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Erin Gamble

The Importance of Sunscreen (and what happens to your skin without it)

We’ve been told to wear sunscreen during the summer months to avoid sunburns and skin damage, but really we should be wearing it year-round as a preventive health measure!  No matter your skin color or tone, you should be wearing sunscreen.

Sunscreen actually dates to ancient Egypt times, where they would use rice bran extract and jasmine to help shield their skin from the sun. In 1936, chemists invented the first commercial sunscreen, and it has been improved upon ever since. Modern sunscreens are water resistant and are included in many cosmetics and beauty products (primers, foundations, serums, and creams).

Did you know that even on cloudy or snowy days you should wear sunscreen?  Up to 80 percent of the sun’s rays can pass through clouds, if you assume it is OK to forgo protection on an overcast day, think again. Snow can reflect up to 80 percent of ultraviolet (UV) rays, increasing your risk of expose to sun damage.

There are two major ways that sun exposure can damage your skin’s health; ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation which speeds up the aging process in your skin and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation which burns your skin cells. The UV rays from the sun can reach your skin not only when you are outside but even when you are inside your home or car through the windows.

“Your skin has its natural defense mechanism to protect your skin from UV radiation at a certain level. But it is insufficient to shield your skin cells from excessive sun exposure, which can result in long-term skin concerns such as age spots, wrinkles, pigmentation, sagging skin, roughness, darkening, and others,” says Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix.

Let’s dive into some of those things that happen to your skin when you do not wear sunscreen:

  • Sun Burns – Your skin may develop mild to severe sunburns which appear as red, hot, painful patches on skin with blisters.
  • Dry Skin – Direct sun exposure on your skin causes loss of moisture and natural oils from your skin. Leading to dehydration and your skin eventually develops dry, rough patches in the affected areas.
  • Sunspots – Or aging spots occur when your skin is exposed to sunlight for a long time. Usually associated with itching, burning sensation, and tenderness.
  • Premature Aging – UV radiation can damage the collagen and connective tissue in your skin, leading to loss of elasticity in your skin, causing wrinkles, saggy and aged skin to appear in younger people.
  • Darkening of Skin – Melanin in excessive amounts produced in your skin as part of its natural defense. This leaves your skin with dark patches and uneven tone.
  • Skin Cancer – Irreparable DNA damage from UV radiation can generate a gene mutation which can eventually trigger cancer in your skin.

It is recommend to reapply sunscreen every 2-3 hours. Most people think apply sunscreen with more SPF makes it last longer and ignore the reapplication. But this is a myth.

It is better to use a sunscreen with SPF 30 to 50 and reapply it every 2 hours throughout the day, especially when you are outside. TIP: It takes a minimum of half an hour for your skin to absorb the sunscreen. So, it is better to plan ahead and apply the sunscreen at least 30 minutes before you step outside.

Closely pay attention to your skin, if you notice any new mole, freckle, or brown spot, seek medical attention immediately. If the spot does not heal or turns into an unusual lesion as it can be an early sign of melanoma.

Sunscreen is an important preventive health care habit that should be maintained all year, including cloudy days and winter months. If you find your self with damaged skin from UV exposure, come see us at Precision Wellness. Our amazing estheticians may be able to help reduce some of the signs of damaged skin.

Water intake after a massage ~ Why it is beneficial

If you’ve ever had a massage, your therapist has likely encouraged you to slam water like it’s your job right after. But why?  During a massage, many toxins you have been harboring are released. Great! Right?  While it is great that your body is purging harmful toxins, they must be released somewhere – it is best to chug water post-massage to flush those toxins out of your system!

Detoxification

Water helps flush and purify your kidneys which help process key nutrients and toxins!  The water flushes the free radicals released during a massage out and oxygenates your cells to help produce more of the good stuff.

Kicks Dehydration

Massages, believe it or not, is dehydrating, and our bodies are 60% water after all!  The kneading and squeezing that your massage therapist does to your body releases fluids from your muscle tissues and into your vascular system. This means you need to restock up on all the water you lost during your massage.

Rid Metabolic Waste

Sounds fancy, right? Really metabolic waste is just particles in our body that are of no use to us – during a massage, they are released at a much quicker rate than what our bodies are used to. Metabolic waste can constrict our muscles and lead to improper flow of toxin flushing. Drinking water, you give your muscles a chance to loosen-up and therefore release the tense muscles that hold waste.

Prevent Soreness

It is normal to feel a little sore in focused areas after your massage. Hydrating after a massage can help prevent excessive soreness. Do yourself a favor and add an extra glass or two to your normal post-massage amount if you are still feeling super sluggish or ill.

