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Archive for the ‘Skincare Industry’ Category

Dermatology - One of the Most Satisfying Specialties: Notes from a San Francisco Bay Area Dermatologist

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

A recent study conducted by UC Davis has found that dermatology ranks as one of the most satisfying medical specialties to practice.  One of the reasons dermatology tops the charts is its diversity, ranging from medical to aesthetic.  This couldn’t be more true for my practice.  Being able to help a patient suffering from acne or skin cancer to advising another on choosing a cosmetic treatment right for them is one aspect of my job that I enjoy immensely.  There is nothing more satisfying than helping patients set and achieve their skin goals, seeing them through the process from beginning to end.  Its the relationships I have with my patients who are of all ages and walks of life that always keep me smiling.

 

Update on the Cosmetic Procedures Tax: Notes from a San Francisco Bay Area Dermatologist

Friday, January 15th, 2010

As you may the recall, the Senate healthcare reform bill originally proposed a 5% tax on cosmetic medical procedures, which would have unfairly impacted the cost of many elective treatments like Botox and Restylane injections.  However, with encouragement from the Amercian Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the American Medical Association (AMA), public support and other public entities this tax has been replaced in the revised Senate bill.  The new bill proposes a 10% tax on indoor tanning services instead.  Not only will this generate billions of dollars over the next ten years, but it will support public health by discouraging indoor tanning, which is known to cause skin cancer.  Treating skin cancer only adds to healthcare costs and can be prevented.  This tax will help on both fronts.

Both the House and Senate bill are now headed to conference committee hearings for deliberation.

 

Aware of the “Cosmetic Tax”? Notes from a San Francisco Bay Area Dermatologist

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

To help pay for the health care reform bill that is being debated over the next few weeks by the U.S. Senate, users of cosmetic medical treatments have been targeted with a 5% federal tax on such procedures.

You may want to consider opposing the tax for the following reasons:

The tax is punitive and places an additional burden on the middle class – According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, sixty percent of patients considering a cosmetic medical procedure are squarely in the middle class, earning between $30,000 and $90,000 per year. This tax would come on top of increased payroll and income taxes sure to result from health reform’s $849 billion cost, and would penalize those who have made a well-educated and informed decision in consultation with a specialized physician to opt for cosmetic medical treatments because they allow them to express their best self and have been scientifically tested.

The tax discriminates predominantly against women – Medical society data shows that 91 percent of patients seeking cosmetic medical procedures are women. And many of these women are seeking treatment to improve their appearance to enhance their self-image and self-confidence which helps them succeed at work and in other areas of their lives.

The tax does not serve the goals of health reform – President Obama has stated that the goal of health reform is “to enact legislation that offers stability and security to those who have insurance and affordable coverage to those who don’t, and that lowers costs for families, businesses and governments across the country.” Since these procedures are generally not covered by insurance, the proposed tax will not reduce the cost of health care nor will it reduce insurance premiums. Further, it will increase administrative costs for physician offices.

The tax puts cosmetic procedures in the same category as cigarettes and alcohol – so called “sin taxes” on cigarettes and alcohol were imposed to try to change unhealthy behavior and cover the significant costs that these products placed on the health care system. This is logical. But a tax on cosmetic procedures is illogical because they are healthy and merely a responsible form of self-improvement. Furthermore, these procedures do not impact the heath care system since patients pay for these procedures themselves and they are not covered by insurance. People should have the freedom to decide what is best for their personal health care, including our own aesthetic appearance and therefore be free to spend our own, hard-earned money to correct, alter or enhance our appearance responsibly, in consultation with a physician, without being forced to pay an extra tax.

The tax will be impossible to effectively and equitably administer – It is not clear which procedures will be subject to the tax and which will not. Further, the same procedure performed on two different patients could lead to different conclusions concerning application of the tax.

The tax discourages innovation and promotes dangerous and unregulated alternatives – Because only drugs and procedures regulated and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be subject to the tax, manufacturers may choose to circumvent FDA regulation to avoid the tax. Further, patients may seek untested and potentially dangerous treatments from unlicensed practitioners to avoid the tax, including seeking treatment across our borders and overseas.

The bill is currently being debated in the Senate, so if you would like to add your voice to opposing the tax, please visit www.stopcosmetictax.org, where you can write to your local Senators or Representatives and sign a petition against the tax.

 

Moisturizers vs. Anti-wrinkle Treatment Products: Notes from a San Francisco Bay Area Dermatologist

Monday, August 31st, 2009

A recent article in the UK’s Daily Mail (8/20, Poulter) reported that in the UK, the consumer group Which? tested a number of anti-wrinkle creams and declared that an inexpensive moisturizer was “just as effective as products costing 60 times as much.”  Which? tested 12 creams over a six-week period on a panel aged between 35 and 65.  High-definition photographs were taken “before and after,” and then were analyzed by a “panel of five experts.”  Neither the testers nor the panel of judges knew which creams had been used in order to produce a reliable result.

