THE Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery launched their code of practice seal to help consumers avoid dodgy doctors.

The seal, which contains the phrase – “Your assurance of a high standard” – will be given to members who agree to comply with the standards of the college’s code of practice.

ACCS President Colin Moore said he hoped the seal would become a recognised symbol for ethical practitioners.

“It protects them through a high level of standards that increase transparency and information,” he said.

“It empowers patients because through better information, their ability to make informed decisions about their care is improved.”

Dr Moore said there had been a rise in predatory advertising practices, which the college was keen to stamp out.

“We are seeing more unscrupulous advertising practices encouraging people to ‘buy now and save’,” he said.

“The college frowns upon practices such as these as there are many factors that need to be properly considered.

“Inducement to ‘buy now’ is unethical in this context.”

The seal was unveiled at the recent Cosmetex conference in Cairns which was attended by Dr Michael Rich and his team of doctors and nurses last Wednesday.

FOR THE MUM IN NEED OF SOME PAMPERING

*conditions apply*

Times are now changing. Years ago, women would come in and say, “I can’t let my husband know what I’m doing”. Now we are seeing men also coming in saying, “if my wife is going to look good then I want to look good too!”
There is a growing trend for couples to pursue cosmetic procedures together, with liposuction number one on their ‘wish list’ of treatments.

Since 1997, there has been an increase of over 121% in the number of cosmetic treatments requested by men. Currently, 1 in 5 nose jobs, chin implants and blepharoplasty (eye lid surgery) in the US are performed on men – a trend mirrored here. Other popular procedures include treatment for gynaecomastia (man boobs), facial rejuvenation and liposuction.
Men are no longer feeling the stigma of undergoing a cosmetic treatment, with many men saying they feel better able to compete in the workforce and also want to look as good as their partners.
Whatever the driving force, more and more couples are happily experiencing growing younger together. We have heard it said: “It’s just another part of our life together that we’re sharing.”

Acne and acne scarring has been a common problem for many whether you are a teenage or adult acne sufferer.  Researchers may have discovered a simple and safe remedy – Thyme!

Testing has been carried out on the effects of thyme, myrrh and marigold tinctures – an alcoholic extraction from plants – on Propionibacterium acnes – the bacterium that causes acne by infecting skin pores – to see what was the most effective in treating acne.

Dr Margarita Gomez-Escalada – lead researcher and a professor at Leeds Metropolitan University – explained: “The plant material is steeped in alcohol for days or even weeks to prepare a tincture. This process draws out the active compounds from the plant. While thyme, marigold and myrrh are common herbal alternatives to standard antibacterial skin washes, this is the first study to demonstrate the effect they have on the bacterium that causes the infection leading to acne.”

Although results showed all the herbal tinctures were able to kill the bacterium after five minutes exposure, it was thyme that was the most effective. The herb also worked better than standard concentrations of benzoyl peroxide, which is the active ingredient in most anti-acne creams or washes (Proactiv, Benzac etc).

Dr Margarita Gomez-Escalada states, “the problem with treatments containing benzoyl peroxide is the side-effects they are associated with such as a burning sensation and skin irritation is not uncommon.

These findings could pave the way for more research into the use of tinctures as a treatment for acne – “If thyme tincture is proven to be as clinically effective as our findings suggest, it may be a natural alternative to current treatments. Herbal preparations are less harsh on the skin due to their anti-inflammatory properties while our results suggest they can be just as, if not more, effective than chemical treatments.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9169283/Thyme-could-be-new-treatment-for-acne.html

If you need another reason to butt that addictive habit here it is, a report has associated smoking with an increased risk in developing psoriasis. Psoriasis is a non-contagious skin condition that causes red, scaly patches to develop on the skin. There is no cure for psoriasis, it can only be controlled with ongoing treatment. Symptoms may include red scaly patches on skin, itchiness and shedding of scales of skin. This study which was published by the America Journal of Epidemiology concluded that smokers were nearly 1.4 times more likely to have this condition.

If that’s not enough to change your thoughts, be aware of those around you, it is already known that a mother’s exposure to tabacco smoke during pregnancy increases the child’s risk of developing respiratory disease such as  asthma or ongoing chest infections. Expecting mother’s exposure to tobacco smoke in the last three months of pregnancy may increase the risk that her child will develop the allergic skin condition eczema during infancy.

Allergy testing determines any substances that can cause allergic reactions. Allergy testing is the procedure used to determine which particular substances or allergens are responsible for provoking an allergic reaction. The procedure used depends on the type of allergy, but may include skin and blood tests or special diets. Allergy symptoms include skin rashes, swelling, sneezing, asthma and nausea. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction.

Skin patch testing for metal allergies before prostheses devices are implanted will greatly reduce your chance of any risks and complications.  See your Dermatologist for you allergy testing before you under go your surgical procedure. 

Dermatology Daily – Medical News

It’s easy to buy on the internet – a DIY injection promising an instant all-over tan but as these women discovered, it can trigger cancer.

Women in the UK are self injecting themselves with a substance called melanotan bought illegally on the internet, desperate for a ‘healthy glow’. This product claims to give an even, golden tan by an injection into the stomach although the side affects are dramatic and potentiality deadly.

 This illegal tanning drug has raised concerns among the health professionals as the main ingredient activates melanocytes in the skin. These are the cells that become cancerous in malignant melanomas, so doctors fear users could in fact bring on skin cancer in the long term.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1381298/The-deadly-tan-jab-DIY-injection-promising-instant-tan-women-discovered-trigger-heart-disease-cancer.html#ixzz1kuOGO5vC