Dark Circles under the Eyes

As a person ages the skin covering your eyelids thins out, which may cause the blood vessels to become more apparent.  This gives the lower eyelids a darker appearance.  It's also possible that thin eyelids can be inherited. Dark eyelids can also be caused from swelling in your lower eyelids. When you're lying down, gravity causes fluid to collect in your lower eyelids, which may create shadows below your eyes.

Dark Circles Under the Eyes are treated using Thermacool (Thermage), Photorejuvenation, Laser Resurfacing, or utilization of a vascular laser.  There can be one to multiple treatments for this condition in order to optimize results.

Dr. Gary Rothfeld is a leading cosmetic dermatologist in New York City and the United States and has been helping patients look their best for over 18 years.

During the consultation, you will have the opportunity to talk to the Doctor at New York Dermatology who is Dr. Gary Rothfeld a  Board Certified Dermatologist at NYC Cosmetic Dermatology about the changes that you’d like to make in your appearance. He will explain the best options available to you, the procedure itself, and the risks and limitations required. Be sure to ask all the questions you have about the procedure

It is important that you explain the results that you would like. Bring photos to the  Skin Institute for Doctor Rothfeld and show him what you like and what you don’t like. He will be able to tell you if you are a good candidate for treatment for the clearing the dark cirlces under the eyes.

Please come in and consult with Dr.Gary Rothfeld Board Certified Dermatologist at New York Dermatology. Dr. Rothfeld, a board certified dermatologist at NYC Dermatology will always try to keep you current on the latest advancements in Dermatology and Cosmetic Dermatology at the NYC Dermatologist and Cosmetic Dermatology Center of New York City

Ethnic Skin Treatments

Skin pigmentation conditions can be a problem for all women (and men) with brown skin - people of Asian, African, Latin or Native American background. While the natural pigmentation in brown skin provides many advantages—sun protection and slowed signs of aging—it is also more highly susceptible to skin discolorations, which can cause distress in social situations, as well as psychological stress

FDA Proposes New Sunscreen Rules

Proposed Sunscreen Regulation Includes a Rating System, New Warning

By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical News

Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD

Aug. 23, 2007 -- Sunscreens may get a new rating system and a warning, thanks to a new FDA proposal.

The FDA today proposed a new regulation that sets standards for formulating, testing, and labeling over-the-counter sunscreens with ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) protection.

The proposal includes a four-star rating system for sunscreen protection against UVA light, along with a warning that stresses the importance of not relying solely on sunscreens to prevent skin cancer and skin damage.

Sunlight contains the visible light that we can see and ultraviolet (UV) light that we cannot. There are two types of UV light, UVA and UVB. UVA light is responsible for tanning and UVB for sunburn. Both can damage the skin and increase the risk of skin cancer.

SPF ratings on sunscreens refer only to UVB protection, not UVA protection. For years, the FDA has been studying UVA's effects on skin, but until now hasn't required sunscreens to carry specific information on UVA protection.

"Only a few countries have addressed UVA protection in their product labeling," says Douglas Throckmorton, MD, deputy director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

The proposed new regulation would include cosmetics that tout sun protection but not insect repellents that include SPF, according to Matthew Holman, PhD, interdisciplinary scientist team leader at the FDA's Office of Nonprescription Products.

New UVA Sunscreen Ratings

The FDA's proposed sunscreen regulation is designed to be a consumer-friendly rating system for identifying the level of UVA protection offered by a product. It rates UVA sunscreen products on a scale of one to four stars.

One star would represent low UVA protection, two stars would represent medium protection, three stars would represent high protection, and four stars would represent the highest UVA protection available in an over-the-counter sunscreen product.

If a sunscreen product does not provide at least a low level (one star) of protection, the FDA is proposing to require that the product to bear a “no UVA protection” marking on the front label near the SPF value.

