Posts by test123:
The Wonder of Walking Toys
April 20th, 2009Walking toys are fascinating for kids. They see these “robots” like living creatures. That is why they like it so much. Because after they pushed and pulled them they start walking by themselves. They are amazed by them. Just like a cat is amazed and lays with a piece of cotton attached to a string. You move the ball through the string. They consider the ball moving by itself. And that means it’s somehow alive. So they want to explore it. Play with it. Get scared by it sometimes. Attack it. Over all play, play and play again.
Babies and kids react the same way to the walking toys. They regard them as living things. Just like themselves. Juts like you. Just like their mom and dad. So they want to explore it. And exploring means play. This is the main reason for which they make such great toys for kids.
Even older kids enjoy them very much. Imagine an older child. That is are that the walking toys aren’t alive. But yet they regard them as robots. And that is equally cool for them. They actually have a toy walking by itself. Just like the cool Mars rovers they have seen on TV. They have their own robot. It doesn’t matter to them that this robot just walks straight ahead. It’s of no importance to them that he has no electronic circuit inside. That it’s just some spring that makes the “robot” walk. They simply love it. Plus, it’s very educational. Especially for the boys it’s stimulating to follow an engineer career. Many children will open them up to see what is the mechanism that keeps the toys walking. And this is not a bad thing. A lot of parents shout and get angry at the kid. Because they broke the toy which was bought by them. But after all the role of playing is exploration. Is to understand how things work.. So if you ever get your kid to open up a toy, don;t get mad at him. Just explain to him that now he won;t be able to play with it. But don’t blame him for exploring.
But walking toys are not just for kids. You’ve surely seen on Youtube and Vimeo that cool wooden things walking by themselves. They are toys for adults. The engineering behind them is incredible and a complete wonder. Some people work for years to build these incredible “toys”.
No matter what the age, walking toys are a wonder. They astonish from babies to serious engineers. After all, a walking toy is all about exploration. For the small ones it represents a living creature. For the kids a bit older is their very own robot. For the grown ups is a way of inventing and designing something completely autonomous and as close as possible to the perpetuum mobile. From toy to art, from play to smart and delicate design, it’s all about having fun in a constructive way no matter what the age.
Find Your Favourite Online Toys Store at New Born Toys and Preschool Toys For Special Discount.
Knowing What You Can Do About Your Stretch Marks
July 29th, 2008Rapid skin expansion results to stretch marks. However, the real culprit for causing stretch marks is the hormones called glucocorticoids. These are secreted by the adrenal glands, which lies on top of the kidneys and the production of this hormone is increased during pregnancy, adolescence, with obesity, weight lifting and Cushing’s disease.
The Real Cause – Cushing’s disease is said to be a result of a tumor in the adrenal gland which causes the gland to excessively produce cortisol, which will cause the person to gain weight and another symptom of this disease is the thinning of the skin. When you look at stretch marks under the microscope, you will see that the layer of the skin called the dermis is thinner than normal. That is why if someone is suffering from Cushing’s disease, the person will also develop stretch marks on the skin. There are actually two types of scars. The newer formed marks are red or purplish in color, while the more matured ones are commonly silver or white stretch marks.
Signs of Stretch Marks – In the early life of a stretch mark, it is often protruding and still reddish. If you have dark skin, you will not clearly see these marks but they are there. Then they turn purplish or bluish after a while and overtime they become flattened white stretch marks streaks because they already have aged. These unsightly marks will not occur if the dermis is strong.
Skin Tearing – The skin tissues will start to break only if collagen and elastin fibers are prevented from forming. If this happens, the dermis no longer has support and will consequently tear once it reaches its breaking limit. Stretch marks are usually seen on the different areas of the body like the buttocks, hips, breasts, abdomen, and thighs. In addition to tearing, the thinning and flattening of the dermis will also make these marks more visible on the skin.
Possible Treatments – Most people know what stretch marks look like but many are not familiar with the variety of treatments that can cure them. There are actually different methods to cure each specific phase of the scar. Laser light treatments are effective in removing newly formed scars. This method works by applying a controlled amount of laser beam on the affected are. This beam will break down scar tissues and once these tissues are gone, healthier skin cells and collagen start to develop in the vacated area.
