The Blue Chemical Peel

A blue Peel is a chemical peel used to treat acne scars and fine wrinkles on the face. A blue peel uses a trichloroacetic acid (TCA) as a peeling agent. Because the peeling agent has the possibility of causing permanent damage to the skin and underlying structures, a blue dye is added to the formula. This blue dye allows the physician to monitor the dept of correction and appropriate level of treatment.

The Blue Peel is done as an outpatient in the physician’s office. There are numerous concentrations of TCA available and the physician will determine what is the best concentration for your skin condition.

When the TCA is applied to the skin, it peels of the most superficial layers of the skin and replaces them with fresh new skin, which is smooth, fresh and provides a softer texture.

The light strength Blue peel does jack shit; the higher concentration blue peel can turn you into godzilla if you are not careful.

Get a Nose Job

I would like to get a nose job done but am afraid of complications. should I go ahead?

The nose appears simple to most people, but I can tell you one fact-surgery on the nose is a demanding procedure and requires great skill to achieve a good cosmetic result. For every sexy looking celeb that you see with a good nose job, there are probably 10 other people who have a real crappy job. The surgery is full of complications. So be realistic and know what you want. 

The major factor in having minimal complications is your surgeon’s skill and experience. So choose your provider well. There are no refunds in plastic surgery. A great surgeon for a nose job may charge you anywhere from $5,000-$10,000. 

If your nose bothers you too much and you do not have the money, try some Prozac, it is cheap, works well and you will learn to love your nose. If you have the money and do not like your nose, go take a vacation and think about it. People in America run into surgical problems because they often seek unnecessary cosmetic surgery- in many cases, the problem is in the head and nothing to do with breasts, lips, nose or the face.

Deviated septum

I have a deviated nasal septum. Is surgery always necessary?

No, surgery is not always necessary. Men usually tolerate nasal septum deviation better than women. Women will make up all kinds of symptoms just so that they can have surgery on the nose. The primary reason why people undergo surgery on the nose is cosmesis.

In a few cases, the deviated nasal septum will cause obstruction of the nasal passage, nosebleeds and sinus infections. Pain is rare just from a nasal septum deviation. 

My advice is that if it does not bother you and you have no symptoms, leave it alone. Surgery to correct the septum can be done but recurrence is not unheard off. Finally do remember that if you have any disease like allergic rhinitis or polyps or hay fever, you can rest assured, none of these will disappear after surgery. So be realistic. IF you are going to get the deviated septum just for cosmetic reasons, be prepared to pay several thousand dollars.

Prudoxin for acne

I was recently prescribed prudoxin for my acne. Does it work?

Prudoxin (doxepin) is actually a very old antidepressant. It was developed in the 50s for treatment of depression. However since then many better and safer drugs have become available. Sometimes doxepin is also used as a sleeping aid. The topical version of doxepin, known as prudoxin is frequently sold as a treatment of acne. It does relieve itching in some cases. 

As far as acne is concerned, you are better off washing your face with urine-that is how great this product is- f..ing useless. Any doctor who prescribes prudoxin for acne is a first rate idiot. The drug does not work for acne. Most people who use prudoxin for acne complain that it causes a severe burning sensation. If you have acne, stop going to morons who prescribe prudoxin- go and see a real skin doctor. And ask for a retinoid cream.

Refissa for Acne

I have been given a prescription of Refissa for my acne. I noticed that is has caused worsening of my acne. Is this okay?

Yes, it is ok. Mild side effects include dry lips, stinging, swelling of the face, crust dry skin, nosebleeds, upset stomach, and loss of hair. Initially when the drug is applied, the peeling actions of the drug will make your skin look worse. However, within a few days you will start to see clearing of the acne and redness.

In rare cases, Refissa can cause damage to the pancreas that may present with abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting. If these side effects occur, one should seek immediate medical attention.

It is an excellent drug and you will get rid of your acne in no time. There are not many medications that deliver, but this is one of them.

 

 

Belly fat

Why does belly fat occur?

