Anti-Aging and Acne Solutions

Anti Aging and Acne Solutions presents the following article regarding how certain enzymes impact hair and skin health.  As science continues to find amazing breakthroughs for anti-aging, we will find in the future that we are able to maintain a more and more youthful appearance even as we age chronologically! (at least that is MY hope!)

Showcasing that the health of the skin and body are truly intertwined, a recent study of a fat-synthesizing enzyme provides information on how the body processes and reacts to retinoic acid.
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Anti Aging and Acne Solutions presents the following thoughts about how to get the best acne solutions from your dermatologist.  I, too, suffer from adult acne and know that my relationship with my dermatologist, how we discuss my concerns, and how I come into her office prepared with questions and challenges have helped us to work together to create an acne solution that has truly changed my skin and my outlook.

Want to get the best possible treatment for your acne, and become your dermatologist’s favorite patient at the same time? Here are five things your dermatologist really wants you to know.
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Anti Aging and Acne Solutions presents the following article about Botox.  I am an admitted lover of Botox, it has dramatically impacted my appearance.  I  ended up with lines in my forehead, as I have a very expressive face.    ALso, after years of not wearing sunglasses helped to create a "scowl" kind of line between my eyes on my forehead. 

I absolutely hated those lines and they made me feel as if I looked older, tired, and candidly, not happy.  I began using botox approximately three years ago, and from the very first injections, I have received amazing compliments from friends and family members.  My favorite is when I met my now fiance and he truly thought that I was at least 4 to 5 years younger than my actual age!  There are risks, and Botox is not exactly cheap, but I urge you to read this information, contact your dermatologist and discover if Botox injections, or other injectable fillers, are the right anti-aging solutions for you!

Lots of people have questions about Botox Cosmetic, and often times they share similar concerns. Here are some answers to the most common questions about Botox.

What is Botox, and is it safe?

Botox is the shorthand term for botulinum toxin and is a substance that is injected under the skin to inhibit the release of acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is the chemical that causes your facial muscles to contract, thereby causing many types of wrinkles. Botox is extracted from a toxin, but no bacteria are injected into the skin. Thus, there is no risk of contracting botulism.

Can Botox get rid of all wrinkles?

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Anti-Aging and Acne Solutions presents the following article regarding some of the top anti-aging spa products. 

Anti-aging is often the name of the game when it comes to the spa, and anti-aging treatments and retail hinge on quality products. According to this new study by Mintel, anti-aging skin care products are beginning to become the most purchased skin care items.
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From the New York Post, Page Six, is the following article, "The Hands of Time" written by Beth Landman. I, too, have issues with my hands giving away my age. I wear jewelry and love to wear fun cocktail rings and bracelets that bring attention to my hands. I always cringe a bit when someone asks to take my hand and look at a piece of jewelry more closely as all I can think about is how they are looking at my veins and spot! Ugh! However, there are anti-aging options out there for hands as well, a small investment to showcase youthful hands with gorgeous jewelry!

When 52-year-old Sharon Blair* married Mark Burrows*, 44, she thought they made the perfect couple. She had always taken care of her appearance, had a facelift at 48 and kept a regular regime of Botox and injectable fillers. But when the wedding pictures came back from the photographer, she was mortified. "You know that shot they always have with the couple holding hands and wearing their rings?" says Dr. Howard Sobel, the cosmetic dermatologist who for years had been caring for Sharon’s face. "It was one of those uh-oh moments. She looked great—younger than her husband—but her hands had a lot of sun damage, hyperpigmented spots and wrinkled skin with prominent veins."

Sharon quickly photoshopped the wedding pictures before anyone saw them, and booked some treatments: Aurora laser to get rid of sunspots, eMAX laser with radio frequency to tighten the skin’s surface, and injections of the filler Radiesse to make blood vessels less noticeable. "I don’t think her husband’s family knew her true age, and after she fixed the photos and her hands, they weren’t about to find out," says Dr. Sobel.

Hands give away age more than any other body part, but until recently, not much could be done about it. "I always told my clients, ‘If you want to look younger, hold your hands up—sit with them raised during dinner so the blood flows down and veins appear smaller,’ " says Josephine Allen, a celebrity manicurist who works at the Upper East Side’s Samuel Shriqui salon and tends to the dainty digits of Julia Roberts and Heidi Klum.