Pre-Massage Water

Pro tip!!!  Drinking water before a massage can help just as much (if not more) and drinking post-massage!  It helps your kidneys to release the toxins as they work their way out of your muscles during your massage and move them out of your system in a healthy, productive manner.

There is nothing like a great massage to get your body retuned for life. Make an appointment with Precision Wellness to feel refreshed and recover health in your muscles, tissues, and throughout your body. Just don’t forget to chug some water before and after!

What is Brow Lamination

Lamination is no longer just a reference to that shiny, important piece of paper your first-grade teacher sent home. This concept has made a grand return to our adult lives with the latest brow trend! If you have noticed pictures of full, slicked-up brows with a high-shine finish taking over your Instagram – that is brow lamination! More or less, it is semipermanent soap brows.

Gaps, thinning, over-plucking, unruliness – no matter your concern, brow lamination is an amazing solution and great microblading alternative. Brow lamination takes your unruly brow hair and smooths it ,with almost a gel look, while also lifting hair in a more vertical direction.

Brow lamination is basically a perm for your brows. Instead of curls, a setting lotion helps brow hair stay brushed up and lifted upward for about six weeks. The actual process is just a few steps.

            1 – We start by painting a lifting cream onto the brow, creating a chemical process that breaks down bonds in each hair, allowing them to be moved into a new shape.

            2 – The brow hairs are then brushed up into place and a neutralizer is applied to reform the bonds into their new shape.

            3 – Nourishing oil is added to the brows to replenish their moisture after the chemical treatment process.

From here, the brows may be tweezed, waxed, or tinted, depending on the look you are going for.  Your brow lamination can last up to two months, you can prolong the look with a clear brow wax.

In short, brow lamination is like a perm for your eyebrows, similar to the well-known lash lift treatment.

What is Cupping?

Cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine rooting back to Ancient Egypt, although cupping is a part of many ancient healing systems, including Chinese, Korean, Tibetan and more! Cupping Therapy is when a therapist uses special cups on your skin to create suction. This promotes blood flow to the compromised area, enhances circulation and helps to increase the body’s own healing processes — almost like a backward deep tissue massage. 

Cupping is an effective technique to get rid of muscle tension in your lower back; neck and shoulder aches; tension headaches and loosen off tight ‘knots’.  While we all have organs that remove toxins from our blood, cupping gives your body a boost in releasing those toxins by physically suctioning them out of your tissues.  Focused blood flow helps your body by flushing built-up toxins move through the lymphatic system.

These are a few of the many benefits of cupping:

  • Increased Circulation – The suction from the cups increases circulation to the area where the cups are placed. The additional blood flow to that area can help relieve muscle tension and promote cell repair.
  • Reduced Cellulite – You know… The dimples on the back of your thighs that women hate to see. Increased blood flow and suction of tissue can help reduce the formation of cellulite!
  • The Release of Toxins – As mentioned earlier, increased and focused blood flow helps your body flush out toxins – Make sure to drinks lots and lots of water after your session to aid in this process!
  • Reduce stretch marks and scars – Increased blood flow enables your body to dispose of toxins, restores lymphatic circulation, and helps remove edema, reducing the appearance of scarring.
  • Improve Varicose Veins – Varicose veins happen when the valves inside the vein are not working properly, the valves don’t effectively push the blood from the muscles back to the heart. Cupping helps by bringing the fresh blood flow and oxygen back to the problem areas.
  • Clear congestion & helps to treat asthma – The suction from cups breaks up and expels congestion. Bringing oxygen rich blood and lymph toward your lungs and your other respiratory muscles.

Many believe that cupping improves the flow of energy in the body and facilitates healing. That the suction helps balance the yin and yang, or the negative and positive, within your body. Restoring balance between these two extremes is thought to help the body’s resistance to pathogens as well as its ability to increase blood flow and reduce pain.

Wondering if cupping could work for you?  Ask your therapist during your next massage session. Our therapists have been trained and certified in safe and effective cupping techniques.  You can choose to have a cupping-only session or add cupping on to your deep tissue massage.

What is RockTape and how does it help?

RockTape is the evolved and enhanced version of kinesiology tape.  RockTape was created in the heat of competition to meet the demands of athletes – it’s simply the best kinesiology tape around!

The adhesive of RockTape is sticky enough to hold for prolonged periods of time. It can be used to treat sports and non-sports injuries, including shin splints, plantar fasciitis, runner’s knee, and back pain by microscopically lifting the skin away from the muscle and fascia below, creating a decompressive effect.

When applied correctly, RockTape’s unique elasticity causes the skin to form convolutions and wrinkle. This decompresses the tissue immediately below the skin.  It is believed that this has three main effects:

  • Fluid effect– Improving blood and lymphatic flow in the taped area
  • Mechanical effect– Improving the slide and glide between tissue layers
  • Neurological effect– Altering the perception of pain and improving body awareness.

A few other benefits of RockTape:

  • Reduces pain – RockTape is used to reduce pain. Applying RockTape over the area where someone is having pain will actually reduce the pain signals to the brain,
  • Activates Muscles – Often times patients come in with hip pain or knee pain for no reason. Most likely this is because the muscle is not activated, which means it is not initiating motion so other muscles have to create that motion. Applying RockTape in a certain place over a certain muscle will activate those muscles.
  • Stretching is good – RockTape is made with 180% elasticity, allowing the athlete fuller and better range of motion.
  • Reduce swelling – RockTape can also help improve circulation and blood flow helping to reduce swelling in the area where you are hurt. 

The application of RockTape is an add on service at Precision Wellness.  If you feel RockTape could help your healing, talk to your massage therapist to see if this is something that will work in your healing process.

Why you should choose a Custom Facial

A custom facial session is designed specifically for your skin type – utilizing a variety of products and techniques based on your therapist’s knowledge. Your esthetician may integrate holistic and skin-soothing techniques and/or the clinical application of products. Depending on your goals, your facial can assist with advanced exfoliation, hydration, acne treatment, and inflammation reduction.

A basic facial is the same for everyone. It’s a great way to hydrate and calm your skin, but it doesn’t offer much more than that. If you want customized service from an esthetician who knows about all of your needs (whether medical or aesthetic), then book a custom facial because the esthetician will be able to guide you to your skins specific needs, and offer you advise on what products to use at home.

Facials are more than cleansers and masks, they also include facial massage. It’s more than just for relaxation – it’s anti-aging, relieves sinus pressure, and helps with blood flow which leads to that beautiful glowing skin! With a custom facial, this massage can be more targeted to your specific needs. Our therapists can even give you tips on how to perform your own facial massage at home!

Add On Services Offered:

The benefit of getting custom skin care treatments is that these are often added-on in sessions for unique needs.  Some of these may be offered in conjunction with your custom facial while others may be available as a separate service:

  • Dermaplaning: This treatment is the best way to remove peach fuzz and dead skin from your face. Learn more here.
  • Microneedling: Microneedling is a form of dermal needling that involves puncturing the top layer of skin with tiny needles. The goal of the treatment is to create tiny channels in your skin that can help stimulate collagen production and improve the overall appearance. Learn more here.
  • Facial Reflexology: Using facial reflexology techniques stimulates both physical and emotional wellbeing by calming the nervous system promoting feelings of relaxation, decreasing stress levels, and infusing a sense of empowerment while encouraging freedom from negative thoughts. Learn more here.

Looking to get a custom facial in Springfield Missouri? Book Online Today!!

Relaxation vs Deep Tissue – What is the difference?

With so many different types of massage out there, it can be difficult to choose which therapy is right for you.  Some days you may want to unwind and relax while others you need targeted relief from tension and stiffness after a particularly stressful week.

To help you choose which therapy is most suitable for your needs, here is a look at two of the most popular therapies:  Deep Tissue and Relaxation Massage.

Keep in mind that every client, therapist, and massage session may be different.  This is just a basic outline.  Treatments by our therapist as Precision Wellness will be tailored to you.

What is the difference?

The short answer: Pressure.

Soothing massage that is gentle enough to put you to sleep on the table?  Relaxation massage can do the trick!

Do you crave that good-pain feeling that really works out the kinks?  If you’re a fan of firmer pressure from the elbows and knuckles, a Deep Tissues massage would be great for you.

There is no set guideline for great massages.  Your therapist will use differing pressures and parts of their hands and arms depending on the area of focus.  If you are an office working, your neck may be stiff from long days at the desk.  For construction workers, your shoulders may harbor a lot of tension from a labor-intensive day.  Tell your massage therapist what is ailing you and they will work some magic!

Tell us what you want

Clear communication about what you want and don’t want is very important!  Therapist may have magic hands, but they are not mind readers. If your therapist is doing something that feels great, let them know so they can do more of it! Just as importantly, if there is a technique, pressure, or area of focus that you are not enjoying, make sure you communicate that early on so they can adjust accordingly.  Simply, clear communication results in you enjoying your massage experience from start to finish.

Deeper benefits

Deep Tissue Massage – This is a full-body massage that generally uses a bit more pressure. Your therapist can target more trigger points and aim to get those knots worked out while still making you feel like they have covered the entire body.

“Deep Tissue” implies a specific focus on dense layers of muscle and fascia, it does not always mean deep pressure – “deep” can also refer to the impact of the massage on your body as a restorative therapy.

With numerous benefits, and not just limited to pain reduction, consistent Deep Tissue massages can help break down scar tissue and “knots” and promote long-term muscle rehabilitation.

Some of the conditions that could benefit from a Deep Tissue massage include:

  • Lower back and neck pain
  • Repetitive strain injuries
  • Sciatica
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Chronic pain
  • Limited mobility
  • Injuries and muscle tension
  • Post-workout fatigue

Deep Tissue may also aid in lowering high blood pressure and cortisol levels, reducing stress and anxiety.  If you are seeking relief from any of these things, book your next Deep Tissue massage online instantly!

Time to relax

Relaxation – the main goal of this massage is to fully relax. Therapists will typically use long soft strokes directed towards the heart to improve circulation and may target a few trigger points if you want that.

You can also enjoy an improvement in skin tone and appearance due to improved blood circulation. Some people have reported an increase in flexibility post-massage.

While reducing physical and emotional stress, a Relaxation Massage may also temporarily lower blood pressure and help manage stress-related affiliations. This massage also stimulates the release of positive brain chemicals that promote a feeling of well-being.

The ultimate goal for our massage therapists at Precision Wellness is to provide you with the most enjoyable massage experience possible.  They will leave you feeling refreshed and renewed, whether that be through a Relaxation massage or a Deep Tissue massage. Book online today!

Tips for Healthy Winter Skin

Winter is coming and before you know it the cold weather will be here. During this time of year, many people begin to feel run down, tired, depressed, and to top it off they have dry skin! If your skin becomes too dry it can lead to flaky, red patches that are not only uncomfortable but embarrassing as well. Thankfully there are a few tips that you can follow in order to help prevent such symptoms from occurring during these colder months…

1. Stay hydrated – drinking enough water is vital for healthy looking skin, it keeps the cells plump and full of moisture which in turn reduces fine lines and wrinkles

2. Load up on fruit & veg – eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables will ensure that your body gets all the nutrients it needs to fight off colds, coughs & flus over the winter months

3. Modify Facial Skin-Care Regiment – During the winter months, choose cream-based cleansers, and apply toners and astringents sparingly, if at all. Use a natural face scrub or exfoliator once or twice a week throughout this time

4. Moisturize frequently – Keep your hands well moisturized during this time too! Applying a hand cream after each washing can help, also wearing waterproof gloves when washing dishes or cleaning around the house.

5. Lower the thermostat – When it is chilly outside, the first thing most of us want to do is crank up the heat.  But central heat can make the air in your house even more dry.  Try setting the thermostat at a cool yet comfortable setting (68-72 F) to maintain healthy skin.

6. Limit shower time and temperature – It can be tempting to take a long, steamy shower, but your skin will be much better served with a 5-to-10-minute lukewarm shower (or bath)

7. Invest in a Humidifier – Using a humidifier in your home or office will add moisture to dry winter air and help keep skin hydrated.

8.  Fragrance-Free cleansers – The wrong soap can worsen itchy, dry skin.  For instance, regular bar soaps may contain irritating ingredients and fragrances.  Instead wash with a fragrance-free, moisturizing cleanser or gel.

9. Sunscreen – It’s not just for summer months! On bright winter days, snow reflects the sun’s rays – up to 80%, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.  That means whether you are out on the slopes, playing in the snow, or just walking through a parking lot on an errand run, it is just as important to be applying sunscreen in the harsh winter months.

 Give your skin what it needs – Winter air has a way of drying out skin, leaving it raw and red.  Even with at-home moisturizers, your skin can still look and feel dry.  Facials offer professional skincare, which penetrates into the layers of your skin, allowing your face to calm down redness and irritation and regain its healthy summer glow.

7 reasons we recommend winter facials:

  • Deep hydration
  • Professional grade exfoliation
  • Increased circulation
  • Vitamin and antioxidant infusion
  • Cleaned out pores and blackheads
  • Expert insight
  • Relaxation

So, whether you are traveling to someplace cold this winter or sticking around the Midwest, we wish you beautiful, hydrated skin all winter long. To schedule your facials or other appointment, book online today!

What is Thai Massage

Massage has many health benefits. It can reduce stress, tension, heart rate, blood pressure, sore muscles, and joint pain. Massage can also increase endorphins, bloody circulation, and immune functions.

Thai massage is a type of deep tissue, full-body massage. It uses many yoga-like postures to stretch the entire body and help heal injuries. Your therapist will use their palms and fingers and even their feet to apply firm pressure to your body. You will also be stretched and twisted into various positions – it’s the lazy man’s yoga!

After a Thai massage, you will feel relaxed and rejuvenated. You can expect to have decreased stress levels from head to toe along with increased flexibility in the muscles of your back, legs, and arms. Thai massage is also low impact so it’s good for all ages and activity levels including pregnant women or someone who recently had surgery/injury.

It is normal to feel sore after a massage. The Thai technique carries blood and nutrients to your muscles while eliminating toxins. After stimulating muscles that you may not usually use, you might experience delayed onset muscles soreness. Drink lots of water after your session to flush those toxins and help with soreness.

Thai massages work best when combined with other treatments such as acupuncture, cupping, etc. We have many tools to help you get rid of stress and aches quickly!

Here are a few benefits to Thai massage:

  • Relieves headaches: if you have migraines or experience headaches, traditional Thai massage may help ease your symptoms.
  • Reduces back pain: Thai massage may be an effective, nonpharmaceutical means of reducing back pain that includes joint mobilization, hot packs, and manual stretching to painful areas.
  • Relieves joint stiffness and pain: Thai massage may improve your joint function if you experience pain and stiffness when you move.
  • Increase flexibility and rang of motion: If your range of motion and flexibility are affecting your athletic performance or making it hard to get around, Thai massage may help you move more easily.
  • Eases anxiety: One of the most energetic than other forms of massage therapy, it has been shown to lower anxiety and increase a systemic feeling of calm.
  • Revives energy: Thai massage incorporates whole body movements, many of which are yoga-like. For that reason, many people report that they leave Thai massage sessions feeling not only relaxed but also rejuvenated.

What to expect:

With Thai massage, you can wear your own loose-fitting clothes (we also suggest gym/yoga clothing). You lie on a mat on the floor and your practitioner will slowly move your body through multiple stretches, using the weight and pressure of their own body to assist you. If your muscles are sore or tense, you may feel some discomfort. If you do, let your practitioner know so the pressure and stretching can be reduced.

Ready to try a Thai Massage? Book online today!

What is Microneedling

Microneedling is a hot topic in the beauty industry. This treatment has many benefits that can help you achieve the skin of your dreams. We’ll go over what microneedling is, how it works, and why it is helpful for your skin.

Microneedling is a form of dermal needling that involves puncturing the top layer of skin with tiny needles. It has been used in medicine for decades, and it’s quickly becoming popular as an anti-aging treatment. The medical name for this procedure is percutaneous collagen induction therapy (PCIT). PCIT can be performed on people who have acne scars, stretch marks, fine lines and wrinkles, and many other skin imperfections. It also helps to reduce the appearance of scar tissue after laser treatments or surgeries such as burn care or hair removal by smoothing out the surface area.

The goal of the treatment is to create tiny channels in your skin that can help stimulate collagen production and improve the overall appearance.

Microneedling has very few side effects which include some redness, light pigmentation changes, mild swelling, and itchiness at the site of needling. These reactions typically disappear within a couple days after treatment. Some people also notice small whiteheads or shallow cysts forming on their skin following microneedling treatments. This happens if too much pressure was used. Treatments are done for three months in a row, once every four weeks.

How to prepare:

– Microneedling should always be done by a professional under sterile conditions.

-You can stop using topical products for several days before rolling if you are concerned about irritation.

– If your skin is tanned, wait until it fades before microneedling because tanning makes your skin more sensitive to injury and possible infection.

– Avoid sun exposure like the plague during treatment (and forever afterward) as it increases the risk of scarring. The needles make tiny puncture wounds in the dermis; thus, creating an open wound that needs protection from sunlight. Not only do they create small channels but also pull up collagen fibers which stimulates growth throughout all layers of the epidermis resulting in thicker smoother younger looking skin within months!

Aftercare:

Microneedling will leave you red and sensitive, slathering on a broad-spectrum, chemical-free sunscreen with at least SPF 30 during the weeks following your treatment (and, let’s be honest, always!).

You should avoid retinol and acids, such as glycolic and salicylic. These ingredients will be too strong right after microneeding is done.

Be sure to keep your skin hydrated by applying a mild hydrating serum and use a mild cleanser, taking care to avoid exfoliating scrubs in the days immediately following the treatment.

Ideally, you will also want to avoid putting on makeup for the rest of the day, but if you have prior commitments, it is totally safe to wear later in the night.

Be sure to let your skin “chill” after microneedling. For the rest of the day, do not wash the skin, expose to high heat, sweat too much (that means no sun, no gym, no hot yoga).

Just like any procedure, do your research to ask questions and find a licensed practitioner just like the ones at Precision Wellness!

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