Acne Scars and Acne Scarring
Acne is a common condition that affects most people at some point in their lives. For reasons that are not understood some people develop severe acne that leads to permanent and sometimes disfiguring scarring. The term “scarring” refers to a process where collagen within the skin is damaged from inflammation, leading to permanent texture changes in the skin. However, many patients refer to scarring when they see color changes that remain for months after an acne lesion has healed.
Types of Acne Scarring
There are different kinds of acne scarring: ice pick scarring, atrophic scarring, and hypertrophic scarring. Ice pick scars are deep pitted scars with steep edges. Atrophic scars are pitted but have smooth borders and are not as deep. Hypertrophic scar, more common on the back and chest, are thick lumpy scars that sit above the surface of the skin.
Color changes in acne in more common than scarring and can resolve but may take years to completely disappear.
Color changes come in three basic colors:
1. Pink and purple: patches at the site of acne lesions
2. Brown/black: hyperpigmentation
3. White: postinflammatory hypopigmentation
Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation is very common in those with darker skin tones or in those who tan easily and can significantly worsen the appearance of acne.
Treatment of Acne Scars
Acne scarring is permanent but can be treated. No treatment is 100% effective and the best result is improvement, not perfection. Treatment of scarring may require many different kinds of treatments, depending on the kind of scarring present. Treatment of acne scarring can be expensive and may not be covered by insurance. It is important that all the acne is clear before treating scarring. Otherwise, new scars form and the procedures are wasted. The most effective treatments are surgical and there are many types.
• Laser Resurfacing
Laser Resurfacing has been used for the treatment of acne scarring. All lasers use a high-energy beam of light that targets specific structures in the skin. The Erbium laser resurfacing is ablative meaning that it destroys the outer layers of the skin. Ablative techniques are more effective and depending on the level of treatment needed may require recovery time from 2 -5 days.
It is a great feeling to have a tan – but at what cost? When the risk outweighs the benefit, it is best to look elsewhere, and this is one of those situations. There are many options to seek out in looking for the perfect method for you. There are a number of other options to consider before putting yourself at risk for a tan. Seek out the advice of your doctor when in doubt, especially when it comes to altering your appearance.
Psoriasis
What Is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a non-contagious chronic skin condition which occurs as a result of abnormalities in the body’s immune system. In individuals with psoriasis, the immune system erroneously sends out signals that cause an increased production in the growth of skin cells. The condition appears as red, scaly patches, often with a whitish or slivery covering of dead skin cells. The condition can affect only a small area of the body, or can spread to cover the entire body in some individuals.
What Causes Psoriasis?
Psoriasis outbreaks can be precipitated by a number of factors, including stress, injury to the skin, and streptococcal infection. The condition is caused by a breakdown in the body’s immune system, and researchers believe stress triggers the immune response that causes the abnormal growth of skin cells that is the hallmark of psoriasis. Certain medications, including drugs to control blood pressure, can also cause a flare-up of psoriasis. Psoriasis also often occurs within families, leading researchers to believe a genetic component is involved.
What treatments are available for psoriasis?
Many types of treatments are available to control psoriasis symptoms and flare-ups, including topical agents, oral medications, and light therapy. Most treatments are directed at slowing the abnormal growth of skin cells that occurs in psoriasis. Topical treatment is usually the first line of treatment, and may include special shampoos, creams, ointments, and lotions, as well as controlled exposure to sunlight. Your physician may recommend beginning treatment with over-the-counter medications before moving to prescription topical agents. Some individuals can benefit from having the area wrapped in a dressing after the topical treatment is applied, in what is known as “occlusion therapy.” Some specialists may prescribe a rotting therapy of different topical medications to avoid developing a tolerance to a particular medication.
Phototherapy is another popular treatment option which may be used alone or in combination with other medications. Light therapy may involve either UVB or UVA radiation, and is carefully applied by a physicians trained in effective application of light. Most treatments are performed 2 to 3 times per week. In the case of UVA therapy, your doctor will probably prescribe use of a drug called psoralen, which helps sensitize your skin to the effects of the light.
Oral medications are usually reserved for individuals with moderate to severe cases of psoriasis, and may also be used for men and women for whom topical treatments and light therapy have failed to achieve satisfactory results. Popular oral medications used to treat psoriasis include methotrexate, retinoids, and cyclosporine. These drugs are carefully monitored by your physician, and may not be used in certain individuals with specific health problems. Most oral medications are used in conjunction with topical products, and may also be used with light therapy. In some rare cases, injections of medication may be used in small areas which are resistant to other forms of treatment.
In certain cases, the physician may decide to use biologics, a class of medicines which mimic the proteins made naturally by the body. These drugs block the immune system response that causes the overproduction of skin cells. Generally, biologics are thought to be less effective overall than other treatments, and are used in patients who cannot tolerate other forms of therapy.
Vitilgo
What is vitiligo?
