September 22nd, 2011
Last month Kim Kardashian revealed to the world that she has psoriasis and showed off a heart shaped psoriasis patch on her arm on Twitter. Psoriasis is actually a very common condition affecting 1% of the population. (Other celebrities with psoriasis include LeAnn Rimes and CariDee from America’s Next Top Model). It is an autoimmune condition which means that the immune system is attacking the skin to cause the scaly rash. For many people, psoriasis can be a very debilitating condition. People with psoriasis are often embarrassed by the scaly plaques on their body. Even in hot and humid South Florida, I have many young psoriasis patients who wear long sleeves and pants when their disease is active so that no one can see them. Studies show that severe psoriasis actually has a greater impact on quality of life than insulin dependent diabetes.
Luckily, Kim appears to have a mild case but there are many new and effective treatments even for severe psoriasis. First line therapy includes topical steroid creams that reduce inflammation in the skin. For a more severe disease, biologic therapy with injections weekly or monthly is very effective. Psoriasis is also common on the scalp, so steroid shampoos are frequently used.
If you have psoriasis, don’t get discouraged. There are many treatments available…you just need to find the one that is effective for you.
Tags: American's Next Top Model, CariDee, Kim Kardashian, LeAnn Rimes, Psoriasis
Posted in Dry Skin, Skincare, Treatments | No Comments »
September 19th, 2011
I am sure many of you have heard of the acne app to treat acne and must be thinking how on earth could a cellphone treat acne?!?! Well if you had your doubts, you were right. There is absolutely no evidence that using an acne app will improve acne.
These apps popped up around a year ago with claims that they could provide blue and red light treatments right from your phone. Blue and red lights have been effective in treating acne but these treatments are done in the doctor’s office with special lights that emit much higher energies than could ever come from a little cellphone.
Light therapy, tends to work better in conjunction with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). ALA is a topical treatment that is applied before the treatment. ALA activates the blue light therapy to make it more effective and is done under the supervision of a physician. Blue light helps acne by shrinking the oil glands and also by killing the bacteria that is implicated in acne.
The Federal Trade Commission is actually stepping in to shut down these apps that claim to treat acne. The marketers of the apps have agreed to stop making these claims in order to settle the FTC complaint. So don’t waste your money on the acne app. Try over the counter treatments with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide or see a dermatologist for an effective treatment plan.
Posted in Acne, Acne, Beauty, Skincare, Treatments | No Comments »
July 26th, 2011
Image taken from Wikipedia
Vitiligo is a skin condition characterized by white spots on the body. It can occur anywhere on the body but is very common on the face and hands. This is the skin condition that Michael Jackson reportedly suffered from. Vitiligo occurs in all skin types but is most obvious in people with
multi-hued skin tones because of the striking contrast in color between the white and
brown skin.
A recent study examined bimatoprost ophthalmic solution (Latisse) in 10 patients with vitiligo. Patients applied the solution twice daily for four months to the affected white vitiligo spots. Three patients had 100% repigmentation, 3other patients had 75-100% repigmentation and 1 patient had 50-75% repigmentation. Overall 7 of the 10 patients responded to treatment. Patients with vitiligo on the face responded the best.
The big question is …why does Latisee work on vitiligo? Well Latisse is a prostaglandin that is known to increase melanin production. Before it was used for eyelashes, it was a glaucoma medication. In the original glaucoma studies, one of the side effects was increased iris pigmentation. So it is not surprising that Latisse may work in vitiligo. Of course more studies are necessary to truly understand the role of Latisse in vitiligo, but it certainly looks promising.
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June 29th, 2011
Summer is upon us and this is the time of year when patients often come in complaining of “sun spots”. This is one of the most common things I see in the summer but its official name is tinea versicolor. Tinea versicolor is seen in young men and women and is characterized by slightly scaly spots on the back. It can also occur on the chest and abdomen in more severe cases.
In darkly pigmented people, tinea versicolor is usually lighter than the normal skin. In lighter skinned individuals, it can be tan or slightly darker than the surrounding skin. This familiar skin condition goes by many names…“sun spots” and “acid” are two of the most common ones. There is a wide held belief that they are caused by the sun, or drinking soda and juice. The truth is that tinea versicolor is caused by a common fungus. Some people relate it to the sun because sometimes the fungus produces a chemical that prevents tanning in the affected areas. For this reason, when you go out in the sun, the affected areas do not tan and are lighter than the surrounding skin. Thus, the name “sun spots” was a logical misnomer.
