MDF is cheap and versatile, which has made it a material that has been embraced by a huge number of people in DIY epidemic of last few years. This hunger was fuelled by programmes such BBC’s Changing Rooms which incorporated MDF into most of its designs. Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and Handy Andy demonstrated how flexible material could be cut into just about any shape, and curved into unique contemporary furniture and fittings – often challenging very idea of good taste! So, is MDF perfect DIY material? Or are there hidden dangers?

Recently, there has been considerable publicity about health hazards of using MDF. There have been reports of how dust produced when working with MDF can cause health problems such asthma and even cancer. One trade union stated that ‘MDF is asbestos of nineties’! Alarming stuff, but are there any grounds for concerns?

Recent assessments of risks The Health and Safety has classified MDF as a soft wood and therefore not designated as a carcinogen in UK. However, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) does not distinguish between hardwoods and softwoods, and it groups ‘wood dust’ as ‘carcinogenic to humans’.

Formaldehyde, which is included in bonding resins used in MDF, is also classified by IARC as ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’. They argue that, even at low levels, inhalation of formaldehyde can cause irritation to eyes, nose, throat and mucous membrane. It can also affect skin, leading to dermatitis, and to respiratory system causing asthma and rhinitis.

There comes a time in everybody’s life when we start to consider implications of growing old and possibilities of using one of many different anti-aging treatments that are available. Coincidentally, this time of life is usually around same time we discover our first wrinkle or laughter line. These first signs normally become apparent in your 30s or 40s if you are lucky and while that is first time we will be likely to consider using anti-aging treatment, we really should start using it earlier than this. By keeping our skin healthy from an earlier age we are at least prolonging aging effect as long as possible.

If you do leave it until very first signs of wrinkles it is possible to still do something about it. When first wrinkles do materialise, don’t ignore them. Denial is worst possible move at this point. Application of a good anti-aging cream may help remove some of wrinkles and stop new lines forming.

How do anti-aging products work?

Good anti-aging treatments are far from being a miracle cream, and contain vital nutrients and vitamins that are proven to help rejuvenate skin. Most contain Retinol, a form of Vitamin A that has proven in recent studies to have a considerable rejuvenating effect on aging skin.

Other types of treatment use different chemicals and vitamins to improve look of your aging skin.

The collagen molecules in skin begin to break down as we age and this is what creates wrinkles and lines on our faces. Most anti-aging creams are only able to contain partial collagen molecules because they are too large to enter skin by use of a lotion. Hydroderm have developed patented Collagen Infusion Delivery System. This innovative formula delivers entire collagen molecules into skin, which give a healthy and rejuvenated glow taking away wrinkles and lines associated with old age.