Category: Skin & Nails

What Is Actinic Keratosis?

“Actinic keratosis? What is actinic keratosis?” When you look for problems in your skin, what are you looking for? You surely know to watch for changes in your moles, but if that’s all you’re doing, you could be ignoring issues that need attention. Actinic keratosis—abbreviated AK—is one of these conditions. We’ll discuss what it is, as well as the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for AK.

What Is Actinic Keratosis?

Actinic keratosis (you may have heard it called solar keratosis) is a precancerous lesion resulting from several years of sun exposure. It manifests itself in rough or scaly patches of skin, usually on face, lips, scalp, ears, forearms, hands, or neck.

Causes
UV rays from the sun or from tanning beds are what cause actinic keratosis. The radiation alters an individual’s keratinocytes, causing the rough patches to form. Those with fair skin are more susceptible to AK, as are those who are bald/have thinning hair.

Symptoms
The dry, rough patch of skin will often be:

• less than 1 inch in diameter,
• a different color from your normal skin (usually brown or pink),
• itchy or burning,
• or will have a wart-like appearance.

Sometimes, if AK worsens, it will grow or bleed. It is imperative that you see a doctor at this point.

Diagnosis
Your dermatologist will diagnose you usually through a physical examination, but, in some cases, a biopsy is necessary. You can often spot what you think might be AK at home, but—because it can be difficult to see the changes yourself—visit a dermatologist regularly to watch for this condition and others.

Treatment
“Precancerous” does not mean every case of actinic keratosis will lead to cancer. But if you leave your AK untreated, you have a much higher risk of contracting a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. If you’ve been diagnosed with AK, consider one of these treatment options:

• Chemical peel: These strong peels destroy the top layers of skin. The treated area will be inflamed and sore, but healthy new skin will replace it.
• Electrosurgery: Electrosurgery cauterizes the skin while removing the skin lesion. This process removes the AK on a deeper level and encourages new healthier skin to form.
• Photodynamic therapy (PDT): Levulan is applied to make the skin more sensitive to light. After 1-2 hours of incubation, the treated skin is exposed to blue or laser light. The light activates the solution and destroys AKs. As the skin heals, new healthy skin appears.
• Laser resurfacing: A laser removes the surface layer of the skin, destroying AK cells. After treatment, the skin will be raw and sore. The skin heals within 1 or 2 weeks, revealing healthier new skin.
• Cryotherapy: Destroys visible AKs by freezing them. The treated skin often blisters and peels off within a few days to a few weeks. When the skin heals, you may see a small white mark.

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If you think you might have actinic keratosis—or any other skin problem—and you live in southwest Missouri, contact DermaHealth Laser & Skin Care Clinic. At our facilities, we can diagnosis your condition, offer all of the treatment options listed above, and help you prevent rising issues in your skin. Simply give us a call at 417-447-7777 or schedule a free consultation online. We look forward to hearing from you!

Active Acne Treatments

Sometimes drugstore products just won’t cut it. If you suffer from acne, you know what it’s like to scan the shelves of the drugstore, analyzing the skin care products and hoping that one of the cleansers or creams or masks will finally eliminate your blemishes. Unfortunately, some pimples don’t respond to these basic remedies. If you’re looking for active acne treatments that are more powerful and effective than the products at your local Walgreens, you may need to visit a laser and skin care clinic instead.

Active Acne Treatments

MICRODERMABRASION

Microdermabrasion is a gentle exfoliating technique that utilizes a diamond tip wand. Although it is most commonly used to rejuvenate the skin, it is also a valuable acne treatment because it removes excess oils, bacteria, and black heads. Removing the top layer of skin and promoting the growth of healthy new skin, microdermabrasion can produce a clearer and smoother complexion. In the process, it can also reduce wrinkles, sun damage, and scars.

DERMASWEEP

A type of microdermabrasion, DermaSweep MD also gently exfoliates the skin. However, it uses a vacuum to lightly suck away dead skin cells and clean out your pores. DermaSweep also stimulates blood flow and encourages collagen growth, firming and toning your skin as it eliminates acne.

CHEMICAL PEELS

A chemical peel isn’t as gentle as microdermabrasion, though treatments range in strength from mild to deep cleaning (your skin care technician can help you decide which strength to get based on your skin type and goals). As you might have guessed, chemicals are used to peel away the very outer layer of your skin. The exfoliation will reveal healthier, fresher, glowing skin and, hopefully, it will unclog your pores and reduce your acne.

