During the last 20 years, there has been a lot of hype in the media about human growth hormone (HGH) and its anti aging properties. There are people who pay thousands of dollars to find the fountain of youth- but can growth hormone actually reverse aging?
Growth hormone is produced by a small gland (the pituitary gland) in the brain and is released into the body in small amounts. The maximal secretion of growth hormone occurs during childhood and is carefully regulated . Growth hormone is a potent anabolic hormone and is important for the growth of bone, muscle and tissues. By the time most individuals reach their 40s, the amount of growth hormone starts to decline.
There are many people, especially in the medical profession, who believe that the decline of growth hormone at this time period is responsible for aging. Wrinkles, fines lines and saggy skin have all been attributed to the decline of growth hormone. Such claims have inundated the internet creating a frenzy among people wanting to reverse aging. This has resulted in a growth in the marketing of growth hormone. It appears no one wants to get old and many people are seeking growth hormone injections. However, the evidence that growth hormone is the fountain of youth is non-conclusive or non existent. Only anecdotal reports exist- and these come mainly the manufacturers of HGH who have a vested interest in the hormone.
In clinical medicine, Human Growth Hormone is only available with a physician’s prescription and is administered intramuscularly as an injection. Growth hormone is often prescribed for people with documented growth hormone deficiency and is never prescribed to reverse aging. Growth hormone deficiency is most often seen when the pituitary gland is destroyed by brain tumors, surgery or radiation therapy. Individuals who often receive GH injections are those with short stature with a variety of medical conditions.
Human Growth Hormone injections are known to increase bone density, muscle mass and improve physical endurance. There are many individuals who have received growth hormone over a period of many years and yet all of them have aged; there is no scientific evidence where an individual receiving growth hormone had not aged. While it is accepted to administer HGH to individuals who have HGH deficiency, HGH is almost never prescribed to healthy individuals because it has potentially strong side effects.
As far as its anti aging abilities, there are none. Today there are many websites which also sell growth hormone as a pill that is said to produce the same effects as the injection. These growth hormone releasers are heavily marketed all over the internet. In all likelihood, the pill is broken down in the stomach and the protein is digested by the acids.
As far as we know, there is no conclusive evidence that HGH (Human Growth Hormone) has any anti aging abilities.. For individuals who want to remain young, the only treatment is to exercise, eat a healthy diet and leave the rest up to Time.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
More Information on Stimulating Collagen Production
I’ve noticed a lot of my readers took particular interest in my previous article on Collagen Production and I’ve noted there is a lot of interest in preventing aging of the skin. So I’ve done some more research for those of you interested in some more anti-aging tips.
My previous article mentioned some of the ways you can boost collagen production in your skin to help fight aging and I thought I’d write more about collagen because there seems to be a lot of questions about how to help your skin build up its collagen supply. Because we all know the facts – as we age, we lose both collagen and elastin and the skin becomes susceptible to wrinkles and loss of volume which contributes to our faces looking older than they should.
The aging of the skin is based on a few factors, including photo damage by the harmful effects of the sun rays and decreasing available amounts of collagen and elastin as time goes by. Both of these factors lead to our skin aging.
What can help with collagen production is the use of the bioidentical hormone Estradiol applied to the skin. A study was done at the University of Michigan Medical School using postmenopausal women and andropausal men with the average age of 75. Estrdio was applied every day on skin near the hip and on the forearm (one area is usually unexposed to the sun and the forearm which usually has sun damaged skin due to lifetime exposure). The participants also applied a moisturizing cream which contained estradiol to the face twice a day for a two week time period. It was found that in the biopsy samples of skin removed from the test participants, It was found that there were increased levels of collagen and compounds that increase the production of collagen in the skin biopsies. It appears that the bioidentical hormone estradiol helps with the production of collagen. It is more than a coincidence that declining levels of hormones in men and women as they approach menopause and andropause also coincides with the decline of collagen production and results in the look of aging skin.
Vitamin C is another big booster to collagen production as well as highly beneficial to your overall health. However, I will not elaborate on the other health benefits of vitamin C here as we are here to discuss collagen. As a popular additive to many anti-aging skin care products, it plays a major role in collage production. Vitamin C interacts with amino acids in the collagen cells. By adding hydrogen and oxygen to the amino acids, Vitamin C helps with collagen production. By not taking vitamin C, not only are you negatively affecting your health, you will also be causing your levels of collagen production to decline. In your late 40s, you should be taking about 500 mg of vitamin C a day. On your 50th birthday, it may be time to start taking 1000 mg to help boost the rate at which your body makes collagen. Consult with your anti-aging doctor or naturopath to discuss the correct dosage of vitamin C for you to take.