Cream Options – Some topical creams can also remove stretch marks but if it is stubborn and aged marks that you want to get rid of, you will need a more potent solution for this. There is one cream available in the market that works and penetrates into the middle layer of the skin and its natural ingredients work together to heal the torn tissues and stimulate the production of collagen and elastin.
Surgical Procedures – Microdermabrasion can also help remove stubborn and white stretch marks. This procedure uses tiny particles to sand the skin and slowly remove the scarred or discolored tissue. But the stretch marks will not be removed in just one sitting. You will need to go back for more sessions and the number of times will depend on the severity of your scars. However, the best cure for stretch marks is still prevention.
The Facts About Your Stretch Mark Solution
July 17th, 2008Looking for a good stretch mark solution can be both a very challenging and frustrating experience. Since people’s skins are unique, not all methods have the same level of effectiveness. Discover the facts about different solutions and see what solution will work best for you.
Fact #1: Stretch mark solution advice will depend on who you’re asking.
Many people can offer you lots of suggestions for a good stretch mark solution. Your dermatologist may suggest a dermabrasion session while your surgeon may say that surgery is the best solution. The truth is, both solutions have their pros and cons.
Dermabrasion is honestly less effective than surgery but it is also less invasive. In a sense, it is simply a more drastic form of skin exfoliation. Rapidly spinning fine wires move over your skin and peel off dead skin cells so new ones can develop. This is hardly a good stretch mark solution because stretch marks are really inner skin or dermis scars. Dermabrasion also opens you up to the risk of further skin damage and can even make stretch marks worse.
Compared to dermabrasion, surgery is a more effective stretch mark solution. However, it is also more risky, more invasive, more costly. Furthermore, surgery for stretch mark may not work for some parts of the body. Currently, only abdominal stretch marks can be resolved with a tummy tuck but this can also give you weeks of pain and discomfort, not to mention the risk of infection as well as a larger, more visible scar.
Fact #2: Wait-and-See Solution: Leave your stretch marks be.
There are also some people who will advise you to simple avoid doing anything or applying anything on the stretch mark scars since these may eventually fade over time. However, this wait-and-see stretch mark solution would mean that you have to wait and possibly waste some of the best years of your life until the stretch marks simply fade. In addition to waiting, there is also the possibility that you gain more weight over time and thus, instead of diminishing the scars, time and more weight will only add more to it.
Wearing one-piece suits to the beach and covering your body the whole summer would be half the fun. However, it is better than feeling self-conscious about yourself in front of others.
Fact # 3: Practical and natural stretch mark solutions do not always remove stretch marks permanently but they are the most pro-active and the safest way to get rid of stretch marks.
Instead of splurging your fortune over invasive medical and cosmetic procedures that may be more dangerous and risky than they are worth, try the natural way of diminishing or preventing stretch marks: watching your weight. More than aesthetic purposes, losing weight or maintaining it not only keep stretch marks from snaking its way across your body, it also offer other health benefits.
One other natural stretch mark solution is to exercise. Aerobic exercises improve blood circulation and help in the proper distribution of oxygen and nutrients to the different cells in the body. This may help maintain your skin’s elasticity and general health. Other forms of exercise however, such as muscle building exercises, may result in more stretch marks due to muscle expansion.
To achieve the best possible result, take a natural supplement along with your natural stretch mark solution in order to provide your skin with nutrients that may be lacking from your diet.
The Cause of Stretch Mark Signs in Women
July 16th, 2008Both men and women may equally be affected by the cause of stretch mark signs. Women however may have more drastic stretch mark conditions that may have a negative impact on life in general.
What May Cause Stretch Mark Signs
Men and women share the same primary cause of stretch mark which is the rapid or abrupt expansion of the skin. When a body gains weight, the inner skin tissues stretch to accommodate the added weight and thus, tears on the skin, resulting to stretch mark signs. These torn skin tissues eventually turn to silver or white in color. As mentioned, however, women experience more severe stretch mark conditions due to pregnancy.
