MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'skin'. Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:34:41 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3189348&cid=t_96371_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2010%2F01%2Flate-night-emails.html I'm not quite sure why, but the most heart-wrenching e-mails seem to land in my mailbox the middle of the night. Sometimes, like tonight, I'm awake and I can reply right away. Other times, I see it the next morning, and I wonder what the person did after sending a cry for help in my direction--did they go to bed and fall asleep, or did they stay awake, wondering or worrying? OK, enough of that. I'm freaking myself out here. Here is the e-mail that just arrived, from a parent--I'm not sure if this is a father or a mother--of a man with very advanced melanoma. My only son was diagnosed with melanoma in 2007 and it went to the armpit, lymph nodes, and then last year he was on interferon for one year, but after six months, last July was found to have mel... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3189348 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:35:47 +0100 3189348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3185480&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2010%2F01%2F19%2Fnew-beauty-science-gadget-solves-saggy-skin%2F HAPPI magazine reports that Ulthera Inc., a Mesa, AZ company has gained Food and Drug Administration approval to market a new device that can help cure saggy skin. The device is already for sale to plastic surgeons and dermatologists for facial tightening and eyebrow lifting and the company claims to be developing a handheld version for consumers that will treat acne and rejuvenate skin. The dermatologist version sells for $89,000, so let’s hope the home version is just a tad cheaper. It will also be interesting to see how its anti-acne efficacy stacks up against other beauty gadgets like Thermaclear. (Source: thebeautybrains.com) thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3185480 Tue, 19 Jan 2010 06:03:04 +0100 3185480 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3167170&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2F04etTmhDcyY%2Fpreoperative-skin-cleanser.html Looks like it’s time for me to rethink my preference for preoperative skin cleanser. This past week there were two new prospective studies published in the Jan. 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, along with an accompanying editorial. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in American hospitals alone, there are 1.7 million healthcare-associated infections each year. Of these infections, 22% are surgical site infections (SSIs). So if simply changing the preop skin cleanser will reduce my patient’s SSI risk, then I will do so. Rabih Darouiche, MD and colleagues found using chlorhexidine as the preoperative skin cleanser reduced infections by 41% compared with povidone-iodine. Their study involve randomly assigning 897 adults undergoing clean-contaminat... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3167170 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:01:00 +0100 3167170 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3159667&cid=t_96371_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F01%2F11%2Farchives-of-dermatology-2009-vol-145-no-12%2F Contents page Fade Fave: Incidence of and Risk Factors for Skin Cancer After Heart Transplant Fade Skinny: Solid organ transplant recipients are at increased risk for skin cancers. The degree of sun exposure correlates with skin cancer development. Patients living in regions of limited sun exposure, such as the Netherlands, have 10- and 20-year post transplant risks of skin cancer of 10% and 40%, respectively, and those living in areas of high sun exposure, such as Australia, have 11- and 20-year post transplant risks of skin cancer of 45% and 70%, respectively. Skin cancers have been shown to be a major factor in morbidity and death over the long term for heart transplant (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Posted in Athens Password, Currently Watching, E-Journals, Jo... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3159667 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:25:11 +0100 3159667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3139065&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2FizIC41xN92I%2Fmalignant-melanoma-deadly-secret.html Earlier today I wrote a short article which resulted in correspondence with one of the authors of the new book, 'FDR's Deadly Secret' by Steven Lomazow and Eric Fettmann. Dr. Steven Lomazow sent me a copy of his Archives of Dermatology article with Dr. Bernard Ackerman, this photo, and a pdf of his book which I have spent the afternoon reading. The article goes through a series of photos of FDR from his younger days to his older ones, showing the progression and changes. From the article: The criteria currently touted for diagnosis of a slightly raised lesion of melanoma, a malignant neoplasm composed of abnormal melanocytes, are the "ABCDEs": Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variability, Diameter greater than 6 mm, and Elevation (or, for some proponents of the mnemonic, Enlarging o... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3139065 Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:02:00 +0100 3139065 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3118900&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2F6Jm-85Jx-mQ%2Fhand-rejuvenation.html I took this photo when my mom was in the hospital earlier this year. My hand looks like I wash dishes for a living. Her hand shows many of the spots that come with age and sun exposure: actinic keratosis, liver spots, etc. There is a decent article that gives an overview of hand rejuvenation in the Sept/October issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal. The epidermis thins as we age. Lentigines, actinic keratoses and seborrheic keratoses, general dyschromia, and textural roughness appear. Capillary fragility may make bruising common. Fat atrophy may make tendons and bony prominences more noticeable and the veins appear to bulge. The article goes through the available treatments: chemical peels, vein sclerotherapy, fillers, laser therapy, intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy, fractional skin ... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3118900 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:01:00 +0100 3118900 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3084805&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2FIvdaqrFtBMw%2Fskin-cancer-more-than-skin-deep-article.html It’s winter so why think about skin cancer?   One of the major risk factors is UVA and UVB rays from sun exposure which is much more common in the summer.  Tanning beds never cease being used, regardless of season and may even be used more in the winter than summer. There is never a wrong season to be reminded of the prevalence of skin cancer or the risk factors for skin cancer or ways to prevent skin cancer. Having read this short article (full reference below) in the “throw away” December issue of the journal Advances in Skin & Wound Care it seemed a good time to again discuss skin cancer.  The article is a good overview of skin cancer which is the most common carcinoma in the United States.  The article quotes statistics from the American Cancer Societ... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3084805 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:01:00 +0100 3084805 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3039827&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2FB4Co97PrLwM%2Facne-hypertrophica-or-rhinophyma.html Flipping through the 1908 textbook A Text-Book of Minor Surgery by Edward Milton Foote, MD the photos accompanying the acne hypertrophica section caught my eye. Allow me to share that section of the book with you. Acne Hypertrophica This is an overgrowth of the nose, which is generally considered to be one of the forms of acne rosacea, but is here included with the tumors to which it belongs clinically, for the appearance of the lesion and the treatment warrant this classification. This is a disease of middle life, or later, marked by a great overgrowth of the sebaceous follicles, with thier ducts, as well as of blood-vessels and fatty tissue. The skin itself is not greatly thickened, and may even be thinned, apparently the result of over-stretching it. The tumor as a whole is soft and... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3039827 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:01:00 +0100 3039827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3026705&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2FwtZa_o1xges%2Fperistomal-skin-complications-and.html There is a very nice review article in the “throw away” journal Advances in Skin & Wound Care (full reference below) which discusses the causes and management of peristomal skin complications.  The photo (credit) to the right shows normal, healthy skin around a stoma. Peristomal complications are one of the most challenging aspects of living with ostomies.  The purpose of this review article was stated to be “to illustrate practical approaches to prevent and treat common peristomal skin conditions.” The authors propose the use of the mnemonic MINDS to help clinicians remember and be mindful of the potential causes of peristomal skin problems: M:  Mechanical trauma from the ostomy equipment and skin stripping I:     Infection (bacterial an... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3026705 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:01:00 +0100 3026705 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3015371&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F11%2F21%2Fare-photofacials-worth-the-cost%2F Amy asks…I was wondering about photofacials. Are they either effective, worth it, or a good idea? The Right Brain responds: Effective? Yes, at least to some extent. Worth it? Maybe, if you can afford several thousand dollars and can wait a few months for results. Good idea? Read on and decide for yourself. Lasers have been used for decades to “burn” away upper layers of the skin to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. They also have had some application in the treatment of acne and spider veins. Click here for a detailed description of the benefits and risks of laser skin resurfacing. In recent years, the FDA has approved “N-Lite” laser therapy for treatment of crow’s feat. This type of laser uses a specific frequency of light that stimlates collagen pro... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3015371 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:01:01 +0100 3015371 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2993774&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=34805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAwfulPlasticSurgery%2F%7E3%2FS_I384Sbh0o%2F This is Mexican actress Lyn... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit MyWebsite.com for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Awful Plastic Surgery) Awful Plastic Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2993774 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:54:59 +0100 2993774 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2971911&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=34805&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAwfulPlasticSurgery%2F%7E3%2FZRLnBCiYM-o%2F Sosa’s reps are blaming... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit MyWebsite.com for full links, other content, and more! ]] (Source: Awful Plastic Surgery) Awful Plastic Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2971911 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:11:09 +0100 2971911 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2948381&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F11%2F01%2Fwomen-need-skin-products-more-than-men%2F It’s bad enough that men make more money than women for doing the same job, but this is just ridiculous. According to skin researchers in Germany, women’s skin ages faster than men’s! Life is so unfair. In their study, the researchers used pulses of laser light to measure the amount of collagen and elastin in the skin. Collagen is responsible for giving skin its strength and elasticity. As you get older your body produces less collagen so skin looks droopy and wrinkled. These researchers found that women lose collagen at faster rates than men. So if it seems like you have to work harder to keep your skin looking good than the men in your life, you’re right. (Source: thebeautybrains.com) thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2948381 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 06:01:51 +0100 2948381 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2924893&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F10%2F25%2Fbollywoods-tom-cruise-promotes-skin-lightening%2F Mid Brain reports: This story about Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan’s endorsement of a skin lightening product demonstrates just how controversial a cosmetic product can be.  Khan, who’s been described as the Tom Cruise of Bollywood, is being criticized for reinforcing prejudices and stereotypes.  The product he’s pitching is called Fair and Handsome and it’s supposed to make users lighter-skinned and confident.  You can see the video here. Their website lists the 4 key ingredients as Peptide, Licorice, Vetiver and Aloe Vera.  These aren’t likely to give any skin lightening effect.  It is more likely they are using technology similar to Meladerm since hydroquinone is banned in some EU countries.  They don’t have the same labeling requirements as the U... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2924893 Sun, 25 Oct 2009 06:01:44 +0100 2924893 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2919606&cid=t_96371_72_f&fid=38877&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.laseroffers.com%2F2009%2F10%2Ffractional-photothermolysis-update%2F The concept of non-ablative fractional photothermolysis was introduced to the market in 2003 as an answer to the need for effective, yet low risk, skin resurfacing techniques. Unlike conventional ablative (CO2 and Erbium) and non-ablative lasers, fractional ablative and non-ablative photothermolysis treats only a fraction of the skin, leaving up to a maximum of 95% [...]Post from: Aesthetic Laser OffersFractional Photothermolysis: Non-Ablative and Ablative (Source: Aesthetic Lasers) Aesthetic Lasers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2919606 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:14:27 +0100 2919606 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2920458&cid=t_96371_136_f&fid=39016&url=http%3A%2F%2Fturquoisegates.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F10%2Feasy-fun-ways-to-prevent-cancer.html As a cancer patient/survivor, I am passionate about telling people about cancer and how to prevent it. I thought I would summarize in a few quick bullet points. Please go down the checklist and make sure you are maximizing your chances of catching cancer early by checking your own body for signs of changes. You can find more resources about screening services available through your medical doctor here. Lastly, to assess your own cancer-specific risk, fill out this simple screening tool and read up about the cancers you may be most at risk for.Neck Thyroid cancer is the most rapidly increasing cancer in women in the U.S. Your thyroid gland should be felt by a skilled care provider at least once a year. You should also perform a monthly neck self-exam along with your monthly breast or testic... Turquoise Gates blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2920458 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:37:00 +0100 2920458 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2911887&cid=t_96371_72_f&fid=38877&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.laseroffers.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fndyag-laser-treatment-of-warts%2F Warts are ugly but they are common, and there are many ways and means to remove them. I prefer to use a YAG laser to remove warts. Surprisingly, this simple technique is not very common among dermatologists who typically freeze warts with nitrogen. That is painful and not very effective as in many cases more than [...]Post from: Aesthetic Laser OffersNd:YAG Laser Treatment of Warts (Source: Aesthetic Lasers) Aesthetic Lasers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2911887 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:13:46 +0100 2911887 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912547&cid=t_96371_160_f&fid=36193&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aloha-dermatology.com%2Faloha-dermatology-blog%2Fhealthday%2F More Doctors Need to Learn to Spot Skin Cancers Resident physicians should be taught to screen for suspicious lesions, researchers say MONDAY, Oct. 19 (HealthDay News) — Too few resident physicians have been trained in skin cancer examinations or watched or practiced the procedure, U.S. researchers report. In a survey of 342 resident physicians in family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and internal medicine, researchers collected information on the participants’ training and experience with skin cancer exams as well as their level of skill in performing the exams. "Clinical training for the skin cancer examination during residency was infrequent," wrote Dr. Emily Wise, of the Boston University School of Medicine, and colleagues. "During residency... aloha-dermatology.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2912547 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:41:22 +0100 2912547 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2904982&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F10%2F19%2Fmosquito%2F This month Mid Brain reports on new cosmetic science stories while the Left and Right Brains take time off to work on the new Beauty Brains book. Mid Brain reports: We’ve blogged before about using Avon Skin So Soft as a mosquito repellent and why nothing can beat DEET, the active in OFF! But recently researchers have discovered several new super anti-mosquito ingredients. In fact, these new chemicals work up to three times longer than DEET and they don’t have the same sticky coating on your skin. Here’s the catch: the regulations that control how new chemicals are brought to market may prevent these new ingredients from ever reaching our store shelves. You can read all about the buggy controversy at ScienceDaily.com. It’s especially interesting to see how the US A... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2904982 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:01:56 +0100 2904982 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2894788&cid=t_96371_167_f&fid=36988&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.happynutritionistsnuggets.