Skin Disease — Dermatologist

Vitiligo: A Pigment-based Skin Disorder

August 6, 2010 By N.Trinh Leave a Comment

Vitiligo is a skin condition in which white patches develop on the skin. The white patches can happen anywhere on the body and people with vitiligo have white patches on many areas of the body.

Vitiligo is caused by the loss of skin pigment due to melanocytes, which are cells that destruct pigment formation. The exact cause for the destruction of the skin pigments are unknown; however, one explanation traces back to the body’s immune system. Vitiligo is less noticeable on fair skinned people.

Only 2% of the population is affected by this rare skin condition, which is approximately 2 million Americans. Vitiligo develops in early childhood and adulthood, from ages 10 to 30. It is equally likely to happen to men and women. Other risk factors include: family history of premature graying in hair and autoimmune diseases.

Symptoms

Rapid pigment loss on several areas of the skin
Most commonly on areas exposed to the sun, body folds, previous injury sites, and body openings.
Can also affect eyes and hair

Although there is no known cure or prevention of this condition, treatments for vitiligo do exist. Depending on your dermatologist’s discretion, several methods including cosmetics, re-pigmentation, corticosteroid creams, skin grafting, can be used to improve the skin’s appearance. For more information, please talk to a dermatologist.

Filed Under: Skin Disease, Skin Health Tagged With: loss of pigment, vitiligo

Shingles: What Might Happen After The Chickenpox

August 6, 2010 By N.Trinh Leave a Comment

Shingles, or herpes zoster, is an infection in the nerve roots. It causes pain and rashes on one side of the body. The rash appears in a band, strip, or a small area. Shingles is most common in older adults with a weak immune system or stressful lives. Most people who get shingles will not get it again.

It Starts Off As Chickenpox…

Yes, the shingles virus is the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you get chickenpox (probably as a child), that virus becomes dormant in your nerve roots. In rare instances, the virus will be active when disease, stress, or aging weakens the immune system. Shingles are not contagious, but a person who has shingles can spread chickenpox to another person who hasn’t had chickenpox.

What Are The Symptoms?

First, you may have a headache or feel like you have the flu. Later, you may feel itching, tingling, or pain. A few days later, a rash will occur. The rash then turns into clusters of blisters. The blisters will be filled with fluid and then crust over. It takes 2 to 4 weeks for the blisters to heal, and they may scar. However, only some people will get a rash while some may not get any at all.

Is There A Cure?

Unfortunately, no. But there is treatment may help the healing process. You should call your doctor as soon as you think you may have shingles. The sooner you start treatment, the better:

Antiviral medicine
Antidepressants
Over-the-counter pain medicine
Skin creams

It is recommended that you avoid contact with people until the rash heals because of possibly spreading chickenpox. If you haven’t had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine, it is best to avoid a person who has shingles.

Filed Under: Consumer Education, Skin Disease, Skin Health Tagged With: chickenpox, nerve roots infection, shingles

Hair Loss: What You Should Know

August 4, 2010 By N.Trinh Leave a Comment

If your hair is falling out or thinning in large amounts, you may be suffering from hair loss. Sometimes known as balding, losing hair from the scalp can be a result of heredity, certain medications or medical condition. Anyone at any age can experience hair loss.

The medical term for hair loss is alopecia and is typically permanent. For permanent hair loss, there are two different types: male-pattern baldness and female-pattern baldness. For male-pattern baldness, it can begin as early as the teens or early 20’s. Typically the hair recedes at the temples and balding happens at the top of the head. For female-pattern baldness, there tends to be permanent thinning at the front, sides or crown.

There is temporary hair loss. The 4 different kinds are listed below:

Alopecia areata. Hair loss usually occurs in small, round, smooth patches about the size of a quarter. Usually the disease doesn’t extend beyond a few bare patches on the scalp, but it can cause patchy hair loss on any area that has hair, including eyebrows, eyelashes and beard. In rare cases, it can progress to cause hair loss over the entire body.
Telogen effluvium. This type of temporary hair loss occurs suddenly, most often after a significant illness or major life stress. Handfuls of hair may come out when combing or washing your hair or may fall out after gentle tugging.
Traction alopecia. Bald patches can occur if you regularly wear certain hairstyles, such as pigtails, braids or cornrows, or if you use tight rollers.
Anagen effluvium. In this type of hair loss, actively growing hairs in the anagen state are affected most often by chemotherapeutic drugs given to fight cancer or lymphoma. Hair loss starts soon after beginning therapy and is more extensive than in the telogen effluvium state. In the weeks after the therapy has been completed, the hair cycles re-establish themselves, although the hair may not return as thickly as before chemotherapy.

