Saving Face 101: How to Customize Your Skin Care Routine With Your Skin Type

November 10, 2009

Finding the right skin care routine starts with understanding the unique needs of your skin type. For example, people with dry skin can benefit from applying moisturizer several times a day; whereas, those with oily skin might need to apply a lightweight moisturizer only once a day, if at all. Customization is key, and dermatologists can help people of all ages and skin types select products based on their individual skin care needs.

Speaking today at the American Academy of Dermatology's SKIN Academy, Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist in private practice in Danville, California, discussed the importance of an individualized approach to good skin care and offered basic tips for the most common skin types.

"No matter what your skin type, using daily moisturizer and practicing year-round sun protection are vital to maintaining healthy, glowing skin," said Dr. Badreshia-Bansal. "That's because with adequate hydration and use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen, the skin has the advantage of protecting itself from free radicals and harmful ultraviolet radiation that cause skin damage, discoloration, premature wrinkles and even skin cancer. Over time, a careful and consistent skin care routine with products designed for specific skin types can gradually improve the overall health and appearance of the skin."

Azzalure® Approved in the UK for Aesthetic Use in the Treatment of Glabellar Lines

March 13, 2009

Azzalure® (botulinum toxin Type A manufactured by Ipsen), a muscle relaxant specifically developed for aesthetic use, has received a marketing authorization in the UK from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines seen at the frown (vertical lines between the eyebrows), in adult men and women aged 65 years and under, when the severity of these lines has an important psychological impact on the patient.

The approval was based on several clinical trials involving more than 2,600 patients, which confirmed the safety and efficacy of Azzalure®. This new treatment is adapted from Dysport® (botulinum toxin type-A), which is already marketed by Ipsen for therapeutic indications and has a 20-year long history of product consistency and safety. Azzalure® will come in a very easy to use formulation with a customized dosage that is specifically designed to better meet the aesthetic needs of the patient.

This announcement represents the latest developments in a partnership established in 2007 between Galderma, the leading pharmaceutical company in dermatology, and Ipsen, an international innovation-driven specialty pharmaceutical group. Under the terms of this agreement, Galderma has been granted by Ipsen exclusive rights to develop, promote and distribute Azzalure®, a specific formulation of its botulinum toxin type A product Dysport®, for aesthetic indications. This agreement includes the European Union and certain territories of the Middle East and Eastern Europe. In addition, Galderma has also been granted first rights of negotiation for aesthetic indications in the rest of the world, excluding the United States, Canada and Japan.

Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) Injections Begin Among Dermatologists

October 1, 2009

Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the treatment of cervical dystonia and at the same time, for temporary improvement in the appearance to moderate-to-severe glabellar lines. Dysport is being touted as the first serious potential competitor to Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA), the long-standing, unique therapy used to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles by restricting muscle action in the face.

The amount of botulinum toxin injected to achieve the intended affect varies between brands, but the clinical results following the use of Botox and Dysport appear to be very similar.

Depression Increases Risk of Skin Disease

October 2009

A large Australian study has confirmed that stress and depression can be factors in the development of skin disease (Arch Dermatol;145:896-902). Using data from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, researchers tested their hypothesis that psychological factors can precipitate or exacerbate skin disease. Women between the ages of 22 and 27 at baseline in 1996 were surveyed about physical and mental health symptoms then and on three follow-up occasions: 9,688 women in 2000, 9,081 women in 2003, and 8,910 women in 2006. As part of these surveys, women were asked how often they had experienced skin problems in the previous year.

In the generalized estimating equation models, depression symptoms and stress (but not anxiety) were significantly associated with skin problems (P < .005). The findings of this relationship of depression and stress to skin disease may have considerable clinical implications, including implications for adjunctive psychological interventions in the management of patients with skin disease. Read more about depression and skin disease.

Microdermabrasion Effective Treatment for Aging Skin

October 2009

Microdermabasion using a coarse diamond-studded instrument appears to induce molecular changes in the skin of older adults that mimic the way skin is remodeled during the wound healing process, according to a report in the October issue of Archives of Dermatology.

The authors write. "The beneficial molecular responses, with minimal downtime, suggest that aggressive microdermabrasion may be a useful procedure to stimulate remodeling and to improve the appearance of aged human skin." Learn more about the microdermabrasion study.

Baby shampoos with allergens

September 22, 2009

A new report has raised concerns about several baby shampoos and products, including Johnson & Johnson's Baby Shampoo, Mr. Bubble Bath, and Huggies Baby Wash. All three products contain quaternium 15, a chemical preservative that kills bacteria by releasing formaldehyde. According to the report, this chemical has been repeatedly shown to be a strong allergen causing increased rates of allergic contact dermatitis. This finding comes after a March 2009 report by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics that found many top-selling children's bath products to have been contaminated with the carcinogens formaldehyde and 1,4- dioxane.

Facial Rejuvenation benefits from combination of dermal fillers and Botox

September 1, 2009

For patients seeking rejuvenation of facial lines and folds, a combination approach incorporating different types of injectable fillers or using fillers together with botulinum toxin (Botox), may offer a better cosmetic outcome than Botox or a single filler, says Derek Jones, M.D., clinical assistant professor of dermatology, University of California Los Angeles.

Injection of Botox has well-established efficacy for improving the appearance of glabellar lines that arise as a result of muscle hyperactivity. However, for patients who have deep-etched lines present at rest, onabotulinumtoxinA alone usually will not provide sufficient benefit, Dr. Jones says.

"The combination of Botox with an injectable filler acts synergistically by simultaneously addressing the static and dynamic aspects of the rhytids and when these modalities are used together, patients benefit with a correction that is improved in terms of its overall magnitude and also in its duration," Dr. Jones says. Read more about facial rejuvenation.