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FDA links imported skin care and anti-aging products to mercury poisoning

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FDA links imported skin care and anti-aging products to mercury poisoning

The FDA is currently circulating a consumer update advising against the use of any beauty product formulated with mercury, which the organization does not allow in cosmetics.

The update explains that these products are usually marketed as “skin lighteners and anti-aging treatments that remove age spots, freckles, blemishes and wrinkles.” Additionally, these goods are often made overseas and then shipped into North America by shady businesses or unsuspecting travelers.

Jason Humbert of the FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs notes that these products are also commonly sold on social media or through online stores.

In the U.S., mercury is allowed in cosmetic products when no other safe, effective preservative is available—but this isn’t the case with these goods. When applied in these amounts, mercury overexposure can occur, leading to symptoms like tremors, weakness, memory loss, dermatitis and impaired kidney function.

Check any product labels you sell for “mercurous chloride,” “calomel,” “mercuric” or “mercurio”—each of these terms mean the product contains mercury. If you suspect that they contain mercury-exposed goods, dispose of them immediately.

American retailers hoping to entice Canadian customers

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American retailers hoping to entice Canadian customers

With the weak Canadian dollar, many retailers located just south of the border are seeing a significant drop in retail spending. As a result, some are considering the creation of special deals for Canadian spenders in a bid to get them back.

Businesses in Bellingham, Washington—situated just south of the B.C. border—have been especially affected by this. “We see anywhere from a 20, to 25, sometimes 30 per cent drop, most of the time that comes in the form of retail spending at large retailers,” says Guy Occhiogrosso, the president and CEO of the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce.

Occhiogrosso notes that it is the large box stores that are being most impacted by this, while the town’s “mom and pop” retailers aren’t seeing a difference.

According to Statistics Canada, the number of Canadians who travelled to the U.S. in May 2016 was 3.413 million, compared to 3.855 million in May 2015, making for a drop of over 400,000. As such, retailers in the area are scrambling to cushion this decrease before feeling its effects even more strongly.

Loni Rahm, president and CEO of Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism, agrees that businesses in the area recognize the value of Canadian shoppers.

“Our economies are so tightly tied between Whatcom County and lower British Columbia, so that of course, we hurt when you hurt, you hurt when we hurt,” she says. Rahm adds that a number of hotels and stores are offering at-par sales, or some other sort of “Canadian special.”

As other American communities begin to catch onto these trends, ensure that you are prepared to compete. Make note of the discounts and deals that south-of-the-border retailers are offering to your prospective clients, and consider presenting them as well. Conversely, consider attracting American clients across the border to your location: with the Loonie working in their favour, you’re sure to find some success.

First clinical guidelines launched for neuropathic pain due to spinal cord injury

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Researchers at Lawson Health Research Institute have developed the first Canadian clinical practice guidelines for managing neuropathic pain following spinal cord injuries (SCI).

 

The research team worked with care providers at Parkwood Institute, part of the St. Joseph’s Health Care London family, an international panel, and Dan Harvey, an SCI patient, to address the complex and unique challenges for managing pain during recovery and rehabilitation.

 

“Neuropathic pain—and pain in general—affects every person with a spinal cord injury very differently. Some people have it, some people don’t. But for those who do have it, it can make rehabilitation and recovery much more difficult,” explains Harvey, who sustained his spinal cord injury after falling off of a trampoline. “On top of just learning how to use your body again, you also have to deal with various forms of physical pains, which can make it challenging to mentally adapt to an injury.”

 

Dr. Eldon Loh, Lawson Researcher and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist at St. Joseph’s, and his team recognized that pain can be an overlooked part of SCI and plays a major factor in the success of rehabilitation.

 

“This is a starting point for us to standardize how we approach pain in the clinic,” says Dr. Loh. “We have identified gaps and offered recommendations to not only manage the pain, but also ensure that our patients can fully benefit from rehabilitation.”

 

The newly minted guide contains recommendations for screening and diagnosis, treatment and models of care, and will inform new tools and resources for care providers and patients with SCI. The document has been published in the international journal Spinal Cord.

 

Breakthrough in treatment of sleep apnea

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One in every five Canadian adults suffers from sleep apnea, a disorder defined by long pauses between breaths during sleep. However, many patients cannot tolerate the most effective therapy on the market, which is known as continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP. Luckily for them, a new pacemaker therapy may be an alternative.

 

There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea and central apnea. The former occurs when there is repetitive collapse of airway at the back of the throat, while the latter—which is less common—happens when nerve signals from the brain are absent for prolonged periods of time, causing a stoppage of breathing.

 

CPAP works for obstructive airway apnea, delivering a constant flow of air through tubing and a mask attached to the mouth. This keeps the airway open, allowing the patient to breathe.

