Hey ladies! It’s the weekend again! What fabulous things do you have planned for this weekend? If you find yourself out and about in the city instead of worrying about parking, finding a designated driver, or avoiding that DUI checkpoint, why not try Uber? What’s Uber you may ask? It’s a mobile App that connects passengers with car services. And yes doll, they are probably in YOUR city – because they are global! I absolutely love this App! We all know drunk driving is pervasive in this country. Every 90 seconds a person is injured in a drunk driving crash and most crashes happen on the weekends. It’s astounding but 1 in 3 people will be involved in a drunk driving crash in their lifetime. I was hit by a drunk driver who ran a light after leaving a club when I was 16.

It’s just not worth it. Don’t be a statistic! Don’t find yourself in a position where you’re stuck with a friend who has the keys and has had a few too many to drink!  And don’t find yourself unsure of how you’ll get home in an unfamiliar area of town!  Use Uber when you’re out partying. Whether you’re in LA or Singapore a reliable, reasonably priced car service that you can request and pay for via your smartphone is literally just a few taps away.  You can even read reviews about the driver you request so you don’t have to worry about “stranger danger” when you get into the car.  For my friends in New York this means no more fretting about trying to convince a cab to take you to Brooklyn late at night. With Uber you can sit back and just relax and have a great weekend and enjoy those mimosas at brunch, and wear your 4 inch stilettos out on the town at night because you won’t be driving home or taking the train this weekend. It’s worth a try this weekend ladies – Uber is at the very least going to save you stress (and sore feet) and at the most could save a life!

Wishing you an Uber safe weekend.

Smooches,

Dr. V

#LiveRightAtNight ……… Happy National Girlfriend’s Day

Ladies, can you imagine how lonely it would be for Oprah to fly alone in her private plane to fabulous places all over the world without Gayle? Well, I can’t and is not only the beginning of the weekend but it’s also National Girlfriends Day and I can’t think of a better reason to celebrate with an adult beverage!

Take a moment to think about it. Who was your girlfriend that got you through tough times?  Who loved you like a sister? Who had your back and brought you back to reality when “what’s his name” ran a Jedi mind trick on you and told you the reason he couldn’t be with you was because of YOUR baggage, NOT HIS (yeah right. He has the full complete LV Damier luggage set)!

As you go through your day today, let the women who have been instrumental in your development into the fabulous woman you are now know that you love them and appreciate them so very much.  There is nothing wrong with reaching out to an ex-BFF and saying “Just wanted to let you know you were a great girlfriend!” You never know what she may be going through in life and it may just very well make her day!

Beyonce is right ladies, Who runs the world?? GIRLS!! And no one will take care of you and love you like your girls. Here’s a list of things that a group of women shared they have done for their girlfriends. Yes these are all real.  What would you do?

• Who held your hair back while you were kissing the porcelain GOD?
• Who left the club alone and drove your car home so you could go home with that cute guy?
• Who loaned you her crotchless fishnets to go on a date?
• Who paid for your trip because she really wanted you to come because YOU are the life of the party?
• Who stood beside you at YOUR wedding and cried tears of love and happiness?
• Who threw you a surprise birthday party despite you being an absolute drama queen?
• Who joined Weight Watchers to support you & lost more weight than you? DAMMIT!!
• Who pretends to be your lesbian lover when a super-annoying guy at the bar won’t leave you alone?
• Who is always down to roll to the club after yet another failed relationship so you can find a new guy and be on to the next?
• Who always tells you “You are so RIGHT!” knowing damn well you are wrong?
• Who loans you breast pasties or a bra because you know you can’t leave the house like that!? Your best girl friend THAT’S WHO!

Ladies, let’s celebrate #LiveRightAtNight and National Girlfriend’s Day! Kick off the weekend right! Share your funniest stories, enjoy some laughs and tell your girlfriends how much they mean to you.

Wishing you a fabulous weekend

Dr. V

 

Okay ladies, it’s time to get real and talk about something that many suffer from but no one wants to talk about… CHAFING. Yes, it’s as common in the summer as barbeques and warm weather, yet we rarely talk about it!  There’s nothing less chic when you’re heading out for a day or night on the town and your killer sexy strut is stalled by chafing pain.  Suffer in silence no more!  I’m here to bring relief by sharing everything you need to know about Summer Chafing: How to Treat It, How to Beat It, and WHY it happens in the first place!

