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Elidel: Topical Medication

August 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment
using_elidel

Elidel, whose generic name is pimecrolimnus, is an immunosuppressant that works by decreasing the body’s immune system. This topical medication is used to slow down the growth of atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema. Elidel is only used to treat patients who cannot use other medications for eczema.

How Should You Use Elidel?

This medication is for skin use only, and has to follow dermatologist-prescribed instructions. It is not meant for large doses or long-term use. You should stop using the medicine once your symptoms have cleared up. Remember for wash your hands before and after using Elidel. Apply the cream to clean, dry skin and rub in gently. Do not cover the treated area with a bandage. Do not bathe, shower, or swim right after applying Elidel.

Side effects are mild and include: burning, stinging, tingling, or soreness. There can also be signs of swollen hair follicles, acne, upset stomach, muscle pain, headache or runny nose. More serious side effects might also occur such as fever, chills, body aches, and swollen glands. In this case, you must get emergency medical help immediately.

When using Elidel, it is best to avoid other skin products that haven’t been approved by your dermatologist. Also avoid sunlight, sun lamps, tanning beds and phototheraphy treatments. If you plan to be outdoors, please wear appropriate clothing to protect your treated area.

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Bactroban: The Alternative to Neosporin

August 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment
BACTROBAN

Bactroban is a brand name medication for mupirocin, an antibiotic that treats skin infections caused by bacteria. It is not effective against fungal and viral infections.

Bactroban comes in ointment form and is applied to the infected area. It is usually applied 3 times a day for 1 to 2 weeks. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Make sure to wash the affected skin area first before applying bactroban. Gently appy a small amount to the infection and cover the area with a bandage or gauze. Do not apply bactroban to your eyes, mouth, nose or burns.

Side effects to Bactroban only include burning, stinging, pain, itching or rash. Before using Bactroban, please find out from your doctor if you are allergic to mupirocin or any other drugs. Also notify your doctor if you are taking other medications or are pregnant.

If you miss a dose for whatever reasons, apply the missed does as soon as you remember it. But if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dose schedule. Do not apply a double dose at once.

You can purchase Bactroban at any convenience store, drug store, or supermarket.

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Leg Veins Be Gone! A Look At Sclerotherapy

July 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment
sclero

Leg veins are quite unattractive and we all seem to have some, regardless of age or gender. Fortunately, there is a way to get rid of them called sclerotherapy. A solution called the sclerosing solution in injected with a very fine needle directly into the blood vessel (the vein in question). Then, the solution irritates the lining of the vessel, causing it to swell and stick together.

Over a period of weeks, a vessel turns into scar tissue and eventually fades, and becomes barely noticeable. Depending on the size of the vein, you might need to have multiple injections several weeks apart.

How successful is sclerotherapy? After several treatments, patients can expect and 50-90 percent improvement. Even though the fading process is slow and gradual, total disappearance can be achieved.

Side effects of this treatment are mild, including itching, swelling, redness. There might also be bruising around the injection area that could last up to several days. After treatment, you can resume regular activity and walking is highly encouraged. You will be given a support stocking to  wear in order to compress the treated vessels. Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory medications for 48 hours. Tylenol is acceptable.

For treatment of larger varicose veins, there are also surgery treatments. Tying off the veins (litigation) and pulling them out (stripping) can be used on bigger varicose veins.

Filed Under: Procedures, Treatment Tagged With: ,

What is JUVEDERM?

July 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment
skin-juvederm

Juvederm is a hyaluronic acid injectable gel that smoothes facial wrinkles and folds. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in all mammals; it is used to hydrate and add volume to the skin. This substance has also been used to treat arthritis, eye wound and surgery repair.

Juvederm injectable gel is nonsurgical and very easy to administer. How it works is the physician will inject the gel into the skin with a very fine needle. The needle to reach the dense inner layer of skin beneath the epidermis so that the skin enhances in volume and diminishes wrinkles and folds.

There is very minimal recovery time, perfect for today’s busy person. The procedure itself will only take about 15 minutes. In the first 24 hours following the injection, it is recommended that you avoid strenuous activity, excessive sun exposure, and alcohol consumption. This is to minimize the chance of redness, swelling, or itching.

You should see the improvements in your skin immediately. Juvederm could smooth out lines and wrinkles for up to 1 year; however, most patients return for a “touch up” within 6 months of their initial injection.

The side effects to Juvederm are quite mild, ranging from redness, pain, firmness, swelling to lumps, bumps, bruising, itching and discoloration. There is also a risk of skin infection although that is rare.

