So what did all the scientific studies find? One study published in the American College of Rheumatology publication on Arthritis & Rheumatism in July of 2007 summed it up – The researchers looked at the wide range of results across all of these studies. Their conclusion “Glucosamine Hydrochloride is not effective” But there were positive results with Glucosamine Sulfate. So if Glucosamine Hydrochloride isn’t effective then why do all the stores sell the HCL form?  Simple, cost. the HCL form is much cheaper than the sulfate form. So inexpensive in fact that they can add MSM and Chondroitin and it is still cheaper than Glucosamine Sulfate. So the real results you see are from the MSM and Chondroitin.

So what is the bottom line? If you want the best results chose a product with Glucosamine Sulfate.  Even in studies which have looked at the combination of Glucosamine Sulfate plus MSM and Chondroitin the latter two ingredients don’t improve the results over just glucosamine Sulfate.

The dose of Glucosamine Sulfate which was found to be effective was at least 1,500 mg. Optimal is 4,000mg per day.

Now the challenge is finding a glucosamine sulfate product. Very few retail outlets carry the sulfate from, so you will have to look. The product I use incorporates glucosamine sulfate plus turmeric. Turmeric is a very potent anti-inflamitory agent and helps to reduce the inflammation in the joints. It is thought that it is inflammation in the joints which leads to destruction of the cartilage and ultimately to arthritis.

To give some perspective to this, in the 19th century, girls reached puberty at the age of 15 to 17 years of age, depending upon country of origin. In the 1960′s, the internationally stated age of puberty was set at 12. Now, these new statistics (which appear to be matched in the U.S.) reveal an average age of puberty of less than 9 years old. It is not only the lower age of puberty that is of concern. The rapidity with which this change has occurred is equally concerning.

Scientists are speculating that two causes may be at play. The first: children are more obese than they used to be causing their bodies to make more estrogen. This could result in earlier menses. The second factor: chemicals in our environment called estrogen disruptors may also play a part in this shocking development. These chemicals are found in our food supply, our water and even in the tools with which we eat and drink.

Concerns about health problems related to earlier menses, such as cancer and the associated obesity with its complications are certainly prevalent. Hitting puberty results in a longer lifetime exposure to estrogen which is a factor in breast cancer and heart disease. In addition, socially these younger girls have to face unprecedented sexual pressure. Now they have bodies that are mature before they are emotionally prepared to deal with these issues.

Ten years ago there was debate whether some of the health changes that are rapidly appearing, such as autism, obesity, MS and premature menarche, were due to better collection of data. The data we are receiving now is collected in a modern time. These are real changes and real numbers.

My rumination on this topic would be that hundreds to thousands of years used to be required for such a dramatic change in human physiology. Now, over less than 20 years, this change has been documented. We are left with the question, “What is happening to the health of our children and our citizens?” Now, that’s a question we should get to work on!!

efficacy of this method. This method can successfully remove hair in a larger area, in a very short time. Laser hair removal is often touted as a solution for permanent hair removal but the FDA has certified it as a mode of permanent hair reduction. While this method is totally effective for some people, others may require repeated sessions every year to prevent regrowth of hair.

Laser Hair Removal: Process

The principle behind laser hair removal is that the lasers used for this purpose selectively target only dark matter (hair follicles) in the area and generally do not affect the skin. Almost all hair removal lasers identify melanin as the dark target matter. Melanin is the coloring pigment in the skin and the hair. It can be of two types – eumelanin, which is responsible for the black or brown color and pheomelanin, which gives the red or blonde color. As the lasers can detect only the dark matter, removal of red or blonde-colored hair is not done through this method. Lasers are best capable of removing black or brown hair and the best suited combination for this method is light skin with dark hair. However, this created problems for dark-skinned people, whose skin also got affected with the laser, but this problem has now been solved by the new lasers introduced for this purpose.

Laser Hair Removal: Side-Effects

Laser hair removal, although considered as a safe option for removing unwanted hair, can cause side-effects too. Side-effects are caused mainly due to lack of skills on the part of the practitioner or due to the use of low-quality devices, which are not approved by the FDA. Side-effects can vary from person to person. Some people may not experience any side-effects, whereas others suffer a lot. The following is a list of common side-effects caused by laser hair removal.

• The most common among the side-effects of using laser for hair removal is swelling and redness of the skin, which is more likely to be experienced by people with a sensitive skin. This problem can get worse in areas of sensitive skin and sometimes may be accompanied by pain. You can ask for some topical application to treat the problem. Usually it subsides in two to three days.
• Another problem is skin discoloration, which can be either hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation. Lasers can block the production of melanin in the skin, resulting in a lighter skin tone called hypopigmentation. In some people, it can cause overproduction of melanin, termed as hyperpigmentation. Both conditions are more commonly found in people with darker skin. Most cases of hyperpigmentation are reversible, but in case of hypopigmentation it is not reversible.
• Laser hair removal can also cause burns, mostly in dark-skinned people, as laser is quickly absorbed by dark skin. Most of the burns caused by this method of hair removal are mild, but there have been reports of severe burns too.
• Some embarrassing conditions resulting from laser hair removal is the regrowth of hair in patches and blisters. Blisters may also cause pain, apart from the unpleasant appearance.
• There are rare cases of serious side-effects like reticulate erythema, which is characterized by a long lasting redness of the skin resembling a web-like pattern. This is caused as a result of repeated sessions of laser hair removal.
• Another serious side-effect is uveitis, caused by the use of laser for removal of hair in the eyebrows. This condition is caused when the lasers used are of longer wavelength. Uveitis is the inflammation of the uveal tract, which lines the inside of the eye behind the cornea.
• There are also chances of blindness, if the lasers are used in close proximity to the eyes.

