Day: August 17, 2021

Monday, 16 August 2021

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Today I finally got out of our condo after self-quarantining for 12 days. I had two reasons to self-quarantine at home:

Firstly I took my 2nd dose of AZ on 4th August. It typically takes 2 weeks after vaccination for the body to build protection (immunity) against the virus that causes COVID-19. That means it is possible a person could still get COVID-19 before or just after vaccination and then get sick because the vaccine did not have enough time to build protection. People are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their second dose. As my hood is a red zone with a cluster detected at a supermarket that I always frequent, I felt that it’s safer to just stay home and not go out.

Secondly, our condo had several positive cases involving the guards and general workers and the residents were advised to stay home as much as possible for 14 days.

I am 2 days short of 14 days but I really needed to get some fruits at a nearby stall.

It felt SO good to be out again after 12 days of home imprisonment! I donned on a Korean KN94 mask and a tinted face shield but the face shield made me feel so woozy that I had to remove it 🥴

I was still having a nagging headache with a crick on my neck. I have been feeling a tad under the weather for the past few days. I had to bribe Cass to give me half an hour of shoulder and head massage while I dozed off on my chair.

Guess what? Cass has magic in her hands. After the 30-minute massage session, the headache and crick were magically GONE. My head felt so much lighter and my mood was instantly elevated!

Did you know that massage can help relieve headache and it can also help to prevent headaches from occurring? A massage can also calm a stressed nervous system.

In Spain, researchers at the University of Granada — in collaboration with the Clinical Hospital San Cecilio and the University Rey Juan Carlos have shown that the psychological and physiological state of patients with tension headache improved within 24 hours after receiving a 30-minute massage.

So the next time you have a headache and feel malaise, instead of reaching out for the painkiller, get someone to give you a 30-minute head and shoulders massage.

Cass now has a new job of being my masseuse and she gets RM1 for giving me each 30-minute massage. I offered her RM1.50 but my sweet daughter said RM1 would suffice. After her earnings reach RM10, I’ll help her to reload her Shopee Pay account so that she could buy stationery items and books 😬

Spot the cat!
She’s the first to inspect all our shopping stuff and parcels the moment they reach home 😸

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5 Treatments for Aged or Damaged Skin

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A natural part of the aging process is the sagging, wrinkling, and spotting of our skin, but for some people, the effects can be more severe. This is particularly true for people who have damaged their skin through sun exposure, i.e., photoaging. This leads to deeper wrinkles, coarse, leathery, or dry skin, discoloration, and freckling or sunspots. While a regular skin routine and healthy lifestyle are key when trying to keep your skin looking its best, in some cases, more drastic action could be necessary. If your skin is showing significant signs of aging or damage and you would like to turn back the clock, here are five of the most effective treatments to consider. 

  1. Botox injections 

One of the most well-known treatments for aged or damaged skin is Botulinum toxin type A. By injecting this substance into your facial muscles, signals between the muscles and nerves are blocked, preventing them from contracting. This means wrinkles cannot form, and existing wrinkles appear less defined. Take a look at the pros and cons of Botox injections in this article. 

  1. Chemical peels

During a chemical peel, a chemical irritant is applied that triggers inflammation. This removes the outer layers that have been damaged to expose new and smooth skin beneath. Chemical peels can be effective treatments for wrinkles, scars, stretch marks, sagging skin, and cellulite. Head over to lieselholler.com for more information on chemical peels. 

  1. Dermal filler injections

When the skin loses collagen, it loses its plumpness which can lead to sagging and wrinkles. By replacing the lost collagen by injecting soft-tissue fillers, the skin regains volume and enhances contours. There are lots of types of dermal filler treatments, so it is important to seek professional advice before choosing the best treatment for your skin. 

girl in blue and white long sleeve shirt lying on bed
Credit – Unsplash
  1. Dermabrasion

If your skin has minor irregularities or scars such as those left by acne or surgery, dermabrasion could be an effective option. An electrical or manual machine literally abrades the top layers of skin. The skin heals from the abrasion, creating new cells in the process, resulting in new and smooth skin. In some cases, dermabrasion can be effective when treating aged skin, but there are usually other, more effective options to choose from. Microdermabrasion (which passes small particles through a vacuum tube to abrade aging skin) is an option for people with less severe skin damage, but it can take several treatments. 

  1. Laser skin resurfacing

Damaged skin can also be burnt off to expose the healthier skin beneath through laser skin resurfacing. This treatment involves high-energy light beams and can reduce enlarged oil glands, remove growths, reduce the appearance of fine lines, scars, and wrinkles, and lighten sunspots. There is also a new treatment known as non-ablative resurfacing or intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy. While laser therapy uses one wavelength of light to treat the skin, IPL delivers lots of wavelengths of light in pulses without damaging the outer layers of skin.

woman putting makeup in front of mirror
Credit – Unsplash

After your cosmetic treatment, it is important to prevent further premature damage to your skin with a regular skincare routine and healthy lifestyle. 

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HEALTH FREAK MOMMY