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18 Tips for Healthy Skin at Any Age

With November marked as National Healthy Skin Month, now is a great time to learn more about the foods and nutrients that support healthy-looking skin at any age.

Below you will find 18 tips on the nutritious foods to eat on a regular basis to ensure that your skin has a:

  • radiant complexion & smooth texture

  • supple feel & fewer wrinkles

  • healthy glow & fewer blemishes

  • youthful appearance & even tone

Radiant Complexion & Smooth Texture

Collagen and elastin are two of the principal proteins that give skin its integrity and elasticity.  The turn-over and loss of these key dermal components is constant but with aging, our ability to keep up with this wear and tear is diminished.  When these proteins breakdown, the result is wrinkles and sagging skin.

Tip 1:  Obtain sufficient levels of high-quality protein in your diet. This will ensure that a ready supply of protein is available to build new collagen and elastin.  You don’t need to eat like a bodybuilder.  Just aim to eat a small amount of protein at every meal.  Great options include:

Non-Fat, Plain Greek Yogurt. Unlike other yogurts, Greek yogurt is much higher in protein. A serving provides about 18 grams.  If you buy plain, non-fat, you’ll save on calories and saturated fat.

Poultry and Fish .  Grilled, baked or broiled chicken and fish are great choices whether you’re cooking at home or dining at a restaurant.  Be sure to remove the skin from poultry.  Adding low-sodium turkey breast to a salad is a great way to boost protein content.  Select wild fish like Atlantic salmon, tuna, rainbow trout, and halibut instead of farm raised and warm water fish like tilapia.

Beans & Peas. Beans and peas are the mature forms of legumes. They include kidney beans, pinto beans, black beans, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), lima beans, black-eyed peas, split peas, and lentils.  Beans and peas are not only excellent sources of protein; they also provide other nutrients, such as iron and zinc, similar to seafood, meat, and poultry.  Boost the protein content of soups, stews and salads by adding beans and add sweet peas to rice, quinoa and salads.

Whey Protein .  If you find it difficult to eat protein in the morning, a great way to augment your diet is by adding whey protein to a smoothie or yogurt. We like the BioChem brand because it doesn’t contain any preservatives, artificial colors, artificial flavors or artificial sweeteners. Just one scoop provides 20 grams of protein.

Tip 2:  Get plenty of vitamin C in your diet . If you want smooth skin, make sure that you get plenty of vitamin C as this water-soluble vitamin is essential for building collagen.  Foods that are high in vitamin C include:

  • Red Bell Peppers

  • Berries (black currant, strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, cranberry)

  • Citrus fruits (orange, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, lime)

  • Green vegetables (parsley, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, spinach)

  • Other fruits (guava, kiwifruit, papaya, melon)

Tip 3:  Get plenty of copper in your diet. Copper is required to cross link collagen and elastin.  Liver, oysters and shellfish are excellent sources of copper.  Believe it or not, dark chocolate is a good source along with:

  • Whole grains (barley, quinoa, spelt)

  • Nuts (walnuts, flax, almonds, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, pecans)

  • Seeds (sesame, sunflower, pumpkin)

  • Mushrooms (crimini, Shiitake)

  • Legumes (green beans, soybeans, lentils, chickpeas, navy beans, green peas, lima beans, peanuts, kidney beans, pinto beans)

  • Green leafy vegetables (Swiss chard, spinach, mustard greens, kale)

  • Vegetables (summer squash, asparagus, eggplant, tomato, sweet potato, bell pepper, winter squash, fennel, Brussels sprouts, beets, avocado)

Tip 4: Get plenty of biotin in your diet. Biotin, a member of the B-complex, is also called vitamin H with the “H” representing "Haar und Haut” the German words for “hair and skin”.  If you have dermatitis or dry skin, thinning hair (or loss of hair color) or brittle nails, you may be short in biotin.  Biotin is found in foods that are good sources of B vitamins including eggs yolks, liver, pork, legumes (soybeans), nuts (almonds, walnuts), Swiss chard, whole wheat bread and oats.

Supple Feel & Fewer Wrinkles

A hallmark of aging is dry skin.  While genetics influence the level of oiliness in your skin, diminishing hormone production, sun damage and other dietary and lifestyle factors contribute to the skin’s ability to stay hydrated.

Tip 5:  Drink plenty of water. If you want dewy skin, then you’ll want to drink plenty of water.  You also need to watch out for too much alcohol which can make your skin puffy and caffeine which dries out the skin.  Using a humidifier during the cold, dry winter months adds moisture back into the air, which your skin will love.

Tip 6:  Reduce consumption of saturated and partially-hydrogenated fats. Most packaged and processed foods contain partially-hydrogenated fats.  These fats are not ideal for building cell membranes.  In cells that turnover rapidly, like skin cells, this makes a difference in how your skin looks and feels.  Limit your consumption of these foods.  For salad dressing, make your own using balsamic vinegar and olive oil - a healthy monounsaturated fat.  When sautéing, use olive oil instead of butter.  Snack on peanut butter, almond butter and other nut butters.

