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Skin Speaks Blog
Archive for July, 2009
Thursday, July 30th, 2009
 Company spokespersons from pharmaceutical company sanofi-aventis announced yesterday that federal clearance had been given to use their dermal filler Sculptra in cosmetic procedures.  Although (off-label) cosmetic use of Sculptra has been happening for years, the original FDA approval of Sculptra was for treating lipoatrophy, i.e. facial fat loss, in AIDS patients. People in the industry are excited to get official clearance for this long-lasting dermal filler.
The Food and Drug Administration gave clearance for the following cosmetic purposes:
- Correction of mild-severe nasolabial folds
- Wrinkles and contour irregularities
Regulators based their evaluation of Sculptra on a study of 233 patients that had received treatment with the filler for their nasolabial folds. Â According to the official press release, the aesthetic results of Sculptra “were maintained up to 25 months after the last treatment session.”
Posted in Wrinkle Fillers | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009
 Hair is definitely sexy‚ when it resides on top of your head.  Anywhere else is anything but! But don’t fret – there are many ways to remove body hair these days.
To remove unwanted body hair from your face, legs, back, arms and even underarms, you might shave or pluck hair, or you might use electronic tweezers, radiofrequency tweezers, waxing, depilatories, or electrolysis.
The problem is, those methods are temporary, outdated and tedious.¬†The ideal way to do it is with laser hair removal. Lasers send a low-energy beam through the skin. The dark pigment (melanin) present in the shaft of the hair follicles absorbs the laser beam. Initial hair reduction is seen immediately after treatment. To get permanent results, you just go through a series of repeated treatments.
There are different types of lasers that can be used to remove unwanted hair. The first lasers approved for hair reduction by FDA were the ruby, alexandrite and diode lasers. But these could only be used on select individuals – not those with tans or ethnic skin.
The newest lasers have increased wavelengths and the ability to treat darker skin types, including African-American skin, Asian skin, or just those with a tan. Â One of the biggest benefits is the convenience; immediately following your hair removal treatment you can return to work, school or any of your regular activities. Â Contact Skin Speaks for more information on laser hair removal.
Posted in Laser treatments | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009
 Lisa’s skin is red, scaly, and itchy in different areas from her head to her toes. Twice a day she has to bathe and apply moisturizer and once every month she visits her dermatologist for UV light treatment. This may be a burden, but it can’t be ignored because Lisa has psoriasis, a chronic condition that results when a person’s skin cell growth cycle is too fast.
For most people, the skin growth cycle takes about 1 month, but in psoriatic skin it may take as little as 3 days. During this accelerated process, skin cells collect and have nowhere to go, so they push their way to the skin surface to form itchy, scaly lesions. Here are a few more quick facts about psoriasis you might need to know.
- Doctors believe psoriasis is caused by autoimmune dysfunction.
- There is no psoriasis cure or procedure to end psoriasis symptoms, but in some cases it may go into remission for a long time.
- Psoriasis is not contagious.
- Triggers for psoriasis may include sunburn and strep throat.
- Psoriasis often precedes a condition called psoriatic arthritis, characterized by inflammation of the joints and other tissues.
- Psoriasis affects males and females equally, in about 1-2 percent of the population.
- Among those affected, Psoriasis symptoms typically begin before a person reaches middle age.
- Scalp psoriasis is common, as are lesions on the elbows, knees, and torso. You may see the same basic pattern of lesions forming on each side of the body.
Although psoriasis is an irksome condition to carry with you all your life, there are ways to manage it, and most patients learn to do so. A good dermatologist should help patients manage psoriasis by finding simple psoriasis remedies or treatments that clear up lesions, slow down skin cell production, and minimize or avoid side effects. For more information on the different types of psoriasis see our Advancements in Dermatology psoriasis web page.
Posted in Dermatology | No Comments »
Monday, July 13th, 2009
Come in now to one of our Twin Cities locations to receive a 50 dollar rebate on Botox Cosmetic.
Posted in Botox | No Comments »
Thursday, July 9th, 2009
 Our dermatology clinics have seen a significant number of patients seeking Botox treatment for excessive sweating, or hyperhidrosis.
A research study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (March 2008) compared Botox with topical treatments using aluminum chloride for treatment of hyperhidrosis. In a clinical trial, 25 patients were given topical treatment and 25 were given Botox. The authors reported, “At week 4, 92% of the subjects in the Botox group achieved treatment response compared with 33% of the subjects in the AC group.”
The researchers concluded that Botox was “superior” to topical agents for the treatment of hyperhidrosis, but also revealed that “treatment with aluminum chloride was effective and tolerated in 29% of patients.” So Botox is by no means the only option; there are other products available that may be less expensive and potentially helpful in providing relief. However, if you have already tried several products and have not seen significant changes in your excessive sweating, we do suggest therapeutic treatment with Botox.
