Sep
14
All About Lasers
Filed Under Aesthetic Medicine, Aesthetic Procedures | Leave a Comment
Back in the ’90s, blasting wrinkles meant horror-flick-like oozing and months of redness as “ablative” lasers burned off the skin’s surface and a younger-looking version grew in.
Not so with the new generation of smarter lasers, which target the hallmarks of aging—creases, brown spots, broken capillaries, sagginess—without destroying the skin you’ve got. The result? Faster healing, so you can get back in makeup and return to work with smoother skin in as little as 24 hours. Still, any searing laser beam has the potential to scar or damage pigment (especially for women of color), so treatments are best left to an M.D., who can adjust the intensity to work with your skin tone. And sun-worshippers beware: Because many lasers target pigment, give the beach a four- to six-week break before your first session. Here, a laser-by-laser guide to the treatments that’ll suit your trouble spots, budget, and schedule.
THE TREATMENT: Nonablative (i.e., surface skin is left intact) Fractional Resurfacing
WHAT IT’S FOR: Smoothing fine-to-moderate lines, evening out brown spots, and improving overall glow with quick weekend recovery. (It’s often referred to as “Fraxel,” the brand that debuted the device in 2004.)
HOW IT WORKS: Heat generated by the laser penetrates deep into the skin and stimulates collagen production without annihilating your epidermis (translation: no oozing or rawness). It’s typically performed over a course of three to five 25-minute treatments, one to two months apart, under topical anesthesia. And it’s safer for ethnic skin types than ablative lasers, but even women as light in tone as Lucy Liu should proceed with extra caution (your doctor can calibrate the laser at a lower intensity to minimize risks, but you may need extra sessions).
HOW IT FEELS: Less painful than ablative procedures, these treatments give the sensation of heat rather than pins and needles. Feels like a bad sunburn for about 10 minutes post-procedure; afterward, skin is pink and sandpapery for three to five days but can be camouflaged with concealer.
PRICE: $600 to $1200 per treatment
THE TREATMENT: Ablative (i.e., skin-wounding) Fractional Resurfacing
WHAT IT’S FOR: Smoothing fine-to-deep lines and evening out brown spots in a single treatment. Can also help tighten lax skin and carpet bomb broken capillaries if they fall in the laser’s direct path.
HOW IT WORKS: The laser beam strikes the skin in thousands of places, destroying tissue a millimeter deep in those microscopic spots only (think perforated paper). Surrounding skin remains intact, allowing for faster recovery than the original ablative devices but more intense results than the nonablative fractional laser. The hole-punching fires up the body’s wound-healing response, which generates collagen and smooths wrinkles. It’s ablative and therefore riskier for women of color, but can be executed successfully at a doctor’s discretion.
HOW IT FEELS: Generally performed with local anesthesia similar to what you’d get in a dentist’s office. After 15 minutes of post-treatment discomfort and an application of ice packs, pain is minimal. For 24 to 36 hours, skin oozes and bleeds (just as pretty as it sounds), followed by five days of crustiness. Once crust peels, new, pink skin emerges and makeup can be worn; complete healing within two weeks. (FYI, this laser comes in three varieties: CO2, Erbium, and YSGG. CO2 is harshest, while YSGG offers the quickest, easiest recovery.)
PRICE: $1500 to $5000
THE TREATMENT: Ablative Carbon Dioxide Resurfacing (i.e., the original ’90s procedure)
WHAT IT’S FOR: Still the most aggressive fix for hard-core lines and acne scars; can also tighten loose skin but is safe only for fair skin types (olive tones and women of color risk permanent pigment loss).
HOW IT WORKS: By blasting away the skin’s top layer, this aggressive single treatment bulldozes wrinkles.
HOW IT FEELS: During, like needles across the face (it’s sometimes performed under general anesthesia). Recovery-wise, think burn victim on day one as open wounds ooze and bleed, followed by five to 10 days of rawness while your obliterated epidermis regenerates (sorry, no makeup for up to two weeks). Overall pinkness persists for two to four months.
PRICE: Approximately $4000 to $8000, depending on size of area treated
THE TREATMENT: Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
WHAT IT’S FOR: Eliminating brown spots and other sun-induced discoloration and spot-treating broken capillaries. When performed with nonablative fractional treatments, can amplify skin-tone-evening benefits–but it has no effect on wrinkles.
HOW IT WORKS: While not a “laser” per se, IPL devices work similarly. Short pulses of bright white light pinpoint brown pigment cells and redness, which are damaged when they absorb the light and the heat it creates. Safe for most skin types, but a doctor may dial down intensity for darker skin tones to avoid slim risk of de-pigmentation.