"Women who are thin and those with fair skin have hands that look older because you can see the veins more easily. And if you’ve had enough sun exposure, you can have liver spots on your hands in your early thirties," adds Dr. Robin Ashinoff, a dermatologist at Hackensack University Medical Center.

"Look at Angelina Jolie," continues Sam Rizk, an Upper East Side plastic surgeon. The actress is 33, but "you can see those dorsal veins on her hands. She should soften them up." Now she—and anyone prepared to shell out a few thousand bucks—can. Cosmetic dermatologists, plastic surgeons and spas are becoming increasingly conscious of finding ways to match hands to a youthful-looking face.

Berenice Electrolysis & Personal Beauty Center, the beauty emporium on East 61st street that caters to New York socialites, has just added a machine that uses light to stimulate collagen and eliminate age spots. "The clients stick their hands under the machine for 15 minutes before they leave the spa," explains owner Berenice Rothenberg. Dermatologist Lewis Feder has been fixing up Big Apple hands for several years, and started offering finger treatments 18 months ago. "I’ve been doing a lot of rejuvenation recently," he says. "I come in with fat at the
wrist and massage it into the tissue. You must do the fingers too, or they won’t look good. Finally I use microdermabrasion or a light peel to soften and even out the skin, and intense pulsed light for dark spots."

Dermatologist Dr. Fredric Brandt has developed his own cure ($1,000 to $3,500, depending on the damage) that deals with sunspots or discolorations, prominent veins and loss of volume. For problems two and three, his solution is fillers like Perlane,which lasts six to eight months. He addresses the first problem with lasers and peels, which improve texture and have a fading effect. "A lot of actresses wear makeup on their hands," says Dr. Brandt. "But lasers really work on skin that is thin or wrinkly or sallow."

Dr. Andrew Kornstein, a Fifth Avenue specialist, prefers to plump the hands with fat, a process that requires harvesting cells from your own butt, hips or belly. "In order to control the aging process, you have to restore volume to the hands the way you do in the face. Not only does fat last 10 years, but there is strong scientific evidence that it acts like stem cells, increasing circulation and causing new cells to grow." Skin looks smoother and tighter, and veins are camouflaged with the $7,000 procedure (which requires "twilight" anaesthetic and a week or two of recovery time). For those who don’t want to go through the surgical process of transferring fat, Dr. Kornstein uses Radiesse, a filler made from bone matrix, which lasts up to a year.

Jackie Jones, who lives in Queens and works as an office manager, is a believer in fillers. "I’ve always been bothered by my hands," she admits. "Last year, when I turned 40, I had the hands of a 70-year-old." So she visited Park Avenue dermatologist Neil Sadick and had her hands injected with Radiesse ($1,500 to $2,500). "I was out of his office in 45 minutes," Jackie says. "Before, I was too embarrassed to even get a manicure. Now I’m wearing bright polish."

Men, too, have begun to seek cosmetic improvement for their extremities. "Guys love this new machine called Storz: it delivers high-energy shock waves," says Suzanne Levine, a podiatrist who also treats hands. "It was originally used for pain, but it plumps up skin, gets rid of wrinkles and slims knuckles." Women likewise are clamoring for the $250 machine. Says Suzanne: "I have one actress who ordered a [Storz] for her home, and a couple of others who have asked me to bring it to L.A. to use on them before the Academy Awards."

Some couples are even having his and hers treatments. "I just did a husband and wife team that came in from Palm Beach and had their hands done together," says Dr. Brandt. "He is 39, she is a bit older, and it was his idea. He gave her a huge diamond for their wedding anniversary and now she’s proud to wear it."

Adds Dr. Kornstein: "People ask me if cosmetic enhancement of the hands is expensive. It’s a few thousand dollars, but really it winds up costing a lot more. After all, the plastic surgery is nothing compared to the jewelry that is bought afterward, once someone is happy with her hands."

Have you seen the newest Yaz commercials?  Anti-Aging and Acne Solutions presents the followign article that outlines how Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals has had to revamp their ad campaign for Yaz, in part to clarify statements that they had made in previous ads about how taking Yaz could impact your acne concerns.

If you have acne and have more questions about taking Yaz, or any other birth control pill, discuss these concerns with your doctor or dermatologist. 

