Pigmentary problems are common and include post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, hipopigmentation, dyschromia and melasma. Yet the threat of a ban from the FDA in 2006 put a cloud over the agent widely considered in the U.S. to be the gold standard for treatment of these skin problems — hydroquinone.

The proposed ban of its over-the-counter sales was based on controversial murine models suggesting that hydroquinone could act as a carcinogen, along with reports, also controversial, linking the product with exogenous ochronosis. The FDA’s action was met with strong opposition from the largest user of hydroquinone, the aesthetic dermatologic community, which was adamant in its assertion of the product’s safety, and, after the four-month period of public comment, no regulatory action was taken.

But the issue was never officially put to bed, and with hydroquinone bans currently on in the European Union, Japan and Australia, doctors and patients alike may be justified in wondering if hydroquinone remains on borrowed time in the U.S.

These bans on hydroquinone have prompted research into botanicals and other agents, including kojic acid, arbutin, mequinol and azelaic acid, as alternatives for treating skin pigmentation. So far, however, no blockbuster treatments have emerged.

Laser treatments offer a very good alternative to the drug solution. Many pigmented lesions can be safely and successfully removed even on dark-skin individuals. It is also important to realize that some of the pigmentation complications after a laser surgery or laser treatment may have been avoided if the right laser modality was used in the first place.

Watch the latest videos on “laser for pigmented lesions”

As you may have read in the previous post, the swimsuit season is here, and it’s time to get rid of unwanted hair, zap those spider veins and eliminate common skin disorders with the best laser technologies available today that will help you look your best. We have outlined several affordable, highly effective laser treatments that you should consider.

Throw away those razors and forego the wax.

Laser hair removal provides a safe, fast and extremely effective method for long-term reduction of unwanted hair – anywhere on your face or body. Laser hair removal works by heating the pigment in the hair follicle. Active hair growth is eliminated when the pigment at the base of the hair follicle absorbs the light emitted by the laser. Hair removal sessions may last from a few minutes up to an hour depending on the size of the area being treated. Because lasers treat hair in active growth phase, multiple treatments are required.

Many lasers and IPL devices are used for laser hair removal. The choice of the laser modality is determined by your physician who will need to consider a multitude of factors, but most importantly your skin type and availability of pigment in your hair follicles. People with blond, red and grey hair have very little pigment and they need to be aware that laser treatments will not be effective for them.

There is a lot of competition in the laser hair removal business and costs have gone down dramatically. In the long run, you will save a lot of time and money doing the laser hair removal. You may have to get zapped once a month for 6-9 months but the solution is permanent. Now calculate your waxing, tweezing, shaving expenses per year, multiply that by your life expectancy and compare the numbers. Factor in your time, gas, bother – and the difference will become even more obvious. 

Laser those Spider Veins

Most people have them on the legs and/or on the face. Lasers can effectively treat spider veins and many other vascular lesions and skin conditions, such as angiomas, hemangiomas, Rocasea, etc.  in one to three sessions. Little pain – a lot to gain. Your aesthetic physician will choose the correct laser modality depending on your skin type.

Say Bye to Unsightly Spots

Sun spots, age spots, cafe au lait spots, many other kinds of pigmented spots can also be safely efficaciously removed with the use of modern laser technologies. No downtime, no post-op care, little risk of complications if done properly.

Final Inches Medical Body Shaping Center in California just announced a new marketing idea. That is in addition to picking a cool name. This practice has two locations specializing solely in Laser Liposculpture, a minimally-invasive procedure that permanently eliminates frustrating fat. This lipo sculpture practice recently announced that they are helping their patients get ready for summer with their custom swimsuit giveaway.

“Certain areas of the body are genetically predisposed to store fat, including the waist, stomach, hips, thighs, and arms. This fat can be very difficult to reduce or eliminate through diet and exercise but at FINAL INCHES we remove this stubborn fat permanently, in about an hour,” states Anh Ngo, MD, Board Certified Surgeon and Medical Director of FINAL INCHES. “With our Laser Liposculpture procedure, we permanently remove stubborn fat, reshaping our patients’ bodies to create a slimmer, sleeker swimsuit-ready body.” This lipo practice performs more Laser Liposculpture procedures than any other Southern California practice.