HOW IT FEELS: Sunburn-like. Patients experience slight swelling and pinkness the day of the procedure, but there’s no downtime, which is why it’s often categorized as a “lunchtime” treatment.
PRICE: $400 to $600 per treatment.
Originally published on May 21, 2009, Feature from “Marie Claire”
Aug
24
Topical Botox Shows Effectiveness In Treatment Of Crows Feet
Filed Under Aesthetic Medicine, Aesthetic Procedures, Aesthetic medicine | Leave a Comment
NEW YORK – A topical, noninjectable form of botulinum toxin asserted its ability to effectively treat crow’s feet through impressive data from a recently completed phase II clinical trial released here.
Seventy-five patients at four study sites were treated with the novel topical toxin or placebo to the crow’s feet area. On a four-point static scale, a significant number of participants showed two point moves, according to Michael Kane, M.D., a principal investigator in the trial who released aggregate data from the study at the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery annual meeting.
“As one of the study centers, I was not unblinded as to which of my patients had toxin and which were [treated with] placebo. But, clearly, by looking at the patients, there were those whose crow’s feet got a lot better and some whose didn’t,” Dr. Kane, a plastic surgeon in private practice in New York City, tells Cosmetic Surgery Times. “The difference was night and day, both at rest and smiling. The people who showed significant difference, unsurprisingly, had lateral brow elevation, as well. Obviously, the toxin was working on the muscle.”
TRANSDUCTION TRANSFORMATION
The concept of simply applying a topical to eliminate wrinkles is not new, but proving the theory has yet to be conclusively accomplished. Yet, researchers involved with the development of the topical form of botulinum toxin think they are close. Its developers at Revance Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held company based in Mountain View, Calif., claim that the topical allows large macromolecules to cross the skin and other barrier membranes enabling local, targeted delivery. Delivered through the firm’s proprietary TransMTS™ (Macromolecule Transport Technology), the neurotoxin is based on a single, straight-chain, peptide that allows skin to be a gateway for drug delivery, rather than a barrier.
“Adding a peptide as a separate component within the [toxin] formulation allows the toxin to cross the skin,” explains Jacob Waugh, M.D., co-founder & chief scientific officer, Revance. “The peptide forms an ionic bond with the toxin and the peptide also has a Protein Transduction Domain (PTD), which is responsible for transcutaneous flux. It is essentially a quite broad and powerful transduction.”
Although the topical toxin’s technology is fairly obscure and complex, the use of two pathways on both the dead and living layers of the skin allows for a significant result, according to Dr. Waugh. Currently, there have been 600 crow’s feet areas treated via the TransMTS™ technology, with a fairly low local irritation rate and no evidence of adjacent paralysis above placebo grade, say the developers.
“TransMTS technology relies on the fluidity of the dead skin, that essentially is the equivalency of the typical topical that loads the stratum corneum, but more interesting is the second pathway that [also] happens on the living cells,” Dr. Waugh details.
“Basically, it’s a variation the cell uses to take a drink, then it dumps the drink back out on the other side of the cell.”
The key to TransMTS technology, say its developers, is a protein carrier featuring protein transduction domains that hold on to the cell membrane and allow larger molecules to pass through it undisturbed. The transport technology is also currently being studied for early applications of new cardiovascular disease drugs. Additionally, three different cancer drug trials are being investigated based on the system’s ability to transport molecules, according to the firm.
ADVANTAGE: EYE
While TransMTS technology may benefit additional medical innovations including insulin and other compounds, a phase III trial is underway to establish the neurotoxin adjunct’s effectiveness and advantages when treating crow’s feet. An area greatly sensitive to injections, a topical toxin may be a relief to most patients.
“I don’t think there’s much question regarding [the topical toxin’s] clinical effect for lateral crow’s feet,” says Richard Glogau, M.D., clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California and participant in the phase II clinical trial. “Yet, they [will need to] keep continuing to improve the formulation due to a delivery problem with the gel vehicle,” he adds.
The gel that allows the combination of the peptide and the toxin to get through the skin and the mechanics of using the gel present challenges in terms of getting it to stay where it is applied, according to Dr. Glogau, who completed a recent study for primary axillary hyperhidrosis with the topical form of botulinum toxin type A.
In that study, researchers used the topical agent to treat 12 patients in a randomized, blinded, vehicle-controlled study that also showed promising results: A 65 percent mean reduction of sweating on 10 axillae treated with the BTX-A (200 U) was observed after four weeks of treatment, compared with a 25 percent mean reduction in sweating on the vehicle controlled axillae. Although the topical toxin displayed its ability to reach the bottom of the dermis when treating hyperhidrosis, the one-time dosage upon which the crow’s feet trials’ results are based may be problematic says one investigator.