Tip 7: Increase consumption of Omega-3 fats. Our diets include way too many Omega-6 fats (oils made from soybean, corn and other seeds oils) and not enough Omega-3 fats.  This imbalance leads to inflammation which can aggravate all sorts of skin conditions.  Good fats help fight inflammatory conditions like eczema and acne.  Increase your intake of the following Omega-3 foods:

  • Salmon, rainbow trout, tuna, halibut, herrings, sardines

  • Walnuts

  • DHA Enhanced Eggs

Although the government has not yet established a RDA for Omega-3s, you should aim for 1,000-1,500 mg of Omega-3s daily.  If you can’t meet this target through food, then take a supplement likeOrganic Flax Seed Oil or Super EPA/DHA Fish Oil.

Tip 8: Get plenty of vitamin E in your diet. If you want supple skin, be sure to eat foods high in vitamin E as this fat-soluble vitamin helps skin hold in moisture and relieves dryness.  Foods high in vitamin E include:

  • Seeds (sunflower) and nuts (almonds, hazelnuts)

  • Whole grains, wheat germ, brown rice

  • Dark green leafy vegetables (mustard greens, Swiss chard, spinach, turnip greens, collard greens, beet, kale, dandelion greens, broccoli)

  • Legumes (Peanuts, peanut butter)

  • Fruits (tomato & tomato products, avocado, mangoes, papayas, kiwi)

 

Healthy Glow & Fewer Blemishes

Whether you’re a teen or an adult, the vast majority of us suffer from acne at some point.  While many dermatologists discount the role of diet, a significant body of evidence demonstrates that diet influences a number of hormones that regulate abnormal skin cell function in the follicle.  In particular, diets high in refined grains, refined vegetable oils (e.g., soybean, corn or safflower oils), trans-fats, saturated fats and dairy products directly influence the formation of acne.

Tip 9: Switch from simple carbs to slow carbs .  A diet high in simple carbs such as bagels, pizza, pasta, French fries, cookies, cakes, candy and soft drinks not only promotes skin aging but acne development.  Replace these unhealthy foods with fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Tip 10: Stay away from dairy especially milk and cheese. A 2005 study involving almost 50,000 women offered conclusive evidence of an association between milk intake and acne.  The relationship is likely due to the hormones and other bioactives in milk which affect the pilosebaceous follicle.  Perhaps more importantly, milk promotes an elevated insulin response plus as a concentrated source of calcium it impairs zinc absorption, two factors that directly influence acne development.

Tip 11: Facilitate detoxification in your body. Like the kidneys, liver, lungs and colon, the skin is an organ of elimination.  In fact, the skin is often referred to as the “third kidney”.  The elimination of toxins through the skin can promote the development of acne.

To reduce the toxic load on your body, shift away from packaged, processed foods toward more fruits and vegetables. The increased fiber will keep your digestive system moving. If you’re not getting the 25-38 grams of fiber daily, supplement your diet with ground flax seeds.  You can also remove toxins by eating detoxifying herbs like burdock root (served in Japanese restaurants) and bitter herbs such as dandelion leaves which can be added to salads.

Tip 12: Use probiotics to favorably alter the digestive tract. A 2010 study suggests that probiotic supplementation relieves acne symptoms by inhibiting the production of inflammatory compounds and reducing sebum production.  A standard treatment protocol for acne is oral antibiotics.  This medication kills the bad bacteria but also annihilates the good bacteria.  Supplementing with a probiotic helps bring the digestive tract back into balance.

While foods like yogurt provide beneficial bacteria, their colony forming units (CFUs) are relatively small (about 1 billion). Probiotic supplements, like Probiotic-8 make it easy to obtain a wide range of beneficial flora in sufficient quantities to promote healthy digestion and support immune system function.

Tip 13: Get more zinc in your diet. Zinc regulates testosterone production which plays a role in sebum production.  Sufficient intake can help fight against acne.  An excellent source of zinc is oysters. Red meat especially beef, lamb and liver have some of the highest concentrations of zinc in food.  However, we recommend eating red meat no more than once a week.  When purchasing, select grass-fed beef which is leaner and free of antibiotics and growth hormones.  Zinc in plant foods is less bioavailable because zinc binds to phytic acid (a type of fiber), inhibiting its absorption.  Plants that contain the most zinc include:

  • Whole grains

  • Legumes (beans, lima beans)

  • Nuts (almonds)

  • Various seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, sesame)

Youthful Appearance & Even Tone

Exposure to sunlight or UV light is a major cause of aging.  You can protect your skin by staying out of the sun when it is strongest, using sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, wearing protective clothing and avoiding tanning beds.

You can also protect your skin from the sun’s powerful UV rays by eating certain foods.  These include brightly colored fruits, vegetables, spices and tea which are concentrated in phytonutrients.  These plant chemicals not only give produce its vibrant colors, but help protect the plant from the sun’s harmful rays, insects & pests and harmful bacteria.  By ingesting these foods, the health benefits are conferred to us.  Like other organs in the body, our skin benefits from the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties that these phytonutrients confer.