 

However, a recent study showed that by pacing the hypoglossal nerve in the neck during sleep, people with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea were able to breathe easier. Twelve months after pacemaker insertion, the average number of obstructed breathing events decreased by approximately 50 per cent with few side effects. In addition, nighttime oxygen levels improved, as did the patients’ overall quality of life.

 

Unfortunately, there are some hindrances in making this therapy more widespread. Firstly, each pacemaker costs about $30,000, which makes it unavailable to a large segment of the population. Additionally, there is a lack of data showing this treatment’s effectiveness in patients who are severely obese, which makes up two-thirds of people with obstructive sleep apnea.

 

Central sleep apnea may also benefit from pacemaker treatment. Central apnea is often observed in patients with heart failure, and is difficult to treat. However, recent studies show that a pacemaker inserted through a central vein can stimulate the phrenic nerve, which controls contraction of the diaphragm.

 

If your patients suffer from sleep apnea and are unable to use CPAP, discuss this option with them.

Eye and smell testing may help to identify Alzheimer’s disease

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According to the Alzheimer’s Association, odor identification testing and physical changes in and around the eye may help to detect cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease at an early stage.

 

Two studies presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2016 evaluated changes in odor identification as an early predictor of cognitive decline. They compared it to two established biological markers for cognitive decline and dementia: brain amyloid PET imaging and thickness of the brain’s cortex in areas important to memory.

 

Another two studies reported at AAIC found a strong association between thinning nerve layers in the retina of the eye and poor cognition, suggesting the potential of retinal imaging as part of early Alzheimer’s testing. Additionally, they discovered the presence of amyloid deposits in the retinas of people with Alzheimer’s, strengthening their utility as a possibility for pre-symptomatic detection.

 

“It’s clear that the science around biological measures in the detection of Alzheimer’s continues to gather pace and validation,” says Heather Snyder, PhD, director of medical and scientific operations at the Alzheimer’s Association. “Low cost, non-invasive measures to detect dementia-related changes and evaluate the risk of future decline continue to be refined and tested; this is a positive step forward to earlier detection and intervention.”

 

Currently, it is only possible to clinically detect Alzheimer’s relatively late in its development, when significant brain damage has already occurred. While PET imaging can show the buildup of amyloid plaques in the brain years before symptoms appear, PET scans are expensive.

 

“Using other biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease to detect the disease at an earlier stage – which have the potential to be lower-cost and non-invasive – could lead to dramatic improvements in early detection and management of the disease,” concludes Snyder.

 

International Medicine & Health Care internships gaining popularity in North America

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Projects Abroad, an international volunteer organization, has brought more than 100 North American volunteers overseas to contribute to medicine and health care projects in the developing world. The majority of these interns are focusing on medicine, while the rest are interning in public health, nursing, nutrition, physical therapy, and other specialized healthcare fields.

 

Over the rest of the summer, these interns will devote their time to activities that will give them direct experience and knowledge of medicine in practice, all under the guidance and supervision of local medical professionals.

 

Projects Abroad has organized internships in medical facilities abroad since 1998. To date, thousands of interns have benefited from spending time in hospitals, clinics, and on outreaches around the world.

 

“Every year, returning interns share with us what they valued most about their placements: observing the major differences between hospitals in North America and abroad first-hand, proving their flexibility by adapting to a different culture, learning about hospital structures and the role it plays in patients’ lives, to name just a few,” says Kaisa Partanen, a program advisor for Projects Abroad Canada. “For a large percentage, the internship has made them more aware of the health issues facing underprivileged communities and they are more determined than ever to become physicians.”

 

Projects Abroad has opportunities for students of every skill level, including those on a pre-med track. Programs run from 1-4 weeks or more throughout the year and interns can choose exactly when they want to start and end their internships. Once a student has applied, the organization organizes all the details of the placement, from the medical facilities where they will be interning, to their accommodation, meals, and insurance.

 

If you know of any candidates for this opportunity or wish to learn more, visit www.projects-abroad.ca/projects/medicine-and-healthcare.

Yale Report: Zika virus risk is “negligible” at Rio Olympics

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While many are avoiding this year’s Olympic games due to the threat of Zika virus, a recent study suggests that this is unnecessary.

Researchers out of the Yale School of Public Health (YSPH) found that between just three and 37 people out of a possible 500,000 visiting Brazil for the Rio Olympics would be expected to go home with Zika. Published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the study was carried out in light of calls from 150 academics for the Olympics to be moved from Rio or called off. 

“The possibility that travellers returning from the Olympics may spread Zika has become a polemic issue that has led to athletes dropping out of the event, and without evidence, undue stigmatisation of Brazil,” says Albert Ko, chair of the department of epidemiology of microbial diseases at YSPH. “This study provides data, which together with initial findings from Brazilian scientists, show that these concerns may be largely exaggerated.”

