Vitamin C Miracle or Hoax?

A great deal has been written about Vitamin C, both for and against it.  Most of the doctors who downplay it are skeptical of its efficacy, based on lack of scientific proof.  They have had little or no personal experience with it themselves, and have not read anything convincing about its successful use by other doctors.

On the other hand, there are physicians who have had a great deal of experience with it, and are impressed with its marvelous ability to help the human body in a variety of ways.  I t makes more sense to rely on the practical knowledge of the doctors who are getting fantastic results with it rather than to go with those who stand back and demand more proof.  Here are some areas of nutrition where vitamin C is know to have beneficial effects.

Vitamin C protects the immune system 

"Vitamin C is my only choice for fighting any viral infection," says Dr Fred R Klenner MD, who's given over one million grams of it to more then 10,000 patients since 1940.  He is called the "Vitamin C Doctor", because he's used it to treat bleeding gums, viral hepatitis, pneumonia, measles, chicken pox, burns, encephalitis and a host of other ailments.

"I have cured viral infections thousands of times using ascorbic acid.  I've used more than one million grams of it in my medical practice, and have never seen any adverse side effects," declared the Reinsville, NC Physician.

He began using Vitamin C when his wife told him all of her teeth would have to be extracted because of bleeding gums.  He recalled reading that the Japanese had been using Vitamin C in experiments with bleeding gums, so he began giving his wife give grams daily.  It worked!  Dr Klenner continued...

"I once had a patient with bacillary dysentery.  I began giving the child 2 gms of Vitamin C in the morning and 2 at night.  It  cleared the condition up within 36 hours.

"A few weeks later, I had a case of viral pneumonia and treated it with Vitamin C, giving the patient 5 gms about 1 pm.  When I went back at 6:30 that evening, his temperature was going down and he'd just finished a full dinner.  The next day I found him out of bed and dressing.  We continued the treatment for the next 3 days.

"Massive doses of Vitamin C injected in the bloodstream release a tremendous amount of oxygen, creating a condition known as flash oxidation.  This oxidation process strips away the protein coating of the virus, making it vulnerable to the disease-fighting white blood cells."

Once scoffed at by the medical establishment, Dr Klenner's theories are now being hailed by fellow physicians.  "Now that Vitamin C has become more fashionable, this man is getting credit for what he's been doing for years, " declared Dr Emanuel Charaskin, chairmen of the department of oral medicine at the University of Alabama Medical Center.

Added Nobel Prizewinner Dr Linus Pauling, author of "Vitamin C, The Common Cold and The Flu", "Klenner has made a contribution to medicine.  I admire him for identifying the benefits of Vitamin C, and I have given him credit for his work in my new book."

 Vitamin C and Lower Back Pain

Vitamin C can be "very effective in the prevention and treatment of back pain," says Dr James Greenwood Jr MD chief of neurosurgery at Baylor University College of Medicine.  

"My study of  Vitamin C for preventing and treating back pain goes back to 1957.  I'd been troubjled with severe back pain for more than 10 yrs and the attacks had gotten worse over the years.

"Then, at the advice of a friend, Dr Paul Harrington, an orthopedic surgeon in Houston, I began taking 250 mg of Vitamin C 4x a day.  Four months later the back pain disappeared and I was able to exercise without difficulty.  When I cut Vitamin C out of my diet, the back pain returned.

"During the next 7 yrs I applied the benefits of my own experience to more than 500 patients with back pain.  They reported gratifying relief, when the pain was caused by a slipped disc."

"Vitamin C," Dr Greenwood says, "is not a  Vitamin in the ordinary sense of the word, but a construction material used in relatively large amounts to help build collagen 00 the gelatin-like protein material contained in tissue and bone -- which holds the body together. (Also which is made by the body, not added to the skin through skincare products, but when stimulated for the body to produce collagen, your skin is more youthful).

Dr Greenwood concludes that a regimen of good nutrition, including 2 gms (2,000 mg) of Vitamin C taken 500 mg at a time, and exercise every day will eliminate most common back pains, sprains, and disc ruptures.

Vitamin C keeps us from "coming unglued"

Since Vitamin C is necessary for making the glue that holds us together, there are certain signs that show when we are starting to fall apart.  Bleeding gums and bruising are signs of a lack of collagen.  Collagen is like the mortar between the bricks in a brick wall, holding it solidly together.  If you take away the mortar, the brick wall will collapse.

