SkinCare Physicians Blog offers insights on the latest in medical and surgical dermatology, cosmetic and laser medicine, as well as aesthetics. All of our internationally recognized physicians and some members of our staff contribute to the Skincare Physicians Blog.
Tired of looking at those age spots, liver spots, freckles? Want to get rid of those bothersome areas of pigmentation, a dark birthmark, or the odd tattoo? Well, you can actually do that quite well nowadays! “Bleaching creams” have long been around and have been used for centuries in one form or another. But, although some of them may be of some benefit, their effects even when good are usually far less than optimal. Over the past couple of decades, technological insights and innovations have led to the development of a variety of laser and light based sources that are very effective in altering pigmented lesions. With one treatment, … Continue reading »
By now if you have not heard the term Botox, you have probably been living under a rock! But did you know that there are two other products that work virtually the same as Botox, and in some cases may even be superior? Dysport and Xeomin are the new kids on the block, and are giving Botox quite a run for its money. All three of these products can be used to create beautiful, natural, and near wrinkle free smoothness of the upper face, around the eyes and mouth, and even on the neck. The trick to achieving these eye-catching … Continue reading »
Do you have facial redness and or broken blood vessels that don’t seem to go away? If so, you might have rosacea. Rosacea is a common inflammatory condition in the family of acne that often begins in the third and fourth decades of life. More than 14 million Americans are living with rosacea. Common symptoms include flushing, persistent redness, and pimples. While medicated cream containing metronidazole (Metrogel) or oral antibiotics treat the pimples, they do not take care of the redness and dilated blood vessels. The redness and dilated blood vessels can, however, be treated very effectively with the pulsed … Continue reading »
HMOs (health maintenance organizations) have a penetration rate of 34.5% in Massachusetts, the fourth highest in the United States, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Here at SkinCare Physicians, 43% of our patients are covered by an HMO insurance plan. This post explains the common characteristics of HMOs and offers valuable tips to ensure a worry-free visit at your specialist office. What HMOs have in common There are several different types of HMOs, but they all share the following few characteristics: The role of the primary care physician (PCP): Members select a primary care physician (PCP) to coordinate all of … Continue reading »
Did you know that SkinCare Physicians has its own world renowned research center? Under the leadership of our physicians and through the collaborative efforts of our research group we have helped to advance the field of dermatology, skin surgery, laser and cosmetic surgery. The center was established over a decade ago to help develop new and innovative technologies. Many of the procedures offered in our practice today such as Thermage, Fraxel, Zeltiq, and Miradry along with Botox and fillers were evaluated and tested in our clinical studies center and approved through our research efforts. Carefully screened and eligible individuals are … Continue reading »
Stretch marks can be a common result of weight change, rapid growth, or certain inherited conditions. While not of a medical concern, their appearance can cause significant emotional and mental distress. While there are many topical agents that are marketed for stretch mark improvement, the results are minimal, at best. However, non-invasive laser treatments are available for both newer pink-red stretch marks, as well as older skin-colored or pale ones, and are effective on all body sites and skin types. Treatments for new stretch marks New or pink-red stretch marks can be efficiently treated with a series of treatments using … Continue reading »
A recent report from the American Cancer Society shows that the death rate from cancer in the U.S. is declining for Americans. This is exciting news! Despite this overall decrease in cancer-related death rates, the number of melanomas continues to rise. And, sadly, the number of melanoma deaths is increasing faster than any other cancer. There are some proven, effective ways of preventing melanoma! Early detection techniques and early removal of melanomas are the most effective ways of decreasing this risk. Patients themselves report finding many melanomas on their own skin, by doing a careful skin self-exam (SSE). Melanomas that … Continue reading »
At the annual dermatologic surgery meeting in Atlanta last fall, I presented new data on filler techniques to improve results. Fillers can now be used on virtually any part of the face, and using them preferentially in the temple region, as well as in front of the ears, can elevate lower facial skin with beautiful and natural results. Another area that offers pleasant results using fillers is on the eyebrows, eyelids and under the eyes, as shown in the videos below. These new techniques present a significant advantage: they do not cause an overinflated or artificial look. They also avoid … Continue reading »
It seems so unfair, but it is true. Many people I see for BOTOX and fillers at SkinCare Physicians also complain about acne. Don’t despair, solutions exist to treat adult acne. Adult acne affects 25% of men and 50% of women at some time in their adult lives. Just last week, I saw a woman who had clear skin as a teenager, and now at the age of 32 started to have painful blemishes on her chin and upper back. Later in the day, I saw a 41 year old man who started to break out at age 12, and … Continue reading »
While the influenza vaccine offers the best defense against the flu, frequent handwashing, done properly, offers an additional effective prevention tool. It’s official: flu season has hit, and here in Boston, as across America, we are getting hit especially hard this year. As the nationwide outbreak of this unusually aggressive virus increases, cases have risen dramatically and deaths have been reported in many cities. The CDC’s weekly map of cases in the US shows widespread influenza in almost all states (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm). Boston has already seen 700 cases of flu since October, and 18 flu-related deaths have been reported in Massachusetts. In … Continue reading »