There are various factors that cause hair loss including: pattern baldness, autoimmune diseases, scarring to the hair follicles, emotional or physical shock, excessive hairstyling, poor nutrition, certain medications and treatments, hormonal treatments, and chemical hair treatments. The best way to determine your cause for hair loss is to visit your dermatologist for a correct diagnosis.

Treatments for Hair Loss

There is over-the-counter medication such as Minoxidil (Rogaine), which is a form of liquid that you rub into the scalp twice daily. There is prescription medication such as Finasteride (Propecia) taken daily in pill form. There are also injections of cortisone into the scalp, to be repeated monthly. There are also hair transplants and scalp reduction, both surgical procedures that is efficient in using existing hair to “cover lost ground”. Each of these treatments have their advantages and disadvantages. Some might be expensive while others might not be as effective.

The hardest part of hair loss is learning to cope with it. There will be frustration and embarrassment when it comes to noticing change in physical appearance. The best way to cope with hair loss is educating yourself and your loved ones about baldness and treatment. The more you know, the better. Whether it is temporary or permanent, hair loss is a serious condition. Your dermatologist is there to provide guidance, however; it is up to you to decide how to treat and cope with it.

Filed Under: Consumer Education, Skin Disease, Skin Health Tagged With: alopecia areata, anagen effluvium, hair loss, pattern balding, telogen effluvium, traction alopecia

Athlete’s Foot: Keep It Dry

August 3, 2010 By N.Trinh Leave a Comment

Athlete’s foot is a common skin infection caused by fungus. The fungus is called trichophyton and develops when the feet or areas close to that region are moist and warm. This fungus will then infect the upper layer of the skin. Athlete’s foot is also called tinea pedis. The fungus can be found in many areas including gymnasium floors, locker rooms, swimming pools, nail salons, and socks. This fungus can also be spread from one person to another. However, the fungus cannot and will not infect the skin if there is no warm and moist environment.

The symptoms of athlete’s foot include itching and burning, peeling and cracking. Some severe cases may have bleeding and pain. Some people might not have any symptoms and therefore won’t know that they have an infection. There are three common types of athlete’s foot:

soles of the feet, also called “moccasin” type
between the toes, also called “interdigital” type
inflammatory type or blistering

You are at higher risk of athlete’s foot if you are male, a frequent wearer of damp socks and tight fitting shoes, share clothes with other people, frequently visit public places where the infection can spread, or have a weak immune system.

Treatment for the Foot

There are two parts to treating this infection. First, keep the infected area dry. Second, use antifungal creams and washes. Many over-the-counter options are available such as ketoconazole shampoo and cream, miconazole, clotrimazole, and terbinafine. You should treat the infection for at least 1 week, but doctors recommend a total of 4 weeks.

For more severe cases of athelete’s foot, oral medications are available such as terbinafine, itraconazole, or fluconazole. Try to avoid topical corticosteroid creams because they can easily worsen the fungus.

Please seek medical care if you notice redness, increased swelling, bleeding or continuous symptoms.

Filed Under: Consumer Education, Skin Disease, Skin Health Tagged With: athlete's foot, tinea pedis, trichophyton

Psoriasis: A Closer Look

August 1, 2010 By N.Trinh Leave a Comment

Psoriasis is a skin condition in which skin cells grow too quickly and pile up on the surface, causing lesions to form. There are 5 types of psoriasis: plaque, guttate, pustular, inverse, and erythodermic. Plaque psoriasis is the most common, with symptoms of thick, scaly skin that appears white, silvery, or red called plaques. These plaques can occur anywhere on the body, most commonly in the elbows, kness, lower back and scalp.

Thankfully, this condition is not contagious. However, the causes of psoriasis are complex and have been traced back to the immune system. Scientists have discovered that when a person has psoriasis, their T cells mistakenly trigger a reaction in the skin cells. The reaction causes new skin to form in days rather than weeks. Some common triggers of psoriasis include stressful life events, skin injuries, and strep throat. These are not universal triggers meaning it might not cause psoriasis in every person across the board.

Treatment and Diagnosis

Similar to eczema, there is no cure for psoriasis; only treatments to clear it up for a period of time. Each treatment has its pros and cons, which means it’s up to the patient to figure out what works best for him or her.

