Q: We recently spent a remarkably productive week at a spa and want to purchase a residence with a focus on health, fitness, and nutrition. What's the best way to do this?

A: You're onto my favorite trend. The concept of living at a spa—the ultimate way to follow the spa lifestyle—has become wildly popular. Canyon Ranch Living, which spearheaded this trend, is opening soon in Miami and under construction in Chicago, and Miraval Living is nearing completion in New York. The Cliffs Communities homes and homesites in the Carolinas offer outdoor space and golf and are focused on spa and wellness. Red Mountain Spa in Utah has 24 residential villas, and Cooper Life in Texas, Myananda Living in Colorado, and the brand-new Pritikin Living in Florida are other options. At Spafinder.com's Spa Lifestyle Real Estate section, you'll find more than 150 spa-living projects around the world.

Q: I'm an African-American woman wondering about the most appropriate treatments for my skin, especially exfoliation. What do you suggest?

A: Elena Jones, M.D., a dermatologist in Manhattan who specializes in treating women of color, explains, "African-American skin and skin of all women of color tends to be more sensitive than Caucasian skin, so treatments need to be more superficial in terms of penetration." Rather than using abrasive agents, she recommends certain glycolic acids, salicylic acids, and chemical peels because they gently and chemically exfoliate the skin. She emphasizes the importance of getting the strength right and advises "slowly titrating up in strength to minimize any adverse effects." Simmone Chaddan, an African-American colleague at SpaFinder who is an avid spa-goer, says she always calls ahead to make sure a spa has the right technology and expertise. For exfoliating (and other) products, she likes Carol's Daughter, which is popular with women of many ethnicities.

Q: I've been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and am looking for a spa that can help me learn to take care of myself. Can you recommend one?

A: Kudos to you for taking action. Diet, exercise, and other good health habits can help people manage both type 1 (which requires you to take synthetic insulin) and type 2 diabetes, but many health centers and spas address only type 2. However, the Lifestyle Center of America diabetes resort in Oklahoma (and a program it recently launched in Sedona, Arizona) addresses both.