Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Review: 180 Cosmetics Pure Swiss Hyaluronic Acid Serum + Vitamin C
With my 37th birthday right around the corner, I have been looking for ways to keep wrinkles from creeping their way onto my face. There are an overwhelming amount of product available and all claim to be the next Fountain of Youth. I, up until recently, only use a light weight moisturizer with sunscreen as my beauty regime. As I will soon be 40-3, as my husband loves to point out, I decided I need to step up my game so that I don't start looking 40+3. This why I was excited to try 180 Cosmetics Pure Swiss Hyaluronic Acid Serum + Vitamin C.
Hyaluronic acid is found naturally in almost every cell in our bodies but it's largest concentrations are found in our skin tissue. It provides continuous moisture to our skin. When we are young, our skin is smooth and elastic due to the large concentration of hyaluronic acid. As we get older, we start to produce less which means our skin loses moisture.
I get dry skin on my face frequently so I was excited to try the serum to see if it helped. Following the products directions, I place 5 drops of the serum in the palm of my hand. I then applied small amounts of the serum to each area of my face, avoiding the eyes, and massaged it in circular motions. I then let it fully absorb and dry and then apply my moisturizer.
At first I really didn't notice a change in my skin. A little after a week though I noticed that I hadn't seen any dry patches on my face like I used to get. I was ecstatic! Having dry skin and wearing foundation isn't a pretty combo, the dryness is extremely noticeable and often looks scaly. Another change I noticed was that my face felt softer to the touch, I assume this can be attributed to the extra moisture in my skin. One thing I was worried about was the serum causing my skin to break out. I have always had problems with acne and in the past some skin care products, for whatever reason, have caused my skin to freak out. This, thankfully,was not an issue. If anything I feel like my acne has gotten better. I will definitely continue using 180 Cosmetics Pure Swiss Hyaluronic Serum + Vitamin C. I loved the results I saw!
** I was provided the product for free for the purpose of my review. No compensation was offered. This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions ate my own and are completely unbiased.**
Thursday, May 30, 2013
ADHD X 2
I recently posted a guest post on ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) & ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). Upon posting the article I decided to share my own struggles with ADHD in my household. I have two children with moderate and severe ADHD. My oldest was diagnosed in Kindergarten and my youngest will be going through the evaluation in August but I already know what is going to be determined because I've already been through it.
I knew when my daughter was 3 that there was something very off with her behavior. I know, every child goes through the "terrible twos" but this was different. From birth she was a very hyper stimulated child and had severe colic when she was an infant. The tantrums continued into toddler years and progressively got worse, horrific and constant. They often ended with both of us in tears and me feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. When she was 3 I reached out to the local Area Education Agency to have her evaluated and they deemed her "spirited" and handed me a book about time outs. Really?! You don't think I tried that? It wasn't until she was 5 and in Kindergarten causing major problems in the classroom that they were finally saying what I knew all along- she had ADHD and needed medication.
A lot of people knock the ADHD diagnosis and parents who medicate. They're usually the people whose children don't have ADHD. They don't realize that it doesn't just affect the child who has it, but it affects the entire family, and it affects other people's children in the classroom. When a child with ADHD is present everything tends to be very chaotic and disruptive and usually the teacher has to spend a great deal of time trying to wrangle that one child under control every day, all day.
Medicating my daughter was a tough decision but one I don't regret at all. She's now 13 and flourishing in school, she was on A/B honor roll the last two years! The medication works so well that I can tell within 5 minutes of being around her whether she has taken her pill or not. It's like night and day difference.
My youngest's story is very similar but his is more severe than my daughter's was. We knew about the age of 18 months that there was a problem. We actually had him evaluated for Autism and other spectrum disorders because of his behavior. While we don't have a definite diagnosis yet, I know that it will be ADHD.
Being a mom to two children with ADHD isn't easy and there are a lot of stigmas that you have to fight between the schools, other parents, and usually anyone with an opinion. The key to keeping your sanity and helping your child is finding a really good doctor and being open and honest with teachers and other parents. People seem to be less cruel and more understanding when you tell them what the issues are and that you want to be informed of any concerns immediately.
I knew when my daughter was 3 that there was something very off with her behavior. I know, every child goes through the "terrible twos" but this was different. From birth she was a very hyper stimulated child and had severe colic when she was an infant. The tantrums continued into toddler years and progressively got worse, horrific and constant. They often ended with both of us in tears and me feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. When she was 3 I reached out to the local Area Education Agency to have her evaluated and they deemed her "spirited" and handed me a book about time outs. Really?! You don't think I tried that? It wasn't until she was 5 and in Kindergarten causing major problems in the classroom that they were finally saying what I knew all along- she had ADHD and needed medication.
A lot of people knock the ADHD diagnosis and parents who medicate. They're usually the people whose children don't have ADHD. They don't realize that it doesn't just affect the child who has it, but it affects the entire family, and it affects other people's children in the classroom. When a child with ADHD is present everything tends to be very chaotic and disruptive and usually the teacher has to spend a great deal of time trying to wrangle that one child under control every day, all day.