“It’s a very artificial situation, and I think that anything in dermatology ends up being a serial treatment — patients are looking for long-term effect,” Dr. Glogau says. “Yet, I think the neurotoxin is realistic in its abilities.”
“My one concern is that the topical toxin will be thought of as just the same as an injectable toxin, but in reality it’s another tool,” Dr. Waugh says. “Yet, it can be used to do some of the things that injectables can’t do.”
REFERENCE
Glogau RG. Topically applied botulinum toxin type A for the treatment of primary axillary hyperhidrosis: results of a randomized, blinded, vehicle-controlled study. Dermatol Surg. 2007;33(1 Spec No.):S76-S80.
DISCLOSURE
Dr. Kane is a paid consultant to Revance Therapeutics with an ownership equity interest comprising stock options whose value is less than $50,000 during the time of the study and for one year following completion of the study. Dr. Kane does not have a proprietary or financial interest in a product, patent, trademark, copyright, or licensing agreement, and has not received significant payments from Revance exclusive of the costs of conducting the clinical study or any financial arrangements whereby the value of the compensation could be influenced by the outcome of the study or tied to sales of the product.
Aug 1, 2009
By: Beth Kapes
Cosmetic Surgery Times
Jul
27
Erasing Tyre Tracks: What Can Be Done For Stretch Marks?
Filed Under Aesthetic medicine, Beauty, Skincare | Leave a Comment
A friend of mine just got pregnant, and inevitably we got into discussing the topic of pregnancy stretch marks. Every mother-to-be has a fear of stretch marks, and one of the common questions I get asked is what can be done about those stretch marks, and what are the effective ways to cure stretchmarks.
WHAT CAUSES STRETCH MARKS
Stretch marks are, in truth, a form of scarring on the skin. The medical term for stretch marks is striae. It occurs when the area of skin undergoes a large amount of stretch over a short period of time, like in pregnancy, quick weight gain or extreme weight loss. The dermis stretches more than it can handle and tears, leaving behind an area of discoloured, thinned skin.
Fresh stretch marks tend to have a reddish or purplish hue. With time, they gradually fade to become whitish or silverish. The most commonly affected areas are the parts where more fat deposits are stored, like in the abdomen, breasts, arms, thighs, hips and buttocks. Stretch marks in pregnant women usually occurs in the 3rd trimester, when the baby is growing larger than the abdominal cavity and the skin gets stretched the most. Between 75%-90% of pregnant women get stretch marks. Other causes of stretch marks are rapid weight gain or weight loss, muscle building, puberty, hormonal inbalances and medical conditions such as Cushing’s Syndrome and medications.
Some of the risk factors for development of stretch marks during pregnancy are a younger age, family history of stretch marks in pregnancy, significant weight gain during pregnancy, higher pre-pregnancy Body-Mass Index (BMI), higher pregnancy BMI, larger birthweight and gestational age of baby, drinking alcohol and drinking less water during pregnancy. (Information sources from theJournal of the Medical Association of Thailand, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology)
The most commonly affected regions of the body affected by the problem of stretch marks are the abdomen, thighs, breasts, upper arms and lower back. Stretch marks are not a health threat, but they do cause significant distress to many people who have them.
HOME REMEDIES
- Diet. Take foods that help give you healthy skin- fish, nuts, legumes, colourful vegetables, green leafy vegetables. They will also promote collagen formation and improve elasticity of the skin. Look for foods high in Vitamins A, C, and E (carrots, citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables), zinc (nuts and fish), protein rich foods (fish and eggs).
- Adequate hydration
- Reduce caffeine consumption- caffeine is a diuretic, which dehydrates the skin and reduces its elasticity and pliability, making stretch marks more prone to occur.
- Exercise. Firm skin makes stretch marks less apparent. And it helps to keep your weight steady, which will help as excess weight gain will exacerbate the stretch marks.
COSMECEUTICALS
- Stretch mark creams and lotions. There are many stretch mark creams around. Some popular ingredients in stretch mark creams are aloe vera, cocoa butter, dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), glycolic acid, palmitoyl oligopeptide, palmitoyl pentapeptide-3, retinyl palmitate, and shea butter.
Some popular stretch mark creams are
Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Stretch Mark Cream
Revitol Stretch Mark Prevention
The current evidence for effectiveness of stretch mark creams is weak and anecdotal. Studies performed on stretch mark creams show equivocal results and there is no evidence of definite consistency of stretch mark reduction between users. However, they may benefit some users, and even though it is unlikely that the stretch marks will disappear, stretch mark creams may be able to lighten and reduce the amount of stretch marks present.
