Dr. Byrd's Blog

Rosacea

2009-08-13T14:07:00.000-04:00

In the summer months I typically see an increase in patients concerned with rosacea. We have recently started carrying a new line of skin care products by Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmétique: Avène and Glytone. Glytone has a wide range of products for a variety of skin types, whereas Avène is tailored for patients with sensitive skin and rosacea. If you are interested in learning more about the different treatment options and products we offer, please call the office.
On a related note, I recently found this article in the Summer 2009 issue of Rosacea Review and wanted to pass it along:

Summer can be a troublesome time for rosacea sufferers, as avoiding some of the most common rosacea triggers – the sun, hot weather and humidity – requires special attention. Follow these tips for a successful summer season.
Know your triggers. If you have identified the lifestyle and environmental factors that contribute to your flare-ups, you have a better change of controlling your condition.
Keep your cool. If you feel yourself begin to overheat, apply cool compresses to your face to calm the redness and burning, or mist your head and neck with a spray bottle of cool water. Flushing can sometimes be controlled be chewing on ice chips.
Exercise caution. Stay in a cool, air-conditioned environment on hot, humid days. If you have outdoor chores or activities, try to schedule them for early morning hours when the temperature is usually lower.
Use sunscreen. Sun exposure is the most frequently cited factor that aggravated rosacea. Stay in shaded areas, or wear a broad-brimmed hat. Be sure to use sunscreen daily with an SPF of 15 or higher.
Take your meds. Remember to use your medication as prescribed by your doctor. This can help maintain long-term remission of your signs and symptoms.

Study Indicates Reduced Sunlight Exposure Leads to Depression and Heart Attacks

2008-08-21T16:41:00.000-04:00

Vitamin D plays an important role in the absorption of calcium in the body, and therefore is very important for general bone health. Vitamin D deficiency is known to cause several bone diseases, including rickets (in children,) osteomalacia, and osteoporosis. A number of recent studies have indicated Vitamin D also may offer a variety of other health benefits.

A Dutch study published in the May 2008 issue of Archives of General Psychiatry supports previous speculation by researchers that Vitamin D, depression, and other psychiatric illnesses are linked. This study provided evidence that the incidence of depression has increased over the last century. Vitamin D is synthesized in our skin as a result of exposure to UV light. During the past century, humans have reduced their sunlight exposure via urbanization (tall building and pollution blocking UVB), industrialization (working inside), driving cars (automobile glass blocks UVB), clothing, and medical advice to always wear sun block.* All of these factors contribute to reduced levels of Vitamin D, and possibly provide a link to the increase in the incidence of depression.

Another interesting study revealed that men with low levels of Vitamin D have an elevated risk for heart attack. In the study, men classified as deficient in Vitamin D were about 2.5 times more likely to have a heart attack than those with higher levels of the vitamin. “Those with low Vitamin D, on top of just being at higher risk for heart attack in general, were at particularly high risk to have a fatal heart attack,” study author Dr. Edward Giovannucci of the Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston said in a recent interview.

There is enough evidence about the value of Vitamin D to encourage people to ensure they have normal levels. You can learn about your Vitamin D level by having your doctor give you a simple blood test. If your levels are too low, you can take supplements or purchase Vitamin D fortified foods.

*It is very important to reduce your exposure to UV rays, just don’t neglect to take Vitamin D supplements.

Spring Break

2008-07-30T17:40:00.004-04:00

This past spring the office took a trip deep sea fishing in Destin, Florida. The most memorable part of the trip for me was when Tabetha reeled in a King Mackerel. There was so much excitement on her face as the fish was pulling her across the boat, but the crew did a great job coaching her on what to do, and she ended up with one of the biggest catches of the day. Another memorable moment from the trip was not on the boat, but the afternoon we all spent on the beach, just relaxing and having fun. It was great to be able to spend time with the entire staff outside of the work environment. I am now even more convinced that we have such a strong team working here, and I believe this is reflected in the exceptional care each patient receives upon coming in to the office.

We recently have been running a special on Botox, at just $10 per unit. This seems to be such a popular special with rising gas and food costs that I’ve decided to extend this offer until August 31st. Call today to book your next Botox treatment before time runs out!

Are You Ready For A Beautiful, Healthy Glow?

2008-07-10T15:48:00.001-04:00

Have you ever been interested in a chemical peel, but have dreaded going through the “Sex And The City” experience? We have heard this response so many times in the office! We offer an incredible chemical peel with a special formulation that gives an amazing result with very little downtime. You can expect to be fully recovered from the peel within 5-7 days, but able to continue your everyday activities immediately, with the exception of sun exposure of course. It is a very simple, yet highly effective treatment!

During the month of July we are offering a Purchase 3 Get 1 Free special. Call our office today to schedule your consultation! We look forward to seeing you soon!

Earlobe Repair

2008-05-12T08:13:00.004-04:00

I was admiring earrings in a jewelry store the other day while shopping for my Mom’s Mother’s Day present. The most beautiful earrings seem to be for pierced ears. What a shame many women are limited to clip-on earrings because of a torn earlobe or a stretched piercing. Torn earlobes can occur from trauma or wearing heavy earrings for an extended period of time. Earlobes can be completely torn or the area of the piercing can just be widened.

