Sometimes we take for granted the elements that help keep our bodies functioning efficiently. How we stay alert and aware of our surroundings, how we process food to produce muscle and tendons and strong bones! It’s hard to comprehend sometimes how they all can simultaneously work…but our minds can only pay attention to one thing at a time.

Vitamin B12 is one of those elements that strengthens our nervous system and matures our red blood cells to work efficiently within the whole body!

It’s best to first get a blood test and seek health advice from your doctor and/or dietitian before supplementing vitamins and minerals.

We offer IV Infusions and IM Injections if your doctor advises it to be beneficial for yourself.

What is Cobalamin (B12)?

Vitamin B12, as it is mostly referred to, is a critical molecule for our overall health.

B12 is a cofactor in DNA synthesis in both fatty acid and amino acid metabolism, it plays an important role in the normal functioning of the nervous system via its role in the synthesis of myelin, and plays a significant role in maturation of red blood cells in the bone marrow.

Just reading this give you a sense of what could happen if you are not sufficient in B12.

Symptoms of Low B12

At levels only slightly lower than normal, a range of symptoms such as feeling tired and weak, feeling like you may faint, difficulty walking (staggering balance problems), depression, poor memory, poor reflexes, confusion, breathlessness, headaches, and pale skin, feeling abnormal sensations, weakened immunity, reduced fertility and interruption of blood circulation in women may occur.

These can be just the warning signs before leading to more serious issues such as anaemia (decreased number of red blood cells, haemoglobin in the blood, or lowered ability to carry oxygen by the blood).

Consuming B12

You can obtain Vitamin B12 by consuming these foods: clams, mussels, crab, salmon, beef, chicken, eggs (whole), and milk.

If you are vegetarian, vegan, or can’t get enough of the foods listed above, you can refer to supplements.

We offer Intravenous Infusions as well as Intramuscular Injections to receive a quick, effective, and a sufficient dose for the body.

Do you have scars on your face that make you feel self-conscious when socialising in public venues or social events?

Scars can be a result of accidents, scrapes, acne, burns, insect bites, chicken pox and surgical cuts. Most people are oblivious to know that there are treatments that can help reduce their scars.

There are the three main types of scars our skin therapists treat: Acne Scars, Post Skin Cancer Removal Scars as well as Injury Scars. Our skin therapists will perform a thorough consultation to determine which treatment(s) will best suit your condition and concerns.

Acne Scars

There are three main types of Acne scars that we treat:

Ice Pick Scars develop after an infection from a cyst or other deep inflamed blemish works its way to the surface. The skin tissue is destroyed, leaving a long column-like scar. Deep, very narrow, looking like the skin has been pierced with an ice pick or sharp instrument.

Boxcar Scars develop when an inflammatory breakout destroys collagen and the tissue is lost. The skin over this area is left without support, creating a depressed area that are round or oval with steep vertical sides.

Rolling Scars arise when fibrous bands of tissue develop between the skin and the subcutaneous tissue below. These bands pull the epidermis, binding it to deeper structures of the skin. It’s this pulling of the epidermis from within that creates the rolling or wave-like depressions.

Post Skin Cancer Removal Scars & Injury Scars

It can be a cruel reminder for someone who, once battling cancer, having a surgical scar on their face, or someone being involved in an unpleasant event of physical violence, resulting in an injury scar. Especially when they see it every morning when they look in the mirror to do their hair or skincare routine.

Scars are formed when fibroblasts, i.e. cells of the connective tissue, reach the injured area of ​​the skin and close the wound there with an extracellular matrix. Depending on the depth and the size of the injury, the scar may be darker than the normal skin tone, and it may also be thicker than expected due to new tissues filling in the gap of the wound.

Life is a consistent roller coaster; a ride of high’s and lows. On those high’s, we can feel completely in control, like we’re on top of everything, completely organised. But dwelling in the lows can make us behave out of control, respond with bad habits and make poor decisions.

Our diet takes a plummet, our exercise regime disappears, and our skincare routine becomes non-existent. Add on the chronic stress of life and these factors can place an immense amount of strain to our bodies and is reflected through our skin with dull colour, dehydrated complexions and weather worn wrinkled creases begging to come back to life!

Wrinkles are the most obvious result of ageing skin and there are three categories of what causes ageing.

