Tag: steroids

Ryan Garcia Reportedly Tests Positive For PEDs After Victory Over Devin Haney, Boxing World Suspects Foul Play

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Ryan Garcia – Source: Al Bello / Getty

Following Ryan Garcia’s shocking win over Devin Haney, the Golden Boy’s tests from the fight were reportedly positive for PEDs.

In April the boxing world suffered its biggest upset victory in decades when Ryan Garcia defeated WBC Super Lightweight Champion Devin Haney. Leading up to the bout, Ryan Garcia was entangled in a string of bizarre social media antics that led to questions about his mental health. Many thought he was unfit to fight and the betting odds favored Haney across the board. Not only that but Garcia missed weight by three pounds and promised Haney $500k for every pound he was over. He made good on the deal and paid him $1.5M in cash.

Garcia also placed a $2M bet on himself that profited $12M thanks to his behavior tanking the gambling odds.

Now according to Bleacher Report, the drama from Ryan Garcia’s win has reignited after his test from the fight tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. PEDs usually mean steroids, but boxing has dozens of substances that are banned including some found in common items like energy drinks.

After the report was released, Garcia immediately hopped on social media to defend himself from the claims and said that foul play was at hand. He now has 10 days to test a B sample to dispute the failed tests.

Meanwhile, Devin Haney who was missing in action following the fight, issued a statement.

I’ve always been an advocate for clean fighting and this is an example of such,” said Haney. “Ryan owes the fans an apology, and by his recent tweet he still thinks this is a joke.”

“We put our lives on the line to entertain people for a living. You don’t play boxing. This puts the fight in a completely different light. Despite the disadvantage, I still fought on my shield and got back up!” he continued “People die in this sport. This isn’t a joking matter.”

The Boxing World Suspects Foul Play Involving Ryan Garcia’s Failed Tests

The Ryan Garcia news quickly sent social media into a frenzy and people have alleged that boxing promoter Eddie Hearn sabotaged the boxer to ensure that Rayan Garcia couldn’t fairly win.

Many people including fellow boxer Gervonta Davis have come out in support of the fighter who posted his clean test results ahead of the match.

You can see some of the reactions to the news below.

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Noah Williams

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May 2, 2024
Arnold Schwarzenegger Warns Young Athletes About Steroid Use: ‘People Are Dying’

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Arnold Schwarzenegger is speaking out about the concerning use of steroids among young people.

“People are dying,” the former bodybuilder told Men’s Health in an interview published online Wednesday. “They’re dying because of overdoses of drugs and they don’t know what the fuck they’re doing.”

According to Schwarzenegger, many lifters are listening not to medical professionals but instead to “charlatans” who promote steroids on social media and elsewhere.

“If I want to get medical advice … I go to the Cleveland Clinic,” he said, adding that misinformation about the drugs has made bodybuilding unsafe.

Schwarzenegger has previously confirmed that he relied on performance-enhancing drugs in the past, before Congress passed the Anabolic Steroids Control Act of 1990 to minimize use among athletes.

“It was what I had to do to compete,” the native Austrian told the Los Angeles Times in 1996, insisting then that he had avoided the dangers of “over-usage.”

The “Terminator” star told Men’s Health that his steroid regimen amounted to “One hundred milligrams a week … and then three Dianabol a day,” referring to the drug metandienone.

Arnold Schwarzenegger has previously discussed using steroids in his bodybuilding days.

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

With his steroid-aided physique bringing him fame as an athlete and later a Hollywood star, he acknowledged that some may dismiss his warning on the drugs.

“I recognize the fact that, who am I to say this?” he said.

But the “Commando” actor, who was formerly named Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia, insisted that he’s witnessed the disastrous effects of the drugs.

“I have seen people getting kidney transplants and suffering tremendously from it,” he said. “Anytime you abuse the body, you’re going to regret it.”

His takeaway for anyone considering steroids? “Don’t go there.”

Schwarzenegger is pictured with Sally Field, his co-star on 1976’s “Stay Hungry.”

Bettmann via Getty Images

Schwarzenegger told Men’s Health that although he misses his old physique, and now strikes bodybuilding poses “only in the bathroom,” he still works out to “stay alive.”

Earlier this week, the former California governor noted how his passion for exercise — first ingrained in him by doing hundreds of situps and pushups each morning at his father’s behest — remains strong.

“It just makes you feel good, no matter what you do,” he told Entertainment Tonight.

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May 25, 2023
Vitiligo: More Than Just a Cosmetic Condition

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By Lauri Vargo, MD, assistant professor of dermatology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, as told to Susan Bernstein

Vitiligo is largely a chronic disease with an unpredictable course, so treatment can be challenging for many people. Every person responds differently to different medications. First, I establish their goals and expectations for their treatment.

