THURSDAY, May 16 (HealthDay News) -- For those who aren't born with long, fluttery eyelashes, cosmetic extensions can help achieve that often sought-after look. But eye experts warn that the adhesives used to apply these eyelash extensions can cause allergies and infections.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) warns that among the potential dangers associated with cosmetic eyelash extensions and the adhesives used to apply them are infections of the cornea and eyelid, permanent or temporary loss of eyelashes, and eyelid swelling.

The academy said that a recent Consumer Reports article details the cases of several patients who suffered infections and allergic reactions to formaldehyde-based adhesives used with eyelash extensions.

The AAO said consumers should use caution if they're considering eyelash extensions and offered the following advice:

• Only go to an aesthetician who is certified and working at a reputable business.
• Ensure that adequate hand washing and proper hygiene is practiced by the aesthetician.
• Ask about the eyelash adhesive ingredients before getting the extensions applied.

People who develop an infection, allergic reaction or other irritation after using eyelash extensions or other eye products should immediately seek medical attention from an ophthalmologist -- a doctor who specializes in the treatment of eye conditions, the experts noted in an AAO news release.

More information

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers tips for the safe use of eye cosmetics.

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THURSDAY, May 2 (HealthDay News) -- Abnormal brain wiring may explain why some people become so fixated on their appearance that their obsession makes it hard for them to function, a new study suggests.

The study included people with body dysmorphic disorder, a mental illness that causes people to believe they are disfigured and ugly, even though they look normal.

These patients have abnormal network-wiring patterns across the brain, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), researchers discovered. Earlier UCLA research showed that people with body dysmorphic disorder process visual information abnormally. In line with that finding, this study revealed that people with this disorder have abnormal connections between brain regions involved in visual and emotional processing.

The findings, published in the May issue of the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, suggest that abnormal brain wiring in people with body dysmorphic disorder may cause impaired information processing.

"We found a strong correlation between low efficiency of connections across the whole brain and the severity of [body dysmorphic disorder]," study senior author Jamie Feusner, an associate professor of psychiatry, said in a university news release. "The less efficient patients' brain connections, the worse the symptoms, particularly for compulsive behaviors, such as checking mirrors."

For the study, the researchers examined brain scans of 14 adults with body dysmorphic disorder and 16 adults without the disorder.

The findings advance the understanding of body dysmorphic disorder by providing evidence that the "hard wiring" of patients' brain networks is abnormal, Feusner said.

"These abnormal brain networks could relate to how they perceive, feel and behave," he explained. "This is significant because it could possibly lead to us being able to identify early on if someone is predisposed to developing this problem."

Body dysmorphic disorder affects about 2 percent of the population. People with the condition fixate on minor or imagined flaws in their appearance -- such as a blemish on their face -- and some become so distraught that they can't lead normal lives.

More information

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America has more about body dysmorphic disorder.

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THURSDAY, May 2 (HealthDay News) -- Lipsticks and lip glosses apparently give you more than colorful kissers, according to a new study by California scientists that contends the products contain lead, cadmium, chromium, aluminum and five other toxic metals.

The research team tested 32 different lip glosses and lipsticks commonly sold at drug and department stores. Some metals were detected at levels that could raise potential health concerns, the researchers said.

"Lipsticks and lip glosses often have levels of toxic metals which approach or exceed acceptable daily doses based on public health guidelines," said researcher Katharine Hammond, a professor of environmental health sciences at the University of California, Berkeley.

Hammond declined to name brands tested. "I would treat these results as applicable to all lipsticks," she said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, however, does list the lead content of many lipsticks by brand on its website.

In the new study, lead was found in 24 of the 32 products, but at a concentration usually lower than the acceptable daily intake levels.

"At an average level of use, it's not likely to be an issue," Hammond said. She added that she's concerned, however, about children playing with makeup, as no level of lead exposure is considered safe for them. Heavy adult users might consider cutting down, she added.

In the study, certain colors were not more likely than others to have the toxic metals, Hammond said. Nor were glosses more likely to have them than lipsticks, or vice versa.

The study was published online May 2 in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

The new report isn't the first to focus on toxins in lipsticks. In 2007, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics tested 33 lip products and found that 61 percent contained lead, some with levels high enough to cause concern.

The current study went further than measuring the levels of lead and eight other metals. Researchers estimated risk based on the concentration of the metals detected and the users' potential daily intake -- average or high. They compared that information with existing public health guidelines about acceptable intake levels.

The researchers focused on lipstick and lip gloss, they said, because those who wear them absorb or eat them, bit by bit.

High use was defined as ingesting 87 milligrams of the product a day. That would involve repeated reapplying, Hammond said. Average use was about 24 milligrams a day.

When used at an average daily rate, the estimated intake of chromium from 10 products exceeded acceptable daily intake, the researchers found. Chromium has been linked to stomach tumors.

High use of the products, they found, also could result in overexposure to aluminum, cadmium and manganese. High manganese levels have been linked to nervous system problems.

The findings do signal a need for more public oversight, the researchers said.

The FDA regulates cosmetics safety under the authority of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Cosmetics must be safe when used as the label directs or under ordinary conditions. The FDA does not, however, require cosmetics to get pre-market approval. Color additives must get pre-market approval, in most cases. No limits for lead in cosmetics have been set by the FDA.

The FDA, however, has set specifications for lead in the color additives that are used in cosmetics.

The Personal Care Products Council, a trade association representing the cosmetics industry, said in a statement Wednesday that the lead content of lipsticks has already been studied by the FDA and that the agency decided the amounts involved were not a threat to public safety.