The first category of ageing is biological and can be caused from the changing cell functions deep down in the skin, such as: poor communication from messenger molecules, hormones that aren’t able to influence the skin as they should, cell walls that aren’t able to retain water, collagen and elastin fibres being broken down, or an increase of inflammation that impairs the immunity of the cells.

The second category of ageing is environmental and it includes factors such as: UV radiation, weather extremes, pollution and smoke. All increase the free radical damage in the skin. This is where we suffer the most, as men, on the outdoor worksites, doing home maintenance and renovations, working in the garages with metals, oils, and dirt.

The third category is mechanical ageing and this refers to wrinkle-creating behaviours such as muscle movements or repeating day-to-day actions (resting your chin or cheek in your hand, pursing the lips when drinking through a straw, squinting, laughing too hard at the pranks you pull on your workmates etc.).

Within each of these categories, you can change certain habits and behaviours to slow down ageing so that you continually look young and fit as you age. Exercising, drinking of plenty of water, reducing the intake of fast food and processed refined sugars, 7-8 hours sleep every night etc.

But if you’re looking for more immediate results, we have a numerous amount of treatments to gain instant results such as Anti-Wrinkle Injections and Fillers, and those that bring gradual natural looking results such as Threads, Sublative, Sublime just to name a few. Team these up with regular facial treatments (one every 1-3 months) and your daily skincare routine, and you’ll be able to slow down the ageing process!

We are living in one of the most beautiful warm locations in the world! Every year the sun blesses us with her light and warmth as her rays reach out to us.

But most of us enjoy it (maybe a little bit too much) that we expose our skin with no protection beyond the healthy advice of 15-20 minutes of exposure required to synthesis Vitamin D.

Sun damage is a function of cumulative time in the sun and intensity of the ultraviolet radiation (i.e. sun intensity). You can get accurate advise on the ultraviolet radiation (UV) index for your location from arpansa.gov.au.

Your skin may appear dry, flaky and slightly more wrinkled than skin on other parts of your body that have not been exposed to the sun as much. Dry skin is also one of the most common causes of itching.

You may also notice a more severe symptom known as actinic keratosis. An actinic keratosis appears as a small bump that feels like sandpaper or a persistent patch of scaly (peeling) skin that may have a jagged or even sharp surface and that has a pink, yellow, red or brownish tint. At first, an actinic keratosis may be the size of a pimple. Rarely, an actinic keratosis may itch or be slightly tender.

After continuous exposure to the sun, there may be long-term changes in the skin’s collagen. Symptoms of collagen changes can include fine lines, deeper wrinkles, a thickened skin texture and easy bruising on sun-exposed areas, especially the back of the hands and forearms.

Pigmentation is extremely common and presents itself in many different ways from freckles to melasma. Pigment can be genetic or due to external factors such as excessive sun exposure or trauma to the skin. Each type of pigmentation has a different pathway of formation. Therefore, treatment options will vary.

When treating any form of pigmentation there are non-negotiable products that will protect the skin from further UV damage and assist with shifting superficial pigments. You could expect your skin therapist to prescribe a pigment inhibitor and an SPF as a bare minimum.

It can be disheartening, off-putting, and even embarrassing for some, to have a continuously red, flushed appearance spread over the face. We’ve even heard some men say that they didn’t know it was an official skin condition and dismissed the idea that it could be treated, believing it was just an unfortunate genetic make up that can not be managed to reduce inflammation.

Pharmacies promise the world with topical creams that will reduce inflammation of Rosacea. Only for you to be disappointed that they only reduce the redness for a short period of time and not help solve the root cause of the skin condition. Most women use make-up to cover the inflammation, but unfortunately with some of us men who are labourers, don’t wear make up and are constantly exposed to the harsh pollutants and chemicals at the work place.

Rosacea is a long-term skin condition that typically affects the face with symptoms such as redness, pimples, swelling, and small and superficial dilated blood vessels.

The most often affected areas are the nose, cheeks, forehead, and chin. Flare-ups can occur and vary from person to person with each having different triggers. Some triggers may be spicy foods, particular beverages, hot and dry environments, sometimes cold environments and stress.

At CAVE X, our skin therapists take you through a personalised treatment program alongside a homecare system to achieve maximum results of managing your Rosacea.

A treatment program to calm the skin and reduce inflammation may include Hydrating Masks and LED Light treatments. Once your skin’s barrier has built up, the program may include advanced treatments including Laser Genesis and Laser Limelight (IPL) to reduce redness and dilated blood vessels.

