MD Expertise: Skin & Beauty

Non-surgical Eye Lift

2009-11-19T15:51:00Z

The eye area is one of the first to show signs of aging with fine lines, skin laxity, and under eye bags starting as early as the late 20s and early 30s. Non-surgical or minimally invasive rejuvenation options have become especially popular among both men and women who are either nervous about undergoing surgery, want to avoid scars and prolonged downtime, or who have such early changes that more invasive procedures would be inappropriate. Tine lines around the eye area are typically due to chronic...(read more)

Farewell to Evolence

2009-11-18T19:53:00Z

Just over one year ago, the United States FDA announced the approval of Evolence, a second-generation collagen filler derived from a porcine (pig) source. The product had a favorable safety profile and a steadily growing fan base among both patients and physicians due to a decreased incidence of post-procedure bruising and swelling. It has been used in other countries as far back as 2004. Earlier this month, Ortho Dermatologics (a division of Johnson & Johnson) abruptly announced that Evolence...(read more)

Smile. . . You Look 10 Years Younger

2009-11-10T15:23:00Z

One of the easiest things a person can do to take 10 years off their appearance is to whiten their teeth. Teeth naturally come in a range of colors from white to yellow or grey, but as we get older, our teeth can become darkened or stained due to dietary habits. The biggest enemies to white teeth are acidic foods such as white wine, citrus fruits, and soda or foods that contain rich pigments such as coffee, tea, red wine, and dark berries. Acidic foods eat away at the surface enamel, allowing pigment...(read more)

Photofillers: The Next Wave in Facial Contouring

2009-11-02T16:09:00Z

Dermal fillers are an increasingly popular form of non-invasive surgery to restore volume and improve the contour of the aging face. With most of the currently available fillers, the process is about the same. A physician injects the filler substance into an individual line or region of the face that needs plumping. After a little molding to smooth out any bumps, the patient is on their way. In an exciting development, Kythera Biopharmaceuticals has recently initiated in-human proof-of-concept trials...(read more)

Celebrate Halloween with a Pumpkin Facial

2009-10-28T17:01:00Z

Fall is always one of my favorite times of the year. The leaves are changing, the holidays are just around the corner and my local coffee shop is serving up Pumpkin Lattes. To get into the spirit, pumpkins can be used to make a homemade mask tailored to almost any skin type. Pumpkins are naturally high in vitamins A, C, and zinc. Vitamin A helps to gently dissolve dead skin cells, vitamin C acts an anti-oxidant to protect the skin against free radical damage, and zinc helps boost the skin's healing...(read more)

Skin Changes of Breast Cancer

2009-10-21T12:23:00Z

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, patients should be aware of skin changes on or around the breast that may be a sign of breast cancer. Breast cancer occurs when abnormal cells start to grow in one or both breasts and invade the surrounding tissue. Important things to look for include a reddish discoloration of the skin, retraction, dimpling or puckering, a change in size or shape of the breast, and crusting or...(read more)

Tanning Beds and Cancer Risk

2009-09-21T19:16:00Z

Like watching a good movie, I laughed and I cried when I read a recent editorial published in a college newspaper by the manager of a tanning salon extolling the virtues of indoor tanning ( http://breezejmu.org/2009/09/03/some-sunny-perspective/ ). I thought it deserved a professional response. The tanning bed manager's main issue is a recent classification by the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) classifying UV-emitting tanning devices as carcinogenic to humans. She calls the report...(read more)

Fractional Laser Systems. . . The Future of Drug Delivery?

2009-09-10T17:55:00Z

Medical lasers have become increasingly common over the last two decades, mostly for cosmetic and dermatologic indications. As their use becomes more widespread, it is natural for scientists to develop novel ways to harness the technology. One of the most interesting uses is the possibility of laser technology to facilitate the delivery of medications through the skin. Lasers are an ideal choice for drug delivery because the wavelength of the laser can be varied to target specific structures while...(read more)

Explore Earlobe Rejuvenation

2009-08-27T21:53:00Z

Just like the skin on the rest of our body, the earlobes change over time with aging and exposure to the sun. As collagen and elasticity decrease, the earlobes can become elongated and thin, with fine wrinkling on the surface. This can make it difficult to wear certain types of earrings such as small pearls or stones, which can fall downward due to lack of structural support around the post of the earring. The piercing hole may also become weak and stretched out or prone to tearing. Some scientists...(read more)

Treating Dark Circles in the Undereye Area

2009-08-13T17:18:00Z

Dark circles in the undereye area is a common problem. What makes them so difficult to treat is that there are so many different problems that can cause them. No single solution works for all patients, so the key is to first figure out what is causing yours and then attacking the root of the problem. There are three main components that can contribute to dark circles: volume, vascularity, and pigmentation. Volume issues are the most common and are due to normal aging and genetics. The fat pad in...(read more)

Will Traditional Sutures Soon be a Thing of the Past?

2009-08-12T13:46:00Z

Researchers at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine in Boston, Massachusetts have developed a novel technique to replace sutures when closing wounds. The process harnesses laser light to "knit" layers of collagen together, thereby sealing together two edges of a wound--all without a needle and a thread. The idea of laser bonded tissue is not new. Researchers have been trying to harness laser light to close wounds for years. The problem with these early trials has been that the reaction between lasers...(read more)

Cupcakes and Aging: The Effects of Calorie Restriction in New Study

2009-08-03T23:10:00Z

For a while now scientists have speculated that a low calorie diet may have advantages in halting the body's aging process. Studies in yeast, worms, flies and rats have all shown that cutting calories can extend the life span and possibly stave off age-related disease. This theory came one step closer to human application this month with the publication of long-term research on calorie restriction in monkeys in this month's issue of Science . Rhesus monkeys, left to right, Canto, 27, on a restricted...(read more)

Determining if you have a Vitamin D deficiency

2009-07-21T20:51:00Z

Over the last two decades, there has been a marked increase in the number of people with low levels of Vitamin D. Data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey revealed Americans had an average Vitamin D level of 30ng/ml from 1988 to 1994, with a decline to 24mg/ml from 2001 to 2004. The cause of this is not entirely known, but several factors are thought to play a role including decreased exposure to sunlight. Widespread education on the dangers of tanning and excessive ultraviolet...(read more)

Botox or Dysport: Which Option is Better?

2009-07-14T21:35:00Z

In 2002, the United States FDA approved the first botulinum toxin for the cosmetic reduction of movement related facial wrinkles, Allergan’s Botox Cosmetic. Since then it has become one of the most popular minimally-invasive cosmetic treatments in the United States with more than 2.8 million procedures performed in 2008 alone. On April 30, 2009, Dysport (Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., Scottsdale, AZ) became the second botulinum toxin approved for cosmetic use. The product has been commercially available...(read more)

Goodbye to Accutane--as generic competitors step in

2009-07-09T19:18:00Z

Branded Accutane (isotretinoin), which first went on the market in 1982 for the treatment of severe acne, is no longer available for prescription. The pharmaceutical company Roche Holding AG (Basel, Switzerland) announced that it was discontinuing sales and withdrawing Accutane from the market as of June 26, 2009. The pharmaceutical company made the decision on the heels of a lawsuit which awarded over $33 million in damages to users who said the drug was responsible for causing inflammatory bowel...(read more)