A closer look at the T cell

The three types of treatment are:

Topical (applied to the skin) – Mild to moderate psoriasis

Phototherapy (light, usually ultraviolet, applied to the skin) – Moderate to severe psoriasis

Systemic (taken orally or by injection or infusion) – Moderate, severe or disabling psoriasis

There are drawbacks for each of these types of treatment. Topicals are messy and can stain skin. Phototherapy require several visits and can be costly. Systemic medication have serious side effects and must be combined with other treatments. Please visit your dermatologist to further discuss treatment options for psoriasis.

For more information on how to maintain and minimize flare-ups, please visit the Skin Care Physician website here .

Filed Under: Skin Disease, Skin Health Tagged With: erythodermic, guttate, inverse, plaque, psoriasis, pustular

Cellulitis: A Bacterial Infection

July 22, 2010 By N.Trinh Leave a Comment

Cellulitis is a common skin infection caused by bacteria. It usually begins as a small area of tenderness, swelling, and redness. As the area grows, the person infected may develop a fever, chills, sweats and swollen lymph nodes. Cellulitis is most commonly seen on lower legs, although it can occur anywhere on your body or face. This is a serious skin infection and may be life-threatening if left untreated.

Cellulitis is caused by bacteria; the two most common ones are staphylococcus and streptococcus. Some risk factors for acquiring cellulitis include: cracking skin between toes, skin wounds, insect bites, ulcers from diabetes, medications that suppress the immune system, and recent surgery wounds.

Symptoms for this condition include:

Fever, chills, fatigue
Pain or tenderness
Redness or inflammation
Skin sore or rash
Tight, glossy, stretched skin
Warmth in infected area
Nausea

The good news is that cellulitis is not contagious and can be treated with a prescription antibiotic. Your doctor will most likely start you on an oral antibiotic and check up with you in the following 2-3 days, making sure you continue the medication for 2 full weeks. The symptoms generally clear up after a few days.

Preventing from future infections is crucial as well. Make sure to wash any skin wound you acquire with soap and water and apply antibiotic ointment right away. Also, daily good skin-care measures will be very beneficial towards preventing unwanted skin conditions such as cellulitis.

Filed Under: Skin Disease, Skin Health Tagged With: antibiotic, bacterial infection, cellulitis, staphylococcus, streptococcus

Feeling Flushed? A Look At Rosacea

July 20, 2010 By N.Trinh Leave a Comment

Rosacea (ro-ZAY-she-uh) is a skin condition that causes redness on your nose, cheeks, chin and forehead and also causes burning and soreness in the eyes and eyelids. Sometimes, people may mistake for it adult acne because the outbreaks look similar to pimples. Generally, rosacea is cyclic, meaning symptoms usually come and go for weeks at a time.

Although the exact cause of rosacea is unknown, people who might have this condition tend to be fair-skinned, easily blushed, female, and between the ages of 30 and 50. Some environmental factors can aggravate rosacea by increasing blood flow to the skin’s surface including: hot foods, alcohol, temperature extremes, sunlight, stress, strenuous exercise, hot baths, corticosteroids, and drugs that dilate blood vessels.

Symptoms include redness, increased number of spider-like blood vessels in the face, a red nose, irritated and bloodshot eyes, acne-resembling skin eruptions, and stinging sensation in the entire face.

Rosacea is generally harmless and has no real cure. Here are common ways to prevent rosacea flare-ups:

Avoid sun exposure. Use sunscreen every day.
Avoid prolonged exertion in hot weather.
Try to reduce stress. Try deep breathing, yoga, or other relaxation techniques.
Limit spicy foods, alcohol, and hot beverages.

There are topical and oral medications that can treat and reduce the symptoms of roseacea. Topical medications such as benzoyl peroxide and azelaic acid may help reduce inflammation and redness. Oral antibiotics such as tetracycline can help prevent inflammation as well. Lastly, isotretinoin, (popularly known as Accutane) a powerful medication, can also be used to treat severe inflammation. However, Accutane is very strong and requires close monitoring by a dermatologist.

Treatment and care for rosacea depends on each individual and the severity of their symptoms. Please talk to your dermatologist or physician if you think you might have this skin condition.

Filed Under: Skin Disease, Skin Health Tagged With: benzoyl peroxide, inflammation, redness, rosacea

Examining Eczema

July 14, 2010 By N.Trinh Leave a Comment

The term eczema is very broad and actually can mean a handful of different skin conditions that causes the skin to get red and irritated, to various intensities. The most common cause of eczema is atopic dermatitis. The term “atopic” means when a person is sensitive to allergens such as pollens, molds, dust, pet dander, and certain foods. “Dermatitis” means inflamed skin.

