Winter is the Perfect Time to Treat Sun Damaged Skin

Whether you have been a sun worshiper or not, many of us have developed the cumulative effects of sun over-exposure.  The results can take a toll on the appearance of your skin.  That healthy glow of sun kissed skin can ultimately leave splotchy brown areas know as hyperpigmentation or brown spots.  Fortunately, hyperpigmentation is treatable and oftentimes completely reversible.  Even better, most treatments are non-surgical, non-invasive and far less costly than aggressive medical treatments.  Furthermore, these treatments do not leave you with pain, swelling and down time that many of the more invasive medical grade treatments can cause.  Microdermabrasion, glycolic and fruit acid peels are effective methods of treatment for hyperpigmentation, acne scarring and other types of skin issues that cause uneven skin tone and texture.

As our skin ages, we naturally experience the breakdown of collagen and elastin which causes sagging, uneven textures, uneven skin tone, fine lines and wrinkles.  It’s important to recognize that the majority of skin issues have taken time to develop so keep in mind that non-surgical treatments also take a bit of time to show visible results.  The key is to work with an aesthetician who understands your skin type;  have consistent treatments over a defined period of time to achieve the best possible outcome leaving your skin smoother and with more even tone.  Typically, three to six treatments are required at intervals of three to four weeks depending upon the condition of your skin.  Additionally, the products you use in your daily skin care regime will have a dramatic impact on the overall appearance of your skin.  Ask your aesthetician to suggest products for home use that will complement the treatment plan the two of you embark upon. 

The winter months are the best time of year to address hyperpigmentation because our exposure to harmful UVA and UVB rays from the sun is typically minimal during the colder months.  Microdermabrasion, glycolic and fruit acid peels work to remove the outer dead layer of skin cells in order to stimulate collagen, reduce fine lines and wrinkles and even skin tone.  Removal of the protective outer layer of skin can leave the skin susceptible to the sun’s rays thus; having these services performed in the warmer months when the UVA and UVB are stronger can be counterproductive.  Regardless of the time of year to embark on a treatment regimen, be sure to use a full spectrum physical block sunscreen to protect your newly revealed skin.  The skin is highly susceptible to damaging UVA and UVB after these types of treatments.

Because this is the perfect time of year to utilize these beneficial skin care services, we thought it fitting to have a special offer incorporating microdermabrasion or our Corrective Facial during the month of January.

Introduction to The Jobri Center for Integrative Health

Part of our mission at Natural Body is to build bridges with other practitioners in the health and wellness industry.  We believe that there are multiple facets of education and care that align to provide an environment in which our customers can attain optimal health.  Oftentimes, those resources are outside the scope of what Natural Body offers.  In order to open up those resources for our customers, we affiliate with other practitioners within each of the markets in which we operate.  Together, we provide a comprehensive approach to overall health and wellness and can guide our customers in the best use of these resources.  One such affiliation we are particularly pleased to announce is with the Jobri Center for Integrative Health in Atlanta.  http://www.jobricenter.com/

The Jobri Center is a unique concept that is medically based and focused on helping clients understand the true relationship between nutrition and health.  I had the privilege of participating in their week long detoxification program in November and the results were nothing short of amazing.  Having worked in the health care field my entire professional life, I have frequently embarked upon brief cleansing and detoxification periods.  What I experienced at the Jobri Center was truly life changing and unlike anything I had ever experienced before.  The focus is on nutrition, exercise, physical and mental health with the addition of classroom instruction to aid in understanding the mechanisms of detoxification our bodies go through, as well as the skills needed to sustain the changes you've made. One unique feature of the program involves comprehensive metabolic testing as a baseline before and after completion of the program.  There simply isn’t another program of this magnitude in the United States that is medically supervised by a dual board certified physician in internal medicine and integrative holistic medicine.
 
If you or a loved one is considering a cleansing detoxification program to kick off the new year, I recommend you explore the program offered by the Jobri Center.  This is the first in a series of articles we will highlight this year from Kimball Johnson, MD of the Jobri Center.

Please join us on January 20th, at 6:30pm for a complimentary educational series.  Get the Junk Out:  Detoxification as a Reboot for the New Year will be hosted by Dr. Johnson at Natural Body Brookhaven, 1432 Dresden Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30319.  Call (404) 816-8801 to reserve your space.

Celia Tully
Natural Body Spa and Shop

Detox, Defrag, Reboot for the New Year!

As customers of Natural Body, you already recognize the importance of self care. You may also sense, as we do, that we are living in exciting as well as tumultuous times: poised at a crossroads of thought about our health, our healthcare system, our planet and its ecosystems, and even the food we eat. Whatever our individual politics, we can all agree that changes are needed in the patterns and habits of our lives.

