Perhaps it's not the greatest choice of words, but a rash of recent technological advances in laser surgery may have moved the world of medicine closer to curing some irritating and in some cases life-debilitating ailments.
Following the 70th annual meeting of the Academy of Dermatology in the US, a series of reports on research into the world of laser surgery presented there could bring some hope to those upset by hair loss, cellulite and the skin paling condition vitiligo.
Since the advancement of laser eye surgery has enabled millions to throw away their spectacles, the next big breakthrough using the miracle working light rays has been eagerly awaited.
Certainly light source treatments have become the cornerstone of many modern cosmetic treatments. Even if you don't have direct experience of it, a flick through the showbiz section of The National or a skim over any trendy fashion magazine will leave you in no doubt of the power of the laser to improve ageing skin or shine up a smile.
Now, the latest batch of advanced laser techniques are providing some interesting results in treating some of our great unsolved lifestyle issues - hair loss, nail fungus and cellulite.
"We've seen an increasing number of both men and women coming through the door as the demand for non-invasive therapies rises," explains Jelena Bamljanovic, a laser treatment specialist at the Dubai Cosmetic Surgery in the UAE.
"Our market is predominantly locals, but there are many expats around Dubai also opting for treatments that include skin rejuvenation with selected use lasers - it's becoming as common as going for a facial," she says. Other treatments include using UV light to treat hyperpigmentation (the darkening of skin) and even a popular "beard shaping" procedure among men. "The men go to the barbers to have their beard cut to the shape they want, then have the laser surgery to prevent hair growing back beyond the outline," explains Bamljanovic.
The demand for laser surgery around the globe has been coupled with a more focused investigation by skin specialists and medics concerned that - while some treatments like laser eye surgery have proved to be hugely successful - others should still be approached with a great deal of caution.
In her presentation to the Academy of Dermatology conference, Dr Molly Wanner, from the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, examined how Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is being used to fight fat and stimulate hair growth.
It has played a significant part in wound healing in the past but now several new devices have been developed and touted as being able to reverse hair loss by using the same process. Indeed, one study of an LLLT hair restoring system showed that, on average, users experienced an increase in hair growth of 19.8 hairs per centimetre squared. But Dr Wanner is the first to warn that much more scientific data is needed before these new treatments can be recommended. She also advises hair-loss patients to discuss treatment options with a dermatologist first.
"Light treatments are used to stimulate hair growth - but for us it's not the most popular treatment because it's time consuming," says Jelena Bamljanovic. "Many sessions are required and the progress can be slow - men especially will consider faster-fix treatments such as transplants ahead of this procedure."
However, as the laser technology improves, along with that of home-use light therapies, so has the demand for hair regrowth treatments risen.
"I'll treat 60 to 70 people a week, mainly women," says Mike Ryan, a consultant trichologist for the Hair Spa at Gulf Towers in Dubai.
"The low level light treatments continue to advance and are becoming more commonplace as awareness has rocketed in the UAE," says Ryan. "Results can take time of course and clients tend to notice a healing effect to their hair loss, to varying degrees, in around three months."
Other treatments to come under the dermatologist academy spotlight included photodynamic therapy for the treatment of nail fungus - a form of athlete's foot that can decay the toenail to the point of it coming away from the skin. It's often treated using oral medication or topical cream, with varying success. The latest review of laser treatments revealed some positive results though, again, the experts warned that further research was needed into more effective and safe laser wavelengths.
Dr Wanner also reported on how evidence for lasers to treat the lumpy, bumpy skin texture that characterises cellulite showed some improvement for some people. But the research found that any changes to the cellulite caused by the current standard of laser treatments would diminish over time - and "top-up" treatments may be necessary.
Bamljanovic, the laser treatment specialist, is wary that there's still some way to go for the development of laser treatments in such areas, too. "We use a radio frequency treatment here for cellulite because it's something that penetrates deeper into the skin and provides successful results," she says.
However, it's in the treatment of the chronic skin condition vitiligo - which can cause areas of the skin to lose pigment and become patchy - that the greatest hope for some substantial improvements have arisen.
Vitiligo is thought to stem from the body's immune system attacking melanocytes (the cells that produce pigment) - leaving the affected area of skin devoid of colour. It most often affects the face, elbows, knees, hands and feet - and it's more noticeable in people with darker skin tones.
