Your body’s veins work hard to return blood to the heart from far-away places like feet and ankles — especially during the day when you’re sitting, standing or walking. Varicose veins, however, are damaged veins that can no longer do this against-gravity work, and instead become stretched and swollen with blood.

Studies show that pregnancy is a common varicose vein agitator, even in someone who has no family history of vein issues. Why does this happen, though?

It has to do with a number of factors that converge during the nine-month period:

• Blood levels increase to support the baby, which puts more pressure on veins
• Progesterone levels also rise, causing the walls of blood vessels to relax.
• As the uterus grows, increased pressure is put on the inferior vena cava—the large vein on the right side of the body—which also increases pressure on leg veins.

Thankfully, it’s common for swollen veins to improve after giving birth, especially if you did not suffer from them before pregnancy. If varicose veins don’t resolve on their own, or if you want to help prevent them from forming during pregnancy, consider doing the following:

• Exercising daily, even if it’s a short walk around the block. Exercise increases blood circulation.
• Elevating legs whenever you can.
• Avoiding standing for long periods of time.
• Sleeping on your left side, with feet propped up on a pillow. Lying on your left side relieves the inferior vena cava of the weight of the uterus.

Varicose veins can become tender and painful when not addressed. Seek the counsel of an experienced phlebologist like Dr. Zimmet so he can evaluate your best treatment options.

Vein care has come a long way and is now minimally invasive. Contact our office today to find out more.

Individuals who suffer from excessive underarm sweat face a variety of everyday stresses and limitations: needing to change clothes more than three times a day, avoiding light or bright colored clothing, and steering clear of potentially embarrassing situations like making a presentation at work or wearing a bridesmaid dress. These limitations can affect lifestyle and employment advancements.

It’s not that sweat is a bad thing in and of itself. Perspiration is the body’s cooling system, whether the heat comes from feeling nervous or from a rigorous workout. But excessive sweating is exactly that—excessive. For reasons doctors have yet to fully understand, the apocrine glands under the armpit sometimes overproduce sweat, resulting in discomfort, frustration and embarrassment.

Although it’s difficult to measure how much sweat is “too much”, individuals, together with their dermatologists, can thankfully determine if excessive underarm sweating is actually a disorder called severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis. This condition often proves too much for even prescription-strength antiperspirants.

The good news is that there is an effective solution—but from an unexpected source: Botox® . That’s right—the famous injection used for wrinkles is also approved to treat severe underarm sweating. Approved four years ago by the FDA to treat axillary hyperhidrosis, Botox® injections keep patients from excessively sweating for up to 6 ½ months. The treatment is non-surgical and practically pain-free.

Do you or does someone you know struggle with excessive sweating? Have prescription-strength antiperspirants not worked in the past? Contact Dr. Zimmet’s office to find out more about this exciting treatment. Many insurance plans cover Botox® for underarm sweat, so it’s worth a look.

Call us today. Our number is (512) 485-7700.

Far from being just a cosmetic nuisance, varicose veins can pose a formidable barrier to your quality of life. Leg aches, tenderness, skin discoloration and more can all accompany untreated varicose veins. Are you at risk of getting them?

The following factors increase a person’s chances of developing varicose veins:

Family History: Heredity plays a significant role in the onset of venous insufficiency. If Mom or Grandma had varicose veins, you will likely have them as well. Unfortunately, making healthy lifestyle changes will not negate this risk factor.

Pregnancy: Your body experiences a plethora of changes during pregnancy. As your baby grows, the uterus puts increased pressure on your veins. In addition, hormonal changes can cause the walls of your veins to relax. These changes can converge to cause veins to stop working properly. Blood that should be on its way back to your heart instead stagnates and pools, causing great discomfort.

Occupation: Do you stand or sit for long periods of time at your job? Doing so increases your chances of getting varicose veins. When there is a lack of movement, your veins have to work harder to get the blood back up to the heart. Instead it may flow backwards and pool, causing varicosities.