Cosmetic surgery to repair a torn earlobe is a frequent occurrence. Piercing an earlobe puts it at risk to tear. The size, style and weight of an earring can contribute to the stretching of the earlobe opening. Large earrings that dangle are caught on clothing or grasped by a child. The result may be a partially or completely torn earlobe. Repair of a torn earlobe is easily performed in our office using a local anesthetic. Depending on the severity of the tear, sometimes the piercing can be left in place or can be redone after healing.

The procedure consists of "freshening" the edges of the split and placement of sutures to complete the repair of the earlobe. The procedure takes less than one hour. There is minimal discomfort and no downtime.

Back to it in 2008

2008-04-30T10:23:00.001-04:00

I’m happy to report that we’ve had many exciting developments here that have kept me from posting a new blog in quite some time, from new products and procedures all the way to new staff members.
I would first like to introduce our new massage therapist Kristal McCants. Kris comes to us with 3 years experience as a licensed massage therapist. I feel she’s made an excellent addition to our already amazing team. Her techniques vary from deep tissue massage to hot stone and reflexology. She’s been getting rave reviews from our patients and her schedule is filling quickly.
We’ve also introduced a new product line: NIA 24. This line consists of six products focusing on preventing and repairing sun damage with the power of Pro-Niacin™. My entire staff has started on the products and is very impressed with the overall quality of the line (my personal favorite is the Intensive Recovery Complex.) This line nicely compliments our complete skin care collection: IS Clinical®, Obagi® and my own personal line Soft Beautification™.
In preparation for an office trip to Florida next month, most of the staff here has recently had SmartLipo. Alex and Selena in the front office are constantly talking about it and are more than happy to share their personal experiences. Hopefully soon I can add their before and after photos to the gallery.
Well, I have to run, they’re keeping me pretty busy here. Check back soon for a new look of our website!

Fall 2007

2008-04-30T10:22:00.001-04:00

Now that fall is here it is time to crank up the lasers!
The summer rays are too intense for proper healing after skin resurfacing or regeneration procedures. Even the most potent sunblockers are not sufficient to prevent the most common complication, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (transient darkening of the skin.) My advice during consultations in the spring and fall has been ‘wait until fall.’

Laser skin resurfacing is appropriate for patients seeking treatment for discoloration, fine lines and wrinkles, sun damage, acne marks, or other types of imperfections in skin appearance. During laser skin resurfacing, the laser is used to remove damaged and wrinkled skin so that new, smoother, and more vibrant looking skin can form. Depending on the type of laser, the depth of treatment and amount of surface skin removed, you may also see a significant improvement in the tightness and firmness of the skin. The two primary resurfacing lasers include the Erbium and Fraxel lasers.
The Sciton Erbium laser is able to remove thinner layers of skin than the more powerful, but less precise CO2 laser. This Erbium laser is a better choice for patients with dark skin because there is less risk of permanent changes to skin pigmentation. With a shorter healing time and much less redness in the first few weeks, it is also better for patients who do not have the availability of prolonged downtime. This treatment can be accomplished in one session and healing usually takes place in 5 to 7 days.
The Fraxel® laser skin resurfacing treatment is distinct from other laser rejuvenation treatments that use either the erbium or the CO2 laser. Because the Fraxel® laser procedure is non-invasive, there are few post-treatment side effects. There is virtually no skin tenderness or pain after undergoing treatment and no downtime is required after the procedure. It should be noted, however, that this is not a single session treatment. Treatments are done every 2 to 4 weeks over 2 to 4 sessions. Improvements to the skin’s appearance will be apparent with each treatment with final results at the end of six months.
The newest procedure, which was FDA approved in 2005, is Portrait® plasma skin regeneration. This technology produces its resurfacing and rejuvenating effects by harnessing thermal energy, which is generated by the sun and naturally present around us all the time. Because the thermal energy released into the skin during a Portrait® Plasma treatment is uniformly absorbed, the treated area experiences incredible collagen and elastin regeneration. The new, healthy tissue eventually replaces the wrinkled, damaged tissue. The results of Portrait® Plasma Skin Regeneration are stunning, and actually get better over time. Immediately after the treatment, skin appears tighter and more toned. As more and more regeneration takes place, Portrait® Plasma patients notice the resurfacing effects: scars and sunspots diminishing, wrinkles and fine lines filling in, and saggy skin regaining its supple tone. This procedure can be done in one session using higher energy or in three sessions with less energy per treatment with very similar results. Of course, the more energy used per treatment the more downtime. The deeper treatments heal in approximately 5 days and the lighter treatments don’t have any downtime.
I recently found a sun visor from Solis that blocks 99.9% of UV rays and have started using it with all resurfacing laser treatments. It can cover the full face or be partially lifted. The other day a tennis pro told me that she found that she could actually see the tennis balls better with the visor on!

One more item to discuss is the preparation of the skin before laser treatments. I feel that proper skin preparation before these procedures combined with long-term maintenance can not only improve short-term healing but can actually result in longer lasting improvements thus fewer procedures down the line. Recently, Stacy Crabtree, RN, joined our team. She has considerable expertise in Botox, Restylane, Juvederm, Artefill and skin care, both before and after laser treatments. We are both available for consultations and treatments.

Enjoy this beautiful fall weather! See you soon.

Marcia V Byrd MD