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fcelebrating-honey-bee-day.html According to a friend, Heidi Richards, yesterday the 13th of October was Honey Bee Day! Heidi shares:In honor of 211,600 beekeepers who annually produce more than 220 million pounds of honey every single year I thought I’d share some of my favorite honey beauty recipes with you.Honey Almond ScrubThis Honey Almond Scrub has a refreshing peppermint touch that will exfoliate the skin and make it soft and smooth.Ingredients:3 Tablespoons Almond meal (sometimes called Almondflour)2 Tablespoons Jojoba oil3 Tablespoons Honey3-4 drops ofpeppermint essential oilDirections: Pour Almond meal and Jojoba oil into a small glass bowl or jar. Stir well. Mix in the Honey and Peppermint essential oil. Stir mixture until completely mixed together. Before applying, cleanse the skin. Apply to moistened face.... Happy Nutritionist's Nuggets blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2894788 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:24:00 +0100 2894788 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2879753&cid=t_96371_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fa-melanoma-gene.html I've had melanoma, only once, and it was very thin, so I tend to forget about my melanoma ... compared to metastatic breast cancer, it was just a little blip on my radar.  But I do find that melanoma news catches my eye, as did this story about a melanoma GENE, because it was the first I had heard of it. According to the article, 5 to 10 percent of melanoma cases may be hereditary, the result of a mutation in the gene CDKN2A (you might want to write that down).The other thing that caught my attention was the statement that mutations on this gene also put people at increased risk of pancreatic cancer. My father died of pancreatic cancer, and I has always suspected that someday scientists would find a reason for my own personal "cancer cluster," even though at... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2879753 Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:18:44 +0100 2879753 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2876196&cid=t_96371_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fmore-short-cuts-on-daily-tasks-to-save-time-and-energy%2F I’ve been reading your replies to my blog last week when I shared with you the importance I have found in finding and using shortcuts in my life. Unless you live with chronic pain, you might find it difficult to understand but it’s a simple matter of ease and mathematics. If you only have so much time and a limited amount of energy, you have to make the most out of both of them. The ease comes in by saving both time and energy and it also saves your sanity somewhere along the way. When you have pain everyday, you need to give yourself a break. Actually, you need every break you can get your hands on. Each of us who live this way tries to keep life on as normal a level as humanly possible. Try living the way you always have but on a shorter clock, a half-pound when you used to have a fu... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2876196 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:49:36 +0100 2876196 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2871883&cid=t_96371_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fmore-short-cuts-on-daily-tasks-to-save-time-and-energy%2F I’ve been reading your replies to my blog last week when I shared with you the importance I have found in finding and using short cuts in my life. Unless you live with chronic pain, you might find it difficult to understand but it’s a simple matter of ease and mathematics. If you only have so much time and a limited amount of energy, you have to make the most out of both of them. The ease comes in by saving both time and energy and it also saves your sanity somewhere along the way. When you have pain everyday, you need to give yourself a break. Actually, you need every break you can get your hands on. Each of us who live this way tries to keep life on as normal a level as humanly possible. Try living the way you always have but on a shorter clock, a half-pound when you used to have a f... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2871883 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:49:36 +0100 2871883 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2862453&cid=t_96371_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D7939 Sent in by Gabriel: Asean Skin Doc Aim to Harmonise Standards Ahead of Healthcare Liberalization Dermatologists practicing in South East Asian (SEA) countries will gather at a regional meeting for dialogue on the liberalization of healthcare services under the Asian Free Trade Area (AFTA) Agreement. The AFTA agreement will see member countries relax trade barriers, some earlier than others, such as is the case with Malaysia which aims to open up its healthcare services section by the end of 2009. Led by the League of Asian Dermatological Societies (LADS), senior skin specialists and heads of national skin societies from six SEA nations – Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam — will gather in Hanoi, Vietnam to share country specific experiences, harmonize... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2862453 Sat, 03 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2862453 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2842457&cid=t_96371_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F09%2F29%2Farchives-of-dermatology-2009-vol-145-no-9%2F content page Fade Fave: Developing Healthy Sun Habits for Life Fade Skinny: Over the past several years, an increasing emphasis has been placed on the need for the development of a healthy lifestyle in the pursuit of long-term good health. These articles also highlight many of the challenges surrounding the behavioral changes that need to take place for significant public health benefits to be realized. (NHS Athens is required to access this article online) Posted in Athens Password, Currently Watching, E-Journals Tagged: Athens Password, Cancer, Current Awareness, E-Journals, Healthy lifestyles, Skin Cancer, Sun care (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2842457 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:45:58 +0100 2842457 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2842706&cid=t_96371_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FXMjb_erSViI%2F We know that the cells in our face and skin can only regenerate so many times. We see it on our wrinkles and fine lines, and that’s why we use facial care products religiously, and we maintain healthy habits, to keep our face and skin as subtle and young as much as we can. It’s known that stem cells found within the skin do create new cells, replenish themselves and continually rejuvenate skin and hair. Well, a new study published in Nature Genetics discovered the very proteins – TCF3 and TCF4 – that are doing the job of continually renewing skin stem cells. The study, done in mice, showed that skin stem cells that lost TCF3 and TCF4 lost their ability to self-renew and replace skin cells that have died. The skin regenerated only so much until the cells started dying. The q... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2842706 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 03:40:57 +0100 2842706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2823609&cid=t_96371_72_f&fid=38877&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.laseroffers.com%2F2009%2F09%2Flaser-skin-resurfacing-and-chemical-peels%2F CO2 and Erbium laser skin resurfacing is a very efficient procedure to remove wrinkles, acne scars, blemishes, growths, and sun-damaged skin blemishes. The laser allows the body to produce new collagen and generate new skin. The result is usually “years younger” skin. Improvement continues as the aged and sun-damaged deep collagen areas continue to regenerate [...]Post from: Aesthetic Laser OffersLaser Skin Resurfacing and Chemical Peels (Source: Aesthetic Lasers) Aesthetic Lasers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2823609 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:15:45 +0100 2823609 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2819219&cid=t_96371_72_f&fid=38877&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.laseroffers.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fwhat-lasers-offer-for-pigmented-and-spotted-skin%2F Treatment of pigmentation is a complex subject. Determining the type of lesion will help to establish which laser or light device to use and what parameters to set. Hyperpigmentation is a broad descriptive term, offering us little information about etiology or pathophysiology of the lesion. Dividing this expansive category into primary versus secondary helps with treatment decision-making [...]Post from: Aesthetic Laser OffersWhat Lasers Offer for Pigmented and Spotted Skin (Source: Aesthetic Lasers) Aesthetic Lasers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2819219 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:41:24 +0100 2819219 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2782042&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2F5IcV0bCE684%2Fburn-care-resources.html I received this request recently, so I thought I would try to put a list together.  Not sure it is the best list, but it’s an attempt.  If you have any additional resources, please add them in the comment section.  Thanks. I was wondering if you would be so kind as to direct me to some biographical and historical resources on skin grafting in the treatment of burns.   Let’s first start with burn care / general information:  American Burn Association BurnSurgery.org -- a comprehensive, up-to-date Educational Tool  for burn care professionals throughout the world. Burn Survivor Resource Center (great information & links) John Hopkins Medicine Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors Total Burn Care by David Herndon, MD, FACS   The sites, journa... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2782042 Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:01:00 +0100 2782042 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2778453&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2FDzeFVNtDHT0%2Fcommon-warts.html I’m sure I don’t see as many patients with common skin warts as my family practice or dermatology colleagues, but these patients still make it to my office.  Sometimes it’s the primary complaint, sometimes it’s an afterthought.  In reviewing the topic, it occurred to me that most patients don’t need to see any of us for this problem.  They mostly need to accept the fact that the treatment takes TIME.  So if you will persist, then you will often be successful without the expense of seeing a doctor.  (photo credit) Common warts (Verruca vulgaris) are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).  Warts on the hands or feet do not carry the same clinical consequences of HPV infection in the genital area.  It is estimated about 10% of children and adol... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2778453 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:01:00 +0100 2778453 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2733663&cid=t_96371_72_f&fid=38877&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.laseroffers.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fquick-guide-to-laser-skin-resurfacing%2F Still horrified by laser blasting of facial wrinkles followed by months of redness? This is so 90s! New generation of aesthetic lasers is safer and more selective in treating just what the doctors says you need: wrinkles, age spots, broken capillaries, saggy skin, etc. The result? Faster healing, so you can get back in makeup and [...]Post from: Aesthetic Laser OffersQuick Guide to Laser Skin Resurfacing With Costs and Expectations (Source: Aesthetic Lasers) Aesthetic Lasers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2733663 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:46:19 +0100 2733663 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2727266&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F08%2F24%2F9-tips-to-prevent-wrinkles%2F This article on the wikihow blog claims to give good ideas on how you can prevent (or reduce) wrinkles. They get many things right but some are just a little off. Here are their tips. 1. Don’t blame it on your genes - They claim that genes only govern 30% of your wrinkle potential. This seems a dubious claim as they quote research from P&G who is certainly motivated to convince people that applying products isn’t worthless. Genetic effects are at least 50% of the battle. 2. Protect skin from the sun - The best advice you can get. Less sun = less wrinkles. 3. Eat, drink, slather antioxidants – While there is some evidence that Retinol can reduce wrinkles, there is limited evidence that any other antioxidant (when applied topically) has an effect. There is NO evidence t... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2727266 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 06:01:47 +0100 2727266 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2702383&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F08%2F15%2Fwill-olive-oil-really-make-a-difference%2F Cee Gee Says…Okay, talk to me about DHC skin care products. Does the olive oil really make a difference? I use the olive oil cleansing product to remove make-up, but I’m not sure if it’s a waste of money. The Left Brain Counters: To answer this question I’ll begin by explaining that makeup is essentially composed of oily materials such as waxes, oils, pigments, and emollients. They stay on your face so well because these ingredients do not dissolve in water; if they did your makeup would run.  But that also means you can’t remove them with water either. Standard facial cleansers don’t work well on makeup because they are designed to gently remove surface dirt and oil. The more gentle you make a cleanser, the less ability it has to remove heavy oils. Cle... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2702383 Sat, 15 Aug 2009 06:01:28 +0100 2702383 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2725009&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=38856&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timemastermd.com%2F%3Fp%3D400 Smoking – Glamorous?  Don’t think so.  Doctors have long since known that smoking was bad, leading to heart disease, and cancer.  But what is shocking is that women appear to be more vulnerable than men to the cancer-causing effects of smoking tobacco.  Low tar, low nicotine, or filtered products makes no difference either.   Swiss scientists found women tended to be younger when they developed the cancer, despite having smoked on average significantly less than men.  Of course, we know that pregnant women deliver smaller, more sickly babies when they smoke during gestation, but it goes much farther than that. Models who smoke to keep thin, won’t have to worry that much as they won’t be modeling long. “Our findings suggest that women may have an incr... Timemaster MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2725009 Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:30:07 +0100 2725009 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2725010&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=38856&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timemastermd.com%2F%3Fp%3D357   Algae makes you feel good inside and on the outside too!  But, it can be really stinky! A new carotenoid has received much attention lately – astaxanthin.   It would be what’s known as a vitamin light-  chemically, astaxanthin is classified as a non-provitamin A.  It is a fat-soluble nutrient and excellent antioxidant.  The richest source of astaxanthin by far is the algae Haemococcus pluvialis.  In skin treatment salons, algae is not only an exfoliant that cleans pores and scrubs off dead skin, but acts as a prime source of dermal nutrients.  This dietary supplement is a therapeutic tool for a variety of conditions and diseases, including heart disease, immune problems, inflammation states,  and neuro-degenerative issues – such as dementia.   When compar... Timemaster MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2725010 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:00:55 +0100 2725010 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2726886&cid=t_96371_72_f&fid=38877&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.laseroffers.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fwhat-those-spots-have-in-common%2F What do brown spots, liver spots, sun spots, age spots, pigmented spots, sun burns, melasma, chloasma, hiperpigmentation and skin cancer have in common? The sun damage. Watch the Sun Damaged Skin Slideshow of alarming pictures of skin damage and take action to prevent skin problems and reduce your skin care costs. Related Posts:Liver Spots on Skin: Causes [...]Post from: Aesthetic Laser OffersWhat Do All Those Spots Have In Common (Source: Aesthetic Lasers) Aesthetic Lasers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2726886 Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:24:56 +0100 2726886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2726888&cid=t_96371_72_f&fid=38877&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.laseroffers.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fmanagement-of-hyperpigmentation-in-darker-skin-types%2F Dyschromias, in particular hyperpigmentation, are major issues of concern for people of color. Pigmentary disorders such as melasma and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation can cause psychological and emotional distress and pose a negative impact on a person’s health-related quality of life. The precise etiology of these conditions is unknown. Therapies for melasma and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation target various points [...]Post from: Aesthetic Laser OffersManagement of Hyperpigmentation in Darker Skin Types (Source: Aesthetic Lasers) Aesthetic Lasers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2726888 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:38:28 +0100 2726888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2667495&cid=t_96371_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2Fti_isGqDib4%2F With so much in the news these days about skin cancer, what does it all mean? While the sky isn’t falling in quite yet, there are major concerns about how the sunlight is affecting our skin and causing increasing numbers of serious and potentially fatal skin cancers. On the other hand, we also read about how we’re not getting enough sunlight and we’re becoming Vitamin D deficient. Moderation is absolutely the key in most things. By taking in bits of sunshine to satisfy our vitamin D needs, we’re not usually exposing ourselves to enough sunlight to have to worry about melanoma (skin cancer). However, by believing in certain myths, we just may be increasing our risk. To help you sort out what is what when it comes to sunshine and skin cancer, here is a video made by D... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2667495 Tue, 04 Aug 2009 07:49:23 +0100 2667495 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2667499&cid=t_96371_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FoxCPpiVZz_g%2F Doctors and researchers have been noticing a decline in vitamin D levels in children for a while now but the problem is getting worse. With the increasingly sedentary and inside-the-home lifestyle of many American children, and the high use of sun block for those who do go outside, many just aren’t getting sufficient levels of vitamin D from the best source, the sun. Although we know it’s important to protect our skin from the sun to reduce the risk of skin cancer, as with everything, moderation and common sense needs to take hold. Unless their skin is very fragile, five to 10 minutes in the sun without sunscreen shouldn’t do any harm to their skin, but will be very beneficial for vitamin exposure. By removing the sun from a child’s life altogether, they are at high... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2667499 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:09:36 +0100 2667499 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2663961&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2FSYy_9LWJS3E%2Ftanning-beds-high-cancer-risk.html Finally!  [H/T to Cleveland.com] After surgery I am often asked, “When can I get back in the tanning bed?”  I say something like, “I would rather you not use a tanning bed.  You need to protect you new scar from the sun, that includes tanning beds, for at least 6 months.” “But, if I cover up the scar, when can I get back in the tanning bed?” is the usual response. I then counter with, “IF you feel you must, then yes cover the scars.  Please, limit or reduce the time you spend in the tanning bed.  I would rather you not use a tanning bed.” Most see “no harm” in using a tanning bed.  After all, it’s not like laying out in the sun for hours.  Too many see tanning beds as a “safe” way to get a tan.  It isn’t. Experts at the In... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2663961 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:01:00 +0100 2663961 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2662549&cid=t_96371_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FxECIBmHfqb0%2F Psoriasis, a chronic skin disease, is another illness that’s receiving special attention during the month of August. Designated Psoriasis Awareness Month , the National Psoriasis Foundation would like to use the time to help the general public learn more about and understand the disorder. Here are some important bits of information: psoriasis is not contagious, you can’t catch it from someone else being unclean causes psoriasis psoriasis is more than just annoying - it can be very severe What psoraisis is The National Psoriasis Foundation issued a press release last year that stated: Psoriasis is a noncontagious, chronic disease of the immune system that appears on the skin, causing red, scaly patches. Many of the estimated 7.5 million Americans who have psoriasis face discr... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2662549 Sat, 01 Aug 2009 21:04:31 +0100 2662549 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2660720&cid=t_96371_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D7525 Symmetrical discoid lesions seen on the Hands: Forearms: Answer will be posted in the comments section later. from the Malaysian Medical Resources Photoquiz: What are these skin lesions? (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2660720 Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2660720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2653982&cid=t_96371_136_f&fid=35302&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FWhitePebble%2F%7E3%2FoV1apifU32U%2F LONDON, England (CNN) — Sunbeds pose a similar cancer risk as cigarettes and asbestos, according to an international cancer research agency. via Study: Sunbeds as harmful as cigarettes – CNN.com. Related articles by Zemanta Tanning Beds Labeled as Top Carcinogen (blisstree.com) Tanning Beds Will Officially Give You Cancer! (totalbeauty.com) Tanning Before 30 Triples Skin Cancer Risk (fitsugar.com) Tanning beds: Another industry denies its product causes cancer, despite medical evidence (seattlepi.com) (Source: white pebble) white pebble blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2653982 Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:54:11 +0100 2653982 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2649074&cid=t_96371_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FvZpYO8HMCpk%2F Although people who love to use tanning beds and the beds’ businesses will say otherwise, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that the medical community fears the effects of the tanning beds and booths. They have sounded warnings in the past about the use of tanning beds and booths, but they are still popular among many, particularly the younger adults and teens. The tanning done by this method allows strong ultraviolet rays to hit the skin and cause damage. This damage has a high chance of developing into skin cancer years down the road. Researchers looked at 20 different studies and, using those study findings, concluded that the risk of skin cancer jumps by 75% when people start using tanning beds before they are 30 years old. The findings of this research were published in ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2649074 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:34:55 +0100 2649074 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2649204&cid=t_96371_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F7cNQ02Cc1Nc%2F And we all thought tanning beds were a safe substitute to sunbathing! But in recent years, doctors saw a dramatic rise in the number of young people with skin cancer as the use of tanning beds increased, so scientists combined the results of 20 studies and found a scary trend: The risk for skin cancer increases by 75 percent when people start using tanning beds before age 30. And the risk for skin and eye cancer from using tanning beds is so high that it is now classified into the top cancer risk category, alongside tobacco, arsenic, and mustard gas. Wow. We know arsenic and mustard gas are lethal, but tanning beds?! Well, one British study found melanoma as the leading type of cancer diagnosed in women in their 20s. And young women are considered the highest risk-group because of their... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2649204 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 02:15:00 +0100 2649204 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2645400&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F07%2F28%2Fwill-the-next-skin-lightening-technology-come-from-chinese-flowers%2F Mid Brain reports: We get a lot of questions about skin lightening products like Meladerm so I thought you’d like to know that researchers say a Chinese flower holds potential as natural skin lightening ingredient. Flowers for Algernon? The Asian plant, Osmanthus fragrans, is already commonly used for flavoring tea and other beverages and is sought after as a fragrance ingredient. But now, according to Taiwanese scientists, it may be the next hot skin lightening technology. Researchers led by Li-chen Wu from National Chi Nan University have shown that Osmanthus fragrans extract can potentially inhibit the action of the enzyme tyrosinase which is involved in the synthesis of melanin. Melanin is the pigment that is responsible for darkening your skin. (It also gives us sun tans.) In vi... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2645400 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 06:01:21 +0100 2645400 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2641319&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2F__2SjIDb8yU%2Fmoles-should-not-be-treated-by-lasers.html H/T to DermDoc who treated this news article link.  The article is “Some Laser Treatments Could Put Health At Risk, Dermatologists Say.” dermdoc  Medical Spas Removing Moles with Lasers <-- Dangerous. Melanoma looks like a mole. http://tinyurl.com/m2pqmo  3:13 PM Jul 20th from web He then followed up with this tweet dermdoc  Medi-Spas are spas. Never have a mole removed without being checked by a physician. @serious_skeptic @nanarcr  3:29 PM Jul 20th from web I agree.  It can be difficult even for trained physicians to tell the difference between moles and melanoma.  Don’t allow spas to laser them.  If there is any question, the mole should be biopsied.  That doesn’t happen with “laser treatment.”   To further make this... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2641319 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:01:00 +0100 2641319 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2641373&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F07%2F27%2Fwill-the-next-skin-lightening-technology-come-from-chinese-flowers%2F Mid Brain reports: http://www.cosmeticsdesign.com/Publications/Cosmetics/CosmeticsDesign-Europe.com/Formulation-Science/Chinese-flower-holds-potential-as-skin-lightening-ingredient/?c=TmEAme%2FbLo6AvuxJDRTNyQ%3D%3Dutm_source=newsletter_dailyutm_medium=emailutm_campaign=Newsletter%2BDaily Chinese flower holds potential as skin lightening ingredient An extract from the Asian plant Osmanthus fragrans may be a possible skin lightening ingredient, according to Taiwanese scientists. The plant is already used commonly in Asia as a flavour additive for tea and other beverages, and is in high demand as a fragrance ingredient. And, according to findings published in the journals LWT – Food Science and Technology it shows potential for inhibiting the action of the enzyme tyrosinase which is involve... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2641373 Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:01:21 +0100 2641373 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2639636&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F07%2F26%2Fvitamin-c-can-be-good-for-your-skin%2F Meg’s Pondering Sun Protection…I hear a lot about using vitamin C and antioxidants in addition to a high PPD sunscreen to prevent sun damage and aging. Is there truth to this, or is this just something the cosmetics companies invented? The Right Brain’s reply: Actually, there is some solid research that indicates antixoidant vitamins can improve sunscreen SPF. Vitamin boost We’ve known for a long time that sun protection is one of the best things you can do for your skin. But in the last several years, researchers at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center have also demonstrated that vitamin C combined with UVB sunscreen can give additive protection against sunburn. Their study suggests that a vitamin C and E combination is optimal. Does this mean you should run out... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2639636 Sun, 26 Jul 2009 06:01:41 +0100 2639636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2630190&cid=t_96371_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FDX5AhFxZl4E%2F Some people think that if you have diabetes, you pretty much just have to lay off the sugar and you’re set. Au contraire. There’s so much more to the disease, and so many other complications you can get as a result. One of them even involves the skin. Some diabetics can get diabeteic dermopathy, which shows itself as “oval, light brown, scaly patches found most often on the front of the legs.” This is the result of damage done to the blood vessels, and how the skin responds. There is good news, however, if you have this disease. The patches don’t hurt or itch, and they aren’t dangerous. (More of a visual nuisance than anything.) Image: sxc.hu. Share and Enjoy: Post from: Blisstree Diabetic Skin Disease (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2630190 Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:42:22 +0100 2630190 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2591579&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F07%2F11%2Fwho-wants-anti-aging-lotions-that-really-work%2F Mid Brain reports: Tired of spending top dollar for that Anti-aging skin lotion only to see barely noticeable effects? Take heart because scientists at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have recently discovered some new bio-markers that should help in the development anti-aging lotions that really work. The sad truth is that creams and lotions that claim to be anti-aging are not much more effective than standard moisturizing lotions. Under the right testing circumstances, you can make anyone’s skin look less wrinkled with a decent moisturizer. When you hear really impressive claims, the comparisons are probably done against untreated skin. And most people’s untreated skin will look nasty when compared to lotion treated skin. Of course, the good news is that most skin lotion... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2591579 Sat, 11 Jul 2009 06:01:47 +0100 2591579 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2584264&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F07%2F09%2Fwhy-is-avon-skin-so-soft-so-amazing%2F Jill just wants to know…I remember hearing that Avon Skin So Soft is not only an amazing moisturizer but it can also stop bugs from biting. Is this true? The Left Brain replies: Skin so soft is a great moisturizer that gives a smooth, dry feel to skin.  That’s because it’s not a lotion – it’s a blend of mineral oil and esters that lubricates without being too wet or greasy. Avon Skin So Soft Bath Oil Ingredients Mineral oil, isopropyl palmitate, dicapryl adipate, fragrance, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, BHT (to prevent oxidation) and carrot seed oil (source). I think that the most amazing thing about this product is that for decades people have been convinced that it is an excellent mosquito repellent. Rumor had it that Skin So Soft was even better than pro... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2584264 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:01:34 +0100 2584264 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2572952&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2FdKQ5t_E2qm8%2Fpreventing-and-treating-skin-tears.html If you work with elderly patients, then you have probably seen “skin tears.”  There is a nice basic article (see full reference below) on the topic that recently crossed my desk.  I’d like to share some of the information with you. (photo credit) In considering the mechanism of skin tears, I love the way Dr Salcido (2nd reference below) puts it.  His paper explanation could be useful in explaining the problem to patients. I will consider the etiologic factors associated with the development of skin tears through these 2 subdivisions:  pathomechanical & pathophysiological. The French term la melodie de la peau de papier ("the melody of the little piece of paper") is useful to describe both the mechanical (human machine interface) and the pathophy... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2572952 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:01:00 +0100 2572952 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2572906&cid=t_96371_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F07%2F05%2Finternational-journal-of-palliative-care-nursing-2009-vol-15-no-6%2F This article describes specific skin changes not previously featured in the literature in four patients at end of life with malignancy, and discusses the potential use of this as a prognostic indicator. Contact the Library for a copy of this article Posted in Current Awareness, Journals Tagged: End of Life Care, Palliative Care, Palliative Treatment, Prognosis, Skin Changes (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2572906 Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:11:51 +0100 2572906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2523065&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2F8r17Ujp-CxM%2Ftopical-fluorouracil-for-photoaging.html The authors of the article referenced below looked at the use of topical fluorouracil and it’s affects on improving photoaging in skin.  Topical fluorouracil (5FU) has become a standard treatment of actinic keratoses (AKs).  For treatment of AKs it is applied to the skin once or twice daily for 2-4 weeks.  It produces significant and predictable irritation and inflammation.  When the skin is healed there is always a decrease in the number of AKs.  A “side benefit” of the AK treatment in many patients was improved skin (smoother, more even color, and a decrease in fine wrinkles).  This improvement appears to come from the wound-healing response of the skin.  The authors end the article with this observation: Evidence is accumulating that even mini... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2523065 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:57:50 +0100 2523065 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473676&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=37824&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorkalitenko.com%2Fblog%2Fgeneral-health%2Flight-can-save-your-life-light-can-kill-you What you should know about light: how to use it safely We cannot live without light, because we need it to work and we need it to help us get vitamin D to protect us from cancer and to build our bones. But it does not mean, that we can use light more, than nature allows us. We know, that too much sun light can cause skin cancer. But what is too much? It turned out that even a small exposure to light during night time can cost us life! According to the recent study from Haifa University the rate of breast and prostate cancer were directly related to the artificial light at night. And there is an explanation of this finding: light at night resets out body to the day mode, shutting down the production of night hormone melatonin — one of the major factors of anticancer defense. So how to... Doctor Kalitenko antiaging blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473676 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:19:54 +0100 2473676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473599&cid=t_96371_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FpIaV0Nh5n7I%2F Pimples, zits, blackheads, whiteheads, whatever you want to call them, they plague men and women of all ages. Always seeming to arise at the worst moments (like right before a first date — UGH!), acne is a battle that many of us have been battling for years. There are many causes of acne, but when it comes down to it, we just want our skin clear. That’s where acne treatments come in. Hundreds of over-the-counter and prescription acne treatments are available. Almost all of them are one-size-fits-all and that’s the reason most of them don’t work. Everyone’s acne problems and skin are different. Therefore, a customized treatment is necessary to win the battle against acne. Image: skinID SkinID is a personalized acne solution. Through a series of interactive ques... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473599 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:01:08 +0100 2473599 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473499&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2F2HhUdwEftmk%2Fdermatology-blog.html If you haven’t found The Dermatology Blog, you need to check it out.  