ATHERTON, Calif., April 19 -- Varicose vein disease is an underappreciated and often misunderstood medical condition, causing many individuals to be misdiagnosed, mistreated - or ignored - resulting in needless suffering and complications from progressively worsening symptoms. Unfortunately, patients typically wait until the disease reaches a more difficult to treat and debilitating stage: they have lifestyle limiting pain, unsightly bulging veins and spider veins, leg swelling or skin ulceration. Physicians typically receive little formal training about the diagnosis and management of patients with vein disease, and patients struggle to find information. Like many medical problems, the earlier the cause of a patient's varicose veins is diagnosed, the simpler are the treatments and the better the outcomes.
Click here for information about Laser Vein Removal at Derma Health Institute.
The prevalence of varicose veins varies from 30-60% of the American population and increases with age. Douglas Lewis, MD, a board certified Vascular and Interventional Radiologist with over twenty years of clinical experience, says, "It is crucial to better educate physicians and to inform the community about how to detect early stage vein disease and when to seek treatment."
Common misconceptions include:
Varicose and spider veins are strictly cosmetic issues.
Varicose vein symptoms - soreness, heaviness, burning, tingling, itching, easy leg fatigue - are inevitable manifestations of ageing, so there's nothing to be done.
One should wait as long as possible before seeking treatment in order to "take care of it all at once."
Women should wait for treatment until after they are done having children.
Treatment requires painful surgery and prolonged "downtime."
Endovenous laser ablation and sclerotherapy injections are the current standard-of-practice treatments for varicose veins. These are office-based procedures with no patient downtime. During endovenous ablation, a thin laser fiber is threaded directly into the diseased vein where generated heat damages the vein wall and seals the vein, thus rerouting blood flow to healthy veins. Sclerotherapy uses chemicals to accomplish the same thing. These are extremely effective, very low risk procedures.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
New Survey Ranks Most and Least Sun-Smart Cities
SCHAUMBURG, Ill., May 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At first glance, Hartford, Salt Lake City and Denver might not seem to have much in common. But a new survey by the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy) found these three cities outshine other U.S. cities in heeding dermatologists' advice on preventing and detecting skin cancer.
The rankings of the 26 U.S. metropolitan cities are as follows:
No. 1 - Hartford
No. 2 - Salt Lake City
No. 3 - Denver
No. 4 - Tampa
No. 5 - Boston
No. 6 - Phoenix
No. 7 - Atlanta
No. 8 - Philadelphia
No. 9 - Portland
No. 10 - Baltimore
No. 11 - Dallas
No. 12 - Houston
No. 13 - Miami
No. 14 - San Francisco
No. 15 - Washington, DC
No. 16 - Detroit
No. 17 - San Diego
No. 18 - Cincinnati
No. 19 - New York City
No. 20 - Minneapolis
No. 21 - St. Louis
No. 22 - Los Angeles
No. 23 - Seattle
No. 24 - Cleveland
No. 25 - Chicago
No. 26 - Pittsburgh
The "Suntelligence: How Sun Smart is Your City?" online survey polled more than 7,000 adults nationwide to determine their knowledge, attitudes and behaviors toward tanning, sun protection and skin cancer detection. Twenty-six cities were ranked based on respondents' answers to several questions in each category.
"One common thread we found encouraging is that the majority of people polled expressed concern about skin cancer and had awareness of the importance of proper sun protection," said dermatologist William D. James, MD, FAAD, president of the Academy. "However, we found that people's behaviors did not always correlate with their concerns."
While Hartford, Salt Lake City and Denver ranked No. 1, 2 and 3, respectively, Cleveland, Chicago and Pittsburgh fell to the bottom of the sun-smart spectrum with rankings of 24, 25 and 26, respectively. When results for these cities were compared to the average collective responses for all survey respondents, significant differences were observed in the top- and bottom-ranked cities.
Hartford respondents excelled in their knowledge of sun protection and the risks associated with tanning, scoring above the average of adults overall. For example, only about one-third of respondents (35 percent) nationwide correctly answered the question that asked whether some types of ultraviolet (UV) rays are safe for your skin. Forty-two percent of Hartford respondents knew that this statement was not true – that all forms of UV exposure, from natural sunlight and artificial light sources such as tanning beds – are harmful.
Similarly, residents of Salt Lake City, Denver and Hartford all scored better than the national average when they disagreed with the statement that they are not too concerned about skin cancer because it is easily detected and treated. Overall, 76 percent of respondents nationwide disagreed with this statement, while 85 percent of respondents from Salt Lake City disagreed.
"While skin cancer can be successfully treated if detected early, the five-year survival rate for individuals with regional and distant stage melanomas are 65 percent and 16 percent, respectively. That's why people must be vigilant about protecting their skin from sun exposure and aware of the early warning signs of skin cancer," said Dr. James.
However, when examining skin cancer detection behaviors, nationally 59 percent of respondents had never been screened for skin cancer by a health-care provider. Respondents from Pittsburgh and Chicago fared even worse, with 69 percent of Pittsburgh respondents and 67 percent from Chicago admitting they had never had an examination. On the other hand, 48 percent of Hartford residents had never undergone a skin examination.
Despite dermatologists' repeated warnings about the dangers of tanning, Dr. James added that respondents in last-place Pittsburgh scored significantly worse than the overall average when asked if people look more attractive with a tan. Specifically, 81 percent of Pittsburgh respondents agreed with this statement compared to 72 percent of the general public.
"We're hoping the results of this survey will draw attention to the public's need to change its attitudes toward tanning, which is the first step in changing behavior," said Dr. James. "Our data show that most people are concerned about skin cancer, but they still need to modify their attitudes, behavior and knowledge to reduce their risk."
To minimize your risk of skin cancer, the Academy recommends that everyone Be Sun Smart®:
Generously apply a broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 to all exposed skin. "Broad-spectrum" provides protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Re-apply approximately every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating.
Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, where possible.
Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun's rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade.
Protect children from sun exposure by playing in the shade, using protective clothing, and applying sunscreen.
Use extra caution near water, snow and sand as they reflect the damaging rays of the sun which can increase your chance of sunburn.
Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that may include vitamin supplements. Don't seek the sun.
Avoid tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look like you've been in the sun, consider using a sunless self-tanning product, but continue to use sunscreen with it.
Check your birthday suit on your birthday. If you notice anything changing, growing, or bleeding on your skin, see a dermatologist. Skin cancer is very treatable when caught early.
Monday, May 3, is Melanoma Monday® and the official launch of Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month®. Visit www.melanomamonday.org to take the Academy's "Suntelligence" survey, as well as to find out how to perform a skin self-exam, download a body mole map or find free skin cancer screenings in your area.
Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 16,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at 1-888-462-DERM (3376) or www.aad.org.
The "Suntelligence" survey was conducted for the Academy by RH Research of Chicago from January 12 to January 31, 2010. A total of 7,116 respondents completed the online survey; more than 200 completes were conducted in each of the 26 selected MSAs (metropolitan statistical area) and an additional 1,123 completes were conducted in the U.S. outside of the MSAs. The survey's margin of error was +/-1.2 percent for national data and +/-6.9 percent for results stratified by MSA.
SOURCE American Academy of Dermatology
The rankings of the 26 U.S. metropolitan cities are as follows:
No. 1 - Hartford
No. 2 - Salt Lake City
No. 3 - Denver
No. 4 - Tampa
No. 5 - Boston
No. 6 - Phoenix
No. 7 - Atlanta
No. 8 - Philadelphia
No. 9 - Portland
No. 10 - Baltimore
No. 11 - Dallas
No. 12 - Houston
No. 13 - Miami
No. 14 - San Francisco
No. 15 - Washington, DC
No. 16 - Detroit
No. 17 - San Diego
No. 18 - Cincinnati
No. 19 - New York City
No. 20 - Minneapolis
No. 21 - St. Louis
No. 22 - Los Angeles
No. 23 - Seattle
No. 24 - Cleveland
No. 25 - Chicago
No. 26 - Pittsburgh
The "Suntelligence: How Sun Smart is Your City?" online survey polled more than 7,000 adults nationwide to determine their knowledge, attitudes and behaviors toward tanning, sun protection and skin cancer detection. Twenty-six cities were ranked based on respondents' answers to several questions in each category.
"One common thread we found encouraging is that the majority of people polled expressed concern about skin cancer and had awareness of the importance of proper sun protection," said dermatologist William D. James, MD, FAAD, president of the Academy. "However, we found that people's behaviors did not always correlate with their concerns."
While Hartford, Salt Lake City and Denver ranked No. 1, 2 and 3, respectively, Cleveland, Chicago and Pittsburgh fell to the bottom of the sun-smart spectrum with rankings of 24, 25 and 26, respectively. When results for these cities were compared to the average collective responses for all survey respondents, significant differences were observed in the top- and bottom-ranked cities.
Hartford respondents excelled in their knowledge of sun protection and the risks associated with tanning, scoring above the average of adults overall. For example, only about one-third of respondents (35 percent) nationwide correctly answered the question that asked whether some types of ultraviolet (UV) rays are safe for your skin. Forty-two percent of Hartford respondents knew that this statement was not true – that all forms of UV exposure, from natural sunlight and artificial light sources such as tanning beds – are harmful.
Similarly, residents of Salt Lake City, Denver and Hartford all scored better than the national average when they disagreed with the statement that they are not too concerned about skin cancer because it is easily detected and treated. Overall, 76 percent of respondents nationwide disagreed with this statement, while 85 percent of respondents from Salt Lake City disagreed.
"While skin cancer can be successfully treated if detected early, the five-year survival rate for individuals with regional and distant stage melanomas are 65 percent and 16 percent, respectively. That's why people must be vigilant about protecting their skin from sun exposure and aware of the early warning signs of skin cancer," said Dr. James.
However, when examining skin cancer detection behaviors, nationally 59 percent of respondents had never been screened for skin cancer by a health-care provider. Respondents from Pittsburgh and Chicago fared even worse, with 69 percent of Pittsburgh respondents and 67 percent from Chicago admitting they had never had an examination. On the other hand, 48 percent of Hartford residents had never undergone a skin examination.
Despite dermatologists' repeated warnings about the dangers of tanning, Dr. James added that respondents in last-place Pittsburgh scored significantly worse than the overall average when asked if people look more attractive with a tan. Specifically, 81 percent of Pittsburgh respondents agreed with this statement compared to 72 percent of the general public.
"We're hoping the results of this survey will draw attention to the public's need to change its attitudes toward tanning, which is the first step in changing behavior," said Dr. James. "Our data show that most people are concerned about skin cancer, but they still need to modify their attitudes, behavior and knowledge to reduce their risk."
To minimize your risk of skin cancer, the Academy recommends that everyone Be Sun Smart®:
Generously apply a broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 to all exposed skin. "Broad-spectrum" provides protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Re-apply approximately every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating.
Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, where possible.
Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun's rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade.
Protect children from sun exposure by playing in the shade, using protective clothing, and applying sunscreen.
Use extra caution near water, snow and sand as they reflect the damaging rays of the sun which can increase your chance of sunburn.
Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that may include vitamin supplements. Don't seek the sun.
Avoid tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look like you've been in the sun, consider using a sunless self-tanning product, but continue to use sunscreen with it.
Check your birthday suit on your birthday. If you notice anything changing, growing, or bleeding on your skin, see a dermatologist. Skin cancer is very treatable when caught early.
Monday, May 3, is Melanoma Monday® and the official launch of Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month®. Visit www.melanomamonday.org to take the Academy's "Suntelligence" survey, as well as to find out how to perform a skin self-exam, download a body mole map or find free skin cancer screenings in your area.
Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 16,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at 1-888-462-DERM (3376) or www.aad.org.
The "Suntelligence" survey was conducted for the Academy by RH Research of Chicago from January 12 to January 31, 2010. A total of 7,116 respondents completed the online survey; more than 200 completes were conducted in each of the 26 selected MSAs (metropolitan statistical area) and an additional 1,123 completes were conducted in the U.S. outside of the MSAs. The survey's margin of error was +/-1.2 percent for national data and +/-6.9 percent for results stratified by MSA.
SOURCE American Academy of Dermatology
PEOPLE en Espanol 50 Most Beautiful Hispanic Celebrities
NEW YORK, April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- PEOPLE en Espanol's "50 Most Beautiful" special issue features seven of today's most popular Hispanic women -- and one very lucky guy -- on the cover. Sofia Vergara (ABC's Modern Family) is joined by TV personality Daisy Fuentes, Mexican singer Belinda and telenovela actor Fernando Colunga, for the 14th annual "Mas Bellos" issue. The leading "Mas Bellos" women appear in dresses by Marchesa, Prada, Herve Leger, and Jay Mendel, with jewelry by Loren Ridinger.
People en Espanol's issue features exclusive photographs shot by celebrity photographer Omar Cruz on location in Los Angeles, Miami, Mexico and New York, with images inspired by Mexico's Golden Age cinema and telenovela icons. Sofia Vergara had the chance of a lifetime posing as one of Mexico's most memorable stars, the late Maria Felix. "It was fun styling my hair and makeup to look like her, and mimicking her facial expressions. I was captivated by the character," says Vergara. Other Bellos in the issue include Puerto Rican singer -- and a veteran on the list -- Ricky Martin, and newcomers like celebrity blogger, Perez Hilton and current Miss Universe, Stefania Fernandez, among others.
For the third consecutive year, PeopleEnEspanol.com invited users to choose their favorite celebrity who should be named in the magazine's "50 Most Beautiful" issue. With 10 celebrity nominations, and after a near tie with Mexican singer and actress Eiza Gonzalez, Telefutura's La tijera presenter Rodolfo Jimenez won with 67% of the votes.
The complete list of People en Espanol's "50 Most Beautiful":
• AB Quintanilla — Mexican-American music producer/songwriter
• Adamari Lopez — Puerto Rican actress, Televisa's Alma de hierro
• Alejandro Fernandez — Mexican singer
• Alejandro Sanz — Spanish singer
• Alicia Villarreal — Mexican singer
• Anahi — Mexican singer/actress
• Ana Patricia Gonzalez — Winner of PEOPLE en Espanol's challenge on Univision's Nuestra Belleza Latina
• Angelica Maria — Mexican actress, Televisa's Mujeres asesinas
• Belinda — Mexican singer/actress, Televisa's Camaleones
• Carmen Dominicci — Puerto Rican journalist, Telemundo's Al rojo vivo con Maria Celeste
• Christian Bach — Argentinean actress, TV Azteca's Vidas robadas
• Christian Chavez — Mexican singer
• Daisy Fuentes — Cuban model and TV personality
• Dulce Maria — Mexican singer/actress, Televisa's Verano de amor
• Espinoza Paz — Mexican singer/songwriter
• Fernando Colunga — Mexican actor, Televisa's Soy tu duena
• Gaby Espino — Venezuelan actress, Telemundo's Mas sabe el diablo
• Giselle Blondet — Puerto Rican TV host, Univision's Nuestra belleza latina
• Jacqueline Bracamontes — Mexican actress, Televisa's Sortilegio
• Jencarlos Canela — American singer/actor, Telemundo's Mas sabe el diablo
• Jenni Rivera — Mexican singer/songwriter
• Jesus Navarro — Lead singer of Mexican singing group Reik
• Joan Sebastian — Mexican singer and composer
• Lucia Mendez — Mexican actress, Televisa's Mi pecado
• Luis Enrique — Nicaraguan singer
• Luis Fonsi — Puerto Rican singer
• Lupita Ferrer — Venezuelan actress, Telemundo's Pecados ajenos
• Maite Perroni — Mexican singer/actress, Televisa's Mi pecado
• Marco Antonio Solis — Mexican singer/songwriter
• Maria Elena Salinas — Mexican-American journalist, Univision's Noticiero Univision
• Mario Cimarro — Cuban actor, Televisa's Mar de amor
• Mauricio Ochmann — Mexican actor, Telemundo's El clon
• Natalia Lafourcade — Mexican singer/songwriter
• Olga Tanon — Puerto Rican singer
• Paulina Rubio — Mexican singer
• Perez Hilton — Cuban-American celebrity blogger
• Pitbull — Cuban-American hip hop and reggaeton artist
• Rashel Diaz — Cuban TV personality, Telemundo's Levantate
• Ricky Martin — Puerto Rican singer
• Rodolfo Jimenez — Mexican TV personality, Telefutura's La tijera
• Romeo — Lead singer of Dominican singing group Aventura
• Satcha Pretto — TV host, Univision's Primer Impacto: fin de semana
• Saul Lisazo — Argentinean actor, Telemundo's El clon
• Sofia Vergara — Colombian actress, ABC's Modern Family
• Stefania Fernandez — Miss Universe 2009
• Thalia — Mexican singer/actress
• Tito el Bambino — Puerto Rican singer/songwriter
• Vanessa Hauc — TV host, Telemundo's Al rojo vivo con Maria Celeste
• Victoria Ruffo — Mexican actress, Televisa's La rosa de Guadalupe
• William Levy — Cuban actor, Televisa's Sortilegio
• Victor de la Torre — Winner of PEOPLE en Espanol's "51st Most Beautiful" search
For exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from the "50 Most Beautiful" cover shoots visit PeopleEnEspanol.com. Starting April 27, the site will have an online special featuring daily updates with exclusive photo galleries, celebrities interviews and interactive surveys about this year's 50 Most Beautiful.
PeopleEnEspanol.com will also have a behind the scenes look at the magazine's "50 Most Beautiful" party, which will be held on May 20, in New York City. Log on to see celebrity interviews, red carpet arrivals and party images at PeopleEnEspanol.com.
PEOPLE en Espanol was launched in 1996 as a special issue, and today has become the top-selling Hispanic magazine in the United States. Published 11 times a year, PEOPLE en Espanol's guaranteed circulation is 540,000 and reaches more than six million readers every month with its editorial mix of Hispanic and popular entertainment, fashion and beauty trends, and compelling human-interest stories. PEOPLE en Espanol delivers original editorial content that captures the values, contributions and impact of today's Hispanics in the U.S. For daily news, photos, exclusive behind-the-scenes video and celebrity scoops, visit www.PeopleEnEspanol.com.
