A recent study has gotten a lot of publicity by showing that it did a better job of smoothing crow’s feet – those “smile wrinkles” around the corners of the eye – than Botox did.

But I dug a little deeper and discovered something that media reports missed. You could see the improvement over Botox when people smiled really big. When they weren’t smiling, there was no difference.¹

It costs less than Botox, and the results last longer—six to 12 months versus about three to four months with Botox.

We’re going to start using this new wrinkle-fighting alternative, called Dysport, here in the clinic. We’ll even be running our own tests to see the results and cataloging how well it’s worked for our patients.

But not everyone wants to get an injection, whether it’s Botox or anything else.

The good news is there are other natural ways to smooth out wrinkles and keep your skin looking young and vibrant. And you don’t have to go see a doctor or dermatologist to get their benefits.

Let me explain…

More than anything, your skin wants to be hydrated and nourished. If you give your skin what it craves, you can fight the signs of aging from the inside…and see a big difference on the outside.

Here’s what I recommend for smooth, youthful skin without needles or surgery: Resveratrol, an anti-aging nutrient found in the skin of grapes (and, as a result, in red wine).

It’s famous for its ability to protect the heart, but that’s not all it can do.

When you apply resveratrol directly to your face, its antioxidant power combats the visible signs of aging in your complexion. It’s not a short-term fix, because it actually improves the quality of your skin.

One study showed that it not only fights wrinkles but also evens out skin tone.² That alone is exciting, but there’s more. A group of dermatologists at the University of Wisconsin found that it protects skin from the sun’s damaging UV rays.³

Now I’m not suggesting you start washing your face with red wine, of course. And you can’t just drink it, either, or rely on the same resveratrol supplements you take for your heart. Instead, you need a good moisturizer or serum with resveratrol as a star ingredient.

You’ll start to see a smoother, glowing complexion in just a few weeks…and you won’t have to spend thousands of dollars at the doctor’s office.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

1 Nettar K, et al, “An Internally Controlled, Double-blind Comparison of the Efficacy of Onabotulinumtoxin A and Abobotulinumtoxin A,” Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery. Jun, 2011

3 Aziz MH, et al, “Chemoprevention of Skin Cancer by Grape Consituent Resveratrol: Relevance to Human Disease?” FASEB Journal. 2005 Jul; 19(9):1193-5

In recent months there’s been a lot of buzz about some of the trendy new cosmetic products on the market. It seems like every female who comes into the office for a skin treatment asks me about one of them or another… lip plumpers, eyelash lengtheners, Botox replacements… the list goes on.

The ads for these products sound great. After all, who wouldn’t want Angelina Jolie-worthy lips in a matter of minutes?

The problem is many of these claims are overstated. So let’s take a look at some of them.

1. Botox-in-a-Box. There are a whole slew of new facial creams that claim they can reduce wrinkles by inhibiting muscle contractions of the face… just like Botox. But these products don’t really contain Botox. Instead, they include ingredients that supposedly affect the nerve signals of the facial muscles.

The question is do they really work?

It’s pretty unlikely the FDA would approve something that affects the nerve response of your muscles for a mass market product. Plus, as far as I can tell, there have been no studies on the effectiveness of these ingredients.

2. Longer Eyelashes. Have you seen the commercial for that new eyelash lengthening product? It’s scary!

The warnings include growing hair in places other than the eyelash, risk of bacterial infection, darkening of the eyelid skin, and a change of eye color. And let’s not forget the itching, redness, and irritation.

As an alternative, many spas have natural eyelash dyes that can enhance your eyelash length without dangerous chemicals and side effects. These treatments are relatively inexpensive, and can last up to 4 weeks.

Or, you can go the old-fashioned route with lengthening mascara. Just make sure you don’t get the waterproof kind. It tends to pull out your lashes and can be hard to remove.

3. Lip Plumpers. Will today’s new lip plumpers turn you into the next Anne Hathaway or Jessica Alba? Not likely. These new plumpers contain ingredients that give your lips a temporary “fuller” effect. The truth is, most of them only plump up your lips for about 10 minutes or so.

For a longer-lasting effect, consider an injectable treatment of hyaluronic acid (HA)… like Restylane or Juvederm. HA attracts water – up to 1,000 times its weight – so it acts as a great dermal filler.

True, these injections are more expensive than store-bought lip plumpers. But the effects will be much more noticeable, and they’ll last 6-9 months.

4. Cellulite Creams. The cause of cellulite is mostly hormonal, although other contributing factors may be genetics and diet. It’s basically pockets of fat that push through your connective tissue.

There are all kinds of cellulite creams on the market, filled with caffeine that is supposed to stimulate and tighten the area. But they don’t even penetrate the skin. So here’s what you can do …

First, get your estrogen levels checked. If you have too much estrogen, 100 mg daily of a supplement called DIM (Diindolymethane) can help flush out excess estrogen. Then, avoid pre-packaged foods that are filled with sugar, flour, and salt. Add a little daily exercise, and you should see results over time.

5. Stretch Mark Creams. These are pretty much the same story as the cellulite creams. The fact is, you can’t rub on a cream and produce the protein, collagen, and elastin needed to heal stretch marks. The skin has to manufacture those on its own.

