Dear patients, friends and colleagues,
We hope you had a great holiday season and the New Year finds you and your family and friends healthy and excited about the prospects of 2007.

So much is going on! We have been short-staffed for a long time and now we are moving toward solidifying our ability to give you even better, more personalized and more efficient services. We have been happy to welcome Tanea, Lynita and Celia to our clinical staff. Violet has completed her training to become a cosmetic coordinator and Jennifer has joined us as a cosmetic coordinator. Mayme and Sallyare part of our team in the administrative staff. We also want to congratulate Faith McNicholas, Billing Coordinator, on passing the American Academy of Professional Coders exam. She is now recognized as a “Certified Professional Coder.” Faith was also elected as Secretary to the American Academy of Professional Coders, Northwest Chapter.

In the aesthetic world the most important events have been the addition of the Fraxel II and Juvederm to our services. The Fraxel II (see below) has actually exceeded our expectations thus far. Juvederm is very smooth and natural looking and adds to our ability (along with Restylane, Radiesse and Sculptra) to give you the most natural looking fillers.

We are excited that SKINQRI is starting its first phase III clinical trial (see Galderma Acne Study below). A phase III trial is one of a medication or device that has not yet achieved FDA approval and is part of the approval process. Helene Kramer, who has been with Advanced Dermatology from the beginning, is also joining SKINQRI as a research assistant early this year!

Our bigger news is that we are going to expand skinfo® to a retail space on the first level of City Park in the space between Ticklebug and Lori’s Shoes. We are hoping to open that space in the spring. Skinfo®, as currently located in the front of the office, will continue to operate before the other space opens, and you will also be able to pick up your products upstairs as we will retain a smaller space there for convenience to our patients and clients. Tune in for more news later.

Thank you again for continuing to come and see us for all of your skincare needs. We truly appreciate the trust you have placed in us. And, since hope springs eternal, I am looking forward to April 1st, the day when the Cubs start their new season!

Wishing you and your family a healthy and happy new year,
Amy Forman Taub, MD
And the Staff of Advanced Dermatology, Skinfo and SKINQRI

November 12, 2006 -Dr. Taub presented at the Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference in Las Vegas on Photodynamic Photorejuvenation.

November 14 , 2006 -Dr. Taub hosted a webinar sponsored by Cuteraon “Tone and Titan” about tissue tightening treatments with the Titan.

January 12-14, 2007 -Dr. Taub will be at the Orlando Dermatology and Aesthetic Conference presenting on Lasers and Light Sources—meet the experts breakfast session, Current Actinic Keratosis Therapy, and Skin Tightening Techniques.

January 31- February 2, 2007 -Erin DeVita, Suzanne Lombardo,and Sheila Sahs will be attending the Association of Dermatology Administrators / Managers (ADA/M) Annual Meeting.

February 1–5, 2007 -Fern Dembo, RN, and Karen C. will be attending the Dermatology Nursing Assistants (DNA )Annual Meeting.

February 2-4, 2007 -Dr. Taub, Erin, Sheila, Suzanne and Fern will be attending the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD ) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. Dr. Taub will be giving a presentation on “Procedural Treatments for Acne” and “Photodynamic Therapy–the US View”. She was also selected as one of only nine physicians to meet with the media to discuss new treatments and concepts.

January 16, 2007 - Leg Vein Seminar hosted by Sandra Elkhouly, PA-C.

January 24, 2007 - Psoriasis Seminar hosted by Shannon Morrow, PA-C.

February 6, 2007 - Acne Seminar hosted by Sandra Elkhouly, PA-C.

February 27, 2007 – Tissue Tightening for Skin Laxity Seminar hosted by Erin DeVita,CST, CMLSO, CCRC.

March 14, 2007 – Fine Lines and Wrinkles Seminar hosted by Shannon Morrow, PA-C.

March 6, 2007 – Skin Cancer Seminar hosted by Dr. Taub.


All Seminars will be held at Advanced Dermatology beginning at 7:00pm. Light refreshments will be served and complimentary skincare samples will be provided. Please call to sign up for the seminars at 847-459-6400. Thank you!

Thermage® Update Tissue Tightening is continuing to expand by demand—now focusing on the body! The Thermage® procedure just received its indication for tightening on the hands and abdomen (Hands by Thermage™ and Tummy by Thermage™). In addition combination therapy is still trending to be the most effective 3-dimensional result - combining Thermage® with Fillers (Restylane, Juvederm, Radiesse, Sculptra) will yield more dramatic results.