"Trace amounts of metals in lip products need to be put into context," Linda Loretz, chief toxicologist for the council, said in the statement. "Food is a primary source for many of these naturally present metals, and exposure from lip products is minimal in comparison. For example, daily trace amounts of chromium or cadmium from lip products based on the results in this report are less than 1 percent of daily exposures one would get from their diet. In the case of manganese, typical daily intake from food is more than 1000-fold greater than the amount from lip products."

"Cosmetic companies are required by law to substantiate the safety of their products before they are marketed. Nothing matters more to cosmetic companies than the safety and the well-being of the people who use and enjoy them," Loretz added.

The findings are not surprising, said Dr. Luz Fonacier, head of the allergy and training program at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y. Many lip products are packaged in metal containers, she said, "and this may affect the amount detected by investigators."

"I agree with the authors that there should be U.S. standards for metal content in cosmetics and that monitoring of metals in cosmetics, especially those with a higher likelihood of ingestion or absorption, should be done," Fonacier said.

Dr. Ken Spaeth is director of occupational and environmental medicine at North Shore-LIJ Health System in New Hyde Park, N.Y. He reviewed the findings and has written a book for doctors on detecting heavy metal exposure problems.

He said, "The findings should certainly raise concern about the use of the products."

Certain people should be especially careful about exposure, he said, including pregnant women and teens. "The fetus is particularly susceptible," he said. "And brain development continues throughout adolescence."

More information

To learn more about cosmetic regulation, including lipstick and lead, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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TUESDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- For the many pregnant women who are concerned about how beauty products, such as hair dyes and skin creams, will affect their developing baby, an expert offers some advice on what is safe.

"Women face a lot of uncertainty as their bodies change during pregnancy, and many worry about how to look their best," Dr. Mary Rosser, of the department of obstetrics and gynecology and women's health at Montefiore Medical Center, said in a Montefiore news release.

"We work hard to separate truth from fiction to put mothers at ease and help them figure out ways to make this special time in their lives consistent with the way they're used to living and looking," Rosser explained.

Women should try to avoid using hair dyes during pregnancy, she advised. Pregnant women who want to color their hair should do so after the first trimester and in a well-ventilated space. Women should tell their hair stylist that they are pregnant and ask them to try to prevent the chemicals from touching their scalp, Rosser noted.

The main concern with hair dyes is breathing the ammonia fumes that could be harmful to the developing baby in the first three months of pregnancy. The fumes in hair straightening products are also an issue, she said.

Highlights are considered safer because the dye is enclosed in foil and won't be absorbed into the skin. Rosser added that vegetable dyes such as henna are likely the safest choice during pregnancy.

Pregnant women can get a standard manicure after the first trimester, when the risk to the developing baby is lower. Check that the instruments have been sterilized and ask the nail technician not to cut the cuticles. This will prevent exposure to germs, according to Rosser, who is also an assistant professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology and women's health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, in New York City.

Pregnant women should avoid acrylic nails. The chemicals and adhesives can contain cyanoacrylate, which can be harmful. This substance can be inhaled in the dust when nails are filed, so wear a mask and make sure there is proper ventilation in the nail salon, Rosser suggested.

Pregnant women with acne should wear oil-free cosmetics and wash their face twice a day with a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water. If acne persists, ask your doctor for a prescription for erythromycin. Do not use Retin A or tetracycline, which can cause birth defects, Rosser warned.

Wearing sunscreen can prevent dark circles around the eyes and darkening pigment of the skin. Rubbing vitamin E on the areas most likely to be affected by stretch marks may be helpful, she noted.

"The most important thing to remember is that this is a happy time in your life and you are beautiful just by nature of being a pregnant woman," Rosser said. "As long as you make smart choices, get plenty of rest, drink lots of water and eat a healthy, balanced diet, you can enjoy your pregnancy, look and feel good, and have a healthy baby!"

More information

The American Academy of Family Physicians outlines how pregnant women can look after themselves and their developing baby.

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MONDAY, April 29 (HealthDay News) -- More women are getting arm lifts, according to newly released statistics, with the number growing from about 300 procedures in 2000 to about 15,000 in 2012.

This type of cosmetic procedure can include removal of fat by liposuction or surgery called brachioplasty, in which loose skin is removed from the back of the arms.

The rise is being driven by sleeveless fashions and celebrities -- including first lady Michelle Obama -- who have ultra-toned arms, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

There were nearly 15,500 arm-lift procedures done in the United States last year, an increase of 3 percent from 2011. Women accounted for 98 percent of the arm lifts in 2012.

Arm lifts are most popular among people over age 40. Last year, 43 percent of patients were aged 40 to 54, while 33 percent were over age 55. The average cost is nearly $4,000 and the total spent on arm lifts in 2012 was $61 million, according to the ASPS.

"Women are paying more attention to their arms in general and are becoming more aware of options to treat this area," ASPS president Dr. Gregory Evans said in a society news release. "For some women, the arms have always been a troublesome area and, along with proper diet and exercise, liposuction can help refine them. Others may opt for a brachioplasty when there is a fair amount of loose skin present with minimal elasticity."

People need to carefully consider the pros and cons of having an arm lift, particularly a brachioplasty, said Dr. David Reath, chairman of the ASPS public education committee.

"It's a trade-off. We get rid of the skin, but we leave a scar," Reath said in the news release. "As long as there's enough improvement to be made in the shape of the arm to justify the scar, then it's a great procedure."

Another expert offered an explanation for the trend.

"I'm not surprised by these numbers, given that I work in a bariatric practice (where we perform over 450 weight-loss surgery cases per year)," said Sharon Zarabi, a nutritionist and fitness trainer at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "Many patients lose over 100 pounds, resulting in excess skin around their arms, waist and thighs. As the number of [bariatric] surgeries increase, so will the number of brachioplasties and reconstructive surgery."