The treatment is simple. Ketoconazole is an antifungal medication that is taken by mouth or used in a topical cream or shampoo to treat this condition. Tinea versicolor tends to be recurrent so sometimes prevention with a weekly antifungal soap or even Selsum Blue shampoo is recommended. So if you suffer from sun spots, there is no need to worry. This is a common condition that can be easily treated by your dermatologist.
Tags: BeautyTuesday
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June 22nd, 2011
A few months ago I wrote about changes that the FDA had proposed to help consumers understand what type of coverage a sunscreen had. I summarized it in my sunscreen blog here.
A quick summary is that UVB causes sunburn and UVA is more associated with early aging. Both cause skin cancer. In 2007, they proposed that sunscreens should display two parameters SPF (which refers to UVB protection) and a 4 star system (to refer to UVA protection). Well, this year, they decided not to use the 4 star system because they thought it would be too complicated for consumers. I didn’t think it was that complicated but I guess they wanted an easier label.
So now sunscreens have 3 new rules:
1) They can no longer claim an SPF higher than 50. This is because the FDA reports that there is no evidence that a sunscreen higher than 50 provides any significant increase in coverage from UVB rays.
2) The term “Broad Spectrum” must be added to indicate that there is also UVA coverage. (No stars are required so we won’t know how much UVA coverage there is.)
3) “Broad Spectrum” sunscreen with an SPF between 15 and 50 can make the following claim on the label: “reduces the risk of skin cancer and premature aging”. Other sunscreens that have an SPF of 2-14 or are not Broad Spectrum can only claim that they help prevent sunburn.
These rules were announced last week and companies that make sunscreens will have until next summer to change the labels. I think this is a good change but I would have loved the 4 star system. Regardless, I think it will make sunscreen labels more clear which is always a good thing.
Tags: dermatology, Skin Tips, Skincare, Summer Tips, sun exposure, sun protection, sunblock, sunburn, sunscreen
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June 15th, 2011
All hair needs moisture and with the all of the styling techniques that are common today, dry damaged hair has become exceedingly common. The good news is that it is very easy to add moisture to the hair and it doesn’t mean you have to use the heavy oily products of the past. There are some great new products on the market that provide excellent moisture and really help to protect the cuticle of the hair.
The cuticle is the part of the hair that looks like scales on a fish. When the hair is healthy, these “scales” lay down flat and the result is shiny, more manageable hair. But when the cuticle gets damaged, the “scales” can peel up and flake. This causes the hair to look dull and rough. Using a lightweight oil before and after styling can help to smooth and protect the cuticle.
My favorite new product for this is called Q-Oil by Andre Walker (Oprah’s Stylist for the last 20 years). Q-Oil contains argan oil which is a Moroccan oil that has been used for centuries for its cosmetic benefits. Argan oil is naturally rich in vitamin E and fatty acids-two essential ingredients for healthy hair. I really love Q-Oil because it is lightweight and gives my hair an instant incredible shine. I love instant gratification!! But more importantly, with long term use, my hair has become more manageable and looks much healthier overall. So those of you who may have stayed away from oils in the past, have a new option that really will make an impact without weighing down your hair. Remember, all hair needs moisture and one of the best ways to add moisture to your hair is by using a lightweight oil daily.
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June 7th, 2011
As summer approaches I always get this question from my patients. This can be a hard question to answer because most people get a little darker in the summer even if they are not trying to. During the summer, the days are longer and the sun’s rays are more intense. For this reason, even regular incidental sun exposure in the car and running errands can cause darker skin by the end of the season. This is almost unavoidable in certain climates like Miami even if you are wearing sunscreen. The real problem arises when people go and lay out at the beginning of summer to get a “base tan”. This definitely is not good for your skin…especially if you have uneven skin tone or brown patches on your skin. Chronic sun exposure makes hyperpigmentation worse and, of course, causes wrinkles. You should definitely wear sunscreen if you are going to spend the day outside, and this is especially important in the summer months. There is no such thing as a safe base tan.
The good news is that there are some fantastic self-tanners that can achieve that sun-kissed look without the risk. Two of my favorites are Jergens Natural Glow and Clarins Self-Tanning Instant Gel. Both of these self-tanners go on evenly and consistently win awards in their category from magazines like Allure. So choose a self tanner to if you want a tan this summer, and you won’t have to sacrifice your skin in the process.
Tags: hyperpigmentation, Skin Tips, Skincare, Summer Tips, sun exposure, sun protection, sunscreen, uneven skin
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May 31st, 2011
Memorial Day weekend in South Florida was hot! Unfortunately, I wasn’t where all of the action was in South Beach. I was actually invited to speak at the annual meeting of the Florida Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery in Boca Raton. I spoke about hyperhidrosis.
