May 2010 Newsletter

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Sun Exposure and Skin Cancer

We often associate a glowing complexion with good health, but skin color obtained from being in the sun – or in a tanning booth – actually accelerates the effects of aging and increases your risk for developing skin cancer. 

Exposure to sun causes most of the wrinkles and age spots on our faces.  Consider this: A woman at age 40 who has protected her skin from the sun actually has the skin of a 30-year-old.

Sun exposure causes most of the skin changes that we think of as a normal part of aging.  Over time, the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light damages the fibers in the skin called elastin.  When these fibers breakdown, the skin begins to sag, stretch, and lose its ability to go back into place after stretching.  The skin also bruises and tears more easily – taking longer to heal.  So while sun damage to the skin may not be apparent when you’re young, it will definitely show later in life. 

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States and involves abnormal growths of skin cells that can form anywhere on the body, but most frequently appear on skin that is exposed to the sun.  According to the American Cancer Society most of the more than 1 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer diagnosed yearly in the United States are considered to be sun-related. 

Tanning Beds: WHO Issues Official Warning

In July, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a working group of the World Health Organization, added ultraviolet (UV) radiation – emitting tanning devices – tanning beds and lamps – to the list of the most dangerous forms of cancer causing radiation. 

The IARC report cited research showing that tanning is especially hazardous to young people; those who use sun beds before age 30 increase their lifetime risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, by 75%.  The authors also pointed to studies showing a link between UV radiation from indoor tanning devices and melanomas of the skin and eyes.

MELANOMA SKIN CANCER SIGNS:

• A new, possibly large, irregularly shaped, dark brownish spot with darker or black areas. 
• A simple mole that changes in color (particularly turning darker), size (growing), or texture (becoming firmer), and/or flakes or bleeds.
• A suspicious change in an existing mole or spot.
• A lesion with an irregular border and red, white, blue, gray, or bluish-black areas or spots.
• Dark lesions under the fingernails or toenails, on the palms, soles, tips of fingers and toes, or on mucous membranes (skin that lines the mouth, nose, vagina, and anus).

BASAL OR SQUAMOUS CELL SIGNS: 

• Shiny, firm, dome-shaped bumps anywhere on the body.
• An open sore that bleeds, oozes, or crusts and remains open for a few weeks only to heal up and then bleed again.
• A reddish patch or irritated area, frequently occurring on the face, chest, shoulders, arms or legs.
• A shiny bump or nodule that is pearly or translucent and is often pink, red or white.
• A pink growth with a slightly elevated rolled border and a crusted indentation in the center.
• A scar-like area which is white, yellow or waxy, and often has poorly defined borders.

Fortunately, the cure rate for skin cancer is almost 100% if found and treated early.  If you notice a new growth on your skin or any changes in an existing skin growth, don’t assume it’s nothing to worry about.  You can get your skin evaluated by Dr. Van Raalte at Iowa Plastic Surgery.  He can accurately diagnose malignant (cancerous) tumors and remove them right in the office. 

At Iowa Plastic Surgery, Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics® is our premier make-up line.  We are delighted to inform you that these products are now recommended by The Skin Cancer Foundation.

Jane Iredale® is pleased to announce five products that have recently been awarded the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of recommendation as effective UV sunscreen.  The five products are:

1. Jane Iredale® Amazing Base Loose Mineral Powders (Special orders taken)
2. Jane Iredale® Dream Tint
3. Jane Iredale® Lip Drink SPF 15
4. Jane Iredale® Powder-Me SPF
5. Jane Iredale® PurePressed Face

Sunscreen

Make sure sunscreen is part of your daily makeup regimen.  At Iowa Plastic Surgery we carry Anthelios SX Daily Moisturizing Cream SPF15 and Anthelios SPF40 Sunscreen Cream from the La Roche-Posay line and TNS Ultimate Daily Moisturizer + SPF20 from the SkinMedica® line.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

NEW AT IOWA PLASTIC SURGERY…

CLARISONIC® PRO SKIN CARE SYSTEM…

YOU’VE ASKED FOR IT AND WE NOW HAVE IN STOCK. 

Clarisonic® PRO gently removes embedded dirt and oil, resulting in healthier, more beautiful skin.  It cleanses so well that products absorb better, pores appear smaller, fine lines and wrinkles appear reduced, and your skin’s tone and texture improves.  As a user of this product for the last 4 years… I just can’t imagine not having this as part of my cleansing regimen.  What is so special about this brush on the Clarisonic® is that it cleanses your face gently and does not scrub!  We have been using the Clarisonic® in our Medi Spa for over 5 years and keep getting asked by our clients if they can buy the Clarisonic® from us. 

What a great gift for Mom or the graduate/college bound student!

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April 2010 Newsletter

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

What is a Medical Spa?  What You Need to Know.  

A medical spa is a hybrid between a medical clinic and a day spa that operates under the supervision of a medical doctor.  Medical spas can treat facial conditions like brown spots, redness, and broken capillaries that cannot be treated at all or as effectively by a traditional esthetician, or offer noninvasive medical treatments like neurotoxins (Botox®) and fillers (Juvederm®, Radiesse®, Restylane®), and may offer laser, light, or radiofrequency treatments, and laser hair removal.

Medical Spas in the U.S. and elsewhere have increased in numbers and have become popular as medical tourism destinations.  The problems of medical spas include offering medical procedures neither the spa nor the staff are qualified to do.  Unfortunately, this reflects badly on the many who are professional.  They have tended to fall between the gaps in legislation.  Nationally, the number of medical spas around the country has grown from 500 in 2004 to over 2,500 today.

