Inamed Corporation (Nasdaq:IMDC) and Genzyme Corporation (Nasdaq:GENZ) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted market approval for Captique™, a new dermal filler product based on Genzyme’s non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (HA) technology. Captique is the newest hyaluronic acid entry into the U.S. dermal filler marketplace. It is indicated for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and is manufactured by Genzyme. Inamed is Genzyme’s exclusive U.S. marketing and distribution partner for Captique. “We are excited with the FDA’s approval of Captique, our initial non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler product in the U.S.,� said Hani Zeini, Executive Vice President, Inamed Aesthetics. “This is the first of our non-animal stabilized HA pipeline products and an excellent complement to our exciting Hylaform® Plus product line in the U.S. This addition provides an expanded product portfolio for our physicians and their patients as they customize treatment options, and will strengthen our position in the aesthetics marketplace.� “We are pleased about the approval of Captique, our first nonanimal stabilized hyaluronic acid dermal filler and look forward to working with Inamed which will bring Captique to physicians and patients in the United States,� said Ann Merrifield, President, Genzyme Biosurgery. Inamed continues to be the only company which can offer physicians the broadest array of facial aesthetics products which allows them to create individualized and combination treatments for wrinkle correction.

Inamed Corporation
805.683.6761
www.inamed.com

Stress seems to be an inescapable part of modern life. The demands of a woman’s professional and private life mean that she is constantly hurrying to meet commitments. Most of us instinctively feel that stress has a negative impact on our quality of life. What is not widely known is that it (stress) also has a detrimental impact on fertility. Women who are constantly under stress produce prolactin, cortisol, and other hormones which can interfere with or even block regular ovulation.

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) defines stress as “any event that a person perceives as threatening or harmful.” Clearly, a woman who wants to get pregnant needs to avoid unnecessary stress. But how can this be achieved? “One way is by making conscious choices and booking ‘quiet time’ for yourself,â€? says Dr. Morgan.
Can stress cause infertility?

In rare cases, extreme stress can interfere with normal ovulation in women and may reduce sperm production in men. Stress may lead to a problem with erections, which of course interferes with a couple’s ability to conceive. However, while it is possible for stress to cause infertility, it is far more common for infertility to cause stress. To that end, they now offer stress-reducing therapy in their practice through the adjacent Tiberias Spa. Their goal is to help women increase their chances of conception by reducing stress levels prior to and after fertility treatments, such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and embryo transfer after In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Some of these modalities include:
Massage Therapy - There is data which suggests that massage improves fertility and that hands-on bodywork can dial down your anxiety level. Since stress has been shown to interfere with getting pregnant, it makes sense that reducing stress through massage could theoretically improve a woman’s odds of conceiving.

Acupuncture - An ancient Chinese treatment which involves placing tiny hair-like needles in the skin as a way of stimulating energy points which are thought to be central to your spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical balance. Acupuncture is used to treat a variety of maladies such as headaches and back pain. For fertility, the needles are placed in energy points linked to the reproductive organs to improve energy flow to those areas. Most women who choose acupuncture are doing it together with traditional infertility treatments. It is still not clear how the technique works, but there is evidence that it increases the production of endorphins (brain chemicals) which make you feel good and help reduce stress. It may also improve blood supply to the ovaries, which improves their function, and to the uterus, which can make it easier to nourish a fetus and reduce the risk of miscarriage.

Dr. Allen Morgan

Dr. Allen Morgan is the Medical Director at the Shore Institute for Reproductive Medicine. He is Board Certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ).

Dr. Morgan completed his Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at The University of Kentucky and completed his Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New York. Dr. Morgan attended medical school at Far Eastern University in Manila while in the U.S.Army Reserves. He has been in solo private practice in Brick since 1993, offering Ocean County residents a full range of infertility services including IVF artificial insemination, donor sperm, donor eggs, and ovulation medications with monitoring. He is also a member of The Society for Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery and American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Dr. Morgan lives in Toms River with his wife and four daughters. The family tradition in the medical field is unusually strong. His father is a retired OB-GYN and Brigadier General with the NJ Air National Guard. His three brothers are physicians, two in OB-GYN locally, and a sister is a certified OB-GYN sonographer.

Dr. Douglas S. Rabin

Dr. Rabin is affiliated with the Shore Institute of Reproductive Medicine.
He is a Board Certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist and Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility and Menopausal Specialist on staff at the Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, NJ. In addition, he is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Medicine of New Jersey in Newark. Dr. Rabin attended Harvard College, Temple University School of Medicine, and completed his training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He served in the National Health Service Corps and then completed his fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Dr. Rabin also completed research and training at the National Institutes of Health as a National Research Scholar and served as the Gynecology Consultant to the NIH Clinical Center. In addition to his active practice, Dr. Rabin was the former Medical Director for Women First HealthCare (Nasdaq: WFHC) and a consultant to PriceWaterhouseCoopers. He also consults to the Pharmaceutical industry on an intermittent basis.

