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Cornelia Day Resort Welcomed Chiva-Som Therapists
Cornelia Day Resort in New York welcomed two Chiva-Som therapists from Hua Hin, Thailand, for a special promotional week in which clients could experience authentic Thai massages. 866-663-1700
SpaMedica Voted Best of Citysearch
SpaMedica Medspa in Waltham, MA, was voted 2006 Best of Citysearch in Citysearch’s Boston Spa/Hair Removal category. 781-899-7546, waltham@spamedicamedspas.com
CTFA Files Comments With FDA on the Use of Nanotechnology in Personal Care Products
The Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association (CTFA) announced today that it has filed comprehensive comments with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the science and regulation of nanoparticles in personal care products. CTFA comments, which can be found at www.ctfa.org, specifically address issues raised in a petition filed with the FDA earlier this year on the use of nanotechnology in personal care products, in particular, sunscreen products.
“Nanoparticles in sunscreens are very small particles that have been reviewed and approved by FDA. They have been used safely and effectively by consumers for decades to protect from harmful UV rays and to prevent skin cancer,” said John Bailey, executive vice president for science at CTFA and former FDA official. “These ingredients have properties that provide a greater degree of protection from the sun, are transparent when applied and aesthetically pleasing, and therefore encourage greater consumer acceptance.”
The nanoparticles in sunscreens, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, are established, efficacious sunscreen filters that have been on the market for decades. In 1996, FDA concluded that smaller, micronized particles of titanium dioxide are not new substances and that there is no evidence demonstrating that these micronized particles are unsafe. Nano-sized titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, unlike the larger particle size ingredient, form a transparent rather than a thick, white coating, which leads to greater consumer acceptance and use of sunscreen products, and therefore greater protection from skin cancer and other damaging effects of the sun. The same improvement in formulation esthetics also applies to the use of these materials in cosmetics.
“Nanoparticle ingredients in personal care products sit on top of the skin, are used in small amounts, and are not absorbed into the body. The general scientific consensus is that there is no risk to human health. But we don’t rest on this knowledge alone,” Bailey said. “We take the science of safety very seriously, and that is why we review the latest and most comprehensive scientific research, including nanotech research, before bringing a product to market.”
According to widely accepted independent research studies, the size of these nanoparticles does not make them inherently different in terms of toxicity or impact on human health than larger particles. It is also important to note that humans have long been exposed to some types of nanoparticles in the atmosphere such as smoke from candles, fireplaces and other sources.
In the case of the sunscreen ingredients zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, the overwhelming weight of the scientific evidence states that these substances are safe and non-toxic, including when used in cosmetics and sunscreens.
Authoritative bodies that have thoroughly reviewed titanium dioxide and zinc oxide include:
- The FDA:
Concluded that these substances are safe for use in cosmetics. Titanium dioxide has been approved for use as a color additive in food, drugs, cosmetics, and contact lenses. Zinc oxide is approved for use as a food ingredient, a color additive in drugs and cosmetics, and as a protectant for injured skin.
Concluded that these substances are safe for use in OTC drug products, including sunscreens, skin protectants, and other products.
- The Scientific Committee for Cosmetic Products in the European Union:
Considered more than 100 titanium dioxide safety studies and concluded that these substances are safe for use in cosmetics.
- Germany BfR, Federal Agency for Risk Assessment:
In 2006, reviewed these two substances and found that the nanoparticles did not penetrate the skin, and that the biological properties of the nanoparticles were not necessarily different from those of larger particles.
- The Australian government Department of Health and Aging:
In 2006, published a comprehensive review of the science on zinc oxide and titanium dioxide and found no evidence that sunscreens containing these materials in nanoparticle form pose any risk.
“The FDA has broad authority to ensure that personal care products and ingredients utilizing nanotechnology are safe for consumers and has consistently exercised that authority,” CTFA’s Bailey added. “Sunscreens, some of which utilize sun-protecting nanoparticles, are required to go through an extensive pre-market review process to prove they are safe and effective.”
The FDA comprehensively regulates the safety of consumer health products. Under the Federal, Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), FDA has erected a complex and comprehensive regulatory system to safeguard the public health. This regulatory system has worked to ensure that, among other things, the food eaten by US consumers, the medical technology used by physicians and patients, and the personal care products used by countless citizens are among the safest in the world.
Based in Washington, D.C., CTFA is the trade association representing the cosmetic, toiletry, and fragrance industry in the United States and globally. Founded in 1894, CTFA has a membership of approximately 600 companies including manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers of the vast majority of finished personal care products marketed in the United States.