Zarabi added that women should think carefully before choosing arm lifts.

"Surgery should be [the] last resort, only after coupling an exercise program with proper diet limiting salt, carbohydrates and eating high protein and nutrient-dense foods," she stressed.

More information

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery has more about arm lifts.

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MONDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) -- Laser-assisted liposuction might provide an option for people who want stubborn pockets of fat removed but fear they'll be left with loose skin.

Traditional liposuction, a fat-removing cosmetic surgery procedure, is generally reserved for people with firm skin to reduce the risk of sagging afterward. But the addition of lasers could spur tightening of the skin, researchers say.

The researchers looked at the extent of skin tightening in nearly 2,200 women and men who received laser liposuction in various body regions, including the belly, thighs and arms. The relatively new procedure was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2006.

Three months after laser liposuction, the researchers found that patients had between 20 percent and 80 percent skin tightening, meaning their skin contracted to within 20 percent and 80 percent of what would be expected for the volume of fat removed. The amount that the skin "bounced back" depended on the elasticity of the skin to start with and the body area treated.

The amount of skin tightening with laser liposuction is probably about 50 percent better than what would have been achieved with traditional liposuction, said Dr. Abbas Chamsuddin, study lead author and an interventional radiologist at the Center for Laser and Interventional Surgery in Atlanta.

The researchers did not, however, include a group that received traditional liposuction for comparison. To see how laser liposuction stacks up, Chamsuddin would like to conduct another study in which a second group of patients receives traditional liposuction.

The study is scheduled for presentation Monday at the annual meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology in New Orleans.

The newer form of liposuction also has the potential to remove more fat than traditional liposuction and lead to less blood loss because the laser dries the blood vessels, Chamsuddin said.

The procedures for laser and traditional liposuction have similarities. Both involve injecting a solution into the fat to numb the area and shrink blood vessels in the region (to reduce blood loss), and making a cut of about one-tenth of an inch, Chamsuddin said.

Whereas traditional liposuction involves sucking the fat out in solid form using a hollow pen-like device, laser liposuction melts the fat with a laser before vacuuming it out with a similar pen-like device.

After the fat removal, doctors use a laser of a different wavelength that is absorbed by skin cells to create an "artificial burn" that tells the body to release collagen in the area, which causes the skin to tighten, Chamsuddin said.

A third type of liposuction, which is more common than laser liposuction, uses ultrasound to achieve a similar effect of melting the fat. Chamsuddin said, however, that fat cells absorb the laser energy better than ultrasonic energy.

The average age of participants in the current study was 38, and about 75 percent were women, Chamsuddin said. The most common areas treated were the belly, "love handles," thighs and arms. The volume of fat removed ranged from 30 percent to 90 percent, depending on the body area.

A similar amount of fat can be removed with traditional or ultrasound liposuction, said Dr. Jeffrey Kenkel, a professor of plastic surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

"The main thing being promoted with laser liposuction is improved skin tightening, but there is not a lot of objective evidence," Kenkel said. Although a previous small study found that skin tightening was about 50 percent better with laser compared to traditional liposuction, the degree of skin tightening was low with both procedures and the difference was probably not meaningful for patients, he said.

"You are going to need firm skin no matter what the procedure," Kenkel said.

Kenkel also is worried about the safety of laser liposuction. The lasers heat the skin to high temperatures, which can cause burns and scarring if not used properly, he said.

Chamsuddin thinks the risk of bruising is similar for laser and traditional liposuction. He thinks that the use of laser leads to more pain, however, because it causes tissue burns. In his study, most participants complained of cramping and burning sensations for several days after the procedure.

Although the price of laser liposuction varies, it is generally between $2,000 and $4,000 for the arms, belly and thighs. The price of traditional liposuction can be between $2,000 and $10,000 depending on the body area and facility where it is done, Kenkel said.

Most health insurance plans do not cover liposuction.

The findings of this study have not been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal and should be considered preliminary.

More information

For more information about liposuction, visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons .

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MONDAY, April 8 (HealthDay News) -- Rekindling the old debate on whether size matters, new research finds that women may take a man's penile endowment as a key factor in "mate selection," ranking it as important as his height.

Besides making some men insecure, the research might offer insight into evolution and the fact that humans have especially large penises for their size.

The research, which has limitations, isn't definitive. The women were only asked to consider the attractiveness of hairless, mannequin-like depictions of men with flaccid penises. None of the women lived outside the Western world. And other research has shown that human females, contrary to popular belief, aren't especially interested in penis size.

Still, the findings suggest that "penis size matters," said study lead author Brian Mautz, currently a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Ottawa, in Canada. However, he added, "It's relative. Other traits like height and body shape are important too. And they all seem to interact to contribute to attractiveness."

Mautz, then at the Australian National University, and colleagues launched their study in an attempt to better understand how evolution affected the development of the human penis. Unlike some other mammals, the size of a human penis is obvious at first glance -- at least when men are naked -- and evolution may have favored men with larger ones.

The researchers gathered 105 Australian heterosexual women whose average age was 26 and asked them to rank the attractiveness of 53 images of computer-generated naked "men" of various heights and body shapes and with various flaccid penis lengths.

The apparent measurements of the computerized "men" were based on a study of more than 1,000 Italian men. The longest flaccid penis length in the images was the equivalent of 5.1 inches in real life.

The researchers found that greater penis size made the "men" more attractive, even the shorter ones who were considered the least attractive overall. But the boost in attractiveness was "not in a fashion where a 1-centimeter increase equals a 1-percent increase in attractiveness," Mautz said. "It's more complex."

