Little bits of knowledge all add up

As a practicing, board certified plastic surgeon, I have a responsibility to keep up with news in the field of health and medicine. Here are a couple of tidbits you may find interesting:

NEW TOPICAL ANESTHETIC CREAM

The FDA recently approved a new topical anesthetic cream called Pliaglis.  It is a cream designed to be used on intact adult skin.  It can be applied before laser resurfacing, laser tattoo removal or before injectables such as Restylene.

NEW PLASTIC SKIN

Artificial skin has done much to improve the treatment of large surface area burns.  Now researchers at Stanford have developed a new artificial skin that can actually conduct electrical charges.  You might ask why is this important?  This is how skin signals the brain to promote healing.

       

HOW YOU LOOK MAY BE A SIGN OF HEALTH

A new Danish study tracked the health and physical appearances of over 11,000 people over the age of 40.  Four signs of aging revealed increased risk of cardiovascular disease – receding temple hairline, baldness at the crown of the head, creases in the earlobes and yellow fatty deposits on the eyelids medially.  More common signs of aging such as graying hair and wrinkles did not seem to correlate with heart disease.