The best time to start applying stretch mark creams in pregnancy is as soon as you find out you’re pregnant! The frequent massaging, moisturising and effects of the ingredients in the creams will take some time to manifest, and so you’d ideally want to start as early in the pregnancy as possible. Once stretch marks appear, it is hard to eliminate, so prevention is the best cure.
WHAT YOUR DOCTOR CAN DO
- Chemical peels- more beneficial for fresh and superficial striae.
- Dermabrasion- Reduces appearance of stretch marks by aiming to even out the skin. More effective for smaller stretch marks. It may require a series of a dozen dermabrasion treatments spaced two to three weeks apart, but its best to discuss with your doctor how many sessions is beneficial.
- Laser Treatment- More effective for fresh stretch reddish marks, less effective for old silver stretch marks.
- Tummy Tuck Surgery- removes stretch marks and loose skin in the abdominal area.
Stretch marks are a common problem that can affect many individuals, and are a concern for many females. Having healthy skin is important in limiting the appearance of stretch marks. Stretch mark creams may benefit, but should be started as early as possible, and have better results on fresh stretch marks over older ones. Cosmetic treatments are also more effective for newly appearing stretch marks.
Jul
6
What Do Peptides In Cosmetics Do?
Filed Under Beauty, Health, Medical, Skincare | 2 Comments
Peptides, in science, refer to short chains of amino acids (the basic component of proteins). A few peptides linked together will form a protein. Proteins are essential to life, and in skin they are essential for the formation of the epidermis, and what the hair, skin, nails, and muscles are made up of. So where do peptides come into the picture in our cosmetics?
HOW PEPTIDES IN COSMETICS WORK, & EVIDENCE FOR ITS EFFICACY
Peptides are found in many cosmetics, especially those that aim to reduce wrinkles. Wrinkles are formed by the breakdown and reduction in production of collagen, and are accelerated by age and sun exposure. Collagen is a type of protein found in the skin, and production of new collagen to replenish the destroyed collagen diminishes with age. And since proteins are made up of peptides, by introducing peptides (think of them as “mini-proteins”) to your skin via your creams, it replenishes the collagen and fills up your wrinkles in the following ways:
- Signal Peptides. Peptides stimulate you skin to make more collagen. When collagen is broken down, it becomes many peptides. These peptides signal to the skin that collagen has been lost and more needs to be produced to replace it. By applying peptide cream onto your face, it mimics these broken down collagen, and basically tricks your skin into thinking it should be producing more collagen. The skin has reduced fine wrinkles and appears firmer. In a study published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, a 12 week, double blind, split face, left -right randomised controlled trial of 93 Caucasian women aged 33-55, the signal peptides showed significant improvement in wrinkles and fine lines. Palmitoyl Pentapeptide, or Matrixyl, is the most popular signal peptide in cosmetics use.
- Carrier Peptides. Peptides transport important trace elements into the skin to aid healing and the enzymatic processes going on under the kin. One of the most important elements is copper, which enhances wound healing, enzymatic processes and angiogenesis (vessels production). As peptides penetrate through the skin (protein molecules are too large to be absorbed by the skin), it attracts copper along with it. Copper peptides are essential for skin formation, promoting collagen production as well as the added benefit of acting as an anti-oxidant. It is also sometimes found in anit-cellulite products for its anti-inflammatory effects. Trials that have used copper-peptides in cosmeceuticals (Leyden JJ, Skin care benefits of copper peptides containing facial cream, presented at the American Academy of Dermatology 60th Annual Meeting 2008) have shown effectiveness in decreasing the appearance of fine lines as well as an increase in skin density and thickness.
- Neurotransmitter Affecting Peptides. Peptides relax your facial muscles, decreasing the lines on the face. This is similar to the action of botox, without the risk of dissemination or paralysis. Research carried out by drug companies marketing Leuphasyl (Lipotec SA), and Syn-ake (Pentapharm) conclude that their products do show efficacy in reducing neurotrasnmitter release, muscle contraction and hence decrease in wrinkling. However, these are drug company sponsored studies, so I’d be wary of this claim and wait till there are reliable independent trials conducted before banking on peptides to work in this manner or to use it as a replacement for Botox. Acetyl Hexapeptide-3, or Argireline is a common neuropeptide in cosmetics.
A good read for the biology and biochemistry behind peptides in cosmetics production can be found here. An important point of peptides is that they need to be small enough to be absorbed by the skin, yet stable enough to have maximum benefit.
Peptides use in anti-aging products came about as a side benefit in the research for wound healing. Yeast was perviously used to enhance wound healing, and researchers realized the proteins extracted from yeast had not only encouraged wound healing, it increased collagen production as well. Since then, the derived peptides were identified, tested and put into cosmetics. They were marketed as the new anti-aging treatment as the increased collagen would replace the destroyed collagen in the skin and reduce wrinkles.
