Because Accutane is a powerful medication, it should only be prescribed for severe acne cases. Patients must have ongoing blood tests and constant monitoring of cholesterol levels, liver enzymes and triglycerides in order to detect any adverse side effects. Doctors must be made aware of any medication and over the counter the remedies used by their patients. Certain over-the-counter acne products do not mix well with Accutane.

Women who are planning a family must not become pregnant during treatment because Accutane is known to cause birth defects. Some doctors order pregnancy tests and prescribe birth control medication. The FDA has instituted the iPledge program for women who decide to undergo treatment.

Accutane is administered in capsule form and is available in doses of .5mg or 1 mg. The maximum daily dose should not exceed 1.5 mg. The average course of treatment is 15 to 20 weeks. If further treatment is required, the patient must wait 10 weeks after the treatment was discontinued.

It will take several weeks before patients experience the full effect of Accutane. In some cases, the skin will temporarily get worse but then there will be a noticeable decrease in acne.

In some cases, there could be more severe side effects. These require immediate medical attention:

- Headaches, nausea and vomiting

- Depression or psychosis

- Night blindness

- Jaundice, hepatitis or abdominal pain

- Diarrhea, rectal bleeding

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) are compounds that are taken from sugars found in milk and fruits. Alpha hydroxy acids are known to be effective in rejuvenatind the skin and fading wrinkles, while healing damaged caused by photoaging skin.  AHA exfoliates dead cells off the skin, encouraging the skin to grow cells to replace the old ones. AHA also induces the production of elastin and collagen, the compounds responsible for the reduction of wrinkles and the suppleness of the skin.

AHA can be found a variety of beauty products, but should be used in moderation. If used incorrectly or if you use too much, it can irritate the skin. Pigment scarring has also been associated with the use of too much AHA.

Be very careful when applying alpha hydroxy products on your skin. The best way to do it is to choose one or two products out there containing AHA (as your exfoliant and moisturizer), then use other beauty products that do not have AHA - so you don't overdo it.

Always remember to use sunscreen when using a product with an active alpha hydroxy acid ingredient. AHA increases the skin’s sensitivity to damage from sunlight. Because too much alpha hydroxy acid can be dangerous to the skin, make sure to use a product with only the right levels of AHA in it. The ideal AHA concentration in any product should be around 5 to 8%, with a pH level of three or four. Any more can do more damage than good!

Hair extensions offer instant volume for limp tresses or emergency relief from a disastrous haircut and can last up to 3 months.

Some things that you should know about caring for hair extensions:

   •  Use a soft bristle brush and brush your hair from the bottom and gently work your way up.

   •  Gently tie your hair up while sleeping.

   •  Do not color your own hair extentions at home.

   •  To prevent tangling, run your fingers through the braid extensions.

   •  Don't spray your extensions with conditioners or any silicone based products as they can cause the braids to slip.

You can have any length you want up to about 26"-30". Anything longer than this puts extra weight on your scalp which may lead to damage to your own hair. The best looking hair extensions for average height women are usually around 22" or less.

Hair extensions can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars so you'll need to shop around.

The application of extensions should not hurt. The extensions artist should braid the tracks firmly but comfortably. The tension should be even all over your head with no points pulling or hurting.