So with our bodies.  If our gums bleed when we brush our teeth or if we bruise easily, our "brick wall" is in a weakened condition.  This is called "scurvy".  Another name for Vitamin C is "ascorbic acid".  "Ascorbic" means "no scurvy".  Vitamin C builds and heals by giving us plenty of glue to hold us together.  One type of stroke is caused by blood vessels leaking into the brain.  Adequate Vitamin C with bioflavonoid will strengthen all the vessels and make us less prone to such injury.

Vitamin C and "SIDS"

Dr Archie Kalokerinos MD, an Australian physician, worked for many years at an isolated hospital in Australia among the aborigines.  For the first 6 yrs of his practice, they experienced more then 50% infant mortality.  Then during the next 6 yrs he administered Vitamin C to all the expectant mothers and newborn infants, and this reduced the high mortality rate to zero!

Based on this experience with over 5,000 patients, Dr Kalokerinos believed that SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is nothing more than infantile scurvy.  Each child dying of this disease experienced a cold or flu just prior to death, which used up all the viable Vitamin C in the system.  Mothers and children who received adequate  Vitamin C have no incidence of SIDS at all.

Vitamin C prevents drug toxicity

A good reason to pack your Vitamin C when you're off to the doctor is its power to detoxify many common drugs.  For example, corticosteroids are prescribed for a wide range of common illnesses, including acne, rheumatic fever, eczema, allergies, bronchial asthma, inflammatory bowel diseases, arthritis, etc.  These "wonder drugs" are also accompanied by an impressive list of toxic side effects including: increased susceptibility to infection, edema, hypertension, acne, congestive heart failure, thin fragile skin with impaired wound healing, menstrual irregularities, and glaucoma, to name a few.  But if you are taking Vitamin C along with the drug, your chances of avoiding these complications are greatly improved.

A study by Dr Vincent G. Zannoni of New York University School of Medicine, found that Vitamin C can prevent toxicity of drugs by speeding up their metabolism, so they don't build up to excessive levels in the blood.

There is a growing body of evidence that Vitamin C blocks the formation of chemicals called nitrosamines, which are known to be highly potent cancer causers.  Nitrosamines are formed in liquor, cured meats, and cigarette smoke.  Vitamin C detoxifies them and renders them harmless, protecting us from their cancer causing ability.  It only makes sense in this polluted world in which we live to keep a good supply of Vitamin C on the shelf and in the body at all times.  

Which Vitamin C is Best?

Most Vitamin C products on the market are synthetic, NeoLife GNLD thinks "natural" is important enough to bypass the laboratory, and market a natural C.  In addition to Vitamin C, flavonoids are important for building collagen.  We can fight viruses with Vitamin C alone, but we can't make collagen without flavonoids.  All of NeoLife GNLD's Vitamin C products contain a rich supply of this essential ingredient.  So stock up and be sure the whole family is protected with a regular intake in sufficient quantities to meet their needs.  NeoLife has a variety of Vitamin C products, and since they are all natural they taste great.  They have chewable, powdered and time-released.  

Natural Vitamin C has no side effects, and goes to work to build the immune system and make the glue that holds us together.  Be sure to get all that your body needs each day.

Additional Information About the Health Benefits of Vitamin C at this link http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Vitamin_C.aspx 

Foods high in Vitamin C http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/foods-high-in-vitamin-c/

NeoLife GNLD
http://neolife.com/en-us/home/
Sponsor #32-260985

Skincare Product Ingredients Labels Decoding your Bottles Part 3

Hot Button Ingredients
Unless you're a chemist by trade, product ingredient
lists can be overwhelming.  For that reason, do

research on individual ingredients in product formulations on the Internet?  Relying on the web to learn more about ingredients can be both beneficial and detrimental.  It seems there are both "pro" and "con" camps for nearly every skincare ingredient.  Of course, these campaigns are plagued by misinformation.  This is why decisions about skincare formulations must be based on findings of clinical studies, instead of Internet rumors.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate
A surfactant (detergent) used in cleansers, sodium laureth sulfate came under scrutiny in the late 90s when an Internet rumor began circulating about the "carcinogenic" nature of this ingredient.  Despite the inaccuracy of the rumor, sodium laureth sulfate was soon villainized.

The TRUTH, those with particular sensitive skin should avoid sodium laureth sulfate, as it can be irritating.  But for the majority of the population, the ingredient poses negligible risk.