The UVA ratings would be based on two tests the FDA proposes to assess the effectiveness of sunscreens in providing protection against UVA light. One would be a lab test that measures a product's ability to reduce the amount of UVA radiation that passes through it. The other test would be conducted on people, checking the product's ability to prevent tanning. This test is nearly identical to the SPF test used to determine the effectiveness of UVB sunscreen products.

If a sunscreen scores higher on one test than the other, it would bear the lower rating, says Holman.

The proposal also includes tweaking the SPF information on sunscreens. For instance, a sunscreen that currently says "SPF 45" would say "UVB SPF 45" with the word "high" to indicate a high level of UVB protection.

To see an example of what the new labeling would look like, visit the FDA's web page on the proposed sunscreen labeling at http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/sunscreen082307.html.

New Sunscreen Warning

The FDA also proposes requiring all sunscreens to include a "Warnings" statement in the "Drug Facts" box.

The warning would say: "UV exposure from the sun increases the risk of skin cancer, premature skin aging, and other skin damage. It is important to decrease UV exposure by limiting time in the sun, wearing protective clothing, and using a sunscreen." The warning is intended to increase awareness that sunscreens are only one part of a sun protection program.

The proposed new sunscreen regulation will also stress instructions to reapply sunscreen at least every two hours and to use sunscreen as directed, says Holman.

The FDA will accept comments on the proposed new rule for 90 days, ending on Nov. 26, 2007.

Trade Group Responds

The Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association (CTFA) states that it is "pleased that the FDA has proposed these new sunscreen regulations" and that it looks forward to working with the FDA as it finalizes the sunscreen rules.

The CTFA points out that "while the final rulemaking is ongoing, there are currently strong FDA safety and effectiveness regulations that govern the manufacture and marketing of all sunscreen products."

"Consumers should have a high level of confidence that sunscreen products are safe and effective when used as directed," states the CTFA.

Like the FDA, AAD, ACS, and other health experts, the CTFA stresses that besides wearing sunscreen, people should minimize their sun exposure -- especially from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when UVA/UVB exposure is highest -- and to wear protective clothing to safeguard skin.

SOURCES: News release, FDA. Douglas Throckmorton, MD, deputy director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA. Matthew Holman, PhD, interdisciplinary scientist team leader, Office of Nonprescription Products, FDA. News release, American Academy of Dermatology. News release, American Cancer Society. News release, Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association

Foods That Turn Back the Clock: What You Eat Can Give You Younger-Looking Skin!
For years, scientists have been telling us that a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables is the key to long-lasting health. If you need even further motivation to start filling your meals with these wholesome foods, however, this may be it: The same foods that are great for your internal health can also do wonders for you skin. Vibrant, fresh, youthful-looking skin can be yours by eating certain kinds of unprocessed, nutrient-packed foods.
With so much emphasis being placed on cutting calories and dieting, it’s easy to miss out on nutrients that are important to the health of our skin. Fortunately, the foods that are good for your skin are also good for your waistline. And unlike diets that go in and out of style as rapidly as the latest fashion trends, the anti-age “diet” is not really a diet at all. Rather, it is a simple shift in the way you look at what you eat.

What Causes Skin to Age?
First, let’s take a look at the factors that cause our skin to age. The main enemies of youthful, vibrant skin are highly processed foods and exposure to harmful UV rays, which can lead to dryness, premature aging, wrinkles, clogged pores acne, and inflammation. Eating fried and processed foods can cause damage to skin cells while exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun instigates a process called oxidation, which is also very damaging to the skin. That’s why antioxidants, which destroy free radicals and repair cellular damage, are so good for your skin.

Fortunately, there are foods that slow down the aging process by preventing inflammation, protecting against oxidation damage from the sun, and promoting turnover of healthy skin cells. Please come and discuss your concerns with our board certified dermatologist at NYC Dermatology Dr. Gary Rothfeld

Wedding Day Special
Dr. Rothfeld, , has designed a total skin care program for the bride to be  offering unique services starting with a detailed dermatologist consultation, advanced skin care product advice, and selective cosmetic dermatology procedures.

