Friday, March 27, 2009

Blue light Therapy for Acne- Another Gimmick? Part 4

When should I get blue light therapy?

First, blue light therapy is very expensive with no guarantee of results and should never be first line therapy. The first therapy of acne should be to keep the skin clean of all oil, avoid squeezing the pimples and try over the counter products. In the majority of cases, acne will resolve spontaneously without any treatment. For moderate acne, there are a few drugs including Accutane and antibiotics that should be the next step. Blue light therapy should only be an option for those who have failed the above treatments.

Is treatment covered by Insurance?


Blue light treatment is considered cosmetic and neither Medicare nor any Medical Insurance Carrier covers this therapy.

Final Word


Blue light therapy is just another fad that has come along for treating acne. There is nothing magical about it. Antibiotics have been used to kill bacteria to prevent acne for half a century and acne still occurs. So blue light is only a cosmetic gimmick. In the majority of studies concerning Blue light, physicians who market the product were involved in the small-scale non-randomized trials. Therefore, the results are dubious at best.

For those of you who have precious little money and acne, save your hard earned money and continue using other acne care remedies. For those of you who have money to burn, go vacation to France. Perhaps the sun and water in the Mediterranean may help cure your acne because one can bet, blue light certainly will not.

Blue light Therapy for Acne- Another Gimmick? Part 3

Cost of Blue Light Acne Treatment

The cost of blue light therapy is not cheap. A single session can cost anywhere from $40-$75. The full 10-20 sessions can cost $1,500-$2,000. While you do get treated well, there are no refunds when the treatment does not work

Does Blue light therapy work for all acne?

Definitely not. Only those individuals with moderate inflammatory acne show a response. Even among these individuals, not everyone gets the desired results. While the exact numbers of individuals who do not respond are known, there are many anecdotal reports of unsatisfied patients.

Are Multiple Blue Light Treatments Necessary?

Sure, how else will the skin doctor buy a new Lexus and go for vacation to Paris? In all of cosmetic medicine, follow-ups and repeat sessions are the norm. To maintain your good looks, every monthly or fortnight treatments may be recommended

How many types of Blue Light Therapy Systems exist?

There are several blue light therapy systems on the market and they all work by generating a narrow beam of blue light at a certain frequency. The blue light kills the bacteria.

Blue light Therapy for Acne- Another Gimmick? Part 2

Is this treatment permanent?
Definitely not. Maintenance treatments are required to keep up the acne free skin. Rest assured in all of plastic and cosmetic medicine, nothing is every cured in a single session. So chances are that most consumers will need several sessions (generally more than what you need).

When is the photo sensitizer chemical used?

In some cases of moderate acne, a topical chemical (levulan) will be applied to the skin 30-45 mins prior to the procedure. Then one spends about 5-10 minutes under the light to get the maximum benefit. In most cases, blue light photodynamic sessions are spaced over 2 weeks to allow the maximum effects of treatment to occur.

Is the treatment safe

Yes, the treatment is safe; there are no needles, no pain, or incisions. Blue light only targets the acne and not normal skin. While the doctors claim many patients will see improvement in 2-4 weeks, this is not often the case. In fact, only a select few patients with inflammatory acne will benefit. The majority of individuals with regular acne do not even need this treatment in the first place.

Which is the better treatment?

Most experts agree that blue light photosensitizing therapy is better than blue light alone. The most common side effects are redness, swelling, mild pain and stinging. These side effects are transient and resolve in a few days. Some patents do develop allergic reactions to levulan.

Blue light Therapy for Acne- Another Gimmick?

Every single say there are newer treatments being introduced for treatment of acne. The fact that there are so many treatments should make the consumer aware, that just like weight loss therapies, most treatments for acne suck. The basics of acne care start at home with conservative care. However, when home therapy and prescription drugs fail, most people seek other treatments.

One of the latest treatments for acne is Blue Light Therapy. The skin doctors have been heavily marketing this therapy (partly because they make a lot of money) but also because it may be an option for a few people with difficult acne. There are two basic Blue light systems available- the ClearLight and BLU-U. Both are considered photodynamic therapy- a fancy word to describe placing a light source on the skin.

What exactly is Blue Light Acne Therapy?