Mineral Oil
When mineral oil first began being used in moisturizers, it proved to be an excellent humectant.  This led to the unfortunate assumption that if a little mineral oil provides beneficial results, using a lot in a formulation will make it even better.  However, when used in high concentrations, mineral oil can plug pores, leading to acne and diminished skin health.  Improper use of mineral oil led to the unfortunate widespread belief that any use of the ingredient in a skincare formulation is bad.

To be beneficial in skincare formulation, mineral oil must be used in limited concentration and must be of cosmetic grade or higher (pharmaceutical grade is best).  The lesser the grade, thee more impurities it may have.  However, considering that the FDA regulates the purity level of mineral oil, there's a slim chance of finding a poor grade in your skincare product.

Second rumor about mineral oil is that it causes cancer.  This report is completely baseless, as no scientific study has ever indicated a link between mineral oil and cancer.

 Alcohol
Is the ingreditn tha I absolutely recommend you avoid using in skincare products.  It is often found in "toners" to help remove dirt and give the skin a refreshed feeling.  However, alcohol is an irritant and dries the skin.  This causes inflammation and increases the risk of skin damage.

It is important to note that there are some beneficial skincare ingredients that are related to alcohol, including glycols, which act as emollients.  The fats and oils found in glycols moisturize the skin.  When these fatty acids are removed, the result is alcohol.  Try to avoid products that list alcohol in forms like ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol as well as ethanol or methanol.

Urea
Is a preservative commonly used in skincare products.  The reason propagated for not using it are twofold.  There are those who say it is a waste byproduct of the body, making it unappealing for use in skincare products.  And then there's the group who says urea releases formaldehyde and is therefore a carcinogen.  Here is the real truth:

It's true that urea is a waste produced when the body metabolizes protein.  However, the urea used in skincare products is not the same chemical and comes from a synthetic process.  Therefore, you can rest assured you aren't applying waste products to your face.

Regarding the risk of cancer from using products with urea, this is a completely unfounded assertion.  In fact, in 1990, the FDA asked its Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel to review the science on urea.  That investigation led to a report stating that urea is, indeed, safe for use in cosmetics in concentrations up to 0.5%.  In 2006, the CIR again investigated urea, using current science.  That investigation led to a report that confirmed the findings from 1990 and again declared urea safe for use in cosmetics (You can find an overview of ingredients the CIR has investigated at www.sir-safety.org ).

Parabens
Of all the controversial skincare ingredients, it's the topic of parabens that I'm most passionate about.  And, for tht reason, I want to elaborate on it a bit more than some of the other ingredients.

As a plastic surgeon (Dr Abdulah) who has had countless breast concer survivors as patients, I'm particularly sensitive to ingredients that are considered carcinogenic -- especially those that may be linked to breast cancer, specifically.  Therefore, in 2004, when the Internet began swirling with claims that parabens cause cancer, I immediately dove into the research to get the full story.  AFter all, parabens are among the most utilized preservatives in the skincare industry and have been used safely and effectively for more than 80 years.  If they were suddenly found dangerous, countless skincare products would be affected.

Here's the background, TRUTH:
In 2004, a researccher in the United Kingdom named Phillipa Darbre published a study in the Journal of applied Toxicology that found paraben-like substances in breast cancer tissue.  Given the sensitivity in our society to breast cancer, it didn't take long for parabens to be put on the top of every list of "bad skincare products."   Additionally, skincare product manufacturers almost immediately began changing their formulations to utilize newer preservatives.

What the Darbre study did not do is show causation of breast cancer by parabens.  It also failed to show them to be harmful in any way.  In fact, the study left many questions unanswered.  For example, it did not look at possible paraben levels in normal tissue, an essential step if any valid conclusion was to be made.

Since the Darbre study, follow-up investigations, including a 2008 comprehensive review by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) have confirmed parabens safety.  With that, the FDA, the National Cancer Institute, and the American Cancer Society, among others, released statements denying proof of a linkage between parabens and breast cancer.  Today, parabens remain officially approved for use in cosmetics by the US FDA, the European Commission, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and many more regulatory bodies.  Despite this, the fear campaign surrounding parabens continues, spurred on by various spcial interest groups and even manufacturers who have turned to paraben-free preservatives.

So what's wrong with using an alternative preservative in skincare products?  Perhaps nothing.  However, we can'tt be sure becuase most other preservatives are relatively new and lack the long track record of success that accompanies parabens.

