VIRGINIA BEACH DERMATOLOGY ASSOCIATES, PLLC.

THE MIGHTY COFFEEBERRY

I predict the CoffeeBerry, a potent antioxidant, will be on every beauty-concerned person’s lips by the end of the year, perhaps literally. Our skin is under constant stress (oxidative stress if you will) from the environment, the sun, wind and water and air pollution, aging, and the forces of cellular metabolism. To protect us, foods and our own internal mechanisms, protect us with antioxidants.

The CoffeeBerry may be the strongest antioxidant yet. It is three times more powerful than the purest green tea extract and five times stronger than pomegranate extract. In studies, many of them conduted here in Virginia Beach at the Institutt for Anti-Aging Research, there was a 46 percent improvement in fine llines and wrinkles, and a 64 percent improvement in skin smoothness.

It is felt that the CoffeeBerry, the fruit surrounding the coffee bean, much lilke the cherry enveloping its pit, has developed such a high antioxidant level in order to fend off the rays of the scorching sun. This is a biologic mechanism the plant has evolved to cope with the high altitudes and low latitudes in which it lives.

Folklore holds that monks once ate coffee cherries for energy and rulers among African tribes forbade any one to ingest it but themselves.

Soon these botanical riches will be available to everyday people in the form of a cream dubbed Revale (www.wakeupyourskin.com). It is manufactured by Stiefel Labs and starting next month will be sold in many dermatology offices. The extract is also being added as an antioxidant boost to products such as energy drinks, gum and nutritional supplements.

Turning Grey Hair Brown

A recent report that the drug Gleevec turned a man’s white hair back to its original brown drew my interest. This drug, used to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia,some gastrointestinal tumors and lately kidney cancer, has been known to cause some interesting effects to the skin. While this may seem to be a totally unrelated finding and a mere curiosity, one should recall the origins of the hair growing drug Minoxidil. Back in 1977, one of my attending physicians, Dr. Gunter Kahn told me he had been called in to examine a hypertensive patient on Minoxidil whose bald head had suddenly sprouted hair. The Upjohn Company followed up on this unexpected hair-raising event, and so began the development of Rogaine. Maybe, Gleevec will perform a similar feat and make us greying men (and women) look younger.

Scleroderma

The same anti-cancer drug Gleevec may provide headway in the treatment of a most difficult condition, scleroderma. Scleroderma (meaning hard skin) is a rare, progressive disease that leads to hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues—the fibers that provide the framework and support for your body.

Gleevcc may be useful in blocking the pathways involved int his often times tragic fibrosis. Researchers in Germany have found that Gleevecexerts selective dual inhibition of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-B) and platelet-derived growth factor. These pathways play a central role in the pathogenesis of the fibrosis seen in scleroderma.

These studies have been done in tissue cultures and rats. However, human trials are forthcoming.

Stressed Rodents

Everyday pataients tell me how stress flared their skin condition, be it psoriasis or eczema. Not that I don’t believe them, but stress in humans is hard to measure since there are so many variables.

Now mice studies may back up these assertioins.

Researchers at the University of California at San Francisco stressed the furry little creastures. NOt by putting pictures of Tom the cat around their pens or reading Robert Burns poems, but leaving their cages lit and playing music, presumably alternative rock, for 48 hours straight. Figuring this would creat enough stress (it would be for me for sure, never mind mice) the scientists then blcoked the resultant glucocorticoid (steroid) output in one group and let the other group alone. The skin of the mice who had their stress hormone blocked was softer and silkier than their comrades.

The researcher, want to expand their studies and put mice under greater stress. Word is they are planning to utilize male mice next time and are running around athe streets of San Francisco loading up on Barry Manilow and Michael Bolton CD’s.

Cradle Cap

Cradle cap is the term for the crusting, scaling rash found on the scalp of babies. It is caused by Mom’s hormones crossing the placenta and activating the sebaceous (oil) glands of the sweet l’l thngs. Through the years there have been oodles of treatments for this harmless but mildly disfiguring condition.

The easiest remedy is to apply a few drops of olive oil or baby oil to the area , leave it on a few minutes to loosen up the scales and then gently wipe them off. A gentle shampoo with salicylic acid may help too.

There is a new, safe alternaative treatment for cradle cap. Now lactamide-MEA gel may be added to this armamentarium. This is a lactic-acid derived humectant (substances that attract moisture) commonly found in over-=the-counter lotions and bath gels.

Researchers at Pierrre Fabre found this ingredient to be safe, effective and well-tolerated. Since this is a major pharmaceutical company with outlets in the United States, expect approval and subsequent use of this product in the near future.

Juvederm

Juvederm, a new dermal filler, ;hs been released to compete with Restylane. Both of these fillers are based on hyaluronic acid, a key component of the grouond substance of the dermis.

Allergan, the maker of Juvederm, claims that it lasts longer than its competitor since it has a higher concentration of hyaluronic acid and is processed differently. Their process, they maintain, creates a smoother gel that flows more easily into the skin. Allergan also claims that this gel filler minimizes the discomfort of the procedure.

Having used both products, these claims do seem to have validity. However, the longevity factor is still a mystery time will solve.

Questions On Infant Phototherapy

Phototherapy is routinely given for infants with jaundice. However, a recent French study showed that those infants who underwnet light treatment had signifcantly more moles that those who did not. In addition, the nevei they developed tended to be larger, in the sizes that dermatologists worry about malignant transformation. Whether, such phototherapy increases the risk of melanoma in adults is still speculative.

New Medication For Hyperpigmentation

Since hydroquinones will probably be taken off the OTC market, and physicians are increasingly relucant to prescribe them, is there anything new which might take their place?

According to dermatolgoists at the esteemed Massachusetts General Hospital, a combination of N-Acetylglucosamine and Niacinamide significantly reduced facial hyperpigmentation in women aged 40-60.

Niacinamide, a drug I just love for rosacea and acne, has an established ability to repair the skin. It seems to block the transfer of melanin (pigment) into keratinocytes, the cells that make up the epidermis.

Glucosamine, which has received notoriety as an oral treatment for arthritis, blocks tyrosinase, the enzyme that helps produce pigment.

Since these are both inexpensive chemicals, and long been known to be safe orally, this potent combo may secure relief for the millions of women who have “liver spots”, melasma and all the other pigmentary signs of excessive sun exposure.