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Accutane: Strong Yet Effective

July 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Accutane, a brand name medication, is a very strong treatment for acne. Its pharmaceutical name is Isotretioin, and is guaranteed to clear up acne within 4 to 5 months. However, it is very potent medication with serious side effects and must be prescribed safely by a doctor. Accutane treats the most severe cases of acne that has not responded to other treatments. It is in a class of medications called retinoids and works by slowling down the production of certain natural substances that cause pimples to form.

There are special precautions you should know about before considering taking Accutane, such as:

  • Know your allergies and consult your doctor to see if these allergies will conflict with this medication
  • Tell your doctor all medications you have been taking, past and present
  • Tell your doctor if you have had depression, mental illness, diabetes, asthma, osteoporosis, anorexia, heart or liver disease.
  • Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Plan to avoid long exposure to sunlight
  • Be aware that Accutane may cause changes in your behavior and mentality
  • Be conscious when playing sports or physical activity because Accutane may cause bone weakening.

Common side effects to Accutane include:

  • red, cracked, and sore lips
  • dry skin, eyes, mouth, or nose
  • nosebleeds
  • changes in skin color
  • peeling skin, especially on the palms and soles
  • changes in the nails
  • slowed healing of cuts or sores
  • bleeding or swollen gums
  • hair loss or unwanted hair growth
  • sweating
  • flushing
  • voice changes
  • tiredness
  • cold symptoms

If you experience more serious side effects such as blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, seizures, etc., please contact your doctor immediately.

Accutane is a very costly medication for acne treatment, but fortunately is covered by most insurance companies. Generally, a co-pay for a month’s supply of Accutane is around $30-50. Without insurance, it would be around $400-500.

Once again, Accutane is not an over-the-counter acne medication and cannot be taken lightly. Please consult your doctor for more information on this treatment and whether it is right for you.

Filed Under: acne, Products, Treatment Tagged With: ,

Dermabrasion: A More Intensive Procedure

July 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Unlike microdermabrasion, dermabrasion is a surgical procedure used for more intensive skin removal. It’s a method of surgical sanding that refinishes the skin. The procedure is performed with an instrument called a dermabrader, which scrapes away the outermost layer of the skin by using a rough wire brush. The scraping continues until the surgeon reaches the safest level that will leave the treated spot less visible.

Dermabrasion is painful and will require a local anesthetic, which means you will be awake but slightly sedated and won’t feel any discomfort. However, after the surgery, common side affects include: swelling, tingling, burning, and aching. The swelling generally subsides in a week or less.

Getting back to normal will take a little longer with dermabrasion, since your new skin will be very sensitive for a few weeks. It is generally advised to avoid any activity that could physically damage the skin, such as active sports or swimming. Consumption of alcohol will result in a flush of redness in the first couple of weeks following the surgery. Most importantly, sun protection is an absolute must during the recovery period. It’s crucial that you protect your face with sunscreen and hats until your new skin has completely settled in, which might take from 6 to 12 months.

The cost of dermabrasion is definitely higher since it is a surgery. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons says that the average cost was around $984, not including anesthesia, facilities fees, and other related expenses.

Dermabrasion requires a lot of research and medical consultation prior to the actual procedure. There are definitely milder alternatives you can look into if you’d like to do “surface” repairs on your skin. For more information on dermabrasion and how to find a plastic surgeon near you, visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeon (ASPS) website here.

Filed Under: Procedures, Treatment Tagged With: ,

Micro-Dermabrasion: A Closer Look

July 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Often known as Microderm, is a non-surgical procedure that removes dead and flaking skin cells to immediately improve your skin’s appearance. It is a very non-invasive and mild skin conditioning that only takes a few minutes—perfect for today’s busy person. The light abrasion is used to remove sun-damaged skin, dark spots and scars. It also minimizes fine lines and age spots around the eyes, lips, and neck.

How does it work?

There are no chemicals or lasers involved, only aluminum oxide micro crystals that gently sandblasts the skin. It also stimulates collagen production, which rejuvenates skin faster than normal.

To begin micro-dermabrasion, the aluminum oxide micro crystal flow is sandblasted through a small tube onto the skin. The tube also vacuums back dead skin cells. The tube will cover your entire face’s surface area to make sure you don’t get inconsistent skin texture. Afterwards, nourishing sun block cream is applied to protect the newly conditioned skin and you can easily go back to your daily routine.

Microdermabrasions are available in a variety of places including spas, at your local dermatology office, or even at home by using a home microdermabrasion kit. It generally takes between 20 or 30 minutes to perform the procedure on the face.

One treatment can cost anywhere from $75 to $200 depending on where it is performed. For the best results, most doctors suggest 6 to 10 microabrasion treaments.

Please consult your doctor to see if microdermabrasion is suitable for you. Although all skin types can be treated with this procedure, there are certain health conditions that might not suit microdermabrasion.

Filed Under: Procedures, Treatment Tagged With: , , ,

What You Should Know About Botox

July 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Just like the names Kleenex and Q-Tip, somehow Botox has become an infamous brand name to the average American consumer. What makes it so appealing to us? Perhaps, it is the inner celebrity star in us that becomes attracted to the idea of Botox—the idea of paying money to look young and fabulous. Take a couple minutes to learn more about this brand name treatment and what it can really do.

