Biologic Replaces Ointments & Surgery to Stop Aging

Biologic Replaces Ointments & Surgery to Stop Aging

Sun Smart Cities-Where does Philadelphia rank?

So you think your city got on the list for "sun smart cities", think again. The American Academy of Dermatology released its first-ever ranking of 32 "sun smart" cities and a few states. Washington, D.C. leads the list and Chicago is in last place.
More than 3,300 adults in those areas completed the AAD's online survey, "Rays: Your Grade," in February.
Survey topics included participants' history of sun exposure and their knowledge about tanning, sunburns, skin cancer, and sun protection.
The AAD's rankings are based on the responses of residents in each location. Here is the AAD's list. Locations that tied received the same number.
1. Washington, D.C.
2. New York
3. Miami
4. Tampa, Fla.
5. Los Angeles
6. Dallas
7. Salt Lake City
8. San Francisco
9. Idaho
9. Atlanta
9. Philadelphia
12. Phoenix
13. Portland, Ore.
14. Vermont
15. Providence, R.I.
15. Baltimore
15. Boston
18. Hartford, Conn.
18. Riverside, Calif.
20. Houston
21. New Hampshire
21. Denver
21. St. Louis
24. Cincinnati
24. San Diego
26. Detroit
27. Cleveland
27. Minneapolis
29. Seattle
30. Pittsburgh
31. Maine
32. Chicago
Other poll results include:
Nearly 3 in 4 participants feel that people look more attractive with a tan. Nearly 4 out of 5 participants are concerned about skin cancer. Nearly two-thirds of participants got a tan last year. Half of participants were sunburned at least once last year. Most participants (71 percent) don't use sunscreen on an average day.
Curious about the quiz? You can take it yourself on the AAD's Web site http://www.aad.org/

Pixel Laser- One Device for Multiple Solutions

Seema Patel MD, MPH The Institute for Advanced Skincare and Optimal Health

the Harmony Pixel Laser?
The Harmony Pixel Erbium Laser is the latest FDA-approved laser designed to improve the skin’s surface and texture by stimulating the production of collagen. This safe and effective treatment represents the best of both worlds for skin resurfacing. It combines the proven effectiveness of an ablative approach with the patient comfort level and convenience of a non-ablative approach.

Why is it different from other laser treatments?
The Harmony Pixel Laser delivers results similar to ablative lasers (lasers that resurface the skin) but without the side effects which can include significant irritation as the skin heals. The Harmony Pixel also can be used on many more body parts such as the face, neck, chest, arms and hands, a much wider scope than the traditional technologies.

What conditions will the PIXEL help to improve?
The Harmony Pixel Laser is used to treat wrinkles, scars, superficial skin lesions and is effective for skin resurfacing.
What can patients expect following treatment?
Patients will find the skin around the treatment area feeling firmer with a smoother surface texture. They will not need pain medication and can return to work immediately after the treatment.

Patients will experience little to no discomfort following treatment with the Harmony Pixel Laser. During treatment, patients may feel subtle warmth as the laser pulses the skin. They also may feel as if they have a mild sunburn for a few hours following the procedure. Make-up can be applied immediately afterward.
Is there any down time?

There is little to no down time following treatment with the Harmony Pixel Laser, though redness may be seen for a few hours to a few days. Patients may also experience mild flaking as the skin exfoliates for one to two days, as well. Full recovery is typically five days.
How many treatments are required?

Skin resurfacing with the Harmony Pixel Laser is gradual with complete results being typically seen after three to five sessions at two to four week intervals.

Since this is an Erbium laser, patients with more moisture in their skin experience more sensation and greater results in fewer treatments. Therefore, a patient with dry skin may require more treatments.

