Doctors Corner

WARNINGS OF MERCURY POISONING FROM FOREIGN FACE CREAM

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:02:00 GMT

(Texas Department of State Health Services 9/11). Texas Health Services warned of 18 cases of mercury poisoning in south Texas linked to face cream sold in Mexico that was not FDA approved under the label 'CREMA AGUAMARY'. The samples tested showed high levels of mercury, sometimes HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TIMES HIGHER than is permitted in the U.S.. READ YOU LABELS CAREFULLY. REMEMBER THAT CREAMS CAN BE ABSORBED INTO THE SKIN AND AFFECT YOUR HEALTH. BE CAREFUL ABOUT BUYING CREAMS THAT ARE NOT FROM RECOGNIZED COMPANIES OUTSIDE THE U.S.

HAIR STRAIGHTENERS CALLED UNSAFE!

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:52:00 GMT

(CIREP 8/11). The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has tentatively concluded that hair straightening products that use formaldehyde or methylene glycol and heat are unsafe. They did say that the two chemicals in minimal concentrations were safe on the skin. They declared data insufficient to indicate safety status in nail hardening products. They also cautioned that some FORMALDEHYDE FREE hair products contain methylene and formalin, which are essentially the same chemical as formaldehyde. The decision of the panel is now open for public and industry comments.

PLEASE SEE A PREVIOUS POST FOR A LIST OF SIDE EFFECTS FROM THIS PRODUCT. IT SEEMS IT WAS JUST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE FOR SOME OF US FRIZZY-GIRL TYPES. PLEASE CAUTION YOUR TEENAGERS TO WAIT TO SEE IF THESE POPULAR PRODUCTS ARE INDEED SAFE FOR THEM.

SPICE IS NICE!! - NOT EXACTLY DERMATOLOGY NEWS BUT TOO INTERESTING TO IGNORE

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:51:00 GMT

(Journal of Biological Chemistry 8/11). Curcumin.... which gives the curry spice Tumeric its bright yellow color, may be helpful in treating painful inflammatory conditions such as tendonitis and arthritis. Although it is not a cure it could offer new leads in the treatment of painful conditions through nutrition. Any help for our Psoriatic Arthritis patients to minimize drug side effects would be wonderful. It is reported that our own downtown Baylor Hospital has been involved in this research.

SANITIZERS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR OLD FASHIONED HAND WASHING

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:43:00 GMT

(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 a dirty dish. The gel sanitizer is better than nothing in a pinch.

PLASTIC SURGERY ON THE RISE AMONG SENIORS

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:39:00 GMT

(ABC News 8/11). Plastic surgery is on the rise among baby boomers, but now doctors are also seeing a rise among septuagenarians and octogenarians. It seems baby boomers maintain lifestyles more active than any generation before them and say they want their bodies to match their energy level. YOU GO BOOMERS!!

TATTOO SAFETY

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:38:00 GMT

(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 artists use sterilized water, rather than tap water to rinse designs and dilute dyes. TATTOOS ARE NOW A POPULAR FASHION STATEMENT, BUT BE CAREFUL!! ALWAYS INSIST ON ONLY NEW STERILE EQUIPMENT, AND NOW REQUEST THE USE OF STERILIZED WATER AS AN IRRIGANT/DILUENT AS WELL.

COKE HEADS IN TANNING BEDS? - FREQUENT TANNERS EXPERIENCE BRAIN ACTIVITY CHANGES!

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:34:00 GMT

(Addiction Biology 8/11). People who frequently use tanning beds experience changes in brain activity during the tanning session that mimics the patterns of drug addiction. This study is the first to actually peer inside the brains of people as they lay in their tanning beds. Several parts of the brain that play a role in addiction were activated when the patients were exposed to actual UV rays. At UTSW Medical Center subjects were exposed to UV rays that caused tanning versus UV rays that had harmful rays filtered out. Only the tanning, harmful UV rays activated pleasure centers in the brain. Perhaps this can explain why some people feel compelled to persist tanning despite multiple skin cancers. HOPEFULLY WE CAN SOON FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP ADDICTED TANNERS MAKE BETTER CHOICES.

BABY BOOMERS GETTING BEAUTIFUL!

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:33:00 GMT

(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 the identical surgical risks compared to their younger peers. Some patients are considering having such procedures to stay competitive in todays tight job market.

PATIENTS HEAL THY SELF, IF YOU HAVE THE PATIENCE!