People en Espanol's issue features exclusive photographs shot by celebrity photographer Omar Cruz on location in Los Angeles, Miami, Mexico and New York, with images inspired by Mexico's Golden Age cinema and telenovela icons. Sofia Vergara had the chance of a lifetime posing as one of Mexico's most memorable stars, the late Maria Felix. "It was fun styling my hair and makeup to look like her, and mimicking her facial expressions. I was captivated by the character," says Vergara. Other Bellos in the issue include Puerto Rican singer -- and a veteran on the list -- Ricky Martin, and newcomers like celebrity blogger, Perez Hilton and current Miss Universe, Stefania Fernandez, among others.
For the third consecutive year, PeopleEnEspanol.com invited users to choose their favorite celebrity who should be named in the magazine's "50 Most Beautiful" issue. With 10 celebrity nominations, and after a near tie with Mexican singer and actress Eiza Gonzalez, Telefutura's La tijera presenter Rodolfo Jimenez won with 67% of the votes.
The complete list of People en Espanol's "50 Most Beautiful":
• AB Quintanilla — Mexican-American music producer/songwriter
• Adamari Lopez — Puerto Rican actress, Televisa's Alma de hierro
• Alejandro Fernandez — Mexican singer
• Alejandro Sanz — Spanish singer
• Alicia Villarreal — Mexican singer
• Anahi — Mexican singer/actress
• Ana Patricia Gonzalez — Winner of PEOPLE en Espanol's challenge on Univision's Nuestra Belleza Latina
• Angelica Maria — Mexican actress, Televisa's Mujeres asesinas
• Belinda — Mexican singer/actress, Televisa's Camaleones
• Carmen Dominicci — Puerto Rican journalist, Telemundo's Al rojo vivo con Maria Celeste
• Christian Bach — Argentinean actress, TV Azteca's Vidas robadas
• Christian Chavez — Mexican singer
• Daisy Fuentes — Cuban model and TV personality
• Dulce Maria — Mexican singer/actress, Televisa's Verano de amor
• Espinoza Paz — Mexican singer/songwriter
• Fernando Colunga — Mexican actor, Televisa's Soy tu duena
• Gaby Espino — Venezuelan actress, Telemundo's Mas sabe el diablo
• Giselle Blondet — Puerto Rican TV host, Univision's Nuestra belleza latina
• Jacqueline Bracamontes — Mexican actress, Televisa's Sortilegio
• Jencarlos Canela — American singer/actor, Telemundo's Mas sabe el diablo
• Jenni Rivera — Mexican singer/songwriter
• Jesus Navarro — Lead singer of Mexican singing group Reik
• Joan Sebastian — Mexican singer and composer
• Lucia Mendez — Mexican actress, Televisa's Mi pecado
• Luis Enrique — Nicaraguan singer
• Luis Fonsi — Puerto Rican singer
• Lupita Ferrer — Venezuelan actress, Telemundo's Pecados ajenos
• Maite Perroni — Mexican singer/actress, Televisa's Mi pecado
• Marco Antonio Solis — Mexican singer/songwriter
• Maria Elena Salinas — Mexican-American journalist, Univision's Noticiero Univision
• Mario Cimarro — Cuban actor, Televisa's Mar de amor
• Mauricio Ochmann — Mexican actor, Telemundo's El clon
• Natalia Lafourcade — Mexican singer/songwriter
• Olga Tanon — Puerto Rican singer
• Paulina Rubio — Mexican singer
• Perez Hilton — Cuban-American celebrity blogger
• Pitbull — Cuban-American hip hop and reggaeton artist
• Rashel Diaz — Cuban TV personality, Telemundo's Levantate
• Ricky Martin — Puerto Rican singer
• Rodolfo Jimenez — Mexican TV personality, Telefutura's La tijera
• Romeo — Lead singer of Dominican singing group Aventura
• Satcha Pretto — TV host, Univision's Primer Impacto: fin de semana
• Saul Lisazo — Argentinean actor, Telemundo's El clon
• Sofia Vergara — Colombian actress, ABC's Modern Family
• Stefania Fernandez — Miss Universe 2009
• Thalia — Mexican singer/actress
• Tito el Bambino — Puerto Rican singer/songwriter
• Vanessa Hauc — TV host, Telemundo's Al rojo vivo con Maria Celeste
• Victoria Ruffo — Mexican actress, Televisa's La rosa de Guadalupe
• William Levy — Cuban actor, Televisa's Sortilegio
• Victor de la Torre — Winner of PEOPLE en Espanol's "51st Most Beautiful" search
For exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from the "50 Most Beautiful" cover shoots visit PeopleEnEspanol.com. Starting April 27, the site will have an online special featuring daily updates with exclusive photo galleries, celebrities interviews and interactive surveys about this year's 50 Most Beautiful.
PeopleEnEspanol.com will also have a behind the scenes look at the magazine's "50 Most Beautiful" party, which will be held on May 20, in New York City. Log on to see celebrity interviews, red carpet arrivals and party images at PeopleEnEspanol.com.
PEOPLE en Espanol was launched in 1996 as a special issue, and today has become the top-selling Hispanic magazine in the United States. Published 11 times a year, PEOPLE en Espanol's guaranteed circulation is 540,000 and reaches more than six million readers every month with its editorial mix of Hispanic and popular entertainment, fashion and beauty trends, and compelling human-interest stories. PEOPLE en Espanol delivers original editorial content that captures the values, contributions and impact of today's Hispanics in the U.S. For daily news, photos, exclusive behind-the-scenes video and celebrity scoops, visit www.PeopleEnEspanol.com.
Natural Menopause Treatments Explained by Dr. Ershadi
LOS ANGELES, April 19 / -- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a synthetic menopause treatment method available to women suffering from symptoms of menopause. While this treatment is effective, it has been linked to serious diseases such as breast cancer. Because of that, many women have chosen not to risk their health with HRT treatments. The risks associated with HRT are simply too great for many women.
In the past, women have resigned themselves to suffering menopause symptoms because they feared the potentially harmful consequences associated with hormone replacement therapy. These women determined to live with hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, fatigue, memory loss, mood swings, and strained relationships in order to protect their health and wellness. However, by not treating menopause symptoms a woman is increasing her chances of developing cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. These diseases can further interfere with a woman's life. Decreased bone density can result in serious fractures if the woman falls and injures herself. Menopause should not be left untreated and allowed to run its damaging course.
Treating Menopause Naturally
There are natural cures for menopause that women ages 40 and over may want to consider using. These natural menopause remedies include things such as natural menopause supplements. These supplements are not only designed to help alleviate the symptoms of menopause like hot flashes and night sweats, but they also help women maintain bone and muscle mass as well as prevent osteoporosis. Products such as herbal supplements for menopause are a safe, effective, natural way to treat a range of menopause symptoms. Even though every woman will not experience the same degree or intensity of the various symptoms related to menopause, herbal menopause remedies may be appropriate for any woman suffering with menopause.
For more information about Bio-Match All Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy at Derma Health Institute, go to:
http://www.dermahealthinstitute.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=250
In the past, women have resigned themselves to suffering menopause symptoms because they feared the potentially harmful consequences associated with hormone replacement therapy. These women determined to live with hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, fatigue, memory loss, mood swings, and strained relationships in order to protect their health and wellness. However, by not treating menopause symptoms a woman is increasing her chances of developing cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. These diseases can further interfere with a woman's life. Decreased bone density can result in serious fractures if the woman falls and injures herself. Menopause should not be left untreated and allowed to run its damaging course.
Treating Menopause Naturally
There are natural cures for menopause that women ages 40 and over may want to consider using. These natural menopause remedies include things such as natural menopause supplements. These supplements are not only designed to help alleviate the symptoms of menopause like hot flashes and night sweats, but they also help women maintain bone and muscle mass as well as prevent osteoporosis. Products such as herbal supplements for menopause are a safe, effective, natural way to treat a range of menopause symptoms. Even though every woman will not experience the same degree or intensity of the various symptoms related to menopause, herbal menopause remedies may be appropriate for any woman suffering with menopause.
For more information about Bio-Match All Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy at Derma Health Institute, go to:
http://www.dermahealthinstitute.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=250
50 and Fabulous? Survey Says Meryl Streep Is It
NEW YORK, April 13 / -- If there was ever a question whether screen queen Meryl Streep has still got it — cast it aside. According to The Effects of Menopause on the Skin, a new survey of women 50 years of age and older, 46 percent singled out Streep as the celebrity who best personifies "50 + Fabulous." NBC's TODAY Show host Kathie Lee Gifford took the first runner- up spot, followed by other Hollywood big wigs: Sigourney Weaver, Madonna, Helen Mirren and Kim Cattrall.
Other findings of the survey, sponsored by Vichy Laboratoires, show that out of 686 women surveyed over the age of 50:
82 percent reported that they experienced changes in the appearance of their skin, including increased dryness, increased wrinkles and a sagging neck once they entered menopause
53 percent reported that the most common issue they faced after entering menopause was dry skin, followed closely by an increase in wrinkles and a sagging neck
67 percent reported that entering menopause caused them to change their beauty routine by purchasing new skincare and color cosmetic products to address these issues.
Survey Methodology
These findings are from a telephone survey conducted among 686 female adults over the age of 50. Interviewing for this survey was completed during the period February 26 – 28, 2010. Opinion Research Corporation of Princeton, NJ, conducted the fieldwork.
About Vichy:
Vichy is the #1 skincare brand in European pharmacies. Vichy Laboratoires is dedicated to advancing skin health through a deep understanding of how skin functions, supported by medical research. With patented ingredients combined with Vichy Thermal Spa Water enriched with rare minerals, Vichy skincare products deliver an exceptionally high level of efficacy, clinically proven by independent dermatologists. Vichy products are available in Dermatological Skincare Centers, with trained beauty advisors, in top CVS/pharmacy and Duane Reade as well as www.vichyusa.com.
SOURCE Vichy
Other findings of the survey, sponsored by Vichy Laboratoires, show that out of 686 women surveyed over the age of 50:
82 percent reported that they experienced changes in the appearance of their skin, including increased dryness, increased wrinkles and a sagging neck once they entered menopause
53 percent reported that the most common issue they faced after entering menopause was dry skin, followed closely by an increase in wrinkles and a sagging neck
67 percent reported that entering menopause caused them to change their beauty routine by purchasing new skincare and color cosmetic products to address these issues.
Survey Methodology
These findings are from a telephone survey conducted among 686 female adults over the age of 50. Interviewing for this survey was completed during the period February 26 – 28, 2010. Opinion Research Corporation of Princeton, NJ, conducted the fieldwork.
About Vichy:
Vichy is the #1 skincare brand in European pharmacies. Vichy Laboratoires is dedicated to advancing skin health through a deep understanding of how skin functions, supported by medical research. With patented ingredients combined with Vichy Thermal Spa Water enriched with rare minerals, Vichy skincare products deliver an exceptionally high level of efficacy, clinically proven by independent dermatologists. Vichy products are available in Dermatological Skincare Centers, with trained beauty advisors, in top CVS/pharmacy and Duane Reade as well as www.vichyusa.com.
SOURCE Vichy
Poll: What Do Women Really Think About Their Hair?
YONKERS, N.Y., April 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Love it or hate it, your hair can make you feel sexy one day and frumpy the next. According to a new survey featured in the May 2010 issue of ShopSmart, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, many of us try to spend our way to better tresses, snapping up expensive collections of shampoos and styling products and shelling out for haircuts and other salon services. The average woman spends about $195 a year on haircuts and $260 on color alone. But over one-third are trying to save money by going to the salon less often.
“There really is such a thing as a bad hair day—44% of the women have had a mood affected by a bad hair day and 26% have actually shed tears after a hair cut. And sometimes it’s not just a day. The biggest complaints women have about their hair is the thickness and the color,” said Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief of ShopSmart. “The good news is that hair products can be found at rock-bottom prices and at-home hair color kits have improved greatly. Find out where to shop, which products to opt for and more in our ‘Mane Event’ feature.”
Hairy Issues
•Women are generally happy with their hair, as 19% love it, 41% like it, 5% dislike it, 4% hate it and 30% are neutral.
•Still, many women take steps to change their hair: 49% have naturally straight hair but 10% of them style it curly; 23% have naturally curly hair but 19% of them style it straight.
•Biggest complaint women have about their hair is the thickness (23%), with 17% who feel their hair is too thin or too fine. Other top complaints involve the Type (14%) and the Color (10%).
•Women pay on average $39 for a haircut and $65 on salon color, although nearly two thirds of women have taken steps to save money on their hair in the last 12 months.
•A majority of women (53%) regularly color their hair.
•Women spend on average 15 minutes or less styling their hair and wash it 4 times a week.
Color To Dye For: Top Colorists Share the Best Tips to Get Great Color at Home
1. Choose the Right Color. If you’re a first-timer looking for the right hue, ask your hairdresser’s opinion, browse hair color Web sites like Clairol’s and L’Oreal’s, and choose a semi-permanent color.
2. Avoid Allergic Reactions. Hair color contains chemicals, so in addition to a strand test to check color, it’s important to perform a patch test to make sure you’re not allergic to an ingredient.
3. Prep Yourself. Before you jump in and do the dye job, you should take a few important prep steps. Read and reread package directions.
4. Glop it On. Apply the dye according to directions, making sure to aim the applicator at your head and away from the shower curtain, bath mat, and walls. And set a timer.
5. Fix Mistakes. If your results aren’t what you expected, call the hotline number on the box or check the company site. If that doesn’t help, don’t be shy about turning to a pro.
ShopSmart Hair Poll Methodology:
The Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted a telephone survey of a nationally representative probability sample of telephone households. 1,031 interviews were completed among women aged 18+. Interviewing took place over January 28 – February 1, 2010. The margin of error is +/-3.1% points at a 95% confidence level.
3 Best Hair Color Kits
Clairol Textures & Tones
2N Dark Brown
$7, 45 minute dye time
L’Oreal Paris Superior Preference
4 Dark Brown Natural
$9, 30 min. dye time
Clairol Natural Instincts
28 Nutmeg Dark Brown
$9, 20 min. dye time
About ShopSmart magazine:
Launched in Fall 2006 by Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, ShopSmart draws upon Consumer Reports’ celebrated tradition of accepting no advertisements and providing unbiased product reviews. The magazine features product reviews, shopping tips on how to get the most out of products and “best of the best” lists. ShopSmart is ideal for busy shoppers who place a premium on time. ShopSmart has a newsstand price of $4.99 and is available nationwide at major retailers including Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart, Borders, Kroger, Safeway and Publix. ShopSmart is available by subscription at www.ShopSmartmag.org.
“There really is such a thing as a bad hair day—44% of the women have had a mood affected by a bad hair day and 26% have actually shed tears after a hair cut. And sometimes it’s not just a day. The biggest complaints women have about their hair is the thickness and the color,” said Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief of ShopSmart. “The good news is that hair products can be found at rock-bottom prices and at-home hair color kits have improved greatly. Find out where to shop, which products to opt for and more in our ‘Mane Event’ feature.”
Hairy Issues
•Women are generally happy with their hair, as 19% love it, 41% like it, 5% dislike it, 4% hate it and 30% are neutral.
•Still, many women take steps to change their hair: 49% have naturally straight hair but 10% of them style it curly; 23% have naturally curly hair but 19% of them style it straight.
•Biggest complaint women have about their hair is the thickness (23%), with 17% who feel their hair is too thin or too fine. Other top complaints involve the Type (14%) and the Color (10%).
•Women pay on average $39 for a haircut and $65 on salon color, although nearly two thirds of women have taken steps to save money on their hair in the last 12 months.
•A majority of women (53%) regularly color their hair.
•Women spend on average 15 minutes or less styling their hair and wash it 4 times a week.
Color To Dye For: Top Colorists Share the Best Tips to Get Great Color at Home
1. Choose the Right Color. If you’re a first-timer looking for the right hue, ask your hairdresser’s opinion, browse hair color Web sites like Clairol’s and L’Oreal’s, and choose a semi-permanent color.
2. Avoid Allergic Reactions. Hair color contains chemicals, so in addition to a strand test to check color, it’s important to perform a patch test to make sure you’re not allergic to an ingredient.
3. Prep Yourself. Before you jump in and do the dye job, you should take a few important prep steps. Read and reread package directions.
4. Glop it On. Apply the dye according to directions, making sure to aim the applicator at your head and away from the shower curtain, bath mat, and walls. And set a timer.
5. Fix Mistakes. If your results aren’t what you expected, call the hotline number on the box or check the company site. If that doesn’t help, don’t be shy about turning to a pro.
ShopSmart Hair Poll Methodology:
The Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted a telephone survey of a nationally representative probability sample of telephone households. 1,031 interviews were completed among women aged 18+. Interviewing took place over January 28 – February 1, 2010. The margin of error is +/-3.1% points at a 95% confidence level.
3 Best Hair Color Kits
Clairol Textures & Tones
2N Dark Brown
$7, 45 minute dye time
L’Oreal Paris Superior Preference
4 Dark Brown Natural
$9, 30 min. dye time
Clairol Natural Instincts
28 Nutmeg Dark Brown
$9, 20 min. dye time
About ShopSmart magazine:
Launched in Fall 2006 by Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, ShopSmart draws upon Consumer Reports’ celebrated tradition of accepting no advertisements and providing unbiased product reviews. The magazine features product reviews, shopping tips on how to get the most out of products and “best of the best” lists. ShopSmart is ideal for busy shoppers who place a premium on time. ShopSmart has a newsstand price of $4.99 and is available nationwide at major retailers including Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart, Borders, Kroger, Safeway and Publix. ShopSmart is available by subscription at www.ShopSmartmag.org.