Get the Facts; Not Fiction Behind Anti-Aging Products and Their Active IngredientsActivate the Anti-Aging Process

The aging process begins when we enter the world and the effects of aging are evident in our bodies through out our lives. Beginning in our 20's, the signs of aging start to become noticeable. Genetically programmed chronologic aging causes changes in collagen and elastin, the connective tissues that supply firmness and elasticity to the skin. The genetic program of individuals is different, so the loss of skin firmness and elasticity occurs at different rates and different times in one individual as compared to another. As skin becomes less elastic, it also becomes drier and underlying fat padding begins to disappear. With the loss of underlying support by fat padding and connective tissues, the skin begins to sag; it appears less supple and wrinkles form.
Although wrinkles, lines and age spots are formed by the natural effects of getting older, one way to prevent them from appearing early on in life is to avoid direct sunlight and use sunscreens with SPFs 15 or higher. And, although most of us have some form of sun-damaged skin, there are ways to regain healthy, smooth skin. After many years of research, scientists, dermatologists and plastic surgeons have discovered that a variety of natural ingredients and vitamin extracts significantly help slow down and even reverse the signs of aging skin. These ingredients are now found in many physician developed and physician recommended anti-aging skin care products, which are specified below.

Vitamin A (Retinol) - Topical Vitamin A has been suggested to help build collagen fibers within the skin in addition to its more superficial exfoliating property. This is the basis for its use in minimizing the appearance of fine wrinkle lines. Vitamin A or Retinol is the main ingredient found in TYK Young Again, M.D. Forte, DDF and SkinScience products.

Vitamin C - Vitamin C or ascorbic acid acts as an antioxidant and is considered vital in wound healing because it aids in stabilizing collagen. When applied topically, vitamin C can reduce fine lines and wrinkles and may lessen the severity of sunburns. This healing ingredient is found in SkinCeuticals, Cellex C and Obagi Cffectives skin care products.

Vitamin E - Vitamin E is another antioxidant that shows to have anti-inflammatory effects on the skin. When applied topically, vitamin E has been shown to improve moisturization, softness and smoothness and also provides modest photo protection. Vitamin E is found in Cellex C, Exuviance and MD Forte products.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) - AHAs are designed to smooth fine lines and surface wrinkles, to improve skin texture and tone, to unblock and cleanse pores, to improve oily skin or acne, and to improve skin condition in general. AHAs are the main ingredients found in MD Forte, TYK Young Again, Super Skin and SkinScience products.Glycolic Acid - Glycolic acid is the most active and beneficial of the Alpha-Hydroxy-Acids (AHAs) in skin care. Once inside the cells, the acid triggers new formations of collagen to plump cells and the ground substances in the skin to reduce wrinkles on the skin's surface. Glycolic acid is proven to be very effective in the treatment of acne as well as in cosmetic uses. Glycolic acid is found in products by Gly Derm, MD Forte, Z. Bigatti and Super Skin.

Idebenone -Idebenone is the synthetic variant of the natural compund ubiquinone. Both powerful antioxidants, idebenone and ubiquinone shield skin from environmental damge, improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reduce dryness and smoothe skin texture.

N-6 furfuryladenine (kinetin) - The nature-identical plant growth factor, furfuryladenine, retards the aging of plant cells as well as in vitro human skin fibroblasts. This natural, anti-aging ingredient has been proven to reduce wrinkles and fine lines and is exclusively found in Kinerase creams and lotions. This is a proven alternative for people with sensitive skin or people who are sensitive to products containing Retinol and Vitamin C.

Copper Peptides - Copper Peptides are the latest scientific breakthrough in skin rejuvenation. Copper has been found to naturally firm the skin, enhance elasticity, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Copper is the main ingredient in products by Neova and Osmotics.

Pal-KTTKS - Pal-KTTKS is an effective ingredient for reducing fine lines and wrinkles. It's found to promote a smoother, younger complexion quickly, without with out expensive and painful chemical peels, surgery or injections. This patented peptide solution is found in StriVectin-SD.

Green Tea Extract - Green tea's anti-inflammatory and anti-growth qualities are found in many skin care products designed to reduce the appearance of puffiness, wrinkles, fine lines and large pores. Green Tea is found in the Dr. Brandt skin care line, Z. Bigatti and Gly Derm products.

