What's Up Doc 10-29-09

I’m getting aggravated that I’m still dealing with acne at age 27. I thought I would be done with this by now. It’s not very professional looking, either. What kind of treatments are available?
If it’s any consolation, nearly 30 percent of women and 20 percent of men ages 20 to 60 battle breakouts. Over-cleaning and vigorous scrubbing can cause more damage, so keep in mind it’s best to be gentle, but consistent. Wash morning and night with a gentle cleanser, and it’s especially important to remove makeup every night. A topical treatment containing benzoyl peroxide will kill bacteria. For moderate to severe acne, a prescription treatment can often provide good results. Also, avoid touching your face throughout the day, wash your hands frequently, and limit sun exposure as this can increase oil production and make acne worse. A treatment plan by a dermatologist can help minimize the breakouts.
Maureen Olivier, MD, dermatologist with The Clinic

How effective are whitening toothpastes?
All toothpastes help remove surface stains through the action of mild abrasives. Some whitening toothpastes contain gentle polishing or chemical agents that provide additional stain removal effectiveness. Whitening toothpastes can help remove surface stains only and do not contain bleach. Over-the-counter and professional whitening products contain hydrogen peroxide (a bleaching substance) that helps remove stains on the tooth surface as well as stains deep in the tooth. None of the home use whitening toothpastes can come even close to producing the bleaching effect you get from your dentist's office through professional tooth whitening techniques. Whitening toothpastes can lighten your tooth's color by about one shade. In contrast, light-activated whitening conducted in your dentist's office can make your teeth three to eight shades lighter.
Harry Castle, DDS, with Oak Park Dental

I’d like to have Botox, but I’m worried about my facial expressions not looking natural. Is that unavoidable?
Not at all – if the injections are administered correctly. Botox works best for dynamic wrinkles. These are the wrinkles that occur when you smile, laugh or frown. They are commonly referred to as frown lines, forehead lines and crow's feet. Although the results after Botox are visible, a treatment with Botox injections will not radically change your facial appearance or make you look as if you "had work done." The muscle activity that causes frown lines between the brows is simply reduced, so you can still frown or look surprised.
Mark Crawford, MD, facial cosmetic specialist with the Aesthetic Center of SWLA

What might cause sensitivity and persistent pain in the hip?
Hip pain can be caused by various factors. One of the most common is degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis. This occurs when the cartilage lining, which keeps the bones in the hip joint gliding across each other smoothly, deteriorates and becomes rough. The pain and stiffness that are associated with arthritis can also be accompanied by a tingling or warm sensation. Another possible condition related to these symptoms is bursitis of the hip joint. This occurs when the bursa sac surrounding the hip joint becomes inflamed. A stress fracture can cause persistent pain and discomfort in the hip. A new source of hip pain has been isolated in the labrum of the hip. The labrum is a ring of cartilage surrounding the hip joint, which can be torn and is a very common cause of hip pain in younger patients. Finally, very often what people think is hip pain is not actually related to a problem in the hip joint. It can originate from some other condition such as a herniated disc in the back. In order to determine the exact cause of your hip pain, don't delay seeing a qualified physician for an examination.
John Noble, Jr., MD, orthopaedic surgeon with Center for Orthopaedics