The remaining 92% of suncreens scored either a “yellow” or “red” rating due to one of the following reasons:

1. An SPF rating of 50 or more, which often give consumers a false sense of security and encourages the user to stay out in the sun longer than advised.
2. The sunscreen contains a form of vitamin A called retinyl palmitate, which FDA studies suggest may actually accelerate skin damage and cancer risk.  (Although the studies are non conclusive, for now EWG recommends vitamin A-free sunscreens).
3. The suncreen containcs oxybenzone, which is a hormone-disrupting compound that is absorbed into the skin and enters the bloodstream.
4. The sunscreen product is in the form of a spray or powder that may be harmful to breathe.

Want to see how your favorite sunscreen ranked, or view EWG’s list of recommended suncreens? Visit the website here: http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/

All sunscreens protect against both UVA and UVB radiation.

Not true.  The word SPF stands for sun protection factor.  The SPF rating only applies to UVB protection. Sunscreen manufacturers often make inaccurate claims about UVA protection.  When buying sunscreen, look for products that contain avobenzone, mexoryl, titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide for adequate UVA protection.

Sunscreen only needs to be applied once a day.

Nope. Sunscreen should be re-applied every two hours — especially if swimming or perspiring. Water-resistant sunscreens can lose their effectiveness after 40 minutes in the water.

A bottle of sunscreen retains its potency and effectiveness for a long time.

Not true. The components of sunscreen begin to break down after one year, and is mostly ineffective after three years.  Check the expiration date, and toss out old bottles without expiration dates.

Sunscreens with an ultra high SPF are better than SPF 30 sunscreens .

Not so.  Although a higher SPF number provides for longer sun exposure before getting burned,  SPF 30 sunscreen already blocks 97% of UVB rays, which is suitable for most individuals. SPF’s higher than 30 block only 4 percent more UVB which provides only a marginal increase in protection, and tends to cost more. Sunscreen with an ultra high SPF may be more suitable for individuals who are sun-sensitive, skin cancer patients, and people at high risk of developing skin cancer.

A little dab will do ‘ya.

No it won’t.  The recommended application amount is about one palmful (or one ounce) and it needs to be applied to the skin 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors, so that the skin has time to absorb the lotion to be fully effective.

When the sun is behind the clouds, you don’t need sunscreen.

Yes, you still do.  Up to 80% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays can pass through the clouds. In addition, sand and snow reflect and magnify the sun’s rays and can result in sun burn and skin damage.

Using sunscreen is enough to prevent skin cancer.

No it isn’t. Even with proper sunscreen usage, your skin still has some exposure to UV rays. Skin cancer prevention works best with a comprehensive sun protection program that includes sunscreen, sun-protective clothing, sunglasses, keeping in the shade, and sun avoidance during the hours of 10 A.M. to 4 PM. And you should completely avoid tanning beds.

The fact is that psoriasis is chronic and is often associated with other serious conditions like diabetes, obesity and heart disease. About 56 million work hours are lost per year due to the misery it causes American adults. Even mild forms of the condition cause the itching and thick scaly patches that are so very uncomfortable. They can occur anywhere on the body, and are exceptionally excruciating when they arise on tender skin fold areas.

Fortunately for those suffering from psoriasis, the FDA recently approved a new treatment. Vectical™ ointment, manufactured by Galderma, is a Vitamin D3 ointment which is formulated for adults over 18 who have a mild to moderate form of psoriasis. Vectical™ contains calcitriol, a natural, active type of vitamin D3.

During the clinical trials, Vectical™ proved to be tolerated well even on those sensitive skin folds. Two, eight-week studies were performed in which Vectical™ ointment was used twice a day. Patients showed marked improvement by the second week of the study, and continued to improve throughout. Vectical™ brought much better results than the leading Vitamin D treatment to which it was being compared in the study.

