Preventative Benefits of Botox - Identical Twin Study

I wanted to share this often-referenced study that compared the effects of Botox on facial lines in identical twins where one twin had undergone regular Botox treatments over the preceding 13 years, and the other twin only had Botox treatments twice, several years prior to the study.

The results found that the twin treated with Botox regularly (image on the right) did not show as many of the signs of aging as her minimally-treated sister (image on left). Neither twin received treatment in the lower 1/2 of their face and a similar degree of aging was seen giving support to the belief that the differences that are seen in the upper face are related to Botox.

Of course there are many factors that can contribute to skin aging, something I highlighted in another recent post with a different study of twins. But in this study the researchers concluded that long-term treatment with Botox could in fact prevent the development of facial lines like forehead lines and crow’s feet that are otherwise more visible at rest when left untreated.

Using Filler for Hand Rejuvenation

Many people think of filler just for the face but did you know it can be used to rejuvenate the hands? The hands are often said to reveal our true age (a claim supported by a 2006 study done by American Society of Plastic Surgeons). If you are dealing with hands that exhibit signs of aging, injectable filler is a treatment you can consider to help add volume that can minimize the appearance of volume loss and loose skin. To help with brown spots, another common sign of aging in the hands, a laser treatment may be recommended.

Of course it’s always best to try and prevent rather than treat. Most of the aging of our skin is due to UV exposure and the hands are often overlooked when it comes to sun protection so be sure to protect them with sunscreen or gloves when out in the sun (or getting gel or shellac manicures). I also encourage my patients to consider applying skincare such as topical vitamin c and retinol to the backs of the hands as well for “anti aging” benefits.

Dermatologist's Top Hair Care Tips

As dermatologists we specialize not only in skin but also hair and nails. I get lots of questions about hair so wanted to share some hair care tips. Keep in mind that just like with skin care, everyone’s hair can be different and you need to find what works best for your hair type.

First, when it comes to shampooing your hair there is not necessarily a right answer as to how often but there is a right way to do it. When washing your hair it is important to apply shampoo on the scalp, at the roots of the hair.

For most people washing every 2-3 days is likely good but you’ll want to consider more frequent washing if you have oily hair (scalp) and less often if dry or damaged.

As for conditioner, it should be applied to the hair strands and ends. Regular use of conditioner can be helpful, especially if you have longer hair.

I generally suggest letting hair air dry as opposed to blow drying when possible due to potential damage from heat. This is especially true for curly hair.. There was a study done that assessed changes in the structure, morphology, moisture content, and color of hair after repeated shampooing and drying with various methods. Using a hair dryer was shown to cause more surface damage than natural drying in most cases, however, using at a cooler temperature at a distance of 15 cm with constant motion can cause less damage. Long story short, there is perhaps an optimal way to dry with a hair dryer but it is easy to overdo it and damage the hair.

This leads into the next tip which is to avoid using too much heat on your hair. It is especially important to avoid using hot tools (e.g. curling or straightening irons) directly on wet hair. If you use hot tools be sure to check the heat settings as they do not need to be on the highest setting to work.

Final tip is to not go to sleep with wet hair. Wet hair is weaker so it is important to be more gentle with it. The movement of your head / hair against the pillow puts tension on the hair and when wet it is more prone to breakage.

Are You Sweating Too Much? Learn more about treating hyperhidrosis

Sweating is normal and necessary to help regulate body temperature, but excessive sweating can be a sign of a condition called hyperhidrosis. People with hyperhidrosis may produce up to 4-5 times the amount of sweat required to cool the body. This condition has been estimated to affect between 2-5% of the population.

If you are dealing with excessive sweating there are a few options to consider. First, an antiperspirant containing aluminum can be considered and can be more effective if applied at night. There are other treatment options to consider, both in office or at home, but Botox injections are one of the most effective.

Botox is FDA approved to treat excessive axilla or underarm sweating but may also be used “off label” in other areas such as palms of the hands. Botox works by temporarily blocking the nerve signal responsible for producing sweat. The effect can last 4-12 months and there is over 80% reduction in sweat. Most people comment they are completely dry and it is one of the treatments I perform with consistently high patient satisfaction!