Our study of plasma skin regeneration in retinoid treated patients was prompted by the post-treatment response of a retinoid user treated with a plasma skin regeneration device by Rhytec, Inc., which had been FDA approved in 2005 for non-ablative regeneration of facial skin.
This treatment — four to five passes over nasolabial rhytid at high energy (3.5 J) — was far outside the manufacturer’s guidelines, which specified no more than two passes at high energy (3.0 J+), and was also performed by an inexperienced provider who had no relationship with the manufacturer.
However, like many who seek treatment for photodamage, this patient regularly used a prescription retinoid. Although she experienced no blistering, her skin exfoliation/peeling continued for 10 weeks.
The manufacturer of the device was queried, and it was stated that this event had not been seen or reported previously.
This incident suggested the potential for injury of patients using retinoids prior to plasma skin regeneration (PSR) treatment. An assessment of PSR treatment of patients who regularly used retinoids was proposed.
Plasma Skin Regeneration
Plasma skin regeneration is a newer technology that uses nitrogen excited by a radiofrequency wave and generates a thermal pulse for skin regeneration. This technology has been reported to produce results comparable to low-energy laser resurfacing devices without the complications associated with lasers.
Study Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine if pretreatment with a retinoid would affect outcome in patients undergoing multiple passes at 1 J.
Study Method
A clinical study of the effect of retinoids used in combination with a plasma skin regeneration device was designed. It involved a split-face protocol to compare the use of PSR on photodamaged skin, with one side treated with a prescription retinoid (tazarotene) 0.05%, and the control side treated with a name- brand moisturizer with hyaluronic acid.
Study participants initially included 30 patients between the ages of 40 and 55 with Fitzpatrick Skin Types I, II, and III, who were instructed to use each of the products once daily at night for a period of 6 weeks, discontinuing treatment the day before their first PSR treatment.
Treatment and Assessment
Baseline assessment. After 6 weeks of pre-treatment with the creams, patients were photographed prior to their first PSR treatment.
Initial PSR treatment consisted of three passes at 1 J over the entire face and just below the jawline.
Three-week assessment. Three weeks after the initial treatment, all patients were photographed without makeup for assessment.
Second PSR treatment. Each patient was again treated with the plasma skin regeneration device with 3 passes over the entire face and just below the jawline, using 1.5 J rather than the 1 J performed at the first session. A fourth pass at 1 J was made over the non-retinoid side of the face to produce comparable skin texture on the left and right sides of the face.
Four-month assessment. Four months after the initial treatment, each patient again returned for photographs without makeup. Surface changes were compared to the pretreatment photographs by an assessment of the appearance of skin texture and evenness of pigment. Skin tightening was assessed by the visual improvement in skin laxity and a more pronounced appearance of the jawline produced by tightening of the jowl area.
Findings
• Three weeks following the first treatment, the retinoid side had a greater improvement in skin tone, texture, and color than the control side (P>0.001).
• Following the second session at 1.5 J with discontinuation of the retinoids on the day of the first (1 J) treatment, there were no observable differences in skin surface between the retinoid and control side, although both showed comparable improvement in texture and evenness of skin tones.
• However, 4 months following treatment, patients were recalled for evaluation and there was significant improvement in the evenness of skin color, texture, and skin tightening compared to the pre-treatment photographs (P>0.0001).
Adding Retinoids Beneficial to Outcome
The plasma skin regeneration (PSR) device produced greater improvement in photodamaged skin that was treated with a retinoid with low-energy passes compared to the non-retinoid side. Four months following the second high energy treatment, there was significant improvement in skin tightening of both the experimental and control sides.
Although the study was prompted by the single experience of excessive and long-term skin peeling following multiple passes at 3.5 J over skin treated long term with a retinoid, such adverse effects were not observed in this study. No study patients reported redness or peeling lasting more than 2 to 4 days post treatment.
DISCLOSURE:No financial support was received for this study.
Drs. Petri and Wilson are with the Center for Dermatology & Maxillofacial Surgery in Chambersburg, PA.
Suffusion System Rejuvenates Skin, Increases Collagen Production
Results of a study presented as a poster at the 2008 ASLMS meeting suggest that a recently introduced suffusion system from Aesthetic Technologies offers a new way to increase Type I and Type III collagen production, decrease dryness, minimize wrinkles and enhance skin tone.
