Acne scars are often the result of moderate to severe cases of acne. It is estimated that 1 out of every 5 people who suffer from acne will have some type of acne scar as a result of their outbreaks. Scars result from the body trying to recover from the skin damage caused by acne. The resulting scars can be either barely noticeable or very deep. Chemical peels are commonly…

The drug clascoterone has recently been approved with the brand name Winlevi for the topical treatment of acne. This is the first FDA approved topical treatment for acne which is a significant development in the search for effective acne treatments. Acne is a notoriously difficult to treat condition. Many medications that are taken orally have unwanted systemic side effects. For many patients, a topical medication is an effective option that…

While relatively unknown to many, the CARES Act included a provision that restricted the sale of hydroquinone products over-the-counter. The debate over when to ban OTC hydroquinone products has been going on for many years but it was not until the CARES Act that it was actually enacted. The smaller legislation was given the opportunity to be enacted by including it along with the larger bill. The main concern with…

There are a variety of reasons why you may need to numb your skin. You may want to numb the skin prior to a painful procedure like a cosmetic treatment or a tattoo. Or you may have a cut or burn and want to numb the skin for pain relief. There are both natural and medical ways to numb the skin that have different degrees of effectiveness. Some numbing agents…

Fillers are one of the most popular minimally-invasive cosmetic treatments requested today, with many patients using them to enhance or augment their lips. While they are generally well tolerated, most people require a numbing cream or other type of pain control to make the injections more comfortable. Types of Lip Fillers Most fillers that are given now use hyaluronic acid as their main ingredient. The concentration being higher or lower…

Hyperpigmentation is characterized by areas of skin that become darker than the surrounding area. The term can broadly be used to define a variety of skin conditions that result in pigmentation changes. This includes melasma, sun spots/age spots, acne, injuries to the skin, and more. Hyperpigmentation is a common skin condition and can vary from minor cases with only a few spots to more widespread and difficult to treat cases.…

A recent review of all available treatments for melasma concluded that topical hydroquinone alone or combined with a retinoid and a corticosteroid has the greatest evidence of efficacy in the treatment of melasma. It also concluded that oral tranexamic acid offers a promising systemic option for recalcitrant melasma. The chemical peels and laser/light devices that were reviewed did not show consistent results, with the exception of PDL (Pulsed-Dye Laser). This…

Chemical peels are a fast and effective treatment option for improving the complexion. For some, chemical peels are an entry way into cosmetic treatments as they are relatively affordable compared to more intensive procedures while still providing excellent results. While chemical peels are commonly used, it is important that the practitioner understand peel concentrations and application technique. Peels are relatively safe when used correctly but they can be painful as…

Lidocaine is one of the most commonly used anesthetic ingredients in topical anesthetic creams. The onset of action of lidocaine is rapid and compared to other topical anesthetics it has an average duration of action. In general there is a low incidence of side effects when it is used correctly but there are some important contraindications. Lidocaine has been made in patches, gels, sprays, ointments, creams and more for providing…

Cosmetic treatments continue to advance and become more available to many patients. For many, one of the main obstacles to overcome is the fear of how painful the treatment will be. Powerful numbing creams, like compounded BLT cream, help make the actual treatments much less painful and easier to tolerate. Here we will talk about some of the current cosmetic treatments being done that can be made easier with a…