BEAUTY NEWS: New research proves that the new Pixel Perfect laser lives up to its name

Getting perfect skin — a face that’s free of lines, wrinkles, sun damage and other signs of aging — is a lofty goal, but it’s at the heart of almost every cosmetic procedure from facials to full-scale facelifts. Women in search of perfection and contemplating these procedures typically ask their friends and acquaintances for recommendations before scheduling an appointment. But if we’re considering a brand-new technology, most of us don’t know anyone who’s cutting-edge enough to have that kind of experience.

That’s why a recent study on the new Pixel Perfect laser is such good news: The report was presented by the New Age Skin Research Foundation (www.nasrf.org), a not-for-profit medical organization committed to improving the quality of life of those with skin conditions at the recent annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. The report shows that the majority of the women who have tried the Pixel laser loved it and would recommend it to a friend.

“The patients we spoke with confirmed what we already knew,” says Joshua Fox, M.D., founder and president of NASRF and a leading dermatologist who uses the Pixel laser in his practice. “The laser offers the best of both worlds: the dramatic results of a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser with the comfort and convenience of less invasive procedures namely, minimal downtime and risks.”

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) lasers, which have been the gold standard when it comes to nonsurgical rejuvenation, offer patients with moderate to severe signs of aging some of the most dramatic results this side of the scalpel: lessening wrinkles, reducing all sorts of scars, diminishing sun damage and tightening sagging skin through a process with collagen tightening, remodeling and new collagen formation, known as laser resurfacing. Along with erbium YAG lasers, traditional CO2 lasers are what’s known as ablative, meaning they carefully remove a small amount of skin, thus stimulating the skin to heal itself (and repair those lines and wrinkles in the process). However, an ablative laser treatment previously involved a significant amount of discomfort and several weeks of healing time and redness.

The new Pixel Perfect laser is different because it’s fractionated, meaning the laser’s beam is separated into many tiny dots, each of which makes a microscopic hole, called a micro injury, in the top few layers of the skin. The holes are spaced evenly, with areas of untouched skin in between (about 65 percent of the skin in a treated area will be untouched by the laser). As the skin heals, they produce immediate tightening and texture and color improvements. And over the next one to two months, they’ll also trigger new collagen production in the skin, which works to plump up the skin and continue the improvements on the surface.

Because the fractionated laser leaves so much skin untouched, it creates much less injury and allows the skin to help its damaged areas heal much more quickly with minimal risk. “We’re seeing patients recovering in about three to seven days,” Dr. Fox says. “That’s a huge improvement over the months it use to take to get over a traditional ablative laser resurfacing. We have not seen any cases of scarring and the patients are thrilled by the results.”

“Many of my patients told me they had considered laser skin resurfacing, dermabrasion or deep chemical peels, but were put off because of the long recovery times,” Dr. Fox says. He notes that a treatment with the Pixel Perfect laser typically takes between less than an hour, requires no intravenous anesthesia, and carries much less risk of scarring or pigmentation irregularities than the traditional CO2 laser does. The new study confirms that the Pixel Perfect laser seems to be the solution for many of these patients, he adds, providing significant changes without the discomfort and downtime of traditional ablative lasers.

About Dr. Fox: Joshua L. Fox, M.D., F.A.A.D., earned his medical degree from the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York. He completed an internship at Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn, followed by a three-year dermatology residency at the New York University School of Medicine. A Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, Dr. Fox is a leading authority in the field of dermatology, with an expertise in skin cancer, cosmetic surgery and laser procedures. He is the founder and director of Advanced Dermatology, P.C. of New York and New Jersey and the Center for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery (www.advancedd.com) and is a spokesman for both the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery. He is founder and president of New Age Research Foundation, a non-profit committed to improving the quality of life of those with skin conditions (www.newageskin.org).

Contact: Melissa Chefec, MCPR Public Relations, 203-968-6625

DON’T SETTLE FOR LESSER LASERS: New research proves that the new Pixel Perfect laser lives up to its name

Roslyn, NY, June 2010 - Getting perfect skin - a face that’s free of lines, wrinkles, sun damage and other signs of aging - is a lofty goal, but it’s at the heart of almost every cosmetic procedure from facials to full-scale facelifts. Women in search of perfection and contemplating these procedures typically ask their friends and acquaintances for recommendations before scheduling an appointment. But if we’re considering a brand-new technology, most of us don’t know anyone who’s cutting-edge enough to have that kind of experience.
 