A Birth Control Pill That Promised Too Much

by Natasha Singer

The New York Times

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals has just introduced a new $20 million advertising campaign for Yaz, the most popular birth control pill in the United States.

But the television ads, now running during prime-time shows like “Grey’s Anatomy” and on cable networks, are not typical spots promoting the benefits of a prescription drug. Instead, they warn that nobody should take Yaz hoping that it will also cure pimples or premenstrual syndrome.

As part of an unusual crackdown on deceptive consumer drug advertising, the Food and Drug Administration and the attorneys general of 27 states have required Bayer to run these new ads to correct previous Yaz marketing.

Regulators say the ads overstated the drug’s ability to improve women’s moods and clear up acne, while playing down its potential health risks. Under a settlement with the states, Bayer agreed last Friday to spend at least $20 million on the campaign and for the next six years to submit all Yaz ads for federal screening before they appear.

“You may have seen some Yaz commercials recently that were not clear,” an actress says in the new corrective television spot, as she looks into the camera. “The F.D.A. wants us to correct a few points in those ads.”

Yaz is the best-selling oral contraception pill in the United States, with sales last year of about $616 million or about 18 percent market share, according to IMS Health, a health care information company.

Critics of consumer drug advertising say that while the F.D.A. sends a few dozen letters each year asking drug companies to suspend, amend or correct informational pamphlets and videos, it is unusual for the government to require commercials to set the record straight.

“They rarely require these corrective campaigns,” said Judy Norsigian, the executive director of Our Bodies Ourselves, a health education and women’s advocacy group in Cambridge, Mass. But she said the popularity of the Yaz brand and the misleading ads had demanded a rare punishment. “These ads should never have been out there,” Ms. Norsigian said.

Representatives of the F.D.A., and the Florida attorney general, who led the states’ effort, declined requests for phone interviews. They released a joint statement on Monday in which they said, in part, they wanted to “clean up misleading advertising in the marketplace.”

California, Texas, Massachusetts and Michigan were among other states in the settlement, in which Bayer did not admit that it had engaged in deceptive advertising or committed any wrongdoing.

A Bayer spokeswoman responded to a query with an e-mail message. “The ad for Yaz was revised to more clearly state the indications for Yaz,” she wrote, adding that no one from Bayer was available for a phone interview to answer other questions on Tuesday.

The corrective television commercials, which began appearing two weeks ago, are scheduled to run until July 26. New print ads, in national magazines like Lucky and Elle, give detailed information about Yaz, but do not indicate they are meant to correct earlier television ads.

The F.D.A. first moved against the Yaz campaign last October, with a warning letter to Bayer saying that two television ads overstated the drug’s benefits while understating its risks. By giving consumers the impression that Yaz was generally a drug for acne and general mood problems, the company’s ads ran afoul of federal laws against promoting the unapproved uses of a drug, the F.D.A. said. The agency approved Yaz in 2006 as a birth control pill that has a side benefit in treating mood-related psychological problems called premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

In 2007, the agency approved another side benefit of Yaz, that of improving moderate acne. But Yaz contains drospirenone, a progestin that can cause excess potassium production in some patients, its side effects include an increased risk of serious heart and other health problems.

After the F.D.A. complained, Bayer halted the Yaz ads. The agency told Bayer to submit a media plan for a corrective message that would reach the same size and kind of television audiences as the misleading ads did.

The Bayer affair comes at a delicate moment for the pharmaceutical industry. Some of the most popular branded drugs are nearing patent expirations that will open the doors to generic competition, so many big-name drug makers now rely heavily on direct-to-consumer advertising.

Critics charge that the F.D.A. division that oversees drug promotion, with a staff of 52 people, cannot keep up with the tens of thousands of marketing and advertising items produced annually by drug manufacturers. The Yaz controversy may raise new questions about whether that oversight is sufficient.

Aimed primarily at women in their 20s, Yaz has been known for its slogan — “Beyond Birth Control” — which promotes it not only for pregnancy prevention but as a lifestyle drug.

In one of the commercials cited by the F.D.A., with the song “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister playing in the background, a series of young fashionably dressed women kicked away or punctured floating signs with labels like “irritability” and “feeling anxious.” Meanwhile, a voiceover promoted Yaz as a “pill that goes beyond the rest,” with benefits like the ability to maintain clear skin.