What is most alarming is that paraben controversy, and others like it, have led some manufacturers to condemn preservatives altogether and, with that, they've begun marketing "preservative-free" formulations.  Nearly every skincare product on the market today contains some amount of water.  And with the use of water comes risk, for it creates a habitat in which bacteria, fungi, molds and other microorganisms are encouraged to grow and thrive.  Thus there can be no such thing as a preservative-free skincare product unless it is to have no shelf life or is exclusively oil-based or water-free.

Rather, there are many ways to mask the presence of man-made preservatives.  And it is of this issue that I've found few to be aware.  In fact, natural/organic preservative distributors will even admit that a truly natural broad spectrum preservative is not currently available.

While there are some "natural" substances that offer antibacterial benefits at high concentrations, such as certain essential oils, they are very narrow in their spectrum of protection against bacteria.  The challenge is that there is no way to add these preservatives in high enough concentrations without causing severe reactions.  And conversely, adding an amount that will avoid irritation doesn't offer protection from microorganisms.

Of the many natural preservatives utilized in skincare products today, a good number have failed challenge testing by third-party groups such as the Cosmetic Toiletry Fragrance Association (CTFA) or United States Pharmacopeia (USP).  Despite this, manufacturers continue to use the ingredients and back them by claiming they passed the company's own internal testing requirements.  Additionally, some "preservative-free" skincare products utilize a loop-hole to hide the presence of preservatives.  The FDA does not require manufacturers to disclose the actual ingredients that comprise "fragrance" or "perfume".  Therefore, companies are able to include preservatives in their products but mask their presence with the "fragrance" umbrella.  This is also sometimes done with the ingredient terms "base" or "blend".

The fact is, preservatives that are found freely in nature may be more irritating since they do not conform to the rules that are applied to the ingredients used in product formulations.  Skincare products require stability and shelf life, and unfortunately, natural preservatives aren't very adapting to these requirements.  The simple fact is that man-made formulations have fewer by-products and are, thus, safer than natural biologically active ingredients.

Ensuring skincare formulations do more than simply smell or feel nice does require some work on your part.  However, it's a worthy effort, indeed.  The time you invest will save you money and frustration.  More important, however, it will bring a sense of satisfaction when your effort leads you to a product that provides an undeniable improvement in the condition of your skin.

Skincare Product Ingredients Labels Decoding your Bottles Part 2

 In the post Skincare Product Ingredients Labels Decoding your Bottle Part 1

I explained about the various ingredients you should look for in your skincare product line and what they are intended to do.  Here I will continue to explain those ingredients, so you can make an informed choice and hopefully, without wasting money on products that simply can't preform what they claim.

 Ingredient Grades

It is possible for skincare formulations to feature the same collection of ingredients in similar concentrations but still offer different results.  This is because of differences in ingredient grades.  All ingredients fall into one of 5 grades.  In descending order, these are pharmaceutical grade, food, cosmetic, reagent and technical.  IN skincare products cosmetic-grade is most commonly utilized.  In fact, it is this grade that is commonly utilized in skincare products found at drug and department stores.  While there is certainly nothing wrong with cosmetic grade ingredients, they are less refined than higher grade ingredients and thereby contain impurities.

The FDA allows up to 30% impurities in cosmetic-grade ingredients.

Many skincare products utilize ingredients of the highest quality -- pharmaceutical grade, which are required to be 99.9% pure. 

Translating Ingredient Lists

Despite the fact that the FDA does not approve skincare products, they provide some protection for consumers via the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act.  This law requires manufacturers to follow specific criteria when developing product labels, including listing product ingredients in the order of concentration.  Additionally, all ingredients must be listed by their INCI name, that is, the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients.  The INCI outlines the appropriate scientific term for each ingredient.  For example, it takes a simple ingredient like shea butter and requires it be listed as Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter).  While this may seem to make labels more difficult to read, it ensures that labels read consistently across languages and cultures.  

Step #1

Look at the ingredient list, is the first item (the base ingredient is always listed first) water or purified water?  Or is it a therapeutic healing agent, such as medical grade aloe vera?  Higher consideration should be given to the latter.

Step #2

Do you see any active ingredients listed in the ingredient list?  Also, is there more than one active ingredient included in the formulation?  The higher on the list the active ingredient falls, the more concentrated it is in the formulation.  Many active ingredients work well in small concentrations while others, like aloe, must be included in high concentrations to be effective.  It's therefore, important to research active ingredients in a formulation to understand how they're best utilized while determining the potential for side effects.  Some active ingredients may be irritating in higher concentrations until the skin has adapted to their presence.