Hyperhidrosis is excess sweating and is common on the hands, underarms, feet and even in the groin. It almost always gets worse in the summer so I thought it would be a good time to shed some light on this condition and treatment options. If you suffer from hyperhidrosis, you are not alone. Around 2.8% of people have hyperhidrosis. It tends to run in families and can start in childhood. Most people grow out of it but for some it can persist into 30’s and 40’s. Antiperspirants that contain aluminum chloride are the best first line treatments. HydrosalPro is an excellent new product from Canada that has worked well on many of my patients. Antiperspirants with aluminum chloride are actually used at night so that they can penetrate better and clog the sweat ducts. Usually they are applied nightly for 4-7 nights and then as needed.
If topical antiperspirants don’t work, Botox injections are another excellent option. Some insurance companies cover the procedure and Botox typically stops sweating for 3- 6 months. For severe cases, there are also two surgical procedures to treat hyperhidrosis. One involves liposuction of the sweat glands in the underarms and is a permanent safe solution. The other procedure is called sympathectomy and is a more significant surgery that cuts the nerve that causes sweating of the hands. Although this procedure is very effective, up to 30% of people get sweating in other locations so there are significant risks involved.
For anyone with hyperhidrosis, I always recommend the website sweathelp.org. It has tons of detailed information on all of treatments I discussed today. If you have hyperhidrosis, don’t get discouraged this summer. There are many treatment options available…you just have to find the one that works best for you.
Tags: dermatology, surgery, treatment
Posted in Beauty, Health, Summer Tips, Treatments | No Comments »
May 27th, 2011
Natural ingredients continue to grow in skincare and for good reason. At every meeting I attend, I am always excited to hear about the great new research on these new natural ingredients. To treat treat hyperpigmentation, my favorite ingredient is licorice. Licorice extract works not only on pigmentation but also on inflammation so products that contain licorice extract are great for many types of discoloration.
For example dark spots from acne, melasma, and sun damage are some of the most common pigmentary conditions that licorice works on. Products that contain high concentrations of licorice tend to be yellow-brown in color because the extract from the licorice plant is yellow-brown. For example, Specific Beauty Skin Brightening Serum is yellow because it has very high concentrations of licorice, making it extremely effective. The research on licorice in pigmentation is extensive. In combination with other natural ingredients, the effectiveness of licorice has even been proven to be equal to prescription treatments such as hydroquinone.
Green tea is another one of my favorites. It is an excellent antioxidant and can help prevent free radical damage from the sun. Like licorice, skincare creams with very high concentrations of green tea should be light brown in color because green tea extract is brown. Antioxidants like green tea should be applied in the morning to improve sun protection from sunscreen. Ideally, your daily sunscreen should contain antioxidants but if it doesn’t consider adding a topical antioxidant to your morning routine for better sun protection. When seeking natural ingredients in your skincare regimen, look out for licorice and green tea. These “brown beauties” are great additions to any skincare routine.
Tags: acne, antioxidants, Beauty Tips, dermatology, hydroquinone, hyperpigmentation, melasma, Multi-Hued Skin, natural treatments, Skin Solutions, Skin Tips, Skincare, uneven skin
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May 19th, 2011
Last year an ophthalmologist, Dr. Charles Sopokar, published a study on patients he was treating with Botox for blepharospasm. Belapharospam is a condition characterized by constant uncontrolled eye twitching (not just the regular eye twitching that everyone occasionally gets). Anyway, this doctor treated 44 patients with a zinc and phytase supplement 4 days before the Botox injections and found that 41 out of the 44 patients had better and longer improvement when compared to their previous treatments.
This is a very interesting concept because Botox belongs to a group of enzymes that are zinc dependent (they need zinc to work). Phytase is a supplement that helps the body absorb zinc. So it makes some sense that a zinc supplement with phytase may help Botox work better, especially in people who are deficient in zinc. Based on this research, there is a new prescription supplement on the market that contains zinc and phytase to help Botox work better and last longer. This supplement is supposed to be taken 4 days before and on the day of Botox injection. I think this is a very interesting concept and it is based on some scientific data. The biggest question is do you have to buy the prescription Zytaze ($60) or can you just supplement with zinc from your local pharmacy ($10). To answer this question, we need a better study comparing these two supplements. For now, I do think it is okay to take zinc for a few days prior to Botox injections. It certainly won’t hurt and it may help to make the treatment better. I will keep you posted on any new research on this very hot topic.
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