Why people develop belly fat remains a mystery. There are a lot of theories and speculations but no one really knows. Some health professionals claim that belly fat is due to age, others claim hormones, and yet others claim genes. One fact is known- as you get older, belly fat increases. This is especially true in females after menopause. There has been a lot of research which shows that gaining belly fat is not good for health. Experts claim that excess belly fat increases chances of heart attacks, high blood pressure, diabetes, and ever some cancers. One should not be disheartened by such news. Unlike fat anywhere else on the body, belly fat can be decreased by changes in diet and lifestyle.

One of the reasons why fat occurs around the belly is due to age and slowing down of metabolism. With age, the body slows down in its ability to breakdown fat, and this eventually results in fat accumulation in the body. Women generally tend to gain more weight after menopause due to slowing of metabolism. During this time period, the fat distribution also changes, and fat starts to gather around the belly and there is less fat in the arms, legs, and hips.

When belly fat accumulates, it is not only on surface of the abdomen but deep down there is a heavy-rim laddened down with fat. This deeper layer of fat around the belly has been associated with heart problems, diabetes, and breathing problems.

Even though everyone agrees that there is a decrease in metabolism of fat with age, why does fat disproportionally deposit in the belly? No one has the answer, but most experts claim it is genes- you just have a tendency to collect fat in that part of the body. While hormones have been blamed, it is not understood why hormones would cause fat to be deposited solely around the belly. The odd observation is that some women notice a rapid gain in fat around the belly without gain in weight anywhere else on the body. Even though one may not have fat elsewhere on the body, except the belly button, this is also linked to medical problems.

A fascinating finding has been that once fat gathers around the belly, these fat cells in turn become active and produce chemicals or hormones that affect your health. Studies on fat cells from the belly have been found to produce hormones that counter insulin and cause diabetes. When these fat cells produce estrogen, the risk of breast cancer is increased. Currently there is effort being made to determine which hormones are produced and how they influence health. Individuals who have belly fat should start making changes in their diet and start to walk, if they want to avoid health problems later in life.

Vitamin K for spider veins

Can I use Vitamin K creams to get rid of my spider veins? 

Millions of women have spider veins and the majority dislike them. Spider veins commonly occur on the face, outer thigh, and lower leg. While these skin lesions do not cause symptoms, they are not aesthetically pleasing. Some women only have a few spider veins, but a few unlucky women develop multiple spider veins.

Spider veins do not cause any symptoms and if one has pain, swelling, aches or itching, then the cause is not spider veins. Spider veins are only treated for a cosmetic reason. If you have any type of symptom, then the problem will not be cured by treating spider veins.

In the last decade, hundreds of treatments for spider veins have come and gone. Almost each week there is a new cream, lotion, potion, or liquid to help one get rid of spider veins. The latest in a long line of creams is vitamin K. 

There are vitamin K based products in every type of formulation on the market. These creams are sold in beauty parlors, pharmacies, cosmetic shops and at many spas. In each case, exaggerated claims are made such as applying the cream twice a day can erase the spider vein, make the skin soft, reduce wrinkles, improve skin texture and so on. Most vendors of these products claim that vitamin K can remove spider veins in a few weeks.

Vitamin K is known as a fat-soluble vitamin and is generally taken by mouth. In the hospital setting, it is sometimes administered as an injection in individuals who have bleeding disorders. All humans have large stores of vitamin k and do not require supplementation. Vitamin k is readily available from the diet when one eats vegetables and legumes. It is very rare for a health care worker to prescribe vitamin K for healthy individuals.

So do these vitamin K creams really work?

There is zero evidence that vitamin K can erase spider veins. There is not one scientific study which shows that vitamin K has the ability to reduce, prevent or remove spider veins. There is not one individual who can honestly come forward and claim that vitamin K creams removed his or her spider veins. One can eat, drink, slurp, or even use vitamin K as a suppository- the end result is just a waste of money.

 Spider veins have no relation to vitamin K and there is no cream, herb or lotion which can be applied on the skin that will remove spider veins. Every single vitamin K cream sold on the market is simply false advertising with lots of false promises- such is the world of cosmesis

Individuals who have spider veins have three options, do nothing, try sclerotherapy or laser. Vitamin K based creams or any other creams are a waste of money, time and are best considered junk therapy. These expensive creams do little more than moisturize your skin.

If you have spider veins and are not bothered by them, leave them alone. For those who seek vanity, perhaps laser is the best option. Remember though, laser is expensive, painful and spider veins do recur.