Rosacea Sufferers Perceived as Unhealthy, Insecure, Less Smart
BARRINGTON, Ill., April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- From job interviews to first dates, creating a positive and lasting first impression often goes a long way. For women with symptoms of the common skin condition rosacea, just how much does the appearance of their skin affect how people perceive them? A unique digital perception survey, developed in partnership with the National Rosacea Society (NRS) and Galderma Laboratories, contrasted images of women with signs of mild to moderate papular/pustular rosacea (an inflammatory skin condition characterized by redness, bumps and blemishes) and images of women with clear skin. The survey was taken by 1,009 members of the general population and 502 women with rosacea, equaling 1,511 survey respondents in total. In the survey, adults were asked to give their opinions of women based solely on photographs of their faces: half of the photographs featured the women with clear skin and half of the photographs were digitally enhanced to simulate rosacea symptoms on their faces. The survey found that based on first impressions of the images, when it comes to attributes such as confidence, attitude and intelligence, women with rosacea symptoms were consistently ranked differently than their clear-skinned counterparts.
For more infrmation about Rosacea Treatments at Derma Health Institute, go to:
http://www.dermahealthinstitute.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=169
The results, which are part of the national educational campaign Rosacea SKINsights sponsored by Galderma Laboratories, also reveal the lengths that women with rosacea would go to if they could get rid of their rosacea forever, and highlight the low awareness and complicated diagnosis path for this common condition. On average, women with rosacea waited at least seven months before receiving a correct diagnosis, and only half of respondents had ever heard of the condition upon the time of diagnosis. This reveals the high level of misunderstanding and confusion that surrounds rosacea, a chronic disorder primarily of the facial skin, often characterized by flare-ups and remissions.
Rosacea's Impact on Health and Personality Traits
According to survey results, women with rosacea are more likely than women without the skin condition to be perceived by others among the general population as looking unhealthy (11% vs. 2%) and tired (43% vs. 32%). Survey respondents also formed personality judgments about women with pustular/papular rosacea, describing them as more likely to be insecure (33% vs. 13%) and shy (34% vs. 18%) than their counterparts. In contrast, women with clear skin were more commonly perceived as having positive social characteristics such as confidence (49% vs. 27%) and happiness (54% vs. 36%).
The appearance of rosacea also influenced survey respondents' perceptions of important personal characteristics that could negatively impact how rosacea sufferers are viewed in the workplace. Compared to women with clear skin, women with rosacea symptoms were considered to be less intelligent (36% vs. 43%) and not as successful (18% vs. 32%).Women with rosacea symptoms were also perceived to be more stressed (40% vs. 23%) and more likely to have entry level positions (22% vs. 11%).
Women with Rosacea Perceived as Less Lucky in Love
Career and personality traits were not the only perceived source of disparity between women with rosacea and those without – survey results show that Americans thought that women with rosacea were less lucky in love, including less likely to be in a relationship (64% vs. 81%) and less likely to go on weekend dates (14% vs. 22%).One in five women (19%) with rosacea surveyed would even rather have clear and smooth skin than an eternally fulfilling love life.
The Lengths Rosacea Sufferers Would Go To for Clear Skin
The women with rosacea who participated in the survey judged rosacea as the negative focal point of their faces. In order to achieve clear skin, women with rosacea said they would be willing to forgo wearing make-up (33%), exercising (22%) and watching television for one year (21%).They would also give up eating chocolate (44%) and dating (25%) for one year if that meant that they did not have to deal with their skin condition on a daily basis. Lastly, despite today's challenging economic environment, women with rosacea would pay an average of nearly $6,000 and 14 percent would reduce their income by 10 percent for five years, to have clear and smooth skin forever. Nine percent would choose clear skin over being financially well-off for life.
"The survey results confirm that rosacea can have a strong impact on people professionally, socially and romantically," said Samuel Huff, Executive Director of the National Rosacea Society. "The National Rosacea Society urges people to educate themselves about this widespread, yet often misunderstood disease, and encourages anyone who thinks they may have rosacea to see a dermatologist to receive a timely diagnosis and appropriate therapy."
"Unfortunately, many people with rosacea do not recognize the symptoms and often mistake their rosacea for another skin condition; therefore they are not taking advantage of the effective medical solutions that are available," said Dr. Doris Day, dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of Dermatology at the New York University Langone Medical Center. "Without proper treatment, rosacea flare-ups can progressively worsen so it is critical to visit a doctor for an accurate diagnosis. Your skin's appearance can be a prominent factor in how you perceive yourself and how others perceive you, so it is very important that everyone takes control of their skin and puts their best face forward."
Rosacea Awareness Month Resources
The National Rosacea Society annually designates April as Rosacea Awareness Month to increase recognition of the signs and symptoms of rosacea and to help people understand that rosacea is a medical condition that can get progressively worse without treatment. People who suspect that they may have rosacea or those who would like to learn more about this common condition are encouraged to learn the facts on rosacea at www.rosaceafacts.com, which is a site dedicated to arming people with the facts on rosacea, including symptoms and triggers, and providing them with additional resources about the condition.
About Rosacea
Rosacea is a chronic disorder primarily of the facial skin, often characterized by flare-ups and remissions. It typically begins any time after age 30 as a redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead that may come and go. Over time, the redness tends to become ruddier and more persistent, and visible blood vessels may appear. Bumps and pimples are a symptom, and in severe cases the nose may grow swollen and bumpy from excess tissue. Although rosacea can affect all segments of the population, individuals with fair skin who tend to flush or blush easily are believed to be at greatest risk. While there is no cure for rosacea and the cause is unknown, medical therapy is available to manage its signs and symptoms. Individuals who suspect they may have rosacea are urged to see a dermatologist or other knowledgeable physician for diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
About the National Rosacea Society
The National Rosacea Society (NRS) is the world's largest organization dedicated to improving the lives of the estimated 16 million Americans who suffer from this widespread but poorly understood disorder. Through education and advocacy, its mission is threefold: to raise awareness of rosacea, to provide public health information on the disorder, and to encourage and support medical research that may lead to improvements in its management, prevention and potential cure. Since 1992, the NRS has made a difference in the way rosacea patients are treated and the way this widespread disorder is perceived and understood. Information and materials are available on the society's Web site at www.rosacea.org.
About Galderma
Galderma, created in 1981 as a joint venture between Nestle and L'Oreal, is a fully-integrated specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated exclusively to the field of dermatology. The Company is committed to improving the health of skin with an extensive line of products across the world that treat a range of dermatological conditions. With a research and development center in Sophia Antipolis, France, Galderma has one of the largest R&D facilities dedicated exclusively to dermatology. Leading worldwide dermatology brands include Differin®, MetroGel® 1%/Rozex®, Clobex®, Tri-Luma®, Loceryl®, Vectical® Ointment, Epiduo™ Gel and Cetaphil®. For more information on Galderma, visit www.galdermausa.com.
About the National Rosacea First Impressions Survey
Kelton Research conducted two separate national online surveys, one with a sample of N=1,009 nationally representative adults age 18+ and one with a sample of N=502 women ages 18+ who had been diagnosed with rosacea. Both groups took the survey which was fielded between December 10th and December 28th, 2009. Quotas were set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of each audience. Each respondent answered questions about several pictures of people with or without rosacea. The overall margin of error for the general population in this study is +/-3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. for the women with rosacea it is +/- 4.4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Margins for subgroups are slightly higher.
The survey was sponsored by Galderma Laboratories and developed in partnership with the National Rosacea Society.
SOURCE National Rosacea Society; Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
For more infrmation about Rosacea Treatments at Derma Health Institute, go to:
http://www.dermahealthinstitute.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=169
The results, which are part of the national educational campaign Rosacea SKINsights sponsored by Galderma Laboratories, also reveal the lengths that women with rosacea would go to if they could get rid of their rosacea forever, and highlight the low awareness and complicated diagnosis path for this common condition. On average, women with rosacea waited at least seven months before receiving a correct diagnosis, and only half of respondents had ever heard of the condition upon the time of diagnosis. This reveals the high level of misunderstanding and confusion that surrounds rosacea, a chronic disorder primarily of the facial skin, often characterized by flare-ups and remissions.
Rosacea's Impact on Health and Personality Traits
According to survey results, women with rosacea are more likely than women without the skin condition to be perceived by others among the general population as looking unhealthy (11% vs. 2%) and tired (43% vs. 32%). Survey respondents also formed personality judgments about women with pustular/papular rosacea, describing them as more likely to be insecure (33% vs. 13%) and shy (34% vs. 18%) than their counterparts. In contrast, women with clear skin were more commonly perceived as having positive social characteristics such as confidence (49% vs. 27%) and happiness (54% vs. 36%).
The appearance of rosacea also influenced survey respondents' perceptions of important personal characteristics that could negatively impact how rosacea sufferers are viewed in the workplace. Compared to women with clear skin, women with rosacea symptoms were considered to be less intelligent (36% vs. 43%) and not as successful (18% vs. 32%).Women with rosacea symptoms were also perceived to be more stressed (40% vs. 23%) and more likely to have entry level positions (22% vs. 11%).
Women with Rosacea Perceived as Less Lucky in Love
Career and personality traits were not the only perceived source of disparity between women with rosacea and those without – survey results show that Americans thought that women with rosacea were less lucky in love, including less likely to be in a relationship (64% vs. 81%) and less likely to go on weekend dates (14% vs. 22%).One in five women (19%) with rosacea surveyed would even rather have clear and smooth skin than an eternally fulfilling love life.
The Lengths Rosacea Sufferers Would Go To for Clear Skin
The women with rosacea who participated in the survey judged rosacea as the negative focal point of their faces. In order to achieve clear skin, women with rosacea said they would be willing to forgo wearing make-up (33%), exercising (22%) and watching television for one year (21%).They would also give up eating chocolate (44%) and dating (25%) for one year if that meant that they did not have to deal with their skin condition on a daily basis. Lastly, despite today's challenging economic environment, women with rosacea would pay an average of nearly $6,000 and 14 percent would reduce their income by 10 percent for five years, to have clear and smooth skin forever. Nine percent would choose clear skin over being financially well-off for life.
"The survey results confirm that rosacea can have a strong impact on people professionally, socially and romantically," said Samuel Huff, Executive Director of the National Rosacea Society. "The National Rosacea Society urges people to educate themselves about this widespread, yet often misunderstood disease, and encourages anyone who thinks they may have rosacea to see a dermatologist to receive a timely diagnosis and appropriate therapy."
"Unfortunately, many people with rosacea do not recognize the symptoms and often mistake their rosacea for another skin condition; therefore they are not taking advantage of the effective medical solutions that are available," said Dr. Doris Day, dermatologist and clinical assistant professor of Dermatology at the New York University Langone Medical Center. "Without proper treatment, rosacea flare-ups can progressively worsen so it is critical to visit a doctor for an accurate diagnosis. Your skin's appearance can be a prominent factor in how you perceive yourself and how others perceive you, so it is very important that everyone takes control of their skin and puts their best face forward."
Rosacea Awareness Month Resources
The National Rosacea Society annually designates April as Rosacea Awareness Month to increase recognition of the signs and symptoms of rosacea and to help people understand that rosacea is a medical condition that can get progressively worse without treatment. People who suspect that they may have rosacea or those who would like to learn more about this common condition are encouraged to learn the facts on rosacea at www.rosaceafacts.com, which is a site dedicated to arming people with the facts on rosacea, including symptoms and triggers, and providing them with additional resources about the condition.
About Rosacea
Rosacea is a chronic disorder primarily of the facial skin, often characterized by flare-ups and remissions. It typically begins any time after age 30 as a redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead that may come and go. Over time, the redness tends to become ruddier and more persistent, and visible blood vessels may appear. Bumps and pimples are a symptom, and in severe cases the nose may grow swollen and bumpy from excess tissue. Although rosacea can affect all segments of the population, individuals with fair skin who tend to flush or blush easily are believed to be at greatest risk. While there is no cure for rosacea and the cause is unknown, medical therapy is available to manage its signs and symptoms. Individuals who suspect they may have rosacea are urged to see a dermatologist or other knowledgeable physician for diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
About the National Rosacea Society
The National Rosacea Society (NRS) is the world's largest organization dedicated to improving the lives of the estimated 16 million Americans who suffer from this widespread but poorly understood disorder. Through education and advocacy, its mission is threefold: to raise awareness of rosacea, to provide public health information on the disorder, and to encourage and support medical research that may lead to improvements in its management, prevention and potential cure. Since 1992, the NRS has made a difference in the way rosacea patients are treated and the way this widespread disorder is perceived and understood. Information and materials are available on the society's Web site at www.rosacea.org.
About Galderma
Galderma, created in 1981 as a joint venture between Nestle and L'Oreal, is a fully-integrated specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated exclusively to the field of dermatology. The Company is committed to improving the health of skin with an extensive line of products across the world that treat a range of dermatological conditions. With a research and development center in Sophia Antipolis, France, Galderma has one of the largest R&D facilities dedicated exclusively to dermatology. Leading worldwide dermatology brands include Differin®, MetroGel® 1%/Rozex®, Clobex®, Tri-Luma®, Loceryl®, Vectical® Ointment, Epiduo™ Gel and Cetaphil®. For more information on Galderma, visit www.galdermausa.com.
About the National Rosacea First Impressions Survey
Kelton Research conducted two separate national online surveys, one with a sample of N=1,009 nationally representative adults age 18+ and one with a sample of N=502 women ages 18+ who had been diagnosed with rosacea. Both groups took the survey which was fielded between December 10th and December 28th, 2009. Quotas were set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of each audience. Each respondent answered questions about several pictures of people with or without rosacea. The overall margin of error for the general population in this study is +/-3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. for the women with rosacea it is +/- 4.4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Margins for subgroups are slightly higher.
The survey was sponsored by Galderma Laboratories and developed in partnership with the National Rosacea Society.
SOURCE National Rosacea Society; Galderma Laboratories, L.P.
FDA Warns About Lipodissolve Product Claims
It's a tempting premise: Get a series of drug injections and see pockets of fat on your body go away for good.
But the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting consumers about false and misleading claims being made about products used in lipodissolve, and about other misbranding of these products.
Recipients of lipodissolve get a series of drug injections intended to dissolve and permanently remove small pockets of fat from various parts of the body. The process is also known as injection lipolysis, lipozap, lipotherapy, and mesotherapy.
“We are concerned that these companies are misleading consumers,” says Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “It is important for anyone who is considering this voluntary procedure to understand that the products used to perform lipodissolve procedures are not approved by FDA for fat removal.”
The drugs most regularly used in the lipodissolve injection regimen are phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholate (commonly called PC and DC, respectively). Other ingredients may also be used, including drugs or components of other products such as vitamins, minerals, and herbal extracts.
What Consumers Should Know
FDA is alerting consumers that
it has not evaluated or approved products for use in lipodissolve
it is not aware of evidence supporting the effectiveness of the substances used in lipodissolve for fat elimination
the safety of these substances, when used alone or in combination, is unknown
it is not aware of clinical studies to support medical uses of lipodissolve
In addition, FDA has reports of unexpected side effects in people who’ve undergone the lipodissolve procedure. These side effects include
permanent scarring
skin deformation
deep, painful knots under the skin in areas where the lipodissolve treatments were injected
FDA Actions
On April 7, 2010, FDA announced it had sent warning letters to six medical spas in the United States—and a cyber letter to a company in Brazil—for making false or misleading statements on their Web sites about drugs used in the procedure, or for otherwise misbranding lipodissolve products. (Cyber letters are letters sent to companies whose U.S. online sales of products may be illegal.)
The U.S. medical spas receiving warning letters make various unsupported claims about lipodissolve, such as assertions that the products used in lipodissolve
are safe and effective
have an outstanding safety record
are superior to other fat-loss procedures, including liposuction
Additionally some of the letters indicate that the companies have made claims that lipodissolve can be used to treatcertain medical conditions, such as male breast enlargement, benign fatty growths known as lipomas, excess fat deposits and surgical deformities.
The U.S. companies receiving warning letters in regard to lipodissolve products are
Monarch Med Spa, King of Prussia, Pa.
Spa 35, Boise, Idaho
Medical Cosmetic Enhancements, Chevy Chase, Md.
Innovative Directions in Health, Edina, Minn.
PURE Med Spa, Boca Raton, Fla.
All About You Med Spa, Madison, Ind.
FDA is requesting a written response from these U.S. companies within 15 business days of receipt of the letters stating how they will correct these violations and prevent similar violations in the future. These firms were told that failure to promptly correct the violations may result in legal action.
The Brazilian firm getting a warning letter markets lipodissolve products on two Web sites: zipmed.net and mesoone.com. FDA will notify regulatory authorities in Brazil of this action. The agency has issued an import alert against the zipmed.net and mesoone.com entities to prevent the importation and distribution of unapproved lipodissolve drug products into the United States. Importing and distributing unapproved drug products is a violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
How to Report Side Effects
Consumers and health care professionals may report serious side effects with the use of lipodissolve products to FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program either online, by regular mail, by fax, or by phone.
online: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/medwatch-online.htm4
by regular mail: Use postage-paid, pre-addressed FDA form 35005
by Fax: (800) FDA-0178
by phone: (800) FDA-1088
This article appears on FDA's Consumer Updates page6, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.
But the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting consumers about false and misleading claims being made about products used in lipodissolve, and about other misbranding of these products.
Recipients of lipodissolve get a series of drug injections intended to dissolve and permanently remove small pockets of fat from various parts of the body. The process is also known as injection lipolysis, lipozap, lipotherapy, and mesotherapy.
“We are concerned that these companies are misleading consumers,” says Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “It is important for anyone who is considering this voluntary procedure to understand that the products used to perform lipodissolve procedures are not approved by FDA for fat removal.”
The drugs most regularly used in the lipodissolve injection regimen are phosphatidylcholine and deoxycholate (commonly called PC and DC, respectively). Other ingredients may also be used, including drugs or components of other products such as vitamins, minerals, and herbal extracts.
