DR. SCHULZ BLOG: NEXT-GENERATION TREATMENT FOR VARICOSE VEINS (RADIOFREQUENCY VS. LASERS)

If you’re reading this blog, you may already know more about varicose veinsthan you would like, because half of all Americans over 50 (and two-thirds of women over 60) suffer from the pain and swelling of disfiguring varicose veins. The condition is caused by failing valves in the primary veins that carry blood up and out of the legs. Symptoms can range from aching and fatigue to skin ulcers and blood clots. Women who have had more than two pregnancies are atparticular risk, and heredity, weight and careers that require a standing position throughout the day, like nursing or teaching, are risk factors as well.

Back in the old days – the 20th Century –  the only surgical option for patients with severe varicose veins was a gruesome and painful procedure called vein stripping that left patients scarred and laid up for weeks. Today, however, InfinityVein Center features the next-generation medical technology to treat the problem – minimally invasive catheters that close the diseased  vein from within. The ClosureFAST™ catheter is pulled through the vein, delivering bursts of energy through the catheter’s heating element to heat and contract the vein walls. With the faulty primary vesselsealed, the body automatically re-establishes healthier circulation and the symptoms quickly dissipate.

Catheter devices fall into two categories – radiofrequency (RF) devices and lasers. I use a RF device because it provides greater comfort and efficacy for the patient. Laser devices operate at over 800 degrees Fahrenheit, causing pain both during and after the procedure and leaving large bruises that take a while to heal. The latest RF device, the VNUS® ClosureFAST™ catheter, operates at far cooler temperatures, sealing the vein in three to five minutes with virtually no discomfort to the patient. The procedure involves local anesthetic (not general), and the patient is in and out in less than an hour, usually resuming normal activity the next day. The leg pain and heaviness disappear almost immediately, and visible changes are evident in a few weeks.

Clinical studies have found the new procedure to be more than 97% effective, and because it is considered a medical necessity rather than a cosmetic procedure, it is covered by Medicare and most private health insurance providers.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

DR. SCHULZ BLOG: FOCUS ON PECHE for FACIAL REDNESS JANUARY, 2012

In my many years as a dermatologist, I have seen it all! Rashes, lumps, bumps, bug bites, moles, acne, melanoma, wrinkles, sun damage and so much more (all diseases of the skin, hair and nails). Another common skin condition I treat is facial redness, often caused by rosacea, sun overexposure and anything else that causes an increase in facial vessels. In the spring of 2011, NeoCutis introduced a new product for redness control called PECHE Redness Control with ROSAPLEX™.

Over the past six months, I have enlisted a number of Infinity patients who struggle with facial redness to participate in a national study to demonstrate the efficacy of this revolutionary new product. The results of PECHE have been remarkable, with patients experiencing visibly reduced skin redness, diminished skin blotchiness and a dramatic clearing of redness from inflammatory conditions. These are results that, in some cases, rival even prescription medications.

So how does it work? PECHE is applied both in the morning and eveningalong with any prescription medications and other skincare products for thetargeted management of redness. PECHE is fortified with a unique combination of ingredients known as ROSAPLEX™.  This is a patent pending combination of key ingredients that diminish skin inflammation to provide a more balanced, even-looking and youthful complexion.

As with all skin care, it is best to speak to your dermatologist to determine if your facial redness is indeed rosacea or another skin condition that can be treated with PECHE. PECHE should be used in tandem with a complete skin care regime, including daily use of antioxidants, sunscreen, growth factors and hydrating creams and serums.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Man up! Skin care isn’t just for women anymore…

It’s hard to believe that it’s almost 2012! In the past 10-12 years, the advances in cosmetic dermatology and clinical skin care have been remarkable! Millions of women and men have embraced a skin-healthy lifestyle, choosing to keep their skinlooking its best with Botox® Cosmetic, injectable fillers, laser resurfacing, IPL, sunscreens/antioxidants and of course, sun avoidance.

Were you surprised to read that men are joining the ranks of women who have committed to healthy, young-looking skin? It’s true! While the number is still a smaller percentage than our female patients, our male patient population continues to grow. Historically, men spend far less time caring for their skin, but are also more likely to incur sun damage through their extensive outdoor sports and activities.

An avid golfer can spend up to 30 unprotected hours or more in the sun each week! That’s an excessive amount of sun exposure!

Men often come to see me with concerns about a red or ruddy complexion, sun damage, facial vessels and acne or acne scarring. I see a full spectrum of male patients: farmers with telangiectasias (red vessels) on their cheeks and ears, men in standing professions with spider or varicose veins, men with hair in unwanted places—like on the ears and back, college students with acne scarring and of course, men of all ages who simply want to maintain a youthful appearance.