The Yale team added that it is far more likely that locals—rather than Olympic athletes and spectators—will become infected with Zika through contact with infected mosquitoes. For the paper, researchers assumed that the risk of infection for tourists was the same as for Brazilians, but visitors will be staying in air-conditioned lodgings where efforts have been made to eradicate mosquito populations.

“If anything, I would say the estimate we have published greatly overestimates the true risk,” said the study’s lead author, Joseph Lewnard. “I would expect it to be far lower than the numbers we present.”

“This study suggests that for spectators and athletes travelling to Rio this summer, the risk of contracting Zika virus is very low indeed,” says Mike Turner, the director of science and head of infection and immunobiology at the Wellcome Trust. “The same cannot be said, unfortunately, for those living in regions of active Zika transmission, and we must step up the international research effort to understand the Zika virus to enable the development of effective interventions needed to protect those most at risk.”

If your patients are hesitant to travel to Rio or other affected areas due to the outbreak, discuss this study with them. Additionally, inform them about how they may protect themselves from becoming infected with the disease, especially when it comes to mosquitoes.

Ayurveda: the next global trend in holistic medicine?

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Ayurveda: the next global trend in holistic medicine?

According to TechSci Research, India’s Ayurvedic product market is predicted to increase 16 per cent through 2021. This growth will be bolstered by the increasing availability of Ayurvedic products—including nutraceu¬ticals, dietary supplements, cosmetics and skin care products—at multi-branded stores.

Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest holistic medical concepts. Developed 5,000 years ago in the Vedic culture of India, this practice believes that everything in the universe is connected. As such, good health is achieved when your body, mind and soul are in harmony with the universe, while bad health may be caused by a disruption of this balance.

Ayurvedic products have once again gained prominence in India, with 100 government-run Ayurvedic hospitals, 750 dispensaries, 800 registered medicine manufacturing units and some private health centers recently opening their doors in the country. In 2015, Ayurvedic goods comprised the largest revenue share on the Indian personal care market.

“Ayurvedic products are gaining popularity in India and across the globe due to the natural medicinal benefits they offer without any side effects,” said Karan Chechi, a research director at TechSci Research. “Apart from this, the government of India is encouraging and promoting usage of Ayurvedic products through education and national awareness programs. Various manufacturing
companies are focusing on developing innovative Ayurvedic products and investing in marketing strategies in order to generate awareness and increase their brand value as well as sales.”

As this trend undoubtedly catches fire on the global stage, consider learning more about Ayurvedic medicine—and possibly introducing a line of products or services into your brand or store.

Skin Authority launches new Beauty Infusion collection

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Skin Authority launches new Beauty Infusion collection

Skin Authority, a California-based skincare brand, has launched a new collection based on ancient Ayurvedic practices. The Beauty Infusion line is created with key natural active ingredients from superfoods, inspired by the Ayurvedic technique of using food-based ingredients for medicinal purposes.

Products in the new collection include:

• Turmeric & Blueberry Brightening serum, which illuminates the complexion and diminishes discolouration
• Quinoa & Avocado Hydrating serum, which reduces fine lines and firms skin texture
• Swertia Chirata Anti-Aging serum, which decreases wrinkles and roughness
• Probiotics Clarifying serum, which combats inflammation and clears harmful bacteria from the skin
• Instant Perfection Peel Pads, which improve and enhance makeup application and exfoliate skin

These products capitalize on the up-and-coming Ayurveda (LINK TO PREVIOUS ARTICLE) trend. For more information on this new line, visit www.skinauthority.com.

Natural Products Expo East highlights industry growth

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Natural Products Expo East highlights industry growth

This year, Natural Products Expo East has revamped its program to surround the recent growth of the natural products industry. Scheduled for Sept. 21-24 at the Baltimore Convention Center, the show is projected to have more than 1,300 exhibiting brands and 25,000 attendees.

The show is expecting more than 400 new exhibitors this year. To accommodate this growth, the show is expanding the Hot Products Pavilion to Level 300 and Level 400.

“As a whole, the natural products industry is experiencing rapid growth of nine per cent per year, which has spurned increased interest in emerging brands and a rise in mergers and acquisitions,” says Adam Andersen, the managing director of New Hope Network, which produces the show. “Expo East is one of the biggest events for spotting new trends and seeing brands in action. Walking the show floor attendees are surrounded products and companies poised for growth.”

The 2016 Education Conference will focus on Supplement Opportunities, Climate Friendly Foods, Mindful Leadership, Natural Storytelling and Nutrition Science. Featured keynote speakers include natural products industry pioneer and New York Times bestselling author Paul Hawken; Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree; and Walter Robb, co-CEO of Whole Foods and Chairman of Whole Kids Foundation and Whole Cities Foundation.

To register for the event or to learn more, visit the show’s site here.

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