Skin Care and Beauty

A bruise occurs when small capillaries under the skin rupture and blood leaks out. It is usually due to trauma but it is common for some people to "bruise easily" or find bruises and not even remember any traum... continue reading  about  I bruise very easily - and have since I was a child. Why am I like a banana?

Both dermal fillers and fat are excellent ways to plump up the face and restore lost facial volume associated with aging. Advantages of using one's own fat include longer lasting results, the ability to treat m... continue reading  about  I remember a number of years ago, before dermal fillers, cosmetic surgeons would use a patient's fat to plump up areas on the face that had lost volume. Is this still done, and are there any advantages to this over using fillers?

I assume from your question that you are referring to the large veins that stick out from the skin surface as raised lumps and not small spider veins. Spider veins are a cosmetic problem and treatment for them ... continue reading  about  I have some ugly and large varicose veins on my legs. I've read about laser treatments to remove them, but would like to know how many treatments it takes, does the treatment hurt, and will my insurance cover the procedure?

It is not unusual for an adult or a teenager to develop acne on the chest and back. However, it is important to be sure that hormonal problems are not the cause of acne in these locations. Although internal hor... continue reading  about  I'm a woman in my 20s who gets acne on her back and chest. What is causing this (as I rarely get acne on my face), and what can I do to treat and prevent it?

The appropriate treatment for adult acne is medication prescribed by a dermatologist or primary care physician. These are medications applied topically to the skin surface and include tretinoin, benzoyl peroxid... continue reading  about  I have adult acne, but I'm also getting saggy skin now that I'm in my 40s. Would laser treatments help both?

Depending on the filler, they typically last six to 12 months, and most require only a single treatment to create their effect. They vary also in terms of stiffness, so the best one for, say, the lips would be ... continue reading  about  Can you give me some information about dermal fillers? How long do they typically last, and are there side effects? Of all the dermal fillers currently on the market, which one do you think is the best?

Facial fillers, such as Restylane and Juvederm, are injected using very small needles. Recently, an alternative technique for injecting fillers using blunt-tipped microcannulas has been developed. Yes, the tech... continue reading  about  I've had my lips augmented with dermal fillers and like the results, but don't like the bruising. I read about a new technique using a "blunt-tip cannula" that replaces needles. Is it available in Northern California and is it better?

The most common skin blotches that appear after many years of sun exposure are called solar lentigos. These brown spots are smooth and do not have a rough texture. They are caused by years of unprotected sun ex... continue reading  about  I'm 50 and don't spend a lot of time in the sun. I use sunscreen but I've noticed that I'm getting darker skin blotches, not like moles but damaged skin cells. My MD isn't worried, but I don't like the look. How do I get rid of them and protect my skin?

This question undoubtedly is asked by patients every day. Truth be told, there are preventive measures that can slow down the aging process, but sadly there is no way to completely avoid or reverse the aging pr... continue reading  about  What can be done about aging, thinning skin on the arms and legs as we get older? Is there a best ingredient in over-the-counter products? This is happening despite excellent nutrition and otherwise very good health.