It is written by Dr Jeffrey Benabio.    Here is a sampling of his advise on his blog: Skin Care Myths: Adding Sunscreens Adds SPF Applying two sunscreens with an SPF of 15 gives you a total SPF of 15, not 30. The SPF you end up with is only the SPF of the highest sunscreen that you applied. Facials Don’t Treat Wrinkles Facials can be beneficial; they extract clogged pores, exfoliate dull, scaly skin, and give you a deep, invigorating cleansing, leaving your face smooth and silky. But facials cannot treat wrinkles, broken blood vessels, or brown spots. 5 Ways to Have Beautiful Lips Stop smoking This seems like a no-brainer, but it is important to mention here. Smoking is bad for lips for two r... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473499 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:01:00 +0100 2473499 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2464205&cid=t_96371_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FtfjgC2-id3c%2F Press release from the FDA regarding a voluntary recall of Clarcon Skin Products: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that Clarcon Biological Chemistry Laboratory Inc. of Roy, Utah, is voluntarily recalling some skin sanitizers and skin protectants marketed under several different brand names because of high levels of disease-causing bacteria found in the product during a recent inspection. The FDA is warning consumers to not use any Clarcon products. For more information, visit the FDA site , where you will find a list of products and the concerns. ~~~~~ Image: Newscom.com Share and Enjoy: Post from: Blisstree FDA Warning: Clarcon Skin Products (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2464205 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 01:29:18 +0100 2464205 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452875&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F06%2F03%2Fhow-does-murad-oil-control-mattifier-work%2F Brenda is bemused….Do products that claim to reduce shiny skin oiliness really work? I was thinking of buying Murad Oil Control but I don’t want to get scammed. Can the Beauty Brains please enlighten me? The Right Brain replies: We always encourage the Beauty Brains community to be on skeptical alert for products that sound too good to be true, so we’d be glad to try to shine some light on the shine control claims of Murad. Oil Control Claims This product is a lotion that claims to provide sun protection and oil control. The sun protection part is easy: it contains 3 different FDA approved sunscreens so there’s no issue there. Understanding oil control is a bit more slippery. According to Murad’s website, Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15 “reduces shine on c... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452875 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:01:05 +0100 2452875 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452953&cid=t_96371_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fit-takes-guts-to-live-with-chronic-pain%2F No, I’m not referring to intestinal fortitude, although that’s a handy virtue to have if you have to live with daily pain. I am referring to the “real thing.” Inside each of us are yards of intestines which do a job for us that we often take for granted; at least until we run into trouble. As a nurse I’ve experienced each and every aspect of the subject of guts, from beginning to end, if you know what I mean. There was even one very memorable experience when I was working alone in a small Emergency Room and a young father came in, clutching his toddler son to his white shirt and tie only to reveal the child’s intestines were hanging out. A hernia repair had come undone. It was amazing how clean the intestines can be. It was an alarming experience, especi... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452953 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:35:27 +0100 2452953 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2447801&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F05%2F31%2Fwhat-beauty-products-of-the-future-do-you-want%2F There’s an interesting discussion started by JamiSings in the Beauty Brains forum about beauty products people wish existed but don’t. Do you have other ideas of products you wished existed? Leave a comment below. Here are a few examples of what forum members have come up with so far. Beauty Products of the Future? 1. Permanent, targeted hair removal 2. Cheap lotion that gets rid of stretch marks 3. Tools you can use yourself to remove ‘bacne’ 4. Vacuum to clean pores and remove ingrown hairs 5. Skin pills to treat skin conditions like eczema & rosacea 6. No more skin creams! Just cleaners and pills 7. Diet pill with no side effects 8. Sunscreen that didn’t have to be reapplied 9. Pill to stop hair from growing once it gets to the right length 10. Cream th... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2447801 Sun, 31 May 2009 06:01:37 +0100 2447801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2442057&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F05%2F29%2Flast-chance-to-enter-free-clarisonic-contest%2F Here is just a final reminder that if you want your chance at a FREE Clarisonic Skin Care system you have to follow us on Twitter by the end of the day today. We only have ONE Clarisonic Skin System ($195 value) and it is going to be given away to a Beauty Brains Twitter follower. Here’s what you have to do… If you are already following the Beauty Brains on Twitter, you don’t have to do anything.  You’re already in the contest. If you are not following us on Twitter, get started today by doing the following. Step 1 - Go to the Twitter website here. Step 2 - Click on the big green button that says ‘Join Today’ (or login if you already use Twitter). Step 3 - Fill in the application - Don’t worry, it’s FREE & FUN Step 4 - If it doesn’... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2442057 Fri, 29 May 2009 12:54:25 +0100 2442057 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2424274&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F05%2F20%2Fwho-wants-to-get-tan-without-cancer-concerns%2F Mid Brain muses: According to this article, the Fake Bake sunless tanning market is hot. Over the last few years major skin care manufacturers have discovered how to combine a skin moisturizer with a sunless tanner to make an effective light sunless tanner that gives a steady color change. These new tech products prevent the streaking effect that has been a major drawback of traditional sunless tanners. They also provide daily moisturization so there’s a reason to use them everyday. You get healthy skin and a natural looking color. How do sunless tanners work? To understand sunless tanning it is helpful to have a simple understanding of skin structure. Skin is made up of two primary layers, the dermis and the epidermis. The dermis is the inside layers of the skin where all the blood... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2424274 Wed, 20 May 2009 06:01:22 +0100 2424274 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2415515&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F05%2F17%2Fwhat-shape-is-your-face%2F There are so many misleading, crappy beauty websites out there it’s hard to cut through the bull. That’s why The Beauty Brains spend a lot of time scouring the web looking for interesting websites so you don’t have to. In addition to science-oriented sites  sometimes we find things that are just plain fun to try out. Face shape Hairstyler.com has an interesting way to classify the shape of your face. I don’t know if it really helps you pick your hairstyle, but it is interesting to find out if you’re a heart face, diamond face or Triangular face type. You simply fill out a questionnaire and they email you pictures of recommended hairstyles based on your personal preference. Check it out, it’s kind of cool. Face it here! (Source: thebeautybrains.com) thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2415515 Sun, 17 May 2009 06:01:04 +0100 2415515 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405288&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2FDULrqSUUeMc%2Frepost-poison-ivy-warning.html This is a repost of last year’s “poison ivy warning” with a few changes.  Enjoy your walks and play time outdoors, but be careful.     I love to walk in the woods with my dog. I am lucky to have a neighbor who has a trail through her woods around her pond that she encourages us to use. This time of year I have to watch out for poison ivy. In the picture here you can see the poison ivy (leaves of three) intermingled with some Virginia Creeper (five leaves). I find both very pretty. However, to the poison ivy I tend to react like this (photo credit): If you are like me, then you may wish to check out this product, Zanfel, that Dr Paul Auerbach wrote about recently (photo credit). Zanfel™ is a soap mixture of ethoxylate and sodium lauroyl sarcosinate surfactants. ... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405288 Wed, 13 May 2009 11:01:00 +0100 2405288 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405112&cid=t_96371_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F05%2Fhuman-skin-art-to-hang-someday-in.html A tattooed man plans to donate his skin to the Australian National Gallery when he dies. From the story: An Australian man whose body is covered in tattoos has pledged to donate his skin to the National Gallery when he dies. Retired teacher Geoff Ostling displays his tattooed skin at his home in Sydney, Australia. The 65-year-old has pledged to donate his skin to the National Gallery in Canberra after his death..."People can be squeamish about it. Portraits painted on human skin hang in galleries around the world. They don't tell you that, of course, and valuable books were also covered in human skin."Be that as it may, I hope the National Gallery refuses the donation. Hanging the man's skin would along the line of the "cadaver sex art," we discussed here at SHS last week. Respect for huma... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405112 Tue, 12 May 2009 05:05:00 +0100 2405112 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405286&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2Fx7LTxFpeLj8%2Fdermatitis-and-eczema-article-review.html Being a plastic surgeon, I have a great interest in the skin and no I don’t see or treat much dermatitis as the primary physician.  Patients do occasionally ask me about patches / rashes they have.  It’s always nice to be up on the topic and to know when it’s important to make sure they see a dermatologist. The article listed below is a nice, simple  review of conditions that fall into the eczema / dermatitis categories.  The article discusses atopic dermatitis (AD), nummular (coin-shaped)eczema,  contact dermatitis, and stasis dermatitis.  It is not a deep article on the subject, but did include some nice reminders and tips.   The article points out that allergic dermatitis is not uncommon in patients with chronic wounds.  They site an article... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405286 Mon, 11 May 2009 11:01:00 +0100 2405286 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2390067&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F05%2F05%2Fcan-your-hair-color-predict-skin-cancer%2F Mid Brain muses: Blondes allegedly have more fun but brunettes are healthier because their darker coloration protects them from getting skin cancer, right? Sun tan and skin cancer Wrong. According to a report at Science Daily new genetic research indicates that hair color is NOT a good predictor of skin cancer.  Historically scientists thought that certain characteristics associated with having dark hair (dark eye color, not prone to freckles, tanning after repeated sun exposure or tanning without burning meant that you were less likely to develop melanoma. But now they’ve found that regardless of hair color, people with certain MC1R gene variants have a more than two-fold risk of melanoma.  Science Daily says: “Traditionally, a clinician might look at a person with dark hai... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2390067 Tue, 05 May 2009 06:01:25 +0100 2390067 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2387049&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F05%2F04%2Fis-sebamed-clear-face-good-for-rosacea%2F Mo muses…I just came across this cleanser & moisturizer by Sebamed called “Clear Face.” The cleanser claims to kill bacteria from 100,000 to Zero in 5 minutes. Is this good for Rosacea ? The Right Brain responds: According to Sebamed’s website, Clear Face contains “the new active ingredient Montaline C40, based on coconut oil, [that] reduces the number of bacteria from 100,000 to zero in 5 minutes.” While it sounds impressive, Montaline C40 is just the brand name of a relatively new surfactant: Cocamidopropyl betainamide MEA chloride. It’s a mild foamer that purportedly has anti-bacterial properties. Are we impressed that it can kill a hundred thousand bacteria in 5 minutes?   Not really. Even though it sounds better than my top score in Halo... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2387049 Mon, 04 May 2009 06:01:24 +0100 2387049 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376403&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F04%2F29%2Fboots-anti-wrinkle-cream-shown-to-actually-work%2F Left Brain reports breaking news from the UK… Some time ago, there was a news story that reported Boots anti wrinkle cream actually worked. This caused a run on the product and it was quickly imported to the US where it sold great. Unfortunately, a news report is hardly proof of anything so we were a bit skeptical. Anti wrinkle study To their credit, the Boots company didn’t stop there. According to this BBC story, they were so certain their product worked, they actually hired a university to do a double-blind, placebo controlled study to prove it. This kind of study is what pharmaceutical companies are required to do to prove new drugs work so it’s the best. The results of that study just came out and it shows that the Boots No7 Refine and Rewind Intense Perfecting Serum actually ha... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376403 Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:58:03 +0100 2376403 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376110&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2FgJtdVVplTcg%2Fmelanoma-skin-screening-is-important.html I’m all for finding skin cancer early.  It makes treatment so much more simple and effective.  This is reinforced in the recent article by Alan C. Geller, of the Boston University School of Public Health, and colleagues in the April issue of  Archives of Dermatology.  The study shows that routine screening for melanoma can lead to a 50% increase in detection of small back-of-body lesions.  These lesions on the back are ones that are often missed by the patients themselves. The study surveyed 227 men ≥40 within three months of melanoma diagnosis.   They found that more than half (59%) had not received a full-body physical examination by a physician prior to diagnosis of melanoma.   Melanoma can present anywhere on the body, but in men the ba... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376110 Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:01:00 +0100 2376110 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2364975&cid=t_96371_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fgreys-anatomy-blurring-fact-and-fiction%2F The hospital - Seattle Grace - doesn’t exist and neither does its staff but that’s not stopping them from using the pending nuptials of Dr Derek ‘McDreamy’ Shepard and Dr. Meredith Grey as a fundraiser for a worthy cause. Actually, it’s a pretty clever idea - creating online wedding registry - that taps the Grey’s Anatomy’s fans into feeling that they are part of the wedding festivities, which allows them to donate in lieu of gifts to one of these three well deserving charities… - American Academy of Neurology Foundation (ANN) - Alzheimer’s Association - American Skin Foundation When contacted by the producers of Grey’s Anatomy as one of the chosen charities, the AAN foundation jumped on the offer. As foundation’s Executive Director, Catherine M Rydell, says ‘…Thi... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2364975 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:41:25 +0100 2364975 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365072&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2FVK0RiyyC-BA%2Fshort-cuts-to-beauty.html Interesting article recently in the New York Times written by Anemona Hartocollis and Christina Davidson, A Cheap, Fast and Possibly Deadly Route to Beauty  (April 16, 2009).  The article reports on how an increasing number of people are participating in “pumping parties” which use illegal silicone injections for cosmetic purposes. The injections are administered at home, in motel rooms, in makeshift offices or at “pumping parties,” where the guests take turns injecting one another, officials said.   Silicone injections are not legal in the United States.  It’s use is considered by the FDA as a violation of Federal law as the use of liquid silicone injections “does not have an approved application for marketing or currently approved investigational exempt... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2365072 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:01:00 +0100 2365072 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2358189&cid=t_96371_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fthe-high-maintenance-chick-and-chronic-pain%2F I remember when life used to be simple. In those days I had two children, a husband who worked full-time nights while going to nursing school full-time days while I ran a Victorian home, which I was also fixing up. I also had a full-time job as a nurse-manager and all the little day to day duties of wife, mother, friend and nurse. Laundry, constantly piling up, soaking pans in the sink and keeping up with everyday life, well, that’s the way it went as one day wove into the next. We were a happy family then and I hope we’re a happy family now, against all odds. Joy still lives in my heart although it doesn’t often find a welcome reception in my body. I thought I had a busy life. As all working mothers and wives come to realize, the housework such as cleaning and folding la... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2358189 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:07:15 +0100 2358189 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348256&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2FPnzuzKy18JI%2Fexcess-sweating.html I have a nephew who has excess sweating of his feet which began as a child.   The problem has not gone away as he got older, nor has it spread to other parts of his body.  He has tried the new socks that say they will absorb sweat and keep the feet dry.  None of them work for him.  So this post is for him as I look for ways to help him.     Sweating is the release of a salty liquid from the body's sweat glands.  