Articles like this miss the boat!  I always say that people shouldn’t spend a lot a lot of money on a moisturizer.  Most nationally recognized drugstore brand are really good and work well as “moisturizers”, but what exactly does that mean?  Moisturizers do just that, they seal in moisture providing skin hydration.  Skin that is hydrated appears plumper and wrinkles appear more shallow.  Moisturizers only improve the appearance of  skin in the short term and don’t actually “treat” wrinkles.  Treating wrinkles and preventing further wrinkles requires active skin care products like Retin-A, alpha and beta hydroxy acids, Vivite glycolic acid products, Kinerase, Neocutis with PSP and antioxidants like Skinceuticals Vitamin C, Prevage, RevaleSkin Coffee Berry and sunscreens.  These skin care products are not moisturizers (though they may have moisturizing properties), they are treatment products that have the science to back up their claims of wrinkle prevention and treatment.  They also work over many months and years, not 6 weeks which was the length of this study.  Effective skin care requires consistent and long term use of active products.

 

Can We Freeze Fat? - Notes from a San Francisco Bay Area Dermatologist

Friday, July 3rd, 2009

If you have ever seen a dermatologist for a wart or for precancerous lesions, your treatment may have included a spray of liquid nitrogen that  “freezes” the skin.  This method is known as cryosurgery, which cools skin tissue to an extreme temperature, destroying cells.

There is now preliminary evidence that this same concept may be applied to underlying adipose or fatty tissue, which would compete with fat removal techniques like liposuction.  As reported in Dermatology Times, the group at Harvard Medical School in Boston published a paper on a method to remove excess fat called selective cryolysis.  Through intact skin of pigs, they used a cold element at varying degrees to affect the underlying fatty tissue.  Assessments performed immediately afterward and at increments up to three months, showed an obvious loss of subcutaneous fat.  Inflammation was reported for up to four weeks after the treatment, but no signs of injury to the overlying skin, pigment changes, scarring or textural changes were noted.

While this study has yet to be applied to humans, it does introduce a unique concept for safe fat dissolution.  I look forward to further research and results as this method continues to be explored.

 

Making the Most of Your Visit to a Dermatologist’s Office

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

When a patient comes to the office seeking advice on how to look better, most dermatologists begin with a discussion on the changes the patient is noticing in their skin.  We then prioritize treatments according to what is bothering them the most and what will give them the greatest benefit.  Honest communication is key in this discussion to ensure a successful visit.  Be sure to share with your dermatologist the budget you need to work within, how much down-time (if any) you are willing to tolerate, your level of commitment to product use and if you prefer a moderate or more aggressive approach.  This helps providers create a  treatment program specifically tailored to best suit your individual needs.

As a patient, be sure you ask questions about procedures, costs and instructions if anything that has been discussed is unclear to you.  It is also important to listen to the expert advice you have made the effort and spent the money to obtain.  Patients will sometimes discount or disregard advice because of something their friend or family member told them.  Be sure to thoughtfully consider your dermatologist’s opinions.

The dermatologist should set realistic outcomes of procedures and products given a patient’s age and the current condition of their skin.  While we all hope for small miracles, patients should be pleased to look good for their age and keep reasonable expectations when it comes to results.  We don’t have erasers yet!

If you have started a treatment program and you are unhappy with your procedures or products, speak up and let your provider know!  Too often patients fade into the sunset with feelings of disappointment when they do not see changes or feel their skin looks worse.   Dermatology is an art as well as a science and while we try to create the right recipe for you the first time around, it may need fine tuning depending on how your skin responds to treatment.  Sometimes a simple adjustment is all that is needed to get you on the road to success.

It is my job and my desire to see every patient get results and provide them with the best experience possible.  This should be the goal of every dermatologist, so be sure to choose someone you feel comfortable with and keep the lines of communication open!

 

SFGate 2009 BayList Nomination!

Friday, April 10th, 2009

We have been nominated for the SFGate’s 2009 BayList as one of the Bay Area’s best dermatology offices!  We are so excited to be in the running for this distinction.  There’s no greater honor than to be considered a favorite business in your local community.  We continually strive to provide the best quality service and advice in our office and thank all of our patients for their loyal support.  If you would like to vote for us, please visit SFGate and click Kathleen M. Welsh, MD by May 29th.

 

Dermatologists and Estheticians - Can They Work Together?

Wednesday, April 1st, 2009

The recent New York Times article, “An Expression of Doubt About Facials,” brings up an interesting discussion on relationships between dermatologists and estheticians.  While some would classify them at odds, I find that dermatologists and estheticians can work together for the benefit of clients.  Not everyone sees a dermatologist and not everyone has problem skin.  Many people enjoy esthetic services as a relaxing way to round out their skincare routine.  In turn, I have had estheticians save people’s lives by sending clients with melanoma to me who would not have gone to see a dermatologist otherwise.  A responsible esthetician will also refer clients who they see are not benefiting from facials and spa care to a dermatologist for more appropriate medical care.   Serving the client’s best interest is most important whether you are an esthetician or a dermatologist and the skincare industry certainly has a place for both.

 

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