Most patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who received treatment with brodalumab experienced long-term rates of skin clearance at 120 weeks, according to extension results of AMAGINE-2.
“The increased likelihood of achieving complete skin clearance associated with brodalumab may allow improvement of patient quality of life relative to other biologics associated with a lesser rate of achieving complete skin clearance,” Luis Puig, MD, director of the dermatology department at Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau in Barcelona, Spain, and colleagues wrote.
Studies have been done to evaluate whether the skin will look better as it ages with a minimum of 8 yearly treatments with broadband light (BBL). With the help of Dr. Ping Chen, Dr. Michael Gold took the data a step further and conducted a study with 2,500 patients who had at least 3 or more BBL treatments every year for at least 10-15 years. The results were outstanding.
Recurrent BBL rejuvenation is real. If you do this over the long-term, it makes your skin look younger. It’s proven and something you should consider. A lot of us will do BBL for two or three treatments and then we’re finished. However, we have data now showing changes that actually make the skin look younger with repeated treatments over years.
I went to a seminar several years back and experienced something very similar to what Dr. Gold has stated. The doctor leading the seminar was from Florida and 10 years earlier he had taken numerous patients from all age groups living in Florida and had their skin assessed for the actual age of the skin (chronological) versus the age the skin appeared (biological). For example, a 30 year old living in Florida may have their skin age more quickly due to the sun, so may have a biological skin age of 37 years. During the 10 years each patient had BBL performed on their skin anywhere form 2-6 times per year. At the end of the study, every patient either had a biological age matching or younger than their chronological age! The doctor conducting the study had a slide show of his patients and it was amazing to see the progression of the health of the skin over a period of time where most people would find their skin aging over that same period of time.
BBL is not the only light-activated machine that stimulates collagen and helps to reverse the signs of aging skin. Most cosmetic lasers, especially medical-grade lasers, will have long term effectiveness in combatting or slowing down the aging process. The specific heat, according to the wavelengths involved, help to activate and repair damaged skin cells and tighten the skin.
As we age, so many exterior and interior factors break down our skin. From environmental (the sun, pollution) to lifestyle (drinking, smoking), our skin cell making capacity can’t keep up with the speed at which they are being depleted. Good home care, proper protection, preferably all at a medical grade level, and treatments such as BBL, Laser Genesis, Profractional Laser and other light devices repair and slow down the aging process. There are no prescriptions or even home care that can create collagen the way the lasers do, and with the advancement of today’s lasers, down time is a thing of the past.
Don’t just treat for what you can see in the mirror now. Prevent, repair and only look as old as you feel!
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One day last week a colleague and I had a difference of opinion. Her education was that sunscreen only broke down when exposed to the sun. My training told me that it breaks down naturally after application in 2-3 hours, no matter what. Well, this was something that needed to be addressed, as I most definitely did not want to be giving out false information.
So, after a little research (because that is what I do for fun!) I found out that we were both right…..and wrong. Sunscreen breaks down after exposure to the sun, but also due to sweat and oils found on the skin. Obviously a person who isn’t in the sun, has a dry skin type, and doesn’t work out is less likely to need to reapply sunscreen than those of us who have a normal/ combo skin or those who hit the gym.
With that question answered, I found that there are a lot of other misconceptions when it comes to sun protection. With scientific studies, these realities may lead to a healthier understanding of how and why sunscreen is a top priority for skin care providers across the country.
1. Sunscreen can cause cancer
Some chemicals found in sunscreen have come under fire recently and have been blamed for an increased risk of developing cancer. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, there is no evidence to make this link. What is known is that protecting the skin from the sun or avoiding it altogether is the best defence against skin cancer. For those still concerned with chemicals, it is best to switch to a formula with physical blockers like Elta MD UV Sport Broad-Spectrum, which doesn’t contain any chemicals.
2. Only fair skinned people need to use sunscreen
Darker skinned people may be less likely to burn, but no one is exempt from sun damage. As well, dark skinned people are more likely to develop hyperpigmentation such as melasma due to higher levels of melanin naturally in their skin. Keeping protection on the skin helps to prevent future pigment problems, maintain an even skin tone, and reduce wrinkles.
3. I need the sun for Vitamin D
There has been increasing confusion over whether wearing sunscreen blocks the body from absorbing vitamin D. Experts say the amount of sun exposure required is minimal (e.g. 15min in the summer) to get the right amount of Vitamin D. Vitamin D is also readily available in foods such as fish, milk, and eggs as well as supplements.
