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Briefs

	Laser treatment fights severe acne
	Eyelid rashes not so easy to solve
	Young at heart, but still at risk

Laser treatment fights severe acne

Laser technology may become one of the safest and most effective means to fight severe acne.

The Candela Smooth Beam Laser has been recently FDA approved for the treatment of acne. In studies of acne on the backs of volunteers, there was 98 percent improvement after four treatments.

"Patients are leaving here amazed," said Ramsey Markus, MD, assistant professor of dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine. "The laser appears to be effective with very few side effects, mainly mild redness that goes away within a few hours."

The new technology heats the skin and shrinks oil glands, improving acne gradually during three to five treatments that are generally less than 15 minutes each. Physicians treat regions of the body that tend to develop acne, such as the face, back or shoulders.

Eyelid rashes not so easy to solve

Many women who develop an itchy, painful irritation of the eyelid assume makeup is the culprit. But often, it's the nail polish they're wearing.

"People who have eyelid dermatitis assume it's due to something they put on their eye," said Rajani Katta, MD, assistant professor of dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine. "Most of the time, it's something that accidentally comes in contact with the eyelid."

The eyelid is a common place for rashes to develop, because the skin is so sensitive in that area, she said.

"You can touch things with your hands and it doesn't bother them. The skin of your hands is thick and not that sensitive," Katta said. "But, if you accidentally touch your eyelid, a rash can develop."

Cosmetics for the eyes can cause irritation, even if a patient has used the same product for a long time.

"You can develop an allergy at any time, and sometimes companies even change product ingredients without advertising that fact," Katta said.

Young at heart, but still at risk

Active baby boomers who dread "getting old" can ward it off by following some simple lifestyle steps.

"As we age, our health risks increase," says Lawrence Chan, MD, professor of medicine and molecular and cellular biology and chief of the division of diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism at Baylor College of Medicine. "Today's baby boomers can lower their risks of illness associated with aging by adopting a healthier lifestyle."

The American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association and American Heart Association announced last year that eating healthily, staying active, refraining from smoking, and seeing a physician can reduce the risks of developing cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Chan encourages baby boomers to attain their ideal body weight, but warns that a trim exterior doesn't always signify first-rate health. Regular visits to a physician are necessary to evaluate individual health risks.

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