How Stretch Marks Affect Your Life
Most experts will tell you that, regardless of the cause of stretch mark signs, stretch marks are harmless and non life threatening. Stretch marks however can be socially limiting and can cause insecurities in women. Women with stretch marks can no longer enjoy the beauty of current revealing fashion. Stretch marks may even affect relationships. You only need to go to online forums and a number of honest men will tell you that they do understand the cause of stretch mark signs in women but would still secretly prefer their women to be stretch mark free.
Different Stretch Mark Conditions for Different People
Not all women are affected by the same cause of stretch mark signs but majority are bound to experience varying degrees of the condition. Even if all women were to experience the same cause of stretch mark signs, some women may have lighter scars than others and only in limited areas. Your deeper, darker, uglier scars may be influenced to some extent by genetic predisposition, skin type and life habits. It also follows therefore that not all remedies are effective for all women.
Permanent Stretch Marks For Some Women
Some women simply have to suffer from stretch marks for the rest of their lives. The sad thing is, something still could’ve been done. Permanent stretch marks may often be the result of not minding early signs of stretch marks or ignoring the knowledge of a possible cause of stretch mark signs. If you know that you are on the family way or are prone to rapid weight increase, then you should prepare yourself for the possibility of developing stretch marks.
It is Easier to Prevent Than To Cure
Stretch marks are scars and because of the stubborn nature of scars, they are often easier to prevent than to heal. If you are experiencing a probable cause of stretch mark signs, you should immediately get your hands on a good preventive product to limit the appearance of the ugly scars.
No Surgical Stretch Mark Solutions
Stretch marks are often seen by the medical world as a cosmetic problem. There are therefore hardly any medical solutions for the problem. The only way to truly get rid of stretch marks in the abdomen area for example is to undergo a painful and expensive tummy tuck that is not even really a procedure for stretch mark removal. Keep yourself safe by looking for natural options to stretch mark removal.
Essential Facts About Your Stretch Mark Solution
July 13th, 2008Selecting an effective stretch mark solution can take a lot of time and even then, it doesn’t guarantee us 100% effectiveness. This is because skins vary and differ from person to person. The stretch mark solution for you may not necessarily be the stretch mark solution for me. However, we can look into several stretch mark solution facts that are based on skin components common in all skin types in order for us to choose the best stretch mark solution.
Fact #1: Stretch mark solution advice will depend on who you’re asking.
Many people can offer you lots of suggestions for a good stretch mark solution. Your dermatologist may suggest a dermabrasion session while your surgeon may say that surgery is the best solution. The truth is, both solutions have their pros and cons.
Dermabrasion may be less effective than surgery but on the other hand, it is a less invasive solution. Dermabrasion may simply be described as a more drastic form of skin exfoliation where very fine wires rapidly spin across your skin, getting rid of dead skin cells to make room for new skin. However, this does not directly address the problem of stretch mark since stretch marks develop from the inner layers of the skin.
Compared to dermabrasion, surgery is a more effective stretch mark solution. However, it is also more risky, more invasive, more costly. Furthermore, surgery for stretch mark may not work for some parts of the body. Currently, only abdominal stretch marks can be resolved with a tummy tuck but this can also give you weeks of pain and discomfort, not to mention the risk of infection as well as a larger, more visible scar.
Fact #2: Leave your stretch marks alone.
Others suggest that you simply refrain from doing anything or applying anything on the scars since time may eventually result in naturally faded scars. This wait and see stretch mark solution however would mean that you have to spend the best years of your life not wearing a bikini, tank tops and mini shorts. Time is also not a guarantee that stretch marks will disappear because you can increase in weight through time, which can make stretch marks worse.
You can also simply wear one piece suits to the beach. That would however, most likely remove part of the fun of being at the beach. In the beach, you’d want to naturally show off a bit or just be yourself without feeling conscious about other people staring at you.
