It's a very common issue for many: male and female pattern hair loss.  Dermatologists, being experts in skin, hair, and nails, treat hair loss and thinning hair daily.  Current treatment options include topical minoxidil (Rogaine), vitamin supplements that contain biotin (we carry Viviscal at Premier Dermatology, MD), prescription oral medications such as finasteride, and surgical hair transplants.  We are now pleased to offer platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy at Premier Dermatology, MD as an additional, non-surgical option for patients who require stimulation of hair growth. 

HOW DOES PRP WORK?

Human blood contains stem cells and growth factors that assist in tissue regeneration and healing.  Published medical literature from Europe and the United States confirms the safety and use of PRP therapy in other areas of medicine.  It has been used for over two decades for skin and wound healing. PRP therapy has established itself to be effective as a medical treatment in the specialty fields of oral surgery, plastic and cosmetic surgery, sports medicine and orthopedics.  Evidence in the literature supports PRP therapy as a promising treatment option to promote hair growth. It is not currently an FDA-approved treatment for hair growth and is not meant to replace current FDA-approved therapies.  

HOW DO YOU PERFORM THE PROCEDURE?

Blood is drawn in our office and then is spun in a centrifuge.  The PRP, which contains platelets and growth factors, is separated and removed from the rest of the blood.  The highly concentrated PRP is then injected into the scalp. There is no sedation and patients can drive themselves to and from the office.    Generally, the treatments are performed monthly for four months, and then once every six months for maintenance. 

THE SCIENCE OF PRP

PRP contains special cells called platelets and multiple growth factors that can theoretically cause growth of the hair follicles by stimulating the stem cells and other cells in the hair follicle. The primary purpose of using PRP is to stimulate inactive hair follicles into an active growth phase.

DOES PRP WORK?

Individual results vary with each patient. No guarantees of success can be made but PRP preliminary studies and case reports indicate patients can respond to PRP therapy.  PRP is a potential emerging, natural, non-surgical based therapy for hair follicle stimulation in thinning hair.

CONCLUSION

In summary, PRP therapy offers the opportunity for an additional treatment option for those patients who are not candidates for surgery, those wanting a more aggressive non-surgical approach to treatment or to supplement currently FDA-approved treatments.  To learn more about PRP therapy, schedule your consultation with Dr. Bilu Martin by calling (305) 521-8971.

 

2017 has come.  Along with a host of New Year's resolutions.  Maybe some are on your list -- get to the gym, eat healthier, drink more water, sleep more, and of course, have your moles examined.  Didn't make that resolution?  You should.  Early detection of melanoma, a type of skin cancer that can be deadly, is essential.  When caught early, it is nearly 100% curable.

Do you check your moles at home?  Do they have any signs of the ABCD's?

This stands for:

A: asymmetry - when you draw a line down the middle of the mole, the sides do not match
B: border - the mole is not round; it has an irregular, jagged outline
C: color - there are different shades of brown, tan, black, red in the mole
D: diameter - the mole is larger than 6 mm, the size of a pencil eraser (although they can be smaller)

Moles that exhibit these signs may be dysplastic, or atypical, or Clark's nevi.  These moles themselves are generally benign.  However, people that have them are at increased risk of developing melanoma.  The more dysplastic nevi someone has, the higher their risk of developing melanoma is. 

So what does this mean?

People with dysplastic moles need to be seen more frequently by their dermatologist for full skin exams.  They (and everyone else) also need to check their moles for:

E: evolution - the mole is changing - size, color, shape, itching, bleeding, turning black, etc.

This could be a sign of a melanoma and needs to be evaluated right away. 
So pick up the phone and schedule a full body skin examination.  Tell your friends and family to do the same.  And start the new year off right.

We are excited to announce that Premier Dermatology, MD is one of the first practices in the country to offer Juvederm Volbella XC!  Brought to you by Allergan, the makers of Botox, Kybella (to treat submental fullness/double chin), Voluma (for midface volume), Juvederm, and Latisse (to thicken and lengthen eyelashes), Volbella is the first FDA-approved filler for lip fullness and perioral lines that lasts up to one year.

Traditional lip fillers usually last around 6 months.  But Volbella is the first filler to use Vycross technology, a special blending of hyaluronic acid (a natural sugar found in our skin).  This technology allows for lift and longevity of the product while also reducing swelling and down-time.  And our patients are loving it!

If you've been thinking about refreshing yourself before the holidays, now is the time.  Perfect your pout and profile with the following specials at pdmd, available for a limited time.  Call 305-521-8971 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Donna Bilu Martin.

 

Almost daily, I see someone complaining of "those hangy things" on their neck, in their armpits, in the groin, on eyelids.  They're annoying - they catch on necklaces, shirt collars, and become inflamed from rubbing.  What are those things, anyway? 

They're called achrochordons, or skin tags.  They can be brown, tan, or skin-colored.   And while they may be bothersome to the patient, they're actually totally benign.  Skin tags are more common in middle-aged and older people, as well as in female and obese people - but anyone can get one. 

Pregnant ladies may notice that they become larger or get more of them - which is normal.  Since these are benign growths, they don't have to be treated - and insurance usually won't cover their removal.  They can be snipped with scissors, burned with a little cautery, or frozen with liquid nitrogen.  What treatment modality is used usually depends on location, the number of lesions, and the appearance of surrounding skin.  Usually the tag doesn't return, but it doesn't guarantee that more won't appear.  Just a caveat -  it's always important to have a dermatologist check you from head to toe- they are the experts in deciding what is benign and what needs a biopsy.  And any skin spot that changes, bleeds, or itches should be check right away!

So if those "hangy neck things" are annoying, see Dr. Bilu Martin at pdmd- a quick treatment can leave you "hangy neck thing" free!

Premier Dermatology, MD is a full-service dermatology practice in Aventura, Florida specializing in medical, cosmetic, and surgical dermatology.