The equipment, called the Suffusion System, combines the manufacturerer’s Parisian Peel Microdermabrasion, ReVisage Cellular Restoration Gel, and Parisian Peel Elite Ultrasound. It is non-invasive and treats patients with all skin types.
The system is said to help physicians and skin care professionals achieve better topical product penetration than other systems currently on the market through a unique combination of ingredients in its topical formula, combined with its phonophoresis technique, a method of electrically assisted percutaneous delivery of macromolecules.
The clinical study showed both an increase in collagen formation and high patient satisfaction. All participants in the study reported a 25% or greater improvement in hue/brightness of skin, and more than 85% of the participants reported a 25% or greater improvement in skin tone and a 25% or greater improvement in skin dryness.
David J. Goldberg, M.D. Evaluation of Histologic and Electron Microscopic Changes after Novel Combined Microdermabrasion and Ultrasound Induced Phonophoresis Treatment of Human Skin.
Fractional CO2 Laser Resurfaces with Less Pain and Downtime than Traditional CO2 Lasers
According to its manufacturer, the newly introduced MiXto SX CO2 laser from LASERING USA enables dermatologists to offer their patients results rivaling those of traditional CO2 lasers but with less pain and reduced downtime.
This, they say, is possible due to the device’s innovative “quadrant” fractional technology combined with a more tightly focused beam that delivers uniform tissue ablation to the deep dermis, which causes immediate contraction and tissue tightening. A secondary effect is the production of new collagen over the next 6 to 12 weeks.
How It Works
Its MicroSpot Fractional technology combines with its high-speed MiXto SX scanner to deliver .3-mm spots in continuous wave mode. The scanner is driven by a patent-pending algorithm that divides the treatment area into four quadrants (“fractions”) and skips the beam from quadrant to quadrant so that each strike is separated by the longest possible interval between two adjacent spots. Dividing the laser energy in this manner allows maximum time for thermal cooling of the tissue. This, of course, minimizes heat accumulation around the treated area, and significantly reduces patients’ pain during the procedure.
The process is repeated until the entire area is treated.
With the MiXto SX, most procedures are done without anesthesia and within a timeframe of 20 minutes for a complete facial. A lower level of thermal burn permits faster recovery. Patients may resume normal activity within 1 week, and women can apply makeup within 48 hours after treatment.
In addition to the face, the treatment is also safe for the hands and the chest area.
Baldness Gene Holds Hope for Hair Loss Treatment
The discovery of a gene linked to a rare hereditary form of hair loss may lead to treatments for the more common varieties that affect some 50% of men.
According to the researchers, who reported their findings in the February 28 issue of Nature Genetics, hypotrichosis simplex, a childhood-onset balding condition affecting 1 in 200,000 people, is caused by a mutation in the P2Y5 gene that prevents growth receptor proteins on hair follicle cells from forming properly.
In this condition, which affects females as well as males, hair loss occurs when a substance needed to stimulate hair growth cannot attach to the defective receptors, which are important for the binding of messengers that trigger the normal functioning of the hair cell.
Our study of plasma skin regeneration in retinoid treated patients was prompted by the post-treatment response of a retinoid user treated with a plasma skin regeneration device by Rhytec, Inc., which had been FDA approved in 2005 for non-ablative regeneration of facial skin.
This treatment — four to five passes over nasolabial rhytid at high energy (3.5 J) — was far outside the manufacturer’s guidelines, which specified no more than two passes at high energy (3.0 J+), and was also performed by an inexperienced provider who had no relationship with the manufacturer.
However, like many who seek treatment for photodamage, this patient regularly used a prescription retinoid. Although she experienced no blistering, her skin exfoliation/peeling continued for 10 weeks.
The manufacturer of the device was queried, and it was stated that this event had not been seen or reported previously.
This incident suggested the potential for injury of patients using retinoids prior to plasma skin regeneration (PSR) treatment. An assessment of PSR treatment of patients who regularly used retinoids was proposed.
Plasma Skin Regeneration
Plasma skin regeneration is a newer technology that uses nitrogen excited by a radiofrequency wave and generates a thermal pulse for skin regeneration. This technology has been reported to produce results comparable to low-energy laser resurfacing devices without the complications associated with lasers.
Study Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine if pretreatment with a retinoid would affect outcome in patients undergoing multiple passes at 1 J.
Study Method
A clinical study of the effect of retinoids used in combination with a plasma skin regeneration device was designed. It involved a split-face protocol to compare the use of PSR on photodamaged skin, with one side treated with a prescription retinoid (tazarotene) 0.05%, and the control side treated with a name- brand moisturizer with hyaluronic acid.