One of the Blue light therapies has been approved for the treatment of mild to moderate acne. The treatment is relatively painless and does not involve the use of UV light or lasers. The blue light is essentially used to kill the bacteria (p.acnes) which is known to cause acne breakouts. The Blue light is often administered alone but sometimes the physician will apply a special topical cream followed by the light. The topical cream photosensitizes the skin and the beam of light will remain focused on that particular site.

How long is the Blue Light Procedure?

Blue light therapy treatments are fast and can be completed in 20-30 minutes. The procedure is done in a clinic or a spa, you lie down and relax. The face is washed and dried. The blue light is applied and most people do not feel much sensation. The majority of people can resume their life style activity the same day. Most experts recommend blue light sessions once a week for several weeks until the desired result is obtained.

How long before I see results?

Well, it can take many months before you see a result. Moreover, the unfortunate thing is that many people show no response and have to pay for this expensive treatment. There is no way of knowing ahead of time who will and who will not respond to blue light therapy. If you have not had a response in 4-8 weeks, better quit before you go bankrupt

Friday, March 20, 2009

Melasma – “Mask of Pregnancy” Part 4

No treatment can cure Melasma. In 99% of cases, Melasma resolves on its own. Every treatment recommended for Melasma has the potential to cause more harm to the skin than any potential benefit

The majority of women who have undergone treatment for Melasma have not been satisfied, no method can bring back normal skin color. The more these unnecessary treatments are undertaken, the greater the chance of complications.

Since there is no perfect treatment, one should make an attempt by preventing the skin condition from getting worse. All this involves is wearing sunscreens. One should wear a sunscreen that contains both inorganic and organic compounds and has a SPF of > 20. Protective clothing and wearing a hat are all essential in preventing worsening of this skin disorder

The most important thing about Melasma is that it is a completely benign medical disorder with no untoward health consequences. The best and safest treatment is camouflage of the skin disorder, wearing a sunscreen to prevent the condition from getting worse and keeping away from dishonest health care workers. In the end, one should always question a treatment of a skin condition, which can spontaneously resolve by itself? - Medicine and money are always a bad combination

Melasma – “Mask of Pregnancy” Part 3

All females should understand that Melasma is only a temporary skin affliction and will resolve spontaneously after delivery.

In most cases, Melasma lasts a few months. The very rare female may have Melasma that may last a little longer. Unfortunately, many unscrupulous health care physicians have now been advertising for the treatment of Melasma as if it was a contagious disease. The very rare female may seek treatment because of the cosmesis.

So what is being advertised by the physicians?

Over the years, several treatments have been proposed for Melasma and they include:

- Chemical peels like trichloroacetic acid, azelaic acid,
glycolic acid, lactic acid and various fruit extracts
are used to treat Melasma. The effectiveness of many of
the lighter strength peeling agents is poor. The stronger
peeling agents do work but one also has to be aware of
the side effects such as burning, skin peeling, scarring
and even worsening of skin discoloration

- Bleaching agents like hydroquinone are often used to treat
Melasma. Health food stores and spas also sell a variety
of fruity peels and other bleaching agents. again, in each
and every case, the safety, quality and efficacy of these
products is in question

- To prevent Melasma from getting darker, it is advisable
to wear a sunscreen.

- Some physicians also recommend Laser rejuvenation. Only
thing to be said here is that these physicians have no
morals. Avoid any physician who wants to treat your melasma
with expensive treatments which are not needed.

In each and every case, the treatments are more risker than the actual skin disorder.

Melasma – “Mask of Pregnancy” Part 2

Generally, Melasma is seen in pregnant females only but there are cases where it has been reported in non-pregnant females. In addition, it has also been reported in males. The reason has been linked to an excess presence of the female sex hormone, estrogen. Melasma is most common around the 2nd and 3rd decade of life.

The exact cause of Melasma is not known but has been linked to an increase in the skin pigment, melanin. Melanin is responsible for the dark skin color.