Mostly, the side-effects caused by lasers are very mild, but always make sure to consult a licensed practitioner, who uses safe machines. Laser machines are approved by the FDA too. You can go for a device which has been approved by the FDA. Check for the credentials of the practitioner and ask him to make sure that you are suitable for this method of hair removal.

If you live in the metro Denver Boulder area please come see us for your laser hair removal needs at Bella Pelle Laser in Broomfield

Essential Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids are known to play a critical role in promoting healthy skin. They help to regulate cellular function and maintain elasticity and suppleness in the skin. Consequently, a fatty acid deficiency will show up as skin problems. Most of us do not get enough of the Omega 3 fatty acids in our diet whereas Omega 6 fatty acids are in plentiful supply. Symptoms of Omega 3 fatty acid deficiency include skin problems like eczema, dandruff, dry and flaking skin and poor wound healing.

Three reasons why EPA is so beneficial to the skin?

• EPA is known to reduce inflammation by helping the body to produce anti-inflammatory prostaglandins. These are hormone-like substances that are responsible for regulating all the cells in our body.
• EPA helps to inhibit the production of androgens, which are hormones that influence the production of sebum in the hair follicle. Excess sebum production can lead to acne and other skin problems.
• EPA helps to limit production of Arachidonic acid, which is responsible for pro-inflammatory responses in the body, high levels of which are found in people with inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis.

Here are the basics of the Tria type devices:

• Cost is about $800
• It has a small spot size, much smaller than a salon laser so it will take many more pulses to do the same area.
• It only operates 30 minutes on a single charge.
• Doing a small area, like an underarm, it will take more than 30 minutes. So you’ll have to stop, charge for a couple hours, then resume. Doing lower legs could take all weekend!
• The battery has a set life. After several hundred chargings, it will lose power and need to be replaced.

So what is the recommendation?

• If you’re doing a small, easy to reach area, like lip, chin, sideburns, etc. then the Tria could be a good choice, but at $800 you can have these areas done much more economically by a salon. Compared to the price of the Tria you could do you’re entire face and have money left over.
• Doing larger areas, such as arms, legs, men’s back, chest, etc would be prohibitively time consuming having to stop every 30 minutes to charge it for an hour or two. We charge $900 for a women’s legs package. We can do a treatment in 90 minutes whereas the Tria would have you spending all weekend to do your legs – And you have to repeat this every 6-8 weeks.
• Put a price on your time. The price of the Tria is about what we charge for a Bikini and Underarm package (7 treatments). We can do the bikini and underarms in 30 minutes or less. The tria would take 4-5 chargingsto do the same area, so it could take a whole day between productive time and chargings.
• What we’d recommend the Tria for is touch up after having laser hair removal done on a large area. When a hair or two returns after several months the Tria would let you do a quick touch up right when the hair first appears and is in its growth stage.

For laser hair removal in Denver or Boulder, please visit us atwww.BellaPelleLaser.com

Makeup may be used after the treatment. Just make sure that you have moisturizer on under your makeup. In fact, moisturizer will help the dead hair exfoliate from the follicle, so use moisturizer frequently and freely on the treated area. Any moisturizer without alpha-hydroxy acids will work.

Make sure you avoid sun exposure unless you have an SPF 30 sunscreen on, and then only for a short time. Getting a sunburn soon after a laser hair removal treatment could lead to a more severe sunburn and/or pigment changes. Pigment changes are usually temporary – but may take up to 6 months to clear.

For your laser hair removal Denver needs, please visit us atwww.BellaPelleLaser.com

Also visit us for VelaShape cellulite reduction.

First a bit of hair biology 101 – every hair on your body goes through three phases.

1. First is the growth stage. In this stage the hair is actively growing and getting longer. In this phase there is rich blood supply in the hair follicle to feed the hair growth. It is the length of this phase which determines the length of the hair. On your scalp this phase can be prolonged which is the reason you can grow long hair, whereas on your arms this phase can be much shorter, so the hair grows less than an inch, then stops.
2. The second phase is where the hair stops growing. the blood supply pulls back from the follicle, but the hair follicle holds onto the hair for some time.
3. Finally the follicle lets go of the hair and it falls out. The follicle will remain in this dormant stage for some time, then the blood supply will return and will start growing a new hair.

The process above repeats over and over for a single hair follicle.

Now lets look at how the laser works. The laser light penetrates the skin and encounters the dark hair in the follicle and heats it up. If it is in the growth phase the blood supply is in close proximity to the hair in the follicle and the blood is heated and cauterized. This then disables the hair follicle so it can’t grow another hair. But if the follicle is in the 2nd or 3rd phases above, then the hair heats up, but the blood supply isn’t there so nothing happens.

At any one time you may have about 20% of your hair follicles in the growth phase. So if you did laser once, you might reduce the amount of hair by 20%. Do it twice and you might thin it by 40%, etc. So in theory five treatments should eliminate all the hair. But in reality the timing of your hair growth cycle is variable and unknown, so one follicle might sneak its growth phase in between two treatments. So then typically seven treatments will be required.

For laser hair removal in Denver, please visit us: Bella Pelle Laser

If you are in the Denver Boulder metro area please come visit us for laser hair removal at Bella Pelle Laser.

If you’re thinking of getting a tattoo it would be wise to consider getting laser hair removal in that area then after the treatments are complete, then have the tattoo done.

If you’re in the Denver and Boulder metro area please visit us for your laser hair removal needs. www.BellaPelleLaser.com