Dr. Rabin’s medical interests include the management of fertility and ovulation disorders and all aspects of infertility care, menorrhagia and menstrual cycle disorders, the care of Orthodox Jewish Women and their special medical needs, and Jewish Law and Medicine.
For More Information Please visit www.shoreivf.com

Since it was first developed in the 1900s, phototherapy has become an increasingly popular and effective treatment for skin conditions, by using different UVB or UVA wavelengths of ultraviolet light. The most common phototherapy prescriptions are for Narrowband UVB, Broadband UVB, and decreasingly PUVA. Numerous medical studies have shown that proper medical use of UVB has never caused an increased risk of skin cancer. Whether in a phototherapy system or at the beach, it is burning which increases a patient’s risk later on in life. Narrowband UVB is popular because it emits wavelengths concentrated in the optimal therapeutic range while minimizing erythemic output. Narrowband UVB usually results in faster clearance with longer remissions between regimens and is considered the safest, most effective phototherapy treatment with the fewest side effects.

Even though significant clinical progress has been made in treating such skin conditions as psoriasis, vitiligo, eczema, and other severe skin conditions, technology permits doctors to treat patients much more aggressively than statistics currently report. A recent survey conducted by the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) reveals that while 87% of patients receive topical steroids, only 21% try phototherapy and only 18% try oral medicine. Disturbingly, an overwhelming 90% of patients suffering from severe psoriasis in this group surveyed considered their treatments ineffective.

For psoriasis, exposure to sunlight has long been a proven technique. But uncontrolled broad spectrum UV light from the sun can also damage healthy skin. Exposing activated T-cells to specific wavelengths of UVB causes them to die, a process called apoptosis. Apoptosis reduces inflammation and slows the overproduction of skin cells which cause plaques. Phototherapy with Narrowband UVB can effectively manage psoriasis, maintaining a remissive state by reducing inflammation and slowing rapid skin cell division. This same mechanism of action is theorized to benefit the other photo-responsive conditions.

UVBioTekâ„¢ has managed to put in effect a phototherapy system which not only harnesses powerful Narrowband UVB light, but also combines this with a wrap-around design which offers total body exposure with treatment times usually between 3-5 minutes. UVBioTek offers systems with 40, 32, and 24 lamps to accommodate the varied needs of the individual. Depending on the model chosen, a UVBioTek system will typically administer a 100 milli-Joule dose within 7-11 seconds. This allows for less treatment time without using up a lot of space. Built-in, computerized safety features continuously monitor treatment to help protect from over-exposure.

Previously, full body phototherapy systems were not practical for the home. They were simply too large and bulky and just not available for the individual to buy. But the sleek, patented folding design of the UVBioTek system makes it ideal for any home. When a UVBioTek system is not in use, it folds flat against the wall and takes up less than 3 square feet of space. There is no need to spend hours upon hours in a doctor’s office for treatments! Additionally, the 50-inch wide, flexible five-panel design allows you to best position lamps, maximizing treatment on a patient’s problem areas.

A typical phototherapy regimen is generally 3 times per week for 3 months and is usually covered by insurance with reimbursement rates ranging from $50-$100 per treatment. For more information call 800-UVBioTek or log onto www.uvbiotek.com.

Krueger G, Koo J, Lebwohl M, et al. Arch Dermatol. 2001;137:280-284

J.R. Torrico is the National Sales Director UVBioTekâ„¢. UVBioTek Company is the Medical Division of MedTek Lighting Corporation. In the early 1990s, a nationally known and well-respected dermatologist from New York City saw the possibilities of a folding light box fitting perfectly in homes as personal phototherapy units. With his continued input, UVBioTek was able to develop the medical UVB home phototherapy systems and list them with the FDA.

Unwanted hair, acne, wrinkles, sun damage, skin laxity. Now there is a way to eradicate all of these beauty busters without bandages, scalpels, or time away from work. When these various non-invasive procedures are combined, patients can realize a rather marked improvement, comparable to invasive procedures, yet entailing no cutting and no downtime.

The introduction of Hylaform® as the most recent method in the continuing battle to reverse the signs of aging comes after a string of popularly used anti-wrinkle injectables such as Botox® and Restylane®, to name a few.