The other commercial, set to the tune “Goodbye to You” by the Veronicas, shows a variety of women next to balloons — marked “headaches,” “acne” and “feeling anxious” — which float away, presumably after treatment with Yaz.

“The ad is basically speaking to a majority of menstruating women,” and not to the minority of women with the psychological problem for which Yaz is approved, said Dr. Nada L. Stotland, a professor of psychiatry at Rush Medical Center in Chicago and the president of the American Psychiatric Association.

For 2008 during which the ads in question were broadcast on television, sales of Yaz in the United States increased to about $616 million, from about $262 million the year before, according to IMS Health.

This is not the first time that health groups and government officials have faulted birth control commercials as being misleading. In 2003, the F.D.A. sent a warning letter to Berlex Laboratories faulting its ads for Yasmin, the precursor to Yaz, for implying the pills were superior to other oral contraceptives and for minimizing risks specific to the drug.

Bayer, which acquired Berlex as part of a deal in 2006, now markets Yasmin. Last year, Yasmin had sales of about $382 million, or about 11 percent of the United States market, according to IMS Health.

Bruce L. Lambert, a professor of pharmacy administration at the University of Illinois at Chicago, lauded the F.D.A. for insisting this time that Bayer run a corrective advertising campaign. But he referred to the corrective $20 million ad campaign for Yaz as “chump change” and “just the cost of doing business.”

“I don’t think it is likely to stop,” he said, “unless there are more significant consequences.”

From the American Society of Plastic Surgeons comes the following article and study on aging in the workplace.  I read this article, and wanted to feel some measure of surprise, but as a female executive myself, I cannot say that this is a huge surprise at all. 

I myself have used some cosmetic procedures, and certainly use my fair share of anti-aging products.  Of course, we have pride in our appearance, it feels good to look and feel young, and there is a competitive edge in our society to have a pleasant, professional image. 

What are your thoughts? 

Arlington Heights, February 10, 2009 /PRNewswire/ — Faced with news of increasing layoffs, straining economic times, and a belief that hiring is based on looks, millions of American women are looking at cosmetic medical procedures to give them a competitive edge in the workplace. In a new telephone survey* compiled by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) of 756 women between the ages of 18 and 64, many reveal cosmetic plastic surgery procedures now appear to be an important rung on the success ladder.

*  13 percent (more than 1 out of 10 of the 115-million working-age women) say they would consider having a cosmetic medical procedure specifically to make them more confident and more competitive in the job market.

*  An astounding 3 percent (nearly 3.5-million working women) say they’ve already had a cosmetic procedure to increase their perceived value in the workplace.  

*  73 percent (almost three out of four or, 84-million working women) believe, particularly in these challenging economic times, appearance and youthful looks play a part in getting hired, getting a promotion, or getting new clients.

*  80 percent (four out of five or 92-million working women) think having cosmetic medical procedures can boost a person’s confidence.

Insurance Broker Janice Axelrod, a baby-boomer, recently had a chemical peel and fat transfers from her abdomen to her face. "Time has given me the professional knowledge. But time can take away the youthful sparkle of my appearance if I let it. When you look good, you feel confident. That gives me a competitive edge and something my clients have come to expect from me," says Axelrod.

ASPS Member Surgeon Loren Schechter, MD performed Axelrod’s cosmetic procedures at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. He says "Not only do the women believe youthful looks help in the workplace… they’re acting on that belief."

John Canady, MD, president of ASPS says, "Consumers need to remember that while cosmetic procedures might help them in the job market, they’re still medical procedures." Canady says women still need to proceed with caution. "Patient safety is ASPS’ number one concern. Women need to do their homework. Go to the ASPS website at www.plasticsurgery.org to find an ASPS Member Surgeon in your area."

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. Representing more than 6,700 physician members, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

* Survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation. Results have a +/- 3% error range.

Anti-Aging and Acne Solutions came across this a new skin care treatment to share with you.  The "Derma-Roller" looks a bit like a very small version of a antique torture device, but apparently is a new non-surgical technique to help your skin look younger and healthier! 