What Consumers Should Know
FDA is alerting consumers that
it has not evaluated or approved products for use in lipodissolve
it is not aware of evidence supporting the effectiveness of the substances used in lipodissolve for fat elimination
the safety of these substances, when used alone or in combination, is unknown
it is not aware of clinical studies to support medical uses of lipodissolve
In addition, FDA has reports of unexpected side effects in people who’ve undergone the lipodissolve procedure. These side effects include
permanent scarring
skin deformation
deep, painful knots under the skin in areas where the lipodissolve treatments were injected
FDA Actions
On April 7, 2010, FDA announced it had sent warning letters to six medical spas in the United States—and a cyber letter to a company in Brazil—for making false or misleading statements on their Web sites about drugs used in the procedure, or for otherwise misbranding lipodissolve products. (Cyber letters are letters sent to companies whose U.S. online sales of products may be illegal.)
The U.S. medical spas receiving warning letters make various unsupported claims about lipodissolve, such as assertions that the products used in lipodissolve
are safe and effective
have an outstanding safety record
are superior to other fat-loss procedures, including liposuction
Additionally some of the letters indicate that the companies have made claims that lipodissolve can be used to treatcertain medical conditions, such as male breast enlargement, benign fatty growths known as lipomas, excess fat deposits and surgical deformities.
The U.S. companies receiving warning letters in regard to lipodissolve products are
Monarch Med Spa, King of Prussia, Pa.
Spa 35, Boise, Idaho
Medical Cosmetic Enhancements, Chevy Chase, Md.
Innovative Directions in Health, Edina, Minn.
PURE Med Spa, Boca Raton, Fla.
All About You Med Spa, Madison, Ind.
FDA is requesting a written response from these U.S. companies within 15 business days of receipt of the letters stating how they will correct these violations and prevent similar violations in the future. These firms were told that failure to promptly correct the violations may result in legal action.
The Brazilian firm getting a warning letter markets lipodissolve products on two Web sites: zipmed.net and mesoone.com. FDA will notify regulatory authorities in Brazil of this action. The agency has issued an import alert against the zipmed.net and mesoone.com entities to prevent the importation and distribution of unapproved lipodissolve drug products into the United States. Importing and distributing unapproved drug products is a violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
How to Report Side Effects
Consumers and health care professionals may report serious side effects with the use of lipodissolve products to FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program either online, by regular mail, by fax, or by phone.
online: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/medwatch-online.htm4
by regular mail: Use postage-paid, pre-addressed FDA form 35005
by Fax: (800) FDA-0178
by phone: (800) FDA-1088
This article appears on FDA's Consumer Updates page6, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.
Research Proves Botox Calms Muscles That Cause Migraine Headache
New research published in the Archives of Dermatology confirms that Botox injections may reduce the frequency of migraine headaches. Houston plastic surgeon Norman Rappaport, MD, uses Botox strategically to identify each patient’s migraine triggers, and offers surgical and non-surgical treatments to lessen the frequency and severity of migraines.
Houston, Texas April 13, 2010 -- Botox is best-known for smoothing out wrinkles by relaxing key facial muscles—but new research proves it can also help prevent migraine headaches.
A study in the February 2010 Archives of Dermatology, published by the American Medical Association, finds that Botox may reduce the frequency of “imploding migraines,” described as crushing, vice-like or eye-popping—but not pain experienced as a buildup of pressure inside the head, known as “exploding migraines.”
“Using Botox prevents muscles from squeezing on sensitive nerves and causing migraines,” says Norman Rappaport, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Houston, Texas.
Botox can address three major migraine trigger points: around the eyes, at the temples and at the back of the neck. A single Botox treatment can last from six weeks to several months.
“I use Botox as a diagnostic tool to help find a patient’s migraine trigger points,” Dr. Rappaport explains. “By injecting Botox in strategic areas at intervals, we can rule out the muscles that aren’t causing a patient’s headaches.”
Years ago, patients of Cleveland, Ohio plastic surgeon Bahman Guyuron, MD, reported that their migraines improved after having a forehead lift. This discovery led Dr. Guyuron to conduct research on a surgical solution to address migraine trigger points.
Dr. Guyuron’s double-blind clinical study was published in the August 2009 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He found that 80% of migraine patients who had surgery in one of three “trigger sites” had significantly fewer headaches, compared with 55% of the control group who had sham surgery. More than half of the patients who had the real surgery said their headaches were completely eliminated.
“I’ve been working in concert with neurologists for many years as a result of Dr. Guyuron’s studies and my personal communications with him,” says Dr. Rappaport. “Most of my migraine patients are referred to me by neurologists. These are patients whose migraines are not significantly improved by medications or ‘shotgun-approach’ Botox treatments.”
This was the case with Joseph, a 35-year-old Texas attorney. For 10 years, neurologists prescribed an array of preventive drugs, including antidepressants such as Elavil, Inderal, Prozac and Cymbalta, as well as triptans—drugs that try to stop a migraine.
“At one point, we even tried Topamax, an anti-epilepsy drug,” Joseph recalls. “I had terrible side-effects.
“Before starting Botox, my worst migraines were an eight or nine on a scale from one 10 10, with 10 being the worst—just debilitating,” says Joseph. “I was having three to four headaches a week, and sometimes the same headache would last two or three days.
“Part of the purpose of Dr. Rappaport’s Botox treatments is trying to zero in and figure out exactly which pieces of the muscles in my face and around my eyes are triggering my migraines,” Joseph explains. “We’re trying to find out where the headache trigger is by process of elimination. Surgery would find the pressure point that’s been relaxed by Botox, take out that piece of muscle and free the nerve.
“Botox makes my migraines a lot less frequent and a lot less intense,” says Joseph. “For me, a Botox treatment works for six weeks to three months. It’s proved effective. I haven’t had a headache in eight days now.”
Haley, a 19-year-old college student who came to Dr. Rappaport for Botox migraine treatments, had surgery when they discovered her daily migraines were caused by specific muscles at the back of her neck.
“In my case, the Botox treatments were very effective for six weeks, but then they wore off,” Haley recalls. “I couldn’t keep getting Botox treatments every six weeks, so I chose surgery.
“I had surgery on the right side of my neck last August,” Haley explains. “Dr. Rappaport cut through the two layers of muscle right above the occipital nerve and then went in to where the muscle joins with the nerve and separated them so there’s no pressure on the nerve—and that relieves the headaches.
“I’ve had only a few headaches in the eight months since the surgery, and I used to get them every day,” says Haley. “I’m planning to have surgery on the left side in May.”
For more information on Botox treatments for migraines, visit www.normanrappaportmd.com/injectables/botox-migraines
Norman Rappaport, MD, FACS, is a Houston, Texas plastic surgeon board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. For more information, visit www.normanrappaportmd.com.
Houston, Texas April 13, 2010 -- Botox is best-known for smoothing out wrinkles by relaxing key facial muscles—but new research proves it can also help prevent migraine headaches.
A study in the February 2010 Archives of Dermatology, published by the American Medical Association, finds that Botox may reduce the frequency of “imploding migraines,” described as crushing, vice-like or eye-popping—but not pain experienced as a buildup of pressure inside the head, known as “exploding migraines.”
“Using Botox prevents muscles from squeezing on sensitive nerves and causing migraines,” says Norman Rappaport, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Houston, Texas.
Botox can address three major migraine trigger points: around the eyes, at the temples and at the back of the neck. A single Botox treatment can last from six weeks to several months.
“I use Botox as a diagnostic tool to help find a patient’s migraine trigger points,” Dr. Rappaport explains. “By injecting Botox in strategic areas at intervals, we can rule out the muscles that aren’t causing a patient’s headaches.”
Years ago, patients of Cleveland, Ohio plastic surgeon Bahman Guyuron, MD, reported that their migraines improved after having a forehead lift. This discovery led Dr. Guyuron to conduct research on a surgical solution to address migraine trigger points.
Dr. Guyuron’s double-blind clinical study was published in the August 2009 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He found that 80% of migraine patients who had surgery in one of three “trigger sites” had significantly fewer headaches, compared with 55% of the control group who had sham surgery. More than half of the patients who had the real surgery said their headaches were completely eliminated.
“I’ve been working in concert with neurologists for many years as a result of Dr. Guyuron’s studies and my personal communications with him,” says Dr. Rappaport. “Most of my migraine patients are referred to me by neurologists. These are patients whose migraines are not significantly improved by medications or ‘shotgun-approach’ Botox treatments.”
This was the case with Joseph, a 35-year-old Texas attorney. For 10 years, neurologists prescribed an array of preventive drugs, including antidepressants such as Elavil, Inderal, Prozac and Cymbalta, as well as triptans—drugs that try to stop a migraine.
“At one point, we even tried Topamax, an anti-epilepsy drug,” Joseph recalls. “I had terrible side-effects.
“Before starting Botox, my worst migraines were an eight or nine on a scale from one 10 10, with 10 being the worst—just debilitating,” says Joseph. “I was having three to four headaches a week, and sometimes the same headache would last two or three days.
“Part of the purpose of Dr. Rappaport’s Botox treatments is trying to zero in and figure out exactly which pieces of the muscles in my face and around my eyes are triggering my migraines,” Joseph explains. “We’re trying to find out where the headache trigger is by process of elimination. Surgery would find the pressure point that’s been relaxed by Botox, take out that piece of muscle and free the nerve.
“Botox makes my migraines a lot less frequent and a lot less intense,” says Joseph. “For me, a Botox treatment works for six weeks to three months. It’s proved effective. I haven’t had a headache in eight days now.”
Haley, a 19-year-old college student who came to Dr. Rappaport for Botox migraine treatments, had surgery when they discovered her daily migraines were caused by specific muscles at the back of her neck.
“In my case, the Botox treatments were very effective for six weeks, but then they wore off,” Haley recalls. “I couldn’t keep getting Botox treatments every six weeks, so I chose surgery.
“I had surgery on the right side of my neck last August,” Haley explains. “Dr. Rappaport cut through the two layers of muscle right above the occipital nerve and then went in to where the muscle joins with the nerve and separated them so there’s no pressure on the nerve—and that relieves the headaches.
“I’ve had only a few headaches in the eight months since the surgery, and I used to get them every day,” says Haley. “I’m planning to have surgery on the left side in May.”
For more information on Botox treatments for migraines, visit www.normanrappaportmd.com/injectables/botox-migraines
Norman Rappaport, MD, FACS, is a Houston, Texas plastic surgeon board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. For more information, visit www.normanrappaportmd.com.
Report: Vitamins for the Treatment of Sun-Damaged Skin
SCHAUMBURG, Ill., April 12 -- While everyone knows that getting an adequate daily dose of vitamins and minerals is important in maintaining one's overall health, many question whether or not the vitamins touted in skin care products work in reducing the signs of sun-damaged skin. Now, a new study reviews the currently published scientific literature to determine what evidence exists to support the use of vitamins in skin care products to slow or reverse the effects of sun damage.
In the report entitled, "Vitamins and photoaging: Do scientific data support their use?", published online in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, dermatologist Jenny Kim, M.D., Ph.D., FAAD, associate professor in the division of dermatology, department of medicine, at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), David Geffen School of Medicine in Los Angeles, presented results of a study that may support the use of certain vitamins in oral or topical formulations.
"It is well documented that ultraviolet (UV) radiation contributes to premature skin aging through the process of photoaging, and there is increasing evidence that the antioxidant properties of vitamins may contribute to the prevention and treatment of photoaging," said Dr. Kim. "In fact, numerous companies developing cosmeceuticals base their effectiveness claims on the fact that their formulations contain vitamins proven in laboratories to modify cellular processes thought to contribute to the appearance of photoaged skin. As dermatologists, we can help our patients navigate this maze of marketing claims by sharing scientific data on the known efficacy of vitamins in skin care products."
Based on a comprehensive review of the available published data on the role of vitamins in skin care products, Dr. Kim and her colleagues, Jamie Zussman, M.D., FAAD, and Jennifer Ahdout, M.D., found there is evidence to support the potential role of vitamins A, C, E, and B3 in modifying the photoaging process.
"While it's evident that these vitamins can play a role in fighting sun damage, the question still remains whether these properties are effective when delivered in skin care products," notes Dr Kim.
Vitamin A: Effective in treating a variety of skin conditions
The two most common forms of vitamin A studied for their role in protecting the skin from UV-induced damage are retinols and carotenoids. Retinol is found in foods such as liver, milk and eggs, and is the most biologically active form of the vitamin. Carotenoids are found in many fruits and vegetables, and have strong antioxidant capabilities.
While carotenoids are not shown to be beneficial in the treatment of photoaging, research suggests that they may play a role in photoprotection by preventing UV-induced collagen breakdown.
"Although the evidence available at this time is not strong enough to offer definitive support for the use of dietary carotenoids for photoprotection, a role for carotenoids as a supplement to photoprotective agents should not be discounted yet," said Dr. Kim. "We hope to see larger-scale clinical trials conducted to further explore the photoprotective effects of carotenoids."
Unlike carotenoids, there is vast evidence supporting the role of topical retinoids (the class of substances formed by retinol and its natural and synthetic derivatives) in treating photoaged skin. For example, prescription retinoid formulations have the most scientific data to support their use in this area.
Dr. Kim noted that both tretinoin cream (0.025% and 0.05%) and tazarotene cream (0.1%) are already FDA-approved for the treatment of fine wrinkles, skin roughness and mottled hyperpigmentation caused by aging and sun exposure. In addition, she added that studies of other retinoids have shown that a once-daily application of 0.1% isotretinoin cream for 36 weeks was effective in reducing fine wrinkles.
Retinoids also are found in over-the-counter cosmeceuticals, but there is less clinical evidence supporting their effectiveness in improving photoaged skin. "An important point to remember with retinoids is that we cannot assume that all retinoids are equal in their ability to fight photoaging," said Dr. Kim. "In over-the-counter products, retinol appears to be the most effective retinoid based on clinical studies completed to date. However, patients should consult their dermatologist before using any topical retinoid, as side effects can occur when used with other topical products. When properly instructed by a dermatologist, most patients can tolerate topical retinoids and benefit from their effect."
Dr. Kim added that unlike topical retinoids, there is minimal evidence supporting the use of oral retinoids in the treatment of photoaging.
Vitamin C: Possible skin care product value
Vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin also known as ascorbic acid that is found in citrus fruits and dark green leafy vegetables, plays an essential role in the production of collagen and elastin. Because of its antioxidant properties, vitamin C may reverse the negative effects of UV radiation in the skin, but there are few clinically controlled studies to confirm this theory.
"An animal study examining the role of vitamin C in reversing sun damage found that when 5% ascorbate was applied two hours before UVB and UVA exposure, UVB-induced skin wrinkling was reduced," said Dr. Kim. "Some of the human clinical trials have shown similar favorable results when applying a daily dose of L-ascorbic acid treatment, but all of these studies involved small sample sizes."
In addition, Dr. Kim pointed out that one concern of adding vitamin C to cosmeceuticals is that vitamin C is unstable when used in formulations, and it is not known how much, if any, intact molecule remains when applied to the skin.
"This problem has been partially overcome by chemically modifying ascorbic acid," said Dr. Kim. "However, for the body to use the supplied ascorbic acid, it must convert it to L-ascorbic acid, and many of the stabilized, commercially available forms have not been examined to determine whether this conversion is possible. For that reason, the average consumer will not be able to determine if a cosmeceutical containing vitamin C will be effective."
Vitamin E: A primary antioxidant
Vitamin E, or tocopherol, is a fat-soluble vitamin, and its synthetic form is found in many over-the-counter products. Working as an antioxidant, vitamin E protects cell membranes and is thought to play an important role in skin aging because of its antioxidant properties. While topical vitamin E is available in a variety of products, there is no data which support claims that it improves skin wrinkling, discoloration and texture.
"Topical vitamin E has been studied in humans, as in mice, more as a protectant to be used before sun exposure than as an agent to be included in cosmeceuticals to reduce the signs of skin aging," said Dr. Kim. "Through research we have learned that UV exposure significantly decreases levels of cutaneous vitamin E, and vitamin C should be included in any formulation containing vitamin E because of the important role it plays in maintaining active vitamin E levels."
Research also has explored combining vitamins E and C as an oral supplement to provide sun protection. Multiple studies suggest that this combination therapy is beneficial for photoprotection. However, Dr. Kim noted that overzealous oral vitamin E supplements may be harmful, and two new studies also suggest that a high intake of vitamin E may be associated with an increased risk of basal cell carcinoma.
Vitamin B3: A possible treatment for photoaging
The B vitamins consist of eight different water-soluble vitamins that are found in a variety of foods. Vitamin B3 has been shown to reduce blood cholesterol and atherosclerosis (a condition in which fatty materials collect along artery walls), but now new insights are examining its role as an effective treatment for several skin conditions – from acne to photoaging.
Specifically, Dr. Kim noted that vitamin B3 has been found to increase collagen production in in vitro studies and to reduce skin hyperpigmentation (dark spots) in clinical studies.
"There has been one clinical trial conducted in Caucasian women in which 50 women applied 5% niacinamide (topical vitamin B3) to one side of their faces twice per day for 12 weeks, and these women experienced significant reductions in the appearance of hyperpigmented spots, redness, wrinkles, and yellowing, as well as improved skin elasticity," said Dr. Kim. "While initial studies show promise that topical vitamin B3 may prevent UV-induced skin aging, larger clinical trials are needed to confirm its role as a definitive treatment of photoaging."
Bottom Line: Maintain healthy lifestyle, healthy diet, practice sun protection
Dr. Kim added that it is important for everyone to get an adequate daily supply of vitamins to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and any insufficiencies may negatively impact the skin's overall appearance.
"Research has shown a potential role for various vitamins in reducing the damaging effects of sun exposure on the skin. Whether topical or oral formulations containing these vitamins have a protective effect is uncertain. Given the number, type and variability of preparations available, consumers should understand from our study that skin care products with vitamins may not provide clinically meaningful improvement," said Dr. Kim. "What is known is that proper sun protection is key to the prevention of photoaging and should be top of mind at all times."