Applying collagen as an ingredient in a skin cream will not help much because the problem with most anti-aging creams is that the collagen molecules are too large to penetrate the top layer of skin. Antiaging moisturizing creams do help keep the skin soft and moisturized, and help plump up the skin temporarily. I am not telling you to stop using a good moisturing cream at all. We are discussing things here that will help boost collagen production internally.
Key amino acids and copper peptides help to stimulate collagen synthesis. However, these must be used with the greatest care because over use can be dangerous. Again, I must emphasize that you work with an anti-aging doctor and/or naturopath to discuss the nutrients your diet might be missing and see what you can supplement with safely to enhance collagen production.
Other supplements which can help with boosting collagen production are Hyaluronic Acid and Genacol which has a highly concentrated amino acid base, can boost the production of collagen throughout the body when used on a regular basis. Not only does it improve the elasticity of the skin and help reduce the look of wrinkled, aging skin, it can reduce pain throughout the body, most specifically in swollen and tender joints resulting from injury. It can also increase the strength and endurance of the joints. It has also been recommended for fibromyalgia, arthritis, muscular and joint pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. You can buy Genacol online or at the local health food store.
Another way to boost collagen production is to use a cosmetic filler such as Restylane, or Artecoll or Perlane which actually helps stimulate collagen cells in the site of injection. These injections which fill wrinkles pushes up the indentation of the wrinkle and also promotes collagen. See my articles on Restylane, Artecoll and Botox to find out more.
My previous article mentioned some of the ways you can boost collagen production in your skin to help fight aging and I thought I’d write more about collagen because there seems to be a lot of questions about how to help your skin build up its collagen supply. Because we all know the facts – as we age, we lose both collagen and elastin and the skin becomes susceptible to wrinkles and loss of volume which contributes to our faces looking older than they should.
The aging of the skin is based on a few factors, including photo damage by the harmful effects of the sun rays and decreasing available amounts of collagen and elastin as time goes by. Both of these factors lead to our skin aging.
What can help with collagen production is the use of the bioidentical hormone Estradiol applied to the skin. A study was done at the University of Michigan Medical School using postmenopausal women and andropausal men with the average age of 75. Estrdio was applied every day on skin near the hip and on the forearm (one area is usually unexposed to the sun and the forearm which usually has sun damaged skin due to lifetime exposure). The participants also applied a moisturizing cream which contained estradiol to the face twice a day for a two week time period. It was found that in the biopsy samples of skin removed from the test participants, It was found that there were increased levels of collagen and compounds that increase the production of collagen in the skin biopsies. It appears that the bioidentical hormone estradiol helps with the production of collagen. It is more than a coincidence that declining levels of hormones in men and women as they approach menopause and andropause also coincides with the decline of collagen production and results in the look of aging skin.
Vitamin C is another big booster to collagen production as well as highly beneficial to your overall health. However, I will not elaborate on the other health benefits of vitamin C here as we are here to discuss collagen. As a popular additive to many anti-aging skin care products, it plays a major role in collage production. Vitamin C interacts with amino acids in the collagen cells. By adding hydrogen and oxygen to the amino acids, Vitamin C helps with collagen production. By not taking vitamin C, not only are you negatively affecting your health, you will also be causing your levels of collagen production to decline. In your late 40s, you should be taking about 500 mg of vitamin C a day. On your 50th birthday, it may be time to start taking 1000 mg to help boost the rate at which your body makes collagen. Consult with your anti-aging doctor or naturopath to discuss the correct dosage of vitamin C for you to take.
Applying collagen as an ingredient in a skin cream will not help much because the problem with most anti-aging creams is that the collagen molecules are too large to penetrate the top layer of skin. Antiaging moisturizing creams do help keep the skin soft and moisturized, and help plump up the skin temporarily. I am not telling you to stop using a good moisturing cream at all. We are discussing things here that will help boost collagen production internally.
Key amino acids and copper peptides help to stimulate collagen synthesis. However, these must be used with the greatest care because over use can be dangerous. Again, I must emphasize that you work with an anti-aging doctor and/or naturopath to discuss the nutrients your diet might be missing and see what you can supplement with safely to enhance collagen production.
