Restylane “news” (that is not so “new”)
Two new developments in Restylane this year may be of interest to you.
New Development #1
A new “trial size” syringe is available. This allows a “first timer” to try Restylane without making such a large investment. It also gives patients who don’t need much Restylane or those who just need a “touch up” some flexibility.
Is half a syringe enough? Here is a little known fact…
You can actually do quite a bit with half a syringe. And here’s the little known fact: although the box says that the syringe has 0.4cc, they are actually “over-filled”. There is over 0.5cc in each!
New Development #2 (money back!)
The company that makes Restylane, Medicis Aesthetics, has begun a customer loyalty program called “Restylane Rewards”. We will give you an information card at your next Restylane appointment with all of the details on how to sign up for the program. It basically works like this: each time you have a Restylane treatment, you mail in the Restylane box and a receipt (we will provide you with both) and in return Medicis Aesthetics will send you a Nordstrom or Visa gift card. The amount on the gift card increases with each treatment (up to $100).
How does RESTYLANE Compare to Botox?
Restylane vs. Botox
Our advice is to avoid whirlpool foot baths at your nail salon when getting a pedicure. There are countless news stories of skin infections linked to bacteria that contaminate these foot baths, and we see at least one woman each month with this condition. The problem at the salon is that even when these whirlpools are cleaned properly, bacteria can still lurk in the jets and inner workings of the machine. The problem for the patient is that these infections are very difficult to clear (usually requiring months of antibiotics) and often leave scars.
Our next two newsletters will cover a popular subject and answer the most common question we get in the office: “Which products should I use on my skin?” We, of course, are in a unique position to help you sort through the massive number of products available and the marketing hype. We will list our favorite products based on science and patient feedback.
This is a great all-purpose cleanser that can be used on all but the most sensitive skin type. I like the ingredients (alpha and beta hydroxy acids) and your skin will feel cleansed but not “over-cleansed” or dry. Find it a specialty beauty supply stores (GBS or Sephora) or on the internet.
A classic. Cheap and simple and you can find it everywhere (Walgreens, CVS, etc.). It is great for taking off make-up or just for washing your face without drying it out. Acne patients, who are already irritated from their strong creams (like Retin- A), will like this gentle cleanser.
Great for acne patients who are not experiencing irritation from their medications, but who still have a lot of “blackheads”. The salicylic acid softens the blackhead while the textured cloth “unroofs” it. Don’t scrub hard. The texture of the cloth should do the work, not your muscles.
Make-up remover and cleansing solution. A great way to clean the skin or remove make-up without water. The skin feels soft, not “tight” and it doesn’t leave your face greasy or shiny. I have seen this brand at Bloomingdale’s (although not this particular product) or find it at www.beautycenter.co.uk
Easier to find than Crealine H2O, but perhaps less versatile.
Dr. Todd will “tie the knot” this month to his fiance Brooke Zimmerman. They will start their married life together on January 28.
Keratosis Pilaris usually presents as rough little bumps on the back of peoples arms (in the tricep area). The bumps are spiny little plugs in the hair follicles. When you run your fingers over skin with KP, it feels like braile (some people call it “chicken skin”). If you look closely at the back of anyone’s arms, you will usually find at least a few KP bumps. Some people have quite a bit, and it can become irritated and red and even start to look like acne.
Because KP is caused by spiny little plugs in the hair follicles, the treatments are designed to dissolve these plugs. We do this with prescription creams. We cannot “cure” KP, only improve it. Some children grow out of it. Adults will find that it comes and goes and can even change throughout the day. It is also affected by the weather. Many patients report that their KP clears when traveling to dryer climates.
Tinea versicolor is caused by a yeast that lives on everyone’s skin, but only some people get the rash. Tinea versicolor gets its name “versicolor” because it comes in many colors. It is most often white, but can also be tan, brown, or orange. It is usually first noticed by a patient after a trip to the beach, because their normal skin tans in the sun, while the infected skin stays white giving the characteristic white spots (usually on the shoulders).
The yeast of tinea versicolor cause white spots because they excrete azeleic acid. Azeleic acid works by turning off your melanocytes (the pigment-producing cells of the skin). Interestingly, we use azeleic acid cream in dermatology as a “bleaching cream” to treat hyperpigmentation!
Dr. Norman Minars is also an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Both doctors are active in the department of dermatology, where they volunteer their time each month taking care of indigent patients and teaching dermatology to the residents.
Photodynamic therapy uses a laser and a chemical called aminolevulinic acid or “ALA”. First the ALA is applied to your skin by the nurse and allowed to incubate for 30 or 40 minutes. During this time, the ALA is concentrating in your sebaceous glands (oil glands) and being activated by the bacteria that cause acne. Finally, a laser is passed over your skin to excite the ALA, thus killing the bacteria and shrinking the sebaceous gland.
Many people present to our office with nails that are yellow and thickened and look “fungal”. The first thing we do is take a nail clipping and send it to the lab. When we find fungus, we have something to treat and we treat it (see below). When we do not find fungus, we are somewhat “stuck”. There are some products that can improve the appearance of these “fungal looking” nails that don’t have any fungus. For example, there are whitening agents to get rid of the yellow color , and urea products which decrease nail thickness. But these treatments are only cosmetic. On the other hand, when we do find fungus, then there is a chance for a “cure”.
The most effective way to treat toe nail fungus is with pills. And the most effective pill is terbinafine (Lamisil). But every patient seems to have heard from somewhere that Lamisil “kills your liver”. This is simply not true. There is a tremendous amount of data and experience with Lamisil to support its safety, or we simply would not use it. The biggest problem we have with Lamisil is cost (it is about $10 per pill) and getting it covered by insurance (many companies will not pay for it).