Step #3

Do you see any harsh chemicals listed, such as acetone, camphor, fennel, menthol, rubbing alcohol, or phenol?  Ingredients such as these are considered irritants.  Exposure to irritants may cause a variety of conditions that are difficult to treat, including redness, dry patches, breakouts, rashes, flakiness, and sensitivity.

Today there are countless products claiming to improve condition of your skin while containing irritating ingredients.  The use of these products may cause the skin to swell temporarily, ultimately leading to wrinkles and premature aging.  Repeated use can even suppress the skin's immune and healing response by breaking down inter-cellular chambers.  these products don't provide benefits, instead they do damage.

Step #4

Does the product contain pharmaceutical-grade ingredients?  As mentioned, if they do it will usually be highlighted on the package.

http://my.treskinrx.com/AmazingAloe/

Ingredients and Instructions for one of the star products EX3 found at
http://www.treskinrx.com/index.php?id=8

Do’s and Don’ts of TWEEN SKINCARE!

Do’s and Don’ts of TWEEN SKINCARE!

Acne and skin problems used to be a teen issue, but, with kids enter puberty earlier, tween acne is on the rise. Dermatologists are seeing kids who are 10 years old and even younger seeking help for skin issues. Each year they are diagnosing more and more kids younger than 12 years old with pre-adolescent acne.

Parents are eager to help their tweens and bring back the sweet, smooth baby skin that they had just a few years ago. Parents can help their children by reviewing (and then reminding them as needed, probably many times) dos and don’ts of tween skin care, which can establish healthy habits that will last a lifetime. Remember, this is all new to tweens who aren't always stellar at self-care and they need your help.

DO have your tweens and teens wash their face TWO times a day. Cleansing morning and night is one of the best ways to promote healthy skin.

DO use the cold, hard, rather gross facts to motivate your kiddo. Tween boys in particular love gross info, so try this on them: Bacteria loves to feed on the oil your body’s sebaceous glands naturally produce, including the oil on your face. Oil production increases during puberty. Washing helps eliminate that oil and thus the bacteria. Gross, yes, but also motivating.

DO have kids wash their face (and take a shower, if possible) as soon as possible after sports practice. Should they wash more than twice a day? It can be helpful if a tween is especially active and sweating a lot. This will also help with body odor issues.

DON’T scrub too hard. How a child washes his/her face matters, too. Kids should be careful to wash gently and not scrub, which can irritate the skin and exacerbate the problem.

DO use a gentle cleanser and products that will not clog their skin. TreSkinRX recommends our Purifying Cleanser. Based with medical grade aloe, this cleanser is gentle, therapeutic, and because of the high grade aloe, kills bacteria and prevents inflammation, which is the #1 cause of acne. And if you need another reason to keep your tween girl out of makeup, explain to her that products like foundation and cream blue can clog pores.

DON'T skip sunscreen, get tweens started using it so they can prevent skin cancer down the road.

If they are breaking out with acne, DO wash using a product with either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Leave the cleanser on the skin for a one to two minutes "so that its active ingredients can penetrate your skin’s epidermis." TreSkinRX’s Clear Skin Cleanser is an awesome acne cleanser containing these two important ingredients. Make sure if your tween does use makeup, that they remove the makeup first before using the acne cleanser. Acne cleansers do not remove makeup.

DON’T let tweens and teens keep touching their face. Encourage your kids to keep their hands off their faces so as not to add to the oil on their face, irritate the existing pimples or pick at them causing a scar.

Keratosis Pilaris is a common skin condition that is characterized by the appearance of rough bumps on the skin. It most often appears on the back and outer sides of the upper arms. Although harmless, this condition is often embarrassing to those that suffer from it.

The powerful combination of ingredients found in TreSkinRX products include 100% organic pharmaceutical-grade aloe vera, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and Vitamin A. Together they work to address these symptoms. Regular exfoliation with our daily renewing exfoliant, EX3, will gradually slough off and eliminate the rough bumps associated with this condition.

