Aurora Medical Laser & Vein Centre

It goes without saying that there are many differences between men and women. Of course, this is pretty evident when discussing the ways in which we cater to our appearances. I recently blogged about the fact that members of both sexes have found equal ground, as of late, when it comes to opinions about grooming body hair.

But still, I can't help but feel as if it's just not fair. I mean, let's be honest. We ladies seem to have to pay a lot more attention to detail than you guys do. After all, I can't remember the last time I heard a guy complain about spider veins! I do, however, recall a male friend singing about them to the tune of “The Spider-Man Theme” in an attempt to poke fun at me.

The summer is coming! And for most people, this is an exciting time of year. The sun will be out, giving us all many more opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy the warm weather. (Don't forget, of course, to wear sunscreen!) Then, there are those people who dread the summer time. And it's for a reason that you may not necessarily realize.

My friend Pat has sensitive skin. Once she's in the sun, she burns. At least, that what she says. It may be a bit of an over exaggeration, but I understand her concerns. Without sunscreen one day, Pat took a jog in the park. Upon her return home, she had what appeared to be a red stripe painted across her shoulders!

Her cheeks didn't fair much better. Now that Pat insists upon wearing sunscreen – and not just in the summer – her skin is a lot safer and she has noticeably been “red stripe” free. Pat, however, does face another concern. Her legs. It's not so much about the sensitivity to the sun. But, in the case of her legs, a sensitivity to shaving is her dilemma.

Sorry to break the news to you folks. But in 2012, hair is out! Yes, I know we still have a little over a month to go in 2011, but somehow I have confidence that I can see into the future with respect to this topic.

In last week's blog, I shed some light on a great hair removal procedure known as LightSheer™. It has done wonders for my friend, Pat and I'm sure that if you have unwanted hair, it will do the same for you. Be sure to contact a skin care professional if you have questions about the procedure.

Pat used to be particularly concerned about shaving because of the sensitivity of her skin. Removing hair was always an issue for her as the process generally produced bumps and rashes. However, such a concern may pale in comparison to those who have the type of skin blemishes that can't simply be shaved off.

I remember having a teacher named Mrs. Peterson who had a mole near her mouth. It caused her no pain, I'm sure – unless it was emotional. Unfortunately, it always seemed to be a topic of discussion amongst her students. So I imagine that people like Mrs. Peterson must generally get sick and tired of having to be self-conscious about their moles.

I used to go to school with a girl named Jill. I can't honestly say that we were friends, more than we were schoolmates, but I did like Jill. She was friendly, but quiet, often keeping to herself. I changed schools shortly after sharing a classroom with Jill but I can't help but remember her.

Muffin tops, bra bulges, love handles and good old fashioned flab. Let’s face it. We all hate them. They’re like the villains in some kind of warped comic book. The only thing is that, for many of us, it’s hard to determine who the heroes are in the never ending adventures of unwanted fat. That is, of course, until now!

You may be thinking that the answer lies in the popular fat-sucking procedure known as liposuction. But the risks involved with such an invasive surgery are many, and they are all well-documented. No, I’m talking about an unsung hero, who, until now, was only lurking in the shadows. That hero, ladies and gentleman is known as Ultrashape®!

What exactly makes Ultrashape® a hero, you ask? Well, not only is this procedure a proven fat-buster, but it does its job without the risks that come along with standard cosmetic surgeries. By contrast, Ultrashape® isn’t a surgery at all. It requires no incisions, no anesthesia, no injections and no downtime! Sounds a bit too good to be true, doesn’t it?

Although most of us may not really think of it this way, it seems as if we worry about our skin on a daily basis. After all, our skin is the part of our bodies that others can actually see. Sure, we can cover up most of it with clothing, but when blemishes appear on our faces, some of us feel like our worlds are ending!

Interestingly though, many of us are also concerned about what our skin – and even our clothing – can't hide. And that would be our weight. It's not uncommon for people to struggle with what they consider to be excess fat even if they are dieting and eating healthfully.

In last week's blog, I listed a number of foods that EatingWell.com described as being healthy for your skin. It's important, however, to keep in mind that in order to maintain optimum health, there are a number of things that we all must do. It's not all about what you eat. Our activities work in tandem with each other to produce positive outcomes.

So the obvious combination of good diet and exercise should always be practiced. Of course, in addition to wearing sunscreen and avoiding long sun exposure, these requirements can help us all to maintain glowingly young skin. But with the number of positive comments received about last week's blog since it posted, I figured that it only made sense to elaborate on the topic of eating right.

You know how they say that “you are what you eat”? Well, to put it more literally, if you eat right, you'll look right! Doing some further research on this concept, I came across an awesome WholeLiving.com piece that unveiled a number of recipes that are all key components in the the “keep your skin healthy” doctrine.

We hear a lot about how important it is to protect our skin against the harmful UV rays of the sun. It should be a no-brainer for us all to apply sunscreen before heading outdoors this summer. But, keep in mind, that sunscreen is actually a product that should be used all year round. But what else can we do to protect our skin? Other than covering it up with long sleeves – which, let’s be honest, is no fun during the summer.

Did you know that there are a number of foods out there that is good for your skin? It is fairly well known that drinking water does your skin a lot of good. But then again, drinking water is good for your general overall health as well. So what can we eat that will help to keep our skin smooth, supple and young looking? EatingWell.com has some of the answers for us.

Strawberries. Am I ever glad that my favourite fruit is on the list of foods that are skin-healthy. EatingWell.com writes that vitamin C rich foods help to battle the aging-process. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. “Vitamin C’s skin-smoothing effects may be due to its ability to mop up free radicals produced from ultraviolet rays and also its role in collagen synthesis.”