Latest From Our Blog
(New York Times 7/11). A combination of factors has discouraged many doctors from carrying Zostavax, the vaccine for shingles. Merck, the manufacturer has also been unable to provide sufficient quantities to even meet modest demands. As a result, intermittent shortages have prevented consistent marketing and have therefore stalled Public Health agencies from informing the public. […]
(Loyola University Medical Center 7/11). Baseball caps, flip-flops, and other cool summer attire present a serious problem: They leave areas of the skin exposed to harmful rays from the sun. The risk of developing skin cancers in these areas is very real, and especially dangerous on the top of the ears because people rarely inspect or […]
(New York Times 7/11). Anyone looking to cool off in rivers, lakes, ponds, or pools this summer should take heed of this warning. Chemicals or germs in the water can irritate or infect your skin. These contaminants may cause problems in the skin, eyes, ears, nervous system, respiratory system, and gastrointestinal system, in addition to […]
(Washington 7/11). At least 10 members of the House of Representatives have asked the FDA to look into keratin based hair straighteners, including the popular Brazilian blowout, due to the potential exposure to high levels of formaldehyde. Reports of hair loss, respiratory problems, and other illnesses have been reported. Formaldehyde is classified as potentially carcinogenic. […]
(Archives of Dermatology 6/11). It seems skin cancer surveillance should focus on patients over 50 years old, as they have more difficulty in spotting melanoma on their own. More than 50% of melanomas were found by dermatologists in older patients, versus more young patients spotting their own lesions by being more aware of changes in their […]
(Dermatology Surgery 6/11). Research suggests that using Botox more than one time allows you to start using less to achieve the same results after 20 months. They also suggest that people who start using Botox therapy between 30-50 years of age can prevent future wrinkles as well as erasing existing ones. Wrinkle prevention seems to […]
(Addiction Biology 8/11). People who participate in indoor tanning frequently experience alterations in their brain activity while tanning. According to researchers, these changes closely mimic those associated with drug addiction. This study is the first to actually peer inside the brains of people as they lay in their tanning beds. Multiple areas of the brain […]
(ABC News8/11). Baby Boomers, and even people in their 70′s, are turning to cosmetic procedures. The number of cosmetic surgery patients over 65 years old has soared. Healthy older people who are medically stable have nearly identical surgical risks compared to their younger peers. Some patients are considering having such procedures to stay competitive in […]
(Bloomberg News 6/11). The company Fibrocell Science has received FDA approval for a new injectable wrinkle treatment that restores elasticity to the skin, using the patient’s own cells. The treatment is known as LAVIV, and it is Fibrocell’s initial market product as well as the first treatment for wrinkles that is made from the patient’s […]
(CDC 8/11). A rare skin infection linked to tattoos in healthy young men appeared to arise out of a tattoo parlor in Seattle. It seems the unusual bacteria can develop in tap water. Unfortunately, the infections were not very responsive to traditional treatments and took several months to heal. The CDC has recommended that tattoo […]
(Canadian Medical Association Journal 8/11). Researchers reported despite the increasing popularity of convenient gel hand sanitizers, regular soap and water hand washing was more effective at eliminating all forms of pathogens. This may be true. If hand washing is available choose it first, assuming the soap source is not a dirty bar sitting in […]
Outbreaks of contagious skin infections may spread quickly among sports teams. 2/11, Mozes) The team spirit of school athletic programs may encourage sharing, but one dermatologist has issued a warning that players could unknowingly be sharing something undesirable: Contagious skin disease. The supporting research was presented at the American Academy of Dermatology meeting. Dermatologist Brian […]