It's not necessarily surprising that women were more attracted to men with larger penises, Mautz said. What is surprising is that it had an equal effect on attractiveness as greater height, he said. And larger penises made more of a difference in a man's attractiveness if he was taller.

The study appeared online April 8 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Previous research linked greater height to positive differences in men's lives. Taller men have a greater chance of attaining leadership positions and having more sexual partners, Mautz noted.

The new study didn't consider the wide variety of factors that could affect a modern woman's choice in a mate, from personality to wealth to his level of attraction toward her.

Even so, the researchers speculated that women's preference for larger penises could have played a role in the evolution of the human body. Men with larger penises may have had more children and passed on the trait because they were more likely to attract women.

Sai Gaddam, a neuroscientist who has written about the psychology and biology of human sexuality, said the study introduces "a useful method to tease apart the factors that make us attractive. But do the aesthetic judgments of computer-generated male mannequins by 105 Australian women reveal a factor in mate attractiveness? Not yet," he said.

"I am guessing you would find similar results if the study was done with men," Gaddam suggested. "That is, men passing aesthetic judgment on computer-generated male models. What conclusions would we derive from that?"

It is clear that women aren't especially drawn to penises, he said, although heterosexual men often think the opposite is true: "Our own analysis of male and female erotica revealed that men are far more interested in penises than women are."

More information

For more about evolution, try the University of California, Berkeley.

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TUESDAY, March 26 (HealthDay News) -- As thousands of college students head to sunny spots for spring break, getting temporary tattoos may seem like a fun thing to do. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that they can cause blisters and permanent scarring.

While the ink used for permanent tattoos is injected into the skin, temporary tattoos are applied to the skin's surface. Temporary tattoos often use "black henna," which may contain a coal-tar hair dye containing p-phenylenediamine (PPD), an ingredient that can cause dangerous skin reactions in some people.

By law, PPD is not permitted in cosmetics intended to be applied to the skin, the FDA noted.

The agency has received reports of serious and long-lasting reactions in people who received temporary black henna tattoos. The reported problems include redness, blisters, raised red weeping lesions, loss of pigmentation, increased sensitivity to sunlight and permanent scarring. The reactions can occur immediately or up to two or three weeks later.

Incidents involving black henna tattoos that were reported to the FDA include:

• A 5-year-old girl who developed severe reddening on her forearm about two weeks after receiving a tattoo.
• A 17-year-old girl whose skin became red and itchy and later began to blister.
• A mother who said her teenager daughter's back looked "the way a burn victim looks, all blistered and raw." A doctor said the girl will have scarring for life.

The FDA said that people who have a reaction to, or concern about, a temporary tattoo should contact a health care professional and contact MedWatch, which is the agency's safety information and problem-reporting program. This can be done online or by phoning 1-800-FDA-1088.

More information

The Nemours Foundation offers youngsters information about tattoos.

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MONDAY, March 18 (HealthDay News) -- Here's a caution in the hairless-body craze. Pubic hair removal could boost your risk for a pox infection, French researchers say.

Skin irritation brought on by either shaving, clipping or waxing the genital area could explain the recent increase among healthy adults of a minor sexually transmitted virus called molluscum contagiosum, the researchers suggest.

"Genital hair removal has become a fashion phenomenon in the last decade," noted case study lead author Dr. Francois Desruelles, of the department of dermatology at Archet Hospital in Nice.

"At the same time, the number of cases of molluscum contagiosum has risen," he added.

This association needs to be confirmed by controlled studies, Desruelles said. But he believes the growing popularity of genital hair removal, seen in men as well as women, may raise the risk of molluscum contagiosum.

The practice may also increase the risk for developing genital warts due to infection with papillomavirus, he said.

Desruelles and his colleagues describe their observations in a letter published online March 19 in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections.

The molluscum contagiosum rash is usually seen in children or people with impaired immune systems, but it is also sexually transmitted. To look into a possible link between the condition and hair removal, the authors studied 30 infected French patients who sought the services of a private skin care clinic in Nice in 2011 and 2012.

The average age of the patients was about 30 years, and 24 of them were men. To varying degrees, all displayed the telltale signs of infection: pearl-like, raised skin bumps. In four cases, the bumps had spread up the abdominal region; in one, they had moved down the thigh.

Almost all of the patients had undergone pubic hair removal, the investigators found. Shaving was the method of choice for 70 percent; 10 percent chose waxing and 13 percent chose clipping.

One-third of the patients suffered from an assortment of other skin issues, such as warts, bacterial skin infections, cysts, scars, and/or ingrown hairs. But the authors theorized that ultimately the pox virus may have spread through "self-infection," meaning scratching irritated skin, which was likely provoked by the hair removal process.

Genital shaving in particular appeared to elevate infection risk.

"Laser hair removal doesn't seem to be involved in this association," Desruelles said, "because there are no microscopic cuts or bleeding during the removal of hair. For the same reason, waxing could be less 'at risk' than shaving."

However, genital shaving may have some "positive aspects," Desruelles said, noting that the practice may help curb the spread of pubic lice. Bloomberg News recently reported that with 80 percent of American college students now waxing, clipping, and shaving away all or some of their genital hair, pubic lice cases have dramatically dropped.

Dr. Anupam Jena, an assistant professor in the department of health care policy and medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, said "it's certainly reasonable" to envision a connection between genital shaving and viral risk, but more research is needed before drawing a direct causal link.

"If you were to tell me that the rates of this STD [sexually transmitted disease] are higher in men or women who do hair removal of this kind I wouldn't be surprised," he said. "But it's hard to say whether this is a matter of cause and effect, or whether people who undergo this hair removal are more likely to engage in sexual activities that might increase their risk for contracting STDs to begin with?"

The hygiene at the particular place where these patients underwent hair removal may have played a role in the findings, Jena added.

