Dandruff – the Most Commercially Exploited Skin Condition Dandruff is a very common skin condition that causes the scalp to flake. Mild dandruff is a form of seborrheic dermatitis and is not usually a problematic issue. Moderate to severe dandruff may require a medicated shampoo like 2 % ketoconazole.  What causes dandruff?  1) Too much sebum (oily scalp). 2) A type of yeast called Malassezia. There are seven species of Malassezia   M. globosa, M. resticta, M. obtuse, M. slooffiae, M. sympodialis, M. furfur  and  M. pachydermatitis which have been recognized i ..read more

Aesthetic Medicine in the Age of Social Media Beauty and sex appeal has historically been an important part of being a woman. Cleopatra was described as “a woman of surpassing beauty” and is portrayed by Hollywood as a glamorous seductress. When I was a teenager I was a dancer and loved my Teen Vogue, Seventeen and Glamour Magazines. In our neighbourhood, many mothers made extra income selling Mary Kay, Avon and Tupperware. Not many were financially independent. That was pretty much the extent of what informed my perspective on beauty and fashion. Fast forward 40 years, here we are. Social ..read more

Ask Dr. Anna! What is IPL (Intense Pulse Light) Therapy? Photofacial or Intense Pulse Light therapy is one of many popular treatments in the beauty industry and recently Dr. Anna™ Medical Aesthetics has added IPL to its list of services. Wondering if IPL is the right choice for you? Please contact our office for more information or schedule a complimentary consultation. Intense pulsed light (IPL) is a cosmetic skin treatment that helps reduce the signs of aging, remove unwanted hair, lighten darker patches of skin, and improve the appearance of scars, spider veins and redness. IPL works in ..read more

Ask Dr. Anna! Why we stopped offering PRP for Hair Restoration? Hair loss can affect your scalp or your entire body (alopecia totalis). It can be temporary, or permanent. Herditary (male pattern balding), hormonal changes, medical conditions (lichen planus, psoriasis, chemotherapy treatment) or a normal part of aging. Hair loss can be very sudden and distressing. Risk Factors: 1) Hereditary 2) Age 3) Weight loss 4) Medical conditions like autoimmune illness 5) Prescribed medications like Imuran, Prednisone etc 6) Stress induced 7) Nutrition (lack of B vitamins, iron, protein) The gold st ..read more

Pharma Influence in Medicine Pharmaceutical companies are known to be among the most profitable companies in the world. They influence politics, policy, sponsor clinical trials, professional guidelines, and affect prescribing practices. Marketing is disguised as medical “education” using WebMD (https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/detecting-depression), Medscape (https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/286342-treatment), Spotlyte (https://practicaldermatology.com/news/allergan-launches-spotlyte), etc. and prescribing physicians are rewarded at $350/hour (GPss) and $750/hour (specialists ..read more

Ask Dr. Anna! How Laser Hair Removal Works Unwanted hair can be a frustrating issue for many people. Fortunately, several methods are available to remove hair, such as shaving and waxing; however, I find the best, safest, and most long-lasting option to be laser hair removal. But how does laser hair removal work? Let’s explore the science behind this process. The Science of Laser Hair Removal Laser hair removal works by using bright flashes of light to target the melanin in hair follicles. Melanin is the pigment that gives hair its colour. When the melanin absorbs the light, the emission co ..read more

Dr. Anna Loves: Anxiety Rx by Russell Kennedy, MD I interned at the Greater Victoria Hospital Society with Dr. Russ Kennedy in 1991. Back then I didn’t know much about Russ other than he was a good looking guy going through the rotating internship with me. It was a year of hands on experience at the Royal Jubilee and Victoria General Hospitals when 20 of us ran around the hospitals in what is the role of “hospitalists” at a fraction of the salary. I went on to specialize in Anesthesiology in Vancouver and Russ became a family doctor in Victoria. Years later I heard that he left medicine to ..read more

Ask Dr. Anna! Microplastics Global plastic production has reached a staggering 350 million tons per year, with approximately 250,000 tons floating in our oceans and the rest being on land either recycled (less than 9%) or thrown into the landfill. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Well, as we all know, plastic does not degrade; instead, it breaks down into nano- and microparticles hence accessing a new form of transportation for contamination, air and water. Microplastics are defined as being less than 5 mm in length. While overall awareness has been on the rise, the extent to which they ..read more

Ask Dr. Anna! Stress Management The Holiday Season is upon us and it’s time to Get Ready, Get Set and Party! Only to Regret, Reset, and Refocus in the New Year. How can we enjoy the Holidays, manage our expectations and our stress levels? Here are some tips from Dr. Anna and Team: Stress management is a learned skill. Don’t count on a little pill to help you deal with anxiety, insomnia or feelings of sadness. Routines are important. Set your alarm to a set time in the morning and take time for yourself to meditate, relax with a cup of tea or coffee and read a paper, or go for a walk. Breat ..read more

Ask Dr. Anna! Why do we not recommend tear trough fillers? The orbital cavity is a closed space and potentially very dangerous to inject with hyaluronic acid fillers. Depending on the viscosity of the product, fillers can last up to 10 years as seen on MRI and ultrasound. Fillers fluctuate with salt, monosodium glutamate, seasonal allergies, allergic rhinitis, blocked tear ducts, sinus infections, and dehydration from alcohol and caffeine. They are often overdone, overcorrected and people present with under eye swelling and accentuation of the periorbital fat pad. Rarely do they offer ..read more