Why excess levels of melanin are triggered during pregnancy is not well understood but some of the factors include:
- Genes- as always when something cannot be explained
- Female sex hormones
- Extended sun exposure
- Use of the birth control pill
- Use of medications like the tetracyclines and
anti malarial drugs

There is no evidence that Melasma is related to any skin disorder or a medical illness. In most cases, the female may notice darkening of her skin but generally, it is the physician who notices it first. There are no symptoms when a person develops Melasma. An astute dermatologist can make the diagnosis of Melasma by simple observation. It is very rare for any female to undergo any type of work up for this skin disorder (unless your physician is incompetent)or you have very good medical insurance). A skin biopsy is almost never done.

Melasma – “Mask of Pregnancy”

What is Melasma?

Melasma is a common skin disorder seen in women who get pregnant. Judging from the number of ads by plastic and cosmetic surgeons, one would think that Melasma was a dangerous incurable infection that requires urgent treatment.

To get the facts correct. Melasma is a completely benign skin disorder seen during pregnancy and usually disappears after birth of the infant. There is absolutely no need to seek treatment for Melasma. If your surgeon or dermatologist says you need treatment for this disorder, you need to seek another honest physician.

Melasma is also sometimes referred to as cholasma. The skin disorder is frequently seen in pregnant females and often referred to as the “mask of pregnancy”. It typically presents as a dark facial skin rash with irregular borders. The skin rash occurs equally on both sides of the face and covers the cheeks, lips nose and forehead. Very rarely, some women may also develop mild darkening around the shoulders and neck area.

Melasma can vary in color ranging from a dark brown to a deep grey.

Melasma is seen in women of all cultures and races. However, it is most common in non-Caucasian females- especially Asians, Middle Easterners, Latinos, and Orientals. Caucasian women do develop Melasma but the discoloration is very mild and not obvious to the casual observer.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Can Creams remove Tattoos Part 2

All the hype about tattoo removal creams is simply BS. None of the creams work and there is zero scientific evidence that these creams remove anything- except perhaps clean your pockets. There are many creams which have unknown chemicals, the purity and quality of these chemicals remains unknown. Many of these products come from the Orient (and never forget, Oriental products have been known to be contaminated with crap). Reports of skin rashes, blisters, dermatitis, allergy and pimples are common complaints by consumers who have used these creams.

The entire industry that deals with tattoo removal is unregulated and not monitored. Anyone can open up a parlor and start to sell anything these days. Many of the creams only contain bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide or hydroquinone. These tattoo removal creams can be bought anywhere including cyberspace.

In addition, these creams, lotions, and potions for tattoo removal are not cheap. A single jar may cost anywhere from $ 50 and upwards and most websites try and sell you more. Ads such as 2 for 1 or buy one get second free, are common (if ever you see an ad about a product that says buy one, get one free- it is a sure bet that it is a scam). Most of the dealers say apply the creams for 1-3 months and when nothing happens, they tell you that the instructions were not carefully followed.

In general, the more expensive the cream, the less likely it will do anything.

The take home advice about creams for tattoo removal is that they are a waste of time, money and may even be harmful to your health. For those who desperately want the tattoo removed, go and seek advice from a professional.

Lasers are now currently available and even though more expensive, they will do the job. If you do not have money for laser, cover the tattoo with a garment- cheap, safe and works

Can Creams remove Tattoos

Once a permanent tattoo has been etched onto the skin, good luck if you can find an easy way to take it out. While placing a tattoo is only mildly painful, finding a decent method of having the tattoo removed is a real pain in the rear. If you speak to 20 of your friends who have had tattoos and ask them about tattoo removal, you will get 100 different answers and each answer will be more stupid than the first.

Removal of a permanent tattoo is no piece of cake. The internet is inundated with sites that claim they can remove tattoo- the majority end up cleaning your pockets and give you a big scar

There are many half-decent methods of removing tattoos, but recently there has been an explosion of creams hyped up to remove tattoos. So let us look at that
There are literally 1000s of website trying to sell creams, lotions, potions, gels, powders, and liquids, which can remove tattoos. This is nothing new- days before we had the laser, people were still mucking around with soaps and creams- nothing happened then, and people got wiser. Now that we have laser, another generation of individuals has gone back to square one and trying to promote more creams for tattoo removal.

Today, there are products like “Tattoo Off” or “TattooBgone” Others also claim that the same creams will also remove your acne, get rid of your wrinkles, fine lines and make you look younger, prettier, and beautiful.