Vitiligo is a non-contagious skin disorder that causes loss of color in the skin, and appears as white patches. Although it can occur on any area of the body, vitligo most commonly occurs on the face, lips, arms, hands, legs, and genital area. The condition is not uncommon, with about one to two percent of the world’s population suffering from vitiligo.
What are the causes of vitiligo?
The exact cause of vitligo is not known, but researchers believe the condition is caused by a combination of environmental, genetic, and autoimmune factors. The condition occurs when melanocytes, the cells which produce the skin’s color, die or lose their ability to produce pigment.
What are the risk factors of Vitiligo?
Vitiligo often runs in familes, with about 20 percent of all individuals who have vitiligo also having a family member with the condition. Most individuals who develop vitligo are in general good health, although some individuals with other autoimmune disorders also develop vitiligo. Since the cause is unknown, the only potential risk factors which have been tentatively identified are genetic predisposition and autoimmune disorders.
What are they symptoms of Vitiligo?
Vitiligo becomes apparent when one or more areas of the skin loses pigment for no apparent reason. In its usual course, vitiligo develops rapidly with loss of pigmentation occurring in one or more areas of the body. In most individuals, this condition occurs in cycles, with periods of pigment loss followed by periods when there is no change in pigment. In virtually all cases, skin pigmentation does not return on its own and there is no way to predict how much pigment will be lost in any given individual. Light-skinned individuals may not notice vitiligo until warmer months, when areas of the body fail to tan when exposed to the sun.
What types of treatment are available for vitiligo?
There is no cure for vitiligo, but the loss of skin color which is its symptom can be treated. In many fair-skinned individuals, the only necessary treatment is to avoid sun exposure, since lack of pigment is often not noticeable when there is no suntan. Those with darker skin may opt to use tinted makeup, special skin stains or self-tanning agents to achieve a temporary cover-up. Some individuals can benefit from micropigmentation tattooing.
When these temporary measures are not satisfactory, your specialist may advise a treatment to restore some pigmentation, or a series of procedures to remove the body’s pigment. In most cases, treatments aimed at returning pigment are temporary, although longer lasting than self-tanners and stains.
Light therapies and topical corticosteroids have been shown to be effective in returning pigmentation to many patients suffering from vitiligo. A new class of drugs called “immunomodulators” may also aid in vitiligo treatment, but are usually reserved for patients who do not respond to other treatments. Patients may also respond to excimer laser treatment.
For individuals who have lost most of their natural pigment, depigmentation therapy removes the remaining pigment, resulting in an even, white tone overall. This treatment takes about a year to complete and pigmentation removal is permanent.
Acne Scars
Acne Scars and Acne Scarring
Acne is a common condition that affects most people at some point in their lives. For reasons that are not understood some people develop severe acne that leads to permanent and sometimes disfiguring scarring. The term “scarring” refers to a process where collagen within the skin is damaged from inflammation, leading to permanent texture changes in the skin. However, many patients refer to scarring when they see color changes that remain for months after an acne lesion has healed.
Types of Acne Scarring
There are different kinds of acne scarring: ice pick scarring, atrophic scarring, and hypertrophic scarring. Ice pick scars are deep pitted scars with steep edges. Atrophic scars are pitted but have smooth borders and are not as deep. Hypertrophic scar, more common on the back and chest, are thick lumpy scars that sit above the surface of the skin.
Color changes in acne in more common than scarring and can resolve but may take years to completely disappear.
Color changes come in three basic colors:
1. Pink and purple: patches at the site of acne lesions
2. Brown/black: hyperpigmentation
3. White: post inflammatory hypopigmentation
Post inflammatory hyperpigmentation is very common in those with darker skin tones or in those who tan easily and can significantly worsen the appearance of acne.
Treatment of Acne Scars
Acne scarring is permanent but can be treated. No treatment is 100% effective and the best result is improvement, not perfection. Treatment of scarring may require many different kinds of treatments, depending on the kind of scarring present. Treatment of acne scarring can be expensive and may not be covered by insurance. It is important that all the acne is clear before treating scarring. Otherwise, new scars form and the procedures are wasted. The most effective treatments are surgical and there are many types.
• Laser Resurfacing
Laser Resurfacing has been used for the treatment of acne scarring. All lasers use a high-energy beam of light that targets specific structures in the skin. The Erbium laser resurfacing is ablative meaning that it destroys the outer layers of the skin. Ablative techniques are more effective and depending on the level of treatment needed may require recovery time from 2 -5 days.
It is a great feeling to have a tan – but at what cost? When the risk outweighs the benefit, it is best to look elsewhere, and this is one of those situations. There are many options to seek out in looking for the perfect method for you. There are a number of other options to consider before putting yourself at risk for a tan. Seek out the advice of your doctor when in doubt, especially when it comes to altering your appearance.
Psoriasis
What Is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a non-contagious chronic skin condition which occurs as a result of abnormalities in the body’s immune system. In individuals with psoriasis, the immune system erroneously sends out signals that cause an increased production in the growth of skin cells. The condition appears as red, scaly patches, often with a whitish or slivery covering of dead skin cells. The condition can affect only a small area of the body, or can spread to cover the entire body in some individuals.
