Nexavar Gets Fast Track FDA Designation For Skin Cancer

Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NYSE: BAY) and Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ONXX) announced today that Nexavar(R) (sorafenib) tablets has been granted Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of advanced (including locally unresectable and metastatic) melanoma, a form of skin cancer. Nexavar was approved by the FDA in December 2005 for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

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Portrait PSR3 is FDA-cleared for treatment of facial wrinkles.

Portrait(R) delivers nitrogen plasma (a highly energized gas) energy, which work both at and below the surface of the skin to modify the skin's architecture and generate new collagen ... never making direct contact. The skin's outer layers remain intact and act as a protective cover until the new skin regenerates. Once this happens, the old skin peels away, taking with it all the signs of photodamage; including brown sun spots and actinic keratoses (rough-textured patches or lesions that form on the outermost layer of the skin after years of exposure to ultraviolet light.) Additionally Portrait(R) has a profound cosmetic effect on the other results from photodamage: wrinkles, skin tone and texture and skin laxity.

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Pomegranate's Internal and External Role in the War Against Environmental Aging and Disease

Pomegranate's Internal and External Role in the War Against Environmental Aging and Diseaseby
Howard Murad, M.D.

Since my early days as a dermatologist, I have been studying the ability of various antioxidants, such Vitamin C, Coenzyme Q 10, Alpha Lipoic Acid, and Vitamin E and herb extracts such as Burdock Root, Echinacea, Yellow Dock Root, and Grape Seed Extract to repair and protect the skin against such damage. While all are extremely beneficial, I found the most potent antioxidant power to date comes from Pomegranate Extract, and specifically the polyphenol, Ellagic Acid contained within the pomegranate.

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Signaling Proteins May Represent Biomarkers For Melanoma Detection

For the first time, researchers studying patients with abnormal moles have identified proteins that could help predict whether such moles will progress into melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. The study provides promising evidence that the proteins may represent potential biomarkers for prevention therapy. The results were announced today at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The study, abstract number 5742, also looked at the effect of a common treatment for melanoma, interferon, on the levels of these biomarker proteins.

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Report: Almost 4 million Botox treatments performed in 2005

The number of cosmetic procedures climbed to more than 10.2 million last year, most of them office-based, minimally invasive cosmetic fixes such as Botox injections.

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11.9 Million Cosmetic Procedures In 2004

The number of surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures in the United States increased by 44 percent in 2004 to a total of nearly 11.9 million, according to statistics released today by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). The number of surgical procedures increased 17 percent and the number of nonsurgical procedures increased 51 percent from the previous year. The most frequently performed procedure was Botox injection and the most popular surgical procedure was liposuction. ASAPS, a national not-for-profit organization for education and research in cosmetic plastic surgery, annually conducts the nation's most authoritative survey of U.S. physicians performing cosmetic procedures.

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9 Medical Spa Tips For Success

Between 2002 and 2004, the medical spa industry grew by 109%. The demand is far from being met, and 2005 is going to see the largest number of Medical Spa openings yet. If you are going to open a Medical Spa this year, check out these 9 tips to Medical Spa Startup Success.

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Medspas: Unique Care and Treatment for Skin of Color

Speaking today at the American Academy of Dermatology’s (Academy) skin academy 2005, dermatologist Eliot F. Battle, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Howard University in Washington, D.C., addressed a variety of conditions that are common in people with skin of color and how to treat them.

“Skin of color reacts differently from Caucasian skin to almost all medical and cosmetic dermatologic treatments,” said Dr. Battle.  “It’s more sensitive and it’s more prone to problems of discoloration and scars.”

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