Surgery for Sweating

Surgery

The latest advances in surgery can help treat sweating (hyperhidrosis) permanently. The surgery involves excising the sympathetic ganglia (T1-T4) (neurons responsible for sweating). A survey shows that thoracoscopic sympathectomy (using a small camera) to be the best procedure in the treatment of sweating. It produces immediate results and improves the quality of one’s life. There many variations for thoracic sympathectomy and it is considered the gold standard in the treatment of this awful condition.

Advances in surgery have allowed for this procedure to be done through 1 cm holes in the chest. The recovery is rapid and sweating stops the next day. The day after surgery, the majority of individual report no more sweating. After 3 years about 10-15% of patients do report some recurrence of sweating but this is tolerable. The individuals claim a significant improvement in life and no social embarrassment.

Surgery complications include:


- compensatory sweating (induction of sweating in previously
unaffected areas of the body),
- gustatory sweating (sweating during eating)
- pneumothorax (air in the chest cavity)
- intercostal neuralgia (pain on the chest wall)
- Horner syndrome (sagging of the eye lid)
- Recurrence of hyperhidrosis.

Other Surgery techniques have also been developed but include destruction of the sweat glands. The results over a long time are unknown.

Subcutaneous liposuction
is another method of removing the sweat glands responsible for axillary sweating. Compared with classic surgical excision, this modality results in less disruption to the overlying skin, resulting in smaller surgical scars and a diminished area of hair loss.

Alternatives to surgery


Some individual are not keen to undergo surgery and seek other ways to cure their sweating problem. Over the past 4 decades, numerous other methods have been developed to help treat sweating. While these are not main stream conventional medical therapies, they are available for those who are not keen for surgery. The methods include acupuncture, anti-anxiety medications, beta blockers, chelation therapy, purging of the colon with water, biofeedback, and herbal medicines. So far there is not an iota of evidence that any of these work at all. The only thing that these therapies decrease is the money in your pocket.

The gold standard for sweating is surgery and currently it is recommended as the first choice therapy. By being informed and seeing a reputable physician, the individual can save himself a lot of money and aggravation by avoiding all the nonsensical and quack methods.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Breast Enlargement- Part 3

For those who are undecided about breast enlargement, talk to your family, friends and others who have had the surgery. Do not discuss this with the surgeon.

Remember, surgeons make money doing the procedure and very few really care what you think. They just want to make the money. While there is no doubt that breast enlargement can improve your outlook and provide a sexy profile, problems with body image are not always due to the breasts. Some individuals have a problem with their thinking, which needs to be corrected (which is cheaper and safer than getting breast enlargement).

There are no absolute reasons why one cannot undergo breast augmentation but in general, one should be in good health and have a realistic attitude. Breast enlargement is generally not done for women under the age of 20 because the breasts are still growing.

Breast enlargement today is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedure and most individuals get a decent result. However, there are way too many people performing cosmetic surgery and while mishaps are rare, they do happen all the time. In the end the best results depends on your selection of a surgeon.

The cost of breast augmentation is quite variable and depends where you live and which surgeon you visit. Expensive is not always better. Since you paying the big bucks, get your money’s worth. You select the surgeon, be well read – the more prepared you are the better care you can get. Cosmetic surgery has more charlatans than Wall Street.

If ever you feel that a surgeon is being pushy or has not answered your questions, go elsewhere.

Breast Enlargement- Part 1

Today, breast enlargement surgery is an art. The results are superb (unless you pick a crap surgeon). the majority of women remain satisfied with the results.

The surgery can make the breasts look symmetrical and the the size can be increased by several cups.

All consumers should know that the results of breast enlargement are not forever but will last a couple of decades. No plastic surgeon cant reverse nature.

In the 40s and 50s, the breast may start to sag a little and this will become obvious in the 60s. Sagging of the breasts can occur prematurely if one gets pregnant, gains weight, gets old or loses a lot of weight.

Most women who under go surgery to enlarge their breasts get a satisfactory result. The large breasts can suddenly improve the physical appearance and boost self-confidence.