What Causes Psoriasis?
Psoriasis outbreaks can be precipitated by a number of factors, including stress, injury to the skin, and streptococcal infection. The condition is caused by a breakdown in the body’s immune system, and researchers believe stress triggers the immune response that causes the abnormal growth of skin cells that is the hallmark of psoriasis. Certain medications, including drugs to control blood pressure, can also cause a flare-up of psoriasis. Psoriasis also often occurs within families, leading researchers to believe a genetic component is involved.
What treatments are available for psoriasis?
Many types of treatments are available to control psoriasis symptoms and flare-ups, including topical agents, oral medications, and light therapy. Most treatments are directed at slowing the abnormal growth of skin cells that occurs in psoriasis. Topical treatment is usually the first line of treatment, and may include special shampoos, creams, ointments, and lotions, as well as controlled exposure to sunlight. Your physician may recommend beginning treatment with over-the-counter medications before moving to prescription topical agents. Some individuals can benefit from having the area wrapped in a dressing after the topical treatment is applied, in what is known as “occlusion therapy.” Some specialists may prescribe a rotting therapy of different topical medications to avoid developing a tolerance to a particular medication.
Phototherapy is another popular treatment option which may be used alone or in combination with other medications. Light therapy may involve either UVB or UVA radiation, and is carefully applied by a physicians trained in effective application of light. Most treatments are performed 2 to 3 times per week. In the case of UVA therapy, your doctor will probably prescribe use of a drug called psoralen, which helps sensitize your skin to the effects of the light.
Oral medications are usually reserved for individuals with moderate to severe cases of psoriasis, and may also be used for men and women for whom topical treatments and light therapy have failed to achieve satisfactory results. Popular oral medications used to treat psoriasis include methotrexate, retinoids, and cyclosporine. These drugs are carefully monitored by your physician, and may not be used in certain individuals with specific health problems. Most oral medications are used in conjunction with topical products, and may also be used with light therapy. In some rare cases, injections of medication may be used in small areas which are resistant to other forms of treatment.
In certain cases, the physician may decide to use biologics, a class of medicines which mimic the proteins made naturally by the body. These drugs block the immune system response that causes the overproduction of skin cells. Generally, biologics are thought to be less effective overall than other treatments, and are used in patients who cannot tolerate other forms of therapy.
Vitilgo
What is vitiligo?
Vitiligo is a non-contagious skin disorder that causes loss of color in the skin, and appears as white patches. Although it can occur on any area of the body, vitligo most commonly occurs on the face, lips, arms, hands, legs, and genital area. The condition is not uncommon, with about one to two percent of the world’s population suffering from vitiligo.
What are the causes of vitiligo?
The exact cause of vitligo is not known, but researchers believe the condition is caused by a combination of environmental, genetic, and autoimmune factors. The condition occurs when melanocytes, the cells which produce the skin’s color, die or lose their ability to produce pigment.
What are the risk factors of Vitiligo?
Vitiligo often runs in familes, with about 20 percent of all individuals who have vitiligo also having a family member with the condition. Most individuals who develop vitligo are in general good health, although some individuals with other autoimmune disorders also develop vitiligo. Since the cause is unknown, the only potential risk factors which have been tentatively identified are genetic predisposition and autoimmune disorders.
What are they symptoms of Vitiligo?
Vitiligo becomes apparent when one or more areas of the skin loses pigment for no apparent reason. In its usual course, vitiligo develops rapidly with loss of pigmentation occurring in one or more areas of the body. In most individuals, this condition occurs in cycles, with periods of pigment loss followed by periods when there is no change in pigment. In virtually all cases, skin pigmentation does not return on its own and there is no way to predict how much pigment will be lost in any given individual. Light-skinned individuals may not notice vitiligo until warmer months, when areas of the body fail to tan when exposed to the sun.
What types of treatment are available for vitiligo?
There is no cure for vitiligo, but the loss of skin color which is its symptom can be treated. In many fair-skinned individuals, the only necessary treatment is to avoid sun exposure, since lack of pigment is often not noticeable when there is no suntan. Those with darker skin may opt to use tinted makeup, special skin stains or self-tanning agents to achieve a temporary cover-up. Some individuals can benefit from micropigmentation tattooing.
When these temporary measures are not satisfactory, your specialist may advise a treatment to restore some pigmentation, or a series of procedures to remove the body’s pigment. In most cases, treatments aimed at returning pigment are temporary, although longer lasting than self-tanners and stains.
Light therapies and topical corticosteroids have been shown to be effective in returning pigmentation to many patients suffering from vitiligo. A new class of drugs called “immunomodulators” may also aid in vitiligo treatment, but are usually reserved for patients who do not respond to other treatments. Patients may also respond to excimer laser treatment.
For individuals who have lost most of their natural pigment, depigmentation therapy removes the remaining pigment, resulting in an even, white tone overall. This treatment takes about a year to complete and pigmentation removal is permanent.