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Health Health The latest health issues explored Forever young R Virginia Ngai explores ways to slow aging enown for their work ethic, accountants working long stressful hours are at risk of premature aging – the signs of which are wrinkles and grey hair. Apart from stress, Dr. Walter W.K. King, a plastic surgeon at a Hong Kong private hospital that he prefers not to name, says aging is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. “There’s not much we can do about countering genetic aging. If our parents live longer, it’s a definite plus. But if our parents have cancer and heart diseases, we need to be more diligent in terms of screening and annual checkups. “It is the environmental factors that we may be able to control,” he says. Avoiding smoking and too much sun, drinking moderately, regular exercise, adequate rest and a balanced diet are important aspects of a healthy lifestyle. While managing stress is important for health, more people are also turning to various cosmetic procedures to help them turn back the clock, says King. The magic of Botox Botox injections, for example, have become all the rage in Hong Kong. The procedure, which costs around HK$5,000 per treatment, involves the use of botulinum toxin to block nerve impulses and temporarily paralyze the muscles that 60 January 2010 cause frown lines, forehead creases and crow’s feet. King says he has had a steady rate of patients in recent years, but he also notices a growing number of plastic surgeons in the field, which indicates an increasing number of people opting for cosmetic procedures. Although the side effects of Botox are minimal, King says some people experience inanimate facial expressions, drooping eyelids, headaches and facial swellings if the dosage or location is wrong. Proponents, however, say they begin seeing obvious results with just one injection. But the downside is: The effect only lasts about four to six months. Dr. Lauren Bramley, who runs her own medical and dental clinic, says the treatment is safe and highly effective when administered properly. “Botox is magic. It can immediately reverse wrinkles and improve appearance. Botox can also reduce tension headaches and migraines and has been proven to improve quality of life,” she says. Botox, however, doesn’t improve skin quality and should be combined with anti-aging skin care products as well as supplements, she adds. “Sometimes Botox is offered in areas where a filler would give a better result such as around the mouth,” where tiny lines or thinning lips contribute to an older look. Another recommended anti-aging medical treatment is intense pulsed light, which simultaneously removes damaged skin and stimulates collagen growth It is important to consult a professional before deciding on a procedure – be sure to bring up all your questions with your doctor. by using light and heat to activate the fibroblast cells in the dermis. Justine Grier, spa manager of the Beautiful Skin Centre at Pacific Place, says IPL treatments work best when combined with vitamin C facials, a healthy diet and the correct home skin care routine. Other skin tightening options are mesotherapy, a French-pioneered technique of giving multiple injections of hyaluronic acid and vitamins into your A PLUS face, and radiofrequency, which sends heat energy into the skin to stimulate new collagen growth. The former can dramatically improve skin elasticity, reducing jowls and dark circles, and the latter can alleviate dark circles and sagging eyelids, neck and abdomen, according to Bramley. Those who have very high expectations and unsatisfactory results from less invasive procedures may opt for surgery. According to King, one increasingly popular form of treatment is fat transplantation, which can be done under local anaesthesia. “We use liposuction techniques to harvest fat from thighs or abs and prepare the fat tissues and cells, which have been scientifically proven to contain a small amount of stem cells,” he says. “As a result, during the fat injection process, some stem cells also enter the system. The cells will then fill up hollow spaces, add fullness to the face and make your cheekbones higher. The stem cells will also rejuvenate the overlying skin.” Both King and Bramley, however, stress that it is important to consult a professional before deciding on a procedure – be sure to bring up all your questions with your doctor. Potions and lotions Medical cosmetic procedures aside, the popularity of anti-aging skin products and supplements is also growing in Asia. Nu Skin Enterprises, a direct seller of antiaging skin care and nutritional products in 48 markets worldwide, said its annual revenue is expected to hit around US$1.3 billion this year and 70 percent of it will come from Asia Pacific. Like many other businesses, Nu Skin considers China to be its most important growth market – revenue on the mainland rose 6 percent in the third quarter compared to a year ago. With a proliferation of anti-aging skin care products to choose from, consumers may have a hard time discerning which brand is the most effective. King stresses that rather than looking at brands, it’s more important to look at ingredients. “From the medical viewpoint, antioxidants and sun protection skin care are most useful for anti-aging purposes. Doctors recommend daily sun protection use from an early age as most of the sun damage would have been done before the age of 20. “Sunscreens that boast of a high SPF (sun protection factor) may not necessarily be better as SPF refers to protection from the sun’s UVB rays but UVA rays causes just as much aging, skin cancer and wrinkles,” he says. As we age, the level of hormones, vitamins and other nutrients in our bodies tends to decline, which can dramatically age our appearance. King says antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E are the most widely researched ingredients that are known to be effective. “Even with sunscreen usage, some of the UV rays will still enter our skin. If we have January 2010 61 Health Applying vitamin C to your skin will help reverse early forms of sun damage such as solar keratosis. enough antioxidants on the skin, they will reduce the damage done by the UV light on skin cell and tissue,” he says. When looking for a skin care product, Bramley recommends making vitamin C and D a staple while rotating through other antioxidants such as retinol, idebenone, phloretin, ferulic acid, omega 3, melatonin and hyaluronic acid, which have different properties to offer. Applying vitamin C to your skin will help reverse early forms of sun damage such as solar keratosis, a thick, scaly or crusty patch of skin, which can become skin cancer if left untreated. “No other topical product has been shown to do this,” says Bramley. She says most anti-aging experts now agree that taking vitamin D3 supplements of at least 2,000 IU (international units) a day is one of the top three anti-aging initiatives one can do. “These products can be remarkably effective in firming skin, reducing wrinkles, 62 January 2010 removing pigment, closing pores and reducing redness,” Bramley says. Recent research has indicated that vitamin D supplements may make you live longer too. A 2007 study – conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer based in Lyon, France – found that those who took at least 500 IU of vitamin D daily were 7 percent less likely to die compared with those given a placebo. Other studies have suggested that the sunshine vitamin can strengthen bones, thwart some forms of cancer and fight infections. Adequate sleep also does wonders in helping restore collagen production, essential to make your skin look refreshed. “By ensuring adequate sleep in a pitch black room, hormones can be produced as best as possible. Melatonin production occurs in total darkness and plays a major role in skin aging. “I often recommend melatonin supplementation for poor sleepers, which can also improve skin appearance, especially when applied topically. Interestingly, Asian skin has been found to have much higher levels than Caucasian skin, which may explain why Asians have a more youthful appearance and an easier ability to sleep,” Bramley says. Hair stylist Shayne Chandler recommends a new haircut or colouring to combat grey or thinning hair. “As you age, your hair produces less melanin, which is the pigment that creates the colour in your hair as well as conditions your hair. With less melanin, hair turns grey and becomes coarser so it tends to pop up,” he says. “Combat these signs by colouring and conditioning treatments as well as using products that stimulate blood flow to prevent loss of hair.” Chandler says the most aging thing about hair is keeping a style you’ve been wearing for the last 20 years. “Like fashion, hair styles need to be modern and current, but don’t need to be extreme.”