Sweating or perspiration is important in cooling the body.   It is common to sweat under the arms, on the feet, and on the palms of the hands. When the production of sweat is in excess of the amount needed for cooling the body (thermal regulation) it is call hyperhidrosis (excess sweating).  Hyperhidrosis may be primary or sec... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348256 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:14:00 +0100 2348256 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2318540&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F04%2F09%2Fare-super-fruits-good-for-your-skin%2F Volcom wants to know…In the midst of the new antioxidant craze I have noticed the touting of several “exotic” tropical fruits for their exceptionally high antioxidant content. It seems like some people are on a mission to find the world’s antioxidant super fruit. Naturally, these “super fruits” are crossing over into out skincare products. For example, DHC features lines based on both the Acerola and Camu Camu fruits. These key ingredients are supposed to help brighten and even whiten your skin! Can a product containing a fruit with a high antioxidant content help whiten or brighten aging, sun damaged skin? The Left Brain responds: Before explaining about antioxidant effect on skin, let me explain a bit about super fruits. What is a super fruit? Accord... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2318540 Thu, 09 Apr 2009 06:01:53 +0100 2318540 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2318544&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F04%2F05%2Fbeauty-science-or-bs-poll-38-answers%2F Answer time for the latest Beauty Science or BS poll. Hundreds of you future Beauty Brains answered and here are the results. Apparently, this was one of the easier ones because over 52% of you got it right. Read on for the answers. The Choices 1. Some people may be blind to hair styles. 2. People with numerous skin moles are less susceptible to skin cancer. 3. First face transplant surgery was performed in Cleveland. 4. Protein linked to cancer may replace Botox for wrinkle removal. Some people may be blind to hair styles - TRUE 13% of you thought this was fake but it’s real. According to this story on New Scientist, there is a part of the brain the recognizes hair styles which is different from the part that recognizes faces. Just as some people can have trouble recognizing faces, ... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2318544 Sun, 05 Apr 2009 06:01:31 +0100 2318544 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2311830&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2FD2eO1Cbp3KY%2Ffluorouracil-treatment-of-problematic.html I’d like to review this Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery article on using fluorouracil for the treatment of keloids. The full reference (first article listed) is given below. First, a little background on keloids and hypertrophic scars. Keloids and hypertrophic scars are challenging to treat. Both are benign growths of dense fibrous tissue that develop due to an abnormal healing response to a injury to the skin. A keloid by definition extends beyond the original borders of the wound or inflammatory response. A hypertrophic scar remains within the original boundary. Both are frequently symptomatic. Patients often report tenderness or pruritis. There are many proposed mechanisms for abnormal scar formation. These include altered growth factor regulation, abnormal collagen turnover, ... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2311830 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:07:01 +0100 2311830 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2302709&cid=t_96371_167_f&fid=36988&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.happynutritionistsnuggets.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fmy-aging-skin-and-skin-care.html If you follow this blog, you know that hubby and I have been on a diet together, and have been losing weight. I've lost over 13 lbs in the past year, and like my looser fitting cloths, but also notice that my skin is fitting a little looser too:-)I can see that I've lost weight in my face; the extra weight used to fill in those fine lines and wrinkles. For my age, it could be a lot worse...I've never smoked, have eaten fairly well for years, and taken supplements to make up for what isn't in my diet. So, for 57, don't have too many complaints, but do notice the changes that are coming. Drinking enough water, as described a couple posts before this one, is one thing you can do that will help from the inside out.Another decision I'm trying to make is to use skin care products to rejuvenate m... Happy Nutritionist's Nuggets blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2302709 Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:44:00 +0100 2302709 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2306916&cid=t_96371_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fskin-cancer-myths-exposed%2F After a long, hard winter, everyone just wants to get out and catch some sun rays, feel the warm, and get a bit of color back in the skin. But while the sun makes us feel good, it’s not always the best thing for us. With the incidence of skin cancer on the rise, it’s important to remember to stop and protect ourselves before we head out into the sun. It’s also important to know fact from fiction when it comes to what’s good and bad about the sun. Myth #1:   Dark-skinned people are safe from sun damage and skin cancer risks. Even though those with brown skin have lots of melanin which offers more protection against UV rays, they are more prone to moles. And abnormal moles are a major risk factor for melanoma. Myth #2: Lip Gloss can protect the skin. Not accord... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2306916 Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:53:49 +0100 2306916 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2306918&cid=t_96371_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fwhat-does-skin-cancer-look-like%2F It’s estimated that around 40 to 50% of all fair-skinned people who live to be 65 or older will develop at least one skin cancer lesion in their lifetime. image:flickr Pretty scary statistics for all us fair-skinned people. But if these skin cancers are spotted early, it can be treated. Here’s the facts. Skin cancer - melanomas, basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas - usually start out as precancerous lesions, which,  if detected early,  can be treated. So it’s really important that we are all able to spot the early warning signs. WebMD’s put together a slideshow that is a pretty good primer to recognizing suspect lesions and moles that should be checked out by the doctor. Ranging from Actinic Keratosis (Solar Keratosis), small, scaly patches caused by too much sun e... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2306918 Sat, 28 Mar 2009 14:05:35 +0100 2306918 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2290619&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F03%2F22%2F3-for-1-lotions-astringents-and-more%2F Michelle at Vidafrugal asks this three part question: 1. Lotions: if I already wash my face, why do I need lotion? 2. Astringent: they smell like alcohol, could I just rub alcohol on my face to remove impurities? 3. Deodorants: Why are men’s deodorants less expensive than women’s? It makes no sense to me! The Right Brain Responds: Michelle - You ask several good questions. Let’s get right to them! Facial lotion While washing removes oil, dirt, and makeup residue, it can also dry out your skin. That’s because the surfactants, or cleansing agents, in most standard facial washes do strip some of the natural moisturizing oils from your skin. (We’ll have to do a future post to fully explain the difference between good and bad facial washes.) Lotions, on the other ... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2290619 Sun, 22 Mar 2009 06:01:51 +0100 2290619 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2285852&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2FQ9o5n89aXoA%2Fsun-protection.html H/T to the Medgadget guys (photo credit).  This post of theirs reports on a new device to help protect skin from sun damage. Researchers from University of Strathclyde, Glasgow have developed a skin patch that measures a person's exposure to the sun. Chemical compounds inside the patch react to ultraviolet light and change color to warn of a potential skin burn.   Since the device isn’t available just yet, remember to use sun screen. The best sunscreen is the one you will use. It has to "feel" good to them--not be too greasy, not have the wrong scent, be the right consistency (lotion vs cream). It will not matter if it is SPF 15 or 3o if it never gets used. It is best to use sunscreen daily, all year around, especially on the face and neck. If you are in the habi... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2285852 Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:14:00 +0100 2285852 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2273468&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F03%2F17%2Fbeauty-science-or-bs-poll-38%2F Welcome to another Beauty Science or BS poll.  Once again we give  you a chance to test out your own beauty brain.  Here are 4 headlines from real stories about beauty science.  Three are real but one is completely made-up.  Can you figure out which of the following are FAKE? Once you’ve decided, just head on over to the right column of the Beauty Brains blog and enter your vote.  Answers will be published two weeks from now. Beauty Science Headlines 1. Some people may be blind to hair styles 2. People with numerous skin moles are less susceptible to skin cancer. 3. First face transplant surgery was performed in Cleveland 4. Protein linked to cancer may replace Botox for wrinkle removal. Which do you think is the beauty BS? If you leave a comment below we may even give you a hi... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2273468 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 06:01:38 +0100 2273468 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2258804&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F03%2F10%2Fhow-does-freeze-247-clean-and-protect-your-face%2F Dana’s Diligent Request…I’m curious about the facial cleanser that contains SPF. It’s by a company called Freeze 24/7 and I read about it in Oprah’s magazine. It’s called Ice Shield. I was wondering how they would make a facial cleanser that cleans your face from dirt and free radicals as well as protect you from the sun year round? Could you shed some light on this for me? The Right Brain’s Crystal Clear Response: Here’s a case where there really is new technology behind an expensive department store brand. (And believe us, that doesn’t happen very often!) What’s the big deal? Just read what Freeze 24/7 says about Ice Shield: The world’s first in preventative anti-aging skincare. By simply washing your face, Ice Shield™ provi... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2258804 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 07:12:00 +0100 2258804 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2234304&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2FJkM-PygKQ2g%2Fpropranolol-for-hemagiomas.html There is an article (see reference below) in the June 12, 2008 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (h/t Medpage Today) that shows some amazing regression of hemagiomas using propranolol. Hemangiomas of infancy are the most common tumor of infancy. They typically appear within a few weeks after birth and peak within three months. Hemagiomas are more common in girls than boys, more common in white than other races, and more common in preemies. Most of these lesions are innocuous and regress without treatment. Up to 75% shrink to insignificance by the time the child reaches school age. However, 5-10% of the lesions that will ulcerate during the rapid growth phase in the first 6 months of life. Ulceration is the most common reason for referral to specialists, and may be associated w... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2234304 Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:18:00 +0100 2234304 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2182403&cid=t_96371_125_f&fid=34820&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalblogs.com%2Farchives%2Fadministrator%2Fengineered-gum-tissue-to-boost-oral-wound-healing%2F Dentists, oral surgeons, periodontists, and medical surgeons use oral tissue grafts for a number of procedures. Biocompatibility of the grafts is an important factor for successful transplantation. Using skin for an oral tissue graft poses problems such as bulkiness, hair growth, and sweating. To this point, human engineered oral tissue grafts have not been availalble. But not any more. Recent Swedish research shows that a new, engineered oral tissue substitute is proving effective in clinical applications. The engineered tissue is created from a small analogous oral tissue graft that is expanded in the lab over three weeks. The new graft is biocompatible because of the source, and it has characteristics of natural oral tissue, rather than skin. To this point, oral tissue graft engineer... dental blog for dentists about dentistry blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2182403 Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:21:22 +0100 2182403 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2172745&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F02%2F09%2Fdoes-origins-skin-care-open-your-pores%2F Laura is lackluster on Origins… I went with a friend to an Origins skin care boutique and had a hard time maintaining a straight face what with all the “…after you rinse it it, the antioxidants are activated to…” and “…it can’t hurt you, it’s organic and natural…”. Thank goodness I read your blog! But, I can only find one review and lots of negative comments with it. Is it really that bad? Are all of their products irritating? And do antioxidants really open your pores to cleanse out the bad stuff as they say? The Left Brain :  While Origins skin care might have some ingredients in it that have irritation potential, I doubt they are any more irritating than most other personal care products. Companies do safety testing on ... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2172745 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 06:00:38 +0100 2172745 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2172961&cid=t_96371_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D6130 strWebsiteID = window.document.location.toString();strSplitWeb = strWebsiteID.split("/")strWebsiteID = strSplitWeb[2];document.write(”“); from the Malaysian Medical Resources VIDEO: Preoperative Warm-up Improves Surgical Skills, High Altitudes Prolong Lives of Dialysis Patients, Beach Trips Increase Skin Cancer Risk in Children (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2172961 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2172961 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2195227&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fkinoki-detox-foot-pads-officially-a-scam%2F The first time I came across Kinoki detox foot pads I knew immediately that they were a scam and wrote a piece in these pages entitled “Kinoki detox foot pads - a scambuster report.”  In that blog I went so far as to say that Kinoki foot pads were such a blatant scam that they gave other scams a bad name. That blog became one of the most widely read items I’ve ever written, generating nearly 500 comments at last count. While some respondents disagreed and said that the pads had helped them, many writers agreed with my assessment of Kinoki as being a scam. Well, now the federal government has weighed in and guess what? They agree with me and have officially called Kinoki detox foot pads a scam. I’d always held that it was just a matter of time before the feds came d... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2195227 Thu, 05 Feb 2009 22:44:49 +0100 2195227 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2160715&cid=t_96371_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F02%2F05%2Fwages-are-only-skin-deep-abstract%2F Joni Hersch recently posted a fascinating paper, titled “Color, Discrimination, and Immigrant Pay” on SSRN.  This is her latest paper in a larger set of articles on the topic.  Here’s the abstract. * * * In “Profiling the New Immigrant Worker: The Effects of Skin Color and Height,” (Journal of Labor Economics 2008), I present strong evidence of a wage penalty to darker skin color among new legal immigrants to the United States. Immigrants with the lightest skin color earn on average 17 percent higher wages than comparable immigrants with the darkest skin color, taking into account Hispanic ethnicity, race, country of birth, education, English language proficiency, family background, and occupation in the source country. This current paper demonstrates that ... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2160715 Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:01:20 +0100 2160715 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2147508&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F01%2F31%2Ftop-5-reasons-skin-care-products-stop-working%2F Deetopia…I’m always curious about this. Few days ago, my friend was complaining that she needs to change her skincares since it’s no longer working on her skin. It made me curious. Can skincare actually stop working? Can our skin become immune to the skincare we use? Is that possible? The Right Brain responds: As the Left Brain pointed out in the discussion in our Forum, we couldn’t find any scientific studies that definitely answer your question. So, we’ll do the next best thing - speculate! Here are 5 possible factors that could contribute to the perception that skin care products stop working. (And thanks to Judy and Purple Rules for adding their comments on the subject!) 1. Skin reacts differently to products over time We’ve blogged before about how... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2147508 Sat, 31 Jan 2009 06:01:03 +0100 2147508 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2195240&cid=t_96371_129_f&fid=36041&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fchrista-life-with-psoriasis%2Fthe-self-fulfilling-psoriasis-flares%2F Writers are always being told “write what you know,” and obviously that is the basic and rather brilliant idea behind HealthTalk blogging. We live with these conditions and therefore are best qualified to write about life with whatever health condition, in my case psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The thing is that with chronic conditions we may have periods where nothing much is happening for us and our condition is either reasonably well managed or simply behaving itself, so what do we write about during those times? Usually I look to see what the support groups are talking about, what’s in the news, what is happening or of concern to other people I know who have psoriasis…including members of my own family. This means that sometimes I may write about things that I a... Life with Psoriasis blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2195240 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:21:55 +0100 2195240 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2121479&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F01%2F22%2Fmore-cosmetic-acupuncture-proof%2F Leita says…Beauty Brains, I would like to see your opinion in regards to the points made in Jante’s and Rosa’s posts. Right now, I can’t help but feel you’re ignoring these arguments because they’re so full of win. Left Brain gets prickly: Thanks for the comments Leita. We didn’t ignore the comments due to a lack of response. We just don’t always have time to go through every comment on every subject and discuss every point. A lack of response does not indicate agreement. I find acupuncture particularly troubling, so I’ll address their comments now. Pointed comments Jante & Rosa made the following points. You can go back to the comments section of our cosmetic acupuncture post for their entire comments. Anecdotal Nonsense “I can’t imagine why B... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2121479 Thu, 22 Jan 2009 06:44:33 +0100 2121479 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2122139&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2F518647899%2Fscars-and-their-therapy-article-review.html As I continue to catch up on my journal reading, I thought I would review and share this (full reference below) article with you on scars and current therapies. The article begins by touching on the three stages of wound healing:   inflammation, proliferation, and matrix remodeling/scar formation.  Then goes on to discuss first the emerging scar-reducing therapies and then the currently available therapies.   The list and discuss the following as emerging scar-reducing therapies: TGF-β Superfamily-- TGF-β has been studied as a potential scar-reducing agent since the 1980s.  TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3, have been demonstrated to have major roles in scar production.   Investigations of TGF-β as a scar-reducing agent have sought to simulate the fetal ... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2122139 Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:15:00 +0100 2122139 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2121630&cid=t_96371_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F01%2F21%2Ftreatment-for-body-dysmorphic-disorder%2F We recently published an interesting overview of body dysmorphic disorder, an often misunderstood disorder where the primary symptom is an obsession with an imagined or minor defect of one’s body (for instance, spending virtually every waking moment obsessing over one’s skin, hair, or other parts of one’s body). Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) affects as many as one in 20 people, but its true prevalence is not known. Patients suffering from BDD worry obsessively about their physical appearance, with concerns frequently but not exclusively focused on the skin, hair and nose. People with BDD often have very low levels of self-esteem. Many people with body dysmorphic disorder are also diagnosed with depression. The Cochrane Library recently took a look at what are considere... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2121630 Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:06:46 +0100 2121630 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2104386&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F01%2F14%2Fshould-you-use-the-clarisonic-skin-care-system%2F Our previous Clarisonic assessment sparked a bit of controversy with one responder claiming you are a complete idiot… before you write a hack review on a product know what you are talking about first. Ouch! Sometimes it’s hard to be a Beauty Brain. Mostly, we ignore criticism like this, but two things happened. First, my sister asked if stimulating skin makes it produce extra collagen and I was not sure. Then we serendipitously got another Clarisonic device in the mail. Since the Clarisonic definitely stimulates skin it got us Beauty Brains talking about it again. Sarah said it was a sign. I do not believe in signs, but was interested enough to take a closer look at Clarisonic. Clarisonic Science The Clarisonic Skin System is a water-proof, hand-held device with a vibrating brush head.... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2104386 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:01:12 +0100 2104386 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2104783&cid=t_96371_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FBreastfeeding123%2F%7E3%2F6SIJk1N9uSs%2F Photo credit: benklocek Tags: angela white, breast, breastfeeding-photo, breastfeeding-picture, naked, newborn, nipple, skin to skin, wordless-wednesdayShare This (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2104783 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:22:41 +0100 2104783 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2104522&cid=t_96371_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D5864 strWebsiteID = window.document.location.toString();strSplitWeb = strWebsiteID.split("/")strWebsiteID = strSplitWeb[2];document.write(”“); from the Malaysian Medical Resources Skin Cancer Increases Risk of Other Cancers, Early Repeat Cesareans Increase Complications, Teen Birth Rate Rises for First Time in 15 Years (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2104522 Wed, 14 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2104522 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2097797&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F01%2F12%2Fexfoliation-nation-can-you-peel-too-much%2F SMG Writes…I am a scientist, and would like to know the truth about the face creams that say they are rejuvenating because they remove dead cells and stimulate the new cell layers underneath to divide. This sounds downright dangerous- I was taught that skin cells only have a finite number of divisions they can undergo (natural aging) so if you use them up sooner - does this mean no skin for the last 20 years of your life? And stimulating cells to divide is one step in making cells into cancer cells. Aren’t dermatologists concerned? Left Brian’s Exfoliating Elucidation SMG, you raise some interesting questions. It took a lot of time scouring the scientific journals but we’ve finally found some answers. First, face creams that say they are rejuvenating don’t rea... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2097797 Tue, 13 Jan 2009 02:31:32 +0100 2097797 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2089872&cid=t_96371_136_f&fid=35303&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.assertivepatient.com%2F2009%2F01%2Fmelanoma-a-great-quote.html There's a great quote in a recent story about melanoma rates increasing in the United States:  "Individuals of low socioeconomic status in our society are additionally burdened with health issues of diseases that too often are diagnosed later, treated incompletely and rehabilitated meekly."That's from Dr. Jeffrey C. Salomon, an assistant clinical professor of plastic surgery at Yale University School of Medicine, talking about the fact that melanomas diagnosed among "disadvantaged people" tend to be thicker, which is not good. Thickness is an indication of how far the melanoma has progressed.I especially love that "rehabilitated meekly." Indeed. The bad news for all of us is that melanoma rates are rising, especially among older men.&#016... The Assertive Cancer Patient blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2089872 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:11:15 +0100 2089872 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2093074&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2F506140290%2Fcamrsa-dx-and-tx-update-for-plastic.html Beginning the year trying to catch up on some of my journals.  Reading my Plastic and Reconstructive Journals, I noticed this very nice review article on community acquired methicillin resistant Staph aureus (first article referenced below).  It seems even more timely as HHS has just issued it’s “Action Plan to Prevent Health Care-Associated Infections”. It begins by noting that MRSA was first discovered in the 1960’s and until “recently” was considered a hospital-acquired infection.  Looking at the genes of the S. aureus bacteria has given a clearer picture of the two (hospital acquired vs community acquired) diseases. There are five types of SCCmec. Hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains contain SCCmec types I, II, III, and V4, and communit... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2093074 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:07:00 +0100 2093074 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2087256&cid=t_96371_136_f&fid=36051&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FCancerCommentary%2F%7E3%2FFxKhPGLtFx0%2F For the many people who are told they have skin cancer, there several lucky ones. Although it’s never a good thing to be told you have any type of cancer, most people who are diagnosed with skin cancer are diagnosed so early, that it’s very curable. But…be careful, even after you’ve been given the all clear. According to a study out of Ireland, if you’ve been diagnosed and cured of melanoma, the more serious of the two types of skin cancer, you have twice the risk of developing another type of cancer. If you’ve been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, the "mild" cancer that doesn’t spread, you may have up to a 57% higher chance of developing another cancer. You can read more about the findings in this article, Skin cancer patients at g... Cancer Commentary blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2087256 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:45:37 +0100 2087256 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2080991&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F01%2F05%2Fis-pollution-bad-for-your-skin%2F Carol’s Question…My Mario Badescu skin lotion says it protects against environmental damage and pollution. This sounds like Marketing hype to me. What sayeth the Brains? The Left Brain’s Reply: We all know that certain environmental factors, such as the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight, can cause skin damage. But what about air pollution - is it bad for your skin? To answer that question we refer you to a study recently published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science (2006. 28. 349-357) entitled Effects of Environmentally Realistic Levels of Ozone on Stratum Corneum Function. Testing pollution on human skin Using a specially designed environmental chamber, researchers exposed panelists’ skin to ozone, which is the primary oxidant in photochemical smog. T... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2080991 Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:01:27 +0100 2080991 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2077668&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2009%2F01%2F03%2Fwill-antioxidants-impact-your-age%2F Today, we’re having a guest post by a cosmetic chemist who calls himself “SoapyGuy”. There has been a lot of buzz in the cosmetic community about this recent study that appears to prove that antioxidants have no effect on aging. So what is this study and what does it really mean? Anti-oxidants and Age Since the 1950s one of the leading theories on aging has been that it is caused by the accumulation of damage from free radicals, but a study from University College London (UCL) claims to disprove this theory. The topic of free radicals is more than an article in itself, but let us just say that they’re highly reactive molecules that are thought to cause a lot of damage to cells. Superoxide Dismutase and Worms Cells have a number of mechanisms for preventing this damage, one of whic... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2077668 Sat, 03 Jan 2009 06:44:21 +0100 2077668 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2073807&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F12%2F30%2Fshould-you-get-led-therapy-from-a-salon%2F Mary Muses..Mine is not a cosmetic questions as I know there are no cremes that will actually firm sagging skin. I want to know if LED light therapy works on reducing wrinkles and stimulating collagen growth as some spas claim. Also I want to know if the Titan skin tightening procedure works. Thanks! The Right Brain’s Reply: I checked out some info over at the American Academy of Dermatology and found that indeed dermatologists say that LED can improve fine wrinkling and skin discoloration. However, I wouldn’t have this done at a Spa! This is a medical procedure that can only effectively be done by a doctor. Any treatment that a spa would give you will not do anything for you except separate you from your money. LED does NOT stimulate collagen growth! At best it reconfigures yo... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2073807 Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:56:44 +0100 2073807 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2075099&cid=t_96371_136_f&fid=36051&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FCancerCommentary%2F%7E3%2FZm3PzCSusxM%2F I’m a firm believer in a picture is worth a thousand words, so here is a brief video of a man named Noah, who now goes for regular skin check ups since his father died of melanoma, skin cancer. Click on the TV screen to watch the short video: Are you at high risk? Do you get your skin checked? My husband does, every six months and he’s had several suspicious spots removed. So did my oldest son when he was about 17 or son. ~~~~ Tags: cancer blog, melanoma, skin cancer checks Share This (Source: Cancer Commentary) Cancer Commentary blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2075099 Tue, 30 Dec 2008 01:10:05 +0100 2075099 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2055764&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F12%2F21%2Fmake-your-own-sugar-scrub%2F Hello Beauty Brains community. Today, we have a guest post from a cosmetic chemist who started her own company. Joan Brindle, cosmetic chemist and owner of The Creative Cosmetic Company shares her recipe for a terrific sugar scrub. Make Your Own Sugar Scrub A few years ago as I was getting ready to make my annual bath and body gifts for the Holidays, I invited afriend to join me in making some sugar scrubs. My friend said “oh, I already make those and it’s really simple. I just mix cooking oil and sugar together and add some fragrance oil.” Yikes, I had seen those homemade sugar scrubs before. They were nothing but gloopy, oily messes! That year, I made sure to include a jar of my home-made sugar scrub with her gift. Since then my friend has learned that for just a few pennies more,... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2055764 Sun, 21 Dec 2008 06:04:52 +0100 2055764 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2053307&cid=t_96371_136_f&fid=36051&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FCancerCommentary%2F%7E3%2FO4-vhxMsaf4%2F Malignant melanoma, an aggressive skin cancer, usually has a grim prognosis. Sadly, malignant melanoma has increased world-wide, to five times what it used to be 30 years ago. It is also responsible for 90% of skin cancer deaths. I knew someone who had this diagnosis and it was surprising how quickly it spread. According to a press release, Dangerous skin cancer, German researchers have come up with a new set of guidelines to diagnose and treat the disease. The German Cancer Society recommends specific treatments or therapeutic combinations, depending on the thickness of the tumor and its stage. For example, if the tumor has more than a specific thickness, it is recommended that the primary tumor should be surgically removed, together with the sentinel lymph nodes and in combination with ... Cancer Commentary blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2053307 Thu, 18 Dec 2008 18:47:14 +0100 2053307 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2039818&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F12%2F17%2Fwhat-lip-balm-should-you-use%2F DVG declares…My lips have been chapped and dry - which causes me to do the worst thing for them: I unconsciously bite at them when they are chapped.  I have tried several lip balms and is it possible that they can cause my lips to dry out more than moisturize them? I’ve tried these: Nivea Moisture and Burt’s Bee’s balm in a tin. Both drying. Can you help me find one that is truly moisturizing? Thank you! Left Brain’s Lippy Reply Lip balm is an individual thing.  One type may work for one person but not for you.  I personally love Carmex Lip Balm.  During winter, I can’t get enough! But on to your question.  Perhaps if we look at the ingredients of ones you tried, we can figure out what is going on and steer you towards another type that might give y... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2039818 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:04:45 +0100 2039818 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2035525&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F12%2F14%2Fcan-moisturizers-actually-make-skin-drier%2F Ginger has a hunch about humectants: I’ve heard that that humectants only work if there’s a high moisture level in the air and other wise they’ll draw the moisture out of your hair. Is this possible? The Right Brain replies: Humectant is a very misused word in the beauty industry. Many people use “humectant” interchangeably with “moisturizer” when in reality the two are very different. Let’s take a look. How do humectants work? Humectants are different from regular moisturizers because they are able to attract and hold onto water molecules. Chemicals that have this ability are said to hygroscopic. Examples of hygroscopic, or humectant, cosmetic ingredients include glycerine, sorbitol and propylene glycol. What do these ingredients have in common that allow t... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2035525 Sun, 14 Dec 2008 06:28:22 +0100 2035525 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2026827&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F12%2F10%2Fdermatology-academy-recommends-sunscreen-use-and-vitamin-d%2F The Left Brain gets loquacious… When we wrote about the dangers of indoor tanning, some people that posted comments suggested that sunscreen use was leading to Vitamin D deficiency. They sited a few studies that indeed suggest Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor in a number of health issues.  They then went on to say that indoor tanning and UV exposure was actually healthy because it helps increase your Vitamin D levels. They also said using sunscreen was bad and might be responsible for Vitamin D deficiency. The argument sounded like a stretch, but it was an interesting hypothesis. Vitamin D and Dermatologists Recently, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) issued a position paper on the subject. They reviewed the scientific literature on the subject and concluded that the pu... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2026827 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 10:44:51 +0100 2026827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2033957&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2F478404421%2Fskin-cancer-melanoma.html Continuing with the reprise of this series on skin cancer.  This was originally posted on July 20, 2008.  I have changed it so that I hope it is easier to read and added more pictures.  You may also want to check out my post from February 2008 on melanoma.   Melanoma is a malignancy of pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) located predominantly in the skin, but also found in the eyes, ears, GI tract, leptomeninges, and oral and genital mucous membranes. Melanoma accounts for only 4% of all skin cancers; however, is responsible for more than 77% of skin cancer deaths worldwide. Early detection of thin cutaneous melanoma is the best means of reducing mortality. In the United States, one person each hour dies from metastatic melanoma. (photo credit) The development of me... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2033957 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:15:00 +0100 2033957 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2021409&cid=t_96371_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F12%2F08%2Ffrom-self-injury-to-self-embedding%2F Warning — if you’re squeamish about this kind of topic, you may want to avoid reading this entry. You may have heard of self-injury. That’s when a person injures themselves — usually through making minor cuts in their arms, legs, or wrists — in an effort to deal with their emotional pain. While a phenomenon that’s been around for decades (and likely longer in secret), it’s one that many mental health professionals remain uneasy with discussing with their clients. But a specific type of self-injury — self-embedding — has just been reported, although it too has likely been going on for years with little notice from professionals. Self-embedding is what it sounds like: people embed objects under their skin, in a variation on the theme o... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2021409 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:25:24 +0100 2021409 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2017451&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F12%2F07%2Fcan-fish-oil-supplements-improve-your-skin%2F Julie’s Fishing For An Answer…Are the levels of fish oils in supplement form high enough to noticeably improve the appearance of your skin? (i.e., softer, more supple) The Right Brain’s Oily Reply: While the fish oil supplement companies will tell you otherwise, we’re going with the assessment of the American Academy of Dermatologists who summarized several studies evaluating the effect of fish oil on atopic dermatitis and psoriasis (basically, different dry skin conditions.) In neither case did they find any correlation between fish oil intake and improvement in skin condition. You can read the entire 90 page report on atopic dermatitis here. We’re not saying you shouldn’t take fish oil supplements, it just doesn’t look like they have much direct ... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2017451 Sun, 07 Dec 2008 06:04:32 +0100 2017451 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2018381&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2F474606502%2Fskin-cancer-squamous-cell-carcinoma.html Continuing with the reprise of this series.  This post was originally posted July 19, 2007.  I redid the layout slightly, so that I hope it is easier to read.   Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer, with over 250,000 new cases per year estimated in the United States. Most (96-97%) are localized and if identified early and treated promptly will not be serious. The other 3-4% can be very invasive in nature, can spread to distant organs (metastasize) and become life-threatening. SCC on the lip or ear appear to be the sites most likely to metastasize. These should be taken seriously. Photo credit. SCC is a malignant tumor that arises in the squamous cells of the upper layer of skin (of epidermal keratinocytes). Most arise from sun-induced... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2018381 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:15:00 +0100 2018381 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2011785&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2F473554677%2Fskin-cancer-basal-cell-carcinoma.html I’m going to repost my series on skin cancer that I did early on in the life of my blog for two reasons:  1) a blog friend is dealing with this issue (melanoma) in a loved one and 2) I’m going to be busy (hopefully) this week and next dealing with the charity auction.  This post on basal cell carcinoma was originally posted on July 18, 2007.  I have reformatted it to make it easier to read (I hope) and added a few more pictures.   Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer. It typically occurs in areas of chronic sun exposure. BCC is usually slow growing and rarely metastasizes, but it can cause significant local destruction and disfigurement if neglected or treated inadequately. BCC are most commonly seen in the head and neck. Therefore, disfigure... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2011785 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:17:00 +0100 2011785 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1990553&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F11%2F26%2Fis-there-an-alternative-to-skinceuticals-products%2F D asks…As part of an anti-acne regimen, both my dermatologist and aesthetician recommended I start using the SkinCeuticals spray toner and Hydratin B5 Gel. I’m getting great results, but am not thrilled with the price of the moisturizer. Yes, it is concentrated and lasts a long time, but at $45/oz on eBay, it’s an awful lot of money. Is there a cheaper alternative with the same active ingredients? Right Brain is ruffled: We get concerned when dermatologists start recommending products. It is not because they don’t know what they are talking about when it comes to skin care, they do. It’s just that saving you money is rarely their concern. They would happily recommend an expensive toner when a less expensive one will work just as well.  Add to this that many dermatolo... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1990553 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 06:25:24 +0100 1990553 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1984706&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F11%2F25%2Fcan-avon-anew-clincal-reduce-or-eliminate-your-spider-veins%2F D asks…I’ve heard that Avon is claiming that this product will reduce or eliminate spider veins–sounds too good to be true–do you have any information on it? Left Brain looks into it: Avon Anew Clinical Spider Vein Therapy is a good illustration of the power of cosmetic marketing and advertising.  Somehow you got the impression that Avon claimed to “reduce or eliminate spider veins”, but upon further investigation, that’s not exactly what they said.  To figure out whether this product really works you need to look at their claims, ingredients and science. Avon Anew Clinical Claims From the Avon website, Anew Clinical makes these 6 claims. After 7 days the color of spider veins starts to fade. After 14 days, spider veins are less pronounced. Over... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1984706 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 07:10:24 +0100 1984706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1974899&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F11%2F20%2Fdraft-mandy-mederma-scar-removal%2F Mandy on Mederma…Does Mederma (http://www.mederma.com/) really help make scars less noticeable? Enough to make it worth purchasing? The Right Brain’s Reply: According to Merderma’s website, many doctors recommend their product. But we’re not convinced. Especially considering the article we found from the Dermatology Times which references a dermatologist’s study that indicates “There is no convincing evidence that it works. Additionally, it is extracted from onions, and fragrance is added to it. When fragrance is added, there is at least the possibility that the patient could develop an allergic contact dermatitis.” Hmmm. we didn’t realize the stuff comes from onions! Beauty Brains Bottom Line: But we suppose the bottom line is, dependin... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1974899 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:56:12 +0100 1974899 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1968653&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F11%2F19%2F20-qualities-of-a-questionable-online-skin-care-offer%2F Jocelyn wonders…Can your review Lifecell skin care? I’ve been looking around the Internet and this keeps popping up. I can’t tell if all the Internet “review” sites giving info on this product are fake and are actual sellers of the product. They make great claims based on user reviews. Love to hear what you have to say about it! Left Brain Lambastes the Long Sales Page: Ho boy.  Get ready folks, this one will get bumpy!  This product is a perfect demonstration of classic Internet, high pressure marketing.  But first, a disclaimer. Disclaimer First, I have not personally tried Lifecell Skin Care products so can not vouch for their quality. Most likely they were created by an earnest cosmetic chemist who tried very hard to make the best products they possibly... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1968653 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:00:51 +0100 1968653 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1968655&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F11%2F17%2Fwhat-is-the-difference-between-soap-surfactants%2F Mo wants to know…I’m confused.  Since I read that surfactant-based liquid cleansers are better than soap, I have been on the look out for a good body wash preferably fragrance free. But now I discover that Dove Bar / Vanicream Bar etc. are not soap but Syndets. What does that mean? There are also Syndet base Liquid face & body washes. What do I pick up? Right Brain comes clean:  It’s easy to understand why people get confused by terms like soap, surfactant and syndet.  Personal care marketing companies often hijack words from science and repackage them as friendly marketing messages. Unfortunately, everyone’s marketing message is different so words lose their focused definitions.  That’s what has happened with these words.  We’ll try to clear it... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1968655 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 07:33:45 +0100 1968655 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1960800&cid=t_96371_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FCgi-1RFzm8Y%2F Inspired by Diabetes Notes’ "Putting a Face on Diabetes", I wanted to do the same and show how people with genetic disorders - rare or common - manage their condition and live their lives to the full. I found a feature article about a teenager named Lizzie Tinney, living with Xeroderma Pigmentosa or XP. Lizzie is only 13 years old and yet she already had to undergo surgeries to remove skin cancer sores. Even while wearing protective clothing from head to tow, Lizzie still has to carry around a meter to measure how much UV light she receives. "It’s way hard. Its way still hard because I love the sun," says Lizzie. "But now that I know that I have XP, I can just go out with my hood on and I go out and play." Xeroderma Pigmentosa is a rare genetic... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1960800 Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:21:22 +0100 1960800 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1955292&cid=t_96371_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FfWi6LNJnRnQ%2F For the first time, US researchers have decoded all the genes of a woman who died of myeloid leukemia, and they found 10 mutations that contributed to the development of her cancer. This finding is significant on several fronts. It’s the first time that a cancer genome has been sequenced. The scientists took samples of both cancer and normal skin cells from the same woman, and sequenced the DNA on both samples. Previous to this, the focus was on select regions of the genome, called candidate regions, suspected of carrying genes that cause or contribute to cancer. The study also found that 8 of the 10 mutations have never been suspected as contributing to the disease. The researchers found them on every cancer cell and none in the normal samples, which suggests that these mutations ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1955292 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:51:03 +0100 1955292 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1952598&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2F448359882%2Fpatient-skin-care-questions.html I recently received any e-mail from a reader I found your blog while searching for information on the panniculectomy procedure... thank you for your clear differentiation on this procedure versus a tummy tuck! The pictures gave me the aha moment.   :) …... I have not had WLS, but instead have worked at life-style changes. …..So here I am now, roughly 100 pounds down with +/- 70 pounds to go... no insurance coverage and many skin issues to deal with - some cosmetic, but most necessary to prevent the awful skin irritation………. Surgery is cost prohibitive, but lack of surgery leaves us feeling sub-human. There has to be an answer to this - I just must not be Googling it right :p I do have a couple of questions if you could take the time to answer them... perhaps you wou... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1952598 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:55:49 +0100 1952598 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1947026&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F11%2F09%2Fcan-skin-be-oily-and-dry-at-the-same-time%2F Dawn wants to know…Hello Beauty Brains! I’ve been hearing this a lot on my local media recently, Even though you may have oily skin, it could actually be very dry underneath. Thus, you should use a moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated. Is it actually true that oily skin could be dry underneath? Say I live in a tropical climate, is it necessary to still use a moisturizer if I have oily skin? The Right Brain Explains Her Skin Type: While skin is not “oily on top and dry underneath,” it is true that even oily skin can need moisture. Let us explain: Dry skin occurs when skin is lacking water, or moisture. A healthy amount of oil in the skin helps prevent water from evaporating (by reducing Trans Epidermal Water Loss or TEWL.) So, since oil helps keep water in locked i... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1947026 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 05:01:39 +0100 1947026 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1938878&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F11%2F06%2Fhow-to-tell-if-your-cosmetics-cause-blackheads%2F T. Thom’s Question..I would like to know if Marula oil is comedogenic and also what the best resource is on the web is to discover the comedogenicity of skincare ingredients? The Right Brain’s Reply: Thanks so much for the question. And thanks for checking out The Beauty Brains. Good data on Marula Oil is hard to find, but according to this supplier of Marula Oil it’s rich in Oleic Acid which is a material that is very comedogenic. My guess would be that this ingredient IS comedogenic (causes blackheads) and should be avoided for anything you’re going to put on your face. As to your second question, there is no good single resource on the web that tells you whether ingredients are comedogenic or not. We use PubMed and information from the American Academy of Dermato... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1938878 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:22:56 +0100 1938878 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1930162&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F11%2F03%2Fhow-to-tell-your-skin-type-with-cool-jewelry%2F Kerry’s Question…I’m never exactly sure what kind of products I should be buying for my skin. How can I tell what my skin type is? The Right Brain Answers: Kerry, there isn’t one simple answer for you but there are plenty of places you can go online to type your skin. You might like the Mayo Clinic’s simple 3-question approach: 1) My Skin Looks - Shiny and Supple Dull and Tight None of the Above 2) I’m prone to acne Always Sometimes Never 3) The surface of my skin feels Smooth Rough and Flaky None of the above. Just select your answers, click calculate, and poof, out pops your skin type. Then there’s Holistics-online.com’s 6 question quiz that goes into a little more depth. To make their determination they ask how your skin feels after you wa... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1930162 Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:04:14 +0100 1930162 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1930358&cid=t_96371_160_f&fid=36190&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skincareblog.org%2Fentry%2Fsunscreen-lotions-a-must-this-summer%2F Sunscreen lotions are a must this summer. A good sunscreen serves two purposes namely, helping the skin maintain its natural oils and moisture, which can be lost through exposure to the sun’s radiation. Secondly, sunscreen also protects the skin against UVA and UVB rays, whose destructive effects have increased remarkably with the reduction in the atmosphere’s ozone layer. Global warming has its devastating effects for the environment as well as our skin. Rising temperatures and humidity leaves a bad impact on the skin, which might result in sunburns. Sunlight causes skin pigment cells, called melanocytes, to synthesize increased amounts of melanin, giving the skin a protective pigment or tan. But, while increased melanin can perform as a natural filter to keep harmful UV rad... Skin Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1930358 Sun, 02 Nov 2008 23:02:02 +0100 1930358 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1930359&cid=t_96371_160_f&fid=36190&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skincareblog.org%2Fentry%2Fcaffeine-drinking-exercise-freaks-have-reduced-skin-cancer-risks-study%2F Prolonged exposure to sunlight, besides other factors leads to skin cancer. In 2007 alone, 1,000,000 cases of skin (non-melanoma) cancer have been estimated, with nearly 2000 people being killed by the disease. Though it is not always possible to change one’s job requirements to go out and travel in the sun, change in your ‘lifestyle’ can be an answer to the deadly disease. If you are an exercise freak, just add to it a cup of that refreshing coffee - and you are at the least risk of developing skin cancer! Yes, by building up this healthy but simple habit, you may actually reduce your risk from the painful and killer disease. This combination of exercise and caffeine may help bringing in a revolutionary remedy to the growing skin cancer cases across the world. D... Skin Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1930359 Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:01:08 +0100 1930359 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1926358&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F11%2F01%2Fis-kojic-acid-skin-lightening-safe%2F Conclusions This report illustrates a few important points about the chemicals in cosmetics. 