Coming

Ice Slurry Fat-Melting Shots

How cool is this? The same scientists who brought us CoolSculpting are now hard at work on a related technology for selective cryolipolysis. In essence, this involves injecting an ice slurry directly into adipose tissue for targeted melting of localized fat pockets. Animal studies are looking good, and if this promise holds in human studies, the technology may have boundless applications. Unlike devices, these injections could reach fat at any depth and any site, including disease-associated fat. In obstructive sleep apnea, for example, targeting fat near the airway with this technology could improve symptoms without the need for cumbersome continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines.

Going

Ignorance About Alopecia

It was the slap seen round the world. Comedian Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair while presenting at the 94th Academy Awards ceremony. She has alopecia. Her husband, actor Will Smith, stormed the stage and slapped Rock across the face. I’m not here to say who was right or who was wrong. I will let that play out in the popular press and the Academy. Instead, I’d like to point out the silver lining here: Everyone is talking about alopecia.

Awareness and education often lead to understanding and innovation, both of which are sorely needed when it comes to alopecia. Many people with alopecia struggle with feelings of depression and anxiety, and there is no cure for this disease. There’s some reason for optimism, though. A recent study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology found that Eli Lilly’s baricitinib (Oliumiant), a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor already approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, could be a game-changer.

Nearly 40 percent of adults on the 4mg dose, all of whom started with at least 50 percent scalp hair loss, experienced full or nearly full scalp hair coverage, and similar improvements were achieved for patients with significant gaps or no notable eyebrows or eyelashes at 52 weeks. This new treatment will add to some current and improving options for alopecia, including PRP therapy, microfat, exosome therapy, lasers, LED caps, and oral supplements. Hopefully baldness can become a choice as opposed to a condition.