Eating a wide variety of colored fruits and vegetables not only gives your skin ahealthy glow but according to a recent study, increases microcirculation of the skin and positively affects skin structure (skin hydration, density and thickness).  Since many fruits and vegetables are also an excellent source of other vitamins & minerals, these healthy foods work overtime to enhance your skin’s health.

Tip 14: Eat more orange-red colored produce. These foods are an excellent source of the carotenoids beta-carotene and lycopene.  Carotenoids like beta-carotene convert into vitamin A as your body requires.  Vitamin A is necessary for normal cell growth and development.  Vitamin A is needed for maintenance and repair of epithelial tissue (the outer layer of skin is comprised of epithelial tissue) and works as an antioxidant to protect cells from free-radical damage.  A British study showed that subjects who consumed tomato paste (tomatoes are the most concentrated source of lycopene) had 33% more protection from sunburn.

Fruits and vegetables that are concentrated in beta-carotene include:

  • Pumpkin

  • Sweet Potato

  • Carrots

  • Cantaloupe

  • Red Bell Peppers

  • Mango

Fruits and vegetables that are concentrated in lycopene include:

  • Tomatoes

  • Watermelon

  • Papaya

  • Pink grapefruit

Tip 15: Eat more dark green & yellow colored produce. Over 600 carotenoids have been classified.  Some members such as beta-carotene readily convert to vitamin A. Others such as lutein and zeaxanthin do not have pro-vitamin A activity, however, these carotenoids are beneficial because they have potent antioxidant activity.  Studies on lutein demonstrate that this carotenoid is deposited in the skin and helps to prevent UV rays from damaging the dermis.  Lutein and zeaxanthin usually appear together and are commonly found in dark green and yellow produce such as the following:

  • Kale

  • Spinach

  • Swiss Chard

  • Mustard Greens, Turnip Greens, Dandelion Greens

  • Squash (summer or winter)

  • Corn

  • Brussels Sprouts

  • Broccoli

  • Lettuce (Radicchio, Arugula, Romaine, Green leaf, Red leaf)

Tip 16:  Eat more deep-purple & dark red produce. These foods are an excellent source of antioxidant compounds called polyphenols.  These phytochemicals which include phenolic acids, flavonoids, stilbenoids, isoflavones and anthocyanidins are typically found in fruits and vegetables but other good sources include beverages like green tea, coffee and red wine.  Excellent sources of these potent antioxidant compounds include:

  • Berries (black currant, strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, cranberry)

  • Pomegranate

  • Dark Cherries

  • Dark Plums

  • Purple Grapes

  • Red Cabbage

  • Dark Chocolate

Tip 17: Eat foods that are high in vitamin E. This fat-soluble vitamin works as an antioxidant and protects your skin from the sun.  Fish oil supplements like our Super EPA/DHA Fish Oil are a good source of vitamin E (mixed natural tocopherols), providing 2 mg per capsule (about the same amount as a cup of cooked broccoli).  Foods that are a good source of vitamin E include:

  • Sunflower Seeds

  • Nuts and nut butters (almonds, hazelnuts)

  • Peanuts and peanut butter

  • Dark green leafy vegetables (spinach, turnip greens, beet greens, dandelion greens, mustard greens, Swiss chard, collard greens, kale, broccoli)

  • Fruits (tomato & tomato products, mangoes, papayas, kiwi, avocado)

  • Wheat Germ

Tip 18: Eat foods that are high in selenium. This mineral is an antioxidant that works with vitamin E to protect cells.  Brazil nuts contain the highest levels of selenium per serving.  Beef, poultry, fish, shellfish and pork contain appreciable amounts of selenium. 

posted @ Tuesday, November 29, 2011 12:00 AM | Feedback (0)

Skin Care is the exercise and diet of looking youthful and refreshed

You wouldn’t dream of going to the gym everyday, sweating and working hard and then eating donuts for dinner would you?  Of course not!  The same goes for your skin, you wouldn’t work on maintaining your youth by applying over the counter, non-effective, products then would you? 

Skincare is the least invasive way to change your skin, but, in order to get results one needs to use medical grade skincare products. These products are composed of proven ingredients that are available only through a doctor. Medical grade products have been developed through clinical research unlike over the counter products and medical grade skincare has stronger percentages of active ingredients than over the counter products.  

Although, over the counter products claim that they’ve been developed through clinical research as well, in medical grade skincare the amounts of the active ingredients, or what’s actually changing your skin, are much higher that anything you could buy over the counter.

