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Natmed Solutions launches first A.I. skin analyser in Africa

According to InsightAce Analytic’s latest research report, the global Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) in the Beauty and Cosmetics market is expected to reach US$ 13.34 Billion in 2030, with a potential CAGR of 19.7% from 2021 to 2030.

Massive changes within the Beauty and Cosmetics sector are largely attributed to the introduction of new technology, which had re-defined brand engagement and consumer purchasing behaviour. With A.I. technologies, brands can provide customised product recommendations and solutions by introducing offerings such as virtual try-ons, online skin diagnostics and data-driven personalisation.

Many of the large global brands, such as L’Oréal, Estee Lauder and Olay have already recognised the value and potential of using A.I. in different ways for their businesses as well as brands.

Natmed Solutions has followed suit by introducing the first A.I. skin analyser into the African market. Launched in February of this year, this technological innovation is vetted by 63 EU dermatologists with 3-million reference scans and is a Microsoft Pagasus project winner.

Based on reference data and information collected, the A.I. technology works off smart phones and PC cameras to scan, analyse and report on an individual’s current skin conditions, and deliver Biomerenew product recommendations tailored to their specific needs.

The same applies in-store where QR codes have been positioned at point-of-sale to provide customers with a quick 30-second full skin analysis and data-driven product advice.

With its out-of-the-box thinking, Natmed Solutions understands the demand for personalisation within the market, and how A.I.’s ability to generate large amounts of data is what is going to differentiate and steer its business and product offering to meet customer demand and remain competitive. As Dr Ashley Naidoo, director and clinical advisory at Natmed Solutions explains: “We have already been able to make use of the reference data to ascertain common product preferences of customers living in Durban, and, as a result, are developing products that can meet those specific requirements.”

“The data collected from A.I. technology offers such value to the industry at large because it provides insight into what the target audience needs individually and how best to deliver it” he concludes.

Environ sweeps the 2024 Aesthetic Everything Awards with three top honors in skincare excellence

Environ celebrates a triumphant sweep at the 2024 Aesthetic Everything Awards in the USA, claiming three coveted titles that underscore their commitment to innovation and efficacy in medical skincare.

First on the podium, Environ Cool Peel® was hailed as the “Best Medical Peels”. Pioneered by founder and scientific director, Dr Des Fernandes, this intelligent professional peeling technology was acknowledged for revolutionising skin renewal by preserving the skin barrier and promoting natural functions for healthier skin.

Next, Environ’s Electro-Sonic Ionzyme® DF Technology earned the title of “Best in Class Professional Treatment Machine”, for its fusion of low-frequency Sonophoresis and pulsed Iontophoresis, which accelerates treatment results, and amplifies the efficacy of Environ’s formulations.

Rounding off their accolades, Environ secured the title of “Top Medical Skincare Line” for the seventh consecutive year, reaffirming its position as an industry leader in skincare innovation.

Since its inception in 2008, Aesthetic Everything has grown into the world’s largest network of aesthetic professionals, boasting a subscriber base of over 1 million. The annual awards has become synonymous with prestige, shining a spotlight on industry excellence across a variety of categories.

Dr Des Fernandes says, “I am deeply honoured by these exceptional awards, which acknowledge Environ’s original concepts and research: firstly, to deal with the physiological changes of photoaging, secondly, to remove the scarring associated with most of the treatments to smoothen photoaged skin, and finally to establish treatments to enhance the penetration of active molecules that work synergistically with natural physiology in order to return skin to its more youthful state. In the beginning we were ridiculed for these ideas, but we’ve persisted for nearly 30 years in believing the science and natural chemistry to rehabilitate skin.”

Nix & Tee partner with Sandhurst Eye Centre to redefine aesthetic healthcare

In a visionary collaboration orchestrated by plastic surgeon, Dr Chris Snijman, Nix & Tee Wellness & Aesthetics have joined forces with the Sandhurst Eye Centre. This collaborative alliance, driven by a shared commitment to patient care, aims to provide comprehensive healthcare services under one roof.

Dr Snijman’s foresight into the evolving landscape of healthcare laid the foundation for this partnership. His vision, aligned with that of Dr Phil Pierce and Dr Mark Diaz, owners of the Sandhurst Eye Centre, emphasised the importance of offering patients a holistic, one-stop approach to their medical needs. Together, they sought to expand the services of the Centre while maintaining a focus on medical excellence.

Recognising Nix & Tee’s expertise and potential to contribute to this holistic vision, Dr Snijman invited the esteemed nursing sisters to join the Centre. Delighted by the opportunity, they accepted the invitation and relocated their clinic to become an integral part of the Centre.

“For us, this partnership represents a forward-thinking approach to meeting the evolving needs of patients in the healthcare industry,” say Nicolette Wepener, co-owner of Nix & Tee Wellness & Aesthetics. “It is about innovation and excellence in all we do, and the collaboration and integration of healthcare services and expertise to offer clients a comprehensive approach to aesthetics and wellness.”

In line with their collaborative ethos, Nix & Tee Wellness & Aesthetics are thrilled to welcome Dr Thys Heyns, a highly-regarded aesthetic doctor, to their team. Dr Heyns will be available for consultations at their clinic on Mondays and Thursdays.

An official launch event, held on 23rd Feb 2024, marked a significant milestone in their partnership with Sandhurst Eye Centre. Attended by colleagues, industry professionals, and valued clients, the event highlighted the integration of their services and the commitment to holistic patient care.