Treatments offered include Botox® injections, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, injections for wrinkle filling and lip augmentation, and assorted laser treatments. We can work to clear back and décolletage skin for those planning on strapless wedding gowns. To optimize the appearance in wedding photos, we can reduce the depth of facial wrinkles, reduce acne and acne scars, and smooth out the lips and face.

Areas covered in consultation with Dr. Rothfeld include:

• Optimizing an at home skin care regimen.
• Reviewing what cosmetic dermatology treatments are best for you, and when to start having them?
• What to do to prevent blemishes in the weeks before the wedding and the day of?
• Dermatology tricks for those last minute blemishes.
• What you must absolutely avoid before the wedding.
• How to take care of chronically bad skin care problems?
• How to look picture perfect on your wedding day!

Whether you have years, months, or weeks until your big day, you need accurate and dermatology based information to take the best care of your complexion. Dr Rothfeld will provide both the education and options you have regarding treatments and products.

At your initial consultation with Dr.Rothfeld you will review your skin concerns and he will examine you closely. You will discuss your current skin care regimen and product recommendations will be made. You will go home with a thorough suggested skin care program. This will consist of a step-by-step and month-by-month recommendations of product usage and cosmetic dermatology procedures to achieve perfect skin for your big day. 
 
Stretch Marks
Between 75 and 90% of women develop stretch marks to some degree during pregnancy. The sustained hormonal levels as a result of pregnancy usually means stretch marks may appear during the sixth or seventh month.

Many people believe that using oils or creams in high-risk areas (e.g. breasts, hips, abdomen, thighs) may help prepare the skin for stretching by giving the skin more flexibility.

Though cocoa butter is an effective moisturizer, no research studies have shown its ability to either prevent stretchmarks, or improve their appearance once a stretch mark has already formed.

Various treatments are available for the purpose of improving the appearance of existing stretch marks, including laser treatments, chemical peels, dermabrasion, and prescription retinoids. Few published studies exist for over-the-counter remedies, but two ingredients have shown early promise in clinical research-- darutoside and registril [Sederma Labs. Used daily for one month, they resulted in significant improvement in the appearance of a stretch mark's length, depth, and irregular surface area. One available product that contains both darutoside and registril is Stretchmark Minimizing Cream, from Belli Cosmetics.Some cream manufacturers claim the best results are achieved on recent stretch marks; however, few studies exist to support these claims.

A recent study in the journal "Dermatologic Surgery" has shown that radiofrequency combined with 585-nm pulsed dye laser treatment gave "good and very good" subjective improvement in stretch marks in 89.2% of 37 patients, although further studies will be required to follow up on these results. In addition, the use of a pulsed dye laser has shown to increase pigmentation in darker skinned individuals with repeated treatments.

A surgical procedure for removing lower abdominal stretch marks is the tummy tuck, which removes the skin below the navel where stretch marks frequently occur .But the tummy tuck can leave you with hypertrophic scars which could be flattened with intralesional steroid injections.

A new modality, fractional laser resurfacing, offers a novel approach to treating striae. Using scattered pulses of light only a fraction of the scar is zapped by the laser over the course of several treatments. This creates microscopic wounds and as such is a "no downtime" procedure. The body responds to each treatment by producing new collagen and epithelium. In a 2007 clinical trial, 5-6 treatments has resulted in striae improving by as much as 75 percent.I f you have any questions please contact the Doctor at NYC Dermatology by Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Gary Rothfeld.

ely pleased to be providing Intercytex with key enabling technology for the commercialization of their new cell therapy products. As a growing number of companies have realized, when used as a transportation and preservation media for biologic source material and finis

5 Easy Ways To Look Younger

 

 

There’s nothing worse than looking older than your age but you might be surprised to learn there are some free, easy ways to prevent you looking your age…

A curious fact about ageing is that many of the signs of ageing we later learn to dread like fine lines, pigmented skin, loss of elasticity, hair greying and thinning don’t rear their ugly faces until MANY years after the behaviours that gave rise to them. Take smoking for instance. We can smoke and smoke and smoke in our teens and still look hot and feel we are getting away with it only to discover in our mid twenties that we look 5 -10 years older than our friends. What you do now will show up on your face many years later…

So what can we do now to keep looking younger later?