The biggest difference between over the counter and medical grade skincare is the level of penetration into the skin. Over the counter products sit on the surface of the skin and cannot go deep enough to change any kind of skin issue. Medical grade products have the ability to penetrate the epidermis (top layer of skin) to hit the dermis (deeper layer of skin.) The dermis is

where collagen and elastin lay, as well as where our new skin cells are produced.  By using medical grade skin care products, you can achieve faster and better results.

posted @ Thursday, August 19, 2010 4:18 PM | Feedback (0)

VIVITE Vibrance Therapy From the Makers of Botox Cosmetic

VIVITE Vibrance Therapy is a restorative, antioxidant-rich cream, specially formulated with natural ingredients to help brighten and even out skin tone while helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, without hydroquinone. It’s targeting hyperpigmentation, (brown spots and melasma) that so many of us deal with, here in the sunshine state. This anti-aging treatment should be used twice daily for optimum results. One Product, twice a day is all you need to exfoliate, hydrate & protect your skin, that’s why it so popular for those of us with a busy lifestyle who don’t have time to use a skincare system with multiple steps. You will see a visible improvement in as little as 3 weeks, and in some studies the skin was totally rejuvenated in 8 weeks.

 

posted @ Monday, August 16, 2010 1:55 PM | Feedback (0)

If I could use only one anti-aging product, what should it be?

Everyday we hear about our clients that don't use an adequate amount of sun protection. Even if it's cloudy and you are running one quick errand, you still need sunscreen!  Think about this; 

  • Windows in your home, office or your car will not protect you. Windshields are laminated for safety reasons and filter most UV radiation. However as much as 79% of UV radiation will still pass on through.
  • Did you know that it takes up to 30 minutes for sunscreen to work? Even with a newly-applied layer of sunscreen, you're still not completely protected from the sun's harmful rays for the first few minutes.  It takes about 30 minutes for sunscreen to kick in. It's a good idea to apply sunscreen a half hour before heading out for the day.
  • It's ok to re-apply over make up. Sunscreens containing physical barriers to UVA and UVB rays such as zinc oxide can be reapplied directly over make up.
  • Don't skimp! Most people don't use a sufficient amount of sunscreen. The guidelines generally are to use about a shot glass full of sunscreen for body and one half teaspoon full of sunscreen for face to get the full affect.
posted @ Tuesday, July 27, 2010 4:00 PM | Feedback (0)

News Alert about Restylane-L & Perlane-L

Now there’s a more comfortable solution for your patients who are hesitant to start or maintain their treatment with Restylane or Perlane because of perceived discomfort during injections. New Restylan-L and Perlane-L contain 0.3% lidocaine to help reduce pain during and after injection.

In randomized, double-blind, split-face, multicenter clinical studied, subjects received Restylane or Perlane in one nasolabial fold (NLF) and Restylane-L or Perlane-L, respectively, in the contralateral NLF. Injections were made in the deep dermis and, in most cases, the linear injection technique was used. Subjects rated their level of pain according to a 100mm Visual Analog Scale ( VAS) at injection and at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes post-injection. The primary objective was to show the proportion of patients that had a within-patient difference in the VAS of at least 10 mm at injection together with a 95% confidence interval. The objective was to show that the confidence interval lay above 50%.

• 72% of patients treated with Restylane-L reported at least a 10mm reduction in pain score at injection vs. Restylane.
• 95% of patients treated with Perlane-L reported at least a 10 mm reduction in pain score at injection vs. Perlane.
• Pain assessment showed a  statistically significant improvement at all time points with Restylane-L or Perlane-L vs. Restylane or Perlane, respectively.

Come to Nova Cosmetic Center & Medical Spa to find out more information.

posted @ Monday, June 21, 2010 12:59 PM | Feedback (0)

Study: Many Sunscreens May Be Accelerating Cancer

 
National Cancer Institute
Graph of melanoma of the skin rates from 1975 to 2006. APC stands for annual percent change and AAPC stands for average annual percent change.
But in the U.S., there is currently no sunscreen that meets all of these criteria. European countries have more chemical combinations to offer, but in the U.S. the major choice is between the "chemical" sunscreens, which have inferior stability, penetrate the skin and may disrupt the body's hormone systems, and "mineral" sunscreens zinc and titanium dioxide.

Increasingly, as AOL News reported in March, the industry is using titanium dioxide that is made nanosized, which a growing number of researchers believe have serious health implications.

The sunscreen industry cringes when EWG releases its yearly report -- this is its fourth. The industry charges that the advocacy group wants to do away with all sunscreen products, a claim that is not accurate.

The report's researchers clearly say that an effective sunscreen prevents more damage than it causes, but it wants consumers to have accurate information on the limitations of what they buy and on the potentially harmful chemicals in some of those products.

EWG does warn consumers not to depend on any sunscreen for primary protection from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. Hats, clothing and shade are still the most reliable sun protection available, they say.

Don't count on the numbers

Some of us are old enough to remember when the idea of having a tan was good, a sign of health, when billboards and magazine ads featured the Coppertone girl showing off her tan when a puppy pulls down her bathing suit bottom.

Going for that tan, we coated our kids and ourselves with sun blockers with sun protection factors of 1 or 2. Some overly cautious parents might have smeared on a 4 during the hottest part of a day.

But we've learned of the dangers that come from exposure to the sun's rays, especially ultraviolet A and B. So today, drugstore shelves are crammed with sunscreens boasting SPFs of 30, 45, 80 or even higher.