BLU-U

Blu-U Light Photodynamic Therapy Illuminator increases the oxygen in the skin, killing the bacteria that can cause acne. Over ten years ago, in 2003, the FDA approved Blu-U for the treatment of moderate inflammatory acne vulgarism. The non-invasive, pain-free treatments are simple (20 minutes, twice a week, for two to four weeks), and no downtime is required.

SRA

A laser treatment, SRA can treat a variety of skin care concerns, including skin damage, discoloration, and stubborn acne. Using light energy, it can destroy bacteria and reduce excessive oil production. The procedure is quick, though it will need to be repeated multiple times for great results.

ISOLAZ

Isōlaz eliminates acne by vacuuming away dirt, dead skin cells, and excess oil, and then employing a laser to emit a broadband light, which destroys acne-causing bacteria. Following the painless procedure, your skin will feel clean and refreshed. Plus, studies show that 85% of patients have clearer skin following Isōlaz treatments.

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Before you try antibiotics or drugs that can disrupt your body’s natural chemistry, why not give one of these laser or skin care treatments a try? Choose the treatment that sounds most promising to you, and contact DermaHealth Laser & Skin Care Clinic if you live in southwest Missouri. We offer all of the treatments listed above, and we can help you decide which method best fits your troubled skin. Plus, we can also soften or erase your acne scars using CO2RE™, Sublative Rejuvenation™, or Fractora™. Simply give us a call at 417-447-7777 or schedule a free consultation online. We look forward to hearing from you!

What Is a Keloid?

Sometimes the world will work in your favor and sometimes, unfortunately, it won’t. For example, following the discomfort of an injury, you may suffer the disfigurement of a scar, and following that, you might even develop a keloid. Wondering, “What is a keloid?” You’re not alone! Keloids are firm, smooth, and hard growths that typically develop as the skin is healing from an injury. Although most people will never experience a keloid, others are very prone to them. In fact, in some people, they can even develop after very minor skin trauma, like a pimple or a mosquito bite!

What Is a Keloid?

DEVELOPMENT

Keloids form within scar tissue following an overgrowth of dense fibrous tissue, sometimes immediately following an injury, sometimes months later. The encouraging injury could be severe (surgery, laceration, burns) or minor (ear piercing, scratch, vaccination site, pimple, chickenpox). Keloids are composed of type III or type I collagen and appear somewhat shiny and rubbery. Their color varies, though most are flesh-colored, pink, red, or brown, and the scar’s growth can extend beyond the edges of the wound.

PRESENCE

Although keloid scars are not dangerous or contagious, they can be uncomfortable, itchy, and perhaps even painful. They are primarily a cosmetic concern, as opposed to a health concern. However, if the scar is growing uncontrollably, call your dermatologist. To ensure that the growth isn’t skin cancer, your doctor may conduct a visual examination and/or a biopsy, checking for cancerous cells.

Once they appear, Keloids should not be expected to suddenly regress. In fact, even after excision, they can recur. Over time keloids can expand across nearby skin with a claw-like structure, and keloids on children tend to grow as the child’s body develops. Keloids can appear anywhere on the body, though they’re most common on the chest, shoulders, arms, pelvic region, and earlobes.

NOTE: Do not confuse keloids with hypertrophic scars, which are raised and do not extend beyond the wound’s boundaries.

LIKELIHOOD

As we mentioned above, most people will not experience a keloid in their lifetime. They are not particularly common, but certain people are very susceptible to them. Overall, keloids form more easily on dark-skinned people as opposed to light-skinned people. Children under 10 are unlikely to develop keloids, but keloid scars are common in people between the ages of 10 and 20. They also seem to have a genetic link, so you’re more likely to have a keloid if one or both of your parents has one as well.

TREATMENT

Keloids can be treated using a variety of techniques, including silicone scar patches, vitamin E or K oil (massaged into the area), or surgical removal (though this may result in a new and larger keloid). If you’re interested in reducing a keloid and you live in southwest Missouri, please contact DermaHealth Laser & Skin Care Clinic. We can inject the area with a steroid called kenalog, which will reduce the size of the keloid. To get started, please give us a call at 417-447-7777 or schedule a free consultation online. We look forward to hearing from you!

Tips for Controlling Hyperhidrosis

Is your excessive sweating putting a damper on your professional life? Do you buy shirts with future sweat stains in mind? Have you ever avoided shaking someone’s hand because of your own sweaty palms? Hyperhidrosis, a condition that causes abnormally increased sweating, can impact your personal life, your social life, and even your career. If you’re tired of sweating, check out the tips for controlling hyperhidrosis that we’ve listed below.

Tips for Controlling Hyperhidrosis

Dress Carefully.