THE FACILITY

There are many excellent and convenient supervised treatments.  However, for those providing treatments outside of the physician’s office, there are no national standards for medi-spas, no recognized definition of what constitutes a medi-spa, and no oversight organizations that provide the information you need to make an informed, safe choice for your medi-spa experience.  As advocates for patient safety and healthy outcomes, The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) have created the following questions you should ask before committing to any procedure or medical treatment in a spa or non-traditional facility.  It is important that you do your homework as you should on anything that can affect not only your appearance but your health and safety as well.  We suggest obtaining the following information:

Is the Medi-Spa located within a physician’s office?

While problems are infrequent, physician’s offices generally have medical personnel available if a problem develops.  See if the physician is located on site. 

Is the Medi-Spa located outside of a doctor’s office, for example, in a mall or salon?

If so, ask for the name of the physician responsible for oversight and when they are available for consultation or questions before having any injectable, deep peel or laser treatment.  Also ask about the training of any other medical personnel.  This is vital to your health and safety.  Be more wary of those not in a doctor’s office, or in a salon.  Usually the only association of the doctor may be to lend his/her name. 

MEDICAL SUPERVISION AND PERSONNEL TRAINING

Does your medi-spa have a physician who can help in determining your goals, provide a treatment plan and direct your care?  And what are the credentials of the physician supervising your treatment in the medi-spa? 

Injectables (such as Botox® and tissue fillers), skin treatments (such as laser, intense pulse light, and radiofrequency) and deep peels should be under the supervision of board-certified plastic surgeons or dermatologists according to many experts.  Ask to see these credentials.  Doctors in other specialties, designating themselves as “cosmetic medicine physicians” may lack the comprehensive training that is needed for administering drugs and treatments to the deeper levels of the skin and lack the experience necessary to achieve optimal aesthetic results or to manage potential complications.  Just as you wouldn’t see an allergist if you were having a baby, it’s in your best interest to see a physician who specializes in plastic surgery or dermatologic care when seeking cosmetic medical procedures.  

Who is performing the injection?

Depending on the state you’re in, injections and deep peels may be performed by a nurse, physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner.  However, never allow a non-medical, unlicensed person to perform a medical procedure.  Any doctor can perform these treatments regardless of training, whether it was years, or a one hour course.  Of course, plastic surgeons and dermatologists have had more training in the treatment of skin problems. 

Regulating medical spas is complicated because they combine many different professionals under one roof, including cosmetologists, aestheticians, nurses and physicians.  In most U.S. states each of these professions is licensed by its own board, and each has its own standards.  There are no overall regulations governing who can do certain cosmetic procedures and what type of training is required, and there is no requirement that medical spas be licensed.  Most non physician boards lobby for the right to do more procedures regardless of training and safety. 

Iowa law allows aestheticians to do laser hair removal, without being affiliated.  Iowa regulations for aestheticians require a GED degree and 600 hours of education at trade school (one semester).  In other words, you do not have to have a high school biology course to use a laser in Iowa.  Many states require laser hair removal to be done only under the direct supervision of a physician.  Other states have required lasers to be only supervised by those doctors trained in skin treatments such as plastic surgeons and dermatologists.   

Iowa law allows any physician to own any laser, do any procedure, or supervise any person to do such a procedure and the physician does not have to be on site.  In Iowa, a family practice physician can lend their name to a hair salon, who can have any employee use a laser.  An aesthetician, on their own, could be hired by a corporation to do laser hair removal in Iowa without any physician being involved.  Iowa also allows nurses to practice independently without a physician on site.  

Buyer, beware.

Iowa Plastic surgery has physician supervision.  You must be evaluated by the physician to undergo any laser hair treatment.  All other laser and radiofrequency treatments are directly supervised or performed by the physician.  The physician (Dr. Van Raalte) is the only one that does all injectable treatments of Botox® and fillers.

The Skin Cancer Foundation Stamps Jane Iredale-THE SKIN CARE MAKEUP SKIN CARE MAKEUP with its Seal of Recommendation.

In February, Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics received the prestigious Seal of Recommendation from the Skin Cancer Foundation on five of its most popular products.  These products include: Amazing Base, PurePressed Base, Dream Tint, LipDrink and Powder-Me SPF in tanned and translucent.

The Seal of Recommendation has become the respected standard for ensuring the safety and efficacy of ultraviolet (UV) protection products.  These products are now recommended by The Skin Cancer Foundation as effective aids in the prevention of sun-induced damage to the skin, including sunburn and possibly premature aging.

At Iowa Plastic Surgery, Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics is our premier make-up line.  We are delighted to inform you that these products are now recommended by The Skin Cancer Foundations. 

**Please note Powder-Me SPF are special orders.

Product Spotlight… New at Iowa Plastic Surgery!

VIVITE® Vibrance Therapy

EXFOLIATES… HYDRATES… PROTECTS

The Natural Way to Help Brighten Skin and Even Skin Tone 

• Clinically shown to deliver results in 8 weeks
• A unique natural formulation helps combat uneven skin tone while it helps protect, calm, hydrate, and rejuvenate skin.
• Brings the benefit of brightening to the VIVITE® Skin Care System

VIVITE® System plus VIVITE® Vibrance Therapy is ideal as:

• The daily anti-aging regimen that helps brighten skin and even skin tone- Patients will see improvement in as little as 3 weeks with minimal side effects. 
• The maintenance therapy for use after or between other pigment correcting treatments.

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