Some surgeries do already offer a form of localised UV treatment to "mild" case sufferers. Patches of vitiligo-affected skin are exposed to UV rays in an attempt to induce some activity in the cells. "We refer to specialists who are making some great strides in the surgical treatment of this condition," says Bamljanovic.
Indeed, the American Academy of Dermatology have revealed that developments in skin grafting treatments coupled with skin cell transplants and follow-up light therapy hold much promise for the treatment of vitiligo.
Studies by the professor Rebat Halder, from the department of dermatology at Howard University in Washington, detailed how these treatments had an 80 to 90 per cent success rate in most patients. The light therapy is used after skin grafting and melanocyte (skin cell) transplants to stimulate new pigment growth faster in treated areas.
Bamljanovic believes the use of laser treatments are definitely lighting the way forward and feels that UAE citizens is becoming more comfortable with their use. "It's still an issue for some people, but in the future these techniques will only get better, faster and more convenient."
For now though, academics like Dr Wanner who meet to review the growing number of laser treatments remain guarded. "It's very important for consumers to understand that they could pursue a treatment and see no improvement," says Dr Wanner. "Future studies could help pinpoint which patients these new therapies might work best and may provide the evidence dermatologists need to evaluate these procedures before we can recommend them to our patients."
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The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
The years Ramadan fell in May
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Game is on BeIN Sports
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The five pillars of Islam
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The essentials
What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
When: Friday until March 9
Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.
Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.
Information: www.emirateslitfest.com
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
MATCH INFO
Azerbaijan 0
Wales 2 (Moore 10', Wilson 34')
Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
Jebel Ali Dragons 26 Bahrain 23
Dragons
Tries: Hayes, Richards, Cooper
Cons: Love
Pens: Love 3
Bahrain
Tries: Kenny, Crombie, Tantoh
Cons: Phillips
Pens: Phillips 2
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The%20specs
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If you go...
Etihad flies daily from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, with fares starting from Dh2,807 return. Frequent high speed trains between Zurich and Vienna make stops at St. Anton.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE DETAILS
Deadpool 2
Dir: David Leitch
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Justin Dennison, Zazie Beetz
Four stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Opening Premier League fixtures, August 14
- Brentford v Arsenal
- Burnley v Brighton
- Chelsea v Crystal Palace
- Everton v Southampton
- Leicester City v Wolves
- Manchester United v Leeds United
- Newcastle United v West Ham United
- Norwich City v Liverpool
- Tottenham v Manchester City
- Watford v Aston Villa
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
THE BIO
Ms Al Ameri likes the variety of her job, and the daily environmental challenges she is presented with.
Regular contact with wildlife is the most appealing part of her role at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.
She loves to explore new destinations and lives by her motto of being a voice in the world, and not an echo.
She is the youngest of three children, and has a brother and sister.
Her favourite book, Moby Dick by Herman Melville helped inspire her towards a career exploring the natural world.
More on Quran memorisation:
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Results
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Nadhra, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: AF Dars, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: AF Musannef, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Taghzel, Malin Holmberg, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: M’Y Yaromoon, Khalifa Al Neyadi, Jesus Rosales
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (PA) 1,400m; Winner: Hakeem, Jim Crowley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
Pakistanis%20at%20the%20ILT20%20
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Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
All Blacks line-up for third Test
J Barrett; I Dagg, A Lienert-Brown, N Laumape, J Savea; B Barrett, A Smith; J Moody, C Taylor, O Franks, B Retallick, S Whitelock, J Kaino, S Cane, K Read (capt).
Replacements: N Harris, W Crockett, C Faumuina, S Barrett, A Savea, TJ Perenara, A Cruden, M Fekitoa.
MEYDAN RESULTS
6.30pm Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh125,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner ES Ajeeb, Sam Hitchcock (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer).
7.05pm Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Galaxy Road, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
7.40pm Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Al Modayar, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh170,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner Gundogdu, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.50pm Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner George Villiers, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
9.25pm Handicap (TB) Dh175,000 (D)1,200m
Winner Lady Parma, Connor Beasley, Satish Seemar
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Zaajer, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKinetic%207%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rick%20Parish%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clean%20cooking%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