The first thing we can do is recognize our enemies… sunlight, alcohol, fatty foods, smoking and last but not least caffeine. As we shall see, each damages us in different and not always predictable ways.

Sunlight

Ahhh summer. Nice isn’t it? Not if you want to avoid premature ageing! We all know UV damages our skin and gives us cancer blah, blah, blah but what we might not know is why UV exposure is so damaging. Basically your face looks as it good as it does when you’re young because it contains lots of collagen which keeps your skin nice and elastic. When your skin loses that elasticity lines begin to develop and we start to look old.

Probably a major reason we don’t take UV seriously is that we can’t see it; UV has a wavelength shorter than that of visible light. Worse UV comes in several forms. UVA for long wavelength, UVB or medium wavelength and UVC or short wavelength. When we talk about UV we usually are talking about UVB, it’s what the SPF factor on your sunscreen protects you against. So what you ask? Well sunscreen only protects you against UVB and only moderately against UVA. This is because UVB can be easily measured but UVA can’t. This matters because UVA penetrates deeper into your skin than UVB and is believed to be a major contributor to the emergence of lines and wrinkles.

So what can we do? Well the best thing to do is STAY out of the sun completely but then you might suffer from vitamin D deficiency which isn’t good either. Realistically avoid the sun between 10am-4pm if you can. Big hats are a good idea but are hard to pull off without looking sad. Wear sunscreen everyday and reapply every 2 hours Why? Your sunscreen dissipates with sweat and can vary in its coverage after that dip in the sea. Wear sunscreen daily even to work since UV penetrates the glass in your car whilst you’re driving to work. UV laughs at cloudy days since clouds DO NOT reduce UV exposure so not wearing sunscreen on that overcast day isn’t doing you any good.

Avoid ski slopes. Just joking but reflections from surfaces still will burn and age your skin so sailors for instance should always wear sunscreen to reduce reflected UV light off the water. Slopping on that t shirt does very little to UVB and UVA light. Better to buy a sunscreen with both UVB and UVA protection. Such sunscreens will have compounds like titanium oxide (sounds cool doesn’t it?) that prevents UVA light penetrating your skin.

Avoid tanning salons. Really! Tanning won’t make you any prettier just a whole lot older later in life when you really want to hide your age.

Skin colour plays a role too. If you’re dark or olive skinned take a bow… the sun will do much less damage to your skin but if your blond, blue eyed or red haired, watch out, you’re fair skin makes you extra vulnerable to damage from UV. That tan you think makes you look sexy is your body releasing melanin to darken your skin and protect it from UV damage. Problem is if you tan too much and you’re fair skinned, you won’t just burn but will be creating little spots (excess melanin) that darken with time and emerge more and more as we age. Worse people call them “age” or “liver” spots. Effectively you are tanning yourself towards freckles. Sounds hot doesn’t it?

Alcohol

The reason many of us went out with… well lets not go there… Fun as drinking is, too much of it can also make you look old and fast! Like it or not there is a clear and proven link between alcohol and premature ageing. Drink enough and you will damage blood vessels in the skin giving you that much desired red flushed look. Even worse keep drinking excessively and broken blood vessels will start appearing on your skin giving you a red mottled complexion. Hot! So how much is too much? I hope your seated…take a deep breath, your not going to like this – just one drink a day for the ladies and up to two drinks a day for guys. No one said it would be easy but think how much money you’ll save!