4. Sunscreen is too greasy and it makes me break out
Medical-grade sunscreens are generally a much nicer consistency for the skin due to higher quality ingredients. Look for oil-free and non-comedogenic formulas like Sheer Physical UV Defense by SkinCeuticals. Formulas containing zinc or titanium are better tolerated on the skin, even those people who suffer from rosacea or acne.
5. All sunscreens are the same
Definitely not! Sunscreen should say “broad spectrum” just like ZO’s broad spectrum SPF, to ensure you are getting the best full protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Quality and quantity of active ingredients varies as well.
6. I only need sunscreen in the summer
Any time you are exposed to sunlight (even if you are in the car, driving) you should be wearing sunscreen. UV rays can pass through clouds, so even in overcast weather, sun protection is required. In winter, the sun can reflect off the snow or ice and be just as harmful to unprotected skin as it is in the summer.
~ Sheri Roselle, Medical Esthetician at Toronto Dermatology Centre
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Learn how to get rid of razor bumps fast and how to prevent them in the first place.
It’s an all-too-familiar scenario: You’ve just shaved and are ready to show off smooth legs in a flirty dress. But then you notice a raised, red bump that starts to feel tender to the touch — razor bumps strike again!
This beauty mishap always seems to wreak havoc at the most inopportune moments, but you don’t have to accept razor bumps as inevitable. TODAY Style consulted dermatologists to unearth the secret behind avoiding and getting rid of razor bumps so you can feel ready for summer!
If you happen to be covered with skin, you may want to listen to what Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese has to say. If you aren’t covered with skin, then you may want to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Throughout his career, Griese has done a lot of uncommon things. He had a very uncommon career as a football player. Dubbed the “Thinking Man’s Quarterback,” Griese led the Miami Dolphins to three consecutive Super Bowls, two consecutive Super Bowl titles, and still the only undefeated season in the Super Bowl era in 1972. But nothing says “Thinking Man” quite like perhaps his most impressive achievement: being the first and only person to ever throw six touchdowns on a Thanksgiving Day NFL game while wearing horn-rimmed glasses.
After retiring from the gridiron, Griese also had a very uncommon career as a college football broadcaster. For over a decade (from 1987 to 1999), Griese and Keith Jackson were ABC’s top college football broadcasting tandem. “Whoa, Nellie,” that was a long run for Griese as a staple of college football Saturdays.
However, there’s nothing very uncommon about the type of cancer Griese had. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States with one in five Americans developing it sometime in their lifetimes.
I’m married to the US Surgeon General and still overlooked a serious health situation.
As a mom of a newborn and two very active toddler boys, cancer was the absolute last thing on my mind when I went in for my postpartum checkup that day in 2009. In fact, it was so far out of the realm of possibility that, even though I had noticed the new dark mole on my thigh, I almost forgot to mention it to my ob-gyn.
Surely it was nothing. It was so tiny! But I had just had a baby and didn’t want to take any chances with my health, no matter how silly it seemed at the time. So I asked her about it, and she told me it was probably nothing. But to be safe, she removed it.
It wasn’t nothing. It was skin cancer. And not just skin cancer, but melanoma—one of the deadliest. I was shocked.
A second customer has tested HIV positive after having a “vampire facial” at a spa in the US. Click here to read the full story.
We urge our loyal clientele and all others: please do not sacrifice your health for beauty. We are seeing a proliferation of “medi-spas”, hair & nail salons, and nurse-only run clinics popping up all over Toronto and the GTA offering skin care treatments & services.
We are talking about your health and beauty. While costs are definitely an important factor, shopping for price alone is incredibly dangerous and can be even more costly when things don’t work out. Do you know what’s more expensive that expertskin care provided by physicians?….skin care provided by under-trained, under-experienced, and un-supervised amateurs.
Interestingly, in many cases, the actual cost is the same or less with a highly trained and experienced physician at our clinic which many patients who come to us to fix problems caused elsewhere are shocked to find.
At Toronto Dermatology Centre, ONLY our highly trained and experienced physicians inject Botox and Fillers.
As previous sages have noted:
1. Remember that the bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
2. Don’t focus on the money you spend, but on the value you receive
3. It’s not the paint or the paintbrush that make the painting, it’s the painter!
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Since its inception in 1979, The Skin Cancer Foundation has always recommended using a sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher as one important part of a complete sun protection regimen. Sunscreen alone is not enough, however. Read our full list of skin cancer prevention tips and share them with your friends and family.
Seek the shade, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM.