That’s why a recent study on the new Pixel Perfect laser is such good news. The report was presented by the New Age Skin Research Foundation (www.newageskin.org), a not-for-profit medical organization committed to improving the quality of life of those with skin conditions, at the recent annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. The report shows that the majority of the women who have tried the Pixel laser loved it and would recommend it to a friend.
 
“The patients we spoke with confirmed what we already knew,” says Joshua Fox, M.D., founder and president of NASRF and a leading dermatologist who uses the Pixel laser in his practice. “The laser offers the best of both worlds: the dramatic results of a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser with the comfort and convenience of less invasive procedures namely, minimal downtime and risks.”
 
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) lasers, which have been the gold standard when it comes to nonsurgical rejuvenation, offer patients with moderate to severe signs of aging some of the most dramatic results this side of the scalpel: lessening wrinkles, reducing all sorts of scars, diminishing sun damage and tightening sagging skin through a process with collagen tightening, remodeling and new collagen formation, known as laser resurfacing. Along with erbium YAG lasers, traditional CO2 lasers are what’s known as ablative, meaning they carefully remove a small amount of skin, thus stimulating the skin to heal itself (and repair those lines and wrinkles in the process). However, an ablative laser treatment previously involved a significant amount of discomfort and several weeks of healing time and redness.
 
The new Pixel Perfect laser is different because it’s fractionated, meaning the laser’s beam is separated into many tiny dots, each of which makes a microscopic hole, called a micro injury, in the top few layers of the skin. The holes are spaced evenly, with areas of untouched skin in between (about 65 percent of the skin in a treated area will be untouched by the laser). As the skin heals, they produce immediate tightening and texture and color improvements. And over the next one to two months, they’ll also trigger new collagen production in the skin, which works to plump up the skin and continue the improvements on the surface.
 
Because the fractionated laser leaves so much skin untouched, it creates much less injury and allows the skin to help its damaged areas heal much more quickly with minimal risk. “We’re seeing patients recovering in about three to seven days,” Dr. Fox says. “That’s a huge improvement over the months it use to take to get over a traditional ablative laser resurfacing. We have not seen any cases of scarring and the patients are thrilled by the results.”
 
“Many of my patients told me they had considered laser skin resurfacing, dermabrasion or deep chemical peels, but were put off because of the long recovery times,” Dr. Fox says. He notes that a treatment with the Pixel Perfect laser typically takes between less than an hour, requires no intravenous anesthesia, and carries much less risk of scarring or pigmentation irregularities than the traditional CO2 laser does. The new study confirms that the Pixel Perfect laser seems to be the solution for many of these patients, he adds, providing significant changes without the discomfort and downtime of traditional ablative lasers.

Age Spots

May 7, 2010

1. Beauty: Age Spots Can Be Easily Treated 2. Biotech: Capitalizing on Biogenerics in the Wake of Health Reform 3. Biotech: Charlotte Region is Hub for Life Sciences, Biotech Companies 4. Health: 50th Anniversary of the Birth Control Pill 5. Health: The Benefits of Self-Hypnosis 6. Health: FDA Approval of Dendreon’s Provenge 7. Health: Food and Beverage ‘Sin Taxes’ Not Effective in Fighting Obesity 8. Health: Gardening Ergonomics 9. Health: Skin Cancer Screening is More Important Than Ever 10. Health: The Very Words We Use to Set Goals May Ensure We Don’t Meet Them

1. BEAUTY: AGE SPOTS CAN BE EASILY TREATED. Dr. Joshua Fox, medical director at Advanced Dermatology and founder of the New Age Skin Research Foundation, a nonprofit health organization aiming to provide expert educational resources to the public and physicians: “Everyone knows it: Age spots on our skin make us appear many years older than our true ages. Age spots are flat, light or dark brown marks that develop on the skin as we age. They appear mainly on areas exposed most to the sun, including the face, hands, shoulders and arms. Often, once you start to see age spots, you’ll also see other signs of sun damage, including deep wrinkles; dry, rough skin; fine red veins; and thinner, more translucent-looking skin. If you notice any new mark on your skin, or if an existing mark has any changes in color or shape, your doctor will determine if it is cancerous or something to be concerned about. The good news is that most brown spots are not harmful and can be removed or easily treated to improve the skin’s appearance and make you look younger.” News Contact: Melissa Chefec, mchefec@optonline.net Phone: +1-203-968-6625 Website: http://www.mcprpublicrelations.com

