Retinol For Flawless Skin

By now, you've most likely heard of Retinol, which is included in a plethora of skin care formulas due to its healing and repairing powers. What is Retinol and what can it do for you? There's a lot to know about the substance. The following paragraphs will outline some of the most important things that you should keep in mind when deciding which skin care product is best for you. (Don't forget: it's always important to read the label on the back of the product you're considering before you apply it to your skin!)

To begin, what exactly is Retinol? Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A that can cure a wealth of skin ailments in a relatively quick amount of time, giving long-lasting results to the user. It's a favorite amongst skin professionals and everyday users because it is typically very gentle on all skin types and does not lead to any sort of irritation, like redness, dryness, inflammation, itching, etc. Because of its mildness, skin care companies are able to include it in a very wide variety of their products, thus increasing the benefits that it leads to for you, the consumer.

Retinol has been proven to help diminish fine lines, age spots, and wrinkles; solve problems of pigmentation; clear up scars, warts, and rosacea; and help with damage caused by the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. It's also known for its abilities in ridding the skin of acne. Within the first few applications, you will already notice a significant difference. You skin will look and feel softer and firmer overall, and if you're suffering from a more specific problem, with time, you will notice a substantial improvement.

How does this work, exactly? One thing that makes Retinol so advantageous is that since it is a vitamin A derivative, it's a type of molecule that's small enough to penetrate the epidermis and travel deeper into the layered tissues of the skin. Since this is where the collagen and elastin exist, the Retinol molecules are able to effectively improve the firmness and smoothness of aging skin, which has the tendency to droop, sag, and wrinkle.

Because of its abilities with cell turnnver and the fact that it stimulates the skin cells underneath the epidermis and not merely on this top layer, Retinol is highly regarded as one of the best substances in fighting the signs of aging. It'll give the healthy skin cells underneath the chance to become the epidermis, where currently, dead skin cells are collecting. This is what gives an aging person an increasingly dull, tired look—something that we all wish to avoid!

Dr. Farid Mostamand has written hundreds of articles on preventing the detrimental effects of skin aging. As the founder of the Focus Medical Spa and author of Aeless Skin obsession, he has first-hand experience with the most effective non-invasive treatments. Learn More about Guinot products and Elemis at SkinBeautyMall.com

Effects of Massage Therapy on the Skin of Lymphedema Patients

The difference between normal massage techniques and manual lymph drainage techniques is that strokes that are used in normal massage therapy are applied with a bit more pressure than are strokes of manual lymph drainage therapy. The basic strokes that are used in normal massage therapy are petrissage, effleurage, tapotement, vibration and friction.

It should be noted that massage stroke effects are not limited to suprafascial tissues like the skin. These strokes also cause reactions in subfascial areas. Subfascial tissues are muscles, tendons and ligaments.
It is possible that local arterial blood flow is increased by massage strokes and there is venous and lymphatic return. Normal massage strokes can loosen subcutaneous adhesions as well.

There are various massage therapy publications that list edema as one of the indications of these techniques. This is a correct statement but it is also in a way misleading if one does not establish or clarify the distinction between edema and lymphedema.


Edema is actually related to suprafascial tissues and can be the result of various problems like inflammation or impaired venous return. Examples of impaired venous return are valvular insufficiency, pregnancy, or prolonged sitting and/or standing.

In edema, the lymphatic system is overloaded but remains intact. This results in water getting accumulated in the tissues. This condition is called dynamic insufficiency.

It is possible that massage therapy benefits some forms of edema but is contraindicated for others. This is why normal massage therapy should not be used in patients with edema without prior consultation with a physician.

Lymphedema on the other hand is always a result of mechanical insufficiency of the lymphatic system. This in turn ends with water and protein accumulating in tissues. When the lymphatic system becomes mechanically insufficient the transport capacity of the system decreases below the required physiological level of water and protein load. The system is not capable then of properly responding to an increase in lymphatic load.

There are also several negative effects of massage therapy on lymphedema. As mentioned before, massage strokes usually lead to an increase in arterial blood flow (also called active hyperemia) in skin areas to which normal massage techniques are applied. This active hyperemia is escorted by an increase in blood capillary pressure. This leads to a subsequent increase in ultrafiltration of water in the blood capillaries area. The result of this process is that more water accumulates in the interstitial spaces. As the lymphatic system is mechanical insufficient the lymphatic system is not able to manage this additional water load and there is an increase in swelling.