skin cells fall off and new, healthy ones are exposed. Applying a chemical peel begins the process of breaking down the bonds between skin cells on the top layer. This mimics, but speeds up, the process of natural exfoliation.

As the chemical peel is removed, the skin cells are sloughed off. This reveals the new cells, which are encouraged to rejuvenate themselves in order to heal the skin. This makes the skin appear smooth, healthy, and younger than before. However, some may experience continue peeling for some time after the treatment.

By removing the top layer of skin, the treatment is effective in reducing imperfections in the skin. As the new cells work to replace the old, the appearance of unwanted marks on the skin begins to fade. More than one treatment is often required to achieve the desired results. Alpha-hydroxy acid, or AHA, is commonly found in over the counter treatments. Other chemicals used include phenol, glycolic acid, and trichloroacetic acid.

(c) 2012 Total Social Solutions.

Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition. Besides inflammation, there are other symptoms of eczema which include redness of the skin and itching. An outbreak of lesions that can become scaly is another symptom to look for. Eczema is not a contagious disease.

A Dermatologist can prescribe different treatment plans, depending on the individual. The severity of the condition is taken into consideration, as well as the type of eczema that the patient has. Patients with this skin condition tend to need more than one treatment plan and most need to make certain lifestyle changes in order to treat their issues.

The goal of the Dermatologist is to control inflammation, redness, itching and scaling that are all symptoms of eczema. Prescribed treatments may include making sure the skin stays hydrated, and avoiding over bathing. Ointments are used to help with symptoms that consist of a low water-high oil content. Corticosteroid creams are sometimes prescribed to patients to treat inflammation. Antihistamines are prescribed for patients with severe itching.

In certain cases, an oral corticosteroid medication is given but it is not recommended for long time usage. Two topical creams have been approved by the Federal Drug Administration. These creams are called tacrolimus and pimecrolimus. These two topical creams belong to an immune suppressant group. Only a Dermatologist can determine if a patient has eczema, or another skin condition.

You should consult your dermatologist right away if you suspect that you have this skin condition.

(c) 2012 Total Social Solutions.

It seems that everyone wants to grow older, but no one enjoys appearing to be her actual age.

While hair can be colored and wardrobes can be updated to make one look younger, a person’s skin can often let out the secret of carefully concealed maturity. Covering up unhealthy skin with cosmetics is not the best solution for a more youthful appearance. Maintaining healthy skin from a young age is imperative if one wants to keep drinking from the proverbial fountain of youth.

Protecting skin from the sun, eating a healthful diet and abstaining from smoking can subtract years from skin. However, there are also vitamins available to aid in keeping skin flawless after 40 and beyond. Vitamin A seems to be an all-around great maintainer of skin. It strengthens and repairs skin as well as prevents dry skin, acne and wrinkles.

Vitamin C has a reputation to help the immune system, but it also heals wounded skin. Another way to speed healing due to sun damage is taking Vitamin E supplements.

Skin tone is greatly improved by Vitamin B consumption. Stress causes many skin problems such as eczema, and this vitamin is known to reduce stress. Healing processes and immune function are also aided by zinc supplementation.

While outside exposure to age-inducing agents should be avoided, inner consumption of healthful vitamin supplements is essential to a complete anti-aging skin regimen. Adding a few supplements to an otherwise healthy diet can ensure healthful skin even as the years advance.

(c) 2012 Total Social Solutions.

Many people shampoo their hair daily as part of their normal shower routine. For most of them this is unnecessary. Washing too frequently can make hair dull looking and uncooperative. Unless you’re working with extremely oily hair, every other day should be sufficient. African-Americans and those with curly hair could easily go even longer between washings.

The harsh detergents in many shampoos are notorious for stripping the hair of its natural oils, called sebum. These oils are what give hair its healthy-looking shine. Lathering up too often leads to hair that looks and feels dried out and lifeless.

It’s more important to wash hair properly than to wash it frequently. Before shampooing, the hair should be thoroughly saturated. With a small amount of product massage the scalp. This is where dirt collects, so the scalp is where effort needs to be concentrated. Once that is accomplished, the remainder of the shampoo can be rinsed out. The hair itself receives enough cleansing just from the soap running over it.

Condition once the hair is clean. A small amount applied to the ends is all that’s needed. Over-conditioning closer to the scalp can cause hair to lay flat and even appear greasy. The ends are where breakage occurs, so any conditioning should be concentrated there.