"For now, in terms of whether or not individuals should interpret this to mean that they shouldn't undergo hair removal of this kind, I would say there's no need for alarm," Jena said.

The rash associated with molluscum usually disappears within a year without treatment and without scarring, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More information

For more on molluscum contagiosum, visit the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

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FRIDAY, March 15 (HealthDay News) -- If people think about their sinuses at all, it's usually because they are blocked or infected. But, according to a new study, the so-called maxillary sinuses play an important role in the shape and function of the nose.

The findings dispel the long-held belief that these sinuses -- bulbous pouches located on either side of the nose -- are evolutionary leftovers with little useful function in modern humans.

In the University of Iowa-led study, researchers studied the faces of 20 people of African origin and 20 people of European origin.

The investigators concluded that the maxillary sinuses change their size in order to "allow the nose to change shape without affecting other areas of the face," lead author Nathan Holton, a biological anthropologist, said in a university news release.

This is important because different nose shapes evolved based on climate conditions. Among people in colder areas, the nose became narrower and longer in order to better trap air in the nasal passage and warm and moisten it before it reaches the lungs. Among people in warmer regions, the nose is broader and shorter because the air is already warm and moist. The main goal of the nose is to get air to the lungs as quickly as possible, the study authors pointed out in the news release.

On average, the maxillary sinuses in the people of European origin were 36 percent larger than those of African origin, in faces of roughly the same size. This is because the narrower noses of Europeans allows more room for maxillary sinuses, the researchers explained.

"Essentially, by having these sinuses, that's what allows the nose to change its shape, at least in terms of width and independently from other parts of the face," Holton said.

The study was published in the March issue of The Anatomical Record.

More information

The Nemours Foundation has more about sinuses and sinus problems.

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FRIDAY, March 15 (HealthDay News) -- For patients considering plastic surgery to correct their facial profile, changing the nose and chin simultaneously may provide the most satisfying results, Italian researchers say.

Moreover, success of the combination rhinoplasty (nose) and genioplasty (chin) appears to continue long term with minimal change, or instability, in the shape of the patient's chin, according to the new study.

"We can for sure improve facial profile with stable results with rhinoplasty alone, but the association with genioplasty is fundamental and necessary to achieve the best aesthetic result," said lead researcher Dr. Dario Bertossi, an associate professor in the department of surgery at the University of Verona.

The nose-chin-neck relationship strongly determines an "aesthetically proportionate" face, the authors explained in the study. This is why someone having a successful "nose job" can still end up with a face that lacks pleasing proportions.

The combination surgery, which is done regularly, is often the better solution, especially for people enlarging a small chin (microgenia), the authors added.

"Genioplasty, if performed with bone remodeling, is a stable operation which guarantees long-term results," Bertossi said.

Doing both procedures at the same time makes sense, said Dr. Jeffrey Salomon, an assistant clinical professor of plastic surgery at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn. It reduces overall patient costs and avoids a second procedure and recovery period, according to Salomon, who was not involved with the study.

Because these are usually cosmetic procedures, they are not covered by insurance and can run from $7,000 to 12,000, Salomon noted. "You can double that for New York City or Miami. It's cosmetic, so whatever the market will bear," he said.

For the study, published online March 14 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery, Bertossi's group followed 90 people who had their noses and chins reshaped simultaneously between January 2002 and January 2004.

Over three years of follow-up, the researchers found that almost half (45.6 percent) of those who had their chin reduced had no subsequent changes in the new chin.

For those who had chin extensions, 52 percent had a "stable" profile three years later, meaning no more than a millimeter of change, the researchers noted.

Salomon pointed out that each of these surgeries does carry some element of risk.

Nose surgery may be more problematic than chin surgery. "It is decidedly harder to get good rhinoplasty results compared with genioplasty," Salomon said. Also, all nose jobs subtly change over the first 12 to 24 months, he added.

"Complications of rhinoplasties are not uncommon," Salomon said. "There are some surgeons known to be the 'go-to surgeons' for secondary or tertiary nose-job revisions, and those surgeons get their referrals from other surgeons who had bad results."

For chins, "most competent surgeons can get terrific genioplasty results either by cutting and sliding the existing chin forward or by using an off-the-shelf chin implant," he said.

Enhancing the chin by cutting the bone and sliding it into a new, more advanced position is more invasive and more costly compared with just inserting a chin implant, and the recovery is longer, Salomon said.

There is also more risk for complications, including nerve damage, and the screws and plates used to stabilize the bone as it heals can damage tooth roots, he explained.

"If the bone doesn't heal, a secondary procedure may be required," Salomon said.

Even chin implants, which he termed "convenient," can erode into the underlying bone. "The erosion can be significant enough to result in loss of previous advancement. Therefore, the results of a bony genioplasty have more stable long-term results," Salomon said.

More information

For more information on plastic and cosmetic surgery, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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FRIDAY, March 1 (HealthDay News) -- Many women like gel manicures because they are durable and long-lasting, but frequent use can cause nail thinning, brittleness, peeling and cracking, and also hide nail disease, an expert warns.

"In general, any manicure left in place for an extended period of time is not a good idea because you are not seeing what is going on underneath the nail polish," Dr. Chris Adigun, an assistant professor of dermatology at the New York University School of Medicine in New York City, said in an American Academy of Dermatology news release.

"As is the case with most things, moderation is the key when it comes to gel manicures," she said. "If you get them regularly, you need to be aware of the possible consequences and see a board-certified dermatologist if a persistent nail problem develops."

It's unclear whether nail brittleness associated with gel manicures is caused by chemicals in the gel nail polish or by the acetone soaks needed to remove the polish. Acetone dries nails and irritates the skin around the nail, Adigun said.