Prevention is key. If you don’t have stretch marks, be cautious of rapid weight gain. Stretch marks are caused by the breakage of skin proteins when you put weight on quickly. And if you’ve been trying to get rid of the marks you have, check into laser treatment. It’s being used on stretch marks with a lot of success.

Best Wishes for Health and Beauty,

Tara Smith, ARNP, NP-C

Just this year, a new product called Dysport has been approved for use in the United States. It’s been used in Europe since the early 90s with great success, so I’m excited to see it arrive.

Dysport is very similar to Botox. In fact, they’re both botulinum protein A. But there are some very distinct differences between the two:

1. The Dysport protein is somewhat smaller, so it works more quickly. European studies showed 25% of patients injected with Dysport noticed a difference on Day 1. Not everyone will get such quick results, but the median onset is only 2 to 3 days. Botox, on the other hand, takes 3 to 10 days to show results, with a median onset of 5 days.

2. Initial studies indicate that Dysport may last longer than Botox. Botox treatments normally last about 90 days. However, some studies indicate that Dysport treatments can remain effective for up to 120 days.

3. Dysport spreads out from the injection site more easily than Botox. This makes it a good choice for larger muscle groups, like the ones in your forehead. It also means fewer injections are needed to achieve results. However, keep in mind that if you’re trying to pinpoint small muscle, around the eye for example, it may not be your best option.

4. The cost of Dysport is much lower than Botox. This is partially because the unit size is 1/3 that of Botox. But since it diffuses farther from the injection point, you may be able to get more for your money with Dysport.

Now that you have an alternative to Botox, you may be considering an injection to relax your facial muscles and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. If so, make sure to consult with a licensed professional who has experience with both Dysport and Botox.

Each has a role to offer, depending on the area that is being injected and your own muscular structure. So you’ll want your injector to be knowledgeable and well-versed in both methods.

Best Wishes for Health and Beauty,

Tara Smith, ARNP, NP-C

[Ed. Note: Tara Smith, ARNP NP-C, is a board-certified nurse practitioner for Dr. Sears’ Center for Health & Wellness in Royal Palm Beach, FL.  Her medical concentration is on aesthetics, teaching and family practice.  Tara is conducting research trials into novel ways of naturally boosting HGH and working on a new book, on anti-aging for women.]

References
Schlessinger, J., A new form of botulinum toxin. Skin and Aging: Practical and Clinical Issues in Dermatology, 2009, Oct; 17(10)
Rzany B, Ascher B, Fratila A, Monheit GD, Talarico S, Sterry W. Efficacy and safety of 3- and 5-injection patterns (30 and 50 U) of botulinum toxin A (Dysport) for the treatment of wrinkles in the glabella and the central forehead region. Arch Dermatol. 2006 Mar;142(3):320-6.

Botox is a natural toxin. The bacterium Clostridium botulinum produces it. Doctors use a purified form of the toxin. We inject small amounts of this substance into muscle, which temporarily weakens it. Botox blocks a chemical in the muscle that causes it to contract.

Less contraction means less wrinkles. This is why Botox is widely used to eliminate facial wrinkles. But this same mechanism can eliminate pain from some medical conditions.

Today, I’ll show you how this cosmetic tool has the potential to alleviate migraine, prostate, and muscle pain. And I’ll give you some tips for Botox safety.

• Headaches: We have now come to understand that Botox can treat and even prevent some of the most severe headaches. The journal Headache published a brand new study that looked at the effectiveness of Botox in treating headaches.Researchers analyzed several studies performed over 3 years. They evaluated 271 subjects with severe, frequent headaches. Botox treatment reduce the average number of days per month in which subjects experienced headaches by 56%. Headache intensity and frequency dropped by over 85% with Botox injections. ¹
• Muscle Spasms: Botox was actually first approved for treating muscle disorders. And I have used this technique in my practice with much success. One of my patients had been suffering from spasms of the neck muscles for years. Botox injections eliminated most of his pain and spasms.
• Prostate: The most recent unique use for Botox has been in the relief of BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) symptoms. Researchers have been performing some preliminary tests on the topic for a few years. Now a recent study shows promise.

Researchers at the University Hospital in Rome treated 30 men with swollen prostates with either Botox injections or a placebo solution injection. The men taking Botox had a significant reduction in frequent painful urination after 2 months. These men also experienced a drop in PSA levels. Better yet, their prostates shrunk by almost half! ²

Remember Botox is a nerve toxin, it can be dangerous if used the wrong way. Botox is a prescription. Only let a doctor experienced with Botox treat you. There are very few reported side effects from proper administration.

Botox injections for wrinkles, headaches and muscle spasms can work for up to 3 months. After that, you may need a repeat treatment.

Remember, the study regarding Botox for prostate relief is preliminary. I wouldn’t inject your prostate with Botox just yet. We still need more evidence proving that Botox is safe for the prostate over time. None-the-less, more research could yield more promising results. I’ll give you any updates on the subject in future Health Alerts.

Al Sears, MD

1. Blumenfeld, A. Botulinum toxin type A as an effective prophylactic treatment in primary headache disorder. Headache 2003 Sep; 43(8): 853-60
2. Maria G. et al., Relief by botulinum toxin of voiding dysfunction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia: results of randomized, placebo-controlled study. Urology 2003 Aug; 62(2): 259-64