DON’T LET AGE SPOTS SHOW YOUR AGE: Leading dermatologist Joshua Fox on removing dark spots, making skin look younger. 

Roslyn, NY, April 2010 - Everyone knows it. Age spots on our skin make us appear many years older than our true ages. Today, dermatologist Joshua Fox, M.D., says there are many treatments available to reduce or remove these age spots, helping us to look years younger.
 
Age spots are flat, light or dark brown marks that develop on the skin as we age. They appear mainly on areas exposed most to the sun, including the face, hands, shoulders and arms. Dr. Fox says that age spots, more correctly called lentigines, are caused by overexposure to the sun, which damages skin. Often, once you start to see age spots, he says, you’ll also see other signs of sun damage including deep wrinkles, dry rough skin, fine red veins and thinner, more translucent-looking skin.
 
Typically considered to affect people over age 40, younger people who spend a great deal of time in the sun may see age spots too.  While true age spots are harmless, they may resemble cancerous growths, says Dr. Fox. For that reason, “if you start to see age spots on your skin, ask your dermatologist to look at them to make sure they are not suspicious,” adds Dr. Fox.
 
“If you notice any new mark on your skin, or if an existing mark has any changes in color or shape, your doctor will determine if it is cancerous or something to be concerned about,” Dr. Fox says. He explains that melanoma is the most dangerous of all skin cancer types, resulting in over 80,000 cases per year. The good news, he adds, is that “most brown spots are not harmful and can be removed or easily treated to improve the skin’s appearance and make you look younger.”
 
“Once your doctor has ruled out skin cancer, there are several different home remedies and in-office treatments that can help reduce or remove the age spots,” Dr. Fox says. 
 
Once age spots have developed, Dr. Fox says, they can attempt to be lightened safely with skin-bleaching lotions and creams that can be purchased in department stores, drug stores and online. However, Dr. Fox adds that this typically only results in a small improvement. Successful treatment needs to penetrate the topmost layer of skin where the extra pigment is located, so the products must be used regularly over several weeks or months before noticeable results occur. When choosing a nonprescription fade cream, choose one that contains hydroquinone, deoxyarbutin, glycolic acid or kojic acid.
 
“If these over-the-counter products don’t do enough to reduce the spots, and Dr. Fox adds that most people do not get satisfactory results from these lotions and creams, your dermatologist has an arsenal of other treatments that do a great job of reducing or removing age spots,” Dr. Fox says, listing the top six in-office treatments.
 
Prescription creams. Bleaching creams containing hydroquinone, used alone or with retinoids and a mild steroid, when used regularly, may partially fade age spots over time.
 
Q-Switched Lasers. Laser treatments performed in your dermatologist’s office can remove sun spots, brown spots and liver spots. These treatments work by being very specific for brown color and selectively removing the lesions.
 
Microdermabrasion. In this procedure, the skin is sanded with a special instrument to lessen the age spot. This procedure helps to strengthen and rejuvenate aging skin, and may even help reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
 
Cryosurgery. This procedure uses liquid nitrogen to freeze skin tissue and remove age spots.
 
Chemical Peel. Chemical peels are a powerful treatment that not only help reduce and remove age spots, but can also strengthen the skin to boost collagen production. A chemical peel involves applying an acid, which burns the outer layer of your skin. As the skin peels, new skin forms to take its place.
 
Laser Skin Rejuvenation. Fraxel and Pixel. A popular cosmetic treatment, Fraxel is a powerful resurfacing laser treatment that smoothes and rejuvenates the skin, removes age spots and reduces the appearance of fine lines. Pixel is a more powerful resurfacing laser which also treats some of the deeper lines.
 
