by Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Spa Insider

If stress affects beauty, we can probably all plan on things getting a bit uglier. That is unless we intervene or the current escalating stress level that most people are experiencing begins to dissipate. (I am not counting on that happening anytime soon.)

Meredith Viera interviewed Dr. Amy Wechsler, a board certified dermatologist and psychiatrist, on the Today Show a couple of days ago. Dr. Wechsler was talking about her new book The Mind-Beauty Connection.

The title caught my attention. Since we often talk about the mind-body connection in the spa world, the idea of a mind-beauty connection seemed intriguing. Dr. Wechsler talked about how stress affects beauty and gave tips on how to reverse skin aging by reducing stress. Her main point was that age-related stress can be seen on your face and is totally and easily reversible - she suggests in nine days.

I have to say I connected with what she was saying. I remember taking a yoga class several years ago after which a person remarked to me that I looked 10 years younger after the class than before it. Well…that was probably an exaggeration, however I do remember recognizing that there was definitely a difference in how I felt and looked. Dr. Wechsler emphasizes the very things taught at spas; deep breathing, exercise, healthy foods, counting your blessings, more sleep, meditation or “time out,” and intimacy. Come to think of it, that pretty much sums up a spa vacation! And many of her points can be experienced during a spa visit...or even in a yoga class.

I don’t often recommend a book I haven’t read yet (mine is in the mail) but check out this video from the Today Show website . Maybe we can all get started on a beautification campaign!

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Today's New York Times had a huge story in their Style Section entitled "Beauty Regimens Reach for the Gold Standard." It was an article written about three women in Beverly Hills describing how much they spend - and what they have done - in terms of their beauty regimes each week. Even I was quite shocked. Not only the money spent but also the time taken!

One woman, Ginger, figures that she spends about 10 hours and $1,000 each week on grooming. (And if you count her personal training and exercise coaching, you would add another $500 per week to that.) Another woman spends about $500 per week on grooming although that doesn't count the $60,000 she spent this year on liposuction and a face lift. The third woman spends about $225 per week which in comparison looked quite reasonable. That's still almost $12,000 per year!

It is bittersweet to read these stories. Clearly the demand for these services is part of why our spa industry has such robust growth. On the other hand it is kind of sad to think that the desperation to look young forever is so very important to so many of us - and I do include myself. Perhaps the best solution is for other parts of the spa industry - the part concerned with the body/mind/spirit, community and self-acceptance - to become more successful in helping people reach a healthy outlook on aging gracefully.

We can hope.

I learned something remarkable the other day. I learned that Botox is being used to get rid of the strong vertical lines which appear on our necks as we age and that the procedure really works!

These muscles in our neck are called platysma muscles and as we get older a downward pull creates vertical fibrous bands. I know what these bands look like because I see them in the mirror every day. I didn't even know these were muscles or that anything could be done about the way they age us.

Apparently neither did Nora Ephron who wrote the book (which is still on the NY Times Bestseller list) "I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman." But thanks to the artistry of Dr. Richard Foxx at the Medical and Skin Spa at the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort and Spa (and his willingness to point out fixable flaws) Nora and I don't need to feel bad about our necks any longer. Presto...with a series of very small injections along the lines of these cords, they become totally relaxed the next day.

Amazing.