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Cosmetic
Tx lasts longer with boost from Botox®.
Source: Skin & Allergy News
Date: 7/1/2005
Author: Macneil, Jane Salodof
Adding Botox® therapy to cosmetic
dermatologic treatments can "extend the results for virtually
everything we do," Jean Carruthers, M.D., said at a clinical
dermatology conference sponsored by Medicis.
Clinical studies have already shown that combining
botulinum toxin type A with broadband light therapy and with nonanimal
stabilized hyaluronic acid can produce better results than a single
therapy, reported Dr. Carruthers, an ophthalmology professor at
the University of British Columbia, Vancouver.
"It makes so much sense to use them together,"
she said of Botox® and Restylane, a nonanimal stabilized hyaluronic
acid filler approved for use in the United States. "Botox®
halts active frown, and Restylane® helps the dermis."
Dr. Carruthers cited a prospective study she
conducted with her husband Alaistair Carruthers, B.M., of the
same university. They randomized 38 adult females with moderate
to severe glabellar wrinkles into two cohorts for a comparison
of Restylane® therapy alone with Restylane® plus Botox®.
The investigators reported that the women given
both treatments "showed a better response both at rest and
on maximal frown." The combination treatment also lasted
longer. Median time to preinjection furrow status was 32 weeks
for the combination patients, compared with 18 weeks for those
treated only with the filler (Dermatol. Surg. 2003;29:802-9).
In another study, they randomized 30 women with
moderate to severe crow's feet to two groups: one treated only
with broadband light therapy and the other to light therapy plus
Botox® treatment. For this experiment they used Intense Pulsed
Light from Lumenis Ltd. of Yokneam, Israel.
The Carruthers reported that all patients showed
improvement when their faces were at rest and smiling, but the
patients given both treatments improved more. Skin biopsies revealed
an increase in dermal collagen for both groups. The researchers
also reported improvements in lentigines, telangiectasia, and
skin texture (Dermatol. Surg. 2004;30:355-6).
Dr. Carruthers called the synergy with
the light system exciting. "Does IPL [intense pulsed light]
stimulate new dermal collagen deposition?" she asked. "Does
Botox® stimulate new collagen formation in the dermis? Is it just
IPL, or is Botox® additive?"
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