Men’s skin care entails the skin care basics: cleansing/exfoliating, rejuvenation, maintenance and sun protection. Plus, men have the added grooming issues caused by facial hair: clogged hair follicles and increased irritation from shaving, aftershave, and harsh deodorant soaps/cleansers.  I recommend that all men schedule a skin screening appointment with their local dermatologist to rule out any malignant or suspicious lesions and then schedule a general consultation to determine a skin care plan that works for their skin type.

For men and women alike, the earlier you commit to a personalized skin care regime, the better!

Posted in Skin Care 101 by Dr. Schulz | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

1+1+1 = 10! Multi-treatment regimens add up to big results!

If you’ve ever joined Infinity Skin Care and Spa at one of our public skin care seminars, you’ve heard me explain the benefits of utilizing multiple skin care treatments and products to achieve maximum, “beautiful skin” results. You will often hear me say, “No more will your body become fit from doing one jumping jack than your skin will stay young looking from using one skin care product.”

With that being said, I often see patients at Infinity who have gone their entire lives with no skin care routine at all… and no sun protection! Years of sun damage has taken its toll! Sunspots and/or vessels, loss of volume, frown lines and laxity issues are very common concerns for these patients. Luckily, a multi-treatment plan for these patients can provide amazing results! An example of treatments I would recommend includes a series of IPL (intense pulsed light) treatments to diminish vessels and isolated brown spots. Fraxel® laser resurfacing is an Infinity favorite that eliminates extensive sun damage or melasma. Thermage® is a tool that tightens and tones without surgery and injectable fillers and/or Botox® Cosmetic can remove frown lines and fill in areas that have lost volume due to aging and sun exposure. Specialized skin care products prescribed by a dermatologist can address other issues such as acne or rosacea.

What else, you ask? Daily application of growth factors, sunscreen and antioxidants will keep the freshly rejuvenated skin looking its best. Don’t forget regular maintenance appointments to touch up problem areas and avoid sun exposure to prevent future damage. The right skin care regimen can ensure that your skin is a 10!

Posted in Skin Care 101 by Dr. Schulz | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A MESSAGE FROM DR. SCHULZ:

As I reflect on 2011, I am so appreciative of our valued patients, our dedicated staff and a community that is becoming more and more “skin savvy” with each passing year! In 2011, we continued to spread our message about sun protection, reversing sun damage, restoring/maintaining a natural, youthful look and ongoing “skin fitness.” It was our pleasure to welcome you to our spa, introduce you to our vein center, and join you at community events. We are excited to serve your skin care and vein needs in 2012!

Posted in Skin Care 101 by Dr. Schulz | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Bye-Bye Brown Spots!

Brown spots. They come in all shapes and sizes. But, no matter how many or where, they signal aging, damaged skin. So, if you’re one of the million of Americans with brown spots, where do you start? Do you have just a few? Make an appointment with a dermatologist to be certain that they aren’t malignant before they are treated. Your physician can treat all benign brown spots with cryotherapy, a treatment that uses liquid nitrogen to freeze all the spots and allow it to peel off in about a week. Do you have many brown spots or melasma? A treatment with a laser resurfacing tool such as Fraxel® laser will dramatically lighten and remove brown spots.

Maintain your results with a daily sunscreen, antioxidant and skin brightener (such as NeoCutis Blanche by RX only or Perle with Melaplex) product. Consider regular chemical peels or microdermabrasion to increase cellular turnover of your skin and you’ll dramatically decrease the accumulation of pigment in your skin!

Posted in Skin Care 101 by Dr. Schulz | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Filler for Hands and Earlobes? Absolutely!

There is just no getting around what filler can do for taking years off the face with almost no downtime. But have you heard about fillers for other rejuvenative uses? Two giveaways to someone’s age are the hands and earlobes. Use of filler in these two areas offers outstanding results!

Earlobes:
As we age, the skin in front of the ear begins to droop and the earlobes get thin. When this happens, the earlobes will commonly develop large, stretched piercing holes or earlobe creases. A quick injection of a small volume of filler will plump up the earlobe and can also be injected in front of the ear where the skin is droopy. This will keep post earrings standing straight out instead of pointing toward the floor!

Hands:
Veiny, thin skin on the hands is an instant age giveaway! A simple injection of filler artfully placed in the tissue plane that surrounds the tendons and veins will give a lovely, plump and youthful appearance on the backs of the hands! When used in conjunction with treatments that remove brown spots (such as Fraxel laser resurfacing), hand rejuvenation with filler takes years off your appearance!