“We couldn’t be happier designing custom swimsuits for the lipo sculpture patients,” states Jessica Neeper, National Sales Manager of Ginger’s Island, one of the swimsuit companies partnered with the practice in this promotion. “Lipo sculpture patients are some of our most enthusiastic customers because they come to us ready to show off their slimmer bodies. It’s a real thrill working with them to design custom swimsuits that accentuate their curves and get them ready for the beach.”

Qualifying for the free custom swimsuit is simple; patients only need to come in for a consult and have their slimming Laser Liposculpture procedure done before August 31, 2009. After the procedure, patients are then fitted for their free custom swimsuit to show off their new beach-ready body.

This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the FDA’s approval of suction lipoplasty systems, commonly known as liposuction. Although versions of it, like suction-assisted lipectomy, had been recorded in medical literature since the 1970s for non-cosmetic uses such as the removal of fatty tumors, it wasn’t until 1989 that it was officially rubber-stamped for aesthetic body contouring.

Lipo means fat. Liposuction is an established and well researched procedure to liquefy and remove (using vacuum suction) stubborn deposits of fat, which are resistand to strenuous exercise and strict diet.

In the last two decades, liposuction’s popularity has escalated—it’s currently the second most popular surgical cosmetic procedure, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (after breast augmentation)—and the same is true of its safety and innovation.

The technology developed over the years has paved the way for versions of liposuction that include ultrasound assisted, laser assisted, and Vaser assisted lipolysis. Laser liposuction is one of the more effective and minimally invasive techniques, which allows physicians to achieve excellent results with topical anesthesia and very minor discomfort for the patient.

Regardless of technique, a certain understanding of body proportions play an enormous role in a successful outcome. If this landmark year is the one in which you choose to undergo liposuction, be sure to choose a board-certified surgeon with extensive experience.

Celebrities are sporting plump faces and full cheeks that don’t come naturally unless you’re in your twenty-something.

Dr. Samuel Lam performed her fat transfer and has written two books on fat transfer. He says patients fly in from all over the world for the procedure. Cutting and pulling is so 90′s.

There are several choices of facial fillers and if done correctly, fat transfer will last a very long time.

LaserOffers.com

Fat transfer and laser assisted facial photorejuvenation may go hand in hand to enhance the results.

Acne is a skin problem that affects almost all teenagers. The condition results from the action of hormones on the skin’s oil glands (sebaceous glands). The sebaceous glands make an oily substance called sebum that empties onto the skin surface through the hair follicle opening (pore). The mixture of oil and cells allows bacteria that normally live on the skin to grow in the follicle openings. When this happens, pores become clogged and pimples develop.

Pimples can be one of the following kinds:

Comedones: Non-inflammatory papules that can be open (blackheads) or closed (whiteheads).
Papules: Lesions that are inflamed and can be tender to the touch. These usually appear as small, pink bumps on the skin.
Pustules (pimples): Lesions that are inflamed and filled with pus. They may be red at the base.
Nodules: Solid lesions that are large, painful, and lodged deep within the skin.
Cysts: Pus-filled lesions deep under the skin. These may cause scarring and pain.
In most cases, pimples occur on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. Acne does not present a serious health risk, but severe acne can result in permanent scarring. In addition, acne can have significant physical and psychological consequences, such as causing a poor self-image, social inhibition, and anxiety.

Some People Get Acne and Some Don’t

It is not clear why some people are more prone to acne than others. The exact cause of acne is not known, but one important factor is an increase in male sex hormones called androgens. Androgens increase in both boys and girls during puberty. Androgens cause the sebaceous glands (oil glands) to get larger and produce more sebum. Androgens also can increase because of hormonal changes related to pregnancy or starting or stopping birth control pills.

Another factor in the cause of acne is genetics. Researchers believe that the tendency to develop acne can be inherited from parents. In addition, some drugs (for example, anti-epilepsy medication, prednisone, androgens and lithium) are known to cause acne. Cosmetics that have a greasy consistency may change the cells of the follicles, causing them to stick together and resulting in a plugged pore. Water-based products are less likely to cause acne.

Things that can make acne worse include:

• Friction caused by leaning on or rubbing the skin; harsh scrubbing
• Picking or squeezing blemishes
• Pressure from bike helmets, backpacks, or tight collars
• Changing hormone levels in adolescent girls and adult women two to seven days before the start of the menstrual period
• Stress

Other factors that were previously thought to make acne worse do not seem to have an effect on the development of acne. These factors include chocolate, greasy foods, and dirty skin.