However, the new report says those numbers are often meaningless and dangerous because products with high SPF ratings sell a false sense of security, encouraging people using them to stay out in the sun longer.

"People don't get the high SPF they pay for," the report says. "People apply about a quarter of the recommended amount. So in everyday practice, a product labeled SPF 100 really performs like SPF 3.2, an SPF 30 rating equates to a 2.3 and an SPF 15 translates to 2."

In 2007, the report says, the FDA published proposed regulations that would prohibit manufacturers from labeling sunscreens with an SPF higher than "SPF 50." The agency wrote that higher values would be "inherently misleading," given that "there is no assurance that the specific values themselves are in fact truthful."

This is being widely ignored by the sunscreen makers who are heavily advertising their 80, 90 and 100 SPF products.

"Flouting FDA's proposed regulation," companies substantially increased their high-SPF offerings in 2010 with one in six brands now listing SPF values higher than 50. "Neutrogena and Banana Boat stand out among the offenders, with six and four products labeled as 'SPF 100,' respectively," the new report says.

The full list of the best and worst sunscreens can be found on the EWG's searchable database. (Update: The database has been loading slowly today. You may want to try it again later.)
Filed under: Nation, Health, Top Stories

posted @ Wednesday, June 02, 2010 10:10 AM | Feedback (0)

BOTOX(R) Cosmetic Launches 'My Expressions of Kindness' Charitable Campaign

BOTOX(R) Cosmetic Launches 'My Expressions of Kindness' Charitable Campaign to Raise Awareness and Support for Make It Right, Dress for Success and Children's Action Network; Campaign Spearheaded by TV Personality Didiayer Snyder With Support from BOTOX(R) Cosmetic Ambassadors, Vanessa Williams, Vicki Iovine, Virginia Madsen and Nadia Comaneci.
 
PR Newswire


IRVINE, Calif., March 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- To celebrate acts of kindness around the country, Allergan, Inc. (NYSE: AGN), the maker of BOTOX® Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA), has announced the "BOTOX® Cosmetic My Expressions of Kindness" charitable campaign. Allergan is asking everyone who is treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic, or is considering talking to their physician about treatment, to post acts of kindness online to help raise up to a quarter of a million dollars for three deserving charities: Make It Right, Dress for Success and Children's Action Network. The online fundraising campaign is being spearheaded by television personality, long-time volunteer and BOTOX® Cosmetic advocate Didiayer Snyder, who is joined by fellow BOTOX® Cosmetic fans Emmy®-nominated actress and singer Vanessa Williams, best-selling author Vicki Iovine, Oscar®-nominated actress Virginia Madsen and five-time gold medalist Nadia Comaneci as campaign ambassadors.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click:

http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/expresskindnesscampaign/43014/

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100325/MM70999 )

People are asked to get involved and show their support by visiting the campaign Web site at ExpressKindnessCampaign.com to complete a "My Expressions of Kindness" profile. Upon completion, a $25 donation will be automatically generated and each person will have the opportunity to choose whether it will benefit Make It Right, Dress for Success or Children's Action Network. The "My Expressions of Kindness" profiles completed by each of the campaign ambassadors who have pledged their support to one of the charity partners is also posted on the Web site. Other social media fundraising activities include Facebook and Twitter.

Mrs. Snyder is supporting Make It Right, which builds safe, green and affordable homes for working families in New Orleans Lower 9th Ward who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. Ms. Williams, who spearheaded the 2009 "BOTOX® Cosmetic: Express Success" campaign with Dress for Success, returns this year and is joined by Ms. Iovine in support of Dress for Success, which helps disadvantaged women express success in the workforce by providing them with the tools they need to succeed in work and life. Ms. Madsen and Ms. Comaneci are supporting Children's Action Network, which finds homes for foster children who are waiting for an adoptive family and works to improve outcomes for children in foster care. The organizations were selected based on research that shows women are drawn to causes that support their core emotional values - underserved communities, family and health.

"I'm thrilled to be spearheading the 'BOTOX® Cosmetic My Expressions of Kindness' charitable campaign because it is a way to give back to the community by supporting causes that are important to many men and women," said Mrs. Snyder. "Allergan asked me to become involved because they knew I dedicated a significant amount of time to supporting those less fortunate and that I was a big fan of BOTOX® Cosmetic. Now people who are treated with or thinking about talking to their doctor about being treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic to temporarily reduce the appearance of the '11' - those moderate to severe vertical lines between the brows that can give your face a tired and stressed look - can spread kindness online to help raise much-needed funds for Make It Right, Dress for Success and the Children's Action Network. It's fun, easy and a great way to support those in need."

"With this campaign, we are delighted BOTOX® Cosmetic can serve as a champion for causes that consumers care about and can help raise awareness and support for organizations that serve those less fortunate," said Robert Grant, president of Allergan Medical, a division of Allergan, Inc. "Since the approval of BOTOX® Cosmetic eight years ago, we have spearheaded consumer education campaigns that provide education about the product. Now, we are combining these efforts with charitable support and are joining hands with long-time supporters including Virginia Madsen, Vanessa Williams, Vicki Iovine and Nadia Comaneci - plus work with Didiayer Snyder our new ambassador - to support causes important to both them and the people who choose to talk to their doctor about being treated with our products."