Obesity: Excess weight puts excess pressure on your body, including your veins. This increased pressure can damage veins.

Thankfully, even if you do see varicose veins forming, there are effective, minimally-invasive procedures phlebologists rely on to resolve these painful vein issues.

Please contact our office if you have any questions or are ready to pursue treatment. We look forward to hearing from you!

Call it offbeat or call it genius, but a well-known denim company is taking its shot at skin care.

This month legendary denim brand Wrangler Jeans will launch their new Denim Spa line, a somewhat revolutionary denim collection that infuses moisturizing and slimming elements that promise to protect skin from the “dehydrating effects” of wearing denim.

The line of skinny jeans will feature three different finishes:
Aloe Vera: to soothe sensitive skin
Olive Extract: for extra moisture
Smooth Legs: to reduce cellulite

You read that last one right: Smooth Legs makes the daring claim to help women battle the “cottage cheese” legs so many of us love to hate. The active ingredients include algae extracts, retinol and caffeine. After being clinically tested in France, 69% of participants claimed to see improved appearance of their thighs. (It should be mentioned, though, that participants had to wear the jeans 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks to see visible results.)

You might be wondering how long such jeans can last—after all, you have to wash them sometimes, right? But according to Wrangler, the jeans are effective for 15 days (or through 4-6 washes); after that a reload spray can be applied after each wash to re-activate the ingredients. In total, they can retain their effects for 67-95 wears.

The jeans, which will officially launch on January 28th, are set to be priced at $136.00 and will be sold on U.K. clothing website asos.com. The beautiful Liz Jagger (daughter of Mick and ex-model Jerry Hall) has signed on to be the face of the new line.

Another question on the mind of many a fashion journalist is undoubtedly, “Will they sell?” The answer to that has yet to be determined, but according to a poll on the Huffington Post, 45% of readers said they would try them—while 42% said, “Umm… no way.”

We’ll be keeping our eye on this product and others to separate gimmicks from the real deal. In the meantime, check out our tried and true treatment for reducing cellulite: ENDYMED™ 3DEEP.

Contact us today for more information.

Varicose veins are not a modern malady—they have been plaguing human beings for thousands of years. So how has the approach to vein care developed and changed?  See for yourself in this “snapshot” of its history:

1500 B.C. Ancient Egyptians first mention varicose veins in the Ebers papyrus. The veins were described as “serpentine windings” which were not to be operated on because it was believed to lead to fatal hemorrhaging.

460 B.C. Hippocrates wrote some of the earliest medical descriptions of varicose vein treatment. While he did not recommend excision (removal by cutting), he prescribed compression following multiple punctures. He also believed in the use of cautery.

1700s German physician Lorenz Heister criticized past methods and pushed for treatment by bleeding, a strict diet and the application of bandages to the legs.

1890 Friedrich Trendelenburg, perhaps one of the most well-known venous surgeons, popularized mid-thigh ligation (binding/tying off) of the greater saphenous vein.

1894 After 40 years of trial and error using various injections of anesthesia and antiseptics, the injection method was abandoned at the International Surgical Congress in Lyon in 1894. Complications developed too frequently for the injections to be considered viable.

1906 The early 20th century brought about the advent of vein stripping. Charles Mayo and others created stripping devices that completely removed troubled varicose veins.

1950s-1980s Vein stripping was widely popular from the 1950s until the 80s, and is still performed today. The drawbacks are becoming increasingly apparent, though, as new technology and methods produce great results.  Vein stripping drawbacks include: significant infection rate, high incidence of post-operative pain, limited post-operative patient activity and high rate of recurrences.

1980s- Present Thanks to a resurgence in research and development, we now have the benefit of effective non-surgical methods that have enjoyed high success rates: sclerotherapy, pulsed light treatment, ambulatory phlebectomy and endovenous laser treatment. A growing body of evidence supports their effectiveness, and patient satisfaction is at an all-time high.