Medicating my daughter was a tough decision but one I don't regret at all. She's now 13 and flourishing in school, she was on A/B honor roll the last two years! The medication works so well that I can tell within 5 minutes of being around her whether she has taken her pill or not. It's like night and day difference.
My youngest's story is very similar but his is more severe than my daughter's was. We knew about the age of 18 months that there was a problem. We actually had him evaluated for Autism and other spectrum disorders because of his behavior. While we don't have a definite diagnosis yet, I know that it will be ADHD.
Being a mom to two children with ADHD isn't easy and there are a lot of stigmas that you have to fight between the schools, other parents, and usually anyone with an opinion. The key to keeping your sanity and helping your child is finding a really good doctor and being open and honest with teachers and other parents. People seem to be less cruel and more understanding when you tell them what the issues are and that you want to be informed of any concerns immediately.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Guest Post: The Difference between ADD and ADHD by Valerie Johnston
The Difference between ADD and ADHD
Years ago, attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were lumped together into one condition. More recently, society has begun to recognize clear distinctions between the conditions, and, in fact, there are scientific bases for the differences between ADD and ADHD in individuals’ minds. Both can be extremely challenging for both the individual struggling with it and caretakers, teachers, coworkers, and friends, but the conditions come with distinct implications that separate
them from each other.
What Is ADD?
ADD used to be the term that was used to describe all individuals with inattentive behavior. Today, the term is more limited in its implications. Individuals with ADD struggle to pay attention to one thing for a long period of time. ADD can manifest itself in a number of forms, including fear, anxiety, procrastination, mental confusion, and the appearance of daydreaming. ADD occurs because of excessive levels of activity in certain parts of the brain. Individuals with this condition tend to focus on everything around them, making it very difficult for them to focus on one thing, specifically.
What Is ADHD?
ADHD involves a similar level of distraction, but the manifestation of this condition is slightly different in that the individual tends to be constantly on the move. Individuals with ADHD are more impulsive, tending to speak and act before they think. ADHD (like ADD) varies in the extent of its effects, but in general, people with ADHD tend to fidget and move constantly, in addition to talking excessively. In addition, because there is little self-talk, those with ADHD have difficulty regulating themselves and wind up acting inappropriately or out of turn.
Scientific Basis for ADD and ADHD
Rather than being a scientific way to describe a certain brand of “kids being kids,” ADD and ADHD actually develop from very real neurological conditions. To understand the science behind these conditions, it is first important to understand the role that each part of the brain plays. The parietal part of the brain is in charge of
processing information collected by the senses. The frontal lobe of the brain, meanwhile helps to organize information that comes in. These are the areas that are affected in cases of ADD and ADHD. (Two other sections—the occipital and temporal parts—are unaffected by these conditions.)In cases of ADD, the parietal part of the brain is the only section of the brain that contains abnormal amounts of activity. That means that while the frontal lobe functions normally (thereby integrating information effectively), the individual struggles in processing information that comes into the brain. In other words, they are able to put information to use, but they have difficulty sorting and processing it. Those with ADHD tend to have abnormal activity in both the parietal and frontal areas of the brain. This results in issues with both information collection and integration of material into everyday activity. The deficiency of activity that exists in the frontal lobe is directly related to low levels of two important neurotransmitters—dopamine and norepinephrine. The deficiencies, combined with low levels of serotonin, result in problems with arousal, alertness, and impulsive behavior.
Differences in Behavior
Because the conditions are chemically different, they manifest in a variety of different ways. Still, there also appear to be some similarities in the ultimate appearance of these conditions. On a basic level, easy distraction is the main problem for those with ADD. For those with ADHD, hyperactivity and difficulty in processing information are both major issues. The two conditions appear to intersect when it comes to the appearance of restlessness, but this comes about as the result of very different reasons: For those with ADD,
restlessness comes from anxiety, whereas those with ADHD are restless because of excessive motor activity.
Valerie Johnston is a health and fitness writer located in East Texas. With ambitions of one day running a marathon, writing for Healthline.com ensures she keeps up-to-date on ll of the latest health and fitness news.
Years ago, attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were lumped together into one condition. More recently, society has begun to recognize clear distinctions between the conditions, and, in fact, there are scientific bases for the differences between ADD and ADHD in individuals’ minds. Both can be extremely challenging for both the individual struggling with it and caretakers, teachers, coworkers, and friends, but the conditions come with distinct implications that separate
them from each other.
What Is ADD?
ADD used to be the term that was used to describe all individuals with inattentive behavior. Today, the term is more limited in its implications. Individuals with ADD struggle to pay attention to one thing for a long period of time. ADD can manifest itself in a number of forms, including fear, anxiety, procrastination, mental confusion, and the appearance of daydreaming. ADD occurs because of excessive levels of activity in certain parts of the brain. Individuals with this condition tend to focus on everything around them, making it very difficult for them to focus on one thing, specifically.