For more information on improving the appearance of your skin, go to the "AgingSkinNet" section of www.SkinCarePhysicians.com, a Web site developed by dermatologists that provides patients with up-to-date information on the treatment and management of disorders of the skin, hair and nails.
Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 16,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at 1-888-462-DERM (3376) or www.aad.org.
In the report entitled, "Vitamins and photoaging: Do scientific data support their use?", published online in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, dermatologist Jenny Kim, M.D., Ph.D., FAAD, associate professor in the division of dermatology, department of medicine, at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), David Geffen School of Medicine in Los Angeles, presented results of a study that may support the use of certain vitamins in oral or topical formulations.
"It is well documented that ultraviolet (UV) radiation contributes to premature skin aging through the process of photoaging, and there is increasing evidence that the antioxidant properties of vitamins may contribute to the prevention and treatment of photoaging," said Dr. Kim. "In fact, numerous companies developing cosmeceuticals base their effectiveness claims on the fact that their formulations contain vitamins proven in laboratories to modify cellular processes thought to contribute to the appearance of photoaged skin. As dermatologists, we can help our patients navigate this maze of marketing claims by sharing scientific data on the known efficacy of vitamins in skin care products."
Based on a comprehensive review of the available published data on the role of vitamins in skin care products, Dr. Kim and her colleagues, Jamie Zussman, M.D., FAAD, and Jennifer Ahdout, M.D., found there is evidence to support the potential role of vitamins A, C, E, and B3 in modifying the photoaging process.
"While it's evident that these vitamins can play a role in fighting sun damage, the question still remains whether these properties are effective when delivered in skin care products," notes Dr Kim.
Vitamin A: Effective in treating a variety of skin conditions
The two most common forms of vitamin A studied for their role in protecting the skin from UV-induced damage are retinols and carotenoids. Retinol is found in foods such as liver, milk and eggs, and is the most biologically active form of the vitamin. Carotenoids are found in many fruits and vegetables, and have strong antioxidant capabilities.
While carotenoids are not shown to be beneficial in the treatment of photoaging, research suggests that they may play a role in photoprotection by preventing UV-induced collagen breakdown.
"Although the evidence available at this time is not strong enough to offer definitive support for the use of dietary carotenoids for photoprotection, a role for carotenoids as a supplement to photoprotective agents should not be discounted yet," said Dr. Kim. "We hope to see larger-scale clinical trials conducted to further explore the photoprotective effects of carotenoids."
Unlike carotenoids, there is vast evidence supporting the role of topical retinoids (the class of substances formed by retinol and its natural and synthetic derivatives) in treating photoaged skin. For example, prescription retinoid formulations have the most scientific data to support their use in this area.
Dr. Kim noted that both tretinoin cream (0.025% and 0.05%) and tazarotene cream (0.1%) are already FDA-approved for the treatment of fine wrinkles, skin roughness and mottled hyperpigmentation caused by aging and sun exposure. In addition, she added that studies of other retinoids have shown that a once-daily application of 0.1% isotretinoin cream for 36 weeks was effective in reducing fine wrinkles.
Retinoids also are found in over-the-counter cosmeceuticals, but there is less clinical evidence supporting their effectiveness in improving photoaged skin. "An important point to remember with retinoids is that we cannot assume that all retinoids are equal in their ability to fight photoaging," said Dr. Kim. "In over-the-counter products, retinol appears to be the most effective retinoid based on clinical studies completed to date. However, patients should consult their dermatologist before using any topical retinoid, as side effects can occur when used with other topical products. When properly instructed by a dermatologist, most patients can tolerate topical retinoids and benefit from their effect."
Dr. Kim added that unlike topical retinoids, there is minimal evidence supporting the use of oral retinoids in the treatment of photoaging.
Vitamin C: Possible skin care product value
Vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin also known as ascorbic acid that is found in citrus fruits and dark green leafy vegetables, plays an essential role in the production of collagen and elastin. Because of its antioxidant properties, vitamin C may reverse the negative effects of UV radiation in the skin, but there are few clinically controlled studies to confirm this theory.
"An animal study examining the role of vitamin C in reversing sun damage found that when 5% ascorbate was applied two hours before UVB and UVA exposure, UVB-induced skin wrinkling was reduced," said Dr. Kim. "Some of the human clinical trials have shown similar favorable results when applying a daily dose of L-ascorbic acid treatment, but all of these studies involved small sample sizes."
In addition, Dr. Kim pointed out that one concern of adding vitamin C to cosmeceuticals is that vitamin C is unstable when used in formulations, and it is not known how much, if any, intact molecule remains when applied to the skin.
"This problem has been partially overcome by chemically modifying ascorbic acid," said Dr. Kim. "However, for the body to use the supplied ascorbic acid, it must convert it to L-ascorbic acid, and many of the stabilized, commercially available forms have not been examined to determine whether this conversion is possible. For that reason, the average consumer will not be able to determine if a cosmeceutical containing vitamin C will be effective."
Vitamin E: A primary antioxidant
Vitamin E, or tocopherol, is a fat-soluble vitamin, and its synthetic form is found in many over-the-counter products. Working as an antioxidant, vitamin E protects cell membranes and is thought to play an important role in skin aging because of its antioxidant properties. While topical vitamin E is available in a variety of products, there is no data which support claims that it improves skin wrinkling, discoloration and texture.
"Topical vitamin E has been studied in humans, as in mice, more as a protectant to be used before sun exposure than as an agent to be included in cosmeceuticals to reduce the signs of skin aging," said Dr. Kim. "Through research we have learned that UV exposure significantly decreases levels of cutaneous vitamin E, and vitamin C should be included in any formulation containing vitamin E because of the important role it plays in maintaining active vitamin E levels."
Research also has explored combining vitamins E and C as an oral supplement to provide sun protection. Multiple studies suggest that this combination therapy is beneficial for photoprotection. However, Dr. Kim noted that overzealous oral vitamin E supplements may be harmful, and two new studies also suggest that a high intake of vitamin E may be associated with an increased risk of basal cell carcinoma.
Vitamin B3: A possible treatment for photoaging
The B vitamins consist of eight different water-soluble vitamins that are found in a variety of foods. Vitamin B3 has been shown to reduce blood cholesterol and atherosclerosis (a condition in which fatty materials collect along artery walls), but now new insights are examining its role as an effective treatment for several skin conditions – from acne to photoaging.
Specifically, Dr. Kim noted that vitamin B3 has been found to increase collagen production in in vitro studies and to reduce skin hyperpigmentation (dark spots) in clinical studies.
"There has been one clinical trial conducted in Caucasian women in which 50 women applied 5% niacinamide (topical vitamin B3) to one side of their faces twice per day for 12 weeks, and these women experienced significant reductions in the appearance of hyperpigmented spots, redness, wrinkles, and yellowing, as well as improved skin elasticity," said Dr. Kim. "While initial studies show promise that topical vitamin B3 may prevent UV-induced skin aging, larger clinical trials are needed to confirm its role as a definitive treatment of photoaging."
Bottom Line: Maintain healthy lifestyle, healthy diet, practice sun protection
Dr. Kim added that it is important for everyone to get an adequate daily supply of vitamins to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and any insufficiencies may negatively impact the skin's overall appearance.
"Research has shown a potential role for various vitamins in reducing the damaging effects of sun exposure on the skin. Whether topical or oral formulations containing these vitamins have a protective effect is uncertain. Given the number, type and variability of preparations available, consumers should understand from our study that skin care products with vitamins may not provide clinically meaningful improvement," said Dr. Kim. "What is known is that proper sun protection is key to the prevention of photoaging and should be top of mind at all times."
For more information on improving the appearance of your skin, go to the "AgingSkinNet" section of www.SkinCarePhysicians.com, a Web site developed by dermatologists that provides patients with up-to-date information on the treatment and management of disorders of the skin, hair and nails.
Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 16,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at 1-888-462-DERM (3376) or www.aad.org.
Survey: 83 percent of Women Wear the Wrong Size Swimsuit
Whether it’s a revolution or simply a revelation, women have discovered they are wearing the wrong sizes when it comes to bras, jeans and now, swimsuits. In fact, according to a recent survey of more than 1,000 women conducted by Lands’ End®, eight out of ten surveyed (83 percent) confessed to having worn the wrong size swimsuit. They also believe other women wear the wrong size suit as well; 71 percent believe the majority of women wear the wrong size suit. This could explain why respondents have experienced swimsuit-sizing mishaps such as saggy bottoms (65 percent), cleavage overflow (58 percent), behind busting out/seat creep (56 percent) and muffin top (54 percent).
“With so many advances in swimsuit design, high-performance fabrics and a full range of available sizes, there is no reason why any woman should experience muffin top or saggy bottoms,” said Suzanne Bryant, vice president of design, Lands’ End. “At Lands’ End, we know it’s critically important to have a proper-fitting swimsuit so women can feel and look great on the beach or by the pool. As a result, we offer hundreds of styles that provide solutions for every shape with design details to fit and flatter. And, we offer a full range of sizes including regular, petite (short) and long (tall) torso, mastectomy, D-DDD cup sizes and plus sizes.”
Sizing Up Swimwear Option
The survey also found more than half of respondents (54 percent) purchase swim bottoms in a size that is too big hoping for more coverage while a third (34 percent) have squeezed into a suit that is too small because a larger size was not available. It’s not surprising that women are compromising when it comes to finding their true size since an overwhelming majority of survey respondents (79 percent) stated they fell in love with a swimsuit style, but it was not available in their size.
“Women are not one size fits all especially when it comes to swimwear,” stated Bryant. “At Lands’ End, we offer a large variety of sizes in every swimsuit style and this year we have more options than ever before. In addition, we offer several collections of swim separates to help women mix and match sizes and styles.”
Swimwear Beyond the Numbers
According to Bryant, it’s more than a numbers game when it comes to finding a figure-flattering swimsuit. Body shape, style preference, color and pattern play a key role as well. Seven out of ten survey respondents agree and believe the biggest swimsuit mistake women make is purchasing the wrong style suit for their body shape. Bryant suggests using resources such as the Lands’ End body shape icons to easily search out swimsuits that are designed to flatter differing body shapes. This season, the company has introduced a new “circle” icon to the mix offering a total of five body shape icons: Inverted Triangle, Star, Triangle, Circle and Rectangle. The icons help women easily seek out swimwear to complement their proportions and specific body shapes.
Another consideration is color. This season’s preferences go beyond basic black. In fact, Deep Sea Blue (26 percent) ranked as the number one swimsuit color choice by survey respondents followed by Black (18 percent), Blackberry (18 percent), Mango Orange (12 percent), Brown (10 percent), Kelly Green (9 percent), Slate Gray (6 percent) and Yellow (1 percent).
When it comes to swimsuit silhouettes, the tankini still reigns. More than half (54 percent) will most likely purchase a tankini, followed by a one-piece (39 percent) and only 7 percent plan to purchase a bikini.
Shopping for Swimsuits
This season, seven out of ten women (70 percent) plan to purchase a new swimsuit and will do so in a variety of ways; by shopping in stores (79 percent), surfing the Internet (68 percent), shopping by catalog (46 percent) and looking through magazines (28 percent).
Women are really resourceful when it comes to shopping for swimwear,” said Bryant. “They tend to do their homework both online and offline and enjoy receiving expert advice.”
Women would love to turn to swimwear experts. The survey found 39 percent would select a swimwear designer to help them pick out a great swimsuit before their best friend (19 percent).
Lands’ End offers several ways to shop for swimsuits. The company offers advice from dedicated Swim Fit Experts that can either chat online at www.landsend.com or on the phone at 1-800-675-4853. A variety of Lands’ End swimsuit styles can also be found online at www.landsend.com or at the 294 Lands’ End Shop at Sears locations.
Additional Survey Highlights Include:
Slather on the Lotion – In addition to sunblock, women are slathering on moisturizer. When asked what women do to get ready for swim season, 80 percent moisturize their skin.
Sizing Up Men – Women don’t believe men buy the wrong swimsuit size (67 percent).
In a Crunch – More than half of women (53 percent) do stomach crunches to get ready to wear a swimsuit.
Tune in to the Tunic – 53 percent of those surveyed believe a Tunic Cover-up is the most important swimwear accessory.
Call the Pros – Almost nine out of ten survey respondents (89 percent) would love a complimentary professional swimsuit fitting to help them find their ideal size.
Hands to Toes – When getting ready for swimsuit season two-thirds (66 percent) of women get a manicure and pedicure.
Take a Wild Guess – While 12 percent of survey respondents stated they “take a wild guess” at their swimsuit size, 47 percent base it on their bra or dress size.
Mixed Up – More than seven out of ten women have worn the wrong swim top or bottom size because they were not sold as mix-and-match separates.
How it Measures – Two-thirds (66 percent) of women have never taken their measurements with 43 percent stating they don’t know how to do so.
“With so many advances in swimsuit design, high-performance fabrics and a full range of available sizes, there is no reason why any woman should experience muffin top or saggy bottoms,” said Suzanne Bryant, vice president of design, Lands’ End. “At Lands’ End, we know it’s critically important to have a proper-fitting swimsuit so women can feel and look great on the beach or by the pool. As a result, we offer hundreds of styles that provide solutions for every shape with design details to fit and flatter. And, we offer a full range of sizes including regular, petite (short) and long (tall) torso, mastectomy, D-DDD cup sizes and plus sizes.”
Sizing Up Swimwear Option
The survey also found more than half of respondents (54 percent) purchase swim bottoms in a size that is too big hoping for more coverage while a third (34 percent) have squeezed into a suit that is too small because a larger size was not available. It’s not surprising that women are compromising when it comes to finding their true size since an overwhelming majority of survey respondents (79 percent) stated they fell in love with a swimsuit style, but it was not available in their size.
“Women are not one size fits all especially when it comes to swimwear,” stated Bryant. “At Lands’ End, we offer a large variety of sizes in every swimsuit style and this year we have more options than ever before. In addition, we offer several collections of swim separates to help women mix and match sizes and styles.”
Swimwear Beyond the Numbers
According to Bryant, it’s more than a numbers game when it comes to finding a figure-flattering swimsuit. Body shape, style preference, color and pattern play a key role as well. Seven out of ten survey respondents agree and believe the biggest swimsuit mistake women make is purchasing the wrong style suit for their body shape. Bryant suggests using resources such as the Lands’ End body shape icons to easily search out swimsuits that are designed to flatter differing body shapes. This season, the company has introduced a new “circle” icon to the mix offering a total of five body shape icons: Inverted Triangle, Star, Triangle, Circle and Rectangle. The icons help women easily seek out swimwear to complement their proportions and specific body shapes.
Another consideration is color. This season’s preferences go beyond basic black. In fact, Deep Sea Blue (26 percent) ranked as the number one swimsuit color choice by survey respondents followed by Black (18 percent), Blackberry (18 percent), Mango Orange (12 percent), Brown (10 percent), Kelly Green (9 percent), Slate Gray (6 percent) and Yellow (1 percent).
When it comes to swimsuit silhouettes, the tankini still reigns. More than half (54 percent) will most likely purchase a tankini, followed by a one-piece (39 percent) and only 7 percent plan to purchase a bikini.
Shopping for Swimsuits
This season, seven out of ten women (70 percent) plan to purchase a new swimsuit and will do so in a variety of ways; by shopping in stores (79 percent), surfing the Internet (68 percent), shopping by catalog (46 percent) and looking through magazines (28 percent).
Women are really resourceful when it comes to shopping for swimwear,” said Bryant. “They tend to do their homework both online and offline and enjoy receiving expert advice.”
Women would love to turn to swimwear experts. The survey found 39 percent would select a swimwear designer to help them pick out a great swimsuit before their best friend (19 percent).
Lands’ End offers several ways to shop for swimsuits. The company offers advice from dedicated Swim Fit Experts that can either chat online at www.landsend.com or on the phone at 1-800-675-4853. A variety of Lands’ End swimsuit styles can also be found online at www.landsend.com or at the 294 Lands’ End Shop at Sears locations.
Additional Survey Highlights Include:
Slather on the Lotion – In addition to sunblock, women are slathering on moisturizer. When asked what women do to get ready for swim season, 80 percent moisturize their skin.
Sizing Up Men – Women don’t believe men buy the wrong swimsuit size (67 percent).
In a Crunch – More than half of women (53 percent) do stomach crunches to get ready to wear a swimsuit.
Tune in to the Tunic – 53 percent of those surveyed believe a Tunic Cover-up is the most important swimwear accessory.
Call the Pros – Almost nine out of ten survey respondents (89 percent) would love a complimentary professional swimsuit fitting to help them find their ideal size.
Hands to Toes – When getting ready for swimsuit season two-thirds (66 percent) of women get a manicure and pedicure.
Take a Wild Guess – While 12 percent of survey respondents stated they “take a wild guess” at their swimsuit size, 47 percent base it on their bra or dress size.
Mixed Up – More than seven out of ten women have worn the wrong swim top or bottom size because they were not sold as mix-and-match separates.
How it Measures – Two-thirds (66 percent) of women have never taken their measurements with 43 percent stating they don’t know how to do so.
Survey: Clean Shaven Men Have More Sex - Laser Hair Removal
According to the Schick Skin-dex survey, a national research poll conducted by StrategyOne, men who shave regularly (5 times a week or more) have twice as much sex (15.5 vs. 7.8 times per month). They're also happier (89% vs. 82%), more outgoing (41% vs. 32%), more social (42% vs. 34%), more likely to report they are living their dreams (76% vs. 64%) and more likely to report more attractive significant others.
Material, Emotional and Romantic Satisfaction:
The Skin-dex survey also shows a clear link between material, emotional and romantic satisfaction and the frequency of men's shaves. In fact, men who shave five days a week or more are more confident, twice as likely to be employed as those who shave two days a week and are much less likely to live with their parents. On average, they earn $15,100 more per year than infrequent shavers and are more likely to own luxury items.