The most common complaints reported in the practice of medicine can be directly traced to nutrition: fatigue; weight gain; chronic pain; bones issues; the lifestyle diseases of hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and more; and even earlier cancers. In fact, up to 70% of all medical visits in the U.S. are in some way related to the foods we eat. Our emotional attachment to food is strong and complex; what we eat is the cornerstone of daily lives. We are trapped in a cycle of making convenient "cravings-based" choices rather than nutrition-based decisions, and are conditioned to feel that our fun is dependent on our food. This is a set-up for failure, and the reason so many of us make the same New Year's resolutions year after year without success.

The Jobri Center for Integrative Health in Atlanta, is excited to be partnering with Natural Body Spa and Shop as we stand on the cusp of a healthy awakening in our culture. Since the opening of the Jobri Center last year, we have been witness to a paradigm shift in action: when given the opportunity and education needed to "detox, defrag and reboot" their bodies in a safe, medically-supervised setting, people are experiencing amazing results. When the body rids itself of sugar, additives and chemicals, taste buds change, and cravings disappear. As the body becomes truly nourished and allowed to heal itself as it was designed to do, the rewards are rejuvenation, renewed energy, and even improved lab results and decreased need for prescription medications; barriers to exercise and self care are lifted. 

The start of new year is always an opportunity for reflection and awareness. If you're ready to turn awareness into action, we invite you to join us at the Jobri Center for a weeklong "metabolic school," or an introductory Dine and Learn dinner event. Please visit our website at www.jobricenter.com to learn more.  As a special introductory offer, we would like to extend $100 off our week long program for Natural Body customers.

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Kimball Johnson, MD
Co-Founder & Medical Director
Jobri Center for Integrative Health

The Thyroid Paradox

One out of five females and one out of ten males have a thyroid problem.  Thyroid symptoms can mimic the change of life.  Fatigue, hair loss, dry skin, constipation and weight gain are a few of the symptoms that are shared by both syndromes.  For example, Oprah Winfrey’s thyroid problems were missed by physicians who diagnosed her issues as menopause instead of screening for the associated problem of hypothyrodism.  When the thyroid gland, often referred to as “the body’s thermostat,” does not produce the correct balance of hormones, the result is hypothyroidism (an underactive gland) or hyperthyroidism (an overactive gland).  Although some people may have no symptoms, hypothyroidism, which affects more than 5 million Americans, may result in weight gain, dry hair and hair loss, headaches, loss of appetite, slow speech, infertility, respiratory infections, dry skin, weakness, cold intolerance, constipation, decreased libido, irritability, muscle cramps, and/ or memory loss.

In diagnosing low thyroid (hypothyroidism), most doctors rely solely on one test to detect the problem of an under active thyroid.  It is called TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone.  It is considered the gold standard to determine thyroid function.  The paradox here is that TSH is not a true reflection of thyroid health. In the case of some thyroid diseases including Hashimoto (an auto-immune thyroid disease) the test for TSH alone is not enough to detect these problems as TSH levels will show up normal despite obvious problems.  For a misdiagnosed patient it is not uncommon to hear “All your thyroid studies came back in the normal range.”

There are many causes of impared thyroid function.  Iodine or vitamin deficiencies are common but not the only cause of low thyroid (hypothyroidism). Fluoride (found in tap water and in toothpaste), stimulants in coffee and alcohol, refined foods, sugar and dairy products may lead to an imbalance in thyroid activity.  An iodine-rich diet (containing seafood, shellfish, organic vegetables and iodized salts) may help regulate some thyroid disorders.
If the adrenal glands are not working properly, patients can have symptoms that may seem like a thyroid problem.  Furthermore, trouble in both the thyroid and adrenal glands can cause these problems.  Adrenal fatigue is missed everyday!  Most doctors do not approach this problem when trying to treat thyroid problems which can leave the patient still experiencing the symptoms.

When testing only using TSH levels, patients with borderline normal results and symptoms of low thyroid are often left untreated and dismissed as being “in the normal range.”
When seeking medical attention, be sure to request a gluten sensitivity test if a diagnosis of low thyroid disorder is documented.  Gluten-intolerance and celiac disease can be hidden and combined with low thyroid problems.

Educate yourself about the basic foundation of the thyroid and how it works and understand what tests should be ordered. 

This information and more can be found in the audio CD- “Your thyroid studies came back normal….now what?”  The CD can be found at Natural Body locations in Decatur, Morningside and Brookhaven,  or can be ordered from the Baucom Institute for Longevity and Life Enhancement in Overland Park, Kansas.  (913) 341-8605  http://www.baucominstitute.com/home/

Karan Baucom, MD is the medical director of The Baucom Institute for Longevity and Life Enhancement.  After spending time as a researcher studying DNA, she became a board certified obstetrician and gynecologist.  Her OB/GYN experience with hormones and new life development led her to study further study of nutrition, hormones, stress and whole health.  She is devoted to disease prevention and wellness by enabling the human body to restore its natural balance.  Dr. Baucom is additionally board certified in Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine.