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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!

Facial Reflexology Benefits

Facial reflexology, the ability to manipulate the energy points of the face for healing purposes is an ancient form of treatment. It has made its way through history starting in India and slowly disseminating out into other countries.

Currently, facial reflexology is becoming more popular here in the United States as people are becoming more aware of its many benefits. One of which being that there are no negative side effects to this form of treatment because it only works on stimulating your body to heal itself!

There are numerous health benefits associated with facial reflexology including migraine relief! Aside from improving sleep quality, promoting healing, and removing toxins from the body, facial reflexology boasts a wealth of beauty benefits. The motion of the movement helps to work the facial muscles and release muscular tension, resulting in a younger, radiant glow and firmer, plumper skin.

The movement also improves the flow of lymphatic fluid, which aids in the removal of toxins. Facial reflexology can be used to reduce puffiness around the eyes, increase suppleness and elasticity of the skin, soothe sunburns, ease sinus pain, and improve complexion.

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. The technique promotes self-love by increasing awareness and acceptance of oneself; it is an excellent alternative therapy for those who suffer from stress or depression.

Facial reflexology is based on the premise that every point on our faces corresponds with all other parts and organs in your body. By using tools that work along meridians and focal areas mapped out on the face, a practitioner will balance the yin and yang energy in your body by way of your face.

People who are trying to quit smoking will see the effects of facial reflexology in as early as three sessions. This is because smoking causes your face to become numb and it tends to diminish sensation, this therapy helps regulate endorphin production which will help you get back that feeling in your mouth and relieve stress you may be experiencing from withdrawal symptoms. Some other benefits of facial reflexology include provides relaxation to both the body and mind, increased blood circulation, stimulation of the lymphatic system, soothes away aches and pains, chronic tension can cause grey hair; this therapy prevents it by stimulating the entire glandular system.

Each facial reflexology treatment is as unique as the person receiving it. In other words, don’t even try to anticipate your treatment. What happens during a session also depends on the practitioner, their method, and tools they decide to employ.

When you are ready to balance your body and its processes through the face, it may result in a more efficient system all allows you to rest and reset. Call Precision Wellness today to book your appointment!

What is a Lymphatic Drainage Massage

Lymphatic drainage massage is a type of massage therapy, where your therapist will apply pressure to the lymph nodes in different parts of your body to help move the lymphatic fluid. You might have heard about it by other names such as lymphatic drainage or simply called ‘lymph massage’. It has also been referred to as manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) .

This type of treatment can help with: swollen glands, blocked ducts in breasts, abscesses in teeth and gums, infections, weakened immunity, sinus infections, brain fog, chronic fatigue, even digestive issues.

There are many approaches to help get the lymph fluid flowing again, such as starting to move (exercise), avoiding sitting or standing for extended periods of time, dry brushing, eating a more “clean” diet, incorporating red raw foods like beets, cherries, cranberries, pomegranate, berries, and simply breathing and laughing!

But if you want to get a great lymphatic massage, we have therapist that specialize in Lymphatic Drainage Massage!

Massages involve some sort of therapeutic touch. Unlike a traditional massage like Swedish and Deep Tissue massage, lymphatic massage focuses on using feather-light pressure and circular movements no greater than the pressure it would take for your finger to move skin. Most massages focus on the skin, muscles, and joints while LD massages focus in a concentrated manner to one area or quadrant of the body to clear the body’s lymphatic system. For the lymphatic system to run smoothly it is important that cells, proteins and fluid move through the body’s network of lymph vessels, nodes, glands and organs. Since the lymphatic system doesn’t have a pump like our heart does for blood, you need to help it move by your movements in order for it to function properly. This technique assists the movement of muscle fluids back into circulation where they are filtered through the lungs or kidneys before returning to general body circulation.

The lymphatic system transports waste materials out of tissues back into the bloodstream so that they can be eliminated when we urinate or defecate. A healthy lymphatic system also provides defense against infections because white blood cells migrate throughout the tissues in the body.

Call Precision Wellness today to schedule your Lymphatic Drainage Massage today!

Fibroblast Therapy? What is that?!?!?

People of all ages, shapes, and sizes have loose skin. Although it is common, having sagging skin can cause embarrassment and discomfort. IN the past, the only way to deal with sagging skin was through invasive surgical procedures. Now you have the option of Fibroblast Therapy! This revolutionary new skin tightening procedure can create similar effects as surgical options without ever having to under the knife.

You’re unfamiliar with the term Fibroblast, these are the collagen and protein producing cells in the dermis – the layer of skin just below your outermost skin layer. Fibroblasts play an important role in helping skin wounds heal as well as maintaining skin firmness and tightness.

How does Fibroblast Therapy work?

Your esthetician uses an electric handheld device called a plasma Fibroblast pen for the procedure. This pen uses a metal probe to ionize atmospheric gas between its tip and the gasses that the skin naturally emits. This forms a plasma charge. The electrical arc is then created, shrinking the targeted skin. Your tissues will retract and tighten, providing you with a more youthful-looking appearance. As your skin continues to heal and repair post-treatment, your skin elasticity will continue to improve and tighten.

What are the benefits of Fibroblast Therapy?

Plasma fibroblast therapy is a nonsurgical treatment that may be used to treat skin conditions such as acne scars, age spots, seborrheic keratosis, and wrinkled skin.

Cosmetic specials may also use plasma fibroblast therapy as an alternative to lip fillers to make the lips look fuller.

Are there any side effects of Fibroblast Therapy?

While plasma fibroblast therapy can offer results, they are not likely to be as dramatic as a surgical procedure. Examples of side effects include redness, swelling, mild hypopigmentation, mild hyperpigmentation, skin peeling and crusting. When you consider that you are getting a skin tightening solution without the need for dangerous surgery, these side effects are much easier to swallow.

Will I see results from Fibroblast Therapy right away?

You will notice some results immediately after your appointment. As cell turnover occurs and the product of collagen increase, you will notice further changes to your skin. You should expect to see the full results of your treatment around three months. Fibroblast procedure results typically last for three years.

If you are feeling self-conscious about the state of your skin, call your esthetician at Precision Wellness to discuss if Fibroblast is right for you!

How does a facial help with anti-aging?

As skin ages, it becomes duller and develops lines, wrinkles, and folds. Anti-aging facials are cosmetic procedures designed to restore a youthful appearance to the face.

Facials are non-intrusive skincare procedures designed to improve the appearance of the facial skin. Most facials are multi-step treatments, combining various skincare products and techniques to target different aspects of the skin.

Anti-aging facials are facials designed specifically to rejuvenate mature skin. They do so by improving the thickness and smoothness of the skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, creases, and folds, as well as brightening up the tone of the skin.

Most anti-aging facials have the same three goals:

Thicken the skin
Improve the elasticity of the skin
Restore a vibrant skin tone

By thickening the skin and improving its elasticity, anti-aging facials reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkle, and folds. By restoring a vibrant skin tone, they reduce dullness. Together, this gives the skin a more youthful appearance.

Here are some of the anti-aging facials options available to you:

Exfoliating facials

Exfoliating facials are designed to remove dead skin cells from the outermost layers of the skin, revealing the younger, healthier cells underneath. This makes them a highly effective way to give the skin a more vibrant tone.

Collagen facials

Collagen facials are creams, serums, and masks designed to replenish the collagen in facial skin. By doing so, they help to maintain the skin’s thickness and elasticity, ensuring a smooth, taut appearance.

Hydrating facials

The primary goal of a hydrating facial is to moisten the skin. Making the skin appear plumper and more vibrant, these products help to sooth dry skin and prevent cracking or flaking.

Light therapy facials

Light therapy facials use powerful, medical-grade LED light to rejuvenate the skin. They do so by increasing collagen levels in the skin, thereby improving skin thickness and elasticity. This is also an effective way to reduce excess pigmentation, which is often caused by sun damage.

Microdermabrasion facials

Microdermabrasion is an exfoliating treatment in which abrasive crystals are shot against the skin. Like other types of exfoliations, microdermabrasion removes dead cells from the top layer of the skin to reveal younger, healthier skin.

If you are ready for an anti-aging facial to help your skin appear younger and more vibrant, call Precision Wellness today!

What is TMJ & How Massage Can Help

The Mayo Clinic describes TMJ as the temporomandibular (tem-puh-roe-man-DIB-u-lur) joint (TMJ) acts like a sliding hinge, connecting your jawbone to your skull. You have one joint on each side of your jaw. TMJ disorders – a type of temporomandibular disorder can cause pain in your jaw joint and in the muscles that control jaw movement.

The exact causes of a person’s TMJ disorder is often difficult to determine. Your pain may be due to a combination of factors, such as genetics, arthritis, or jaw injury. Some people who have jaw pain also tend to clench or grind their teeth and can also be genetic.

In most cases, the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorders is temporary and can be relieved with self-managed care, massage and in extreme cases may require surgery. For some, the pain comes and goes and is triggered by doing something like chewing a piece of gum all day. For others, TMJ can be chronic and very painful. Here’s some good news – a TMJ massage can help relieve your pain!

When the jaw muscles are overly tight or imbalanced, manual therapy works well to help restore normal muscle tone and balance between the TMJ muscles. Now, let us discus the fun part so you can get some relief!

TMJ Kneading Massage provides constant, circular motion against the joins and muscles most affected by TMJ paint.
TMJ Friction Massage – For some people, pressure alone is enough o find some relief. That said, it needs to be done correctly and in the right place.
TMJ Stretching Massage – If you liked the friction massage, the TMJ stretching massage could further your relief and “exercise” the muscles most responsible for TMJ disorders.

Are you having jaw pain? Call Precision Wellness for a TMJ massage!

Body Hair From Around The World

illustraction of nine different women in bikinis

The grooming habits of American women are well known today. Like most things’ appearance-related, they are media-driven. The removal (and trimming) of pubic hair in the US appears to be tied to the invention of the bikini in the ’60s.

Different countries prefer specific hair removal methods to others. These might include waxing, shaving, depilatory creams, laser hair removal, or threading. What are the personal grooming habits of women around the world? We’re here to tell you!

The UK: The UK is most like the USA in preferring waxing and laser hair removal. Shaving is another popular method simply because it is more accessible, convenient, and costs less.

Japan: Women in Japan have preferred to shave only their legs and underarms, leaving the bikini and pubic area untouched. It is also quite common to remove facial hair and peach fuzz for a smooth, glass-like appearance.

Australia: Australian women are known for being beach babes, and what those beach babes do not want is unwanted hair. Removing their leg, underarm, and facial hair as well as hair in their bikini region with laser hair removal or waxing is not uncommon. Australians are so into hair-free, smooth skin that those that do not remove their hair are considered outliers.

India: Predominantly it is the women of upper classes that now remove their unwanted leg, underarm, and pubic hair in India with their chosen removal method being primarily depilatory creams. However, laser hair removal is quickly becoming more popular as laser technology develops for use on darker skin tones. With laser hair technology, it is becoming more popular to remove hair from the chin, upper lip, underarms, cheeks, and bikini area.

Brazil: You likely assume that the term “Brazilian wax” comes from Brazil, but that is not true. It is American and is not very popular in Brazil. The most popular grooming style among Brazilian women is to leave a “landing strip” of hair.

Germany: It is common for women to shave their legs, underarms, and the bikini region in Germany. Much like in the US, it is extremely popular to be smooth and hair-free. Laser hair removal is the most popular hair removal method because it is most effective, efficient, and permanent.

China: Hair removal in China has not been a significant beauty ritual, up until recently. Chinese women didn’t bother to remove their leg or armpit hair, as hair was just part of your body and nothing to be ashamed about. Body hair is considered completely natural. Hair removal methods (for those mostly in big cities) use depilatory creams or shaving.

As you can see, women throughout most of the world remove at least some of their body hair. While the parts to be plucked may change according to trends, if time tells us anything, it is that women will continue to want to keep at least some portion of their bodies hairless.

What are the Long-Term Benefits of a Regular Facial?

Woman-with-towel-on-head-and-facial-product-on-face-puckering-lips

Most of us consider a day at the spa a luxury. At the end of the day, you probably look forward to being pampered and prettied up in a relaxing environment. One particular indulgence that does more than just spoil you, is a facial.

Staggering amounts of pollution, dirt, grime and dead skin accumulate on our faces. This build up is unavoidable. We can do the best we can to keep the skin clean, but it is not always enough. Many advocates compare getting a facial to going to the dentist. We brush our teeth, floss (when we remember) and still acknowledge the importance of going to the dentist for a regular deep clean. Keeping on a regular dental schedule saves us a lot of money down the road. Like our teeth, the skin needs to be evaluated and cleansed by a trained professional every so often to maintain a healthy complexion. Getting facials on a regular basis, even once every few months or year, will save you from needless spending in the future.

What are some of the benefits of a routine facial you ask? Let’s dive in:

Regular facials provide noticeable improvements to your skin tone, texture, and appearance.
Regular facials lead to less pronounced wrinkles and keeping your skin hydrated.
Your existing creams and moisturizers will be more effective.
Healthy skin is our body’s first line of defense against illness, bacteria, and disease (it is extremely important to take care of it!).
Professional facials help increase circulation in your skin by promoting new skin cell growth which leads to healthier and younger looking skin!
General recommendation is a facial every three to four weeks (or once a month). The life cycle of skin cell development and exfoliation.
Facials help this process and assure your skin always glows!
Removing blackheads and exfoliating dry, flaky skin, facials help fade dark spots from long-term damage and bad habits.

Are you wondering the disadvantage of regular facials? The most common side effects after a facial are redness and blotchy skin due to the pressure of exfoliation and extraction. You should avoid wearing makeup or using any of the products on your skin during the day or two that follow your facial to give your skin time to heal. That’s it… that is the only disadvantage! (now that is a side effect I’m ok with!)

One important note to remember is that a single facial will not improve the quality and healthy of your skin in the long-term. Much like going to the gym, improving the health of your skin is a continual process, requiring commitment and dedication.

At Precision Wellness, we offer a wide variety of facial services customized to fit the needs of your skin type and goals for your skin you’d like to achieve.

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