For more information about the "BOTOX® Cosmetic My Expressions of Kindness" campaign, please visit http://www.ExpressKindnessCampaign.com. For more information about BOTOX® Cosmetic, please visit http://www.BOTOXCosmetic.com.
posted @ Monday, April 19, 2010 8:16 AM | Feedback (0)

TV Host Dayna Devon Reveals Her Nips and Tucks

Dayna Devon shows off her good looks. Photo courtesy of Allergan

Spending ten years interviewing the world's biggest celebrities on "Extra" taught Dayna Devon a thing or two.

Specifically, it taught her that when it comes to nips and tucks, everybody's doing it.

"I'm a big fan of reading old literature, like Jane Austen," Devon told us. "In those days, when you aged, you were kind of S.O.L."

The Texas-born TV host moved to Hollywood for her Extra gig, and her easy-going personality and star-quality looks earned her much success. Not to mention the affection of a plastic surgeon, Dr. Brent Moelleken, whom Devon ended up marrying.

"He introduced me to fillers," said Devon, who has now signed on to be a spokesperson for Allergan, the maker of popular line and wrinkle filler Juvederm. "I just think it's great that we have these options now," she explained. "I love them!"

Devon isn't shy about chatting revealing what she's had done, and doesn't understand why things have to be so hush-hush.

"Members of the [Extra] crew would knock on my door and whisper 'I have to ask you a question. What about this? Or this?'" Luckily for the crew, Devon openly dispensed advice based on her experience. "I've had these lines done [she gestures to the nose-to-mouth lines] and Botox," she reveals.

While we wouldn't be surprised if Devon's perfectly chiseled facial features were the result of more invasive procedures, she insists she sticks to the temporary ones, like aforementioned Juvederm and eyelash extensions.

"You wake up in the morning and they're like, bing! You go to the gym and they're like bing!" she laughs at her foray into doe-eyed-ness.

But how safe are these procedures, really?

"It's very important that you see a trained specialist, not someone who just learned how to do it from a YouTube video," says Michelle, an eyelash extension tech at New York City's Uptown Girl salon, where stars like "The View" host Elizabeth Hasselbeck and fashion designer Betsey Johnson have stopped by for lash extensions.

As for fillers, Juvéderm is made from hyaluronic acid, which occurs naturally in the body so there's no risk of allergic reaction. The substance is injected into lines and wrinkles to plump up the area for up to one year, after which it's simply absorbed back into the body's own supply. And there's good news for fans: A new formula, Juvéderm XC, contains numbing agent lidocaine to make injections less painful.

Botox is made from botulinum toxin, which may sounds scary, but the substance has been widely used for cosmetic purposes in the U.S. since 2002, and elsewhere for over a decade. "The good news is, it's not permanent. The bad news is, it's not permanent," says NYC plastic surgeon Dr. Gerald Imber, who notes that most women who try it come back for more.

http://www.stylelist.com/2010/03/19/tv-host-dayna-devon-reveals-her-nips-and-tucks/

posted @ Tuesday, March 30, 2010 10:12 AM | Feedback (0)

Study Showed Sculptra® Aesthetic Effectively Corrects Nasolabial Folds and Other Facial Wrinkles

New Data Published by Journal of American Academy of Dermatology Demonstrated Sustained Efficacy Up to 25 Months

Bridgewater, N.J. – February 23, 2010 -- Results published in today’s online issue of the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology showed that treatment with Sculptra®Aesthetic (injectable poly-L-lactic acid) was significantly more effective than a human-derived collagen treatment CosmoPlast®* in correcting shallow to deep nasolabial fold (NLF) wrinkles (smile lines). In addition, this study demonstrated that the effect in correcting the NLF wrinkles with SculptraAesthetic can last for up to 25 months.

 

A total of 233 patients of ages ranging from 26 to 73 years were randomized to receive injections of either SculptraAesthetic (n=116) or CosmoPlast (n=117) (standard of care at study initiation) into the left and right nasolabial folds at three-week intervals for up to a maximum of four treatments and followed for 13 months after the final treatment. Treatment with SculptraAesthetic resulted in significantly (P<0.001) higher scores than CosmoPlast on the Wrinkle Assessment Scale, a validated photographic measurement tool which is used to assess the NLF wrinkles at week three, and months three, six, nine and 13 during the follow up phase of the study. The SculptraAesthetic patients were followed for an additional 12 months. SculptraAesthetic treatment effects were maintained up to 25 months after the last treatment session, while the human derived collagen was effective up to three months.

 

“This study established that SculptraAesthetic offers significant improvements in correcting nasolabial folds, which are considered one of the signs of facial aging,” said Dr. Gary Monheit, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama Medical Center, “We found that the treatment works gradually to replace lost collagen due to aging, resulting in a more natural-looking appearance that can last up to two years.”