Women and Shaving:
According to the Skin-dex survey, women ranked "irritated skin" among the top three biggest turn-offs in a man -- right after body odor and dandruff. In fact, irritated skin is more of a turn-off than baldness and gray hair.
Sixty-six percent of women associate men who shave regularly with a variety of positive qualities, including higher self awareness, deeper commitment and greater comfort with themselves. Eighty-two percent report a preference for cleanly shaven men and another 83% say it's sexy when a man has a smooth touchable face. Additionally:
•76% say they love it when their man shaves
•76% agree a "cleanly shaven man turns me on"
•64% say when their man shaves, they just can't keep their hands off of him
•78% would rather kiss a cleanly shaven man than a scruffy man
•64% would rather have sex with a cleanly shaven man than a scruffy one
Regional Differences:
Men in Los Angeles and DC may have reason to celebrate with these localities reporting the greatest number of shaves per year (198). Philadelphians and Atlantans shave the least, with only 161 shaves a year. Yet Los Angeles men, along with Philly and New York men are the most likely to report having a full beard. Most shaves by region:
•Los Angeles (198)
•Washington, NC (198)
•Dallas-Ft. Worth (192)
•Chicago (192)
•Boston (182)
•Seattle (182)
•New York (172)
•Austin (166)
•Atlanta (161)
•Philadelphia (161)
Meanwhile, men in Dallas report the highest number of soul-patches per capita (14%). Atlanta takes the sideburns (27%) and goatee (32%) titles, while Boston and Washington are the clean shave capitals (31% and 29% respectively). Atlanta (26%), New York (24%), LA (24%) and Dallas (23%) own the mustache crowns while Philadelphia (21%) New York (19%) and LA (19%) are the most bearded cities.
For more information about Laser Hair Removal at Derma Health Institute, see:
http://www.dermahealthinstitute.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=171
Material, Emotional and Romantic Satisfaction:
The Skin-dex survey also shows a clear link between material, emotional and romantic satisfaction and the frequency of men's shaves. In fact, men who shave five days a week or more are more confident, twice as likely to be employed as those who shave two days a week and are much less likely to live with their parents. On average, they earn $15,100 more per year than infrequent shavers and are more likely to own luxury items.
Women and Shaving:
According to the Skin-dex survey, women ranked "irritated skin" among the top three biggest turn-offs in a man -- right after body odor and dandruff. In fact, irritated skin is more of a turn-off than baldness and gray hair.
Sixty-six percent of women associate men who shave regularly with a variety of positive qualities, including higher self awareness, deeper commitment and greater comfort with themselves. Eighty-two percent report a preference for cleanly shaven men and another 83% say it's sexy when a man has a smooth touchable face. Additionally:
•76% say they love it when their man shaves
•76% agree a "cleanly shaven man turns me on"
•64% say when their man shaves, they just can't keep their hands off of him
•78% would rather kiss a cleanly shaven man than a scruffy man
•64% would rather have sex with a cleanly shaven man than a scruffy one
Regional Differences:
Men in Los Angeles and DC may have reason to celebrate with these localities reporting the greatest number of shaves per year (198). Philadelphians and Atlantans shave the least, with only 161 shaves a year. Yet Los Angeles men, along with Philly and New York men are the most likely to report having a full beard. Most shaves by region:
•Los Angeles (198)
•Washington, NC (198)
•Dallas-Ft. Worth (192)
•Chicago (192)
•Boston (182)
•Seattle (182)
•New York (172)
•Austin (166)
•Atlanta (161)
•Philadelphia (161)
Meanwhile, men in Dallas report the highest number of soul-patches per capita (14%). Atlanta takes the sideburns (27%) and goatee (32%) titles, while Boston and Washington are the clean shave capitals (31% and 29% respectively). Atlanta (26%), New York (24%), LA (24%) and Dallas (23%) own the mustache crowns while Philadelphia (21%) New York (19%) and LA (19%) are the most bearded cities.
For more information about Laser Hair Removal at Derma Health Institute, see:
http://www.dermahealthinstitute.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=171
VelaShape Cellulite Treatment Featured on "The Doctors" Episode
IRVINE, Calif., April 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- During the April 23 episode of THE Doctors, Dr. Glynis Ablon of the Ablon Skin Institute in Manhattan Beach, Calif. and Assistant Clinical Professor at UCLA will demonstrate how VelaShape treatments can help consumers achieve the toned, smooth physique they desire before summer. As the first FDA approved non-invasive treatment, physicians have been using VelaShape to help women and men around the world smooth cellulite, shed inches and sculpt curves.
"As many of my patients are gearing up for summer vacations, the idea of getting into a swimsuit can be daunting," says Dr. Glynis Ablon. "I'm consistently impressed with the results I'm able to offer my patients with VelaShape. I recommend this treatment for patients who are looking to smooth cellulite, achieve more visible tone, or just to tighten loose skin or small pockets of fat without liposuction."
"Getting VelaShape was a great way to help me get ready for bathing suit season and smooth the lumps and bumps," said Cathy Davis, patient of Dr. Ablon featured on THE Doctors. "The treatments were comfortable, easy and painless and gave me the confidence I need to feel great in anything I put on this summer!"
In multiple controlled clinical studies, VelaShape patients saw an average loss of one inch on the thigh, two inches around the buttocks, and nearly three inches in the abdomen after five treatments. VelaShape is an ideal treatment for patients seeking to tone up and tighten a variety of troublesome areas on the body. Patients should receive four to six treatments, spaced one week apart to achieve optimum results. Most patients experience no side effects, though a few may exhibit some short-term local reddening on the area treated.
For more information about VelaShape at Derma Health Institute, go to:
http://www.dermahealthinstitute.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=173
Catch new episodes of THE Doctors every weekday. For local listings, please visit http://www.thedoctorstv.com/main/local_listings.
About Syneron Medical Ltd.
Syneron Medical Ltd. (Nasdaq: ELOS) is the leading global aesthetic device company with a comprehensive product portfolio and a global distribution footprint. The Company's technology enables physicians to provide advanced solutions for a broad range of medical-aesthetic applications including body contouring, hair removal, wrinkle reduction, rejuvenation of the skin's appearance through the treatment of superficial benign vascular and pigmented lesions, and the treatment of acne, leg veins and cellulite. The Company sells its products under two distinct brands, Syneron and Candela. Founded in 2000, the corporate, R&D, and manufacturing headquarters for Syneron Medical Ltd. are located in Israel. Syneron also has R&D and manufacturing operations in the US. The company markets, services and supports its products in 86 countries. It has offices in North America, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, UK, Australia, China, Japan, and Hong Kong and distributors worldwide. Additional information can be found at www.syneron.com and www.candelalaser.com.
SOURCE Syneron Medical Ltd.
"As many of my patients are gearing up for summer vacations, the idea of getting into a swimsuit can be daunting," says Dr. Glynis Ablon. "I'm consistently impressed with the results I'm able to offer my patients with VelaShape. I recommend this treatment for patients who are looking to smooth cellulite, achieve more visible tone, or just to tighten loose skin or small pockets of fat without liposuction."
"Getting VelaShape was a great way to help me get ready for bathing suit season and smooth the lumps and bumps," said Cathy Davis, patient of Dr. Ablon featured on THE Doctors. "The treatments were comfortable, easy and painless and gave me the confidence I need to feel great in anything I put on this summer!"
In multiple controlled clinical studies, VelaShape patients saw an average loss of one inch on the thigh, two inches around the buttocks, and nearly three inches in the abdomen after five treatments. VelaShape is an ideal treatment for patients seeking to tone up and tighten a variety of troublesome areas on the body. Patients should receive four to six treatments, spaced one week apart to achieve optimum results. Most patients experience no side effects, though a few may exhibit some short-term local reddening on the area treated.
For more information about VelaShape at Derma Health Institute, go to:
http://www.dermahealthinstitute.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=173
Catch new episodes of THE Doctors every weekday. For local listings, please visit http://www.thedoctorstv.com/main/local_listings.
About Syneron Medical Ltd.
Syneron Medical Ltd. (Nasdaq: ELOS) is the leading global aesthetic device company with a comprehensive product portfolio and a global distribution footprint. The Company's technology enables physicians to provide advanced solutions for a broad range of medical-aesthetic applications including body contouring, hair removal, wrinkle reduction, rejuvenation of the skin's appearance through the treatment of superficial benign vascular and pigmented lesions, and the treatment of acne, leg veins and cellulite. The Company sells its products under two distinct brands, Syneron and Candela. Founded in 2000, the corporate, R&D, and manufacturing headquarters for Syneron Medical Ltd. are located in Israel. Syneron also has R&D and manufacturing operations in the US. The company markets, services and supports its products in 86 countries. It has offices in North America, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, UK, Australia, China, Japan, and Hong Kong and distributors worldwide. Additional information can be found at www.syneron.com and www.candelalaser.com.
SOURCE Syneron Medical Ltd.
Get a $20 Rebate and Gift Bag When You Buy Latisse Online
Latisse® LashPerks is the rewards program that delivers. Sign up now and get a $20 rebate on your LATISSE® purchase. Plus, once you redeem your rebate, Latisse will send you a stylish bag as a special gift (while supplies last). Signing up truly has its perks.
Now, you can grow longer, fuller, darker lashes. It's not an illusion. It's your own lashes -- only better. Get rid of your eyelash extensions and get ready for a new innovation in lashes! Latisse is the first and only prescription treatment approved by the FDA for inadequate or insufficient eyelashes, growing them longer, fuller and darker.
To order Latisse online, go to:
http://www.dermahealthinstitute.com/order_latisse_eyelash_grower_online.html
After that, go to http://latisse.com/SignUp.aspx to get your Latisse rebate and gift bag.
Now, you can grow longer, fuller, darker lashes. It's not an illusion. It's your own lashes -- only better. Get rid of your eyelash extensions and get ready for a new innovation in lashes! Latisse is the first and only prescription treatment approved by the FDA for inadequate or insufficient eyelashes, growing them longer, fuller and darker.
To order Latisse online, go to:
http://www.dermahealthinstitute.com/order_latisse_eyelash_grower_online.html
After that, go to http://latisse.com/SignUp.aspx to get your Latisse rebate and gift bag.
Leann Rimes Encourages Psoriasis Patients to 'Make A Change'
SCHAUMBURG (Mar 29, 2010) — Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and psoriasis patient LeAnn Rimes is calling for people with psoriasis to pledge to better manage their disease as part of the awareness campaign “Stop Hiding from Psoriasis.” In partnership with the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy) and National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), LeAnn is encouraging people to take a stand against psoriasis by taking the Make a Change Pledge online at StopHiding.org.
“The purpose of the Make a Change Pledge is to empower people living with psoriasis to make changes that can help them increase their understanding of the disease and its impact on their everyday lives, as well as encourage them to work with a dermatologist to optimally manage their disease,” says LeAnn.
Diagnosed at age 2, LeAnn is familiar with the physical and emotional toll psoriasis can have on people with the disease. “As a performer in the public spotlight, coping with my psoriasis was scary and frustrating at times. I had to recognize how psoriasis was affecting many aspects of my life and commit to managing it. Personally, I learned to control my disease by working with a dermatologist to develop a treatment plan that is best for me.”
At StopHiding.org, people with psoriasis can join LeAnn in thinking about their personal priorities and the changes they would like to make to better manage their disease. Individual pledges range from “recognizing that psoriasis is a chronic immune disease” and “telling my dermatologist about all the ways psoriasis affects me” to “increasing psoriasis awareness by educating others about the condition” and “sharing my personal story and inspiring others to take control of their psoriasis,” among others.
"We must help patients learn how best to manage their disease so that they — and their aspirations — are not limited," said Richard Seiden, chair of the National Psoriasis Foundation Board of Trustees. "We hope the Make a Change Pledge helps patients learn how to make changes in their lives so that they can deal with their disease effectively."
As part of “Stop Hiding from Psoriasis,” LeAnn, the Academy and Foundation are also highlighting the importance of finding the right dermatologist. Currently, there is no cure for psoriasis, but, together with their dermatologists, people can create treatment plans that may include simple, everyday changes to better manage their symptoms and the effects their disease has on their lives.
“Partnering with a dermatologist who treats psoriasis is an important step in developing an appropriate disease-management plan,” said dermatologist William D. James, MD, FAAD, president of the American Academy of Dermatology. “Psoriasis is a chronic immune disease that can impact patients, physically and emotionally, but with proper management, it doesn’t have to control a person’s life.”
The Academy and Foundation joined together to create the “Stop Hiding from Psoriasis” campaign funded with support from Abbott, a global health care company. The program, which strives to raise awareness about the condition and encourages better disease management, was launched in 2008 to increase awareness about the disease and encourage patients to find a dermatologist and seek proper treatment. In addition, “Stop Hiding from Psoriasis” aims to educate the general public about psoriasis and dispel common misperceptions attached to the disease. A 2008 Foundation survey showed there is a stigma around psoriasis and widespread misconceptions about the condition.
About Psoriasis
Psoriasis affects nearly 7 million people in the United States. The chronic, non-contagious immune disorder speeds the growth cycle of skin cells and results in thick, scaly areas of skin. Psoriasis can occur in people of all ages, but it typically appears in patients between the ages of 15 and 35, and currently has no cure. The most common form, called plaque psoriasis, appears as red, raised areas of skin covered with flaky white scales that may itch or burn.
Psoriasis most commonly appears on the scalp, knees, elbows and torso, though it can develop anywhere on the skin. It may even occur on the fingernails and toenails. In addition to its physical symptoms, psoriasis also may affect one’s life, potentially leading to poor self image.
About the American Academy of Dermatology
The American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 16,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at 1 (888) 462-DERM (3376) or visit www.aad.org.
About the National Psoriasis Foundation
The National Psoriasis Foundation is the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to serving people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Through education and advocacy, the Foundation promotes awareness and understanding, ensures access to treatment and supports research that will lead to effective management and a cure. For more information, please call the Psoriasis Foundation, headquartered in Portland, Ore., at (800) 723-9166 or visit www.psoriasis.org.
“The purpose of the Make a Change Pledge is to empower people living with psoriasis to make changes that can help them increase their understanding of the disease and its impact on their everyday lives, as well as encourage them to work with a dermatologist to optimally manage their disease,” says LeAnn.
Diagnosed at age 2, LeAnn is familiar with the physical and emotional toll psoriasis can have on people with the disease. “As a performer in the public spotlight, coping with my psoriasis was scary and frustrating at times. I had to recognize how psoriasis was affecting many aspects of my life and commit to managing it. Personally, I learned to control my disease by working with a dermatologist to develop a treatment plan that is best for me.”
At StopHiding.org, people with psoriasis can join LeAnn in thinking about their personal priorities and the changes they would like to make to better manage their disease. Individual pledges range from “recognizing that psoriasis is a chronic immune disease” and “telling my dermatologist about all the ways psoriasis affects me” to “increasing psoriasis awareness by educating others about the condition” and “sharing my personal story and inspiring others to take control of their psoriasis,” among others.
"We must help patients learn how best to manage their disease so that they — and their aspirations — are not limited," said Richard Seiden, chair of the National Psoriasis Foundation Board of Trustees. "We hope the Make a Change Pledge helps patients learn how to make changes in their lives so that they can deal with their disease effectively."
As part of “Stop Hiding from Psoriasis,” LeAnn, the Academy and Foundation are also highlighting the importance of finding the right dermatologist. Currently, there is no cure for psoriasis, but, together with their dermatologists, people can create treatment plans that may include simple, everyday changes to better manage their symptoms and the effects their disease has on their lives.
“Partnering with a dermatologist who treats psoriasis is an important step in developing an appropriate disease-management plan,” said dermatologist William D. James, MD, FAAD, president of the American Academy of Dermatology. “Psoriasis is a chronic immune disease that can impact patients, physically and emotionally, but with proper management, it doesn’t have to control a person’s life.”
The Academy and Foundation joined together to create the “Stop Hiding from Psoriasis” campaign funded with support from Abbott, a global health care company. The program, which strives to raise awareness about the condition and encourages better disease management, was launched in 2008 to increase awareness about the disease and encourage patients to find a dermatologist and seek proper treatment. In addition, “Stop Hiding from Psoriasis” aims to educate the general public about psoriasis and dispel common misperceptions attached to the disease. A 2008 Foundation survey showed there is a stigma around psoriasis and widespread misconceptions about the condition.
About Psoriasis
Psoriasis affects nearly 7 million people in the United States. The chronic, non-contagious immune disorder speeds the growth cycle of skin cells and results in thick, scaly areas of skin. Psoriasis can occur in people of all ages, but it typically appears in patients between the ages of 15 and 35, and currently has no cure. The most common form, called plaque psoriasis, appears as red, raised areas of skin covered with flaky white scales that may itch or burn.
Psoriasis most commonly appears on the scalp, knees, elbows and torso, though it can develop anywhere on the skin. It may even occur on the fingernails and toenails. In addition to its physical symptoms, psoriasis also may affect one’s life, potentially leading to poor self image.
About the American Academy of Dermatology
The American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 16,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at 1 (888) 462-DERM (3376) or visit www.aad.org.
About the National Psoriasis Foundation
The National Psoriasis Foundation is the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to serving people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Through education and advocacy, the Foundation promotes awareness and understanding, ensures access to treatment and supports research that will lead to effective management and a cure. For more information, please call the Psoriasis Foundation, headquartered in Portland, Ore., at (800) 723-9166 or visit www.psoriasis.org.
Microdermabrasion, Chemical Peels & Facials
Skin rejuvenation is made easy with either or all three of these exfoliating procedures. A microdermabrasion, chemical peel or facial is perfect to complement your laser treatments by exfoliating the dead dry skin that builds up over time. It is also perfect for reducing pore size and minimizing fine lines and an ideal maintenance plan to your skin regimen. The treatments can be as gentle or aggressive as needed, depending on the advice of your medical aesthetician and your personal skin care goals.