 

 

What is Chafing & What Causes It?

Moisture & Sweat – Sweat and moisture are the culprits! Whether you’re walking the streets in hot weather or working it out in the gym sweat and moisture can contribute to chafing and irritate your skin.  Why? Sweat becomes trapped in areas and irritates your skin which leads to chafing as this irritated skin contacts other skin or your clothes.

Speaking of Clothing – Even Couture clothes rub! And as clothing rubs against common chafing areas (your thighs for instance) the resulting friction can lead to red chafed skin.  The chances of chafing really increase if you wear ill-fitting clothing. Also, the fabric you choose to wear makes a difference.  Try to stick to fabrics that let your skin breathe. These breathable fabrics will ensure you sweat less and definitely stay away from rough or scratchy fabrics.

Body Composition: Our body shape and being overweight can increase the risk of chafing. For instance, if you have extra skin or weight in your thighs, underarms or even upper body, these areas can rub together with other parts of your skin and the friction may lead to chafing. Ladies, this does not mean that your thighs were meant to NOT touch naturally .. so don’t go crazy and start checking out the costs of lipo!!

How can you PREVENT Chafing?

The real keys in Chafing Prevention are decreasing friction and moisture. This means you can:

Stay dry and try not to get too sweaty – Easier said than done in hot summer weather but do your best to keep your skin dry (carry some baby powder on you and apply it before you head out for the day) in areas that are prone to friction or get a little more sweaty.  This also means you want to wear fabrics that are more breathable and wick away moisture, and of course never hang out in wet clothes!

Lubricate areas to prevent chafing –  Reducing friction on your skin is key, and you can do that by applying petroleum jelly or products like Gold Bond or Lanacane Anti-friction creams or gels.  These the products out, and figure out which works best for your  body’s chafing “hot spots.”

Dress right – Whether walking around or exercising in hot weather, prevent chafing by wearing anti-chafing gear.  This means clothes should fit properly, be comfortable, perhaps even wick away moisture!  Compression shorts and accessories like Spanx are great to prevent friction that leads to thigh chafing – a big summer culprit!

What are some ways to TREAT Chafing?

It’s important you follow the anti-chafing methods outlined above but what do you do when chafing has already struck?

1. Clean the chafed area gently and be sure you pat it dry.
2. Treat the area with something like petroleum jelly or appropriate balms.
3. If you’re past the point of normal chafing.. for example the area is reddened and painful, burns and may even be blistered,  talk to your doctor who may prescribe a medicated ointment. This could be key to preventing infection!
4. Give your skin some time to heal in general before you become too active again, and if you can, take care of the area before you head out again (choose your apparel carefully).

Now go out and enjoy those summer days and nights chafe free!

Smooches,

Dr. V

#Live Right at Night: Sun Bathing Safely

Ladies, I hope you are having a fabulous and sunny summer involving lots of fun and as Kimora would say: “Fabulosity”!! It’s summer time and as I pen this week’s entry for Live Right at Night (which is more of a Live Right All Weekend Long) I’m actually on vacay myself I have to admit that this week I need to take my own advice…It’s confession time:

I am an addict … A sun addict that is. I admit it! I love the sun .. There I’ve said. I was born in Australia and lived down under and loved playing outside till my hair turned light brown and blonde.  Even as a teenager there was nothing that brightened my spirit more than feeling the warmth of the sun’s rays on my face. One of my best friend’s mom was a doctor and used to tell us that getting some sun even at a tanning booth was good for us and released endorphins .. so duh, following the doctor’s orders we ran with that idea.  I worshipped and laid out in the sun on numerous beach vacays until one year after returning from Jamaica I had burns on my face that my dermatologist referred to as  “sun damage.”  What? All I heard was damage… You mean like wrinkles? Scars? Permanent? Now at the time this occurred I was a medical student, and clearly knew all about skin cancer.. but I kept thinking not me, I mean “black don’t crack” My mom and my grandmother look fabulous!  I also kept thinking, well “black people” don’t get skin cancer! But yes, they do.

