Sometimes no matter how much rest you get, you still wake up to dark under-eye circles. While fatigue can be a contributing factor to dark under-eye circles, it’s not the only culprit. Heredity, nasal congestion, alcohol consumption, allergies, gluten intolerance, and the use of birth control products can all contribute to the lovely “shiner” look everyone hates. The other sad truth is that dark under-eye circles are a normal part of aging. As we get older, our skin thins and we lose fat and collagen. This combination makes the reddish-blue blood vessels under your eyes more obvious.

Did you know that by law, cosmetics are not required to have expiration dates? Just like food, makeup expires; but even if the cosmetic has a printed expiration date, according to the FDA the date should only be considered a “rule of thumb.” How do you know if your cosmetics are safe?

Dr. Jim Cain, III, founder and medical director of Innovative Aesthetics a cosmetic and medical aesthetics practice in Houston, Texas, has recently completed a two-year Aesthetics Medicine Fellowship with Dr. Sharon McQuillon of the Ageless Aesthetic Institute. The Fellowship Certification in Aesthetic Medicine is a certification program of the American Academy of Anti‐Aging Medicine.

The FDA today scolded six U.S. spas and one Brazilian company for making false and misleading claims about fat-melting injections known as mesotherapy, lipodissolve, lipozap, lipotherapy, or injection lipolysis. As always we encourage our patients do to their research prior to undergoing any type of cosmetic or aesthetic procedure. Often, if it sounds too good to be true, it is.

Arnica Montana, also known as Leopard's Bane, is a perennial herb indigenous to Central Europe. When taken two weeks prior to any cosmetic procedure (BOTOX, Dysport, injectable fillers such as Radiesse or Juvederm, or liposuction methods such as SmartLipo and VASER) arnica montana can markedly reduce bruising and swelling. Arnica montana is most commonly available in pellet form. Additionally, topical application of the arnica montana gel, cream, or ointment will speed the healing of any visible bruising should it occur.

In my last blog, we discussed beneficial ingredients to look for when purchasing skincare products. Now, let’s talk about ingredients you should avoid. You might be surprised at what common ingredients have potentially dangerous effects on your body.

Considering that the skincare industry is not regulated by the FDA, being mindful of what goes on your skin can help you avoid unnecessary or harmful ingredients.

Worried about the safety of BOTOX? Get the real story here.

The number of Americans seeking aesthetic procedures is skyrocketing. According to the American Academy of Aesthetic Physicians, treatments such as chemical peels, laser procedures, and Botox and wrinkle-filler injections have increased more than 700 percent since 1997. And why not? New technology has cut costs, procedure time, recovery time, while improving results.