The following information was presented earlier this year at American Academy of Dermatology’s 70th Annual Meeting by Raechele Cochran Gathers, MD, FAAD, senior physician at the Multi-Cultural Dermatology Center of Henry Ford Hospital Department of Dermatology in Detroit.

BEST PRACTICES/HAIR CARE TIPS:


Washing


• Hair should be washed once a week or every other week to avoid build-up of hair care products, which can be drying to hair.


• Conditioners should be used every time hair is washed. Special attention should be paid to the ends, which are the oldest and most fragile part of the hair.


• If you work out regularly, it is a good idea to rinse the hair with water to remove sweat and salt buildup between washings. You can follow with a conditioner. Also, water is good for hair and adds moisture.


Products


• Dr. Gathers recommends hair care products that contain natural ingredients, such as olive oil, shea butter, aloe vera juice or gel, or glycerin, as they help dry hair maintain moisture. 


• Shampoos that contain sulfates can be drying for some hair types, especially if hair is washed frequently. 


• Conditioners that contain wheat proteins, amino acids, hydrolyzed proteins or panthenol are recommended by Dr. Gathers.


• Hot oil treatments should be used twice per month to add additional moisture and elasticity to the hair.


• Heat protectants should be used on hair after washing and before hair is heat styled to minimize heat damage.


Styling


• Relaxers should be applied by a professional hair stylist to ensure they are applied safely and to minimize hair damage 


• Touch-ups with relaxers should not be done too frequently (every eight to 12 weeks to new hair growth is recommended), as they can cause hair breakage. Never apply relaxer to hair that has already been relaxed.


• Ceramic combs or irons should be used when pressing (thermally straightening) hair. It is best to use heat no more than once weekly.


• A straightening device with a dial temperature is preferred to ensure the device is not too hot. 


• Braids, cornrows or weaves should not be too tight. If it hurts while hair is being styled, tell the stylist to stop and redo it. Pain equals damage.


• Even the slightest bit of noticeable thinning can be the start of hair loss, so women should see a dermatologist immediately if they notice any changes in the texture or appearance of their hair.

Introduced by Rep. Leonard Lance, R-N.J., the “Cosmetic Safety Amendments Act of 2012″ (H.R. 4395), will modernize federal oversight of cosmetics and personal care products, currently one of the safest product categories regulated by the FDA, and H.R. 4395 builds on that strong record, the council stated.

The proposal has the full support of the council and the Safe Cosmetics Alliance, which have consistently advocated for an updated, enhanced and transparent regulatory framework for FDA.

“FDA regulation of cosmetics has protected the public for decades, and this landmark legislation will enhance protections for millions of American consumers,” said Lezlee Westine, PCPC’s president and CEO. “Cosmetics companies recognize the need for a modern regulatory process that keeps pace with product innovation, as well as the demand for transparency. The Council applauds Congressman Lance for introducing this bill and will work to help gain bipartisan support for its passage.”

The cosmetic and personal care industry employs 8.2 million people, directly or indirectly, in the United States. The industry has an estimated $60 billion in annual American retail sales and is a net exporter. Small businesses with 50 or fewer employees make up 92% of the industry and women represent 66% of its workforce.

H.R. 4395 calls for increased reporting and transparency by the industry and enhanced regulatory oversight without further straining taxpayer resources and damaging small and medium-sized businesses’ ability to compete globally and create new manufacturing jobs in the United States.

The legislation aims to create formal processes for the FDA to review ingredients for safety, set safety levels for trace impurities, create national uniformity for cosmetics regulations, review all safety determinations made by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel and establish industry-wide “Good Manufacturing Practices.” CIR is an independent panel of scientific and medical experts that assesses the safety of cosmetic ingredients used in the United States. In addition, under the new legislation, the voluntary registration programs for facilities and products would become mandatory, as would the reporting of any serious and unexpected adverse events.

H.R. 4395 builds upon portions of legislation originally introduced by Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., known as “The FDA Globalization Act of 2008.” Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., along with Dingell, recently introduced legislation that has similar provisions to H.R. 4395.

“We look forward to working with Congressman Lance on this legislation,” said Westine. “We also look forward to working on a bipartisan basis with Congressmen Pallone and Dingell on legislation that updates FDA regulation of cosmetics and enhances consumer protections.”

The new legislation introduced by Congressman Lance makes several enhancements to current law including:

(1) Enhanced FDA Registration. It requires that personal care products manufacturers who market their products in the United States comply with the following:

* Register all facilities where those products are manufactured.
* File product ingredient reports disclosing ingredients used, consistent with current guidelines.
* Report any serious unexpected adverse event with a product experienced by a consumer.

(2) New Process to Set Safety Levels for Trace Constituents. When requested or on its own initiative, FDA would be required to establish safe levels for trace constituents in cosmetic ingredients and products.

(3) New FDA Ingredient Review Process. Once a request has been made, or FDA determines review is warranted, the agency would be required to make a determination about the safety of any ingredient intended for use in a personal care product and set safe use levels for such ingredient on a specified timetable.

(4) New FDA Oversight of CIR Findings. FDA would be required to review current and future findings on the safety of cosmetic ingredients by CIR Expert Panel and determine if these findings are correct. If there are instances in which it determines a CIR finding is unsupported, FDA would determine by guidance or regulations if, or under what conditions, the ingredient can be used safely in cosmetic products.

(5) FDA-Issued Good Manufacturing Practices. FDA would establish industry-wide “Good Manufacturing Practices” requirements.

