An often forgotten beauty secret is that a little relaxation can help a person look and feel a lot better. The body's response to stress is to fight it, when what we really may need is to retreat--to a health spa. If your skin has lost its shine, a body and mind health booster can restore it. Facials, massages and hot tub soaks provide physical rejuvenation and mental time-outs. Medical spas strive to create a similar mind-body effect during routine aesthetic treatments. Your time out can range from 30 minutes at the clinic down the street to a lengthy stay at a spa resort.
Purpose
According to doctors at the American Association of Dermatology (AAD), reducing physical and mental stress results in many small biochemical changes that enhance your appearance. Add proactive skin rejuvenation treatments, and the improvement is even greater. The purpose of health spas and spa retreats is to create a mind-body "loop" in which positive physical energy induces a positive mental state, perpetuating optimum health and beauty.
Types
Choose from day spas that offer beauty services, medical spas supervised by licensed health care professionals or spa retreats at hotels. Day spas and resorts focus on the pampering aspect of feel-good rejuvenation treatments. Medical spas make your periodic skin or teeth enhancement services both convenient and enjoyable. All of these venues provide a peaceful setting meant to impart a respect for the body and a sense of well-being.
Features
Day salons and spa retreats provide rejuvenation treatments by licensed estheticians and massage therapists. Their spa menus may include facials, steam, mud and herbal wraps or baths, Jacuzzi soaks and aromatherapy, Hawaiian or hot stone massages. Medical spas might offer professional teeth whitening, microdermabrasion, photofacials and botulinum toxin injections. Many facilities include healthy beverages, meals and other amenities as part of their services.
Function
Health spa facials, topical wraps and soaks directly address skin care and respiratory system health. Jet-powered baths stimulate the muscular and circulatory systems. Manicures and pedicures hydrate and soften the skin and nails while beautifying hands and feet. Medical rejuvenation treatments have procedure-specific functions, as in exfoliation for microdermabrasion and skin tone regulation for photofacials.
Effects
Less tension held in your facial and body muscles reduces wrinkling and improves posture. Improved circulation and more efficient lymphatic action elevate skin health. Deep exfoliation encourages surface skin cell renewal. The result of all of this, say AAD experts on aging skin, is an improved physical appearance, which boosts your self-esteem and mental outlook. This puts you in the loop of health--until your next visit to the health spa.
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