Although it won’t reduce your sweating, dressing in layers is highly recommended if you suffer from hyperhidrosis. Light and breathable fabrics like linen will help you stay cool throughout the day, and thin layers will soak up a bit of the sweat without overheating you. Men are advised to wear an undershirt, and women should try a camisole or slip. Keep a wardrobe change handy as well (an extra shirt, for example), so that you can change before important events like business meetings and dates. Finally, choose your colors wisely: prints and colors are better able to camouflage sweat stains.

Look into Botox®. 

Botox? For excessive sweating? Yes, it sounds somewhat crazy, but injecting Botox into problem areas like underarms, hands, and feet has been shown to successfully treat hyperhidrosis. This procedure has even been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although it may not eliminate your sweat completely, it will significantly reduce the amount of sweat you produce. The effects are temporary and should last around a year. As the medication wears off, the effects will become less and less noticeable.

Use a High-Strength Antiperspirant. 

Look for an antiperspirant with a high concentration of aluminum chloride. You will have to wait about five days for results, and you may experience skin irritation. This is the cheapest and most convenient treatment for hyperhidrosis, so you may want to use it as your first line of defense. In addition, remember to apply your antiperspirant at night so that the active ingredients have time to soak into your sweat ducts. Keep an antiperspirant at work as well, so that you can reapply as needed.

Discuss Anticholinergics and Surgery with Your Doctor.

Anticholinergic prescription medications, taken orally, can treat generalized and focal hyperhidrosis. Although some anticholinergic drugs show promise, they also come with a variety of side effects including dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, and drowsiness. Sometimes they’re recommended for short-term and temporary use—for example, if you sweat profusely during anxiety-inducing situations like public speaking.

In addition, you could ask your doctor whether surgery suits your situation. This treatment is only recommended for people who suffer from severe hyperhidrosis. There are several different methods available, such as sweat gland removal and sweat gland destruction. However, due to the many side effects involved with these surgeries, we cannot confidently recommend them.

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Are you frustrated by your hyperhidrosis? Don’t sweat it! If you live in southwest Missouri, contact DermaHealth Laser & Skin Care Clinic. We can help you reduce sweat in your problem areas using Botox® injections. To learn more, please give us a call at 417-447-7777 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!

Tips for Treating Acne Scars

Acne is a double whammy. When it first appears, during its active phase, it’s unpleasant, embarrassing, and sometimes even painful. And then, after the acne fades, your skin may not be able to hide the evidence. Acne scars can last for months or even years after the provoking acne disappears, reminding you of that unpleasant phase of your life in which your acne ran rampant. Although it’s difficult to erase those scars completely, you can soften and fade them with certain products and techniques. To learn how, scroll down for some effective tips for treating acne scars.

Tips for Treating Acne Scars

At the drugstore, you can find a variety of products aimed at acne scars. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to find a topical treatment that’s truly effective. You can use a cortisone cream to calm your skin and reduce inflammation, and certain ingredients (kojic acid, arbutin, and vitamin C) are known to lighten dark spots. However, the results will take time and likely be minimal.

For a more effective treatment with stronger results, try speaking with a laser and skin care technician. These are some of your best options:

CO2RE Laser Treatment™

This laser can improve skin that has been damaged by sun exposure, acne spots, fine lines, discoloration, and other skin imperfections such as (you guessed it!) acne scars. Using this system, your skin care technician can resurface your skin in the areas that need a little help. The treatment will require a bit of downtime for recovery, typically two to five days, but luckily only one treatment is needed. Please note that this treatment is not recommended for people with skin types IV-VI.

Sublative Rejuvenation™

Sublative Rejuvention is a unique technique in which radio frequency is pulsed to induce a targeted skin injury. When the collagen regenerates and the skin heals, your scars should be softer and less noticeable. This safe and effective treatment can be used on all skin types, but it will require about three treatments, which should be scheduled about four weeks apart. In addition, your skin will not look lovely and radiant right away; in fact, when you initially leave the office, your skin may appear red and feel a bit rough. However, the downtime will be worth it in the end!

Fractora™ 

Fractora utilizes fractional radio frequency (RF) to target and reduce acne scars. This fractional rejuvenation and resurfacing process uses a matrix of micro-pins to resurface the skin and remodel its deep collagen to improve the appearance of scars. Like the options listed above, it does require a bit of social downtime: typically, three to five days. In addition, like Sublative Rejuvenation, it can be used on a variety of skin types, from I to VI.

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If you’re eager to eliminate your stubborn acne scars, contact DermaHealth Laser & Skin Care Clinic if you live in southwest Missouri. We can soften or erase your scars using CO2RE™, Sublative Rejuvenation™, or Fractora™. Simply give us a call at 417-447-7777 or schedule a free consultation online. We look forward to hearing from you!