EX3 Daily Renewing Exfoliant

Our patented exfoliant combines Aloe Vera, Vitamin C and glycolic acid into one unique formula. This remarkable combination removes dead skin cells while activating the production of collagen - the skin's natural cell rejuvenation process. The result is a visable reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, and improvement in the texture and clarity of your skin. EX3 is simply the best at-home exfoliant available. Experience "Magic" with the power of 3!

Night Repair Moisturizer

Sleep better knowing our Night Repair Moisturizer is working to preserve & restore your skin's natural moisture level. With intense moisture and anti-inflammatory protection, you will wake to beautiful skin.

Dr. Abdullah was looking to offer his patients the best products to ensure healthy skin.

Dr. Abdullah is a board-certified plastic and cosmetic surgeon and a recognized expert on the restorative and medicinal effects of aloe vera which he has used in his medical practice for over 25 years. He is a member of the International Aloe Science Council (IASC) based in Dallas, Texas, and has served on its board of directors.

As a board-certified plastic surgeon and noted aloe researcher, Dr. Abdullah is a pioneer of the practice of using pharmaceutical-grade aloe in plastic surgery for the treatment of skin damage. Given the amazing results in his practice from using aloe vera, Dr. Abdullah specifically searched for an aloe-based skincare line he could offer to his patients. In 1996, after his search came up fruitless, he applied his background in chemistry and biology to formulate the TreSkinRX pharmaceutical-grade aloe vera based products. He offered these products to his patients until 2009 when TreSkinRX was launched to introduce these products to the world!

Reading his credentials, education, awards below... who do you trust in that has developed your skincare products?

I know many like to create their own skincare today.  They use essential oils and hope they have good ingredients and a recipe someone has made up.  But who created that recipe?  Are the essential oils you're using, absolutely proven to be of the purest safest quality, a true clinical grade?  Or are you simply taking the word of a company on the quality of their oils?  You can see the tests, more tests done, and tests that meet or pass the standards not set by a company, but by clinical trials research institutions who set the standard far above what most companies claim as a therapeutic grade.  Check out http://ClinicalGradeEssentialOils.myameo.com  

However, why reinvent a wheel?  Why count on a recipe developed by who knows who?  When you have the credentials of someone like Dr Abdullah, and a product line as great as TreSkinRX with a true medical grade aloe vera base in each product, all natural, proven effective... why reinvent that wheel?  
http://my.treskinrx.com/AmazingAloe/

"My objective was to develop skincare with integrity using ingredients that makes sense, are high-grade natural substances, and have rejuvenating effects on the skin."

- Dr. Ahmed Abdullah, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Credentials

Board Certified in Plastic Surgery & General Surgery.

Plastic/Cosmetic Surgeon.

Owner, Plastic Surgery Institute PC, Fargo ND.

Co-Owner and Medical Director, PSI Ambulatory Surgery Center , Fargo , ND.

Co-Owner, Heartland Diagnostic Services, Fargo ND.

Clinical Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery University of North Dakota School of Medicine, Grand Forks ND. 1994-Present

Member, Board of Directors, International Aloe Science Council, Dallas TX. 2003-Present

Member, Board of Directors, Heartland Independent Provider Network. 1998-Present

Consultant, Plastic Surgery, Veterans Administration Hospital, Fargo ND. 1995-Present

Staff Plastic Surgeon, Dakota Clinic Limited, Fargo ND. 1993-1995

Education

Chief Resident, Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX. 1992-1993

Residency, Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX. 1990-1992

Chief Resident, General Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX. 1989-1990

Residency, General Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX. 1986-1989

Internship, General Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX. 1985-1986

Laboratory Instructor in Anatomy, Northwestern University Medical School. 1982-1984

Northwestern University, Chicago , IL, M.D., 1981-1985

Professional Memberships

American Society of Plastic Surgeons

American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery

Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation

American Medical Association

International Aloe Science Council

American Burn Association

Blocker, Lewis Plastic Surgery Society

Singleton Surgical Society

Lipoplasty Society

Awards

Yun-Ho Lee Award of Scientific Merit 2002, International Aloe Science Council

Corporate Achievers Award, 1999, National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Honors in Anatomy, Psychiatry & Anesthesia, 1985

Khalilullah Trophy in Biology, 1976

Duke of Edinburgh Award, Silver Medal-1976

Duke of Edinburgh Award, Bronze Medal-1975

Kensett Medal-English Literature, 1975

Cree Medal-Science, 1975

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBg2NHtXG44

http://my.treskinrx.com/AmazingAloe http://my.treskinrx.com/AmazingAloe/