POPULAR PEPTIDES SKINCARE PRODUCTS AVAILABLE
Strivectin SD. The active ingredient is palmitoyl pentapeptide.
Olay Regenerist Micro Sculpting Cream
Neutrogena Visibly Firm Face Lotion
Dr Perricone Neuropeptide Facial Cream
CONCLUSION
Peptides are common ingredients used in skin care products nowadays, especially in anti-wrinkle formulations. They appear to be effective in combating the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Jun
15
Ways To Banish Cellulite
Filed Under Aesthetic Procedures, Aesthetic medicine, Beauty, Beauty Tips, Skincare, plastic surgery | 15 Comments
What do you think of STAR broadcasting celebrity cellulite? Personally I feel sorry for these covergirls, its not a way I like to make headlines. However, cellulite is a woe of many women. It affects them by giving an otherwise smooth skin the appearance of lumpiness and dimpling commonly over the thighs, hips and buttock areas. It also occurs in both men and women regardless of size of weight- yes, even slim people do get cellulite problems! Although there are some treatments that can improve the appearance of cellulite, there has been no permanent cure found so far.
WHAT CAUSES CELLULITE?
The cause of cellulite has not been fully elucidated. However, from imaging and microscopic samples, it has been discovered that there is irregular criss-crossing pattern of fat cells and fibrous connective tissue that alters the architecture of the dermis, making the surface of the skin look bumpy and lumpy. However, the fat cells are otherwise normal. Obesity is not necessary for its presence. However, increasing age, genetics, hormones and weight gain can affect the appearance of cellulite.
Cellulite come in varying grades, from having only microscopic changes without visible skin changes, to having a visible dimpled, orange peel appearance and thinned skin. In most severe forms, there are painful nodules as well.
HOME REMEDIES
- Diet. Watch your diet. You don’t want to accumulate more fat stores which will exacerbate the cellulite problem. Take foods that reduce inflammation and improve circulation like omega 3 rich foods (salmon, mackeral), nuts, legumes, whole grain bread, green leafy vegetables, colourful vegetables, and berries. Also, cut down on the amount of salt and sugar. Increase fruits and vegetables in your diet. The aim of diet is to improve health of the skin, and reduce fluid retention which makes cellulite look worse.
- Reduce oral caffine intake.
- Herbal supplements- Fennel tea, ginkgo biloba, sweet clover, grape-seed bioflavinoids, bladder wrack extract, oil of evening primrose, fish oil, and soy lecithin.
- Massage treatments. Here’s how to do an anti-cellulite massage from WikiHow.
- Exercise, exercise, exercise!
These methods are said to boost metabolism, improve circulation, protect against cell damage, and promote fat breakdown. However, these claims are anecdotal, and do not have sufficient scientific evidence.
COSMECEUTICALS
- Cellulite creams. Try Revitol, or if on a budget, Neutrogena Anti-Cellulite Retinol Active Treatment.
- Cellulite wraps. Many aestheticians offer cellulite wraps, which claim to reduce cellulite, decrease fluid retention and detoxify the body.
WHAT YOUR DOCTOR CAN DO
- Endermologie. A form of mechanical massage. It is FDA approved for temporary reduction of cellulite.
- Mesotherapy. This is a controversial method of injecting drugs (FDA approved drugs, but used for off label pruposes) into the fat cells in order to reduce fat deposits. Although seemingly safe, many physicians are still wary of this procedure.
- Laser treatments. Recently reported in the Nov/Dec 2008 issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, a combination of laser energy and fat transplantation showed significant improvement for severe forms of cellulite. The Nd:YAG laser stimulates collagen formation, skin tightening and reduces fat. Fat transplant is used to fill up depressed areas. Some other laser therapies: TriActive, which combines laser therapy with suction and manipulation of the skin, and VelaSmooth, which combines laser and massage treatments.
- Liposuction. It is effective in reducing fat deposits and improves body contour. However, sometimes it can exacerbate cellulite.
- Fat Injections.
- Lower Body Lift.
However, regardless which option you choose, all treatments, be it home remedies, creams, wraps or surgical, they all have their limitations and side effects. Also, cellulite is a chronic problem which recurs as part or natural body processes, so there are no short cuts and continued, multiple treatments over time may be necessary. There are no miracle cures for cellulite just yet, but you can control its appearance by starting on the above steps!
Jun
8
Home Botox Kits
Filed Under Aesthetic Procedures, Aesthetic medicine, Beauty, Press Release, plastic surgery | 1 Comment
Botox and injectable fillers are the top aesthetic procedures done in the USA, with over 2.5million botox injections and 1.2million dermal fillers administered last year in the doctor’s office. Recently, DIY Botox kits have been surfacing on the internet over ebay. The DIY kit was going for US$95, but has since been removed. Similarly, DIY dermal fillers can also be found on the internet!