Dr. Fox adds that “prevention, or reducing exposure to the sun, is the best way to reduce the likelihood of getting age spots. Wear sunscreen all the time on all areas of exposed skin, no matter what the weather or season. If you must be in the sun, even in winter, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen (which blocks both UVA and UVB rays) with an SPF of at least 15.”
 
“While aging does cause a host of changes to our bodies, our skin doesn’t have to make us look or feel old,” says Dr. Fox.  “A consultation with your dermatologist can help you identify the right treatment for you that will reduce or even remove age spots and leave you feeling and looking younger,” adds Dr. Fox.

This Winter, Don’t Forget Sunscreen
Though you might not think about SPF in winter months, sun protection is important year round.

You may be thinking more about moisturizing your skin this season.

The CDC has also found over 100 million Americans experience some degree of sunburn annually, either by not properly applying sunscreen or not using it at all.

But even though the sandals and bathing suit are packed away, sunscreen should stay well in reach. In fact, it is always the season for sunscreen, even though most of our skin is under layers of clothes in the winter months.

And even though we know better, studies show we often overlook taking simple steps when in the sun: using protective clothing, applying sunscreen and avoiding direct sun exposure. The New Age Skin Research Foundation conducted a study and found many melanoma patients were aware of the sun’s effects and dangers, but few took these protective steps–until after they were diagnosed with skin cancer.

Sunscreen Facts and Myths
The consequences of ignoring the dangers of the sun can be dire. More than 1 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer and 132,000 new cases of melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Melanoma is responsible for more than 8,500 skin cancer deaths annually; this number has been on the rise over the past decade in large part due to unprotected sun exposure, the AAD says.

Surprisingly, the motivating factor for putting on sunscreen isn’t these humbling statistics, however. When counseling his patients, Joshua Fox, MD, plays up the effects of the sun on skin aging as opposed to the cancer risk. People are more concerned with wrinkles and sunspots, says Dr. Fox, a New York dermatologist, founder and medical director of Advanced Dermatology, PC and the Center for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery.

“If you’re under 40, you probably don’t know anyone who has skin cancer and it’s nothing you can relate to,” explains Dr. Fox, who is also the president of The New Age Skin Research Foundation. “But you do see people with wrinkled skin.”

Interestingly, sunscreen isn’t the only precaution you should be taking to protect yourself.

“A lot of people think just putting sunscreen on is just like Superman changing into his cape-they think they will be totally immune to the effect of ultraviolet (UV) light,” says dermatologist Clay Cockerell, MD, clinical professor of Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas; and former president of the AAD. “Sunscreen does block a significant part of UV rays, but not 100 percent.

During the winter, remember to put sunscreen on all exposed areas, even if you are just going out to play in the snow or ski. You may be wearing a scarf, gloves and a snowsuit, but your exposed face is still subjected to UV rays. Even though there is less direct sunlight in the winter, there is still a chance to get burned-especially since snow reflects light.

Another recent myth about sunscreen is that if you wear it, you will block out the beneficial vitamin D you obtain from the sunlight. This is false, according to Dr. Cockerell. Between five and 10 minutes in the sun a few times a week will give you all the vitamin D you need, Dr. Cockerell contends. You can always take vitamin D supplements or add foods containing vitamin D to your diet as well. “We have an epidemic of skin cancer on our hands, not of vitamin D-related rickets,” he adds.

Finding Your SPF
At the least, consumers should wear an SPF of 15. Those with fair skin should wear an SPF of 30 or higher, Dr. Cockerell says. New sunscreens on the market even go as high as an SPF of 85 or 90. “If you’re compulsive, have sensitive skin or have had skin cancer, those are good for you,” Dr. Cockerell tells ADVANCE.

People can be allergic to types of sunscreen, including those made of organic compounds. Instead of forgoing sunscreen all together, they can try sunscreens made of inorganic compounds, such as zinc oxide and titanium oxide.

Dr. Fox suggests putting your sunscreen right next to your toothbrush so you remember to put it on every morning when you brush your teeth. Check as well for moisturizers with sunscreen included, especially if you are concerned with wrinkles. These steps can help you look good, as well as stay healthy-no matter the motivation.

Amanda Koehler is an associate editor at ADVANCE.