The Food and Drug Administration, which has received criticism in the past for allowing risky devices like electronic muscle stimulators to go into the stores uncontested, has just given its approval for Palomar Medical Technologies to go over-the-counter with its light-based LED laser. This new toy uses a light-emitting diode to supposedly stimulate normal skin growth and reduce wrinkles.

I spoke to three top dermatologists at NYU Langone Medical Center — which has one of the top dermatology programs in the world — and all three said the same thing. They said the laser was most likely quite safe, and it’s very unlikely it will damage the eye — but it is not likely to be effective, is expensive, and may only remove the tiniest wrinkles with prolonged use 20 to 30 minutes, twice a day. So in evaluating the FDA’s performance here, score one for safety, but zero for effectiveness and cost. And don’t expect National Health Insurance to cover the cost of this one.

If you really want to help your skin and decrease your chance of wrinkles, then use sunscreen, eat and sleep properly, exercise and don’t smoke.

Dermatologists are now using new kinds of lasers to remove wrinkles, known as fractionated CO2. These are VERY effective, but can only be done by highly-trained doctors.

If you are serious about your wrinkles, (or have to appear on High Definition TV) see your dermatologist. Do-it-yourself lasers that are now being marketed for home use may be used for attacking the tiniest wrinkles, but should not be a primary treatment. The FDA needs to crack down on the devices they approve. This one is okay, except that it is expensive (several hundred dollars) and largely placebo.

Dr. Marc Siegel is an internist and associate professor of medicine at the NYU School of Medicine. He is a FOX News medical contributor and writes a health column for the LA Times, where he examines TV and movies for medical accuracy. Dr. Siegel is the author of “False Alarm: The Truth About the Epidemic of Fear“ and “Bird Flu: Everything You Need to Know About the Next Pandemic.”  Read more at www.doctorsiegel.com

In today’s world, there are so many ways to fight the lines of time. But by far, one of the most popular is Botox.

Botox is basically a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum.  It was originally used to treat muscle spasms — but in 1997 it earned FDA approval for cosmetic treatment.  The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reported that there were more than 2.8 million procedures performed with Botox in 2008.  (Just more proof about how wildly popular this anti-wrinkle treatment is.)

A Botox Cosmetic injection can do a few things. It can help soften the overall look of your face and reduce the animation in some of the muscles in the upper part of the face. (This results in a younger, more youthful appearance.) It can also treat facial lines caused by repetitive muscle movement, which we frequently do in my practice. We also use Botox to help prevent new lines from forming. Common injection sites for erasing wrinkles and lines include:

• Glabella (region between eyebrows)
• Forehead
• Outer corners of eyes (crow’s feet)
• Either side of mid-chin, for down-turned mouth
• Neck, for neck bands or visible chords

We also use Botox to treat:

• Facial asymmetry or other facial conditions that result from muscle action; this is called “facial shaping”
• Hyperhidrosis (excessive perspiration); common injection sites are underarms, palms, scalp and soles of feet

Remember — An experienced injector makes all the difference

Today, people often take the wrong shortcuts when seeking facial rejuvenation with Botox and other injectables. If the injector administers too little Botox Cosmetic, the results will not be fully visible. However if the injector injects too much, the appearance can be a frozen or stunned look. On occasion there may be some unevenness, meaning that one brow is higher or lower than the other. This is easily corrected with a touch-up or the patient can wait for the toxin to lose its effect. Usually the patient will look better within a few weeks.

Keys to successful Botox Cosmetic treatment include going to a doctor that injects regularly.  Also, it is important to articulate to the physician your exact goals. For example, if you want your eyes to be more open, to look less tired or to raise your brows, be specific. It is always my advice to seek a more natural look and have some animation.

Alternatives?

In the battle against aging, there are several alternatives to Botox Cosmetic.  One such option is GFX, a radiofrequency procedure that lasts approximately 1 year or more. This is due to ablation of the nerves which cause muscular contraction of the glabella — more commonly known as the region between the eyebrows.  Other options include Reloxin and Puretox — neither of which is FDA approved.

http://www.fda.gov/WOMENS/getthefacts/botox.html

Dr. Neil Sadick is one of the most renowned dermatologists and researchers whose multiple discoveries have strongly influenced and transformed the future of dermatology. He is a Professor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College and President of the Cosmetic Surgery Foundation. Dr. Sadick is author, or co-author, of more than 500 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and has contributed more than 75 chapters of medical books. Read more at www.sadickdermatology.com.