TNS - The biotechnology of the skin's natural healing process has arrived with the first tissue repairing complex containing growth factors found in normal, healthy skin. Unlike anything else currently on the market, TNS is the next level of skin rejuvenation that delivers dramatic results, for smoother, softer, younger looking skin. TNS is found in SkinMedica's TNS Recovery Complex.

Many customers ask which anti-aging product is best and we always respond by saying that there is no "best" product. Since every individual's skin is different, the results of using anti-aging products will be different as well. We recommend that you consult with a skin care professional prior to use of any new skin care product to determine your skin type, skin condition and possible sensitivities to active ingredients. Your skin care professional may recommend specific products, or you can try a few on your own based on your consultation. If you are not happy with the first product you try, try another one. It's important that you choose a product and skin care regimen that makes you feel 100% comfortable with the look and feel of your skin.

Customers also inquire about when they should expect to see results from using anti-aging products. Again, we respond by saying that results will be different for each individual, generally due to the condition of one's skin prior to use. However, across the board, we say not to expect a miracle, as there is no anti-aging product on the market that provides overnight results. Whether you are trying to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, puffiness or age spots, the process is gradual and takes anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks depending on the severity of your problem areas. After allowing the products time to take effect as well as following product directions, you can be sure to notice significant improvement in the appearance of your skin.

To see the quickest results, you will have to undergo professional cosmetics procedures. While procedures such as laser treatments, injections and dermabrasion produce the fastest, most noticeable improvements, they are all are somewhat painful or uncomfortable and very costly. In addition, pre and post treatment plans are required to achieve maximum results, which consist of using skin care products, that are also proven to be safe, effective, painless and less expensive alternatives to professional cosmetic procedures.

Please note that with the use of any new skin care product, it is highly possible that your skin will react to the ingredients. You may experience irritation, redness, dryness or a mild breakout, which should only last for the first 3-5 days of use. If you experience any of these reactions for a longer period of time, please discontinue use and consult a skin care professional. It is also recommended that prior to using any new skin care product to consult with a skin care professional. www.optimalhealthtoday.com

Botox Alternatives-The Real Story

Seema Patel MD, MPH Director The Institute for Advanced Skincare

Botox Alternatives... Wrinkle Creams... Alpha-Hydroxy Serums... Wrinkle Defense Systems...
Which products provide noticeable and lasting results?
Which products are top performers at rejuvenating your skin?
How effective is the product you use?

The topical wrinkle reducing product market is exploding. It generated over $1 Billion in sales in 2004, with that number expected to double by 2006. You do not have to look far to hear about these types of products. There is huge interest in this market and advertisements can be found everywhere, from TV, to radio, newspapers and magazines. While the majority of these products are marketed to female consumers, surprisingly, our research indicates that men account for approximately 25% of this market. It seems that women are no longer the only gender searching for the fountain of youth.

Treatments and products once only provided by dermatologists are now accessible to consumers. There are over 200 products currently marketed to remedy the signs of aging, from Botox alternatives to alpha-hydroxy serums and wrinkle relaxers. These products range in cost from under $10 to over $300 per ounce. How does the consumer determine which products are effective? How does the consumer determine which product is right for them?

In this article we offer our readers a comprehensive list of anti-wrinkle products based on our evaluations. We reviewed the over 200 products currently available for the treatment of wrinkles. Our assessment included review of the following product attributes: long term effectiveness for wrinkle reduction; instant reduction of fine lines and wrinkles; antioxidant protective properties delaying skin cell aging; skin renewal and collagen stimulating properties; and skin smoothing and firming properties. Based on the outcome of our evaluation of these product attributes we ranked each product accordingly.

Our list is presented in descending order based upon the cumulative score of product attributes. You may not see the product you use, or are interested in using, on this list as it did not rank in the top 25. Our list is dynamic in that we are constantly reexamining and updating our rankings due to the availability of new products.