Smoking

It’s funny how a lot of us started smoking to look older and that exactly what smoking will do to your appearance. Basically smoking puts a fine layer of filth on your skin. Without this being removed it contributes to premature ageing to say nothing of smokers’ lines around your mouth, a sickly yellow complexion, increased wrinkling, risk of cancer and the fact that if your about 16 you just look like a try hard. As they say be careful what you wish for, you might just get it!

Fatty foods

These basically make you fat and whilst being overweight won’t necessarily make you look older often it does. Why? Well when you’re young ever notice that you don’t have big cheeks or a line or crease running from your nose to each corner of your mouth in a broadly triangular shape? This is called the nasiolabial fold and most us get them as we get older. In fact it’s a major difference between looking under 25 or over 25. Unless you’re overweight as a child you won’t have then till you’re in your mid twenties. Some people actually look better with this line but most don’t
which might explains why that spunk you met all those years ago doesn’t look very nice now. Nasiolabial folds really do dramatically change the way you look. They can be avoided. Keeping the weight off helps eliminates this line and eliminating these lines makes us look young. Don’t diet too much though or the line will appear as well, just don’t be overweight or too thin. Avoiding sunlight helps too since the loss of collagen from UV exposure is a major factor in the emergence of this line.

Still don’t believe me? Well a recent 2005 study showed wait for it, that someone who smokes and is overweight at 30 can feel and LOOK like a 40 year old. So avoid those fatty foods.

Caffeine
There’s little hard evidence that caffeine does you any harm but look at it a different way. No one denies lack of sleep ages you, hence the phrase “I’m getting in by beauty sleep”. Caffeine hurts you by letting you cut corners. Where you might just go to sleep after a busy week, caffeine lets you hit the town and go to work 4 hours later. Sounds good doesn’t it? Well its not. Your skin needs time to rejuvenate, shed old skin cells and replace them; that’s what sleep is for, to repair your body. Don’t sleep. Don’t repair. That’s why models sleep as much as possible; keeps them looking young, avoids panda eyes- you get the idea…

Caffeine can dehydrate us and this is very bad for our skin. Again that’s why models drink lots of water. It cleanses your body, makes your skin glow; caffeine does the opposite. Finally no one denies stress visibly ages you. Well, caffeine elevates cortisol so avoiding caffeine can help you reduce your stress and this reduces ageing. Yoga can help too. Clears the mind you see, lets you relax…

So if we are serious about looking young, cut out the caffeine and sleep when you’re tired. Still want to party? Go ahead but take a nap like your grandpa first. Don’t tell anyone; they’ll laugh but if you sleep before you party you will look better than your friends as it gets later in the night and you will look better in the morning too. You will be amazed how refreshed you can feel at say 4 in the morning; try it you will be surprised.

So there you have it… Don’t drink. Avoid the sun, don’t eat any fats, no caffeine and don’t smoke. Doesn’t sound like much fun does it? But I bet partying into your mid twenties when all your mates look thirty doesn’t sound too bad either. It won’t be easy but think of how much money you will save (no drinking, smoking, coffee) and how nice it would be to still have “options” rather than settling with what you have because you look too old to get better…

True or False? Melanomas cannot occur in areas of skin not exposed to the sun.

It is true that excessive sun exposure, especially multiple sunburns, can cause melanoma. In addition, there is a genetic component to melanoma development, and melanomas can occur on ANY area of the skin. It is recommended that you do regular self-skin checks to look for any changes in your moles. A yearly skin check with your dermatologist is also advised.

NON- SURGICAL NOSE JOB

People who are thinking about getting their noses done but are afraid of surgery need not worry. There is now a non-surgical nose job. In fact,   DR. GARY ROTHFELD , NYC Board Certified Cosmetic  Dermatologist at NYC Dermatology does the procedure  in just 15 minutes. Now, that’s interesting Known as the ’15-minute nose job’, the procedure is designed for those who wish to improve the appearance of their nose without going under the knife.