Microdermabrasion is a skin-freshening technique that helps repair facial skin that takes a beating from the sun and the effects of aging. Your doctor uses a device similar to a fine sandblaster to spray tiny crystals across the face, mixing gentle abrasion with suction to remove the dead, outer layer of skin.
Your skin is made up of two main layers, the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis is the layer closest to the outside world. It's a set of dead skin cells on top of another layer of cells that are in the process of maturing. The topmost layer is called the stratum corneum. The stratum corneum mostly acts as a barrier between the outside world and the lower skin layers. It keeps all but the smallest molecules from getting through.
Benefits of Microdermabrasion
It is the least invasive dermatological procedure (compared to dermabrasion and laser resurfacing).
It is more affordable than cosmetic surgery.
Micro Derma Abrasion is painless.
It has the fewest side effects and it is effective on all skin types and colors.
Microdermal abrasion does not need anesthetic if performed at a spa, beauty salon or physician's office (unlike surgical skin resurfacing).
It helps your skin look younger, healthy, glowing and for some people, close to perfect.
Testimonial:
“When I came to Derma Health Institute about 6 months ago, I was totally frustrated with my complexion around my mouth and chin. Constant breakouts were common to the point my face never was totally cleared up. After just one facial and a new skin care plan my face cleared up. It’s been the best thing I’ve done for myself in ages and worth every penny. Thank you Derma Health for providing me a great staff and good product!” - Mary R.
Derma Health Institute
http://www.dermahealthinstitute.com
Microdermabrasion is a skin-freshening technique that helps repair facial skin that takes a beating from the sun and the effects of aging. Your doctor uses a device similar to a fine sandblaster to spray tiny crystals across the face, mixing gentle abrasion with suction to remove the dead, outer layer of skin.
Your skin is made up of two main layers, the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis is the layer closest to the outside world. It's a set of dead skin cells on top of another layer of cells that are in the process of maturing. The topmost layer is called the stratum corneum. The stratum corneum mostly acts as a barrier between the outside world and the lower skin layers. It keeps all but the smallest molecules from getting through.
Benefits of Microdermabrasion
It is the least invasive dermatological procedure (compared to dermabrasion and laser resurfacing).
It is more affordable than cosmetic surgery.
Micro Derma Abrasion is painless.
It has the fewest side effects and it is effective on all skin types and colors.
Microdermal abrasion does not need anesthetic if performed at a spa, beauty salon or physician's office (unlike surgical skin resurfacing).
It helps your skin look younger, healthy, glowing and for some people, close to perfect.
Testimonial:
“When I came to Derma Health Institute about 6 months ago, I was totally frustrated with my complexion around my mouth and chin. Constant breakouts were common to the point my face never was totally cleared up. After just one facial and a new skin care plan my face cleared up. It’s been the best thing I’ve done for myself in ages and worth every penny. Thank you Derma Health for providing me a great staff and good product!” - Mary R.
Derma Health Institute
http://www.dermahealthinstitute.com
Allergan BOTOX Launches "My Expressions of Kindness" Charity
To celebrate acts of kindness around the country, Allergan, Inc. (NYSE: AGN), the maker of BOTOX® Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA), has announced the "BOTOX® Cosmetic My Expressions of Kindness" charitable campaign. Allergan is asking everyone who is treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic, or is considering talking to their physician about treatment, to post acts of kindness online to help raise up to a quarter of a million dollars for three deserving charities: Make It Right, Dress for Success and Children's Action Network. The online fundraising campaign is being spearheaded by television personality, long-time volunteer and BOTOX® Cosmetic advocate Didiayer Snyder, who is joined by fellow BOTOX® Cosmetic fans Emmy®-nominated actress and singer Vanessa Williams, best-selling author Vicki Iovine, Oscar®-nominated actress Virginia Madsen and five-time gold medalist Nadia Comaneci as campaign ambassadors.
People are asked to get involved and show their support by visiting the campaign Web site at ExpressKindnessCampaign.com to complete a "My Expressions of Kindness" profile. Upon completion, a $25 donation will be automatically generated and each person will have the opportunity to choose whether it will benefit Make It Right, Dress for Success or Children's Action Network. The "My Expressions of Kindness" profiles completed by each of the campaign ambassadors who have pledged their support to one of the charity partners is also posted on the Web site. Other social media fundraising activities include Facebook and Twitter.
Mrs. Snyder is supporting Make It Right, which builds safe, green and affordable homes for working families in New Orleans Lower 9th Ward who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. Ms. Williams, who spearheaded the 2009 "BOTOX® Cosmetic: Express Success" campaign with Dress for Success, returns this year and is joined by Ms. Iovine in support of Dress for Success, which helps disadvantaged women express success in the workforce by providing them with the tools they need to succeed in work and life. Ms. Madsen and Ms. Comaneci are supporting Children's Action Network, which finds homes for foster children who are waiting for an adoptive family and works to improve outcomes for children in foster care. The organizations were selected based on research that shows women are drawn to causes that support their core emotional values – underserved communities, family and health.
"I'm thrilled to be spearheading the 'BOTOX® Cosmetic My Expressions of Kindness' charitable campaign because it is a way to give back to the community by supporting causes that are important to many men and women," said Mrs. Snyder. "Allergan asked me to become involved because they knew I dedicated a significant amount of time to supporting those less fortunate and that I was a big fan of BOTOX® Cosmetic. Now people who are treated with or thinking about talking to their doctor about being treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic to temporarily reduce the appearance of the '11' – those moderate to severe vertical lines between the brows that can give your face a tired and stressed look – can spread kindness online to help raise much-needed funds for Make It Right, Dress for Success and the Children's Action Network. It's fun, easy and a great way to support those in need."
"With this campaign, we are delighted BOTOX® Cosmetic can serve as a champion for causes that consumers care about and can help raise awareness and support for organizations that serve those less fortunate," said Robert Grant, president of Allergan Medical, a division of Allergan, Inc. "Since the approval of BOTOX® Cosmetic eight years ago, we have spearheaded consumer education campaigns that provide education about the product. Now, we are combining these efforts with charitable support and are joining hands with long-time supporters including Virginia Madsen, Vanessa Williams, Vicki Iovine and Nadia Comaneci – plus work with Didiayer Snyder our new ambassador – to support causes important to both them and the people who choose to talk to their doctor about being treated with our products."
For more information about the "BOTOX® Cosmetic My Expressions of Kindness" campaign, please visit www.ExpressKindnessCampaign.com. For more information about BOTOX® Cosmetic, go to:
http://www.dermahealthinstitute.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=175
People are asked to get involved and show their support by visiting the campaign Web site at ExpressKindnessCampaign.com to complete a "My Expressions of Kindness" profile. Upon completion, a $25 donation will be automatically generated and each person will have the opportunity to choose whether it will benefit Make It Right, Dress for Success or Children's Action Network. The "My Expressions of Kindness" profiles completed by each of the campaign ambassadors who have pledged their support to one of the charity partners is also posted on the Web site. Other social media fundraising activities include Facebook and Twitter.
Mrs. Snyder is supporting Make It Right, which builds safe, green and affordable homes for working families in New Orleans Lower 9th Ward who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. Ms. Williams, who spearheaded the 2009 "BOTOX® Cosmetic: Express Success" campaign with Dress for Success, returns this year and is joined by Ms. Iovine in support of Dress for Success, which helps disadvantaged women express success in the workforce by providing them with the tools they need to succeed in work and life. Ms. Madsen and Ms. Comaneci are supporting Children's Action Network, which finds homes for foster children who are waiting for an adoptive family and works to improve outcomes for children in foster care. The organizations were selected based on research that shows women are drawn to causes that support their core emotional values – underserved communities, family and health.
"I'm thrilled to be spearheading the 'BOTOX® Cosmetic My Expressions of Kindness' charitable campaign because it is a way to give back to the community by supporting causes that are important to many men and women," said Mrs. Snyder. "Allergan asked me to become involved because they knew I dedicated a significant amount of time to supporting those less fortunate and that I was a big fan of BOTOX® Cosmetic. Now people who are treated with or thinking about talking to their doctor about being treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic to temporarily reduce the appearance of the '11' – those moderate to severe vertical lines between the brows that can give your face a tired and stressed look – can spread kindness online to help raise much-needed funds for Make It Right, Dress for Success and the Children's Action Network. It's fun, easy and a great way to support those in need."
"With this campaign, we are delighted BOTOX® Cosmetic can serve as a champion for causes that consumers care about and can help raise awareness and support for organizations that serve those less fortunate," said Robert Grant, president of Allergan Medical, a division of Allergan, Inc. "Since the approval of BOTOX® Cosmetic eight years ago, we have spearheaded consumer education campaigns that provide education about the product. Now, we are combining these efforts with charitable support and are joining hands with long-time supporters including Virginia Madsen, Vanessa Williams, Vicki Iovine and Nadia Comaneci – plus work with Didiayer Snyder our new ambassador – to support causes important to both them and the people who choose to talk to their doctor about being treated with our products."
For more information about the "BOTOX® Cosmetic My Expressions of Kindness" campaign, please visit www.ExpressKindnessCampaign.com. For more information about BOTOX® Cosmetic, go to:
http://www.dermahealthinstitute.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=175
New Treatments Helping Patients Control Acne and Rosacea
Acne and rosacea are two seemingly different skin conditions that have one important thing in common: both are chronic and extremely common skin conditions. However, dermatologists recommend that with proper diagnosis, treatment and a healthy dose of good, old-fashioned skin care, acne and rosacea can be less of a nuisance for patients.
Speaking today at the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), dermatologist Jenny J. Kim, MD, PhD, FAAD, associate professor of dermatology at the University of California, Los Angeles, (UCLA) David Geffen School of Medicine in Los Angeles, discussed the latest treatments for acne and rosacea and how ongoing research into the causes of these conditions holds promise for future therapies.
For more information about Acne Treatments at Derma Health Institute, go to:
http://www.dermahealthinstitute.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=177
“Sometimes it is hard for patients dealing with acne or rosacea to understand why, even with ongoing treatment, they cannot get rid of their symptoms forever,” said Dr. Kim. “I explain to them that these conditions are similar to having any chronic disease, like having diabetes – there is no cure yet, but we can control the symptoms. Just like insulin helps maintain a diabetic’s blood sugar, patients with acne and rosacea need to find a treatment regimen that works for them to maintain clear skin.”
Acne: An Equal-Opportunity Skin Condition
It is estimated that 40 million to 50 million Americans are affected by some form of acne. While acne is commonly associated with teenagers struggling with the growing pains of adolescence, this skin condition can strike at any age. In fact, Dr. Kim emphasized that it affects adults in their 20s, 30s, 40s and even in their 50s, especially in women and even in people who never had acne as teenagers. The causes of acne include excess oil production,skin inflammation, skin cells in the hair follicles that shed too quickly and an increased number of the acne-causing bacteria Propionbacterium acnes. However, hormones also influence both oil production and the shedding of skin cells, thereby contributing to the formation of acne lesions. For example, when androgens (the male hormones present in both men and women) over-stimulate the oil glands and hair follicles in the skin, hormonal acne flares can occur.
In the past, most cases of acne were treated solely with antibiotics. While these treatments can be very successful, a growing concern about long-term antibiotic use is that bacteria are evolving to become resistant to these medications. As a result, the development of other effective therapies and combination therapies has evolved.
For example, Dr. Kim noted that some of the newer therapies for acne are anti-inflammatories, which can be used in some cases to lessen the severity of acne. Controlled-release of lower dose doxycycline is a newer anti-inflammatory oral medication that some dermatologists use to reduce the redness and swelling of acne. Combination therapies, which may include an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects that can decrease resistance and are more convenient to use for patients, has made combination therapeutics increasingly common treatments used to manage acne.
Another newer approach to treating acne is the use of lasers and light-based technologies as a complementary treatment to traditional medical therapies. Dr. Kim noted that these technologies include the pulsed-dye laser, red and blue light, and photodynamic therapy, which target the sebaceous (or oil) glands and can reduce acne flares. While Dr. Kim does not recommend lasers and light-based technologies as first-line therapies for acne, she believes it is a promising new area of research.
“Patients are becoming increasingly concerned about the long-term use of oral medications to fight acne, so lasers and light sources appeal to them,” said Dr. Kim. “The problem is that there are limited large, prospective, well-controlled studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of laser and light technology at this point, so that will be an area we need to explore in the future. It’s very likely that with the advancement in dermatologic research, we will see sebaceous gland targeting lasers in the future that will be effective for the treatment of acne.”
Dr. Kim added that many patients are concerned about scarring that can result from acne, and many acne scars can be very aggressive and difficult to treat. For mild scarring, retinoids, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and lasers can give mild improvement. In addition, fillers can be used successfully to fill in depressed areas and improve the appearance of scars.
Another therapy that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for acne scarring is fractional laser resurfacing. This laser technology works by targeting damaged skin in columns of microscopic treatment zones, which include the outermost and underlying layers of skin known as the epidermis and the dermis. Fractional laser resurfacing thermally damages the tiny columns of scarred skin while the surrounding healthy skin is left intact.
“One of the main benefits of fractional resurfacing is wound healing and increased collagen production that reduces acne scars,” said Dr. Kim. “However, most patients will notice only a modest improvement in acne scarring and multiple treatments are required. For more severe scarring, such as deep ‘ice pick’ scars, several acne surgical procedures can be used – including punch grafting or punch excision – to remove, raise, fill or separate the scar tissue from the underlying skin. These surgical procedures in combination with other therapies, including lasers and fillers, can produce improvement for severe acne scarring.”
Rosacea Triggers and Treatments
Rosacea, another chronic skin condition, affects an estimated 14 million people in the United States and is characterized by redness, flushing and prominent blood vessels on the face. Dr. Kim explained that rosacea commonly occurs in older people, and there are many known triggers for this bothersome condition – including sunlight, alcohol, spicy foods, caffeine, heat, citric acid, and stress.
While the exact cause of rosacea is not fully understood, Dr. Kim noted that a recent study suggests that the presence of an abnormal peptide (a small protein) in the skin of rosacea patients may contribute to the disease.
“There is some evidence to suggest that the peptide cathelicidin within the skin is processed differently in rosacea patients than in individuals not affected by rosacea and induces inflammation that may contribute to rosacea,” explained Dr. Kim. “These findings are encouraging, as we can identify better treatments for the disease if we have a better understanding of what the cause might be.”
Over the years, lasers have been shown to be effective in treating the symptoms of rosacea. For example, Dr. Kim mentioned that pulsed-dye lasers work well for rosacea patients with lots of broken blood vessels, and both pulsed-dye laser and intense-pulsed light treatments are effective at treating redness on the face and flushing associated with rosacea.
"Patients undergoing laser therapy for rosacea will likely need multiple treatments. However, I have found lasers and light treatments to be very effective and produce long-lasting results,” said Dr. Kim.
In addition to oral treatments, a number of topical medications have been introduced to treat rosacea, and Dr. Kim explained that metronidazole and azeleic acid are two topicals that are tolerated well and effective in reducing the symptoms of rosacea.
Good Skin Care: Good for All
For patients with acne or rosacea whose skin is often sensitive, Dr. Kim emphasized that proper skin care is very important as part of their overall treatment regimen. In addition to avoiding products or behaviors that tend to make acne or rosacea worse, patients may find that gentle skin care can help alleviate some of the redness or irritation common with these conditions.
“I advise my patients to use a mild cleanser and sun protection that is non-irritating to the skin every day, particularly a moisturizer that contains sunscreen,” said Dr. Kim. “While skin care products containing too many acids can be irritating to sensitive skin, I find that products containing salicylic acid are useful for some acne patients. Separating treatments, such as using salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide in the morning and a retinol-based product at night, might be helpful for patients with sensitive skin.”
Dr. Kim also noted that while over-the-counter products containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide may help control mild acne, patients should avoid using too many products at once on their skin to try to manage acne.
“The old adage ‘less is more’ applies to patients with sensitive skin,” said Dr. Kim. “The best advice is to discuss your skin care regimen with your dermatologist who can recommend products based on not only your specific skin condition, but your individual skin type as well.”
To learn more about acne and rosacea, visit www.skincarephysicians.com, a Web site developed by dermatologists that provides patients with up-to-date information on the treatment and management of conditions of the skin, hair and nails.
Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 16,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at 1-888-462-DERM (3376) or www.aad.org.
For more information about Acne Treatments at Derma Health Institute, go to:
http://www.dermahealthinstitute.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=177
Speaking today at the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), dermatologist Jenny J. Kim, MD, PhD, FAAD, associate professor of dermatology at the University of California, Los Angeles, (UCLA) David Geffen School of Medicine in Los Angeles, discussed the latest treatments for acne and rosacea and how ongoing research into the causes of these conditions holds promise for future therapies.
For more information about Acne Treatments at Derma Health Institute, go to:
http://www.dermahealthinstitute.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=177
“Sometimes it is hard for patients dealing with acne or rosacea to understand why, even with ongoing treatment, they cannot get rid of their symptoms forever,” said Dr. Kim. “I explain to them that these conditions are similar to having any chronic disease, like having diabetes – there is no cure yet, but we can control the symptoms. Just like insulin helps maintain a diabetic’s blood sugar, patients with acne and rosacea need to find a treatment regimen that works for them to maintain clear skin.”
Acne: An Equal-Opportunity Skin Condition
It is estimated that 40 million to 50 million Americans are affected by some form of acne. While acne is commonly associated with teenagers struggling with the growing pains of adolescence, this skin condition can strike at any age. In fact, Dr. Kim emphasized that it affects adults in their 20s, 30s, 40s and even in their 50s, especially in women and even in people who never had acne as teenagers. The causes of acne include excess oil production,skin inflammation, skin cells in the hair follicles that shed too quickly and an increased number of the acne-causing bacteria Propionbacterium acnes. However, hormones also influence both oil production and the shedding of skin cells, thereby contributing to the formation of acne lesions. For example, when androgens (the male hormones present in both men and women) over-stimulate the oil glands and hair follicles in the skin, hormonal acne flares can occur.