Two of the problems with treating chronic conditions like psoriasis is that it requires frequent trips to the doctor and medications that can be used for long periods of time. Corticosteroids have often been used for psoriasis, but are not meant for long term use. Other Vitamin D creams have been used, but they tend to be irritating to the afore-mentioned tender skin folds. The good news is that is looks like Vectical™ is safe for the long haul. It has been used on patients with mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis for a full year, and has been very successful.

Vectical™ Ointment may cause some mild side effects—most medications do—so talk to your doctor and see if it might be a good fit for you. It’s available by prescription, and could make your life a whole lot easier.

There are lots of other benefits to the EndyMed PRO, too, including treatment customized for each patient, and a short treatment with no recovery time. No pain, which is always a plus, and no side effects. Go right back to work, or shopping, or watching your soaps. You will see immediate improvement coupled with long term results. In studies which were done to determine the safety and effectiveness of the EndyMed PRO, dermatologists found that more than 80 percent of patients still had significant reduction of their wrinkles a full three months after treatment. This clinical study was done in several centers, and results were consistent throughout.

This is actually the first product of its type to be approved for marketing in the US. Quite a feather in the cap of EndyMed, as it makes them a real contender in the aesthetics market, not just in America, but around the world. EndyMedPRO uses third generation 3DEEP(TM) radio frequency technology, which means it’s a new and improved version.

The way I understand it is that the 3DEEP technology provides for effective individual contouring, and apparently uses minimal energy flow to the surface of the skin. The specialized technology controls not only the depth, but the power and three-dimensional pattern of the radio frequency energy. What does that mean? It means you get a totally painless, safe and non-invasive treatment which is very effective at reducing those wrinkles. Doesn’t get much better than that!

Dermatologists disagree in their perceptions of these generics. Some feel that they are just as good; others have said they might as well give their patients a placebo. One doctor interviewed claimed that it was necessary to prescribe higher doses of the generics, and keep patients on them longer, in order to achieve the same effect as Accutane. Patients want to pay as low a cost or co-pay as possible, and Accutane, like all branded medicines, is more expensive. Bottom line—the wallet rules.

Legal issues have also plagued Roche. Besides the millions of dollars any pharmaceutical company spends to develop, test, and market a new drug, Roche has spent millions on lawsuits defending Accutane. IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease), depression, suicide and birth defects have been linked to this drug, resulting in hundreds of lawsuits and FDA warnings on labels. Similar lawsuits have been filed against manufactures of the generic isotretinoin.

With the situation Roche found themselves in–millions spent to bring the drug to market, millions spent defending themselves against lawsuits, market share down to 3%– it’s no wonder they decided to pull the plug. But what does that mean for the future, and the patients who need it?

Dermatologists are concerned that with Accutane out of the picture, the pharmaceutical companies who produce the generics will increase their prices. They have already begun to face the same legal issues as Roche. It would be a shame if this drug, a boon to many people over the years who have severe acne, was pulled off the market entirely.

Although the idea was brought up in a mid-July meeting, so far it doesn’t yet appear to be a serious consideration amongst the Senate committee. Senate Finance chairman Max Baucus told reporters that the tax idea was discussed briefly, but is currently not under active consideration.

If this proposal should ever become tax law, this new tax would likely be shouldered mostly by women, since women currently make up over 90 percent of the cosmetic patient demographic in the United States.  And since many cosmetic surgeons and dermatologists offer financing options, the quest for beauty isn’t just for the rich anymore. In fact, according to a survey conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons approximately one third of people considering plastic surgery reported average household incomes below $30,000!!  Less than 10% reported incomes over $90,000.  Essentionally, this tax burden would be shouldered by the lower to middle class. Needless to say, a proposed excise tax on cosmetic procedures would also face serious opposition from many plastic surgeons, as it would dramatically cause a drop in patient bookings.

Let’s just hope that Congress doesn’t decide to slap a tax on beauty.  

The company Medicis has finally begun shipment of the injectable drug Dysport (abobotulinumtoxin A)  to physicians.  Dysport is a newly FDA approved cosmetic injectable used for the treatment of wrinkles and frown lines.