1. There is debate among scientists about chemical safety.  Reasonable people can disagree. Regulatory agencies in Europe and the US can look at the same safety data and come to completely different conclusions (banning hydroquinone for example). 2. Animal testing of cosmetics is still done. Even in Europe. 3. There is risk when you expose yourself to any chemical even if it has a history of safe use. If you are worried about things like this, your contact with all chemicals should be minimized.  It doesn’t matter if naturally derived or not since these can be skin sensitizers too. Beauty Brains Bottom Line Results from this report are not conclusive so more testing and data collection will... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1926358 Sat, 01 Nov 2008 05:44:49 +0100 1926358 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1924951&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2F436829022%2Fmarking-and-markers.html This past weekend, Kevin MD, told us about Sharpie’s actually being anti-bacterial. Surgeons use markers to identify the right body part for procedures. Unfortunately, they care become contaminated with bacteria which can lead to surgical site infections. Enter the Sharpie: "As it turns out, the ink used in a Sharpie pen has an alcohol base, making it an unexpected germ fighter." …. That’s nice to know, but mostly what I got from the report was the reminder to clean the tips of the reusable markers with an alcohol based wipe between patients.  For me the marker helps me in my planning, not in my germ control.  Here is my post on marking/markers from last December.   Marking is very important in both my quilting and my surgery work. I don't mean the kind ... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1924951 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:20:04 +0100 1924951 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1921388&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2F435736979%2Fsoft-tissue-injuries-of-fingertip.html As we get closer to Halloween and in light of my post on preventing injuries when carving those pumpkins, I thought I would review injuries to the fingertip.  This post is a reworking of the post a did on fingertip injuries/amputations more than a year ago.  In this post, I’m going to stick to injuries of the fingertip.  (photo credit)   Fingertip (or pad) injuries are very common. They range from simple lacerations to partial amputations. Simple lacerations are repaired by suture or Dermabond (I have even told family members to use super glue. The bleeding must be stopped. The finger must be cleaned with soap and water. There must not be any tension pulling the edges apart. The glue is used on the surface, never within the cut.) If Dermabond is used, it is best to... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1921388 Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:23:00 +0100 1921388 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1908706&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F10%2F27%2Fimedeen-science-re-evaluated-it-works%2F In this study, 38 women were given the Imedeen while 42 were given the placebo. 20 women had to drop out of the study for various reasons so their data is not included. According to the data, people taking the Imedeen were shown to have significantly improved skin (compared to the placebo) with less facial wrinkles, less sagging skin, less under eye dark circles, improved skin on the hands and a variety of other measures. Impressively, objective data taken through ultrasound measurements even showed significant differences. The authors conclude that after 6 months of taking 4 Imedeen Prime Renewal pills each day, skin in post-menopausal women is improved. Imedeen Theory. No matter what the data from a study shows, I always like to see what the authors think is the scientific rationale behi... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1908706 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 05:44:03 +0100 1908706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1907550&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F10%2F26%2Fhow-do-you-take-care-of-thirtysomething-skin%2F Sophia Says…I’m getting into my twilight years (I’m nearly 30 now ;P) i find that my once lovely skin- especially my t-zone- is drying out more and, scarily enough, breaking out a LOT more (which was a rare event in my younger days). My question is two fold… 1) Why might this happen now? 2) Since my skin is so sensitive now, do you know of a moisturizer that has nothing at all in it but moisture? Thanks in advance! The Right Beauty Brain Retorts: Well Sophia, welcome to the Twilight Zone! Factors that cause skin changes There are various factors that cause the changes you’ve described in your skin condition. Increased dryness can be a combination of reduced oil production in your skin and environmental damage from washing or sun exposure. More breakouts are l... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1907550 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 05:39:36 +0100 1907550 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1883756&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2F422570877%2Flymphedema.html As a follow up to yesterday’s post on the new technique ARM, I thought I would repost this one from December 2007.   Lymphedema is a very debilitating and progressive condition with no known cure. The unfortunate patient faces a lifelong struggle. Frequency: In the United States, the highest incidence of lymphedema is observed following breast cancer surgery, particularly among those who undergo radiation therapy following axillary lymphadenectomy. Among this population, 10-40% develop some degree of ipsilateral upper extremity lymphedema. Worldwide, 140-250 million cases of lymphedema are estimated to exist, with filariasis being the most common cause. Lymphedema may be classified as primary or secondary, based on underlying etiology. Primary lymphedema represents... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1883756 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:24:01 +0100 1883756 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1870535&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F10%2F11%2Fthe-top-ten-cosmetic-skin-irritants%2F Learn from the Left Brain… How many of you Beauty Brains faithful have experienced some kind of temporary skin rash, reddening, or itchiness? That condition is known as allergic contact dermatitis and this study by the Mayo Clinic lists the top 10 ingredients that can cause the condition. The list includes metals, antibiotics, fragrance ingredients, and various preservatives. If you experience this condition the best solution is to avoid these ingredients! Here they are in no particular order. Top 10 Skin Irritants 1. Nickel (nickel sulfate hexahydrate): Found in jewelry or on your clothes. 2. Gold (gold sodium thiosulfate): Yes, the same stuff used to make jewelry. 3. Cobalt chloride: A metal used for many applications like medical products, hair dye, and antiperspirants to name a f... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1870535 Sat, 11 Oct 2008 05:22:10 +0100 1870535 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1866130&cid=t_96371_167_f&fid=36988&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.happynutritionistsnuggets.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fprotecting-your-babys-skin.html Even though summer is winding down here in the northeast, and many are spending less time sun bathing, there are many places that enjoy sun and warm weather all year round. The cooler months mean that those who can do so will be traveling to sun soaked beaches of islands and warmer states.If you are a parent, not only do you have your skin to care for, but Moms and Dads, if you have babies and young children, as you know their skin is as tender as can be and needs protecting. I would like to introduce you to a skin care product that has been a leading cosmetic brand in Europe since approximately 1955, and now is gaining popularity in many other countries in the world, the company is Mustela. Please take a moment to visit the Mustela website, and when you are there, please take a look at t... Happy Nutritionist's Nuggets blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1866130 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:14:00 +0100 1866130 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2513535&cid=t_96371_177_f&fid=38133&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTubalReversalBlog%2F%7E3%2Fa5KlnVl_Mxc%2Fmeet-andrea.html Andrea, a 31 year-old married, mother of four from Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho describes her symptoms of Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome (PTLS), decision to have tubal ligation reversal and her disagreement with her insurance company on the Tubal Reversal Blog. (Source: Tubal Reversal Blog) Tubal Reversal Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2513535 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:09:49 +0100 2513535 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1865401&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F10%2F09%2Fis-applying-sunscreen-at-night-bad-for-you%2F Jamie Wants To Know:  I recently bought a new moisturizer which contains SPF. Is it alright to use this as a night cream as well? Will applying SPF to your skin day and night cause any harm? Or should I just go get myself a night cream? The Right Brain Says: Applying an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) cream to you skin at night versus during the day won’t make any difference.  Any cosmetic CAN be irritating if you have very sensitive skin, but if you’ve used the product during the day and it’s ok, you won’t have any problems at night.  At least your face won’t have problem. Your bank account might because SPF products tend to be more expensive! The Beauty Brain’s Bottom Line: There’s nothing wrong with applying sunscreen at night but if you invest ... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1865401 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 06:44:33 +0100 1865401 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1859399&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F10%2F07%2Fhenna-tattoo-is-not-always-harmless%2F Left Brain reports… This story about a boy who developed permanent scarring from a henna tattoo is an important reminder of the potential dangers this procedure.  According to the report, this 3-year-old boy was allowed to have a henna tattoo in the shape of Bart Simpson while on holiday in Spain. Unfortunately, he had a bad reaction to the ink and may now be left with a permanent scar. Henna Information Right Brain had previously written about henna hair dye. And you can find more information in the references for that article.  However, no mention was made of some of the dangers associated with henna tattoos.  The risk of reacting to henna painting is rare but incidences have been increasing. Researchers reported in the Dermatology Online Journal about Cutaneous reactions to tem... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1859399 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:08:07 +0100 1859399 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1855960&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F10%2F06%2Fdoes-sodium-hydroxide-in-face-wash-make-it-slimy%2F Gemma speculates: I was wondering if sodium hydroxide was added to face washes for the purpose of pH adjustment only? I am a lab technician and have noticed the very ’slimy’ feel that solutions containing sodium hydroxide tend to adopt. I have also noticed that some face washes containing the ingredient have the same slimy feel to them which customers could easily mistake for a ‘moisturising effect’. Is it the sodium hydroxide that causes this consistency and what effect does the ingredient have on the skin? Can it dry the skin? Right Brain Steps In: It’s nice to hear from our lab technicians out there.  You do great work and are responsible for keeping this industry moving ahead.  A little known fact about the world of science, lab techs do the work, scien... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1855960 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:12:37 +0100 1855960 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1852670&cid=t_96371_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fm9k8Bf0s07I%2F “Stem cells. Gene therapy. Immune protection.” This is the first line of an article about…….what do you think? The latest treatments for autism? The article’s about skin care products. Products that claim to provide “‘cellular level cleansing’” (shades of autism detox) and that have “medical-sounding” names starting with “bio-, micro- and pro-”: There’s: “biomolecular” eye cream; “microtechnology bio active” foundation; “pro-collagen” serum; “microsmoothing” face serum; and a “bio-stimulating” night cream with “microlift. The article appeared in the October 1st New York Times and certainly it’s nothing new that cosmetics company have used “multisyllabic pharmacological-soun... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1852670 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 07:16:52 +0100 1852670 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1852492&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F10%2F04%2Fdo-tattoo-removal-lotions-work%2F Carol Has A Question: For various personal reasons that I won’t go into here, I’ve got tattoo regret. I’ve heard commercials on the radio for some kind of cream called Wrecking Balm that’s supposed to fade tattoos. Does Wrecking Balm work? The Brain’s Balmy Reply: Carol, we’ve heard those same commercials but surprisingly, we haven’t been able to find out much about Wrecking Balm.  Their website provides scant evidence of anything. But we do have a theory about what this product MIGHT be. We couldn’t find any official source that mentioned Wrecking Balm. The closest reference we could find was an article on CNN about an experimental cream for tattoo removal. But this cream is still in clinical tests so we don`t think it`s the same product. W... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1852492 Sat, 04 Oct 2008 06:44:07 +0100 1852492 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1829655&cid=t_96371_106_f&fid=36682&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSutureForALiving%2F%7E3%2F402724392%2Fguest-post-by-dr-val-lip-plumping-with.html I have a great plastic surgeon friend who offered to fill a facial scar for me. I was bitten in the face by a dog when I was very young, and the small (1/2 inch) divot of flesh from my cheek still bothers me slightly. I’ve generally ignored it but thought it might be fun to see if it could be corrected in any way – so I happily agreed to try a Restylane (hyaluronic acid) injection. My surgeon and I decided not to use any numbing medication because it distorts the contours of the face, making correction more challenging. So I tried my best not to squirm as he inserted a fairly long needle parallel to my nose and began pumping in several cc’s of thick, acidic goo into the tough old scar. He had to insert the needle a couple of times to add more product, and then he had to squish it aro... Suture for a Living blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1829655 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:26:00 +0100 1829655 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1826316&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fsarah-palin-on-the-risks-of-indoor-tanning%2F Regular readers of this blog will know that I’ve previously written about skin cancer, skin cancer prevention and the skin cancer-inducing risks of indoor tanning. So it will come as no surprise that I was troubled to learn that Alaska Governor and Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin had installed a tanning bed in the Governor’s mansion shortly after taking office in early 2007 and that this was being widely reported in the media. My concerns were that Governor Palin’s apparent endorsement of indoor tanning might lead some people to believe that it’s an okay thing to do. The good news is that Governor Palin apparently knows better than to use an indoor tanning bed. On May 4, 2007, she issued an official statement proclaiming May 2007 as “Skin Ca... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1826316 Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:02:32 +0100 1826316 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1812663&cid=t_96371_117_f&fid=34808&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthebeautybrains.com%2F2008%2F09%2F21%2Fuv-tanning-is-not-safe-conclude-scientists%2F Mid Brain muses: The Left Brain is always saying “Tan skin is unhealthy skin”. It’s really not the kind of thing you want to hear when you complain about your fading tan. Sure I’ve heard people say that it’s unhealthy but I remain skeptical. Where is your proof? If we weren’t supposed to have tan skin, then why do we have this natural tanning reaction in our skin anyway? The case against tanning Well, here’s a bit of skin science I found that supports what the Left Brain was saying. In research being published in the October issue of Pigment Cell and Melanoma Research (yes there’s a scientific journal for everything) scientists claim that tanning and skin cancer have the same cause, UV damage to DNA. They say that UV radiation is the most a... thebeautybrains.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1812663 Sun, 21 Sep 2008 13:30:22 +0100 1812663 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1812693&cid=t_96371_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2008%2F09%2F19%2Fsexbolt-saturday-allergic-to-semen-yes-its-possible%2F Did you know that it’s possible to be allergic to the white stuff (and I’m not talking milk here, people). Yep, that very tangible sign of a guy’s pleasure can leave his partner red, itchy, blotchy and more. What causes this is a sensitivity to the proteins in a guy’s semen, a condition which actually has a name: human seminal plasma protein hypersensitivity (SPH). A person can be sensitive to the proteins in the semen of most men, or to a specific guy’s proteins in particular. Symptoms of an allergy may include localized pain, itching, redness, swelling, hives or even trouble breathing! Most symptoms usually show up within 20 -30 minutes of contact and can last for hours or days. The severity really depends on body chemistry. How to treat this very unpleasan... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1812693 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:12:23 +0100 1812693