dreamingspires posterous

I recently was involved in discussions about end of life scenarios and enabling people to experience dignity as they face dying.  One particular form of help uses a dignity therapy questionnaire.  I find these questions difficult and quite confronting, especially the fourth:

• Tell me a little about your life history; particularly the parts that you either remember most, or think are the most important? When did you feel most alive?
• Are there specific things that you would want your family to know about you, and are there particular things you would want them to remember?
• What are the most important roles you have played in life (family roles, vocational roles, community service roles, etc)? Why were they so important to you and what do you think you accomplished in those roles?
• What are your most important accomplishments, and what do you feel most proud of?
• Are there particular things that you feel still need to be said to your loved ones, or things that you would want to take the time to say once again?
• What are your hopes and dreams for your loved ones?
• What have you learned about life that you would want to pass along to others? What advice or words of guidance would you wish to pass along to your [son, daughter,husband, wife, parents, other(s)]?
• Are there words or perhaps even instructions you would like to offer your family, to help prepare them for the future? In creating this permanent record, are there other things that you would like included?

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Having used the cleansers and skin repair products over the last 2 months I'm happy with allmedic and they will be products I will return to especially in the coming summer months. However, even going for a run in the Australian sun does affect my skin and I'm realising there is no quick solution. 

I asked allmedic about the science behind their products, and they provided some articles which I've added as further reading.  According to allmedic healthy skin has an acid mantle which provides an epidermal barrier, protecting the skin and preventing loss of natural oils. A lot of cosmetic soaps contain sodium laureth sulphate which strips the skin, allmedic skin repair aims to return skin to its normal state so that you wont need so much moisturiser.  My experience is, however, that I do still need to use moisturiser daily, the Australian sun is unforgiving here, even in winter.

One of my concerns is sun spots, so I asked allmedic whether their products (pre PDT) are good at reducing these.  One of the directors, A/Prof Pete Smith is an allergist who told me:

Most of the lightening creams put the sunspots into shock -- something like David Craig's 5% salicylic acid works okay. The melanocytes switch off and the area pales up

We are working on something better (at least 6 months formulation away) which will block tyrosine kinase which is important in melanin production Even better news is that it
may decrease hair growth in the area (often there is darker hair in these spots) and this product also contains massive amounts of protective anti-oxidants. It will work in darker skin types.

The dark sun spots rather would be better treated with a cream as described whereas the PDT regime is for more severe skin trauma like fleshy sun spots (actinic keratoses)

I would like to see allmedic providing more research and evidence-base for their products, they are making some big statements about skin repair, treatments and preventing premature aging and I would like a a clear how-to-use, why, and how it works.

All in all, I like the allmedic products, nice to haves would be better absorption and fragrance and I am looking at their creams more as a treatment than a pampering experience.  Now the Australian sun is threatening to come out in earnest I am glad to have them on hand to call upon.

Included are pics of me before and after - I'm not sure there is much difference compared with previously but my skin feels better.

Further reading:

Elias PM, Hatano Y, and Williams ML (2008) Basis for the barrier abnormality in atopic dermatitis: Outside-inside-outside pathogenic mechanisms. Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 121,6 1337-43.

Cork, MJ et al (2006) New perspectives on epidermal barrier dysfunction in atopic dermatitis: Gene-environment interactions. Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 118,1 3-21

And if you want a summary of A/Prof Pete Smith's role at Allmedic:

• With his background in molecular immunology, Associate Professor Smith was approached in early 2007 to participate in a project to create evidence based skin care. The aim of this like-minded group of doctors to create simple, cost effective skin care treatment with evidence based ingredients which are used at demonstrated efficacy, and created in a pharmaceutical environment, and with a minimal of ingredients which are likely to complicate things and cause reactions.
• We have also been focused on using photodynamic therapy where a compound called ALA is taken up into metabolically active (generally abnormal cells) in the skin and in the presence of light frequencies, abnormal cells are destroyed.
• This is being used in the US for field changes with several types of skin anomalies including superficial forms of skin cancer (not melanoma) although it is also used for skin rejuvenation. Through Allmedic, Associate Professor Smith is working on reducing pain associated with skin inflammation with PDT and he is going to be working towards skin pain with dermatitis in the next couple of year.

   

Click here to download:

Thinking_of_Using_Alledic_PDT.zip (5342 KB)

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I have been using allmedic products for about a month now and so far so good.  The allmedic regime isn't hard but it involves covering your entire body with something white and creamy at least once a day which is great if you're into that sort of thing.

The instructions for the skin repair and protection products were a little difficult to decipher initially, but the routine is essentially cleanse skin in the morning using cleanser (with or with out exfoliator), and then moisturise including eye cream. In addition, either in the morning or evening apply the skin repair to body and face and leave on for 12 hours.