We have proposed 2 treatment levels for this therapy. From experience we know that a vial (100 units) of Botox is maximum dosage used in each underarm, palm of hand, or sole of foot. However, we also recognize that 1/2 of this dosage (50 units) is quite effective as well.
Unfortunately, we’ve found that few patients are getting insurance coverage for using Botox, despite the supporting research and FDA approval for this indication. We do offer CareCredit financing options and competitive pricing. Â For more information, contact Skin Speaks/Advancements in Dermatology.
Posted in Botox | No Comments »
Tuesday, July 7th, 2009
We posted yesterday about minimally invasive treatments gaining popularity, so perhaps we should go into depth about exactly which procedures have been doing well recently.
Fraxel Restore treatments have been offered in our practice since 2006. Patients have given us positive feedback, describing younger, smoother skin. Â The feedback about improvement to acne-scarred skin has also been overwhelmingly positive. Treatment pricing has become more competitive over time, so Fraxel is now quite cost-effective.
Other cost effective treatments include Fotofacials or IPL. They provide excellent results, they’re easy on the pocketbook, and quick to satisfy patient concerns about uneven pigmentation, sun damage, and mottled skin. IPL is safe to use on the face, neck, chest, back, arms, etc. When you use an effective skin care regimen, it’s possible to maintain your refreshed look, and it’s a great way to protect your investment.
The tried and true chemical peel is still a favorite, even as other physicians try to reinvent the wheel with laser technology. Dr. Carney uses this treatment to resurface lines, moderate to deep wrinkles, and acne scars, correct uneven pigmentation, and perform skin tightening, with results lasting 5-10 years or longer. Chemical peels are making a comeback now as patients find high tech laser treatments associated with high price tags, along with results that sometimes don‚Äôt meet their expectations.
Our RN injection specialist, Yone Tierney, brought a wealth of experience from New York to Skin Speaks, providing Sculptra treatments to our cosmetic patients. Originally, Sculptra was FDA approved for treating facial fat loss (lipoatrophy) in patients with HIV, but 70-90% of its use has been for cosmetic applications. This wrinkle filler offers 2-3 years correction by volumizing, which greatly restores a youthful and natural look. It lifts the face, improves the jawline, the mid-face, hollows and circles under and around the eyes, and plumps up the cheeks.
Dr. Carney and his staff plan to further elaborate and answer questions on these procedures with an upcoming event, so contact us for more information.
Posted in Cosmetic Surgery | No Comments »
Monday, July 6th, 2009
 The desire to maintain a youthful and healthy look hasn not diminished just because of today’s uncertain economy. Patients are no less interested in pursuing cosmetic treatments and surgery. However, the educated patient is further investigating treatments that provide the most bang for the buck‚ and greater longevity. Dr. Carney, board certified dermatologist and fellowship-trained cosmetic surgeon offers surgical and non-invasive treatment options which are significantly growing in popularity as a result of our rather questionable future.
The most attractive aspect is the money saved. Because Dr. Carney provides all procedures in the office using only local anesthesia, you can choose to pursue the procedure and pay only for what is really necessary – a skilled surgeon and a desirable outcome. Our surgical procedures eliminate an average of $2500 in costs for general anesthesia and surgery center fees. A recent ET (Entertainment Tonight) segment discussed how this concept has grown in Hollywood, calling it the new and less invasive procedure to the stars! Less Downtime, Less Risk. Dr. Carney has the experience of 21 years, the past 17 using only local anesthesia, so while it may be trendy in Hollywood, it is not so new to us.
Contact Skin Speaks Spa/Advancements in Dermatology to find out more.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Friday, July 3rd, 2009
As we approach the 4th of July weekend, many of us are planning a trip to the cabin or an outdoor party to soak up the nice Minnesota weather and sun. Being recently reminded of the problems that can arise for acne sufferers in the summer, I just wanted to share two words of advice concerning acne and sun exposure.
- Acne treatments and prescription drugs often make one more sensitive and vulnerable to the sun’s damaging UV rays, so use extra caution if you’re taking medications for your acne.
- It has been said by some patients that sun exposure is good for acne, which isn’t entirely false; moderate sun exposure can improve acne to a certain extent. Â However, it doesn’t take much to get overexposed, which will have quite the opposite effect later on, with more oil production and clogged pores.
So don’t forget the sunscreen when you head out this weekend. The American Academy of Dermatology advises acne sufferers to use at least SPF 15. Â When you return, don’t hesitate to come see us at Skin Speaks to learn about acne treatments like photodynamic therapy or an acne facial.
Have a happy independence day!
Posted in Dermatology | No Comments »
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