As we enter into a summer that is dramatically different from last year, our Independence Day will give us an additional meaning, as a breakthrough moment in the nation’s recovery from the pandemic. The White House has declared this summer as “A summer of freedom,” “A summer of joy,” “A summer of reunions and celebrations”. We all have a deeper understanding of the true meaning of Freedom, giving us a reminder not to take these freedoms for granted. We are now given the freedom to connect with our loved ones, to receive a fearless embrace and the precious gift of a mask-less smile. A freedom given through maintaining health and wellness. World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or illness” and wellness as “the optimal state of health of individuals and groups,” and wellness is expressed as “a positive approach to living”.

The primary difference between health and wellness is that health is the goal and wellness is the active process of achieving it. You truly cannot have health without first achieving wellness. Wellness has a direct influence on overall health, which is essential for living a robust, happy, and fulfilled life. With our world in the active recovery state from COVID-19 we now view immunity in new ways, with new wellness trends and insights geared toward making ourselves more resilient and healthier to live and prosper.

The Focus on Metabolic Health

Science has shown us in real time that metabolic health and immune strength aren't just linked but critically intertwined. We have seen this in the forefront of scientific research and news headlines across the globe. People who are metabolically unhealthy seem to be more at risk of getting severely ill when infected with viruses. Metabolic health is defined as having ideal levels of blood sugar, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, blood pressure, and waist circumference, without using medications. These factors directly relate to a person’s risk for heart disease, diabetes, stroke and high risk of complications of covid-19.
Studies show 88% of Americans are metabolically unhealthy. At Vibrant Skin Bar and Vibrant Vitality Clinic we make it a priority to do our part to aid in a healthier community.. Our team of specialists order and analyze comprehensive lab tests, review in-depth health history and provide a detailed clinical workup to give you individualized care protocols that will not only prevent disease but will aid in your total health and wellness goals.

Mental Fitness

No need to sugarcoat it, 2020 was a challenging year for mental and emotional well-being for many. Mental fitness is a really exciting concept because it means that happiness isn't just something that happens to you but something you can take responsibility for. One silver lining of this pandemic is having the time to turn inward and get in touch with your body and mind. People are beginning to understand that we can work on our emotional fitness the same proactive ways we work on our physical fitness and it's a skill that you must regularly train. There are four main steps to mental fitness and taking these steps enhances your ability to cope with stress and improves your physical health, productivity at work, relationships, and overall happiness.

Emotional Awareness

Being aware of your emotional state and managing strong emotions.

Social

Friends are important because they bring companionship, support and enrichment to our lives. According to the Mayo Clinic, people who have friends are generally physically and emotionally healthier and enjoy a better quality of life.

Financial wellness

It is not about having a certain amount of money at your disposal; it’s about feeling in control of your finances, being able to handle financial setbacks, and being on track to achieve your financial and life goals.

Physical Fitness

Mental and physical fitness and health are intertwined. You can improve both through a healthy diet of fresh whole foods, regular exercise, and enough sleep.

The importance of our skin microbiome

When we only view our skin as an aesthetic entity, we forget the purpose of the organ. The skin is the largest and most visible organ of the body, the skin not only gives clues into what's happening beneath the surface in terms of immune function, nutrition, oxidative stress, and metabolic issues, it is the body's first line of defense against infection, environmental stressors, and loss of nutrients and water. Addressing the skin’s immunity is a gateway to overall health and well-being. The skin’s microbiome is constantly interacting with our environment and works to support our health by protecting against infection, influencing the immune response, protecting against UV radiation, and helps provide nourishment to the skin cells. A recent study showed that in repairing the skin barrier function through moisture-retaining topicals, they found a significant drop in inflammatory cytokines in the blood. This highlights the importance of proper barrier function for not only in optimal skin health but overall health and immune function. Our estheticians at Vibrant Skin Bar are very skilled in recognizing the signs of a compromise skin barrier and the proper way to restore the skins immunity and barrier function to assist in the healing process. We have also have a variety of advanced skincare products designed to restore compromised skin barriers like, Osmosis MD Rescue, Skin Better MD Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment, Alastin Restorative Skin Complex with TriHex Technology™ and IS Clinical Reparative Moisture Emulsion.

"In health there is freedom. Health is the first of all liberties."

Henri Frederic Amiel

We truly hope your summer is full of celebrations, love, joy and most importantly, health and wellness. From all of us here at Vibrant Skin Bar

Welcome June! The month with the longest daylight hours of the year, the rise of the strawberry moon and the last Full Moon of spring. June is the month we honor our fathers on Father's Day and celebrate “Men’s Health Month”. This year Fathers Day is on June 20th, the same day as summer solstice and the longest day of the year. Father’s Day celebrates the contribution that fathers and father figures make for their children's lives. We all know that it is common for men to avoid the doctor until they become sick, injured or are faced with a serious health problem and the majority of men will postpone seeking care for days to see whether they can heal on their own, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" kind of thinking. Postponed care can prematurely encourage onset of diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and depression. Men also face unique issues such as prostate cancer and benign prostate enlargement that require regular follow-up. Routine checkups and screening tests can spot disease early when it is easiest to treat.

A March 2018 report showed that the life expectancy for men in the United States is currently 78.8 years which is significantly lower than the life expectancy range of our peer countries which is between 80.7 and 83.9 years. If you look across the globe to the regions that have the highest life span you will find that the residents all have similar lifestyle habits. The best-selling book, “The Blue Zone”, written by Dan Buettner looks at these countries up-close. Dan traveled to five areas throughout the world as part of a large anthropologic and demographic project and studied people who are most likely to live past their 100th birthday. As he traveled the world he marked these special areas on a map with a blue pen, thus giving the name “Blue Zone” to his book. Lifestyle characteristics such as family coherence, avoidance of smoking, plant-based diets, moderate and daily physical activity, social engagement, and a focus on people of all ages engaging socially and actively are common in the Blue Zone.

The five blue zones where the longest-living people on earth live are:

1. Sardinia, Italy
2. Ikaria, Greece
3. Okinawa, Japan
4. Nicoya, Costa Rica
5. Loma Linda, California (an area where the religious group known as the Seventh-day Adventists live)

Buettner cautions that if you live the average U.S. lifestyle with a diet high in processed food and a schedule packed with responsibilities leaving little time for exercising or relaxing you might not ever  reach your potential maximum life span and could be shortening your life by as much as a decade.

June is a perfect time of the year to show the men in our lives we care by encouraging them to have regular check-ups and inspire them to make lifestyle changes that will not only improve the quality of their life but possibly also add years to it. 

At Vibrant Skin Bar we regularly see men for services such as CoolTone, Brotox, volume replacement injectables and anti-aging and acne facial treatments. We also offer a whole body approach with our “clinic within a clinic”, Vibrant Vitality Clinic. At Vibrant Vitality Clinic licensed medical practitioners restore and optimize hormones with blood work, nutraceuticals and prescription medications to maintain a healthy balance and encourage lifelong wellness. When the men in our lives take care of themselves it not only benefits them but also encourages those around them to flourish. Happy Father’s Day to all the men contributing to the children of the world, we wish you health, vitality and happiness.

Vibrant Skin Bar