Flip through any fashion magazine and you’ll see models donning long, dark, full eye lashes. So, how can ordinary women get the same glamorous look?

Well, there are always reusable false eyelashes, layers of thick mascara or a trip to the salon for individual lash extensions.  But, these are temporary solutions, which may come with some risk.

With the application of false eyelashes, patients often come in to my practice with complications.  They may have an allergic reaction to the glue, an eye infection due to reusing strips of false lashes, or skin allergies from the false lashes, which can collect and accumulate dust and germs. 

At the other extreme, we also help patients who come in because they have cut their own lashes in an effort make the false lashes look better.  Patients ask us if natural lashes grow back after they’ve been plucked or cut.  Sometimes they do – and sometimes they don’t.

The good news is — these ‘long lash’ problems could become a thing of the past with the help of a new treatment. In December 2008, Allergan, Inc., the company behind Botox, announced FDA approval for LATISSE™, a new treatment for growing longer lashes. Today, with help from a doctor with prescribing rights, consumers may be able to grow long, striking lashes. 

Latisse is a product with the same formula as a solution used to treat glaucoma patients.  A side effect of the treatment is that it tends to make the lashes longer and fuller.  Some experts are already worried about the side effects of Latisse which may include: red, itchy eyes and changes in eye pigmentation (especially on lighter eyes). 

However with that said, many women are overjoyed by its arrival and hope to lose dependency on other temporary eyelash solutions. 

So far, my patients are seeing very positive results from the use of this new product.

Dr. Neil Sadick is one of the most renowned dermatologists and researchers whose multiple discoveries have strongly influenced and transformed the future of dermatology. He is a Professor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College and President of the Cosmetic Surgery Foundation. Dr. Sadick is author, or co-author, of more than 500 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and has contributed more than 75 chapters of medical books. Read more at www.sadickdermatology.com.

Many of my patients come in for the same common skin concerns. They are typically unaware of what their problem is called or how easily it can be treated. The four most common include Poikiloderma, melasma, broken capillaries or ingrown hairs. 

Poikiloderma is basically a combination of blood vessels, redness and discolorations that commonly occur secondary to sun exposure either on the face, neck or chest areas. This extra pigmentation of the skin is usually displayed in a variety of shades and associated with widened capillaries in the affected area.  Effective treatment methods include intense pulsed lights/IPL and fractional laser technologies.  

Melasma, another frequent problem, is a skin condition presented as brown patches on the face. In many cases, both sides of the face are affected and most often seen on the cheeks, bridge of the nose, forehead, and upper lip. Unfortunately for women, melasma occurs mainly in females, as only about 10 percent of men are affected. This condition is also more prevalent among Hispanics, Asians, Indians, and people from the Middle East and Africa.

Also known as the “mask of pregnancy,” melasma can be secondary to pregnancy, or in women who are genetically predisposed and go on hormone therapy.  While it is made worse by excessive sunlight exposure, it can be treated in the dermatologist’s office using Retin-A, hydroquinone compounds, superficial chemical peels or new-generation Q-switched and fractional laser technologies.  It is most important to be sure to protect yourself everyday using a broad-spectrum sunblock when you go out because this condition will recur if you do not use adequate sun protection. 

Broken blood vessels are a common problem on the face, nose, chest and arms.  They usually occur either on a genetic or a sun-induced basis. New generation pulsed dye and KTP lasers can easily and painlessly remove these unwanted vessels in a single session and are cost effective.

Finally, we come to ingrown hairs. From women who get ingrown hairs in the bikini area or on their chin, to African-American men who are more susceptible to ingrown hairs – this condition plagues many individuals. The bright side is that these ingrown hairs, and the subsequent inflammation, can be treated by combinations of topical antibiotics and hydrocortisone lotion derivatives. 

If it is a recurrent problem, new generation advanced hair removal laser technologies including at-home laser technologies such as the no!-no! or Tria and Silk’n™ can also be very effective to decrease the inflammation. Keeping your face and body moisturized and exfoliated can help to dramatically reduce the occurrence of ingrown hairs, as well as using specialized soothing products such as Barc Skincare’s Barc Bump Down.

Although a high percentage of the population is affected by these common skin problems, we are fortunate to live in a time where there are so many advanced alternatives to treat them.

