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Cell
renewal creams Cell renewal
or cell turnover refers to the time required for newly formed cells
to move from the base of the epidermis, where they are formed, to
the surface, where they are sloughed off. It takes about a month
for a cell to turnover in young skin (about 15 days to travel from
the base of the epidermis to the stratum corneum, the dead outer
layer of the skin, and about 15 days to move from the base of the
stratum corneum to the surface). It may take almost twice as long
for this turnover to occur in elderly skin. It's claimed that the
longer the process takes, the more apt the skin is to develop a
dull, drab appearance. There are also claims that this slower cell
transit can adversely affect the barrier function of the stratum
corneum so the skin loses moisture more rapidly and is thus more
likely to become overly dry. Advertising and packaging claims for cell renewal products refer to tests that prove that a particular product increases the rate of cell turnover. The fact is, however, that application of many moisturisers will increase the rate of cell turnover. More important to the consumer is the question of whether the increase in the rate of cell turnover will produce any visible difference in the skin, by, for example, smoothing out wrinkles. This is very doubtful. Most agents that increase cell turnover improve the appearance of dry skin simply through their moisturising qualities. Clues
to a sleep-smart One morning,
after weeks of insomnia problems, I woke to a foul odour in my kitchen.
I sniffed around until I found a curdling carton of milk inside
a cupboard. The day before I had placed the milk on the cupboard
shelf instead of in the refrigerator. My sleep-deprived brain never
registered the mistake. I can laugh
about that day now but, at the time, it scared me. I wondered if
I could make a much more dangerous error - maybe while driving -
and that wouldn't be funny. One out of
three adults suffers from insomnia. In school we learn about how
to eat properly and exercise, but no one teaches us how to get the
best night's sleep. No wonder so many adults are stumbling through
the day tired and then falling into bed worried that they won't
get the sleep they need. Whether you
suffer from insomnia or just need more hours of sleep, there are
ways to improve your sleep habits. Sleep debt If you don't
get enough sleep one night, that puts you into sleep debt and the
debt accumulates. Dement, who is considered the world's leading
authority on sleep, says that "accumulated lost sleep is like
a monetary debt: It must be paid back." For example,
let's say a good night's sleep for you means eight hours. If one
night you only get six, and then sleep eight the next night thinking
you're back on track, you're not. You still have two hours of sleep
debt. Over time,
the debt adds up and can affect your physical and emotional state,
as well as your mental competency. Sleep debt is the reason for
countless accidents including the Exxon Valdez and Challenger disasters.
It's also why parents of newborns can feel like they're losing their
minds. Lower your
debt Your bedroom
environment is also very important. It should be kept cool and quiet.
Your mattress, pillow, and bedclothes should be very comfortable.
Your bed should only be for sleeping and sex, so no reading or TV
watching in bed. Exposing yourself to sunlight during the day and
exercising regularly will also help you sleep better. Going to bed
as little as a half an hour earlier can make a difference in how
you feel. Dement says, "The task is to work down your sleep
debt until you are alert and energetic all day... You'll work more
efficiently when you are well rested, and working more efficiently
will, in turn, give you more time for other activities". What you
can do Old standbys
like counting sheep or counting backwards from 100 are good to try.
Here's a great mental game that my mother-in-law taught me: Go through
the alphabet searching for one-syllable boys names for each letter.
For example: Ames, Blake, Cal. If you make it to Z, then start over
with one-syllable girls names, then two-syllable boys names, and
so on, but you'll probably be asleep way before then. Another way
to clear your mind is to write out your to-do list for the next
day before you go to bed. You can also designate a set amount of
time for worrying, say 15 minutes every evening or write your concerns
in a worry journal. The goal is to get the worries out of your mind
so you will be able to ease into peaceful slumber. Stress reduction
techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, meditation,
and massage can also improve your sleep according to Barbara Heller,
a psychotherapist and the author of 'How to Sleep Soundly Tonight'. To discharge
stress and prepare for bed, she advises you to "take a deep
breath in through your nose, and then let it out audibly through
puckered lips, as though you were blowing out a candle. Repeat". An informal
survey of my insomniac friends yielded the following stress suggestions:
drink a cup of plain chamomile tea before bed, transport yourself
mentally to a relaxing locale to drift off, and don't live near
neighbours with barking dogs! If you do wake in the night, don't
check the time. That will only make you worry about how many hours
you have left until you need to get up. Sleep thinking Here's how
it works. Think of an issue you want to find a solution to and then
pose it as a question to yourself as you fall sleep. One of Maisel's
tips is: "Fall asleep with a wonder, not a worry". For
example, instead of thinking, "What am I going to do about
my hideous job?," rephrase it as, "I wonder what I could
do to improve my work life?" Phrasing the question as a wonder
makes you more receptive to possibilities. In the morning, write
down anything relevant you remember from your sleep or dreams. Even
if you don't actually solve any problems this way, "Sleep thinking
promotes a good night's sleep because you go to bed relaxed and
curious, not stressed out and worrying," according to Maisel.
"Also, you go into a deeper sleep which allows you to feel
more rested." Maisel's clients
find that sleep-thinking lowers stress and reduces insomnia. Most
insomniacs lie in bed worrying. With sleep thinking, you learn how
to refocus that worrying into positive problem solving. Try a doctor And remember,
not every tip will work for you - or even be right for you. In the
interest of keeping my milk fresh, there are a lot of things I'll
try in order to get a good night's sleep. But give up reading in
bed? Never. Dear
Coz In
love with a star Dear
Nisa,
Beauty's only skin deep they say. Besides, when beauty fades, if
there's nothing of substance to replace it, you're in for trouble.
You know next to nothing about this guy. If you can find some details
about him, do so. Be realistic. If I were you, I'll put the TV star
out of my mind, go out, meet people and enjoy life until Mr. Right
comes along. Be
friends Hello
out there
Hi sweet Jel,
My affectionate mum,
Dear Chaturanga (2003 A/L)
Dear Romesh (2002 A/L),
To my darling Mal,
To our dearest friend Mizra,
To my sweet heart Isha….., (kandy)
Dear son Babu JSD,
To my dearest Chamini, Nadiya, Nilangani, Shashi, Sonali and all
my friends, Dear
Darshana (Dehiwela),
To our dearest friend Azmiya,
To my darling husband Faisal, |
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