Botox®Cosmetic:
Botox injections, which contain Botulinum toxin type A, are widely administered to patients; and results are seen usually within a week. A Botox Cosmetic treatment is a simple, non-surgical procedure which smoothes the deep, persistent lines between your brows which develop over time. Injections are given in the forehead (horizontal lines), glabella (frown lines), and the outer corner of the eyes (crow’s feet). It also helps to eliminate smoker lines around the lips and neck bands, as well as elevate corners of the mouth. Results appear within 3-14 days and can last up to 3 to 4 months. Botox has also been approved for treating severe underarm sweating. Results can last up to seven months.

Restylane:
Restylane is a soft tissue filler comprised of synthetic hyaluronic acid. Patients receiving this treatment can expect results to be seen rather immediately and can last for up to one year. Restylane is a crystal clear gel of very small particles of Hylauronic Acid. This filler is used for the correction of small wrinkles, for areas where skin is very thin, and for reshaping lips. Restylane usually lasts for 6 to 8 months.

Hylaform:
A completely natural filler for smoothing wrinkles and enhancing the lip area, Hylaform is a stabilized hyaluronic acid in a clear gel form which interacts safely with your body’s own hyaluronic acid to increase volume. Primarily used for enhancing the lip area, facial contouring, and smoothing the nasolabial folds, it can last up to 8 months. Unlike Collagen, it requires no skin test and has fewer side effects. Hylaform treatments take less than half an hour, and may require only the affected area to be slightly anesthetized. When Hylaform is injected into an area on the face, it naturally replaces the hyaluronic acid we all have in our skin which is lost with time. Results are immediate and redness, bruising, and swelling which are often seen with all existing fillers options appear to occur less with Hylaform. Also, Hylaform does not require the skin testing associated with collagen injections. Hylaform gel works to “fill” and smooth out deep facial furrows, acne scars, and unwanted wrinkles. It can also be used to enhance the border of the lips for those who desire a fuller look. However, for particularly deep smile lines or wrinkles, a second treatment may be required two to four weeks following. Hylaform is ideal when used in conjunction with other lunchtime procedures such as Botox, Thermage skin tightening, and Photofacials. When these various non-invasive procedures are combined, patients can realize a rather marked improvement, comparable to invasive procedures, yet entailing no cutting and no downtime.

Restylane or Hylaform can also be successfully combined with Botox injections for optimal results.

Dr. Karina Bibicheff is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and licensed in New York, New Jersey, and California. Dr. Bibicheff specializes in the latest European and American anti-aging technologies. Her Mesotherapy training includes certifications from the Canadian School of Mesotherapy and Advanced Mesotherapy training from Dr. Philippe Petit, International Society of Mesotherapy, Paris, France. She holds Anti-Aging Face Treatments, Non-Surgical Skin Rejuvenation and Acne Treatment certifications from the American Academy of Dermatology, as well as certifications and advanced training in Injectable Cosmetic Fillers, Sclerotherapy, and Laser Hair Removal. Dr. Bibicheff is the director of the VITA Ageless Medical Aesthetics Spa in Roslyn, NY.

For more information regarding Dr. Karina Bibicheff and services offered at VITA Ageless Medical Aesthetics, please visit the website at www.vitamedspa.com.

The Natural Clay Facial is one of the safest and the most natural method of exfoliation. This procedure does not use any machines, chemicals, or peels. The only “tools� used are a cream made of only clay and water, and the esthetician’s fingertips to spread the cream over the area to be treated, using a featherlike touch. The Natural Clay Facial can help men, women, and even children with problem skin. Furthermore, for those who have clear skin, the treatment can help to rejuvenate their skin and rid the pores of any impurities. As the skin is exfoliated with the clay, the impurities from the skin are surfaced, the pores shrink, and the dead cells become finer. Unlike most other skin treatments, the Natural Clay Facial can be applied around the eyes and lips, as well as the neck and décolleté. Additionally, the clay is applied up to five to seven times in one service, which is not the case with other similar skin treatments. Most other clays are only applied once as a masque, allowed to dry, and then removed by the esthetician during a visit, because any more applications can irritate the skin.