However, all women should understand that no matter what cup size they select, breast augmentation will not change who you are as a person, how you think and what others think about you as an individual

Breast Enlargement- Part 2

Breast enlargement is done for several reasons:

- The female perceives that her breasts are too small and wants
to improve her body image. What is too small is not defined and
it is only a personal feeling
- Some females lose breast volume after pregnancy and want to
restore both the size and contour
- Some females have uneven breasts and want to make the breast
symmetrical both in size and shape
- Some want to get rid of the sagging breasts
- Some want more firmer breasts with a sexy curve
- Some women want to replace the breast removed following cancer
surgery
- Some women are born with a congenital malformation of the breast
or have suffered trauma to the chest and would like to have a normal
looking breast
- the majority just want to look sexy and appealing

Breast Enlargement- Part 1

Enlargement of the breast is also sometimes referred to as breast augmentation or medically speaking known as augmentation mammoplasty.

The surgery is done to increase size and shape of the woman’s breast. The theory behind breast enlargement is very simple- a prosthesis (plastic balloon) is placed under the breast and then filled with either saline or silicone. In some cases, the patient's own muscles are used to augment the breast.

In the majority of cases, breast enlargement is accomplished with the use of a breast implant. The implant may be placed behind the breast muscles or is placed behind the nipple- there is a big difference between the two procedures.

In almost all cases, the breast can be increased by several cup sizes. In some cases, the plastic balloon is slowly filled with more water or silicone until the desired breast size is obtained.

All implants give the breast a full appearance with a more sexy cleavage and an erotic shape.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Breast Reduction Surgery Part 2

Breast reduction surgery can be done at any age, but because the breasts are still growing till about the age of 22-24, it is best to wait. In most women, breasts stop growing around age 22 and surgery at around 24-25 years of age is acceptable. Only very rarely is breast reduction surgery done in a female under the age of 20. This is only done to relieve the stress and emotional pain encountered at school from having large breasts.

A common reason to delay breast reduction surgery is pregnancy. It is highly recommended that the female first complete pregnancy and then have the breast surgery. Pregnancy leads to a number of physical changes in the body and does change size, contour and shape of the breast. In addition, the breasts also become saggy and large.

If pregnancy occurs after a reduction mammoplasty, one may have some discomfort during breast feeding.

All women should understand that breast reduction surgery is strictly elective and no one should rush into surgery. It is important to discuss the following with your surgeon prior to going underneath the knife:

- What will the surgery involve
- where will the incision be
- How much breast tissue will be removed
- What is the downtime
- What are the immediate side effects and possible complications
- What is the cost of the procedure
- How and where will the nipple be re located
- Who will give you anesthesia
- Where will the surgery be done

While these may not sound important questions, remember, the business of cosmetic surgery has gotten out of hand. Because of the lure of money, many health care professionals are doing it. Some are excellent surgeons but many are just mediocre and only interested in your money.

The cost of the procedure is very variable and depends where you go and to whom. The average costs for breast reduction surgery is $5,000-$15,000.

Overall, breast reduction surgery produces excellent cosmetic results.

Final analysis: Since you are paying big bucks, get yourself a decent surgeon who is willing to answer all your questions and give you a price quote. If anytime you feel insecure about the surgeon, get a second opinion. Remember in plastic surgery there are no refunds and scars are permanent.

Breast Reduction Surgery Part 1

Having large breasts is something most women want. However, there are some women who do have large breasts and they are not happy. Having large breasts is not always sexy, better or beautiful. Some women with large breasts feel they are always ridiculed as being “loose women” , "sex objects" or women who like to "sleep around'.

For women with large breasts, there is an option. Breast reduction surgery or reduction mammoplasty is a refined art and can produce great results. While there are several techniques for performing breast reduction, all of them have super to excellent results (unless you selected a bad surgeon).

In the USA, close to a 100,000 women undergo breast reduction surgery. While many women undergo surgery because of the poor cosmesis from large awkward breasts, there are also a fair number of women who undergo surgery to relieve the physical symptoms such as:

- neck pain which can be moderate to severe
- constant back pain
- pain along the bra straps
- deep grooves from bra straps
- unable to maintain an upright posture
- embarrassment and being ridiculed
- laughed at by both genders
- development of recurrent infections/skin rash underneath the breast crease
- having low self esteem
- low confidence and feeling isolated
- have difficulty finding proper clothes
- finding appropriate bra wear