No, these are not creams for you to smear over your face. These are real DIY kits that come in your mailbox complete with the drug, syringe and needles, a face chart and an instruction sheet in the box. And all these are bought without a prescription.
THE PROBLEM WITH DIY KITS
This is shocking news indeed. Botox and dermal fillers can be potential poisons and should be administered only under medical supervision. The many problems that could arise with this internet kits include:
- Incorrect administration- wrong injection sites, wrong doses.
- Dissemination of the drugs causing toxicity
- No 1st aid help around if a medical emergency arises- for example, if severe allergic reactions occur causing breathing problems, or affecting cardiac function
- Non purified or substituted ingredients- what could be worse than putting unkown ingredients into yourself?
CONCLUSION
Despite the lure of the cheap set and the convenience of doing it yourself at home, please keep in ming: These internet DIY kits are ILLEGAL. Only licensed medical professionals can purchase and administer the drug. The US FDA would take action against companies and individuals marketing and selling the drug illegally.
Don’t put your health and face at risk of a botched job. Consult your doctor and get a proper job done.
Jun
5
Are Your Hands Giving Your Age Away?
Filed Under Aesthetic Procedures, Aesthetic medicine, Beauty Tips, Ingredients, Skincare, plastic surgery | Leave a Comment
As obsessed as we are about taking anti-aging measures on our face and neck, we often neglect our hands. In truth, our hands are also an important point to remember in our anti-aging regime, because our work and daily activites do take toll on our hands and make them appear older than they actually are! In fact, 68% of women claim their hands make them look at least 10 years older! Take a look at your on hands- are they giving your age away?
The skin on the hands are susceptible to the aging process. It’s thin, and there’s little fat under the dermis. So the bones, veins, wrinkles and callouses all show up pretty early in life. It doesn’t help that we use it extensively in our day to day activities. Try not using your hands for an hour, it’s tough. Not using your hands the whole day? Impossible! They are constantly moving and working. They come into contact with everything- office equipment, household items, chemicals, sun exposure… In fact, they may even look older than they actually are due to all the pressure its going through! Unfortunately, too often we concentrate on facial care and neglect our hands in the process.
Your hands are also the most viewed part of your body (after your face). Its hard to hide them, and even if you’ve done a terrific anti-aging job on your face, your hands can still give the game away. Here’s some steps to take to minimise letting the cat out of the bag:
HOME REMEDIES
- Hand Cream
- Sunscreen with a high SPF
- Weekly “mini-facials”. The skin on your hand is thinner than the skin on your face! Hand-facials are just as good for nourishment and rejevenation as well!
- Wear gloves. Especially in the bitter cold winter season. You can wear thin gloves in warm weather as well to protect from the sun, and when you’re driving your car or gardening. Another time to put on your gloves is when you’re dealing with chemicals- detergent, dishwashing, etc…
- Moisturize!!!!!
- Ingredients to look for
- Retinol- increases cell turnover, reduces appearance of fine lines and reduces pigmentation (sun spots)
- Shea butter- is a rich moisturizer
WHAT YOUR DOCTOR CAN DO
- Chemical Peels. Besides rejuvanation, this procedure can also help with decreasing pigmentation.
- Microdermabrasion
- IPL (Intense Pulse Light Therapy)
- Thermage
- Veins sclerotherapy
- Injection of fillers
- Surgery- Fat transplant. This surgery will help ‘plump’ up your hands, making it look younger!
Regardless of your age, start looking after your hands now! Make it part of your skin care routine to pamper your precious hands!
Jun
3
Product Review: The ROC Renewex Microdermabrasion System
Filed Under Beauty Products, Review, Skincare | 5 Comments
After seeing and hearing about Neutrogena’s newest Skin Rejuvenator and the Clarisonic, I went to the drugstore intending to buy it to test it out. On my way down the aisle, I passed by RoC and happened to see that it too had a similar RoC Microdermabrasion System. I was intrigued. I had not read any recent reviews on the product, so I asked the sales assistant about it.
She recommended this RoC system over the Neutrogena one. Basically, she said, “the RoC sponge is softer, which is better for the skin. And its the cream that you put on the sponge head that’s doing the work, not the sponge head itself.” That sold me. If the cream which contains microcrystals work, why should I get the other brand when it only functions to rub my skin rubbed off!
Using it was simple. Dab the sponge of the hand held machine into the pot of cream, and smear that cream onto your face over the forehead, cheeks and nose. Then switch on the battery operated handle, and it vibrates at either one of 2 speeds that you choose.
