Since the beginning of time, man has searched the world endlessly for the infamous fountain of youth. A secret ingredient, remedy, tincture or concoction that can freeze the hands of time, and perhaps, even reverse them. Regardless of whether or not the fountain of youth exists, it is this optimistic and obsessive pursuit of immortality that continues to spur a perpetual evolution of health and wellness that has significantly enhanced our quality of life, and nearly doubled our average life expectancy over the last century.
This shift is somewhat of a medical phenomenon, and absolutely intriguing from a sociological view. In the year 1900, the average life span for a man in the United States was 46.3 years of age, and 48.3 years for a woman. By the year 2010, these age averages had reached the 80-year mark. What once was expected to be the end of the road, is now barely half way for many. This in itself requires an entirely different approach to life and has very much shaped today’s culture. The way we eat, exercise, care for our skin, and protect ourselves has changed and adapted to the reality that we will be living a longer life.
In todays modern world of medicine, we can change out the mechanical parts of our body such as a hip or knee like swapping a set of tires on our car when they wear out. When it comes to the skin, however, there is nothing currently available that can be used as a replacement; worn out skin, is worn out skin. With this in mind we must be very proactive about our health, wellness and skin care, and understand that achieving beautiful looking skin requires a complete lifestyle that champions cellular well being.
Cellular Aging
The cellular energy that allows life itself to be possible is known as ATP (adenosine tri phosphate). Up to 90% of the total ATP that the body relies on to sustain life is manufactured in the mitochondria of each cell. The mitochondria can be thought of as small factories that manufacture ATP for the purpose of providing this energy for the cell. The cell in turn is able to use this energy to function, and together in harmony with a conglomeration of cells create what we define as life itself. This represents the most basic functions to complex functions of the human body, including repair and regeneration of the skin. Studies indicate that by the time that we reach the age of 60, our ability to manufacture ATP will have depleted by nearly half bringing merit to the feeling that as we age we feel like we have less energy and agility. Although there are many factors in the process of aging, our inability to produce an adequate level of our base energy in the form of ATP that allows us to repair and regenerate, is at the epicenter of the aging process.
The Mighty Mitochondria
The mitochondria requires a high level of three vital components to maximize the production of ATP; essential fatty acids (EFA’s), an energy source such as microcurrent, and oxygen as mitochondria based ATP production is an aerobic process. In short, the more pure oxygen that your body can intake and make available to the mitochondria, the better and more effective it can function. The result is more cellular energy that fuels every part of the human body. This is the very reason why consistent aerobic activity is the single best thing that you can do for your body. Although a physical work out can be trying the result of a substantial increase of oxygen is the upreglulation of ATP, which in turns gives you a huge boost of “energy”, a clearer thought pattern, faster metabolism, a stronger body, and an overall feeling of wellness.
Oxygen and ATP
The skin being the single largest organ of the human body requires the largest amount of ATP to thrive, repair and regenerate. Enhancing cellular respiration of the skin to allow more oxygen to be available to the mitochondria is key.
There are select cutting edge topical ingredients on the market today that do just this. One of which is Vitacell (LS8430 Yeast Extract – Sacchromyces Cerevisiae is the INCI name) that has been able to establish a 57% increase in cellular respiration, which in turn produced a 65% increase in new ATP production as a direct response. This is currently the most profound new ingredient in the skin care market place, and one that every skin therapist should be using in their age management arsenal.
Air and Oxygen
When discussing cellular respiration, we first must consider what we have to work with in the ambient air. Most would assume that what we breathe in is oxygen, when in reality the ambient air around us is only 20% oxygen and the bulk of the balance being nitrogen. This in itself has a profound effect on the level of purified oxygen available to the mitochondria, which in turn has a profound effect on the level of ATP cellular energy that we are able to manufacture. Remember that ATP is responsible for all functions of life including repair, regeneration, collagen production, elastin production, blood circulation, and glycosaminoglycan production. All processes that are very relevant to healthy and younger looking skin.
Newer technology that has entered the age management market referred to as oxygen infusion uses a new patented segregation filtration technology known as zeolite molecular sieves. Zeolite is a mineral that maintains a natural property to trap and filter nitrogen, leaving a purity level of oxygen that can be as high as 94%. This is nearly five times the purity level of the ambient air that we breathe. Because of this massive upregulation of purified oxygen available to the mitochondria, the ATP production literally goes crazy. This initiates long term improvements of the skin via an increase and collagen and elastin synthesis, as well as the immediate improvement of the skin that can been seen in the texture, color, and a refinement of pores. It is because of these near instant changes in the skin that has made oxygen infusion services a must in Hollywood before filming or pictures. It is also what has propelled this technology to the dream team of natural age management science along with Microcurrent, LED and Wet Dry microdermabrasion.
Oxygen Skin Care Services
Oxygen infusion is usually applied to the skin in three different ways; wand, dome and jets. The wand is the most traditional method and is generally combined with a product. The wand itself is essentially a traditional airbrush with a reservoir that can hold key products that can be micronized and applied to the skin for deeper penetration. The wand is pressurized and utilizes 94% pure oxygen to quickly upregulate cellular respiration, and allows for product to be applied to the skin without the use of the hands. The sensation is very cool and soothing, making it a perfect application immediately after any service that may cause irritation, redness, or inflammation.
The jet application is much more exclusive, and available only from a few of manufacturers. The jet is a probe-like jet that uses purified oxygen pressurized at 3BAR. The intensity of this pulsation allows for temporary intracellular spaces to form encouraging deeper penetration of key ingredients. Jet applications can be used on the entire face and neck, however are more commonly used for focus work that entail specific products and specific objectives such as expression aging, crows feet, nasal labials, etc. It is common during application to use a single jet in one hand, with your specialty product in the other maintaining complete control while maintaining focus of your objectives.
The dome application utilizes a clear transparent dome that essentially allows for a localized hyperbaric facial service. Typically the skin therapist will first apply key products combined with a pre saturated focused mask, and the dome over the top for 10-12 minutes.
Layering Oxygen
Oxygen infusion is a complete stand alone service in that the results are efficacious and substantial. At the same time, oxygen services can be strategically layered with other technology that share the same affection and dedication to the mitochondria. Both microcurrent and LED have impressive efficacy studies regarding the ability for the mitochondria to use both outside sources of friendly energy to energize the mitochondria. This coupled with a high level of purified oxygen make for the ultimate ATP cocktail!
The use of wet dry microdermabrasion is also a strategic technology to layer with oxygen. It’s forte is its ability to completely prepare the pallet for creative skin work by removing as much of the stratum corneum as possible, which in turn allows better and more comprehensive product penetration, as well as cellular respiration.
As a culture and as a species we are terrified of the inevitable effects of aging. More often than not, we become deer in the headlights of life and often do nothing to mitigate the aging process. One thing that is certain is that time only moves in one direction. With this in mind, embrace the aging process and proactively manage it. Work with products, technology, and manufactures who have done the research, and base what they bring to market on factual science and clinical evidence. Look for a team of ingredients and technology that champion the mitochondria, enhance cellular energy, and allow every one of your clients to realize their true, youthful potential.
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