New Injection for Veins Approved by the FDA

The FDA has approved a new treatment for spider and varicose veins—Asclera.

Although this product is not new in Europe or Canada, it was just approved here. It’s another injectable that can be used for spider veins. It has an excellent track record for safety elsewhere.

Polidocanol (that’s the generic name for Asclera) collapses the vein with the use of fluid. It is similar to other products previously used in sclerotherapy, but it does not leave open sores and discoloration.  Actually, we don’t find that to be a problem in our practice in any case, but it’s good to know there’s a new alternative.

Age and genetics are factors to the development of varicose veins, as well as sitting or standing too long on hard surfaces and wearing clothing that’s too tight. If you do a great deal fo standing, be sure to put your feet up when you get home, even if just for 20 minutes.

Unfortunately, the majority of those with varicose veins don’t treat them unless they become unsightly. This can be a mistake, as they can become painful and even create a blood clot.

If you’re bothered with veins, please come in and see us about them. We’ll do a detailed examination and see if we can help you eliminate them either with laser treatments or sclerotherapy. In addition to the cosmetic benefit, sclerotherapy may also remedy the uncomfortable symptoms associated with spider veins, including aching, burning, swelling and night cramps.

To your health and beauty,

Dr. Joe Danyo

Dysport issues the Dysport Challenge!

Were you around in 1975 when the Pepsi Challenge commercials were running? Everyday folks were blind-folded in the local grocery store and served 2 types of cola. They were amazed that they liked Pepsi better than Coke.

Well, the makers of Dysport, a competitor to Botox, have created their own version of this popular commercial. It’s called the Dysport Challenge. Now, our office doesn’t use Dysport, we love our Botox, so we aren’t in the challenge, but we wanted our readers to know about the lengths that cosmetic companies will go to to get their business!

Since Dysport was approved slightly more than a year ago by the FDA, it’s taken only 10% of Botox’s thunder in terms of marketshare. However, Allergan, the makers of Botox, were spooked enough to push more of their non-cosmetic Botox uses to the public, such as a treatment for migraines and excessive sweating. In fact, those non-cosmetic uses make up more than half of Botox’s annual revenues!

This kind of medical marketing has upset some medical ethicists. I’d be interested in knowing what you think about this kind of promotion? Is this no different than the battle of the colas or does this signal a trend that might invade even our more disease-oriented medications, like perhaps Lipitor vs Zocor?