After 2 months, I have noticed an improvement in my skin texture. In fact, even after the first attempt I already noticed my skin was more radiant and smoother! It was also a great tool in winter to exfoliate off the increased dead skin cells and skin flaking caused by the winter dryness. I used to use it 3times a week, but now that spring is here and the weather not as dry, I have gradually cut it down to 2times a week, once a week and now fortnightly as my skin doesn’t require such frequent sessions now.
The product itself was easy to apply. It became gritty as it dried on my face after use, but was still easy to wash off. The sponge head is also removable from the handle for easy washing after each use.
You have to buy the components separately- the cream and sponge comes together (for maximal hygiene as you change the sponge regularly) and the handle in another packaging (which you do not have to change). I find the quality of the sponge rather good, it remains soft and smooth, and retains its original shape even after more than a month of use. There is also quite a lot of product in the pot, and it can last you much longer than the estimated 28days written on the box.
I would continue using it, and definitely recommend it to anyone thinking of getting a home microdermabrasion system.
May
25
Eating Collagen As Face Food
Filed Under Aesthetic medicine, Beauty, Skincare | 8 Comments
Can food be the secret to making you more youthful and attractive?
Seems like the Japanese think they know something we don’t. The Japanese have been know for their longevity, forefront technology and strengths in their beauty and aesthetics industry. Have they come up with a way for eternal youth as well? Previously, there were health food restaurants which promoted healthier diets. Now there are beauty-food restaurants, the majority of which are in Tokyo, which propose menus to turn the sands of time. And the secret ingredient? Collagen.
COLLAGEN IN FOOD FOR BEAUTY
Collagen is a naturally occurring substance, present in all living animals and humans. Collagen is actually a protein, and is the most abundant protein in the body making up 25% to 35% of bodily proteins. It functions to support and bind body tissues- including skin, bone, tendons, muscles and cartilage. In particular, when discussing beauty, we are interested in collagen as a component of our skin. Collagen works with elastin and keratin to provide the skin with strength, flexibility, and resilience. As we age, collagen degrades, and the production of collagen reduces as well. This leads to the appearance of wrinkles. In areas where the skin is thinner and has less fat to buffer, the effects of collagen loss are more obvious. Hence wrinkles making their entry in areas of thin skin first especially around the eye.
The best known use for collagen is to pack it into lips for the bee-stung Angelina Jolie-esque look. Other uses of collagen in the beauty industry is to rub it into skin in the form of creams and ointments. But in food? In Japan, its apparently becoming another food additive, appearing in everything from yoghurt to candy!
However, the collagen in food is derived from animal collagen. It can be eaten as a part of tendons, or drunk as a soup after simmering collagen rich animal parts like tendons, pigs feet and fish cartilage.
When eaten, it promises skin rejuvenation, resilience and smoothness. The most popular collagen dish is a meat and vegetable hot pot known as the nabe. It promises ‘puru puru’, a Japanese phrase for the quality of soft skin which a collagen fix supposedly imparts. Collagen has been put into and cooked with more ingredients featured on Iron Chef- you can get it in salads, sauces, soups, toufu, desserts, sweets… The collagen, when cooked well, is soft to eat and imparts a thickness to the soup its in.
COLLAGEN AS MEDICINE FOR BEAUTY
Collagen injections are popular as soft tissue fillers and augmentation. They can be used to plump up lips, and also to fill up superficial wrinkles, fine lines around the eyes and mouth, and sagging thin skin. There are also creams around which contain collagen, and professes to work by applying it to skin. Don’t buy this just yet: collagen is a large molecule, and is unable to be absorbed by the skin, so its direct benefits are questionable. However, collagen is able to hold moisture well, and would make a good base in moisturizing creams to hydrate your skin. Also, many companies are researching into how to link up collagen onto other molecules to be transported into and under the skin for maximum benefits, so it may not be long before we see collagen working miracles!
SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE FOR COLLAGEN CONSUMPTION
As much as we would like to believe the wonders of consuming collagen, there aren’t any research studies to support the effects of consuming collagen on eternal youth.
CONCLUSION
There doesn’t seem to be any harm in eating collagen and collagen based food. But more research will be needed to investigate whether collagen is useful when eaten or applied directly onto the skin. But a healthy balanced diet and adequate hydration would definitely benefit the health of your skin.
May
14
Botox versus Dysport
Filed Under Aesthetic Procedures, Aesthetic medicine, Beauty, plastic surgery | 3 Comments
Here’s another piece of news which will cheer you up: there’s a new wrinkle removing drug on the market called Dysport, distributed by Medicis Pharmaceuticals and its partner Ipsen. Dysport was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in April 2009, and it became the second drug to compete in the anti-wrinkle market which till now has been dominated solely by Allergan’s Botox.