She said women who get frequent gel manicures need to know that the UV light used to cure the gel is a risk factor for skin cancer. Also, photo damage from the UV light can cause cosmetic changes in the skin surrounding nails.

Another potential problem is that nails continually covered in polish hide any problems occurring under the nail, such as an infection or tumor. This could delay diagnosis and treatment, she said.

Adigun offered the following tips for getting gel manicures:

• Pay attention to your nails and allow them to regrow and repair. Consider getting gel manicures only occasionally to decrease the risk of problems.
• When getting gel manicures, wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen on your hands to minimize damage caused by exposure to UV light during the curing process.
• Tell the manicurist not to push or manipulate the cuticle because that will increase the risk of inflammation and infection and also dry out the nail.
• Use traditional nail polish instead of gel nail polish if you have recurring nail problems, or if you have an allergy to acetone, which is used to remove gel manicures.
• Rehydrate your nails several times a day with a moisturizing product, such as petroleum jelly, to combat brittleness, thinning and chipping.
• When removing gel nail polish, do not chip it with other nails or tools.
• Soak only the nails, not the whole hand or fingers, in acetone while nail polish is being removed. This will help prevent skin irritation. If you get gel manicures frequently, consider buying finger wraps that expose only the nails and protect surrounding skin.
• If you notice any unusual changes to the nails, see a dermatologist.

More information

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more about nail-care products.

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WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27 (HealthDay News) -- If you're thinking about getting breast implants, there are some things you need to know before you make your decision, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

In the United States, two types of breast implants are approved for sale: saline-filled implants (those filled with a saltwater solution) and silicone gel-filled implants. Both have a silicone outer shell and vary in size, shell thickness and shape. The implants are used for increasing breast size, for reconstruction after breast cancer surgery or injury, and to correct developmental defects.

Women need to understand that breast implants are not lifetime devices. The longer a woman has breast implants, the greater the chances that she will develop complications, some of which will require surgery, according to the FDA.

"The life of these devices varies according to the individual," Gretchen Burns, a nurse consultant at the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in an FDA news release. "All women with implants will face additional surgeries -- no one can tell them when."

A few women have kept their original implants for 20 to 30 years, but "that is not the common experience," Burns said.

Women considering breast implants need to thoroughly research each type of implant to learn about their characteristics, the agency said. This information can be found in the Summary of Safety and Effectiveness Data label section for each implant. These summaries provide information about the use, risks, warnings, precautions and studies associated with FDA approval of each implant.

Ask your surgeon for the most recent version of the labeling of a breast implant. You should have at least one to two weeks to review the information before making a decision, the FDA said. In some cases, however, surgery may need to be performed sooner.

Ask surgeons about their experience with implants, the surgery and the way the implants might affect your life. Be sure to tell your surgeon about previous surgeries and your body's response -- for example, whether surgery resulted in excessive scar tissue -- and outline your expectations.

Learn about the long-term risks of breast implants. For example, women with breast implants may have a slightly increased risk of anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the FDA said.

Women with silicone implants should get MRI screenings to detect ruptures three years after receiving the implants and every two years after that.

Burns said women with breast implants need to continue to perform breast self-examinations and to get mammograms to screen for early signs of cancer.

"Just because you have implants doesn't mean you can ignore other breast health recommendations," she said.

More information

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration outlines the risks of breast implants.

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WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27 (HealthDay News) -- A genetically modified protein could provide the first effective treatment for the skin condition vitiligo, a new study in mice suggests.

People with vitiligo have white patches on the face, hands and other parts of the body. Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system becomes overactive and kills the pigment cells that give skin its color.

Researchers at the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine developed a genetically modified protein that reversed vitiligo in mice and had similar effects on human skin tissue samples. Findings from animal studies do not always hold up in human trials, however.

A protein called HSP70i plays a major role in the autoimmune response that causes vitiligo. The researchers genetically modified an amino acid in the protein in order to create a mutant version of HSP70i. This version replaces normal HSP70i and reverses the autoimmune response that causes vitiligo, the study authors explained in a Loyola news release.

When the mutant HSP70i was given to mice with vitiligo, their salt-and-pepper fur turned black, giving them a normal appearance. The mutant protein had a similar effect on human skin samples, according to the study, published in the current issue of the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Researcher I. Caroline Le Poole, a professor in Loyola's Oncology Institute, and colleagues are seeking approval and funding to conduct a clinical trial of the modified protein in humans.

About 1 million Americans have vitiligo, which affects about one in 200 people worldwide. There are no long-term effective treatments for the condition. Current options include steroid creams, light therapy and skin grafts, but none of them can prevent vitiligo from progressing.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases has more about vitiligo.

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WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20 (HealthDay News) -- The emerging field of 3-D printing is able to now create artificial human ears that look and act like real ears, researchers say.

The artificial ears could give hope to children born with ear deformities or people who have lost all or part of their ear in an accident or from cancer, said the Cornell University team.

Currently, many artificial ears are made with materials that have a Styrofoam-like feeling. Or surgeons can build ears from a patient's rib, but this is challenging and painful for children and the ears rarely look completely natural or perform well, according to the study authors.

The new process begins with a digitized 3-D image of a patient's ear, which is turned into a mold using a 3-D printer. A special gel that contains collagen is injected into the mold. The collagen serves as a scaffold upon which cartilage can grow.

The process is fast, according to co-lead author Lawrence Bonassar, an associate professor of biomedical engineering.

"It takes half a day to design the mold, a day or so to print it, 30 minutes to inject the gel, and we can remove the ear 15 minutes later. We trim the ear and then let it culture for several days in nourishing cell culture media before it is implanted," he explained in a university news release.

