Clarisonic Facial Brush?

Dear Desi Dermatology Readers,

This is a quick article from the Wall Street Journal giving some information about those facial brushes that are so popular these days.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204058404577110540383300570.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
 
I have not yet tried the Olay version (which is around $30) but the Clarisonic (which is around $125- $220 depending on the version and the store) is wonderful -- the only caveat being that having two children under the age of 2- I rarely get the opportunity to use mine!! With regular use though, my skin does feel smoother and the pores appear tighter.

Could my white spots be vitiligo?

Vitiligo, which presents with milky white patches on the skin, is of significant social stigma in the Desi community. It interferes with marriages, jobs, and overall quality of life. Scientiifically, vitiligo is characterized by destruction of melanocytes (the pigment producing cells). It is estimated that up to 2% of the worldwide population is affected by vitiligo- and perhaps even more among Desis!

what can I do for depressed acne scars and oily skin (ps I don't have a lot of money)?

Thank you for your inquiry.  Depressed scars are certainly damaging to your self esteem and we can work together to make yours better!

The best method of treatment is with fractional laser treatments. Ablative laser treatments are stronger and require fewer treatment sessions. However, there is some down-time involved while your skin heals. Also, if not done properly there is a small risk of hyperpigmentation or raised scars.  

Non-ablative laser treatments are also very effective. These treatments are less intense, thus requiring more treatment sessions. However, the risk for discoloration and scarring is very minimal.

In terms of oily skin, you should begin to use a retinoid (retin-a, differin, tazorac). This is a prescription vitamin A cream that helps normalize the oil production of your face. The added benefit is that the retinoid cream can stimulate collagen below the skin surface to help heal your scars as well. 
For more information about lasers, please see the "laser" section of desidermatology.com

Since finances are an issue, I want you to know that most of the products out there that claim to help scars ae ineffective -don't waste your money or time. A regimen of retinoid + laser will definitively work for you :)

Sincerely,
Dr Tareen
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Can laser hair removal actually stimulate hair growth?

The simple answer is yes-- laser can sometimes actually stimulate more hair growth.  A recent article published in The Journal of Dermatologic Surgery reported that widespread use of lasers by a variety of users (nurses, doctors, beauty technician) has led to a surprising yet increasingly common side effect -- stimulation of hair growth.  In fact, this may be as high as 1-10% depending on the type of laser that is used.  In addition, this regrowth is most common among individuals with ethnic skin- particularly South Asians and Mediterranean ethnic groups.

Why does laser actually stimulate more hair?  There are several explanations --  all of which stem from improper use of lasers. 

The most common reasons for failure of laser hair removal reported in Dermatologic Surgery are:

1.  Using inadequate ('too weak') energy on ethnic skin for fear of creating scarring/pigmentation

2.  Not creating a deep enough treatment zone (again for fear of burning/ scarring) which may in turn stimulate new growth  

Fortunately, this side effect is preventable by an experienced physician using the correct laser at the correct depth.  In fact, according to scientific studies, the treatment of increased hair after laser hair removal is actually laser used at proper treatment parameters!

If you have been unfortunate enough to experience increased hair growth after laser treatment, I recommend finding a board certified dermatologist  or other appropriately trained physician to perform your procedure. 

"doctor, I DEMAND to stick with my ineffective cream"

"But can't I just keep using the cream I have at home?"  I get this question all of the time. Suprisingly, from the patients with the worst skin. A patient will come to me covered with severe acne, scars, and discoloration. I will take my time to formulate a treatment plan that encompasses cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen. Inevitably, as we are about to part, the last question is- "but do I have to stop using what I already have at home?"  As Einstein once said, "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

I never understood why a patient would be so loyal to a cream that clearly is not working. A recent NY Times article sheds light on this. In fact, the less effective a beauty product or treatment, the more likely women are to keep using it!  Researchers recently surveyed 300 women and found they were more loyal to products and treatments when they didn’t work rather than when they did.

The NY Times article theorized that when people don’t feel good about themselves, fear is a more powerful motivator than success. Fears about looking older spur women to keep using the same production -- even when they don’t work. Once they have success however, such as younger-looking skin, their anxiety dissipates, and they stop worrying about it.

Ultimately, we are all creatures of habit.  While I may not be able to convince people to stop buying and using ineffective creams, I can hope that using the correct regimens in combination with their ineffective creams will give them the improvements and satisfaction that brought them to see me in the first place.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/14/wrinkle-cream-not-working-give-me-two-more-jars/#more-157