Don’t get sunburned.
Avoid tanning, and never use UV tanning beds.
Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
Use a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or after swimming or excessive sweating.
Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.
Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
See a dermatologist at least once a year for a professional skin exam.
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Psoriasis or eczema? These common skin conditions affect a total of about 40 million Americans each year. They result in similar symptoms – red, dry, itchy, cracked skin – but they are very different diseases, with different causes and, in more severe cases, different treatments. That’s why it is important for patients to receive a proper diagnosis, in order to receive the treatment that will best bring relief.
31.6 million people (10.1%) in the U.S. have some form of eczema.
18 million adults (7.2%) have atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema.
9.6 million (13%) children under age 18 have atopic dermatitis.
Childhood eczema is more common among African-Americans, Asians or Pacific Islanders than whites or Hispanics.
Adult eczema is most prevalent among multiracial populations than Hispanics or whites.
Eczema is more common among women.
In contrast, the National Psoriasis Foundation says that:
More than 8 million Americans have psoriasis.
Psoriasis often begins between ages 15 and 25, but the condition can develop at any age.
Psoriasis is more common among Caucasians than African-Americans.
Psoriasis is more common in women, but men have more severe forms of the disease.
Differences Between Psoriasis and Eczema
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks the skin, causing red, scaly patches on the skin or scalp. There are several types of psoriasis, with plaque psoriasis the most common and making up between 80% and 90% of cases. Other types are called guttate, inverse, pustular and erythrodermic psoriasis.
Eczema, a skin inflammation, can be related to and triggered by allergies, asthma and skin sensitivities to touch, fabrics like wool or chemicals in household and personal products. It can also result from dry skin or chemicals in the environment that irritate the skin.
Neither psoriasis nor eczema is contagious, but both conditions tend to run in families.
Psoriasis often begins between ages 15 and 25, but the condition can develop at any age.
Psoriasis is more common among Caucasians than African-Americans.
Psoriasis is more common in women, but men have more severe forms of the disease.
Treatments for Eczema and Psoriasis
Though each disease has differing underlying causes, they are treated similarly. “We don’t always cure them, but we can help control and manage the diseases,” says Dr. Seemal R. Desai, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and a member of the American Academy of Dermatology board of directors.
First-line treatment for mild to moderate cases of both eczema and psoriasis is topical therapy, usually a corticosteroid cream. For more severe cases of psoriasis, there are a host of new medications, both injectable and oral, to treat autoimmune diseases like this. They target the specific immune cells that are behaving dysfunctionally, with Humira being a common, heavily advertised example of this kind of injectable medication. “Patients always think pills are safer than injections, but in this day and age injections are much safer,” Lebwohl says. “They attack just one small part of the immune system, where pills attack a larger portion of that system.”
Another treatment option is phototherapy, “a modified tanning treatment, which is indicated for both eczema and psoriasis,” Dr. Desai says. Ultraviolet light acts as an immunosuppressant on the skin. “Think of high-beam lights on your car. You flash the light to scare off an oncoming car. UV light is similar. There is a specific wavelength of light that scares away immune cells,” he says. Sunlight has the same effect, but it also includes the harmful wavelengths that cause burning. Phototherapy delivers just the one wavelength needed to treat the diseases.
“If you think you have one of these conditions, see a dermatologist early,” Desai recommends. “Even the best general practitioner, this is not their area of expertise. Don’t wait until your skin is so scaly and thick it causes scratching and bleeding.” He has a particular warning for people of color, who he says are underserved and often come in later in the disease process. “See a dermatologist who specializes in treating people of color,” he says.You can find a practitioner and learn more at www.skinofcolorsociety.org.
Self-Treatment for Eczema and Psoriasis
Both doctors recommend patients take good care of their skin, with emollient-rich moisturizing creams and lotions. “Scratching makes small tears in the skin, which can cause infection. An emollient can seal some of those cracks,” Desai says.
For those with psoriasis, losing weight can also be helpful. “The treatments work better if the patient loses weight,” Lebwohl says.
Practicing good general health habits also helps your skin:
Most patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who received treatment with brodalumab experienced long-term rates of skin clearance at 120 weeks, according to extension results of AMAGINE-2.
Learn how to get rid of razor bumps fast and how to prevent them in the first place.
If you happen to be covered with skin, you may want to listen to what Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese has to say. If you aren’t covered with skin, then you may want to see a doctor as soon as possible.
A second customer has tested HIV positive after having a “vampire facial” at a spa in the US. 