My relationship with the sun has grown up as I’ve grown over the years and although I still love it and enjoy sitting out on a beach I’ve learned that the skin I’ve got today is the skin I’m gonna have tomorrow and forever, so I have to love and treat it right.  Finally, I listen to my mom who has been screaming at me for years to “wear a hat!”  Fact ladies: There are tons of cute and sexy wide-brimmed hats out there these days to match your fashionable swimwear. I also use sunscreen. Epicuren is one of my personal faves. It’s made with honey and rubs nicely into your skin without feeling greasy or heavy. I also use it on my face. The great thing about their line is that they even have a product with Zinc Oxide that rubs in clear without the white chalky ghostly look.

Now if you have a weak moment and just have-to sit out and get a little tanned up (which I’m not condoning) then the Maui Babe’s Browning lotion is my ultimate favorite lotion. And if you lay out and get just a bit too crispy then I recommend Epicuren’s Noni Elixir.  It works really well to calm burns of any kind including sunburns, and also soothes bug bites (which I seem to get everywhere I go) so it’s truly multi-purpose!

We’re in this 12-step program of weaning ourselves from the sun together ladies! To begin, let’s start out strong and make sure to use a moisturizer with SPF everyday.   Little changes now in our sun loving habits will make a big difference later! Your skin and mine will thank me later.

Smooches from Turks and Caicos,

Dr. V

#Live Right at Night … Saluting the Sun and Summer Solstice

The days are longer and the nights are shorter – FINALLY – it’s Summer Solstice

It’s officially Summer. Hello Saturday brunch on the outdoor patio and refreshingly light adult beverages! What are your plans this summer you sun goddess?  Millions of Americans will spend the summer months traveling and hitting the roads and skies. Even if you didn’t make it to Stonehenge to celebrate Summer Solstice or Cairo or Sedona there’s still ample opportunities to worship the sun this summer.

Summer welcomes a new wardrobe and new activities. For many people it’s also a time for renewal and fulfillment. We’re ½ there to 2014 so why not use these warm summer months to make your life healthy.  Re-energize yourself and take stock of what’s going on in your life. Have you strayed from your New Year’s Resolutions or are you still on track? Do you have toxic relationships that need to be tossed out? Well the summer is the time to tell those folks to kick rocks. Are you still trying to get into a regular exercise routine? Why not start everyday this summer with the Sun Salutation poses? Yoga is a great way to align the mind body, and spirit. And today with more than 14hours of sun you have ample time to do your sun salutations and bring harmony to your life through meditation and movement. The energy and vigor you gain will help you Live Right throughout the Day and Night.

Wishing you a Healthy and Happy Summer,

Namaste,

Dr. V

#Live Right at Night … #Healthy Takeout

Are you a gal who always gets a doggy bag for your leftovers? Are you an urban diva and find yourself speed dialing your fave takeout restaurant or getting delivery most nights of the week? Well if you are then read on darling.  I’ve got some must-read tips regarding how to ensure your takeout or leftovers are helping you Eat Right at Night (and the morning after when you snack on them as well) because you can’t always smell or see bacteria on food that can make you sick.

First, before you ever order take-out from a new restaurant do a walk-by to ensure the brick and mortar location of your go-to spot is clean and sanitary.  As they say, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” and the restaurant conditions may be a representation of the establishment’s attitude on food safety.  Other things to think about in terms of take-out…

1)   Do you know how long to keep leftovers in your fridge? The rule for most take out is 4 days then throw it away.

2)   Don’t eat food that’s been left out at room temperature for more than 2hrs. Since it’s summer and it’s getting hot inside if room temperature climbs higher than 90 degrees cut that throw away time point to 1hr.

3)   If you left food out and not refrigerated then throw it out!

4)   Make sure to re-heat your food thoroughly – ALL the way through – cold spots can serve as hiding spots for bacteria

5)   Don’t give leftovers to people who are sick or have food allergies.

6)   If you’re going to a deli to get takeout – look at the food stations. The hot food should be HOT – look for steam rising or condensation on the glass covering the food. And the cold food should be COLD  – the food storage areas should be cold to the touch and there may even be frost or ice around.

7)   Don’t pick food from the sky-high pile. It may not be warmed or cooled appropriately.

8)   If food looks “old ” it probably is – don’t buy it.

Yes it’s true that some food tastes better when we eat it on our couch or the next day but it’s important to make sure that your favorite takeout items don’t end up making you sick and slowing you down.

Here’s to safe snacking and a great weekend!

Dr. V