So—how is Juvederm different from Botox? Juvederm, first of all, is a dermal filler that treats skin resulting from a loss of volume beneath the skin, mainly around the mouth and nose area. Botox, on the other hand, is a muscle relaxant use to treat moderate to severe lines, mainly around the eyebrow area.

For more information, please visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons website.

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Treating Acne With Chemical Peels

July 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment
chemicalpeel

A chemical peel is a technique that, once applied to the skin, causes it to blister and peel off. The new skin is smoother and the lesions caused by scars and acne are gone.

Chemical peels can be performed on the face, neck and hands. It can be performed in a doctor’s office or as an outpatient procedure. First off, the skin is thoroughly cleansed to remove excess oils. Then chemical solutions are applied to small areas on the skin. Most patients will feel a warm sensation lasting from 5 to 10 minutes, followed by the stinging sensation.

After the peel, a reaction similar to sunburn will occur. Redness and scaling, and obviously, peeling of the dead skin cells. There are different levels of intensities to peels, ranging from mild to deep. Mild peels can be repeated more frequently while medium and deep peels may be repeated in 6 to 12 month intervals. It is up to you and the dermatologist to determine the depth of your peel.

After the treatment, it is very important to protect the skin from sun and bacteria. Some dermatologists may prescribe bandages, while others will give stronger sunscreen creams and lotions.  There is a possibility of skin pigmentation change after the peel. There is also a low risk of scarring, although this can be treated with other scar removal products.

Your skin after the peels will subtly show improvement. You will eventually notice a difference in texture and glow. Peels have proven to remove wrinkles, acne, blemishes, and scars. However, these results are not immune to the effects of aging and sun exposure.

Please consult your doctor or dermatologist for more information on chemical peels, and visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons website for more research on treatments.

Filed Under: acne, Procedures, Skin Health, Treatment Tagged With: ,

LASER: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

July 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment
acne_laser_therapy

Laser treatment for acne is a very advanced yet effective procedure. There are typically two types of laser treatment. One is called the Diode laser treatment, using a 1450-nm diode laser. Studies have found that the diode laser effectively treats inflammatory acne. For this treatment, only a topical anesthetic is needed. Side effects may involve temporary redness and swelling.

The other treatment is called the pulsed dye laser (PDL), which is used to treat more severe cases of acne. The PDL is slightly painful; patients feel some stinging such as a rubber band snapping on skin. After the treatment, there might be some bruising that appears in the treated area and could last up to 2 weeks.

In laser treatments, a beam of light is used across the skin and gets absorbed by the red pigment of the skin. The treatment aims at closing the pores to reduce sebum (oil) production and lessens acne. Although laser treatment is known to be effective, there have been reports that some acne lesions tend to reappear after a while, depending on the individual skin type and severity of acne.

How do you know if you need laser treatment? It all depends on the type of acne you are suffering from. So, please consult your doctor and he/she will be able to help diagnose your condition and types of treatment.

Filed Under: acne, Procedures, Skin Health, Treatment Tagged With: , ,

Let There Be Light: Light Therapies for Acne Treatment

July 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment
istock_000000548676_l

Light therapy consists of exposing the skin to specific wavelengths of light. There are three main types of light therapy.

Blue light therapy functions as an absorber—there to absorb the bacteria produced by the skin. It kills P. acnes, and treats acne vulgaris most effectively. These blue lights do not contain ultraviolet (UV) light, which was what was formerly used in therapy to treat acne. People undergo blue light therapy periodically. Typically, an individual will have 2 sessions for 4 consecutive weeks, each session lasting only 15 minutes. Side affects include mild swelling and dryness.

Pulsed light and heat energy therapy, also known as LHE, combines light and heat to destroy acne-causing bacteria. LHE also shrinks sebaceous glands and decreases sebum (oil) production in the skin. Side effects include temporary redness in treated areas. Similar to blue light therapy, patients will undergo 8 sessions over a period of 4 weeks. LHE is effective and safe for treating acne vulgaris, most commonly known as red pimples, whiteheads and blackheads.

ALA and light therapy involves two steps—first, an application of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)) to the skin for 60 minutes; lastly, removing the ALA and treating the skin with light therapy. Researchers have shown that patients who receive multiple treatments of ALA and light therapy show significant acne reduction. Side effects include temporary darkening of the skin and inflammation of hair follicles.

Again, light therapy treatment for acne is a serious procedure and should only considered when topical and oral treatments don’t respond. Please talk to your doctor about the possibility of light therapy treatments.

