October 2010 Newsletter

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

Severe Underarm Sweating (Hyperhidrosis)

Many Americans have a medical condition named axillary hyperhidrosis, better known to you as severe underarm sweating.  Severe underarm sweating is a medical condition that inolves overactive sweat glands.  Sweat is your body’s temperature regulator.  In axillary hyperhidrosis, sweating significantly exceeds the body’s normal requirements for cooling.  As you probably know, people with this condition do a lot to cope:

• Change clothes frequently
• Put absorbent materials under clothing
• Avoid certain fabrics and styles of clothes
• Seek medical attention and treatment

While people with severe underarm sweating may choose many different antiperspirants, in some instances those products do not work well enough to control the sweating.

What is the cause of Hyperhidrosis?

Although neurologic, metabolic, and other systemic diseases can sometimes cause excessive sweating, most causes occur in people who are otherwise healthy.  Heat and emotions may trigger hyperhidrosis in some, but many who suffer from hyperhidrosis sweat nearly all the time, regardless of their mood or the weather.  Hyperhidrosis affects both males and females and can start at any age.  Effective treatments are now available to help those with hyperhidrosis. 

When antiperspirants or other topical treatments fail to control the symptoms of your severe underarm sweating, you may be a candidate for Botox® treatment.  Botox® (botulinumtoxin A) is approved by the FDA to treat the symptoms of severe underarm sweating when antiperspirants fail.  One treatment takes about ten to fifteen minutes and some patients state it reduced sweating for over 6 months.

How does it work?

Botox® temporarily blocks the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate the underarm sweat glands.  When the sweat glands don’t receive chemical signals, the severe sweating stops.  Botox® injections are expected to temporarily stop the production of excessive sweat in the treated areas only.  Sweat continues to be produced elsewhere.

The drawbacks to Botox® treatment is that on average it needs to be repeated every six to nine months and also the high cost.  It usually requires 100 units of Botox® to treat.

There is a newer method of surgery to reduce excess underarm sweating.  The glands can be partially removed from just underneath the skin through a combination of liposuction and excision.  Not all the glands can safely be removed.  This is done by a cannula and through an incision in the armpit (very similar to the incision used for transaxillary placement of breast implants).  Risks include some numbness in the inner, upper arm, and healing problems of the skin due to the tissue being thinned out.  For that reason smoking must be avoided.  Recovery is about one to two weeks and the amount of sweating is decreased 75%.  Cost is approximately $2200.  Iowa Plastic Surgery has been offering this method of surgical treatment and Botox® for excessive sweating for several years.

Product Spotlight

SkinMedica TNS® Ultimate Daily Moisturizer SPF20

This daily moisturizer offers the ultimate combination of hydration and anti-aging protection.  Enriched with the patented growth factor TNS®, and antioxidants, this formula guards against the destructive effects of free radical damage while also providing full-spectrum protection from UVA/UVB rays.

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September 2010 Newsletter

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

WHICH DERMAL FILLER IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

The dermal line and wrinkle fillers have been increasing in popularity over the past decade.  There are a variety of dermal filler options along with a lot of confusion.  It is astonishing how many fillers we have today versus just a few years ago.  Along with so many new fillers, comes the difficult decision of, which one is best for me?

Cosmetic dermal fillers include collagen, hyaluronic acid, fat and other substances.  Dermal filler brand names include Juvederm®, Restylane®, Radiesse™, Sculptra®, Artefill®, and several others.  Their purposes are to decrease lines such as the nasolabial folds (laugh lines) or marionette lines, or to add volume to cheeks or lips.  Cosmetic dermal fillers are also used to reduce gauntness caused by illness or aging.  Other lines that can be treated include perioral lines around the mouth, lip lines, glabellar lines, and acne scars.

Dr. Van Raalte believes that different fillers meet different needs.

Injectable Fillers Overview:

As our skin ages, the dermis gradually loses its major constituents: collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid and other ground substances.  Collagen acts as the major support protein for our skin, elastin allows ours kin to stay firm and resist wrinkles, and hyaluronic acid and the other ground substances help to trap water and add volume and shape to our skin.

Dermal fillers are one of the means to help reverse the changes associated with aging.  Because the goal is to return the dermis to its original youthful state, dermal fillers can give a natural appearance.

A variety of dermal fillers are available in the United States today.  The hyaluronic acid based fillers include Restylane® and Juvederm®.  Sculptra® is a polylactic acid based filler, and Radiesse™ is a calcium hydroxyapatite facial filler.  All types of filler materials can help improve the youthful appearance and fullness of facial skin, but there are differences in the way each behaves and the duration of time the filler will last.  An important element to achieving successful results with dermal fillers is realizing that not one filler is ideal for all areas of the face.  For example, lips tolerate fillers differently than the cheek areas do and not all fillers can be injected in the lips.

Collagen based products typically provide the shortest duration of results and are rarely used anymore.

The hyaluronic acid (Juvederm®, Restylane®, Perlane®, Hydrelle®, Prevelle®) fillers do best for the fine lines since the fine lines require injecting into the more superficial dermal layer and are also good for acne scars.  They are also used for lip volume since the other fillers are more likely to cause lumps when used in the lips.  Perlane® and Juvederm® can be used for the deeper lines.  Juvederm® may last up to 12 months and the other fillers range from 3 months to 12 months.

Radiesse™ is calcium hydroxyapatite.  It is best for deeper lines such as the nasolabial folds or marionette lines.  It seems to have better support, and better correction for these areas.  Radiesse™ is also good for volume, but is not used for fine lines or lips.  It lasts 12 months or longer.

Artefill® provides the longest-lasting results, two years or longer.  But it is the most expensive and best for deeper lines.

Sculptra® or polylactic acid is best for volume such as the cheeks.  It lasts 18 months.

Of course your own fat can be used for deeper lines and volume as well.

Fillers can be premixed with lidocaine for numbing.  Recently Juvederm® manufactured a premixed syringe with lidocaine that is useful for fine lines.  The area to be treated can be pretreated with a lidocaine cream too.  Sometimes a nerve block is best and the use of epinephrine with the lidocaine can decrease bruising.

Dermal fillers are minimally invasive and generally very safe.  The most common post treatment events are swelling, bruising, and nodules.  The rate of nodules has been reduced by post treatment massaging.  Rare side effects are uncommon but can include limited allergic reactions (hypersensitivity), reactivation of an existing herpes infection, localized bruising, redness or swelling at the injections site; and in very rare instances, ulceration.

While researching the best dermal filler for you is very important, experts agree that getting good results has more to do with the injection technique than the type of filler being used.  This is why it is critical to find a reputable, experienced specialist in your area who can provide you with the best in care and technique.   Dr. Van Raalte has been using and injecting facial fillers since they were first FDA approved over 6 year ago.  He has injected hundreds of patients with all the different fillers.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

SkinMedica Purifying Masque: Cools, relaxes and soothes irritated skin.

Description: This gel mask is specially formulated with cooling menthol and therapeutic camphor, rosemary and tea tree oil to gently revitalize irritated and acne-prone skin.

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