Botox (Botulinum Toxin Type A) is indeed a brand name of a purified neurotoxin complex produced by bacterium.  There are many uses for this toxin including relieving symptoms of dystonia (uncontrollable tightening of the neck muscles), strabismus (an eye muscle problem), blepharospasm (uncontrollable tightening of the eyelid muscles), upper limb spasticity (increased muscle stiffness in joints), and many other conditions. However, the cosmetic use for Botox nowadays is to kill wrinkles.

When Botox in injected, it blocks signals from the nerves to the muscles, making it unable to contract, which causes the wrinkles to relax and soften. It is most often used on the forehead area, lines around the eye known as crow’s feet,

The procedure only takes a few minutes and does not require anesthesia. Botox is injected with a fine needle and has very little discomfort. It takes about 3-5 days to take full effect and generally lasts 4-6 months. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Consumer Education, Procedures, Treatment Tagged With: , , ,

Stages of Melanoma

July 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Stages of Melanoma

The following stages are used for melanoma:

  • Stage 0: In stage 0, the melanoma cells are found only in the outer layer of skin cells and have not invaded deeper tissues.
  • Stage I: Melanoma in stage I is thin:

    The tumor is no more than 1 millimeter (1/25 inch) thick. The outer layer (epidermis) of skin may appear scraped. (This is called an ulceration).
    Or, the tumor is between 1 and 2 millimeters (1/12 inch) thick. There is no ulceration.

    The melanoma cells have not spread to nearby lymph nodes.

  • [Read more...]

Filed Under: Consumer Education, Procedures, Skin Cancer, Skin Disease, Skin Health Tagged With: ,

Mommy, It Itches!! Kids and Skin

July 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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The most common skin problems in children are things we already recognize: bug bites, scrapes, and bruises. However, eczema and infections are also up there with the rest. Here is a quick summary of what each condition is and how to treat them:

Bug bites: Children are more likely to get bigger reactions to bug bites. Typically children will get much bigger bumps from a bite than an adult would.  For mild mosquito and ant bites, you can generally apply anti-itch hydrocortisone cream, which can be found at any drug store. For more severe bites such as spider bites and bee stings, apply an ice pack right away to prevent swelling (make sure to alternate on and off to prevent tissue damage) and apply antibiotic ointment and hydrocortisone cream. If the bite doesn’t seem to be getting better, consult a doctor right away. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Children's Skin, Skin Care, Skin Health, Treatment Tagged With: , , , ,

4 Basic Steps to Skin Care

June 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Step 1: Cleansing

It’s pretty simple. Find a good face wash that your skin responds well to. Remember to read the fine print on these products to see if it’s suitable for your skin type. You do not need to spend $50 on an expensive “quality” wash. Your local drug or convenience store should have a bunch of decently priced cleansers. A quick tip is to use a cream-based cleanser if you have dry skin and a clear cleanser if you have oily skin.

Wash your face with cleanser just once a day, either at night or in the morning. You don’t want to be overcleansing your skin. The simple steps are: wash first with warm water to loosen dirt and soften pores, apply a dime-sized amount of facewash, and then rinse with water again. Never wash your face with hot or cold water for they can cause broken capillaries.

Step 2: Exfoliate

What the heck is exfoliating? It’s the removal of the oldest dead skin cells on the skin’s surface, and is used to help maintain healthy skin. Beach sand is still an excellent (and free!) exfoliant. But when you’re too busy to hit the beach, over-the-counter scrubs are the next best thing. Make sure you get a gentle scrub with tiny grains because big grains can tear skin and cause more damage than you’d think.

Step 3: Moisturize

Everyone, women AND men need to moisturize for it is the secret to smooth, ravishing skin. You might ask, what’s the point of moisturizing? Well, you seal moisture into your skin. How much and how often you moisturize depends on your skin type. You have to be careful not to over moisturize because it can clog pores.

Step 4: Sunscreen!

The average American does not wear sunscreen every day. People believe that sunscreen is only necessary for a day at the beach. This is definitely not true. Sunscreen is the most important part of your skin care routine. Sunscreen can help prevent wrinkles and freckles, amongst other types of skin damage. The trick here is to purchase two moisturizers: a daytime moisturizer with an SPF and a night moisturizer. This is important because moisturizers shouldn’t be used 24/7—it will cause skin aggravation.

Filed Under: Consumer Education, Moisturizers, Products, Skin Care, Sunscreens Tagged With: , , , ,

Benzaclin Carekit Rebate

April 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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How to save on your next 4 prescriptions for the BenzaClin® carekit
Download Rebate Certificate

Insured Patients
Pay no more than $20 on each of your next 4 prescriptions for the BenzaClin® carekit.*

Cash-Paying Patients
Save up to $25 on each of your next 4 prescriptions for the BenzaClin® carekit.*

  1. Fill your prescription for BenzaClin®.
  2. Print and complete the Rebate Certificate.
  3. Read the rebate Terms & Conditions on the Rebate Certificate and sign in the place provided.
  4. Mail in the Rebate Certificate.

Mail the certificate along with your original pharmacy receipt for BenzaClin® with the product name and purchase price circled to:

The BenzaClin® Rebate Program
P.O. Box 12032, Dept. BZC10
Trenton, NJ 08650-2032

Pharmacy Receipt for Benzaclin Rebate/Coupon

Note: The pharmacy receipt comes with your prescription and differs from the register receipt in that it identifies the product purchased.

Filed Under: acne, Products, Skin Care, Skin Health, Treatment Tagged With: , , , ,
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