(6) National Uniformity. FDA’s new regulatory authority would preempt similar state legislation for cosmetics and personal care products.

The new formula is an intensive moisturizer for day and night that is designed to erase signs of wrinkles and protect skin from environmental damage. It is free of parabens, fragrances and dye.

It is has a suggested retail price of $25.

Free from artificial preservatives, including parabens and synthetic fragrance, Tom’s of Maine’s new Clean Confidence and Mountain Spring deodorants are specially formulated to provide 24-hour odor protection with a wide stick application. The natural, vegetable-based formula is clinically proven to help inhibit and neutralize odor through the antimicrobial action of hops and zinc ricinoleate, according to the manufacturer. Natural masculine fragrances provide a pleasant scent while organic aloe vera juice offers a soothing feel.

In addition, all of Tom’s of Maine deodorant cans are recyclable from canister to cap through the Preserve Gimme 5 program or through local recycling programs accepting #5 plastics.

Tom’s of Maine Clean Confidence and Mountain Spring deodorants are available nationwide at a suggested retail price of $4.99.

Dr. Teal’s new Milk Bath is available in two forms: a liquid foaming Milk Bath and a powdered Milk Bath. Dr. Teal’s Milk Bath combines real milk protein with vitamins A, D and E to help soften the skin with a comforting aroma of honey. 
 



Available in April, the powder Milk Bath will retail for $3.99 and foaming Milk Bath for $4.99.

The multi-phase digital series, featuring “Twilight” star Nikki Reed, premieres on the Tresemmé YouTube channel this week. This series takes consumers backstage at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week to reveal the latest hair trends and stylist secrets straight from the fall 2012 collections of designers including Tracy Reese, Charlotte Ronson and Rebecca Minkoff.

The first nine episodes of Tresemmé Style Setters will take viewers on a journey illustrating the energy and anticipation behind the scenes at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Reed will share her personal perspective on the creative process as well as her conversations with Tresemmé stylist Jeanie Syfu, and the fashion designers.

In partnership with Alloy Digital and Mindshare Entertainment, Tresemmé grants women an inside look at the preparation leading up to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and throughout the season. The eight month-long program, delivering 32 original episodes, will follow the activity backstage at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2012 straight through to the Spring 2013 show with footage of the creative and collaborative process behind creating the looks that make it down the runway.

Viewers also will get the chance to see how the runway looks are interpreted and infused into every day fashion and hair trends throughout the year when the series makes stops at select fashion and music events across the country. Accompanying Tresemmé Style Setters will be “how-to-videos” featuring Tresemmé stylists Tyler Laswell and John D., who will walk women through a step-by-step process to recreate the runway-inspired looks at home.

Tresemmé has been the official hair care sponsor at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week for eight consecutive seasons. Mindshare Entertainment and Alloy Digital produced the series in conjunction with Generate Studios, Alloy’s in-house production division.

A special limited edition nail color, Essie Barefoot in Blue, has been designed to encourage people to go barefoot with can’t-miss toes.

Beginning March 7, Essie and Toms will host a free giveaway of 15,000 bottles of nail polish. Every day for 15 days, 1,000 people who sign up for the giveaway will receive a complimentary bottle of Essie’s Barefoot in Blue — a creamy, sky blue shade. To make a pledge and receive Essie’s Barefoot in Blue, beauty mavens can visit the Toms or Essie Facebook pages.

Founded by American traveler Blake Mycoskie, Toms was created in 2006 when Mycoskie befriended children in Argentina who lacked proper footwear. Wanting to help protect their feet, he founded the company, which for every pair of shoes purchased gives a pair of new shoes to a child in need. In 2008, One Day Without Shoes was founded to spread the word, and in 2011, over a quarter of a million people went without shoes to show their support, with more than 1,000 barefoot events taking place globally.

Advanced Revival combines an acetone-based formula with natural botanical nourishing oils for stronger, healthier nails, the company said.

Cutex’s Advanced Revival nail polish remover is a patent-pending formula that combines the power of acetone with the strengthening and nourishing of natural botanical oils. The natural botanical nourishing oils begin as a liquid that conditions and then turns into a solid when exposed to air. As the oils solidify, the nails are strengthened and left feeling nourished and clean after the first use, the company stated.

Cutex’s Advanced Revival nail polish remover will be available for purchase at select drug and food stores and mass merchant retailers across the country this month.

The new product comes on the heels of the release of Göt2b Powder’ful volumizing styling powder. The new weightless texturizing powder is designed to create an effortlessly natural, tousled look in 10 seconds flat. The powder delivers flexible control and a satin matte finish.

Göt2b Powder’ful Back 2 Bed Texture powder has a suggested retail price of $5.99 is available as of February at Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Ulta and Meijer locations.

Hitting retail shelves is the new Eucerin Professional Repair Lotion — extremely dry skin lotion, and the Eucerin Smoothing Repair — dry skin lotion.

The Eucerin Professional Repair Lotion — extremely dry skin lotion is a concentrated formula that is designed to improve moisture reserves, strengthen the skin’s barrier to lock in hydration and alleviate tight, flaky skin. It features 10% Urea, the highest percentage available without a prescription, to rehydrate dry, scaly skin, the manufacturer stated. The suggested retail price is $7.99.

The new Eucerin Smoothing Repair — dry skin lotion is designed to help skin retain moisture for more than 24 hours. It is recommended for those with xerosis. The suggested retail price is $11.99.

Both formulas feature gluco-glycerol to improve moisture supply to the stratum corneum and ceramide-3 to improve barrier function and reduce water loss. They are free of dyes and fragrance.