The Cleanser is used at least once a day and the exfoliating cleanser twice weekly (both are identical except for the exfoliator contains beads)

'a pH balanced foaming scrub with micro beads to gently remove old, flaky skin cells allowing new, healthy cells to surface'

In fact allmedic told me the pH of the cleansers is mildly acidic and is a good antifungal product.
As skin gets older it loses it's natural oils, allmedic products aim to stimulate the underlying skin to help prevent this happening.  I would have to review the products longer to see if this was the case, but certainly my skin is not as dry as it was, especially after showering

The Eyecream uses natural anti-oxidant and I'm told reduces wrinkles around the eyes

'A revolutionary cream containing patented marine enzymes to repair and firm delicate skin around the eyes'

It's a good cream although I haven't noticed any difference to other eye creams I have used. 

The Moisturiser is also antioxidant and also includes sunscreen (a big plus in my books)

'Containing revolutionary patented marine enzymes, this antioxidant rich sunscreen is suitable for normal to sensitive skin types. It contains rich moisturising properties and can be worn under make up'

The Face and Body Repair creams do sting a little and leave me with they a feeling that they are doing 'something'.  The creams are made up of plant acid and enzymes and plant sugars.

'A facial cream high in aplha hydroxy acids (AHA's) to target dead and damaged skin cells. Evens skin tone and smooths fine lines and blemishes. Recommended for use in a general skin repair regime'

The body repair contains

'a high medical concentration of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), this cream repairs dry and sun damaged skin by gently removing dead skin cells and stimulating the growth of healthy new cells'

Well, it certainly feels like it's doing something when you apply it

The Skin Rejuvinator is basically a fine cheese grater for skin, and has got rid of all hard skin easily, far better than a pumice stone because it can be used on dry skin and therefore I found it more convenient to use

Overall, I'm finding the skin cleanser excellent, the Skin Repair has a slightly acidic smell which takes some getting used to and absorption does take a while, I did feel that my skin had product on it for the 12 hours I left it on. The eye cream is good although I haven't found any differenence in feel to other eye creams I have used. The moisturiser has good sun protection but absorption does take a while.

Allmedic is not a pampering experience, and more 'cosmetic' creams will give you a better perfume and feel, however, my skin has improved, it feels cleaner, nourished and protected.  The sun here is vicious and you can feel its effects very quickly -- not that it burns but as a relatively new Aussie from Europe my skin feels like it crinkles out here.

I'm also interested to see if there are any medical benefits, Australia has one of the highest skin cancer and allergy rates in the world and I have noticed a change in my skin. Since moving here two years ago my skin has become sensitive and irritated for no reason.  I suffer from no allergies but my skin has felt significantly different, and this is skin that is not normally exposed to the sun.  All I can say right now is my skin feels great all over and not just superficially.  I'll take pictures of myself in a couple of weeks and see if there is in fact any difference. That said, it must be having an effect - someone accused me of looking like a 25 year old last week (they are 15 years out and are now my best friend).

My friend at Real Natural is also going to review allmedic products and as a proper medial journalist I suspect she is gonig to put allmedic products through its paces.

These are before and after pictures from allmedic - (posterous has them a little out of order and I can't edit them but you get the idea)

       

Click here to download:

The_Allmedic_Regime_how_its_go.zip (222 KB)

copyright allmedic, used with permission

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allmedic medical skin repair have sent a big box of products for me to test and review.  The box consisted of

• Exfoliating Scrub
• Face Repair
• Body Repair
• Face and body cleanser
• Eye Repair
• Antioxidant Moisturising Sunscreen
• Skin Rejuvenator (aka cheese grater)

as well as three PDT products which I won't be reviewing as these are treatments done in the clinic:

• PDT cleanser
• PDT soothing lotion
• PDT-eze

In the true spirit of science I have taken some 'before' pictures - it is not an entirely comfortable experience to have a camera that close to your face, especially as now you know what I look like first thing in the morning.

The basis of allmedic Skin care products is skin care by 'brilliance not beauty' without the need for expensive face creams. 
They say to ensure a good skin care product three simple ingredients are needed:

• good pH
• moisturiser
• sunscreen

allmedic products are designed by Australian Specialists and General Practitioners who specialise in repairing and protecting skin. They quite rightly say our skin is our largest and most visible organ and it is wise to protect it and keep it in the best health.  The products combine knowledge about sun damage, skin cancer, cosmetology, molecular immunology and allergy to create a medical skin management system that both doctors and the general public can use.

Well, if they truly can repair skin from ageing and environmental damage then I am looking forward to beautiful blemish free skin.

     

Click here to download:

Allmedic_Skin_Care_Product_Rev.zip (7277 KB)

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