Juvederm Update Juvederm Ultra and Juvederm Ultra Plus were approved by the FDA. Because we were invited to be part of the JET trial (a post-approval introduction of the fillers to select members of the dermatologic community), we were able to offer this before its launch in the first quarter of 2007 when it will be available to all physicians.  It is smooth and very natural looking and feeling. The Ultra Plus is good for volume areas and possibly more longevity than the usual 6-9 month window.

Perlane FDA approval? The company says any day now, but have been saying so for a few months. We had used Perlane for larger volume defects and wrinkle reduction for a couple of years and we know what it can do, which is a lot! We are still waiting patiently.

ReFirme™ ST This summer we added a new tissue tightening laser, ReFirme™ ST by Syneron. ReFirme™ ST utilizes elôs technology combing infrared light (700-2000nm) simultaneously with bi-polar radio frequency. The addition of ReFirme™ ST has allowed us to further customize tissue tightening treatment programs for our patients. Call to setup an appointment to see if ReFirme™ST can help you reduce jowl and neck laxity, sagginess under the eyes, fallen brows, nasolabial folds, or other areas that need lifting and tightening.

Fraxel Update As you read in our last newsletter, we began offering treatments with the new Fraxel II (also known as Fraxel 1500). The results so far have been impressive. Treatments with the Fraxel II have by far produced the most dramatic improvement in melasma and acne scarring that we have seen. We have also treated patients with sun damage, surgical or traumatic scars, wrinkles and textural changes, and superficial wrinkles all with exciting results.

Lip Hydrating and Rejuvenating Treatment Our lip hydrating and ejuvenating treatment is provided using the SonoPeel™ (water-based microdermabrasion). The SonoPeel™ uses high-frequency ultrasound energy and gentle cavitational forces to remove the dead skin cells, leaving the lips exfoliated, hydrated and may help reduce the appearance of lip lines.

Left before and Right after fillers

Rosacea Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that affects more than 13 million Americans. It is characterized by a tendency to become flushed or red under certain circumstances, especially extremes of cold or hot temperatures, conditions of emotional stress or anxiety, and consumption of alcohol, particularly red wine. This flushing is primarily thought to be caused by a dysfunction of the blood vessels that supply skin on the face,with these vessels showing an increased tendency to dilate. The exact cause is unknown, but there is thought to be a genetic predisposition, and the condition often leads to chronic inflammation of skin. UV or photo damage, and the presence of microorganisms are also considered as possible causes of rosacea.

Treatment of rosacea is aimed at reducing the redness of the skin, identifying and reducing exposure to triggers and irritants, and eliminating the occurrence or reducing the frequency off lares. Treatment options often involve the use of prescription and cosmeceutical creams and gels, oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatories and laser treatments. Persistent redness, flushing and breakouts as well as visible facial veins can also be treated with a series of laser treatments called photo rejuvenation. If you think you may be suffering from rosacea, please schedule an appointment with a provider in our office for an evaluation and recommendation for treatment.

Hair Loss About 1 in 4 women suffer from hereditary hair loss or an drogeneticalopecia, also known as female pattern baldness. This is characterized as a thinning of hair over the crown of the head. Unlike male pattern baldness, women tend to preserve the first few rows of the hair line. Currently the only treatment approved for women to help re-grow hair is 2% minoxidil, which isavailable without a prescription. We often recommend treating with the extra strength (called “extra strength for men”) or 5% formulation as a study in female pattern loss showed that it worked better than the 2%. However, this can have the unwanted side effect of growing excess hair on the face as well. It is important to treat early since hereditary hair loss progresses with time and we want to arrest it while the loss is still relatively mild.

There are other causes of hair loss. The most common of these is called telogen effluvium. Causes include severe stress, illness, medications, iron deficiency, diet and pregnancy. Usually there is an abrupt onset of excessive amounts of hair shedding affecting the entire scalp, not just the crown. Another cause of hair loss is alopecia areata. This condition is caused by an overactive immune system and can cause patches of hair loss in circles or focal areas. If you are experiencing hair loss, please schedule a visit in our office to have a thorough evaluation to determine the cause.

Nail Fungus Nail Fungus or Onychomycosis, is an infection of the nail bed often caused by a fungus called a dermatophyte. A fingernail or toenail infected with fungus will often have a yellow, thickened appearance with debris underneath the nail that crumbles easily. To determine if an individual has onychomycosis, we can perform a fungal culture which takes 3 weeks togrow. Curre ntly there are topical and oral medications approved to treat this nail condition. Penlac is a topical anti fungalin a nail polish form that is applied to the affected nails every day until they clear. This is practical if there are only a few nails involved and the infection is mild, otherwise the effectiveness is not great. The oral drug of choice is Lamisil, which is taken for a 2-3 month period (depending if it is fingernails or toenails), and has an 80% cure rate. It usually takes a full 6-12 months to see a completely normal, healthy nail again because nails only grow about a millimeter a month! There is an extremely small incidence of liver inflammation with this drug so we do need to monitor with blood tests. If you have yellow thickened toenails that you want to look nice by spring/summer, now is the time to come in for an evaluation and to start treatment!