Dr. Neil Sadick is one of the most renowned dermatologists and researchers whose multiple discoveries have strongly influenced and transformed the future of dermatology. He is a Professor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College and President of the Cosmetic Surgery Foundation. Dr. Sadick is author, or co-author, of more than 500 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and has contributed more than 75 chapters of medical books. Read more at www.sadickdermatology.com.

Plasma Portrait™ is a laser technology that delivers noticeable results by reducing pigmentation, improving fine lines and wrinkles, and perfecting skin’s tone and texture. In addition to leaving skin looking younger and refreshed, Plasma Portrait can also be an effective treatment when used to correct acne scars.

This industry-leading technology is used in a similar fashion to other ablative lasers (which destroy layers of the skin) such as the CO2 and erbium lasers, and new generation fractional technologies (which provide deep heating of the skin) to correct wrinkling, pigmentation, skin smoothing and acne scarring. 

Based on a principle similar to plasma televisions in that it converts plasma into activated nitrogen which acts to gently heat the skin, Plasma Portrait technology has been used in medicine for many years. The advantage of Plasma Portrait over other laser technologies is that it allows the skin to repair itself in a shorter time frame. This leads to less side effects and shorter healing time than experienced with more invasive laser technologies.

Employed under local anesthesia, such as topical anesthetic creams, Plasma Portrait technology can also be used in various treatment modes including a single, high-energy treatment for more significant wrinkling skin pigmentation, skin surface irregularities and skin cancers. Plasma Portrait can also be used at lower settings where up to three treatment sessions can be performed. Under this modality, some patients experience almost no downtime or just a day of mild redness. The high-energy treatment, however, may have three to five days of a minimal sunburn-like reaction, as this technology leaves a layer of skin on the surface intact which acts as a natural wound dressing.

Plasma Portrait is playing a major role in the dermatologic, plastic and cosmetic surgeons’ therapeutic regimens. Associated with significant clinical efficacy and more reliability than many of the non-ablative technologies utilized in the past, Plasma Portrait has become quite popular with patients looking to reduce pigmentation, improve fine lines and wrinkles, enhance tone and texture, and correct acne scars.  With this treatment, skin looks younger and refreshed. 

Dr. Neil Sadick is one of the most renowned dermatologists and researchers whose multiple discoveries have strongly influenced and transformed the future of dermatology. He is a Professor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College and President of the Cosmetic Surgery Foundation. Dr. Sadick is author, or co-author, of more than 500 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and has contributed more than 75 chapters of medical books. Read more at www.sadickdermatology.com.

It is finally possible to achieve professional-like results when using at-home skin care and hair removal products. The best results are experienced when consumers employ novel technologies similar to what dermatologists and plastic surgeons utilize in the office.

Professional quality technologies are now available for all consumers. The major areas where these are used revolve around hair removal, treatment of acne and rejuvenation of aging skin.

There are three main hair removal devices include:

• No!No! – employs a patented thermal heating element called Thermicon. This technology slows down the actively growing cells of the hair follicle
• The Silk’n™- a broad-spectrum light source similar to an IPL (intense pulsed light)
• Tria – diode laser technology

All three employ lower energies than those available in the doctor’s office. Many are FDA-approved and when used for longer periods of time (up to eight -12 weeks) have produced in clinically proven studies, up to 50-60 percent long-term hair removal. Results are almost comparable to what dermatologists are able to achieve in office settings, using higher power, more expensive technologies. The safety and efficacy of these at-home technologies has been proven in many scientific studies through published literature.

For at home acne treatment, there are the Zeno™ and ThermaClear®, which employ heat elements. Under development is the No!No! skin device, which uses a broad-spectrum light heat pulsing technology similar and comparable to what is used in the dermatologist’s office. These three at-home acne treatments help reduce acne forming bacteria, decrease inflammation on the skin and temporarily shrink sebaceous glands.

Ongoing FDA and published studies show similar efficacy with at-home acne treatments as to what can be achieved in the office setting, utilizing topical acne antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide, retinoic acid derivative as well in some cases as oral antibiotics.

Anti-aging rejuvenation technologies are also in the exploration stage. Studies are on going using red light LED sources.

There are three exciting ways for consumers to safely treat themselves at home with technologies that deliver near comparable professional results for hair removal, acne treatment and photorejuvenation. The key difference is that at home technology requires longer treatment time intervals.