Archive for July, 2011

Excessive Texting May Result in “Blackberry Neck”

Saturday, July 30th, 2011

reduce neck wrinklesIf you’re constantly checking your smartphone, besides staying on top of your emails, you may also be giving yourself neck wrinkles. These lines and creases that may results from smartphone use have been dubbed “Blackberry neck,” and one New York aesthetician has created the “Blackberry facial” to combat it, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

The facial includes a neck peel, a hydrating serum, LED light and oxygen. A New York Daily News reporter who tried the treatment wrote, “At the end of my treatment, the one faint line on my neck did seem a bit fainter. But what I did notice was the smoothness. My neck had a texture of a flower petal.”

Another cell phone side effect can be breakouts on the side of the face where you hold your phone. To alleviate this, try exfoliating that side of the face nightly or try keeping your phone from touching your face.

Non-surgical Options for Reducing Neck Wrinkles

No matter what the cause of the wrinkles, there are options for reducing neck wrinkles and correcting other problems in this area.

One non-surgical option is Botox, which can be used to soften and smooth the neck’s appearance.

Chemical peels are another option. The Vitalize Peel, a gentle but effective chemical peel, removes the outer skin layers to correct fine wrinkles, blemishes and uneven skin texture.

Laser resurfacing treatments can also be effective on the neck. Fraxel works by stimulating collagen and elastin regeneration and can restore your neck’s skin texture.

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Effective Methods for Preventing Sunburn

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

preventing sunburnA new study that looked at techniques for preventing sunburn and how effective they were concluded that other methods of protection “may be more effective than sunscreen as typically used by Americans.” Those who say they vigilantly apply sunscreen are more likely to experience damaging sunburns, according to the study.

Study researcher Dr. Eleni Linos, a dermatologist at Stanford University, stressed that her results don’t mean that sunscreen doesn’t work or shouldn’t be used, as the study was designed to look at patterns, not to prove cause and effect.

Rather, it more likely shows that many people only use sunscreen for protection from the sun, when it should be used in combination with other preventative techniques to avoid sunburn.

Five Ways to Help Prevent Sunburn

Used together, these five things can help you avoid sunburn.

  1. Apply Sunscreen. Despite the results, sunscreen is effective. Linos believes that the most likely explanation for the study results is user error — people aren’t applying as much sunscreen as they should. Aim for a golf ball-sized amount for every exposed body part.
  2. Reapply Sunscreen. When you’re outside for longer periods of time, be sure to reapply sunscreen every two hours (or every 60 to 90 minutes if swimming or sweating).
  3. Stay in the shade. “Myself, personally, I’m a dermatologist, and I don’t even wear sunscreen all that much. I stay in the shade,” said Dr. Ronald P. Rapini, a professor of dermatology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
  4. Wear a hat. Protective clothing should also be part of your multi-pronged approach to avoiding sunburns.
  5. Wear long sleeves. The study showed that those who frequently sought shade and wore long sleeves had about a 30% lower sunburn risk compared to those who rarely used those measures.

“The best data that’s out there shows the combination of seeking shade, wearing protective clothing and wearing sunscreen, those three things together clearly lower your risk,” said Dr. Darrell S. Rigel, a clinical professor of dermatology at New York University.

In addition, the FDA’s new regulations for sunscreens, which will be implemented next year, should make it easier to choose a good sunscreen.

Dr. Heffernan offers a range of products to help patients care for their skin.

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FDA Sunscreen Regulations Updated to Help Consumers

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

In an effort to aid consumers, updated labeling will be pushed out as a part of new FDA sunscreen regulations.

Starting in 2012, all sunscreens labeled as having broad spectrum protection must prove their effectiveness in protecting the skin from the sun’s full range of light, according to new FDA sunscreen regulations.

Water resistant sunscreens will also be regulated. The FDA claims that no sunscreen is waterproof—all sunscreens begin to lose their effectiveness when wet. Under the new FDA sunscreen regulations, water resistant sunscreens sold will be required to have a label stating how long they maintain their effectiveness when wet.

When exposing yourself to the sun, the FDA encourages individuals to wear a sunscreen with at least SPF 15 and broad spectrum protection, which can guard against sunburn, cancer and signs of aging. Additionally, the FDA states that no evidence yet shows that sunscreen with an SPF above 50 has any added benefits. The FDA also urges limited exposure to the sun in the middle of the day and suggests staying indoors when the sun’s rays are the strongest.

To prevent signs of aging, the FDA says to closely follow the instructions on your sunscreen and to reapply every two hours—more often if you get wet. Also, do not spray sunscreen directly on your face or inhale it. Rather, spray it onto your hands and then apply it to your face.

Even if you follow these FDA sunscreen regulations, you may still have experienced some sun damage. In these cases, treatments like microdermabrasion and chemical peels can reduce the visible signs of aging on your face, neck, chest and hands.

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New Botulinum Toxin Could Drive Prices Down

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

Last summer, the FDA granted approval for the botulinum toxin drug XEOMIN to treat abnormal neck pain (cervical dystonia) and spasms of the eye. XEOMIN is botulinum toxin type a, the same active ingredient used in Botox® Cosmetic.

When it receives approval for cosmetic use, it could create enough competition in the market to drive down prices on all botulinum toxin injections.

Current treatment prices for Botox® range from $9 to $15 per unit, with most patients requiring about 20 units per treatment area.  These prices could drop when XEOMIN receives cosmetic approval from the FDA. Although XEOMIN isn’t believed to be superior, doctors say it could create more options, more competition and thus, lower prices.

“Current off-label use hasn’t shown any particular clinical advantage for Xeomin over Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA, Allergan) or Dysport, but the new toxin will broaden clinicians’ aesthetic options and may spur price competition in the U.S. “

Quote Via Dermatology Times

With another contender in this already competitive market, consumers may see more rebates and more price breaks from the pharmaceutical companies.

XEOMIN is the 3rd botulinum toxin to receive FDA approval in the U.S. The fourth could be PurTox, a drug by Mentor (popular breast implant manufacturer) that is still being studied.

You can read all the facts on the new website XEOMIN.com, including “How XEOMIN works.”

“XEOMIN is injected into muscles to decrease their activity. XEOMIN blocks the release of a chemical messenger—acetylcholine—that conveys the signal from nerve terminals and causes muscle fibers to contract. Not all terminals are affected by botulinum toxin, so the muscles can still contract, just less forcefully. This allows the muscles to contract more normally.”

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