The mainstay of treatment for vitiligo starting out includes different topical creams, light therapy, and oral steroids. But the world of dermatology is ever-evolving, so new treatments are emerging now for vitiligo. If we need to, we can turn to a toolbox of newer treatments. There is a lot of good research and evidence behind some of our older therapies for vitiligo, and most dermatologists will start with these treatments.

Vitiligo May Be Autoimmune

What causes vitiligo is still largely unknown. We think there’s an autoimmune component to it. Vitiligo is typically associated with other autoimmune conditions. Going through your history is extremely important in vitiligo. Autoimmune thyroid disease is one of the most common conditions we see in someone who has vitiligo.

There are some newer therapies for vitiligo, and I typically use those when we haven’t seen any improvement with the older treatments. We have to weigh all of the risks and benefits of any treatment. We have to think about the potential side effects of any treatment, and cost is also a big issue for some patients.

There are many new and exciting medications in dermatology, but access to them can be a big barrier. Older therapies are better covered by insurance. I don’t want to offer someone a topical cream that they can’t afford when they go to pick it up at the pharmacy.

Start With Topicals and Light Therapy

For vitiligo, we start with topicals and light therapy. We create each treatment plan on an individual basis because vitiligo can be a hard, frustrating condition to treat. People typically have lifelong disease and must continue their treatment. There’s no guarantee that we will be able to restore [skin] pigmentation or that your skin will return to normal.

One of the newer medications for vitiligo are janus kinase inhibitors, also known as JAK inhibitors. None of these are currently FDA approved for the treatment of vitiligo, but this will likely soon change.

With this new class of oral and topical medications, we have to address the potential side effects that come along with treatment.

Excitingly, we do have a topical version of one of these medications called ruxolitinib, which is currently used in eczema treatment. There have been some encouraging studies for it in the treatment of vitiligo, including facial vitiligo.

Typically, when we use topicals, we don’t get as concerned about systemic side effects. However, with these topical JAK inhibitors, including ruxolitinib, we are still unsure [how much of the drug you absorb through your skin] and how it could relate to potential side effects. That’s still a question.

Protect Eyes and Skin

There are other health risks for people who have vitiligo. Our melanocytes are cells that give us our pigment and protect our skin from the sun. So when you lack pigment-producing cells, you’re at greater risk for sunburn. I talk to all of my patients with vitiligo about how extremely important it is to keep skin covered and to protect your skin from burns. People with vitiligo don’t have that barrier to protect their skin from the sun’s rays.

I recommend that people with vitiligo or anyone use a sunscreen that’s SPF 30 or above, broad-spectrum, and water-resistant. It’s really important to apply enough sunscreen to your skin and to reapply it also. Most people don’t apply enough sunscreen to their skin. You need to apply 1 ounce of sunscreen at a time. That’s enough to fill a shot glass. You should reapply it every 2 hours or after sweating or swimming.

Ultraviolet protection factor or UPF clothing is another thing I recommend. You can find these clothes at many stores these days. This clothing provides extra protection from the sun. It’s really becoming popular with kids, too. Kids are wearing rash guards when they play outdoors. Because we have pigment-producing cells in our eyes, too, it’s important for people with vitiligo to use sunglasses to protect their eyes when they are out in the sun as well.

Not Just a ‘Cosmetic’ Condition

Our skin is our biggest and most visible organ. People with any skin condition are at increased risk of low self-esteem and a decrease in their quality of life because of their skin condition. People with vitiligo often are affected by this. I think it’s important for me to educate my patients with vitiligo, especially children, so they can explain what vitiligo is to other people, such as on the playground or in school. I want them to be able to feel comfortable with the skin they’re in. Adults with vitiligo, too, and all of us, are prone to self-esteem issues when it comes to our skin’s appearance.

I notice that a lot of people talk about vitiligo therapies as “cosmetic treatments” or vitiligo as a “cosmetic condition.” I feel that the term “cosmetic” suggests that we are taking something normal and enhancing it. But with vitiligo, we are treating your skin condition just as we would any other health condition you have.

If you have vitiligo symptoms, coming in for a diagnosis from your dermatologist is important. That’s because other skin conditions can mimic or look like vitiligo. There are some rarer conditions we want to rule out first. There are some allergic skin conditions that can look like vitiligo.

Makeup and Self-Tanners

One thing I talk about with my patients is a makeup product called Dermablend to cover up skin. You may also use self-tanning products with dihydroxyacetone. Using a self-tanner product is completely OK if you have vitiligo. You can use it to cover up skin lesions if you want a more even appearance. If you go out and get a tan, you will only tan the rest of your skin.

I often recommend light therapy to people with vitiligo. This is one of my favorite treatments for this condition. It’s also called phototherapy. It’s a treatment that uses directed ultraviolet rays. Sometimes, when I recommend light therapy, my patients say, “Aren’t you a dermatologist? I thought the sun is bad for your skin!” But this type of light therapy should only be done as directed by a dermatologist.