Study participants initially included 30 patients between the ages of 40 and 55 with Fitzpatrick Skin Types I, II, and III, who were instructed to use each of the products once daily at night for a period of 6 weeks, discontinuing treatment the day before their first PSR treatment.
Treatment and Assessment
Baseline assessment. After 6 weeks of pre-treatment with the creams, patients were photographed prior to their first PSR treatment.
Initial PSR treatment consisted of three passes at 1 J over the entire face and just below the jawline.
Three-week assessment. Three weeks after the initial treatment, all patients were photographed without makeup for assessment.
Second PSR treatment. Each patient was again treated with the plasma skin regeneration device with 3 passes over the entire face and just below the jawline, using 1.5 J rather than the 1 J performed at the first session. A fourth pass at 1 J was made over the non-retinoid side of the face to produce comparable skin texture on the left and right sides of the face.
Four-month assessment. Four months after the initial treatment, each patient again returned for photographs without makeup. Surface changes were compared to the pretreatment photographs by an assessment of the appearance of skin texture and evenness of pigment. Skin tightening was assessed by the visual improvement in skin laxity and a more pronounced appearance of the jawline produced by tightening of the jowl area.
Findings
• Three weeks following the first treatment, the retinoid side had a greater improvement in skin tone, texture, and color than the control side (P>0.001).
• Following the second session at 1.5 J with discontinuation of the retinoids on the day of the first (1 J) treatment, there were no observable differences in skin surface between the retinoid and control side, although both showed comparable improvement in texture and evenness of skin tones.
• However, 4 months following treatment, patients were recalled for evaluation and there was significant improvement in the evenness of skin color, texture, and skin tightening compared to the pre-treatment photographs (P>0.0001).
Adding Retinoids Beneficial to Outcome
The plasma skin regeneration (PSR) device produced greater improvement in photodamaged skin that was treated with a retinoid with low-energy passes compared to the non-retinoid side. Four months following the second high energy treatment, there was significant improvement in skin tightening of both the experimental and control sides.
Although the study was prompted by the single experience of excessive and long-term skin peeling following multiple passes at 3.5 J over skin treated long term with a retinoid, such adverse effects were not observed in this study. No study patients reported redness or peeling lasting more than 2 to 4 days post treatment.
DISCLOSURE:No financial support was received for this study.
Drs. Petri and Wilson are with the Center for Dermatology & Maxillofacial Surgery in Chambersburg, PA.
Suffusion System Rejuvenates Skin, Increases Collagen Production
Results of a study presented as a poster at the 2008 ASLMS meeting suggest that a recently introduced suffusion system from Aesthetic Technologies offers a new way to increase Type I and Type III collagen production, decrease dryness, minimize wrinkles and enhance skin tone.
The equipment, called the Suffusion System, combines the manufacturerer’s Parisian Peel Microdermabrasion, ReVisage Cellular Restoration Gel, and Parisian Peel Elite Ultrasound. It is non-invasive and treats patients with all skin types.
The system is said to help physicians and skin care professionals achieve better topical product penetration than other systems currently on the market through a unique combination of ingredients in its topical formula, combined with its phonophoresis technique, a method of electrically assisted percutaneous delivery of macromolecules.
The clinical study showed both an increase in collagen formation and high patient satisfaction. All participants in the study reported a 25% or greater improvement in hue/brightness of skin, and more than 85% of the participants reported a 25% or greater improvement in skin tone and a 25% or greater improvement in skin dryness.
David J. Goldberg, M.D. Evaluation of Histologic and Electron Microscopic Changes after Novel Combined Microdermabrasion and Ultrasound Induced Phonophoresis Treatment of Human Skin.
Fractional CO2 Laser Resurfaces with Less Pain and Downtime than Traditional CO2 Lasers
According to its manufacturer, the newly introduced MiXto SX CO2 laser from LASERING USA enables dermatologists to offer their patients results rivaling those of traditional CO2 lasers but with less pain and reduced downtime.
This, they say, is possible due to the device’s innovative “quadrant” fractional technology combined with a more tightly focused beam that delivers uniform tissue ablation to the deep dermis, which causes immediate contraction and tissue tightening. A secondary effect is the production of new collagen over the next 6 to 12 weeks.