How much is too much shampooing? There’s no answer to satisfy everyone. Experimentation is vital. But it’s clear that at least in the case of shampooing, sometimes less really is more.

(c) 2012 Total Social Solutions, LLC All rights reserved.

For those of you who were not born with plump, luscious lips, there are many options available that can help you get those amazing lips you have always wanted. From simple makeup products to cosmetic surgery, various treatments are available to help aide you in achieving to-die-for lips.
The process of creating luscious lips begins with simple skin care. Exfoliating your lips can help remove dead skin cells and make you lips appear smoother. Next, applying a simply moisturizer, such as Vaseline or lip balm, can create a smooth canvas for lip color application. If you simply do not have natural, full lips, there are a couple of makeup techniques that work in creating the elusion that you do. Choosing an iridescent lip color and using a brush for application can also make lips appear fuller.Using a lip liner to gently line the edge of your lips and smudging it with a cotton swab can help lips look fuller. Finally, applying a bit of tinted or clear gloss in the center of your bottom lip will complete the look.
If these makeup tricks simply do not work for you, the best option for achieving luscious lips is through temporary makeup application or fillers. Temporary fillers offer individuals a quick solution for thin lips and can enhance lip fullness within minutes.
There are lots of options out there for you to look your best!

(c) 2012 Total Social Solutions, LLC All rights reserved.

Your skin is the largest organ of your body and responsible for maintaining temperature, fighting off viruses and holding in your other organs. This is a lot of stress to place on a single organ, but your skin tends to take this in stride. Chronic levels of stress however can lead to skin problems like inflammation, itching and compromised immunity. Even if you don’t necessarily realize that you are being exposed to stress your body, including your skin, can react to hormonal changes caused by stress. One of the best ways to decrease your body’s reaction to stress is to exercise regularly. This can have several effects that can help make your skin look and feel healthier.

Chronic stress causes your body’s endocrine system to release hormones such as cortisol. Over time, chronically high levels of these hormones cause problems like an overproduction of sebum from the follicles of your skin. This can clog pores when combined with dead skin cells, causing acne and skin inflammation. Exercise naturally decreases levels of stress hormones, both during and after the actual workout. Inflamed skin and other skin conditions caused by chronically high stress hormone levels can also deplete your body’s immunity. As a result, you become more susceptible to illness and even minor cuts or breaks in your skin may take longer than normal to heal.

Exercise isn’t simply a good way to lose or maintain your weight, it can also improve your skin’s appearance. When combined with a program that includes a healthy diet and drinking plenty of water, exercise can improve your mood, reduce your risk of chronic illness and encourages you to sweat. Sweating is beneficial because it helps to regulate your temperature but it also forces waste products from the follicles of your skin out and away from your body.

If you have any questions about the effects of stress on your skin, call our office to make an appointment

(c) 2012 Total Social Solutions, LLC All rights reserved.

Getting enough sleep each night is important in order to keep skin looking great, keep body weight in check and have the energy to do the tasks planned for each day. Those who have trouble fall asleep or staying asleep often turn to unhealthy pills, which can be both addictive and problematic in the future. Instead, consider these calming, soothing tips to help anyone fall asleep faster and wake up feeling rested.

Unplug for the Night: Many men and women have trouble sleeping well thanks to constant beeps and buzzes from their electronic or communication devices. Turn off any phones or computers each night, which will be helpful in relaxing. In addition, the lack of blinking lights can help people to fall asleep faster.

Exercise: Those who exercise during the day are able to sleep better at night. Even a short 20 minute power walk in the morning can play a role in helping tired women fall asleep faster each night. However, some people report that working out directly before bedtime prevents them from feeling tired, so avoid late night exercise if possible.

Avoid Stimulant Drinks Before Bed: Few people can deny that sipping a caffeinated beverage before bed has an adverse effect on the quality of sleep for the night. Keep in mind that caffeine is best avoided for several hours prior to sleeping. While alcohol is sometimes suggested as a way to cause tiredness before bed, in reality the alcohol disrupts sleep throughout the night and causes people to wake up in the morning feeling unrested.

Use Relaxation Techniques: Each individual can use different techniques to help them relax before bedtime. Some enjoy a warm bath, hot cup of decaffeinated tea or even a few pages of a novel.

By utilizing these tips each evening, it will be easier to fall asleep each evening, stay asleep all night, and wake up feeling rested.

(c) 2012 Total Social Solutions, LLC All rights reserved.