Don’t be too quick to make the change yet. Despite both drugs being botulinum toxin type A, they both behave quite differently, according to Allergan’s Chief Executive David Pyott. Both are not interchangeable because both drugs are dosed and injected differently.
COMPARISON BETWEEN THE 2 DRUGS
Similarities between both drugs:
- Both contain the same active ingredient Botulinium toxin type A, so producing the same effects, which act to temporarily paralyze facial muscles, hence reducing the appearance of facial wrinkles and frown lines. There is another similar drug, Myobloc produced by Solstice Neuroscience, which uses botulinum toxin type B. Myobloc is currently restricted to medical uses and not approved for cosmetic use.
- Both are locally injected into the problematic site.
- Both have been in use for many years. However, Botox was the sole anti-wrinkle drug in the US market, while Dysport, although not available in the US before, was used in Europe, South America and New Zealand since the 1990s.
Now the differences:
- Although the active ingredient is the same, and side effects are similar like muscle weakness or paralysis, respiratory difficulties and infections, swallowing and speech impairment, nose and throat irritation, pain and injection site skin reaction, eyelid swelling or drooping, headache, vision problems, nausea. There is a risk that Dysport appears to spread further around the injection site, which may be a good thing as a larger facial muscle area like the forehead can be targeted for antiwrinkle treatment, but may not be so good for small muscles. Along with it is a higher risk of disseminating and having effects elsewhere in the body.
- The preparation also differs- Dysport can be diluted and the concentration intended for use adjusted, unlike Botox. This may translate into more affordable anti-wrinkle treatment.
- Dysport is also supposed to show results earlier (in 2-3 days opposed to 1 week for Botox) and have a longer lasting effect as compared to Botox, and patients required just two treatments per year in contrast to four times per year for Botox.
Generally, the doses of botulinum toxin used in cosmetic medicine is in smaller doses than those used for medical purposes, and are usually safe when used as directed. The danger lies in patients who receive multiple injections in cosmetic use to treat wrinkles. Along with the announcement of the approval of Dysport, the FDA also announced the requirement of a black box label for all botulism based drugs, including Dysport and Botox, to warn users of the rare but potentially serious and life threatening complications in the event of the drug spreading from the injection site to other parts of the body. This came about in light of reports of hospitalizations and deaths attributed to botulinum toxin poisonings in adult and children receiving botulinum toxin A for treatment of abnormal muscle movement diseases, and petition by the Public Citizen (a health advocacy group).
The black box label is a safety alert, which requires
- users to be informed about the potential for the drug to spread to distant sites in the body and having undesired effects there
- warn doctors and patients about risks associated with substituting one botulism product for another. The products have different dosing units, and may lead to overdosing if not correctly administered.
- Follow a group of children and adults using Botox, Myobloc or Dysport off label to treat involuntary muscle movement and submit the safety data to the FDA.
DYSPORT RESEARCH
Clinical trials involving about 2900 people were conducted. A study showed 93-95% of participants noticed an appearance of forehead wrinkles within 7days after treatment, and multiple treatments produced effects that lasted more than 13months.
Dysport has been used and reviewed clinically. A retrospective study of 4103 treatments in 945 patients showed a favourable safety profile and effectiveness of drug usage.
Comparison of Botox against Dysport has also been done, with a mixture of resuts- some show botox being longer lasting, others point to Dysport having a longer effect. In a study comparing the two drugs for glabellar (the area between the eyebrows) lines (at dose of Botox 20U and Dysport 50U), both produced similar efficacy at weeks 8 and 12, but Botox offered a significant duration of activity at week 16. However, it was a small study with 62 patients. Another study with 26 patients (dose Botox 12U and Dysport 36U) for forehead wrinkles found Dysport to have longer lasting effects between weeks 10 to 20. The
MEDICAL USES OF BOTULINUM TOXIN
Botox is the most commonly performed aesthetic procedure in the USA, with over 2.5million injections in 2008 alone. It has a large following and a high satisfaction rate among users. Originally developed in 1968 for use in the field of ophthalmology for strabismus (crossed eyes), it is now also used for
- cervical dystonia
- muscle spasms in cerebral palsy
- eyelid spasm
- severe underarm sweating
Dysport is targeted for use not just for cosmetic purposes to treat wrinkles. It is also planned for usage for cervical dystonia. It should be available for cosmetic use in the next 2-3months, and for medical purposes in the second half of this year. Word is that the new botulinum drug will be marketed at a lower price than Botox.
There’s talk of botulinum toxin in the form of a cream- after all, if the injections have been met with such success, imagine if it can be administered as a cream! But there’s controversy over the efficacy and absorption of a cream based botulinum toxin, and more research is required. And that’s another article altogether!
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