What Is ADHD?
ADHD involves a similar level of distraction, but the manifestation of this condition is slightly different in that the individual tends to be constantly on the move. Individuals with ADHD are more impulsive, tending to speak and act before they think. ADHD (like ADD) varies in the extent of its effects, but in general, people with ADHD tend to fidget and move constantly, in addition to talking excessively. In addition, because there is little self-talk, those with ADHD have difficulty regulating themselves and wind up acting inappropriately or out of turn.
Scientific Basis for ADD and ADHD
Rather than being a scientific way to describe a certain brand of “kids being kids,” ADD and ADHD actually develop from very real neurological conditions. To understand the science behind these conditions, it is first important to understand the role that each part of the brain plays. The parietal part of the brain is in charge of
processing information collected by the senses. The frontal lobe of the brain, meanwhile helps to organize information that comes in. These are the areas that are affected in cases of ADD and ADHD. (Two other sections—the occipital and temporal parts—are unaffected by these conditions.)In cases of ADD, the parietal part of the brain is the only section of the brain that contains abnormal amounts of activity. That means that while the frontal lobe functions normally (thereby integrating information effectively), the individual struggles in processing information that comes into the brain. In other words, they are able to put information to use, but they have difficulty sorting and processing it. Those with ADHD tend to have abnormal activity in both the parietal and frontal areas of the brain. This results in issues with both information collection and integration of material into everyday activity. The deficiency of activity that exists in the frontal lobe is directly related to low levels of two important neurotransmitters—dopamine and norepinephrine. The deficiencies, combined with low levels of serotonin, result in problems with arousal, alertness, and impulsive behavior.
Differences in Behavior
Because the conditions are chemically different, they manifest in a variety of different ways. Still, there also appear to be some similarities in the ultimate appearance of these conditions. On a basic level, easy distraction is the main problem for those with ADD. For those with ADHD, hyperactivity and difficulty in processing information are both major issues. The two conditions appear to intersect when it comes to the appearance of restlessness, but this comes about as the result of very different reasons: For those with ADD,
restlessness comes from anxiety, whereas those with ADHD are restless because of excessive motor activity.
Valerie Johnston is a health and fitness writer located in East Texas. With ambitions of one day running a marathon, writing for Healthline.com ensures she keeps up-to-date on ll of the latest health and fitness news.
Friday, January 25, 2013
Got Acne?
I have acne now at 34 worse than when I was a teen. When it's not broken out it's dry and flaky. I hate my skin!! I have tried numerous cleansers, toners, scrubs, and creams to combat my skin. I have also spent quite a bit of money on acne fighting weapons in a bottle, and sadly a lot of it was money wasted. I decided to do some research and found a lot of great tips on what to look for in products for acne prone skin!
The key is to prevent a bacteria breeding ground without changing your skin's chemistry. Find a gentle cleanser and toner formulated for sensitive skin. Avoid alcohol-based astringent which is way to harsh for the skin and will only suck the natural moisture right out of your skin.
Scrubbing away your acne is pointless! All scrubbing will do is irritate it, make the acne worse, and further dry out and damage your skin.
Look for products that have salicylic acid and glycolic acid. In the evening use products with a gel form of benzoyl peroxide or retinol. Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide can help remove dead skin cells and kill bacteria. Sometimes these can be too harsh for some skin in which case products with tea tree oil may be better for you. Products containing vitamin A or glycolic acid are great for reducing pore size and bacteria and oil on the skin. After washing and toning use a lightweight or water-based moisturizer. There are many affordable products on the market that contain all of the above ingredients so you don't have to fork out a ton of money on stuff that probably won't work anymore!
The key is to prevent a bacteria breeding ground without changing your skin's chemistry. Find a gentle cleanser and toner formulated for sensitive skin. Avoid alcohol-based astringent which is way to harsh for the skin and will only suck the natural moisture right out of your skin.
Scrubbing away your acne is pointless! All scrubbing will do is irritate it, make the acne worse, and further dry out and damage your skin.
Look for products that have salicylic acid and glycolic acid. In the evening use products with a gel form of benzoyl peroxide or retinol. Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide can help remove dead skin cells and kill bacteria. Sometimes these can be too harsh for some skin in which case products with tea tree oil may be better for you. Products containing vitamin A or glycolic acid are great for reducing pore size and bacteria and oil on the skin. After washing and toning use a lightweight or water-based moisturizer. There are many affordable products on the market that contain all of the above ingredients so you don't have to fork out a ton of money on stuff that probably won't work anymore!
Friday, August 3, 2012
My Buddy is Cancer Free!!
So yesterday I found out that my BFF is cancer free! She's only 29, married, and has 3 kids and was facing the possibility that she had lymphoma. Her biopsy results came in yesterday and showed no signs of cancer thank God!!
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