During our research, the skin care specialists we consulted provided useful tips that contribute to achieving and maintaining younger looking skin, including the following:
• Be certain to consistently apply the product(s) you choose in accordance with its directions for use;• Pay special attention to your neck and hands while applying the product(s) you choose, as these areas reflect your age;• Always use sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15;• Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to stay well hydrated;• Avoid excessive intake of caffeinated and alcoholic beverages, as they may contribute to dehydration and exacerbate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; and• Be sure to get adequate rest every day.



Learn more About wrinkle reducing Agents.

Aging and Black Skin

As we age, our bodies begin to change. We begin to notice more wrinkles and fine lines. In our skin, collagen and elastin fibers that provide us with the firm, youthful look begin to weaken with time. The skin begins to lose its natural fat and that causes the skin to appear looser, more laxed, and less plump. Gravity also tends to pull the skin down further, worsening the skin sag. Skin can age more rapidly due to repeated sun exposure as well as smoking.

Many African Americans appear about 10 years younger than their stated age. This is due in large part to the extra melanin in the skin that protects the skin from the harmful UV sun rays. The more melanin one has, the more skin protection they receive. Thus, the lighter the complexion is, the greater the propensity is to age. Furthermore, less African Americans sun bathe or use tanning booths in comparison to Caucasians.

African American skin needs UV protection just as much as white skin does. You need to protect yourself from both UVA and UVB rays. UVB protection comes from SPF and UVA comes from a physical barrier such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These now come micronized that they do not leave dark skin looking grey as in the past! What most people do not know is that UVA is very powerful and can penetrate through windows and is given off by fluorescent lighting, thus being indoors in your office, you are still exposed to UVA rays! Protect yourself daily and more frequently when you are out in the sun.

As African American skin ages, the biggest concerns are loss of volume (a more gaunt face), saggy skin, discoloration, and wrinkles. The loss of volume is seen because we lose our natural fat that is in our skin. Look at your pictures from your thirties and compare them to your pictures now in your fifties and sixties. The people who lose the most volume are the people who had thin faces to begin with. They treatment for this is fillers such as Juvaderm (the only filler approved for people of color) and sculptra to provide volume back to the face. It is very effective and can last 6-12 months.

The patient’s who have a more round face, may experience more sagging around the jaw line as gravity begins to pull the skin down. Using the laser tightening and resurfacing techniques can help if it is not bad, but if severe, surgery may be the only option.

Discoloration comes from sun damage that has occurred over the years. If you are lighter, you might have freckles which are a sign of sun damage, or if you are darker, you may just have patches or spots of unevenness. I tend to see more darker skin on the forehead and chin with lighter skin around the eyes and the cheek/nose area. This unevenness in skin color is also a sign of sun damage. Depending on how bad the discoloration is, treatments will vary. Topical treatments with hydroquinone 4%, a lightening gel and Retin-A, will work well for more superficial and milder forms of sun damage. For more severe sun damage, peels to lasers may be your answer. The best t thing is to see your expert and learn more about your skin and its specific needs.

Ethnic Skin: African/African American Skin

At Shanti Medical Spa & Wellness Center, we care for a variety of different people from around the US and the world. What I would like to discuss in this blog is the most common concerns that I see and hear from my African American/African patients. This does not cover the multitudes of skin conditions experienced in the world, but the most common ones seen in our clients. But before I go on to discuss this, I would like to say this category of skin, African American covers a very wide array of people. The skin hues can vary from very fair to very dark. What our clients experience, will vary depending on their genetics, their environmental exposures, and lifestyle.

In our African-American/African patients, their top three concerns are:
1. Acne
2. Discoloration or brown spots-acne scarring, melasma, freckles, etc
3. Unwanted Hair

Acne can occur in anyone and in any part of the body. Acne occurs due to inflammation in the sebaceous glands of the skin. Acne can look like brown bumps, pus bumps, large deep cyst or nodules. Inflammation occurs on the skin due to hormonal changes, friction, sweating, and stress. Taking care of the inside is just as important as taking care of the outside. So, first take a look at the common things we do: if you where hats, does your acne follow a pattern around your hat, does your hair or your hair products cause inflammation, do you see more acne where your cell phone touches your face?