Other supplements which can help with boosting collagen production are Hyaluronic Acid and Genacol which has a highly concentrated amino acid base, can boost the production of collagen throughout the body when used on a regular basis. Not only does it improve the elasticity of the skin and help reduce the look of wrinkled, aging skin, it can reduce pain throughout the body, most specifically in swollen and tender joints resulting from injury. It can also increase the strength and endurance of the joints. It has also been recommended for fibromyalgia, arthritis, muscular and joint pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. You can buy Genacol online or at the local health food store.
Another way to boost collagen production is to use a cosmetic filler such as Restylane, or Artecoll or Perlane which actually helps stimulate collagen cells in the site of injection. These injections which fill wrinkles pushes up the indentation of the wrinkle and also promotes collagen. See my articles on Restylane, Artecoll and Botox to find out more.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Artecoll
A Better Anti-Aging Cosmetic Filler
Looking for a cosmetic surgery which takes the years off your face? I will share with you this great anti-aging tip – a process I am definitely a fan of. Another anti-aging cosmetic filler like Botox is a product called Artecoll, made by Canderm Pharma Inc. One of the benefits of Artecoll is that it is a much longer lasting filler than either Botox or Restylane. Since the 1930s, it has been used for eye lenses, dental work and bone repair, so it has a known safety factor for quite some time now.
As an anti-aging treatment, it is used to add volume and structure to your skin as it ages. It is used by clinicians as a solution for acne scars, frowns, laugh lines (nasal labial folds) and thin lips. It is quite successful in building up lost volume in the face.
This bio-compatible solution is made of collagen and microscopic PMMA beads and added lidocaine to help with the pain of the injection site. By stimulating natural collagen production, it “binds” with the collagen building volume and structure to your face where required, this whole process takes from two to three months to be activated. Occasionally a patient will require two or three applications to get the results you are looking for as an anti-aging treatment.
How long will this antiaging procedure last? Artecoll will last for 10 or more years. To get Artecoll, you must have an experienced doctor inject Artecoll. One in a thousand people can be allergic to Artecoll so if you are worried, you can have a sensitivity test performed on your skin. If Artecoll proves to be the option for you, then you may experience some redness, swelling, bumps, bruising and itchiness which you can deal with by using cold compresses and acetaminophen, These side effects will disappear in a few day. Another bonus besides getting lost volume replaced in your face is that there is no downtime with Artecoll. If you want you can have this done on your lunch hour and return to work that afternoon. However, I would recommend having it done on a Friday and if there is any redness of bruising, you have the weekend in front of you so the redness or bruising will subside.
Consult with your antiaging doctor to find out if Artecoll is the solution for you. As a booster to collagen production in your skin and an excellent way of giving back lost volume to your face, even though it is slightly higher in price than Botox, I highly recommend Artecoll injections.
Looking for a cosmetic surgery which takes the years off your face? I will share with you this great anti-aging tip – a process I am definitely a fan of. Another anti-aging cosmetic filler like Botox is a product called Artecoll, made by Canderm Pharma Inc. One of the benefits of Artecoll is that it is a much longer lasting filler than either Botox or Restylane. Since the 1930s, it has been used for eye lenses, dental work and bone repair, so it has a known safety factor for quite some time now.
As an anti-aging treatment, it is used to add volume and structure to your skin as it ages. It is used by clinicians as a solution for acne scars, frowns, laugh lines (nasal labial folds) and thin lips. It is quite successful in building up lost volume in the face.
This bio-compatible solution is made of collagen and microscopic PMMA beads and added lidocaine to help with the pain of the injection site. By stimulating natural collagen production, it “binds” with the collagen building volume and structure to your face where required, this whole process takes from two to three months to be activated. Occasionally a patient will require two or three applications to get the results you are looking for as an anti-aging treatment.
How long will this antiaging procedure last? Artecoll will last for 10 or more years. To get Artecoll, you must have an experienced doctor inject Artecoll. One in a thousand people can be allergic to Artecoll so if you are worried, you can have a sensitivity test performed on your skin. If Artecoll proves to be the option for you, then you may experience some redness, swelling, bumps, bruising and itchiness which you can deal with by using cold compresses and acetaminophen, These side effects will disappear in a few day. Another bonus besides getting lost volume replaced in your face is that there is no downtime with Artecoll. If you want you can have this done on your lunch hour and return to work that afternoon. However, I would recommend having it done on a Friday and if there is any redness of bruising, you have the weekend in front of you so the redness or bruising will subside.
Consult with your antiaging doctor to find out if Artecoll is the solution for you. As a booster to collagen production in your skin and an excellent way of giving back lost volume to your face, even though it is slightly higher in price than Botox, I highly recommend Artecoll injections.
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