How Is Acne Treated?

Dermatologists often treat acne, particularly in severe cases. Family or general practitioners, pediatricians or internists may treat milder forms of acne.

Treatments may include:

OTC topical drug treatments: Over-the-counter (OTC) medications include salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and sulfur. These treatments are available in many forms including gel, lotion, cream, soap, or pads. When these products are used regularly, they are moderately effective in the treatment of acne. It may take 4-8 weeks for an improvement to occur in the skin.

Prescription topical drug treatments: The prescription topical drug treatments that are used to treat acne include benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics, tretinoin, adapalene, and azelaic acid.

Prescription and OTC benzoyl peroxide work the same way. Doctors often prescribe benzoyl peroxide so that they can make sure that their patients get the most desirable formulation (for example, cream, lotion or gel).

Prescription oral drug treatments: For patients with moderate to severe acne, doctors often prescribe oral antibiotics (taken by mouth) in addition to topical medication. Oral antibiotics are thought to help control acne by curbing the growth of bacteria and decreasing inflammation. They are usually taken daily for a period of four to six months and then tapered and discontinued as acne improves.

The most potent oral drug, isotretinoin (Accutane), is usually taken once or twice a day for 16 to 20 weeks. It is believed to markedly reduce the size of the oil glands so that much less oil is produced. As a result, the growth of acne-causing bacteria is decreased. However, isotretinoin can cause birth defects in the developing fetuses of women who are pregnant while taking the drug. Women of childbearing age must not be pregnant and must not become pregnant while taking isotretinoin.

Acne Prevention Tips

• Don’t over wash or use harsh scrubs. Remember, acne is not caused by dirt. Two gentle washings a day is sufficient. Too much cleaning can leave skin irritated and dry, triggering glands to produce more oil, increasing the likelihood of pimples.
• Use oil-free or non-comedogenic products (those that won’t clog pores) on your face.
• Don’t squeeze or pick blemishes. Popping pimples can drive acne bacteria deeper into the skin. Picking can lead to more inflammation and permanent scarring.
• Don’t let acne define who you are. Do the things you can to improve your skin, and then get back to doing the things you enjoy.
• Review this slide show to get more tips.

LaserOffers.com

Talk to your dermatologist or aesthetic physician about using Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser for the treatment of active acne. 2-4 sessions will help in a vast majority of cases. And stay away from Accutane.

Cellulite is very common. It appears in teenagers and may bother a lot of women throughout their life time. Due to the complexity of the problem, there is no permanent cure for cellulite as the lumpy and dimpling skin over the thighs, hips and buttocks still challenge the best of the cosmetic dermatologists, plastic surgeons and aesthetic physicians.

A new study posted in Longevity and Age Management, Aging, Skin-Hair, Women’s Health, Aesthetic Medicine on Wed May 13, 2009 shows that combination laser treatment and fat transplantation may help combat cellulite.

Robert Gotkin, M.D., F.A.C.S., from the Cosmetique Dermatology, Laser & Plastic Surgery, LLP, in New York, N.Y., co-authored a study to determine the effects of laser energy used in combination with an autologous fat transplant to improve the signs of cellulite.

The study included 52 women with grades 3 and 4 cellulite. Participants were treated with a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser, after which they underwent an autologous fat transplantation in fat-depleted target areas. The laser was used to break down fat stored in fat cells, then to superficially break up the fibrous bands that connect the muscle to the skin and cause the skin to dimple and have an orange peel-like effect. Autologous fat was then transplanted to the areas with the most severe concave contour deformities. The goal was to fill out those areas in order to provide a smoother, more even contour to the target skin’s surface.

At the conclusion of the study, the participants completed a patient self-assessment questionnaire. Almost 85 percent rated their improvements as either “good” or “excellent.”

Although Dr. Gotkin believes that the results of this combination treatment are lasting, he notes that the effects will lessen over time as the women age. “As a woman gets older and continues to develop skin laxity, cellulite will likely return,” Dr. Gotkin says. “However, in the 12- to 30-month follow-up that we had in our study patients, we could significantly improve the cellulite long-term. Most of the approaches currently used in aesthetic surgery are noninvasive and therefore also achieve minimal results. Our goal was to give some permanent improvement in the appearance of cellulite and we were able to achieve that using this surgical technique.”