New research emphasises the worrying gap in skincare research equity

A new meta-analysis of research by 4.5.6. Skin emphasises the true extent of the gap in skincare research equity. People with darker skin tones represent 40% of the world population and require products that specifically target their skin needs.

As many as 60% of dermatologists struggle to diagnose and treat patients with darker skin tones. This is exacerbated by medical textbooks failing to reflect diversity; only 4.5% of images in such texts are diverse. This means doctors are not currently being effectively educated about how skin conditions may exhibit differently on darker skin.

Regulatory testing is integral for ensuring that the skincare products on the market are safe, however, the one used by the industry has not evolved and is based on Fitzpatrick skin tones I, II and III only. This means that crucial patch tests are all based on white skin, despite irritation and inflammation appearing differently in darker skin.

Clinical trials tend to mainly include people with lighter skin tones, meaning less than 1% of clinical trials are truly inclusive. This concerning statistic is despite the FDA and EU acknowledging that drug trials for topical medications should include a spectrum of skin tones.

Research has shown numerous structural and functional differences in darker skin tones that go beyond colour. That’s why 4.5.6 Skin is advocating for a philosophy and formulation approach that factors in genetics, metabolic, pathological, and psychological implications of skin tone.

Surge in jaw relaxing treatments attributed to costof-living stress

Heightened stress due to the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis has caused a surge in people requesting treatment for temporomandibular disorder (TMD), TMD, also known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ disorder), affects the jaw joint and surrounding muscles, causing issues including headaches, jaw pain and clicking, limited chewing function, and limited mouth opening. One cause of TMD is bruxism (teeth-grinding) due to stress, which is affecting increasing numbers of people during the cost-of-living crisis and post-pandemic world. Higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol were found in people suffering from TMD.

Botulinum toxin injections can help relax the muscles around the jaw, relieving the debilitating symptoms of TMD, and providing much-needed relief for the sufferer. Authors of The Influence of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on TMJ Disorders, OSAS and BMI found a prevalence of TMD in a cohort of 208 participants from different private dental practices. Another study, The Prevalence and Predicting Factors of Temporomandibular Disorders in COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study, found a 41.9% prevalence of TMD in Covid-19-positive participants.

Allergan Aesthetics launches consultation app

Allergan Aesthetics, a global leader in medical aesthetics treatments, has announced the launch of its new patient education and consultation app, ‘AMI Education and Consultation’.

Developed by the Allergan Medical Institute, the app is designed to support healthcare professionals in the delivery of high-calibre patient consultations. It does so by providing a visual aid for the patient via an iPad or tablet, alongside features to enhance the consultation experience, such as details on anatomy and ageing.

The app also allows the practitioner to create a bespoke treatment planner that, via email, can be reviewed by the patient at-home post-consultation and before treatment.

For details, visit allerganmedicalinstitute.com

Report shows 133% increase in body treatments in 2023

The inaugural Skintuition Report by BeautyHealth, who own Hydrafacial, has predicted that patients will seek efficacy through the medicalisation of beauty, with treatments backed by clinical studies seeing a rise in interest.

The compilation of insights, trends and predictions based on clinical studies, data and performance from the company’s brands and network of professional skin health providers, has also revealed the trend will spread to how patients are influenced, showing they will turn to doctors and aestheticians to help shape their routines in 2024.

In terms of ingredients, the report predicts that tried-andtested peptides will be a hero ingredient for 2024, with under34-year-olds trying vitamin C as well. Personalisation is also predicted to be a key need for patients.

When it comes to patients’ habits, the group has seen an increase in demand across the board for body treatments, up 133%. Patients are now looking neck-down when it comes to skin health, opting for top-to-toe treatments, with the under-25s focusing on the back and ‘booty’. Hydrafacial’s body treatments alone are surging, with a 52% increase in demand year on year.

Fat loss medication linked to surgery risk

Safety concerns have been revealed in a University of Texas Health (UTHealth) Houston study for patients using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and going under anaesthesia.

GLP-1 RAs are medications approved for diabetes and weight management that have recently seen a spike in interest from the public, with celebrities using injectables like semaglutide to maintain and lose weight.

UTHealth Houston revealed its findings in an article in JAMA Surgery, showing a link between GLP-1 RA drugs and potential aspiration risk under anaesthesia.

The study was led by first author and associate professor Sudipta Sen and senior author, professor Omonele Nwokolo from the Department of Anaesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.

“Our findings were quite surprising. More than half of the patients on a GLP-1 RA had significant gastric contents on gastric ultrasound before an elective procedure, despite adhering to preoperative fasting,” said Prof Sen. “This incidence was significantly higher compared to patients not on a GLP-1 RA, showing a strong link between GLP-1 RA drugs and potential aspiration risk under anaesthesia.”

Designed by Paul Potnuru, assistant professor, the study examined more than 120 patients scheduled for elective procedures between June and July 2023. Findings revealed that 56% of patients using GLP-1 RAs exhibited increased residual gastric content, compared to 19% of those who did not take the medication. The study further indicated a 30.5% prevalence of increased residual gastric content with the use of GLP-1 RAs.

The study was prompted by internal quality reviews led by Nwokolo and Srikanth Sridhar, associate professor in the department, after anecdotal cases of aspiration under anaesthesia were reported by staff for patients taking this class of medications for weight loss, despite adequate fasting before the procedure.