Eczema often starts in childhood—about 1 in 10 kids develop the condition. Some doctors say that kids can be predisposed to get eczema through a familial history of hay fever, asthma or other allergies. It has also been linked to an overactive response by the body’s immune system to unknown triggers; however, the exact cause of eczema is unknown. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Children's Skin, Skin Disease, Skin Health Tagged With: atopic dermatitis, Eczema, flare-ups, itchiness, rashes

Stages of Melanoma

July 13, 2010 By MedicalCare.Org Health Editors Leave a Comment

Stages of Melanoma

The following stages are used for melanoma:

Stage 0: In stage 0, the melanoma cells are found only in the outer layer of skin cells and have not invaded deeper tissues.

Stage I: Melanoma in stage I is thin:
The tumor is no more than 1 millimeter (1/25 inch) thick. The outer layer (epidermis) of skin may appear scraped. (This is called an ulceration).
Or, the tumor is between 1 and 2 millimeters (1/12 inch) thick. There is no ulceration.

The melanoma cells have not spread to nearby lymph nodes.
[Read more...]

Filed Under: Consumer Education, Procedures, Skin Cancer, Skin Disease, Skin Health Tagged With: melanoma treatment, stage 1 melanoma

Melanoma

July 13, 2010 By MedicalCare.Org Health Editors Leave a Comment

Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer found throughout the body, bust mostly on areas that have had sun exposure such as your back, legs, arms and face. It is a disease in which malignant cancer cells form in the skin cells (melanocytes). Melanocytes are found on the lower part of the epidermis. Melanomas can also occur in areas that don’t receive much sun exposure, such as the bottom of your feet, palms of your hands, and fingernails. The “hidden” melanomas are more common in darker skin toned people.

Melanomas don’t always begin as a mole, although most do. It can also occur on normal skin. That’s why it is very important to do self-skin exams to detect for possible melanomas.

Melanocytes and Skin

Melanocytes and Moles

Melanocytes are the skin cells which produce the skin pigment Melanin. Melanin is the pigment which lends skin its natural color. When skin is exposed to the sun, melanocytes produce more pigment causing the skin to darken.

Sometimes melanocytes and surrounding tissue can form darker noncancerous growths called moles. Moles are very common, and most people have up to 40 moles ranging from pink to tan to dark brown. Moles can be raised or flat,and are generally round or oval and smaller than 1/4 inch in diameter. (Technically a mole is properly called a nevus; the plural is nevi.)

Melanoma occurs when Melanocytes turn malignant.

Diagnosis of Melanoma

If your doctor suspects that a spot on your skin might be melanoma, She will generally take a small tissue sample called a biopsy. This is generally done by numbing up the skin around the mole, and using a small scalpel to remove the suspicious tissue along with a small margin of healthy tissue. The sample is then sent to an expert pathologist who will review the cells under magnification and determine whether the tissue is healthy or malignant. A biopsy is the only way to make a definite diagnosis. During the biopsy the doctor tries to remove all of the suspicious-looking growth so that the diagnostice procedure is also curative.

Staging

If the diagnosis is melanoma, the doctor needs to learn the extent of the disease before planning treatment. The medical team establishes how thick the tumor is, how deeply it has invaded the skin, and whether the malignant cells have spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

This process is called Staging, and the melanoma is assigned a stage. The stage of the melanoma will help indicated the course of treatment.

Depending on the apparent stage of the malignancy, the doctor might order removal of nearby lymph nodes (as both a diagnostic and therapeutic measure). If the tumor is thick, may order chest x-rays, blood tests, and scans of the liver, bones, and brain.

Treatment

Options for treatment depend on different factors such as stage of melanoma, location and size, and the individual’s general health. One common treatment is surgical excision. Most people with a early case of melanoma can get it cut out. The surgery is less extensive and results in little scarring.

Other treatments include radiation therapy and lymph node dissection. Radiation therapy will direct high-energy rays at the melanoma, which kills the malignant cells. Lymph node dissection removes most or all of the lymph nodes in the region.

Consult your dermatologist or physician for more information on symptoms and treatment of melanomas.

Read more about the stages of Melanoma and the corresponding treatment regiments here.

The National Cancer Institute has a toll free information line available for patients and their familes. The specialists at the NCI’s Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER can answer questions about melanoma and can send NCI materials

Filed Under: Consumer Education, Skin Cancer, Skin Disease, Skin Health Tagged With: melanocytes, melanoma, skin cancer, skin cancer stages, skin cancer treatment

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