How It Works
Its MicroSpot Fractional technology combines with its high-speed MiXto SX scanner to deliver .3-mm spots in continuous wave mode. The scanner is driven by a patent-pending algorithm that divides the treatment area into four quadrants (“fractions”) and skips the beam from quadrant to quadrant so that each strike is separated by the longest possible interval between two adjacent spots. Dividing the laser energy in this manner allows maximum time for thermal cooling of the tissue. This, of course, minimizes heat accumulation around the treated area, and significantly reduces patients’ pain during the procedure.
The process is repeated until the entire area is treated.
With the MiXto SX, most procedures are done without anesthesia and within a timeframe of 20 minutes for a complete facial. A lower level of thermal burn permits faster recovery. Patients may resume normal activity within 1 week, and women can apply makeup within 48 hours after treatment.
In addition to the face, the treatment is also safe for the hands and the chest area.
Baldness Gene Holds Hope for Hair Loss Treatment
The discovery of a gene linked to a rare hereditary form of hair loss may lead to treatments for the more common varieties that affect some 50% of men.
According to the researchers, who reported their findings in the February 28 issue of Nature Genetics, hypotrichosis simplex, a childhood-onset balding condition affecting 1 in 200,000 people, is caused by a mutation in the P2Y5 gene that prevents growth receptor proteins on hair follicle cells from forming properly.
In this condition, which affects females as well as males, hair loss occurs when a substance needed to stimulate hair growth cannot attach to the defective receptors, which are important for the binding of messengers that trigger the normal functioning of the hair cell.
Our study of plasma skin regeneration in retinoid treated patients was prompted by the post-treatment response of a retinoid user treated with a plasma skin regeneration device by Rhytec, Inc., which had been FDA approved in 2005 for non-ablative regeneration of facial skin.
This treatment — four to five passes over nasolabial rhytid at high energy (3.5 J) — was far outside the manufacturer’s guidelines, which specified no more than two passes at high energy (3.0 J+), and was also performed by an inexperienced provider who had no relationship with the manufacturer.
However, like many who seek treatment for photodamage, this patient regularly used a prescription retinoid. Although she experienced no blistering, her skin exfoliation/peeling continued for 10 weeks.
The manufacturer of the device was queried, and it was stated that this event had not been seen or reported previously.
This incident suggested the potential for injury of patients using retinoids prior to plasma skin regeneration (PSR) treatment. An assessment of PSR treatment of patients who regularly used retinoids was proposed.
Plasma Skin Regeneration
Plasma skin regeneration is a newer technology that uses nitrogen excited by a radiofrequency wave and generates a thermal pulse for skin regeneration. This technology has been reported to produce results comparable to low-energy laser resurfacing devices without the complications associated with lasers.
Study Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine if pretreatment with a retinoid would affect outcome in patients undergoing multiple passes at 1 J.
Study Method
A clinical study of the effect of retinoids used in combination with a plasma skin regeneration device was designed. It involved a split-face protocol to compare the use of PSR on photodamaged skin, with one side treated with a prescription retinoid (tazarotene) 0.05%, and the control side treated with a name- brand moisturizer with hyaluronic acid.
Study participants initially included 30 patients between the ages of 40 and 55 with Fitzpatrick Skin Types I, II, and III, who were instructed to use each of the products once daily at night for a period of 6 weeks, discontinuing treatment the day before their first PSR treatment.
Treatment and Assessment
Baseline assessment. After 6 weeks of pre-treatment with the creams, patients were photographed prior to their first PSR treatment.
Initial PSR treatment consisted of three passes at 1 J over the entire face and just below the jawline.
Three-week assessment. Three weeks after the initial treatment, all patients were photographed without makeup for assessment.
Second PSR treatment. Each patient was again treated with the plasma skin regeneration device with 3 passes over the entire face and just below the jawline, using 1.5 J rather than the 1 J performed at the first session. A fourth pass at 1 J was made over the non-retinoid side of the face to produce comparable skin texture on the left and right sides of the face.
Four-month assessment. Four months after the initial treatment, each patient again returned for photographs without makeup. Surface changes were compared to the pretreatment photographs by an assessment of the appearance of skin texture and evenness of pigment. Skin tightening was assessed by the visual improvement in skin laxity and a more pronounced appearance of the jawline produced by tightening of the jowl area.
Findings
• Three weeks following the first treatment, the retinoid side had a greater improvement in skin tone, texture, and color than the control side (P>0.001).