Posted in Skin Care 101 by Dr. Schulz | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Facial Redness and Facial Vessels: Could It Be Rosacea?

Do you flush or blush easily? Do you have redness on your cheeks, nose, chin or forehead that tends to come and go? Do you have red facial vessels? You may have rosacea!

Many of my rosacea patients are surprised to find out that there are treatments and topical and/or prescription medications that can lessen the symptoms of rosacea! These symptoms include a rosy or ruddy complexion, exaggerated flushing or blushing, dilated facial vessels over the cheeks and nose and in more advanced cases, red, pimply blemishes over the middle of the face. Treating this condition can help restore confidence for long-time sufferers and can provide a younger-looking, more even skin tone for patients of all ages.

Because the signs and symptoms of rosacea vary from one patient to the next, each treatment plan must be tailored by a physician. Some patients with facial vessels do not have rosacea but instead developed their facial vessels due to sun damage, topical steroid use or as a result of the natural aging process. Fortunately, facial vessels can be easily treated with a procedure called IPL (intense pulsed light).

If you suspect you have rosacea, I recommend that you see your local dermatologist to confirm your diagnosis. It’s a great first step to a more balanced, youthful complexion!

Posted in Skin Care 101 by Dr. Schulz | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Plump Lips… Filler Vs. Lip Plumpers!

I’m often asked by my patients to explain the difference between non-injectable “lip plumpers” and using filler to restore full, youthful-looking lips. Fillers such as Restylane can give anyone very natural-looking, fuller lips and are absolutely amazing at restoring the lip borders that flatten and thin with aging, often causing vertical lip lines to form. While fillers offer instant results, they require needle injection, hence the flood of non-injectable “lip plumpers” on the market.

So do these lip plumpers really work? The answer is NO! Despite their claims, there is no way to get collagen or other skin matrix proteins across the skin barrier so it is impossible to get fillers inside the lip without a needle! Lips are extremely vascular, meaning they have lots of blood vessels and the tissue swells easily with irritation or massage.   Irritation and massage are exactly how these topical products cause the lips to temporarily swell for a few minutes. Some topical lip plumping products put so much irritant into the product that patients end up with a rash after using it!  Most of the lip plumpers on the market tell you to massage your lipsvigorously for up to seven minutes after applying their product! Who wouldn’t have swollen lips after that? So, for fullness that lasts, stick to lip fillers injected by a properly trained physician!

Posted in Skin Care 101 by Dr. Schulz | Leave a comment

Shingles: ANOTHER Reason To Protect Your Skin from the Sun!

Did you know that, although the risk is small, getting a sunburn can actually cause a case of shingles? One of our Infinity employees recently spent the day at a local waterpark. Although she was diligent about applying sunscreen at regular intervals and wearing a hat, she missed her lower back and ended up with a painful and unexpected burn in the spots that didn’t receive adequate protection. After a week of pain from the sunburn, and another week of peeling, she started feeling sore, itchy bumps on her back. A few of them started to blister and throb. Writing them off as bug bites, she ignored them until the burning, itching and tingling intensified. She was eventually diagnosed with shingles, an outbreak caused by the varicella zoster virus, the virus that causes chicken pox. In her case, the sunburn triggered the varicella zoster virus to reactivate a shingles outbreak.

What are the symptoms of shingles?
•           A blistering rash, typically on one side of the body.
•           Burning, itching and tingling sensation at the rash site.
•           Pain that seems to radiate deep into the nerves or away from the rash.
•           A rash with pain that lasts up to 30 days.

Who can get shingles?
Anyone who has had chicken pox is at risk of developing shingles. Although young people can get shingles, this condition usually occurs in people over age 50.

Are there treatments?
If caught in time (within 72 hours), shingles can be treated with an antiviral medication. Based on the severity of the outbreak, the medication can help speed the healing process and lessen the pain and itching associated with shingles.

What causes the varicella zoster virus to become active?
In addition to sun exposure or a cold, the following may lead to a shingles outbreak:

•           Weakened immune system
•           Anticancer and immunosuppression drugs
•           Stress or depression, especially if associated with a major life change or trauma

While premature aging, sun spots, unwanted wrinkles and skin cancer seem like reasons enough to avoid overexposure to the sun, the risk of activating the virus that causes shingles is yet another reason to be liberal with the sunscreen, wear sun protective clothing and avoid getting a nasty sunburn! Take it from anyone who has had shingles and you’ll know… they are no fun at all!

Posted in Skin Care 101 by Dr. Schulz | Leave a comment