Along with the in-clinic treatments, our skin therapists will provide products customised to your sensitive skin that, consistently used daily (or as prescribed by your skin therapist), will provide efficient long-lasting results.

So don’t lose hope! There are treatments to help manage rosacea and the unsettling inflammation flare-ups that come with rosacea.

Do you suffer from acne, pimples and blemishes?

More than likely you’ve been told, at least once in your lifetime, to not have too much high processed sugar foods (No! Chocolate! Donuts! Ice-Cream! We can’t live without the deliciousness that oozes from their corners!), as well as fast-foods (What!? Not even KFC’s chicken!?), because they aggravate your immune system, irregulating your chemical and hormonal balance, and as a result, causing break-outs.

But do not fret! There are foods that help fight against breakouts and, of course, your overall health! Combine eating these foods with a regular exercise regime and an acne skin care treatment system, it will put the odds in favour of clearer, healthier, skin!

The key vitamins and minerals within these foods that help fight acne are:

• Omega-3 – Inhibits inflammation, particularly from UV light, by hindering the production of cytokines. Improves barrier function. Promotes skin healing.
• Vitamin C – Contains anti-inflammatory properties, helping to reduce redness and swelling that comes with acne.
• Vitamin E – Controls the production of collagen and elastin in the skin. This leads to faster healing of acne and acne scars.
• Vitamin A – An anti-oxidant, fights free radicals within the cells, helping to ward off inflammation caused by acne.
• Vitamin B6 – Reduces skin’s sensitivity to testosterone and participates in the synthesis of RNA and DNA. It also regulates hormone activity, preventing hormonal imbalance that causes acne.
• Vitamin K – Anti-inflammatory properties by reducing redness of the skin and promotes tissue growth and renewal.
• Magnesium – Lowers cortisol production, stabilising hormonal imbalances. It also lowers stress and anxiety which are related to causing breakouts.
• Zinc – Helps decrease oil production in the skin, and also can protect against bacterial infection and inflammation.
• Manganese – This is needed for the production of the amino acid proline, which is essential for collagen formation and wound healing in human skin cells.
• Copper – Helps produce collagen and elastin, two types of connective tissue, helping with repairing and strengthening skin cells.
• Selenium – An anti-inflammatory that helps hormonal imbalances. Also an antioxidant which plays a role in neutralizing free radicals and prevents cell damage.
• Flavonoids – Inhibits the enzymes that may cause an inflammatory response from acne.
• Fibre – Helps control insulin levels, high insulin levels are known to trigger androgens, which in turn trigger our oil-producing glands to produce excess oil. This oil can clog pores and cause breakouts.

WARNING: If you are allergic to any of the foods mentioned below, obviously don’t eat them. We prefer you to be alive and well!

Also, it may be best to check with your doctor, nutritionist, or dietitian, if these foods are suitable for you as an individual. Everybody will respond differently to how much of the vitamins and minerals we consume.

Without further delay! Here are the Super Foods that you can implement into your diet:

Wild Salmon – High in Omega-3s

Oysters – High in Zinc

Eggs – Contains Omega-3s, Selenium, small amounts of Zinc, Manganese, Copper, and Vitamin E

Brown Rice – High in Magnesium and Selenium

Sweet Potato – Vitamin A, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C, as well as Copper and Manganese

Broccoli – Vitamin A, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, as well as Magnesium

Legumes – Each legume holds more of certain vitamins and minerals than others, but most contain Vitamin K, Manganese, Magnesium and Omega 3.

Cucumber – Vitamin C and Vitamin E

Avocado – Vitamin E

Dried Apricots – Magnesium, Beta-Carotene (converts into Vitamin A when digested), and a good source of Fibre

Blueberries – Vitamin C, Vitamin K and Manganese, and they hold a small amount of Copper, Vitamin E and Vitamin B6

Nuts – Each different nut holds more of certain vitamins and minerals than others. But most contain Copper, Zinc, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Omega 3.

Turmeric – Flavonoids

It’s always best to stick to fresh produce rather than packaged and processed foods. A lot of the time when food progresses through the process to being packaged, it loses a lot of its nutrients which strips the food of its purpose. The more refined it becomes, the less beneficial and effective it becomes.

As we mentioned before, to achieve clearer, healthier skin, combine a balanced nutrient rich diet with a skincare system and possibly some skin treatments.

We offer and extensive in-depth consultation to check the severity of your acne and will be able to provide skin treatments and products to help reduce your acne breakouts.