 

The majority of adverse events in both groups were mild or moderate in intensity; these included injection site reactions such as bleeding, tenderness or pain/discomfort, redness, bruising, itching or swelling. During the initial 13 month follow up, product-related application site nodules occurred in 8.6 percent of patients treated with SculptraAesthetic and 9.4 percent of those patients receiving CosmoPlast; papules occurred in 8.6 percent of patients in the SculptraAesthetic group versus 3.4 percent of patients treated with CosmoPlast.

 

In addition, after 25 months papules and nodules were reported in Sculptra Aesthetic treatment group in 1.9% and 0.9% of patients, respectively. Papules and nodules were typically palpable, asymptomatic and non-visible.  The majority of nodule and papule events were mild to moderate and most resolved without treatment. Overall, a higher incidence of adverse events was recorded among patients in the collagen group (63.2 percent) compared with patients treated with SculptraAesthetic (53.4 percent). No patient discontinued treatment with SculptraAesthetic due to a treatment-related adverse event.

Study Design

In the randomized, comparative, evaluator-blinded, parallel group, multi-center study, 233 patients received either SculptraAesthetic or an approved human derived collagen for the treatment of their nasolabial fold wrinkles. SculptraAesthetic was administered in a single treatment regimen, at three week intervals, for up to four treatment sessions for the correction of shallow to deep nasolabial fold contour deficiencies. The SculptraAesthetic patients were followed for an additional 12 months. In the comparative phase, the patients were followed for 13 months after the last treatment.

 

The study reports on the results of the primary efficacy and safety objectives. The primary efficacy objective evaluated the degree of correction of the nasolabial fold wrinkles attained by SculptraAesthetic compared with CosmoPlast based on Wrinkle Assessment Scale scores. Assessments were calculated at screening, three weeks after treatment and at three, six, nine and 13 months post-treatment. The primary safety endpoint was the overall incidence of adverse events reported during the 13-month follow-up period after treatment.

 

The study’s secondary objectives included global investigator and subject evaluations of treatment, patient treatment satisfaction scores, time to peak correction and treatment success rates.

Following the comparative treatment phase of the trial, patients treated with SculptraAesthetic were evaluated for an additional 12 months during a long-term surveillance phase to collect further safety and efficacy data. These patients were scheduled to return for follow-up visits 19 and 25 months after their final treatment during the study.

 

Important Safety Information:

You should not use Sculptra Aesthetic if you are allergic to any ingredient of the product or have a history of keloid formation or hypertrophic scarring.  Sculptra Aesthetic should not be injected while you have an active skin infection or inflammation in the treatment area and should not be injected into the red area of the lip. Use in the skin near the eyes is not recommended.

 

Side effects of Sculptra Aesthetic may include injection site discomfort, redness, bruising, bleeding, itching and swelling. Other side effects may include small lumps under the skin that are sometimes noticeable when pressing on the treated area.  Larger lumps, some with delayed onset with or without inflammation or skin discoloration, have also been reported.  In a key clinical study the numbers of small and larger lumps were low and most resolved without treatment.

About Sculptra® Aesthetic

SculptraAesthetic was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration July 28, 2009 for use in people with healthy immune systems as one-time treatment regimen of up to 4 injection sessions that are scheduled about 3 weeks apart for correction of shallow to deep nasolabial fold contour deficiencies and other facial wrinkles in which deep dermal grid pattern (cross-hatch) injection technique is appropriate. Sculptra Aesthetic may provide cosmetic correction of facial wrinkles with a Wrinkle Assessment Score of 2, 3, or 4 as shown in the photos in Figure 1 of the full prescribing information for Sculptra Aesthetic.

 
 
posted @ Tuesday, March 09, 2010 9:50 AM | Feedback (0)

Nine top cosmetic treatments for aging skin

No one likes looking older...which is why we spend billions of dollars every year on over-the-counter products, prescription creams and fillers, and, most drastically, cosmetic surgery. Do any of these actually work to reduce the signs of aging? In many cases, yes—at least temporarily. But given the not-inconsiderable costs (and in the case of surgery and some procedures, the risks), it's important to be smart in your choices.
How to find a doctor? Dermatologists can prescribe skin creams and perform laser skin-resurfacing and chemical peels, and they can administer injections. Surgical procedures, meantime, can be performed by cosmetic and plastic surgeons, and some ear, nose, and throat doctors (otolaryngologists). A good first step is to make sure that the doctor is board-certified by the appropriate organization (the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and American Board of Otolaryngology, for instance). Check with your state medical board to see if the doctor has complaints on file. When you pick a doctor, ask how often and how frequently he or she performs the procedure that you're having (weekly is better than monthly). If the doc works from an outpatient surgical center, ask whether he or she has hospital privileges should any problems arise during your surgery.
Here is a quick guide to some of the most popular treatments and procedures.