Phlebology has come a long way indeed, and we’re grateful to be at the forefront of such an exciting medical field. Contact Dr. Zimmet’s office today to find out more about how we can help you get rid of your varicose and spider veins.

Makeup can be tough to let go of sometimes. A certain lipstick you’ve had for years promises the perfect fuchsia—that is, whenever you happen to be in a fuchsia phase again. Or what about that six month-old mascara that cost you upwards of $40.00? Whether it’s because of sentimental value or the price you paid, it isn’t easy to toss out old makeup. But you should.

Here’s Why:
Makeup collects germs and bacteria through being exposed to the air, your (sometimes not perfectly clean) fingertips, and/or unwashed applicators. When expired makeup is used, eye and skin infections can result. The most common reactions include:

• Redness
• Burning
• Irritation (blistering, swelling, hives, etc.)
• Staph infection (think stye on the eyelid)

Here’s How:
While some products can last a couple years, most need to be replaced after 3-12 months. Use these guidelines to help you know when to say goodbye to each type of product:

Powders (eyes shadows, blushes, etc.): 1-2 years. Every so often, take a tissue and swipe the surface to reveal fresher product.
Pencils (eye and lip): 1-2 years. Keep tips dry and sharp.
Foundation: up to 12 months — if you keep your fingers away from the bottle. Use a clean applicator brush or sponge to extend the life of your foundation.
Lipstick: up to 2 years. Wipe with tissue before use.
Mascara/Liquid Eyeliner: 3 months. The containers are breeding grounds for bacteria.

In addition to these guidelines, use common sense. If any product smells funny, or changes color or consistency, it’s time to replace it. The old saying works well here: “When in doubt, throw it out!” It’s also helpful to keep track of products by writing the date purchased in black magic marker.

Here’s to a new year and a new makeup collection! If you have any questions about skin care, or would like to schedule an appointment for one of our services, don’t hesitate to call our knowledgeable aestheticians at Zimmet Vein & Dermatology. We look forward to hearing from you.

It’s a new year—and a fresh chance to begin a skin care regimen that will last. There are plenty of tips out there for great skin, but to make sure you stay on track, it’s best to keep things simple and easy to remember. Here are two refrains to recite to yourself as you get back on the skin care saddle, so to speak.

Routine, Routine, Routine.
Your skin loves good, clean habits. Ones that you stick to night and day, every day. It takes consistency and patience for skin to get healthy and stay healthy. Too often we get irritated if a regimen or product doesn’t deliver results overnight, when in reality it takes at least a month or more for real changes to occur (a month is about how long it takes for skin cell turnover to take place). So establish an ordered routine—making sure to use fantastic products—and set yourself up for skin success:

1. Cleanse – Select a gentle cleanser based on your skin type to wash away makeup and daily grime.  *Exfoliate skin 2-3 times weekly in the morning, when you are not removing makeup.
2. Tone – Refine pores, restore pH balance and prep skin to receive treatment serum and moisturizer.
3. Correct – Apply special serums or creams to address specific skin concerns such as wrinkle, discoloration or acne.
4. Moisturize – In the morning, choose a moisturizer that contains sunscreen (of at least SPF 30), and at night apply a nourishing cream appropriate to your skin type.

Sunscreen, Sunscreen, Sunscreen.
You absolutely can’t afford to skip this. You’ve heard it before, but probably need to hear it again: you can prevent unnecessary wrinkles and splotchy, uneven skin by protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful UV rays with sunscreen. Approximately 78% of sun exposure comes from incidental exposure, not by laying out by the pool. So try one that’s embedded in a moisturizer or silky foundation to make sure it’s built into your daily routine instead of making it an extra step.

Make 2013 the year you keep your New Year’s resolutions for your skin. And in addition to a consistent daily routine, give your skin the gift of professional treatment. Dr. Zimmet offers a wide array of skin treatments that can achieve beautiful results in short periods of time. Call our office today to find out more. Our number is (512) 485-7700.