The artificial ears are practically identical to natural ears, according to the researchers.

Children born with a rare deformity called microtia -- poorly developed outer ears -- may be key beneficiaries of the new technology. Microtia occurs in anywhere from one to four in every 10,000 births, the researchers noted. These children have an intact inner ear but they suffer hearing loss due to an insufficient outer ear.

Study co-author Dr. Jason Spector, director of the Laboratory for Bioregenerative Medicine and Surgery and associate professor of plastic surgery at Weill Cornell in New York City, said the best time to implant a bioengineered ear would be around the age of 5 or 6, because the human ear is already at 80 percent of its adult size by then.

The study was published online Feb. 20 in the journal PLoS One.

If tests go well and prove the safety and effectiveness of the prosthetic, the first human implant of this new type of artificial ear could take place in as soon as three years, the Cornell team said.

More information

The American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery discusses ear plastic surgery.

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TUESDAY, Feb. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Evidence of the economic upturn can be found in more than housing starts and auto sales: A new report shows that the number of cosmetic procedures grew 5 percent in 2012.

Botox injections and other types of minimally invasive treatments led the way as more people opted for these types of facial rejuvenation procedures, while the number who chose to "go under the knife" remained relatively stable, the findings revealed.

In total, there were 14.6 million minimally invasive and surgical plastic surgery procedures in 2012. There were also 5.6 million reconstructive plastic surgery procedures last year, an increase of 1 percent from 2011, according to annual statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

Minimally invasive procedures increased 6 percent, with more than 13 million procedures in 2012. The top five were:

• Botox injections, also called Botulinum toxin type A (6.1 million procedures, up 8 percent)
• Soft tissue fillers (2 million procedures, up 5 percent)
• Chemical peel (1.1 million procedures, up 2 percent)
• Laser hair removal (1.1 million procedures, up 4 percent)
• Microdermabrasion (974,000 procedures, up 8 percent)

There were nearly 1.6 million cosmetic surgical procedures in 2012, a 2 percent decrease from 2011. The top five surgical procedures last year were:

• Breast augmentation (286,000 procedures, down 7 percent)
• Nose reshaping (243,000 procedures, no change)
• Liposuction (202,000 procedures, down 1 percent)
• Eyelid surgery (204,000 procedures, up 4 percent)
• Facelift (126,000 procedures, up 6 percent).

While cosmetic breast surgeries among women decreased 2 percent between 2011 and 2012, male breast reduction surgeries increased 5 percent, to nearly 21,000 in 2012, the report said.

"For the third consecutive year, the overall growth in cosmetic surgery continues to be driven by a significant rise in minimally invasive procedures, while surgical procedures remain relatively stable. We are aware, however, that patients who begin with less-invasive treatments with a plastic surgeon may opt for more invasive, surgical procedures once required," Dr. Gregory Evans, ASPS president, said in a society news release.

Reconstructive plastic surgery increased by 1 percent in 2012 and the top five procedures were:

• Tumor removal (4.2 million, up 1 percent)
• Laceration repair (291,000, down 4 percent)
• Maxillofacial surgery (209,000, up 7 percent)
• Scar revision (171,000, down 2 percent)
• Hand surgery (123,000, up 3 percent).

Reconstructive breast reduction increased 8 percent, with 68,000 procedures performed in 2012, the report noted.

"Although breast reduction has many physical and psychological benefits for women with overly large breasts, obstacles remain in acquiring insurance coverage," Evans said. "It's promising to see gains in this and other beneficial, medically necessary surgeries."

More information

The U.S. National Library of Medicine has more about plastic and cosmetic surgery.

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SATURDAY, Feb. 16 (HealthDay News) -- It takes more than a specially formulated shampoo or lotion to get rid of head lice, according to an expert from the University of California, San Francisco.

Lice don't fly or jump, so they spread when kids' heads are close together, explained Dr. Paradi Mirmirani, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology. Mirmirani advised that anything that touches the head of a person with lice must be washed in hot water, including clothes, hats, sheets, pillowcases and blankets. She added carpets and furniture must also be vacuumed and non-washable items, like stuffed animals, should be sealed in a plastic bag for several weeks.

To get rid of lice, however, parents must first recognize the problem.

"See if your child has lice by sitting him or her under a bright light and separating hair into sections," said Mirmirani in a news release from the American Academy of Dermatology. "Search each section for eggs -- called nits -- that look like tiny seeds attached to the hair. One quick way to recognize lice is that, in contrast to dandruff, the nits cannot be easily removed from the hair."

Live nits are clear and can be found close to the scalp. Nits that haven't yet hatched may appear yellow, brown or tan. Both nits and lice are usually found in the hair behind the ears and the nape of the neck.

Parents who discover head lice should wash their child's hair with a shampoo or lotion that is formulated to kill lice. Usually these shampoos must be left in the hair for a few minutes before rinsing. Mirmirani pointed out that there are many anti-lice products and each has its own set of directions, which should be followed carefully.

Once the hair has been washed, the specially designed lice comb that comes with the shampoo should be used to remove the lice as well as the nits. The comb should continue to be used once a day for several weeks to ensure all the nits are gone.

After the initial treatment, Mirmirani added, the hair should not be washed again for a few days to allow the medication in the shampoo to keep working. Within a week to 10 days, the process may need to be repeated to kill any remaining nits that may have hatched.

Although anti-lice shampoos are necessary to get rid of lice, avoid lice-killing sprays, Mirmirani cautioned. These chemicals may do more harm than good, she explained.

Families should also avoid sharing hats, scarves, combs or brushes. If all of these steps are taken but lice keep coming back, it's time to see a dermatologist.