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT

(Bloomberg News 6/11). The company Fibrocell Science won FDA approval for an injectable wrinkle treatment that uses a patients own cells to restore elasticity to the skin. The treatment called LAVIV will be Fibrocell's initial market product and the first wrinkle smoother made from a patients own cells. It will involve taking a sample of skin cells called fibroblasts, which make collagen, from behind a person's ear. They are then multiplied in a cell culture for 11-22 weeks, and sent back to your doctor who will then inject them into your smile or frown lines. The results of the FDA study of 421 patients who received 3 LALIV treatments 5 weeks apart showed 57% improvement in the LALIV group versus 30% in the placebo group. The summary of their results stated 45% of the LALIV group were rated looking better versus 18% in the control group. INTERESTING- BUT MANY THINGS ARE UNANSWERED. IT IS ATTRACTIVE TO USE YOUR OWN CELLS BUT IT REMAINS UNANSWERED ON THE LONGEVITY OF THIS PROCEDURE VERSUS STANDARD FILLERS. WAITING 22 WEEKS IS A LONG TIME, NOT SURE HOW MANY COSMETIC PATIENTS WILL HAVE THIS KIND OF PATIENCE? ALSO UNCLEAR HOW EXPENSIVE THIS MAY BE, OR WHAT THE RATE OF INFECTION WILL BE? ALSO NOT CLEAR ON WHEN THIS WILL BE AVAILABLE. PERSONALLY I WOULD WAIT UNTILL WE SEE HOW THIS PERFORMS OVER TIME, RATHER THAN BEING THE FIRST IN LINE.

BEING OLDER DOESNT NECESSARILY MEAN BEING WISER?

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 18:28:00 GMT

(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 on their skin.

THE LONGER YOU USE IT THE LESS YOU HAVE TO

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 18:27:00 GMT

(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 become achieved when the treatments are continued beyond two years.

FDA CONTINUES TO LOOK INTO FORMALDEHYDE HAIR STRAIGHTENERS

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:25:00 GMT

(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. Normally cosmetics are not subjected to FDA premarket approval. SOMETIMES EASY SOLUTIONS ARE TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. WE SHOULD ALL KEEP ABREAST ON THE ONGOING INQUIRY INTO THESE POPULAR PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY IF OUR TEENAGE CHILDREN MIGHT BE USING THEM.

AVOID RECREATIONAL WATER ILLNESS

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:24:00 GMT

(New York Times (7/11). People swimming in ponds, lakes,and rivers need to be mindful of preventing infections and irritations caused by germs or chemicals contaminating the water. These contaminants may cause problems of the ears, eyes, skin, nervous, gastrointestinal and respiratory systems, as well as infecting cuts and scratches. Surprisingly 94% of cases resulted from swimming in treated water such as pools which were suppose to be sanitized. The usual culprit is a bacterium called cryptosporidium which is resistant to chlorine. BEST ADVICE IS TO WEAR SWIM GOGGLES, SHOWER AFTER SWIMMING, AND AVOID WATER THAT IS INFESTED WITH SNAILS OR JELLYFISH.

SHINGLES VACCINE NOT NEARLY AS WIDELY USED AS ONCE HOPED.

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:23:00 GMT

(New York Times 7/11). A combination of factors has discouraged many doctors from carrying Zostavax the vaccine for shingles. Merk, 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. Since 2006 there have been yearly problems. Statistics show that only 10% of people over the age of 60 years have received the vaccine. Now the FDA has just approved it for people aged 50-59 years which will burden an already stressed
supply.The vaccine still remains cumbersome to order, receive, or be reimbursed for. IT SEEMS IF YOU WANT THE VACCINE AND ASK YOUR DOCTOR TO ORDER IT YOU MUST BE PATIENT AND YOU MAY NEED TO PAY FOR IT UPFRONT.

FLIP- FLOPS AND BASEBALL CAPS MAY INCREASE SKIN CANCER- WHAT NEXT??

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:22:00 GMT

(Loyola university Medical Center 7/11). The problem with flip flops and baseball caps is that they leave the tips of the ears and the tops of feet dangerously exposed to sun damage. The potential for skin cancers in these areas is real, especially on the tops of ears, also because people rarely inspect or apply sunscreen to these areas. BOTTOM LINE- UNLESS YOU ARE WEARING A HAT OR COVERED SHOES, APPLY SUNSCREEN TO THESE AREAS. IT WILL TAKE LESS THAN ONE MINUTE.