french pharmacie

Bonjour,

I am attending the IMCAS meeting in Paris and, as I walk around the city (in between meetings, of course) and visit the conference exhibit hall looking at all of the products, devices, fillers and objects de beaute that are available in Europe and are not yet, or may never be,  available in the US due to our FDA process, I started to wonder, do the french know something about beauty that we don’t?

Let’s start with the obvious: despite the fact that the French smoke (alot) they also walk alot. I was impressed by the lack of obesity in Paris. We all know about the heart healthy benefits of red wine and dark chocolate ( my french fav is Maison du Chocolat) , both of which are in abundance here.  Ah the food…… French  food is  delicious and decadent but it is also farm fresh and proportions are not supersized. Moderation is key (we already know that too). We also know the health benefits of food which is not processed thus maintaining it’s nutrient value. Yes, starbucks and McDonalds have a presence here, but a small one.

We are a beauty obsessed society and the french are no different.  As in the US, the  french are obsessed with skin care. This is certainly obvious from the conference and exhibit hall  but also evident in  the local pharmacie where i spent quite a bit of time looking at the abundance of creams, lotions and potions in search of some beauty secret to share with you.  In effort to provide a balanced review I visit  three different pharmacies and two sephoras to see if there was any location variance. Despite having a wider variety of topicals to choose from here, the ingredients in these products  are basically very similar to those available in the US and include those which we know to be beneficial (antioxidants, retinoids, growth factors).  Interestingly, none of the Dr specific brands ( Dr Brandt, Perricone etc) so prominent  in the US had a presence in Paris. However one important part of the skin care regimen which was noticeably lacking in my search was sunprotection! Quelle dommage!

What did I learn from this meeting that I will bring back to my practice and share with my patients? While I cannot bring some of the fillers available to our European colleagues back to my patients due to the FDA, I did  purchase some new cannulas to make filler injections more comfortable. I also purchased a nifty little device to be used in conjunction with our microdermabrasion which will leave your skin unbelievably soft (tried it myself) and met new colleagues from other countries who invited me to give talks at future international  conferences.  Most importantly I was reminded that the French dont really have any beauty secrets or information  that we don’t already know about.   They may have a different approach but we have more sunprotection!

A bientot

Chicago winters are long and cold. Now that the weather has improved, it is time to get outside and enjoy the wonderful chicago  summer! Here are some tips to do it safely.

Whether you are training for the Chicago marathon, triathlon, gardening, boating or playing golf you MUST protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays.

Significant sun exposure is the # 1 risk for skin cancer and premature aging of the skin. 

1)avoid sun at peak hours ( between 10a-2p) when the rays are the strongest. Best to get that long run or round of golf in early

2)use broadspectrum sunBLOCK with SPF factor of 30 or greater each and every time you go outside. Try a lighter weight alcohol based spray product such as coppertone sport block especially if you are acne prone. remember to apply to backs of ears, neck, legs and arms as well as your face.

3)apply 30 min BEFORE outdoor activities and re-apply every 2-3 hours.

4)Keep your clothes on!-having a shirt on provides protection of about SPF 8 which is better than nothing.

5)wear your hat and sunglasses. A hat will protect your scalp if you have thinning hair. Sunglasses with UV protection will protect your eyes from sundamage and cataract formation. Keeping your sunglasses on might help to minimize those crows. If they do occur, they are easily treated with Botox injections.

6)Certain medications can make you more sunsensitive: many oral or topical medications ( acne, highblood pressure, birth control) make your skin more sensitive to the sun and you may burn or develop discoloration more easily. Chicago summers are short, enjoy them and protect your skin against future sun damage. Most discoloration can be treated with chemical peels ,  prescription medications or laser treatments.

Enjoy the summer. Run happy , run safe!