This treatment is especially helpful for those with acne, rosacea, sunburn, or those receiving treatment for cancer. People who are prescribed Retin-A, Renova, or Accutane can also receive the treatment without any adverse effects. Patients with acne, especially of the cystic type, generally cannot receive facial treatments because their skin is easily irritated and can even bleed. The Natural Clay Facial, however, can be used to treat these patients without any further complications and can actually stop the bleeding. Unlike most other facials, it also eliminates the possibility of spreading bacteria, which ultimately worsens the problem. Those with severe rosacea, whose skin is dry, red, and flaky, will see dramatic results after the first treatment. Their skin will go from blood red to a very pale pink as the dead cells are removed naturally. Because the clay is free of sulpher, the Natural Clay Facial can also be used to treat severe sunburns, calming the skin and reducing redness, without causing any additional irritation or stinging. The clay is used as a masque and applied to the affected area to heal the skin and prevent any blisters from forming. Additionally, clients who are receiving radiation or chemotherapy treatments may be treated with the Natural Clay Facial. Many people who receive these cancer treatments are left with gray or ashen skin which tends to become very thin and dry. The Natural Clay Facial will help to re-hydrate their skin, exfoliate the dead cells, and help to bring the natural skin tones to the surface, ultimately restoring the skin’s natural glow.

The beauty of a Natural Clay Facial is that it prevents bacterial complications, unlike a traditional facial which oftentimes spreads bacteria and ultimately worsens the problem. The public, as well as skin care professionals, have decidedly grown tired of using aggressive peels and treatments which are harsh on the skin. There is also a general consensus that natural products are what people want. The clay used in the Natural Clay Facial has no additives or sulfur, and contains several natural minerals which are essential in healing the skin. Furthermore, those with age spots, slight wrinkles, and minor skin problems will see results after only a few treatments. The Natural Clay Facial leaves skin glowing with no redness or downtime ever!

For More information on Natural Clay Facials, please visit www.tigerseyeskincare.com.

Written by Myriam Liberman, licensed esthetician and founder of TTE Skincare

Myriam Liberman is an esthetician with the traditional degree from a beauty college. However, in 1992 she met a Native American esthetician and began on a new path of skin care based on Natural Exfoliation. Myriam has begun to teach the technique to other skin care professionals as advanced education and hopes to take the technique internationally. With this principle in mind, Myriam created her own natural skin care line, TTE Skincare.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International (NYSE:VRX) announced that it has introduced three new products, Kinerase® Hydrating Antioxidant Mist, Kinerase Under Eye Rescue Cream, and Kinerase Lip Treatment, to the Kinerase family of skin care products.

Kinerase Hydrating Antioxidant Mist is a pure, gentle, non-prescriptive mist formulated to provide toning, hydrating and anti-oxidant benefits to the skin. It is fortified with White Tea Extract, Kinetin and Hyaluronic Acid to provide anti-oxidant benefits, as well as condition and re-energize the skin. [more]

Swiss-American Products, Inc. (Swiss-American), a Dallas-based manufacturer of the Elta brand of specialty skin and wound care products, has developed a potent new sun block which offers sensitivity-free protection and high zinc content for broad spectrum protection just in time for summer. Elta Gold UV Sport, part of the Elta Gold line of skin care products, is sold exclusively through physicians and is formulated with Z-Cote®, a patented form of micronized zinc oxide for broad spectrum protection from both UV-A and UV-B rays of the sun. [more]

Three peptides join forces to increase lymphatic flow, reduce under eye puffiness, and stimulate wrinkle-reducing collagen production in pHaze 12 eyeXcellence, an advanced new eye treatment from PCA SKIN® Clinical Care Products. Dipeptide-2, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-3 and palmitoyl pentapeptide-3, or Matrixyl®, are the key corrective components in this cream-based formula.

Clinical studies of Matrixyl® have repeatedly revealed dramatic changes in the depth, density, and volume of wrinkles without the irritation and redness associated with retinol, a prescription anti-wrinkle drug. The peptide’s gentle, yet effective properties make it ideal for treating the sensitive eye area. [more]

NeoStrata Company, Inc., the company that revolutionized skincare with the discovery of the benefits of Alpha Hydroxyacids (AHA), introduces three new products to its NeoStrata Professional line to meet the needs of rough, dry, and environmentally damaged skin. The new introductions, which include Ultra Smoothing Lotion, Ultra Smoothing Cream and Ultra Daytime Smoothing Cream SPF 15, combine 8% glycolic and 2% citric acid (an antioxidant alpha/beta hydroxyacid) to moisturize and smooth skin while preventing and correcting the signs of photoaging. [more]

For the well groomed man who is always on the go, an accessible shaving kit is essential. men-u recognizes that men need something that is effortless and convenient, but which still delivers high-performance results. “In this category men need things made simple,� states Eileen Keller, Managing Director for Avatar International LLC, the parent company for men-u in the U.S. With ultra-concentrated formulas packaged in travel size bottles, men-u’s shave/face kit is compacted into three easy steps: shave, cleanse/repair, and moisturize. [more]