Other uses of Botox ®

Botox
The updated guidelines from The American Academy of Neurology suggests that certain neurologic disorders may benefit from botulinum toxin. Specifically muscle spasticity in adults following a stroke, spinal cord or other neurologic injury, also cervical dystonia which is uncontrolled movement of the head or neck, also blepharospasm or eye lid spasm, and chronic (or episodic) migrains defined as headaches that occur 15 or more days per month. A popular form of the botulinum protein is Botox ® which is commonly used to relax muscles around the face which helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Wrinkles and moisture

Botox, Micro Needling, Wrinkles
Hydration of our skin play a major role in the determination of wrinkles, especially smaller wrinkles at the surface. Over time these can develop into much deeper, larger wrinkles and creases. The top layer of skin is made up of dead skin cells held together by lipid bonds. Things which dry out our skin can cause a crepe paper type appearance. Bio mechanical forces such as facial muscle movement can accentuate this and produce static, deeper wrinkles. Various methods to treat this include microneedling with hyaluronic acid and Botox. University of Southampton. "Going skin deep to explore what causes wrinkles." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 28 February 2018. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/02/180228133958.htm>.

Eat Raw for a Mental Boost

Health Basics, Lifestyle
A healthy diet can sometimes be simple to prepare. Researchers at the University of Otago have published a paper indicating that eating raw fruits and vegetables may have a more positive effect on your mental health than cooking them first. They speculate cooking some of these foods may diminish the nutrient content making them unavailable to your body. Some of the foods they suggest are carrots, bananas, apples, dark leafy greens such as spinach, grapefruit, lettuce, citrus fruits, fresh berries, cucumber, and kiwifruit.   https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00487/full

Illinois Medical Society

Lifestyle, Uncategorized
For many years now Dr AJ Cummings has been invited to attend the Illinois State Medical Society House of Delegates Meeting. Here, policy for the state society is developed and voted upon. Important issues are discussed and implemented which can have an impact on health care and access to health care in our state. This year's convention was held this past weekend in Oak Brook.

Dr AJ Cummings and Holly

Body Contouring, Botox, IPL Photo Facial, Micro Needling, Microneedling, Wrinkles
The DaVinci Med Spa team was at a conference this weekend and had a chance to talk to several people about their aesthetic concerns. Among the issues that stood out were wrinkles, skin tone, dark or age spots and body contouring. Each client could benefit from an individual consultation as each need is different. Among the many options to consider, often treatment with Botox, microneedling or IPL photo facial are the right choice for ease of use, safe and cost effective. Non invasive options for body contouring and skin tightening include radio frequency treatments such as the Venus Freeze.

Skin problems can affect the quality of life

IPL Photo Facial, Lifestyle
In this study researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine compared two questionnaires to evaluate the impact of sun spots on a patients' quality of life. Both tools were effective in evaluating the quality of life, which was affected by dark spots. Understanding this can help guide treatment choices. Mayra B. C. Maymone, Hind H. Neamah, Eric A. Secemsky, Neelam A. Vashi. Correlating the Dermatology Life Quality Index and Skin Discoloration Impact Evaluation Questionnaire tools in disorders of hyperpigmentation. The Journal of Dermatology, 2018; 45 (3): 361 DOI: 10.1111/1346-8138.14172

Light Therapy for Skin

Health Basics, Regenerative Medicine, Uncategorized
DaVinci Med Spa offers light therapy as a modality or as an add on to procedures. According to WebMD in an article titled Testing Potential Uses for Light Therapy, "For instance, when longer wavelength or visibly “red” light hits the skin, it nudges mitochondria (the cell’s powerhouses) to make energy more efficiently and boost production of healing anti-inflammatories or disease-fighting antioxidants."