"If your child or someone else in your family still has lice after a few weeks, it could be because the shampoo didn't work," said Mirmirani. "See a board-certified dermatologist for advice on further treatment. Some highly effective treatments for head lice are only available by prescription."

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about head lice.

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FRIDAY, Feb. 8 (HealthDay News) -- It seems that tattoos are everywhere these days, but along with the increase in people getting inked, the number of Americans undergoing procedures to have a tattoo removed is also on the rise, experts say.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates both tattoo inks and the laser devices used to remove the body art, cautioned that deciding to have a tattoo removed is a lot easier than the removal process itself. The experts advised that tattoo removal is a painstaking process and the result may not be perfect.

A January 2012 poll by Harris Interactive showed that of the 21 percent of American adults who have a tattoo, 14 percent regret their decision to get one. This research may come as no surprise to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, which reports that its doctors performed nearly 100,000 tattoo removal procedures last year, an increase of 14,000 from 2010.

Although more Americans are taking steps to remove their tattoos, the FDA noted that removing tattoo ink is easier said than done. The agency explained that when a tattoo is created, an electrically powered machine injects ink past the outer layer of skin into the dermis, or the second layer of skin. Dermis cells are more stable so the ink placed there will be permanent.

Safe tattoo removal requires laser surgery performed by a dermatologist who specializes in tattoo removal, said the FDA's Mehmet Kosoglu, who reviews applications for marketing clearances of laser-devices. The lasers emit concentrated light energy in short bursts, which is absorbed into the pigment. The lasers then break the pigment apart into smaller particles, which are metabolized, stored or excreted by the body.

Several types of lasers have been FDA-approved as light-based, prescription devices to lighten or remove tattoos, including a laser workstation marketed by a Massachusetts-based company to remove both tattoos and benign skin lesions.

The procedure, which uses pulsed lasers that emit concentrated light energy in short bursts, complies with FDA requirements for safety and effectiveness and has been used in tattoo removal for the past two decades. The entire process takes time and the results may not be perfect.

FDA experts pointed out various colors of ink absorb different wavelengths of light, so tattoos with more than one color may need more than one type of laser. They noted that lighter colors, such as green, red and yellow, are harder to remove than dark colors, such as blue or black.

From start to finish, tattoo removal typically requires six to 10 treatments, depending on its size and colors. A few weeks of healing time is required between treatments, the FDA added.

"Complete removal, with no scarring, is sometimes not possible," Kosoglu said in an FDA news release.

The pain involved in the process of laser tattoo removal varies from person to person. The sensation involved has been compared to being spattered with drops of hot bacon grease or being snapped with a rubber band. The treatment can also be adjusted depending on a patient's comfort level.

The FDA said laser devices are cleared for use by, or under the supervision of, a health care professional who understands which laser to use, how skin will react and how to treat the skin after the procedure.

"If you have any concerns about having a tattoo removed, it's a good idea to consult your dermatologist, who is knowledgeable about laser treatments," FDA dermatologist Dr. Markham Luke said in the news release.

Dermabrasion, or "sanding" away the top layer of skin, cutting away the tattoo and sewing the skin back together, is another FDA-approved method of tattoo removal. The safety and effectiveness of tattoo-removal ointments and creams that you can buy online, however, has not been confirmed.

"The FDA has not approved them, and is not aware of any clinical evidence that they work," Luke said. He noted that these products may actually cause skin reactions, such as rashes, burning, scarring or changes in skin pigmentation.

The FDA report was published online Jan. 30 on the agency's Consumer Updates page.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides more information on the risks associated with tattoos.

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SATURDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Shaving can sometimes be rough, but there are ways for men and women to get a smooth shave with a minimum amount of skin irritation, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Wet your skin and hair to soften it before you shave. Taking a shower or bath makes it easy. After you apply a shaving cream or gel, be sure to shave in the direction that the hair grows.

To minimize skin irritation, change razor blades or throw away disposable razors after five to seven shaves.

Men with acne need to take special care because skin irritation caused by shaving can make acne worse, according to the AAD. These men should experiment with electric or disposable blade razors to see which one works best for them. Razors should have sharp blades.

Use a light touch when shaving to prevent nicks and don't try to shave off acne, as both can make acne worse.

"If you have any questions about shaving, especially shaving acne-prone skin, see a board-certified dermatologist," Dr. Thomas Rohrer, a dermatologist in Chestnut Hill, Mass., said in an AAD news release. "Treating an underlying skin condition, such as acne, can go a long way in reducing irritation caused by shaving."

More information

The Nemours Foundation offers children an overview of shaving.

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WEDNESDAY, Jan. 16 (HealthDay News) -- People's preferences for a partner's height appear to play a major role in selecting a mate, according to a new study.

Based on the average heights of men and women in Western nations, two of every 100 couples should include a woman who is much taller than her male partner. But the actual frequency of such couples is much lower, Gert Stulp and colleagues at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands reported online Jan. 16 in the journal PLoS One.

Previous studies have found that men generally prefer women who are shorter than they are, and women tend to prefer men who are taller, the study authors noted. However, tall men and short women seem to prefer larger height differences with their partner, while tall women and short men prefer smaller height differences.

In the previous research, these trends were analyzed only in terms of people's preferences or expectations, according to background information in a journal news release. In this new study, Stulp's team examined how these preferences actually affected their choice in partners.

The analysis of more than 10,000 couples in the United Kingdom found that these trends were evident, and that the difference in height between men and women in the couples tended to be less than 8 inches.

However, the patterns seen in these couples were not as frequent as expected based on people's preferences from previous research.

So, "while preferences for partner height generally translate into actual pairing, they do so only modestly," the study authors concluded.

More information

HelpGuide.org has more about relationships.

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