Galderma Acne Study
If you are12 years of age or older and have acne, you may be able to participate in a clinical research study testing an investigation algel medication. Qualified participants will receive at no cost: Skin evaluations by a physician, an investigational gelmedication for 12 weeks, reimbursement for time and travel. To qualify you should have acne on the face, be 12 years of age or older, and be in good general health. Contact us for more information.

Psoriasis Study
You may qualify for this study if you have been diagnosed with chronic moderate to severe plaquepsorias is by a medical doctor and are currently being treated with Raptiva oranother biologic psoriasis treatment. Qualified participants will receive study- related medical evaluations at no cost. No medications will be provided as part of the study – all participants will continue with their current drug therapy. Reimbursement for your participation will be provided.

Psoriasis Study
If you are aged 18 or older and have moderate to severe psoriasis, you may be eligible to participate in a new research study using Enbrel®, a drug that has been approved by the FDA that can be administered at home to treat the symptoms of psoriasis.

Eczema Study
This study is enrolling patients ages 2-17 years old with at opicdermatitis (eczema) who have used Elidel for at least 6 weeks in the past 6 months (they do not need to currently be using Elidel). Participants will complete as hort survey which will be mailed to your home every 6 months for the duration of the study. No office visits are required. Reimbursement for your participation will be provided for every completed survey.

Eczema Study
Do you have eczema or a topic dermatitis? Have you used Protopic (tacrolimus) Ointment before you were 16 years of age to treat your eczema? Would you be interested in participating in a long-term program that will monitor your health? You may be eligible to participate in an observational research study. Please call us if you would like to learn more about this important program.

Rosacea Study
This study is completely enrolled. Subjects are in the process of completing their follow-up visits after receiving 5 photorejuvenation treatments with the Aurora SRA. We have submitted our preliminary results to the ASLMS (American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery) for possible presentation at their annual meeting in April 2007. Watch our website and future newsletters for the results!

Thermage Upper Arm Study
This study is complete. Subjects completed their final six month follow-up visit in October. Watch future newsletters for the results.

Cellulite Study
We completed treatment and the first follow-up visits on the initial four subjects. FDA regulatory delays have caused us to post pone the additional fourteen subjects we had anticipated starting treatments on in January. Subjects on the waiting list will be contacted when we have approval to continue with the study.

JET Study
This study is completely enrolled. Six subjects who had been previously treated with Restylane, had treatment of their nasolabial fold with Juvederm. They will be followed for nine months to see the results and their comparison of Restylane and Juvederm.

Skinfo® Acne Study
We are recruiting 15 people who would be willing to try a new acne cream that we have designed with over the counter ingredients. We are looking for feedback on how well it works, how it feels, and any potential side effects like dryness or irritation. If you are interested, please contact our office.



Click here to fill out your information on SKINQRI.com.

New Products by skinfo®

TNS Expansion (Lip Plump System and Ultimate Daily Moisturizer) Are you starting to lose lip definition? SkinMedica is proud to announce their new revolutionary TNS Lip Plump System. This dual-action lip treatment combines the rejuvenating strength of NouriCel-MD®, mix of human growth factors, improves lip texture, minimizes fine lines and increases lip volume over time.

Step 1 –Lip Renewal, containing collagen filling spheres to transform the appearance, instantly increases volume and hydration to the lip area.

Step 2–Lip Plumper contains niac in which increases blood flow to the lips and enhances the natural lip color. Recommended usage is threet imes daily.

Everybody must try the new TNS Ultimate Daily Moisturizer. This exceptional face moisturizer contains a mix of human growth factors, NouriCel-MD®, and antioxidants which strengthen the skin’s natural protective barrier and guard against free radical damage.

In this winters newsletter, we are featuring makeup tips

gloMinerals for winter bliss
Add some luminescence to tired, dull winter skin with gloMinerals highlighters. The perfect compliment to gloMinerals foundations for a healthy, radiant complexion, add Shimmer Brick for a subtle sheen and a touch of color,with four highlighting tints to wear alone or swirl together, gloHighlighter reflects light to add instant radiance to your complexion with subtle pink highlights. Sunkiss gloBronzer has a hint of gold shimmer to help wake up winter skin with a renewed healthy glow. To enhance your skin with all out shimmer and shine, add gloDust in 24k Gold, Bronze or Silver with gilded highlights that range from subtle to sensational sparkle.