• Following the second session at 1.5 J with discontinuation of the retinoids on the day of the first (1 J) treatment, there were no observable differences in skin surface between the retinoid and control side, although both showed comparable improvement in texture and evenness of skin tones.
• However, 4 months following treatment, patients were recalled for evaluation and there was significant improvement in the evenness of skin color, texture, and skin tightening compared to the pre-treatment photographs (P>0.0001).
Adding Retinoids Beneficial to Outcome
The plasma skin regeneration (PSR) device produced greater improvement in photodamaged skin that was treated with a retinoid with low-energy passes compared to the non-retinoid side. Four months following the second high energy treatment, there was significant improvement in skin tightening of both the experimental and control sides.
Although the study was prompted by the single experience of excessive and long-term skin peeling following multiple passes at 3.5 J over skin treated long term with a retinoid, such adverse effects were not observed in this study. No study patients reported redness or peeling lasting more than 2 to 4 days post treatment.
DISCLOSURE:No financial support was received for this study.
Drs. Petri and Wilson are with the Center for Dermatology & Maxillofacial Surgery in Chambersburg, PA.
Suffusion System Rejuvenates Skin, Increases Collagen Production
Results of a study presented as a poster at the 2008 ASLMS meeting suggest that a recently introduced suffusion system from Aesthetic Technologies offers a new way to increase Type I and Type III collagen production, decrease dryness, minimize wrinkles and enhance skin tone.
The equipment, called the Suffusion System, combines the manufacturerer’s Parisian Peel Microdermabrasion, ReVisage Cellular Restoration Gel, and Parisian Peel Elite Ultrasound. It is non-invasive and treats patients with all skin types.
The system is said to help physicians and skin care professionals achieve better topical product penetration than other systems currently on the market through a unique combination of ingredients in its topical formula, combined with its phonophoresis technique, a method of electrically assisted percutaneous delivery of macromolecules.
The clinical study showed both an increase in collagen formation and high patient satisfaction. All participants in the study reported a 25% or greater improvement in hue/brightness of skin, and more than 85% of the participants reported a 25% or greater improvement in skin tone and a 25% or greater improvement in skin dryness.
David J. Goldberg, M.D. Evaluation of Histologic and Electron Microscopic Changes after Novel Combined Microdermabrasion and Ultrasound Induced Phonophoresis Treatment of Human Skin.
Fractional CO2 Laser Resurfaces with Less Pain and Downtime than Traditional CO2 Lasers
According to its manufacturer, the newly introduced MiXto SX CO2 laser from LASERING USA enables dermatologists to offer their patients results rivaling those of traditional CO2 lasers but with less pain and reduced downtime.
This, they say, is possible due to the device’s innovative “quadrant” fractional technology combined with a more tightly focused beam that delivers uniform tissue ablation to the deep dermis, which causes immediate contraction and tissue tightening. A secondary effect is the production of new collagen over the next 6 to 12 weeks.
How It Works
Its MicroSpot Fractional technology combines with its high-speed MiXto SX scanner to deliver .3-mm spots in continuous wave mode. The scanner is driven by a patent-pending algorithm that divides the treatment area into four quadrants (“fractions”) and skips the beam from quadrant to quadrant so that each strike is separated by the longest possible interval between two adjacent spots. Dividing the laser energy in this manner allows maximum time for thermal cooling of the tissue. This, of course, minimizes heat accumulation around the treated area, and significantly reduces patients’ pain during the procedure.
The process is repeated until the entire area is treated.
With the MiXto SX, most procedures are done without anesthesia and within a timeframe of 20 minutes for a complete facial. A lower level of thermal burn permits faster recovery. Patients may resume normal activity within 1 week, and women can apply makeup within 48 hours after treatment.
In addition to the face, the treatment is also safe for the hands and the chest area.
Baldness Gene Holds Hope for Hair Loss Treatment
The discovery of a gene linked to a rare hereditary form of hair loss may lead to treatments for the more common varieties that affect some 50% of men.
According to the researchers, who reported their findings in the February 28 issue of Nature Genetics, hypotrichosis simplex, a childhood-onset balding condition affecting 1 in 200,000 people, is caused by a mutation in the P2Y5 gene that prevents growth receptor proteins on hair follicle cells from forming properly.
In this condition, which affects females as well as males, hair loss occurs when a substance needed to stimulate hair growth cannot attach to the defective receptors, which are important for the binding of messengers that trigger the normal functioning of the hair cell.