Fact #3: Practical and natural means of removing stretch marks may not always have lasting effects but they are the safest and most active way of removing the scars.
Instead of spending your entire life’s savings on risky and invasive medical or cosmetic procedures to get rid of stretch marks, there is still one way to get rid or prevent those stretch marks from getting worse: losing or maintaining your weight. The more you watch and maintain your weight, the lesser chances of you acquiring more stretch marks and with the aid of a healthy diet, you can heal your existing stretch mark from its roots, from the inner layers of the skin.
Cardio and aerobic exercises are other stretch mark solutions. Exercise can help improve your blood circulation and proper distribution of nutrients and oxygen to your skin, making it more supple, elastic, thus, less likely to develop stretch marks. Some exercises are not good to remove stretch marks, however, like muscle building. Because of muscle expansion, muscle building will more likely add to your stretch marks than remove it.
For optimum results, take a natural supplement to supply your body with more nutrients that can promote skin health.
The Five Myths About How to Eliminate Stretch Marks
July 8th, 2008There are countless methods of stretch mark elimination. Before you pick a method however, it is well worth your time to first check what works and what doesn’t.
Myth #1: To eliminate stretch marks you can try the countless surgical procedures.
Abdominoplasty is the only surgical procedure that can be effective on stretch marks as of the moment. This method however will only eliminate stretch marks in the tummy area and is very risky and expensive. It is not even originally intended for stretch mark removal but for extra fat removal. Only those who are close to their ideal body weights and have only a little fat to remove are considered good candidates for abdominoplasty.
Dermabrasion and laser treatment are two other procedures for stretch mark but these are medical and not surgical. As most people would know however, dermabrasion is simply a more complicated form of exfoliation which is only a marginally effective method to eliminate stretch marks. Laser treatment on the other hand is a new method that does not have a long and proven track record in removing stretch marks.
Myth #2: Getting a tan can eliminate stretch marks.
Because of silvery color, most people have the misconception that they can cover up stretch marks with a tan. This however, will only serve to worsen the whitish appearance of stretch marks as the surrounding healthy skin darkens in color. This is because stretch marks are scars and if you’ve ever tried to tan a scar, you would know that they are particularly resistant to color changes. Most of us also know that tanning is not always very safe.
Myth #3: Make-up can cover up stretch marks.
Desperate people for whom nothing else has worked hope to at least eliminate the appearance of stretch marks with make-up. These products do not eliminate stretch marks but just mask them. This may be a good technique but only for a limited time. Even the most water resistant make-up will eventually lose its grip at the beach or in the water.
Myth #4: Weight loss can eliminate stretch marks.
Some people think that because gaining weight can cause stretch marks, losing weight can also eliminate it! As scars, they will stay put even if you manage to agreed thin. You may however, be able to reduce your chances of getting stretch marks if you have never been overweight to begin with. A healthy diet and exercise can keep you from rapidly expanding in body size.
Myth #5: Stretch mark product is the answer to eliminate stretch marks.
Generally, people have lost hope on finding an effective solution for stretch marks because the market is obviously saturated with products that just don’t work. These products put a bad name on reputable brands.
Make sure to read product specifications, ingredient content and instructions for use to get the best out of your stretch mark lotion or cream. If you have very sensitive skin, you would do better with an all natural product that will not expose you to dangerous side effects.
All About Laser Treatment for Stretch Marks and Abdominoplasty
July 7th, 2008Abdominoplasty and laser treatment for stretch marks are two of the most sought after methods to eliminate stretch marks. If you’re trying to choose between the two procedures, you should first compare them with each other for you to come up with a more informed decision.
What They Are For
Laser treatment for stretch marks is a relatively new area in cosmetic surgery. Some critics feel that there is a need to study laser treatment for stretch marks further before it can be considered a valid procedure for stretch mark elimination.
Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck has been around longer than laser treatment for stretch marks but it is not a procedure that is intended for stretch marks. People who want to get a tummy tuck simply want to get rid of a few extra stubborn fats on the tummy that do not respond well to dieting and exercise. The removal of stretch marks is simply an added bonus.