The procedure involves the use of a needle rather than a scalpel. Filler such as Radiesse or Restylane are used along with the needle to shape and contour the nose. While these products are known to reduce facial wrinkles and restore facial volume, cosmetic surgeons are using them in the nose to even out and conceal bumps, bulges, and indentations. Surgeons also use them to raise a droopy or downward nasal tip and create a more symmetrical look to the nose.

A filler such as Radiesse is injected into certain areas of the nose to help correct nasal irregularities. After the injection, the filler fills up sunken areas of the nose and restores symmetry. The 15-minute treatment aims to smooth out and straightens the nose for an overall improved appearance.

This breakthrough procedure is fast gaining popularity because of its non-invasive nature. The treatment gives faster results, quicker healing time, less or no pain at all, and no wounds and scars. In addition to that, the procedure costs much lesser than the traditional rhinoplasty. Moreover, the procedure allows patients to obtain quick results with little or no downtime at all. Some may experience some swelling and bruising in the nose area but this usually subsides after a few days.

The procedure is amazing but not all  my patients are good candidates. The non-surgical nose job is only appropriate for people who have minor nose imperfections. This includes small bumps and little bulges. If the defect is a major nasal asymmetry and irregularities, then it is better for the patient to go through a rhinoplasty procedure. Furthermore, the non-surgical nose job cannot change the shape of the nostrils. 

Dry skin and Itching

Many older people suffer from dry skin, particularly on their lower legs, elbows, and forearms. The skin feels rough and scaly and often is accompanied by a distressing, intense itchiness. Low humidity — caused by overheating during the winter and air conditioning during the summer — contributes to dryness and itching. The loss of sweat and oil glands as you age also may worsen dry skin. Anything that further dries your skin — such as overuse of soaps, antiperspirants, perfumes, or hot baths — will make the problem worse. Dehydration, sun exposure, smoking, and stress also may cause dry skin.

Dry skin itches because it is irritated easily. If your skin is very dry and itchy, see a doctor. Dry skin and itching can affect your sleep, cause irritability, or be a symptom of a disease. For example, diabetes and kidney disease can cause itching. Some medicines make the itchiness worse

The most common treatment for dry skin is the use of moisturizers to reduce water loss and soothe the skin. Moisturizers come in several forms — ointments, creams, and lotions. Ointments are mixtures of water in oil, usually either lanolin or petrolatum. Creams are preparations of oil in water, which is the main ingredient. Creams must be applied more often than ointments to be most effective. Lotions contain powder crystals dissolved in water, again the main ingredient. Because of their high water content, they feel cool on the skin and don’t leave the skin feeling greasy. Although they are easy to apply and may be more pleasing than ointments and creams, lotions don’t have the same protective qualities. You may need to apply them frequently to relieve the signs and symptoms of dryness. Moisturizers should be used indefinitely to prevent recurrence of dry skin.A humidifier can add moisture to the air. Bathing less often and using milder soaps also can help relieve dry skin. Warm water is less irritating to dry skin than hot water. If a patient has this type of problem they should be evaluated by our Board Certfied Dermatologist at NYC Dermatology to make sure they are getting the proper therapy and also if it is not associated with something more serious.

 

 

Open 7 Days A Week — Se Habla Español

NYC Dermatology - Manhattan Dermatology - Skin Institute of New York - Skin Cancer Doctor- NYC Cosmetic Dermatology-  Cosmetic Dermatological Surgery - New York City - Board Certified Dermatologist- Manhattan

Manhattan Office 

 New York Dermatology
Board Certified Dermatologist 
30 E. 60th St. Ste. 805 (Park Avenue)
New York, NY 10022
212.644.9494
1.800.BLEMISH  

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.nycdermatologist.com

 We accept the credit cards below as well as debit cards for payment of services.

 

 

Thank you for reading our Disclaimer:
The purpose of this website is to both educate current patients and to attract new patients. Please note that the information on this website is not intended as medical advice. For questions about how to treat your illnesses, please consult your dermatologist or physician. In addition, please note that, unless you are a current patient, our office cannot, by law, give medical advice over the telephone or the internet.