Aspira The Spa Opens in Wisconsin
Aspira The Spa recently opened on the sandy shores of Elkhart Lake, WI. The 20,000-square-foot facility features inside and outside whirlpools, a Finnish sauna, a SpaSuite, and a spa studio for tai chi, yoga and pilates, as well as a menu of services, including the Sacred Waters Massage. 877-772-2070, spadesk@aspiraspa.com
FACES DaySpa Wins Multiple Awards
In the past year, FACES DaySpa on Hilton Head Island, SC, received the 2006 Best Day Spa, Best Massage and Best Manicure/Pedicure designation in Island Packet Reader’s Choice Awards, was a 2006 Stevie Award finalist for Best Overall Company, and was named one of the 200 fastest-growing salons in the United States for the fourth time by Salon Today. 888-443-2237, info@facesdayspa.com
ISPA Honors Michael Jacobson, PhD
The International SPA Association honored Michael Jacobson, PhD, co-founder and executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) in Washington, D.C., with its 2006 Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award; Sylvia Sepielli, owner and president of Sylvia Planning And design (SPAd Inc.), with its 2006 Visionary Award; and Gayle Brady, director of development for Skin Authority, with its 2006 Dedicated Contributor Award. 888-651-4772, ispa@ispastaff.com
Skin Inc. Magazine Remembers 9/11
Five years ago today, the World Trade Center in New York was attacked by terrorists, causing the structure's devestation, and the city's and country's plummet into despair and fear. The spa industry was affected, as were most industries in New York and the United States. Although healing has commenced and the country has come a long way with recovery efforts, it is important to remember that day.
In Skin Inc. magazine's December 2001 issue, Lois Hince contributed an ABBIES award-winning article on the experience of our industry during that tumultuous time. Click here to read that article, "Trilogy," in memory of all those touched by this tragedy.
Eczema Rates Stabilizing in U.K.
Rates of eczema and hay fever in the United Kingdom appear to have stabilized, after charting a steady rise over recent decades.
However, the study also found that rates of systemic allergic reactions -- including the severe condition known as anaphylaxis -- have surged in the past 20 years.
The researchers analyzed data gathered from numerous sources: national surveys, primary care doctors, prescription and hospital admission records, and death records.
Over the past three decades, diagnoses of allergic rhinitis and eczema in children have tripled, but there appears to have been a recent decrease in the prevalence of symptoms. Hospital admissions for eczema have stabilized since 1995, the researchers found, while admissions for allergic rhinitis have decreased to about 40 percent of their 1990 levels.
Between 1971 and 1991, the number of consultations with family doctors about hay fever increased by 260 percent and by 150 percent for eczema. However, these rates have stabilized in the past 10 years, the study said.
Hospital admissions for anaphylaxis have soared by 700 percent, for food allergy by 500 percent, and for the skin allergy urticaria by 100 percent.
Prescriptions for all types of allergies have increased since 1991.
The researchers said that some of the trends could be related to changes in medical practice and care but could also be explained by changes in the sources of allergic disease.
The study was published in the current issue of Thorax.
HealthDay News, September 7, 2006
Glen Ivy Hot Springs Awards Scholarships
Glen Ivy Hot Springs, Inc. announced its 2006 Elevating Life Scholar recipients, totaling almost $20,000 in scholarships to 29 graduating seniors from 18 high schools. Those awarded were chosen based on academic excellence, leadership abilities and the goal to pursue education in helping-focused professions. Winners include, from the Corona, CA, area: Melody Besharati, Sang Cao, Amanda Chapman, Lisa Day, Brittany Halstead, Vivian Hernandez, Michelle Lukman, Monica So, Kristi Weaver, Tamra Woods and Jennifer Yoon; from the Brea, CA, area: Cindy Cabrera, Leslie Garcia and Aaron Remijio; from the Valencia, CA, area: Pamela Aguirre, Angela Asseltyne, Alan Estero, Brenda Estrada, Stephanie Lillibridge, Jessica Lobo, Shannon Moser, Jeffery Pablo, Hep Vu and Baharak Zarrabi; and from the Hermosa Beach, CA, area: Isabel Cruz, Midori Higashi, Comron Roodsari, Jin Soo Song and Jin Young Song. 888-258-2683, info@glenivy.com
CTFA Requests Public Comments on Skin Absorption
The Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association (CTFA) is requesting public comments by September 25, 2006, on a new Safety Evaluation Guideline addressing the topic of Skin Absorption.
The guideline describes in vitro test methods for evaluating skin absorption.
The CTFA Safety Evaluation Guidelines provide manufacturers with guidance regarding the use of preclinical and clinical safety testing as a means to substantiate the safety of both ingredients and finished cosmetic products. They are part of the CTFA Technical Guidelines series.
Each Guideline undergoes an extensive development and review process by CTFA technical committees and staff, as well as public review by CTFA member companies, nonmember companies, federal government agencies, and scientific professional societies.
An electronic copy of the draft guidelines is available from the CTFA Public Affairs Department by contacting Lisa Powers, (202) 446-0489 or email at powersl@ctfa.org.