Before the Procedure
Compared to laser treatment, tummy tuck is a more risky procedure. Your surgeon may require you to undergo some extensive preparation. Your doctor will first spend some sessions with you discussing the procedure, risks and more importantly, assessing your validity as a candidate. You may also have to spend some time being medically counseled about your decision to undergo abdominoplasty.
Laser treatments are a less invasive procedure and may be performed by your dermatologist.
Who Are Candidates
In order for you to be qualified for tummy tuck procedure, you must be close to your ideal weight and must have only little fat to be removed. You should also be physically and emotionally stable and should have realistic expectations. Sometimes a tummy tuck may not be able to remove all the visible stretch marks. It is also understood that the procedure will leave you with a big external scar.
If you have fresh, pinkish or purplish stretch marks, you’re one of the best candidates for laser treatment. Mature stretch marks may not respond to laser treatment for stretch marks. Some experts also say that there will still be visible streaks but will be less obvious.
Recovery
Compared to abdominiplasty, laser treatment will require less time for recovery. The procedure involves little pain and no external scars at all. Abdominiplasty on the other hand is a procedure that may require weeks of recuperation. You may also experience some swelling and pain on the treated area.
Are there Side Effects and Risks?
Compared to abdominaplasty, laser treatment has only very little known side effects. A little temporary reddening of the area may be the only thing you have to endure. In the hands of an incompetent practitioner however, you might suffer from minor tissue injury.
Abdominoplasty offers more side effects and risks for the individual. Aside from the swelling and pain, you are also at risk of infections and irritations. A slip from your surgeon may also result in organ damage.
Cost
Laser treatment for stretch marks is considerably less expensive than abdominoplasty. Costs for laser treatment for stretch marks may range anywhere from $400-$1500 while abdominoplasty costs may range from $5,000-$9,000.
When Stretch Marks Occur: What To Do
May 27th, 2008Stretch marks can plague anyone. In most cases, it is the women, though, who often check to see if they have stretch marks so that they can treat and get rid of them early on. This is especially true for women who have given birth to babies. They will want to get rid of the stretch marks that have occurred from the stretching of skin during pregnancy. But in general, people who do have them do not really known what to do when stretch marks occur. This is the reason why most people will not do anything to stop them from forming.
What Are Stretch Marks?
Stretch marks are better known to dermatologists as striae. They are actually scars but they are not physical scars, meaning they are not found on the epidermis of the skin. They are found just underneath in the area known as the dermis.
Weight Gain – When the body experiences a sudden change in growth, like when someone gains weight, the skin also stretches. The problem is that if the skin is not healthy enough, the dermis will tear and this is essentially how the stretch mark starts to form. The final result of a stretch mark is a silvery line and these lines are found in places where the skin has stretched. The usually areas are the stomach, thighs, arms, and buttocks.
What To Do
Early Treatment – When stretch marks occur, it is ideal that you detect them first. You will not feel a stretch mark occur and so it is up to you to inspect your body to see if there are any newly formed stretch marks. These are easily identifiable as they look like reddened or purple lines. This means that the dermis has newly torn and that area is well on its way to developing stretch marks.
How to Prevent It – You can actually prevent the stretch mark from worsening and becoming harder to remove. One way to do this is to make sure that you drink a lot of water (about 8 glasses minimum a day) and also make sure to exercise a little. The water is to hydrate the body and keep the skin as elastic as possible. The exercise is to get your blood flowing and also to get rid of any fats that cause your skin to stretch. You might also want to change your diet into something that is rich in essential fats such as those found in fish.
Your Options – If you have stretch marks that you may have overlooked before and still want to get rid of them, there are surgical and medical procedures that you can choose from. One way is to use medicated creams.
Treatment Through Laser Surgery – You also have the option of getting laser surgery to have the lines removed permanently. This is a pricey option but at least you won’t have to worry about the stretch marks forming again. These are all measures that you can try out when stretch marks occur around your body. Otherwise, keeping a healthy body and maintaining a good diet and exercise routine should help prevent stretch marks from ever forming in the first place.