1. Retinoid creams
A host of over-the-counter products claim to help fight wrinkles. One option: topical retinoid (derived from vitamin A) creams; look for retinol in the ingredient list. "They're the only thing that's been proven to get rid of wrinkles that you already have," says Leslie Baumann, a Miami Beach dermatologist in private practice and the author of The Skin Type Solution: A Revolutionary Guide to Your Best Skin Ever. You can buy an OTC retinoid for under $20. Dermatologists can prescribe stronger retinoid creams—like Retin-A—than what you'll find on store shelves.


2. Over-the-counter peptide creams
Creams containing peptides—short snippets of linked amino acids—can be useful for reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, but they haven't been shown to work as well as retinoids. As skin ages, it loses collagen and becomes wrinkled and thin; creams containing peptides are supposed to encourage the skin to make new collagen. Peptides are found in a variety of products, from the inexpensive to the very expensive, but you don't have to ante up to get their benefit, advises Jeffrey Benabio, a dermatologist who writes The Dermatology Blog; he says Oil of Olay Regenerist (which costs less than $20) is as good as the pricey stuff.

3. Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion uses tiny, fine particles or a very hard diamond-tipped wand to slough off cells from the top layer of the skin and encourage new skin growth. The procedure is usually not painful, though it can be uncomfortable, and it doesn't require an anesthetic or recovery period; skin heals quickly. But you may require multiple procedures spaced a few weeks apart. It also might be a good idea to discuss which technique your doctor plans to use, as a study published in October in Archives of Dermatology found that a rougher buffing of the skin is better than a lighter touch. The average cost of microdermabrasion was $164 in 2008, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. The effects can last between three and five days; then you'll need another treatment. "It just removes the top dead cells that regenerate quickly," Baumann says. Because the benefits persist only briefly, some people may not find it worthwhile, she says.

4. Laser skin resurfacing
Laser resurfacing uses high-intensity light to zap and improve the look of wrinkles and scars by tightening loose skin. The effect of your treatment and recovery time vary. "We have lasers that can be superficial or intermediate and deep," says Bahnan Guyuron, chairman of the department of plastic surgery at Case Western Reserve University, who has been researching cosmetic treatments for about 30 years. You may see redness from one day to two weeks, depending on how aggressive the treatment is, he says. The average cost of laser resurfacing was $2,669 in 2008, according to the AACS. The benefits of laser resurfacing usually last between two and five years; if you smoke or don't use sunscreen, it's likely to be on the shorter end of that spectrum, says Baumann.
5. Chemical peels
Used to address mild acne scars, age spots, dull skin texture, skin discoloration, or wrinkles around the eyes or mouth, chemical peels remove the outer layers of the skin and encourage the growth of new, smoother, more evenly colored skin. Depending on the peel's intensity—which can range from superficial to medium to deep—it may cause reddening and peeling that can last up to several weeks. The average cost for chemical peels was $672 in 2008, according to the AACS. The benefits of superficial peels last about a month, while deep peels have results that can last several years.

6. Botox or Dysport
Injections of the now familiar Botox or of Dysport—which also contains botulism toxin and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in April—can paralyze tiny facial muscles, smoothing out the appearance of lines or wrinkles. The cost of Botox will vary depending on location and doctor, but it averages about $400. The effects of injections may last three to six months, depending on whether you're a repeat customer. (The more injections you've previously had, the longer the results last, Guyuron says.)


7. Filler injections
Injections of fillers containing hyaluronic acid can fill in lines and wrinkles and add volume to skin. Hyaluronic acid is a "naturally occurring sugar that gets lost when you age," and injecting it into wrinkles effectively plumps them up, says Baumann. The average cost of hyaluronic acid treatment was $589 in 2008, according to the AACS, and the effects generally last between six months and a year.


8. Cosmetic surgery
Lifting the skin on the face, neck, eyelids, and forehead can give a tighter appearance. What were once traditionally open procedures—with larger incisions—can now often be done endoscopically, with smaller incisions strategically placed in difficult-to-detect areas, such as under the hairline. The procedures can run a few thousand dollars; face-lifts were the most expensive cosmetic procedure in 2008, with an average cost of $7,007, according to the AACS. The effects of cosmetic surgery are somewhat permanent. "Let's say a person looks 10 years younger" as a result of having surgery, Guyuron says. "That person is going to look 10 years younger for the rest of their life. What we're doing is we're turning the clock back, but we're not stopping the clock."


9. Try prevention
If all this sounds extreme (and expensive), remember that you can start immediately to prevent any further damage: Start wearing sunscreen every day. Lifetime exposure to the sun can wreak serious havoc, says Angelo Cuzalina, president-elect of the AACS. "When [people] were younger...they didn't think [the sun] caused any bad signs. Now they're really feeling the effects of it 30 years later." And none of these treatments or procedures are a substitute for healthful eating and regular physical activity. Some doctors, Cuzalina included, will not perform surgery on patients who are so overweight that it might jeopardize post-surgical results. When Cuzalina sees patients who have a body mass index above 30 (that is, obese), for example, he usually refers them to a weight-loss clinic before he'll operate.

By JANUARY W. PAYNE
posted @ Thursday, February 18, 2010 4:59 PM | Feedback (0)
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