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November 4, 2022
Vitiligo: Treatment Options and Innovations

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By Bassel H. Mahmoud, MD, PhD, as told to Susan Bernstein

Vitiligo is mainly an autoimmune disease of the skin that targets pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. This results in patches of depigmentation in the form of chalky white areas on the skin that can range from very small to very large, even covering most of the skin surface.

Vitiligo affects anywhere from 0.5% to 2% of the population, both adults and children, and affects people of all ethnic groups and all skin types. Vitiligo, although most of the time considered a cosmetic problem, can have a devastating psychological effect on patients and can affect their quality of life.

Treatments for vitiligo include topical and systemic immunosuppressant medications. The one that may be best for you depends on how extensive and active your disease is. There is also phototherapy, which uses ultraviolet light and laser. Other options include surgical treatment.

Immune T cells Attack Pigment Cells

Recent research studies have looked at the pathogenesis of vitiligo, which simply means the chain of events leading to this disease. These studies showed that vitiligo is an interferon-gamma driven disease leading to recruitment of CD8-positive T cells. These are cytotoxic T cells that engage with the melanocytes, or cells producing pigment in the skin, and kill them. Now that we have a better idea of how vitiligo occurs, we can develop better treatments to address this process. These newer treatments target and block these chains of events.

Recently developed drugs for vitiligo that have shown promising results are Janus

kinase (JAK) inhibitors. Examples include ruxolitinib and tofacitinib. Both are immune-suppressing medications that disrupt the cytokine signaling in the interferon-gamma pathway. Some of these new medicines can be used at topic creams or taken by mouth. It does take a few months to start seeing repigmentation of the vitiligo skin.

Many conventional treatments are still used and can be effective for vitiligo, such as oral and topical corticosteroids, which can have side effects if taken for a longer period of time, even topical steroids. The main side effect of topical steroids is skin atrophy, thinning of the skin. Calcineurin inhibitors, such as tacrolimus, are nonsteroidal alternative topical treatments, and they do not have the risk of skin thinning.

Light and Laser Treatments

Phototherapy is also a common, conventional treatment for vitiligo. The most used is narrow-band ultraviolet B light. It’s effective and relatively safe when used under supervision of a board-certified dermatologist. Another type of phototherapy is called PUVA, which is still used in some countries, but studies show that if it’s used for too long, it can cause skin cancer.

Previously, phototherapy treatments were done only at the dermatologist’s office two to three times a week. While it only takes a few seconds to a few minutes to get the treatment, you would still have to leave your work or school to come to your doctor’s office. Now, there are home phototherapy devices available, including many that are covered by insurance with a dermatologist’s prescription.

There is also a laser treatment for vitiligo called excimer laser. You must go to your doctor’s office for this treatment. A machine is used to target the vitiligo areas of the skin with an excimer laser. This treatment is in the ultraviolet range, but it’s a laser, not light. It’s stronger and can have a good effect on the areas that do not respond to treatment with UV light. You need to get the treatment two to three times a week.

New Cell and Tissue Transplant Surgeries

Cell transplant surgery is an option for recalcitrant vitiligo, which means when your vitiligo patches fail to respond to other conventional medications or light therapies. There are very few places in the U.S. that offer this surgery; one of them is at our department of dermatology at the University of Massachusetts. In vitiligo, there is a loss of the melanocytes in your skin, but the hair follicles in this area may have it and act as a reservoir of melanocytes. But if the hair also becomes white, then the reservoir of melanocytes is lost, and this vitiligo area will not respond to conventional therapy, and this is when a cell transplant procedure would yield the best outcome.

One type of surgical treatment is tissue transplant, such as punch grafting from normal skin and applying it to the vitiligo area. But the surface area to treat with this type of transplant is very limited. Also, the outcome is not optimum as it can cause a “cobblestone” look, which may be cosmetically unacceptable.

The other type of surgical option, which is the one I perform, is a cell transplant technique. We take a small amount of normal skin from a donor area, usually a hidden area on the body such as the upper thigh or buttock. Then, we extract the melanocytes from it and suspend them in a solution. While doing this step, we use a laser to resurface the vitiligo areas. Then, when the cells are ready, we apply them to the vitiligo patches and cover them with a bandage. This technique only requires a small area of skin to be taken from the donor site to cover a much larger area of vitiligo, which is a major advantage. The outcome leads to homogenous repigmentation without the cobblestone effect. The procedure is all done under local anesthesia as an outpatient procedure. The complications are minimal with excellent outcomes.

Talk About Your Options

When a patient with vitiligo comes into our office, they are counseled regarding the nature of their condition, different treatment options, techniques, and complications in detail. Then we come up with the best treatment plan for you. There are also many resources to help you understand vitiligo and treatment options that can be found on the American Academy of Dermatology’s website, so please visit www.aad.org for more information on skin, hair, and nail health, and www.umassmed.edu/vitiligo/ for our Vitiligo Clinic and Research Center at UMass.

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October 3, 2022