Hormonal Contraceptives for Acne Management
from PCI Journal
Approximately 42 million people are affected by acne vulgaris of which half are women older than 25 years. Adolescents make up 85 percent of this group. The treatments for acne includes oral and topical antibiotics, retinoids, and hormonal therapy in the form of oral contraceptives (OCs). The OCs reduce acne lesions by increasing estrogen levels and sex hormone-binding globulins, and by decreasing free testosterone/androgen levels. Studies have shown that drospirenone, a progestin available in certain OCs, minimizes the potential negative effect the progestin has on acne. More

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Cosmetic Surgery's New Year Increase
from Female First
Cosmetic Surgery in the New Year is becoming increasingly popular it would seem. While the start of a new year is a time to reflect on changes we would like to make in our live but the Birkdale Clinic in Europe has revealed that more and more of us are taking the easy way out and opting for surgery to change the parts of their body that make them self conscious. Most of us make promises to lose weight, stop drinking and to start using that anti wrinkle cream - only to be forgotten in a few weeks. The number of cosmetic consultations booked for January and February 2009 with the Birkdale Clinic has risen by 32 percent compared to last year. More

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One Million Syringes of RADIESSE® Dermal Filler Have Been Shipped
from MSNBC
BioForm Medical, Inc. announced, at a presentation at the 11th Annual Meeting of the International Master Course on Aging Skin (IMCAS), that it has shipped more than 1,000,000 syringes of RADIESSE® dermal filler worldwide since 2002. RADIESSE dermal filler has been available since 2002 for aesthetic uses in the Europe and for reconstructive and therapeutic uses in the United States. In 2006, BioForm Medical received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of RADIESSE dermal filler for facial aesthetics applications, and use of this product has rapidly expanded. RADIESSE dermal filler has demonstrated an excellent safety profile, comparable to short term hyaluronic acid products. RADIESSE dermal filler is also the only dermal filler to have demonstrated, in peer-reviewed studies, better aesthetic correction and higher patient satisfaction than Restylane® and Juvederm®. More

Use of AntiDepressants Prior to Cosmetic Surgery May Prove Fatal
from MedIndia
A research team from New York has found that using common antidepressants and herbal medications may have potentially harmful intraoperative effects on patients undergoing cosmetic surgical procedures. The researchers conducted and reviewed case studies regarding the effects of the 29 most commonly used herbs and antidepressants, on anesthesia and surgery. They identified a number of harmful, intraoperative risks, ranging from increased bleeding to fatal interactions. More

Many Americans Getting Plastic Surgery to Stay on Top of Their Game During Tough Economy
from MSNBC
While economic woes continue to cause people to cut their spending in just about every area, many people are getting plastic surgery to look their best in an effort to keep their jobs and be successful in a tough business environment. According to Dr. Goesel Anson, one of the country's most well known plastic surgeons, people need to carefully evaluate their reasons for wanting plastic surgery, particularly during difficult times such as these. More

Prescription Cream Treats Skin Damage from Sun
from Reuters
Applying a prescription cream (imiquimod) for 24 weeks is effective for the treatment of a type of skin lesion called actinic keratosis, caused by long-term exposure to the sun, according to researchers from Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. More

Economy Blunts Korea’s Appetite for Plastic Surgery
from The New York Times
A grim frugality has settled over this export powerhouse that once burst with optimism — and silicone. Cosmetic surgery took off here after South Korea’s spectacular recovery from its currency crisis a decade ago. Rising living standards allowed ever-growing numbers of men and women to get the wider eyes, whiter skin and higher nose bridges that define beauty for many here. Improved looks were even seen as providing an edge in this high-pressure society’s intense competition for jobs, education and marriage partners. But turmoil coursing through the financial world and then into the global economy has hit South Korea hard, as it has many middle-income countries. The downturn drove down the stock market and the currency by a third or more last year, and the resulting anxiety forced many South Koreans to change their habits. More

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