In the past, most cases of acne were treated solely with antibiotics. While these treatments can be very successful, a growing concern about long-term antibiotic use is that bacteria are evolving to become resistant to these medications. As a result, the development of other effective therapies and combination therapies has evolved.
For example, Dr. Kim noted that some of the newer therapies for acne are anti-inflammatories, which can be used in some cases to lessen the severity of acne. Controlled-release of lower dose doxycycline is a newer anti-inflammatory oral medication that some dermatologists use to reduce the redness and swelling of acne. Combination therapies, which may include an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects that can decrease resistance and are more convenient to use for patients, has made combination therapeutics increasingly common treatments used to manage acne.
Another newer approach to treating acne is the use of lasers and light-based technologies as a complementary treatment to traditional medical therapies. Dr. Kim noted that these technologies include the pulsed-dye laser, red and blue light, and photodynamic therapy, which target the sebaceous (or oil) glands and can reduce acne flares. While Dr. Kim does not recommend lasers and light-based technologies as first-line therapies for acne, she believes it is a promising new area of research.
“Patients are becoming increasingly concerned about the long-term use of oral medications to fight acne, so lasers and light sources appeal to them,” said Dr. Kim. “The problem is that there are limited large, prospective, well-controlled studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of laser and light technology at this point, so that will be an area we need to explore in the future. It’s very likely that with the advancement in dermatologic research, we will see sebaceous gland targeting lasers in the future that will be effective for the treatment of acne.”
Dr. Kim added that many patients are concerned about scarring that can result from acne, and many acne scars can be very aggressive and difficult to treat. For mild scarring, retinoids, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and lasers can give mild improvement. In addition, fillers can be used successfully to fill in depressed areas and improve the appearance of scars.
Another therapy that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for acne scarring is fractional laser resurfacing. This laser technology works by targeting damaged skin in columns of microscopic treatment zones, which include the outermost and underlying layers of skin known as the epidermis and the dermis. Fractional laser resurfacing thermally damages the tiny columns of scarred skin while the surrounding healthy skin is left intact.
“One of the main benefits of fractional resurfacing is wound healing and increased collagen production that reduces acne scars,” said Dr. Kim. “However, most patients will notice only a modest improvement in acne scarring and multiple treatments are required. For more severe scarring, such as deep ‘ice pick’ scars, several acne surgical procedures can be used – including punch grafting or punch excision – to remove, raise, fill or separate the scar tissue from the underlying skin. These surgical procedures in combination with other therapies, including lasers and fillers, can produce improvement for severe acne scarring.”
Rosacea Triggers and Treatments
Rosacea, another chronic skin condition, affects an estimated 14 million people in the United States and is characterized by redness, flushing and prominent blood vessels on the face. Dr. Kim explained that rosacea commonly occurs in older people, and there are many known triggers for this bothersome condition – including sunlight, alcohol, spicy foods, caffeine, heat, citric acid, and stress.
While the exact cause of rosacea is not fully understood, Dr. Kim noted that a recent study suggests that the presence of an abnormal peptide (a small protein) in the skin of rosacea patients may contribute to the disease.
“There is some evidence to suggest that the peptide cathelicidin within the skin is processed differently in rosacea patients than in individuals not affected by rosacea and induces inflammation that may contribute to rosacea,” explained Dr. Kim. “These findings are encouraging, as we can identify better treatments for the disease if we have a better understanding of what the cause might be.”
Over the years, lasers have been shown to be effective in treating the symptoms of rosacea. For example, Dr. Kim mentioned that pulsed-dye lasers work well for rosacea patients with lots of broken blood vessels, and both pulsed-dye laser and intense-pulsed light treatments are effective at treating redness on the face and flushing associated with rosacea.
"Patients undergoing laser therapy for rosacea will likely need multiple treatments. However, I have found lasers and light treatments to be very effective and produce long-lasting results,” said Dr. Kim.
In addition to oral treatments, a number of topical medications have been introduced to treat rosacea, and Dr. Kim explained that metronidazole and azeleic acid are two topicals that are tolerated well and effective in reducing the symptoms of rosacea.
Good Skin Care: Good for All
For patients with acne or rosacea whose skin is often sensitive, Dr. Kim emphasized that proper skin care is very important as part of their overall treatment regimen. In addition to avoiding products or behaviors that tend to make acne or rosacea worse, patients may find that gentle skin care can help alleviate some of the redness or irritation common with these conditions.
“I advise my patients to use a mild cleanser and sun protection that is non-irritating to the skin every day, particularly a moisturizer that contains sunscreen,” said Dr. Kim. “While skin care products containing too many acids can be irritating to sensitive skin, I find that products containing salicylic acid are useful for some acne patients. Separating treatments, such as using salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide in the morning and a retinol-based product at night, might be helpful for patients with sensitive skin.”
Dr. Kim also noted that while over-the-counter products containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide may help control mild acne, patients should avoid using too many products at once on their skin to try to manage acne.
“The old adage ‘less is more’ applies to patients with sensitive skin,” said Dr. Kim. “The best advice is to discuss your skin care regimen with your dermatologist who can recommend products based on not only your specific skin condition, but your individual skin type as well.”
To learn more about acne and rosacea, visit www.skincarephysicians.com, a Web site developed by dermatologists that provides patients with up-to-date information on the treatment and management of conditions of the skin, hair and nails.
Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 16,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at 1-888-462-DERM (3376) or www.aad.org.
For more information about Acne Treatments at Derma Health Institute, go to:
http://www.dermahealthinstitute.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=177
Advances Help Dermatologists Diagnose, Treat Early Melanomas
According to estimates from the American Cancer Society, melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, was responsible for an estimated 8,650 deaths in the United States in 2009. Of growing concern among dermatologists is the fact that melanoma is now the most common form of cancer for young adults 25-29 years old and the second most common cancer in adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old1. Early diagnosis is the key to curing this potentially deadly disease, and diagnostic tools are playing a crucial role in aiding dermatologists to spot melanomas at earlier – and more curable – stages.
Speaking today at the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), dermatologist Harold S. Rabinovitz, MD, FAAD, volunteer professor in the department of dermatology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Fla., reviewed the latest diagnostics used to catch early stage melanomas and why a long-standing visual aid continues to help dermatologists – and patients – understand the nuances of this cancer.
“Unfortunately, melanoma is the great masquerader and millions of moles have at least one feature that falls into the criteria dermatologists refer to as the ABCDEs of melanoma,” said Dr. Rabinovitz. “That’s why in addition to visually inspecting the skin, high-tech diagnostic tools in the future will be helpful in determining whether a suspicious mole is actually a melanoma or a benign lesion.”
ABCDs and E of Melanoma
One of the key educational tools used to train physicians, medical personnel and the general public on how to recognize early melanomas is the ABCDEs of Melanoma Detection. These characteristics of moles for which individuals should check their skin include Asymmetry (one half unlike the other half), Border (irregular, scalloped or poorly defined), Color (varies from one area to another; shades of tan and brown, black; sometimes white, red or blue), and Diameter (the size of a pencil eraser or larger).
Dr. Rabinovitz explained that recently the Academy has added an “E” to these criteria, which stands for Evolving (or changing in size, shape or color). “A mole with any of these characteristics, or one that is an ‘ugly duckling’ – meaning it looks different from the rest – should be brought to a dermatologist’s attention immediately for proper evaluation,” said Dr. Rabinovitz. “Visually inspecting a suspicious mole is the first step in determining whether it is a melanoma, and dermatologists now have a host of technologically advanced tools to confirm a diagnosis.”
Dermoscopy
Since there are few surface features to distinguish melanomas from benign pigmented lesions, more dermatologists are using hand-held microscopes to identify features not visible to the naked eye. Dr. Rabinovitz explained that these hand-held microscopes, known as dermatoscopes, work by magnifying and illuminating the mole – increasing the ability to diagnose melanoma.
“In instances where a definitive diagnosis cannot be determined with dermoscopy, a biopsy – in which a small sample of tissue from the suspicious lesion is removed and examined in the laboratory – would be needed,” said Dr. Rabinovitz.
Full-Body Photography and Mole Mapping
Total-body photography is an important tool used by some dermatologists in the surveillance of high-risk individuals who may develop melanoma. For example, having numerous moles puts an individual at high risk for melanoma. Dr. Rabinovitz noted that there are some individuals who are at higher risk for developing melanoma not only within their existing moles but also within their normal skin. Only 30 percent of melanomas occur within a pre-existing mole.
Photographs provide a record against which we can assess changes in moles over time,” said Dr. Rabinovitz. “The documented change, or lack thereof, is biologic information that we can use to consider whether an excision is necessary.”
Some of the indications for using total-body photography include personal history of melanoma, family history of melanoma, atypical mole syndrome, or multiple moles of different size, shape and color.
Another less commonly used method of following change with pigmented lesions is mole mapping. With this technology, suspicious moles can be digitized with demoscopy cameras and reimaged at three- to six-month intervals to determine if any changes in characteristics have occurred in this time.
“Mole mapping has been selectively useful in detecting early melanomas, as it offers a baseline for comparing changes in skin lesions,” said Dr. Rabinovitz. “It is especially beneficial in high-risk patients who may have so many atypical moles that it becomes difficult to remove all of these unusual appearing moles that are not melanoma on biopsy.”
Reflectance Confocal Microscopy (RCM)
The ongoing effort to enhance the clinical diagnosis of melanoma has led to the development of other non-invasive imaging techniques. One such technique is reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), which offers imaging at cellular level resolution and allows the visualization of both the epidermis (top layer of skin) and the upper dermis (the deepest layer of skin) in real time. This procedure is performed with a laser light that is able to focus on a specific spot within the tissue, which is then automatically scanned over the entire level of the skin.
“The ability to scan both the epidermis and the dermis has made RCM a promising technique for the non-invasive diagnosis of skin growths and response to non-invasive treatment,” said Dr. Rabinovitz. “In fact, a recent study has demonstrated that RCM enhances the secondary evaluation of moles and melanoma, making it potentially an important diagnostic tool in monitoring changes beneath the skin.”
Gene Profiling
Based on preliminary data, gene profiling is an exciting new research area within medicine that Dr. Rabinovitz believes might play a role in the clinical evaluation of melanoma. Gene profiling measures the activity of thousands of genes simultaneously to create an overall impression of how cells function.
Cancer at its most basic level is a genetic disease, and the biological events that initiate the malignancy represent alterations in the expression of genes. Like normal cells, biomarkers exist for cancerous cells and this signature can be used to identify“cancer,” said Dr. Rabinovitz. “In the case of melanoma, the object would be to identify an alteration in genes to create a classifier for clinical diagnostic purposes.” This is being performed with tape stripping of moles.
Future Technologies
Over the past 15 years, researchers have studied technologies that could accurately diagnose pigmented lesions, with the goal of developing a reliable, non-invasive diagnostic tool to aid dermatologists in the early detection of melanoma. One such device, the computerized image analysis system, uses a computerized analysis algorithm for the automatic diagnosis of melanoma.
“The technological advances in melanoma detection in the future will significantly improve our ability to detect early melanomas and help save countless lives,” said Dr. Rabinovitz. “However, keeping a vigilant eye on our skin for any changes that could signal a problem is an irreplaceable first step in the process.”
Academy Provides Free, Do-it-Yourself Tool for Tracking Moles
To help spot melanoma at its earliest, and most curable, stage, the Academy recommends that everyone should be familiar with the ABCDEs of melanoma and report any suspicious moles or changes in the skin to a dermatologist for proper diagnosis. In addition, the Academy’s “Body Mole Map,” which can be downloaded on the Academy’s website at http://www.melanomamonday.org/documents/Body_Mole_Map_11-09.pdf, is a tool that creates a record for people to track where spots appear on their skin and if these spots have changed over time when new skin self-exams are performed.
Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 16,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at 1-888-462-DERM (3376) or www.aad.org.
Derma Health Institute
http://www.dermahealthinstitute.com
Speaking today at the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), dermatologist Harold S. Rabinovitz, MD, FAAD, volunteer professor in the department of dermatology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Fla., reviewed the latest diagnostics used to catch early stage melanomas and why a long-standing visual aid continues to help dermatologists – and patients – understand the nuances of this cancer.
“Unfortunately, melanoma is the great masquerader and millions of moles have at least one feature that falls into the criteria dermatologists refer to as the ABCDEs of melanoma,” said Dr. Rabinovitz. “That’s why in addition to visually inspecting the skin, high-tech diagnostic tools in the future will be helpful in determining whether a suspicious mole is actually a melanoma or a benign lesion.”
ABCDs and E of Melanoma
One of the key educational tools used to train physicians, medical personnel and the general public on how to recognize early melanomas is the ABCDEs of Melanoma Detection. These characteristics of moles for which individuals should check their skin include Asymmetry (one half unlike the other half), Border (irregular, scalloped or poorly defined), Color (varies from one area to another; shades of tan and brown, black; sometimes white, red or blue), and Diameter (the size of a pencil eraser or larger).
Dr. Rabinovitz explained that recently the Academy has added an “E” to these criteria, which stands for Evolving (or changing in size, shape or color). “A mole with any of these characteristics, or one that is an ‘ugly duckling’ – meaning it looks different from the rest – should be brought to a dermatologist’s attention immediately for proper evaluation,” said Dr. Rabinovitz. “Visually inspecting a suspicious mole is the first step in determining whether it is a melanoma, and dermatologists now have a host of technologically advanced tools to confirm a diagnosis.”
Dermoscopy
Since there are few surface features to distinguish melanomas from benign pigmented lesions, more dermatologists are using hand-held microscopes to identify features not visible to the naked eye. Dr. Rabinovitz explained that these hand-held microscopes, known as dermatoscopes, work by magnifying and illuminating the mole – increasing the ability to diagnose melanoma.
“In instances where a definitive diagnosis cannot be determined with dermoscopy, a biopsy – in which a small sample of tissue from the suspicious lesion is removed and examined in the laboratory – would be needed,” said Dr. Rabinovitz.
Full-Body Photography and Mole Mapping
Total-body photography is an important tool used by some dermatologists in the surveillance of high-risk individuals who may develop melanoma. For example, having numerous moles puts an individual at high risk for melanoma. Dr. Rabinovitz noted that there are some individuals who are at higher risk for developing melanoma not only within their existing moles but also within their normal skin. Only 30 percent of melanomas occur within a pre-existing mole.
Photographs provide a record against which we can assess changes in moles over time,” said Dr. Rabinovitz. “The documented change, or lack thereof, is biologic information that we can use to consider whether an excision is necessary.”
Some of the indications for using total-body photography include personal history of melanoma, family history of melanoma, atypical mole syndrome, or multiple moles of different size, shape and color.
Another less commonly used method of following change with pigmented lesions is mole mapping. With this technology, suspicious moles can be digitized with demoscopy cameras and reimaged at three- to six-month intervals to determine if any changes in characteristics have occurred in this time.
“Mole mapping has been selectively useful in detecting early melanomas, as it offers a baseline for comparing changes in skin lesions,” said Dr. Rabinovitz. “It is especially beneficial in high-risk patients who may have so many atypical moles that it becomes difficult to remove all of these unusual appearing moles that are not melanoma on biopsy.”
Reflectance Confocal Microscopy (RCM)
The ongoing effort to enhance the clinical diagnosis of melanoma has led to the development of other non-invasive imaging techniques. One such technique is reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), which offers imaging at cellular level resolution and allows the visualization of both the epidermis (top layer of skin) and the upper dermis (the deepest layer of skin) in real time. This procedure is performed with a laser light that is able to focus on a specific spot within the tissue, which is then automatically scanned over the entire level of the skin.
“The ability to scan both the epidermis and the dermis has made RCM a promising technique for the non-invasive diagnosis of skin growths and response to non-invasive treatment,” said Dr. Rabinovitz. “In fact, a recent study has demonstrated that RCM enhances the secondary evaluation of moles and melanoma, making it potentially an important diagnostic tool in monitoring changes beneath the skin.”
Gene Profiling
Based on preliminary data, gene profiling is an exciting new research area within medicine that Dr. Rabinovitz believes might play a role in the clinical evaluation of melanoma. Gene profiling measures the activity of thousands of genes simultaneously to create an overall impression of how cells function.
Cancer at its most basic level is a genetic disease, and the biological events that initiate the malignancy represent alterations in the expression of genes. Like normal cells, biomarkers exist for cancerous cells and this signature can be used to identify“cancer,” said Dr. Rabinovitz. “In the case of melanoma, the object would be to identify an alteration in genes to create a classifier for clinical diagnostic purposes.” This is being performed with tape stripping of moles.
Future Technologies
Over the past 15 years, researchers have studied technologies that could accurately diagnose pigmented lesions, with the goal of developing a reliable, non-invasive diagnostic tool to aid dermatologists in the early detection of melanoma. One such device, the computerized image analysis system, uses a computerized analysis algorithm for the automatic diagnosis of melanoma.
“The technological advances in melanoma detection in the future will significantly improve our ability to detect early melanomas and help save countless lives,” said Dr. Rabinovitz. “However, keeping a vigilant eye on our skin for any changes that could signal a problem is an irreplaceable first step in the process.”
Academy Provides Free, Do-it-Yourself Tool for Tracking Moles
To help spot melanoma at its earliest, and most curable, stage, the Academy recommends that everyone should be familiar with the ABCDEs of melanoma and report any suspicious moles or changes in the skin to a dermatologist for proper diagnosis. In addition, the Academy’s “Body Mole Map,” which can be downloaded on the Academy’s website at http://www.melanomamonday.org/documents/Body_Mole_Map_11-09.pdf, is a tool that creates a record for people to track where spots appear on their skin and if these spots have changed over time when new skin self-exams are performed.
Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 16,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at 1-888-462-DERM (3376) or www.aad.org.
Derma Health Institute
http://www.dermahealthinstitute.com
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