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Get On the Pill? A Different Way to Combat Acne

July 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment
popular-birth-control

Birth control pills, also known as oral contraceptive pills, are typically considered when acne does not respond to the other prescription treatments. Currently there are three estrogen-progestin birth control pills that are approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to effectively treat acne in women:

Ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate (Ortho Tri-Cyclen)

Ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone (Estrostep)

Ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone (Yaz)

Birth control pills work for acne by reducing the amount of sebum, the oily substance that makes your skin cells build up in hair follicles. Because the pill will only target the sebum, which is only one cause of acne, it is best to use other treatments alongside the pill to treat acne more effectively. You might have to wait several months to see noticeable result with birth control and your skin might get worse before getting better.

Using birth control to treat acne is generally safe and effective; however, they are not for everyone. Side effects include:

  • Headaches
  • Change in menstrual flow
  • Potential fetal problems, if taken when pregnant
  • Breast tenderness
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Decreased sex drive
  • Depression

Ladies, talk to your doctor about whether birth control is suitable for you since there are a lot to choose from. Also, you might want to reconsider a different acne treatment if you have a health history of cardiovascular disease, breast or liver cancer, or blood clots.

Filed Under: acne, Products, Skin Health, Treatment Tagged With: ,

Treating Acne With Antibiotics

July 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Doxycycline_capsules

You might wonder, how do antibiotics work to treat acne? The most important function of an antibiotic is to decrease the number of bacteria in the follicles. They also reduce irritating chemicals as well as the concentration of free fatty acids in the sebum. Here is a list of the most commonly used antibiotics.

  • Tetracycline: the most widely prescribed antibiotic for acne. IT is the least expensive and has few side effects. It must be taken on an empty stomach either half an hour before a meal or 2 hours after a meal and should not interact with antacids or milk. Common side effects include sun sensitivity, skin pigmentation, gastrointestinal irritation, and teeth staining. It has been prove to show 25% improvement on acne in 1 month.
  • Erythromycin: the antibiotic is also very commonly used and has several advantages over tetracycline. It is an anti-inflammatory property that helps reduce redness and can be taken with food. Side effects include upset stomach and nausea but is not harmful for pregnant women.
  • Minocycline: a tetracycline derivative that is especially useful for pustular type acne. This is best taken on an empty stomach and should not be used if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Side effects include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, skin pigmentation, and teeth discoloration.
  • Doxycycline: this is a good alternative for those who cannot take erythromycin or tetracycline. It should be taken with food or else could cause severe nausea. Other side effects include: sun and light sensitivity as well as indigestion and diarrhea. You should not take this drug during pregnancy or breast-feeding.
  • Clindamycin: a semi-synthetic antibiotic topical treatment that destroys P Acnes, which is acne-causing bacteria. It is normally used to treat serious bacterial infections. Side effects include dryness and irritation. When using this treatment, it is very important to follow careful instructions so that the bacteria do not develop resistance.

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Do It Yourself: Over-The-Counter Topical Treatments For Acne

July 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment
benzoyl_peroxide_wash

There are many different ways to go about treating acne. Looking at over-the-counter products is a great first step for easy and mild treatment of acne.

Benzoyl Peroxide: an over-the-counter (OTC) agent that comes in cream, gel, and wash form. It kills P. acnes, helps remove excess oils and dead skin cells that clog pore. It’s available in strengths varying from 2.5 to 10 percent. It may take up to 4-6 weeks to see the full effects of this medication. Commonly used brand names include: Clearasil, Oxy-10, Fostex, Persa-Gel

Salicylic Acid: This treatment slows the shedding of cells inside hair follicles, preventing pores from clogging it. It also breaks down whiteheads and blackheads. This OTC product comes in strengths 0.5 to 2 percent most commonly seen in pad applicator forms. Commonly used brand names include: Stri-dex, Clearasil Clearstick, Oxy Night Watch, BenzaClin, Retin-A

Sulfur: This OTC removes dead skin cells that clog pores and helps remove excess oil. It comes in various washes, soaps, and creams and generally peels and dries the skin. Some side effects include an unpleasant odor, skin discoloring, and redness. Sulfur is often combined with other ingredients such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or resorcinol. Commonly used brand names include: Clearasil Adult Care

Resorcinol: this OTC product is used to treat acne, eczema and psoriasis among other skin conditions. It’s generally combined with other acne medications and rarely stands alone. Resorcinol helps break down hard, rough skin that causes black and whiteheads. Resorcinol can cause skin irritation, redness and peeling because of its harsh nature. Commonly used brand names include: Clearsil Adult Care, DiebetAid Anti-Itch

Filed Under: acne, Products, Skin Health, Treatment Tagged With: , , , ,
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