How does the Derma-Roller work?  The Derma-Roller, which is like a little wheel with small needles attached, is gently rolled across your face.  Basically, this technique (also known as micro-channeling or micro-needling) creates little  holes in your skin.  Then, by just these tiny holes, your skin is stimulated to create more collagen.

This technique may be able to help a variety of patients with skin care concerns including not only making your skin look younger, but also to assist patients with scars and pigment concerns.

Funny how very low-tech this procedure appears to be, yet seems to be very successful.  Furthermore, you do not see any of the holes, so you need not worry about having to "hide out" for days while your skin is healing or repairing itself. 

You can also use this technique on other areas of your body safely, and the cost is relatively inexpensive (only about $200) compared to other tecnhiques that cost much more.  Ask your dermatologist or skin care professional about the Derma-Roller if you want more information.

I recent found my first grey hair, and realized that there is a lot of emotion behind those first grey hairs.  Am I getting old?  Does this mean that my hair will start to thin?  Should I color my hair?  Should I embrace the beauty of grey? 

I even put those questions before friends and family, and overwhelming I was told, COLOR YOUR HAIR!  Of course, grey hair can make us look older.  Now, on men, often some grey hair is "distinguished" and that salt and pepper look is fantastic on George Clooney.

But what about for women?  Does grey make us look older?  Feel older?  Or, is part of aging, and anti-aging, is aging gracefully and taking steps not so much to "cover the grey" but to maintain our hair in our natural color to maintain a feeling of youthfulness.   For me, I have already made my appointment.  Here is a great article that provides wonderful information about grey hair, how we get it, and what we can do about it:

At any age grey hair can materialize. It’s not always an indication of aging, it’s caused by a dropping off in pigmentation (grey hair) or a complete lack of pigment (white hair), and the basis for it is not fully known. The most obvious symbol of aging is the changing colour of our hair. As we age our hair produces less melanin, the same melanin that gives our skin its colour. This is the reason our hair turns grey.

Age also has an effect on our hair in other ways. A number of women will notice that their hair thins and lacks life, for others it will appear to be dry and coarse. As we get older our hair starts to get drier, and needs more moisture. Older hair often loses some of its elasticity and the consistency alters. This is because as we get older the size of our hair follicles get smaller and hair growth slows down. Therefore there is not as much new growth to replace what is lost.

Sebum (oil produced naturally by our skin) lessens as we age, and as a consequence our hair, therefore, lacks its natural shine and softness. And our production of keratin also slows during the menopause. This particular protein fibre is a must in maintaining healthy, strong hair. Going bald, having thinning hair and coarse hair is a subject that affects many men, plus facial hair. To conceal your grey hair opt for the right shade of hair colour. If you use a dark colour it can draw attention to a dull complexion. So do not use a colour more than a couple of tones darker or lighter than your own hair colour.

If you wish to keep your grey, try to use a hair shampoo and conditioner that is targeted specially for grey hair. Grey hair can look yellow or greenish on a number of people. To neutralize the yellow colour and leave your hair shiny and good-looking, try using a greying shampoo that has a violet based colour, instead of your usual shampoo. Highlights or lowlights can camouflage any grey you want to mask by blending them into the rest of your hair. The same with hair colourants, keep away from going more than a couple of shades lighter than your own hair colour to steer clear of looking older than you really are.

As the years go by your hair loses its elasticity and then it becomes more difficult to style, so try opting for a protein treatment to use once a month to support your hair. For both women and men, thinning hair can be given a more voluminous look by using volumizing products such as conditioners and mousses. Apply a weekly deep conditioning treatment – that is recommended for aging hair. Moisturizing (conditioning) your hair is a necessity as we get older. This will preserve the moisture levels in your hair.

About the Author:

Jennifer Summers is a great source of information on grey hair shampoo, regularly providing informative advice on greying hair.

Anti-Aging and Acne Solutions presents the following thoughts and solutions to eliminating blackheads.

I highly recommend that you consult with your dermatologist before you try any kind of blackhead removal or treatments without their specific direction.  There are amny ways to care for our skin, and those of us that suffer from acne need to be very careful and work with our dermatologist or skin care professional to address our specific skin care concerns.

Are you looking for a solution on how to get rid of blackheads – especially on the nose? All of us want glowing skin that is free from all sorts of blemishes like pimples, acne, zits etc.
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