Does what you eat cause acne? All the large studies in the US show no correlation to food, however what I find in my wellness program is how important nutrition or the lack of good nutrition can affect internal and external health. The majority of African Americans/Africans can not digest milk because they are lactose intolerant. Removing dairy from their diet can help clear the skin. I use elimination diets often in my clinic to help people improve well being. Processed foods cause inflammation within the body and I feel that it also causes inflammation on the face. Do your body good, and try to decrease the junk food and soda! Eating a well balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and good sources of protein and lots of water will take you far!

For African Americans, acne is sometimes related to hair follicles causing angry “hair bumps” anywhere on the body that experiences a hair removal process such as shaving, depilatories, or waxing. What aggravates my patients even more is that the scar that the acne leaves behind last even longer than the acne itself!

What I recommend for hair bumps, whether this occurs in men or women, is salicylic gel or solution. The area that is prone to hair bumps tends to be in need of greater exfoliation than other areas. Salicyclic gels/solution help the skin exfoliate faster and serve as a deterrent to new acne outbreaks in that area. I recommend to both men and women to use the gel if they get occasional break outs on the face, the neck, and even the bikini line. I like the solution if it is more severe. The side effects of salicylic acids is skin dryness, seen more with the solution. Also using Retinols in the area affected can reduce scarring over time.

What I like for treatments is chemical peels for mild acne and hair bumps. Chemical peels are natural fruit juices that have become acidic and cause the skin to exfoliate faster, reducing the outbreaks and scarring over time and can be used anywhere on the body. For more severe acne, I feel laser therapy is a better alternative. We offer two types of laser treatments: the blue light for just acne and the resurfacing laser for patients who have acne as well as scarring. Both can be used on all skin types and colors. I do recommend a lightening gel for two weeks prior to your laser treatment.

For discoloration or brown spots, we first have to understand what causes them. Most of my patients complain of discoloration from acne marks, scarring from bug bites, scratches, freckles from sun damage, as well as hormonal changes that cause sections of the skin to become dark, called melasma. Melasma typically occurs in pregnancy or after due to the hormonal changes. The treatment for discoloration really depends on how long it has been there and how extensive it is. The milder it is and the less time it has been there, the more likely it is to respond to topical medications/creams. The best treatments for this are Hydroquinone 4% and Retinols. Hydroquinone is a lightening gel that causes the skin to blend to its natural color. No, you will not look like Michael Jackson, but rather the inside color of your forearm. This is your natural skin color because very few people have exposed that area to sunlight intentionally. Retinols help the skin exfoliate faster lightening hyperpigmented areas. You must use these two for 12 weeks to notice a difference.

If the discoloration has been there for awhile, it will probably be more effectively treated with lasers or peels. I use peels for more milder and superficial pigmentation and lasers for discoloration that has been there for some time. Topical medications do not work well for brown spots that have been there for years. They may reduce some spots but not all the way. I like the fractional ablation or laser resurfacing treatment the best. It does have some down time of two-three days of redness and peeling, but penetrates deep within the skin to build new collagen and elastin over damaged areas. As with all lasers, it is best to be on a lightening agent for a few weeks before undergoing laser treatment.

Unwanted hair is another top concern. Like all people, very few of us want to be hairy and the thought of just not having to shave, appeals to all of us. Some specific concerns I have seen in my patients is that many people can not shave do to ingrown hairs, folliculitis or hair bumps. This can cause more scarring for them. Thus, laser hair removal is a great solution for people who have this problem. Another common medical condition I see that causes excess hair growth in women, is poly-cystic ovarian syndrome. Poly cystic ovarian syndrome causes irregular periods, weight gain, insulin resistance, acne and unwanted hair growth. I remove the unwanted hair with laser hair removal while modulating their hormones to permanently keep them hairless is very effective.

I will be talking about African American skin and aging. Aging and wrinkles are a whole new topic and the fastest growing segment of cosmetic medicine users are African Americans. We want to break the myth that “Blacks don’t Crack”. They can and do but usually never to the same extent as their lighter skin counterparts and usually about 10 years later. Stay tuned!