Category: Skin & Nails

Toenail Fungus

Have your toenails become brittle, thick, warped, or crumbly? Do their surfaces appear dark or dull? If so, you might have developed a case of toenail fungus, also known as onychomycosis. Around 10 percent of Americans eventually suffer from this stubborn condition (source). Fortunately, you can treat it and prevent it in several different ways.

Treatments for Toenail Fungus

Topical Creams and Oils

The most basic treatment for toenail fungus involves the application of a topical cream or oil to the feet and nails. Some of these products require a prescription, while others are available over the counter. Most products require two to three applications a day. Typically inexpensive and easy to apply at home, topical treatments are typically the first option explored by people suffering from toenail fungus.

Laser

Laser therapy can effectively target and destroy fungal infections using heat. Often combined with other treatments, like topical products, laser therapy typically requires two to five appointments depending on the severity of the infection and the rate of progress. It can take time for the infected nail to grow out, and it is important that you use the tips below to keep away fungus even after the laser has eliminated it.

Medicine

Prescription anti-fungal pills are another treatment option. Prescribed by doctors to help with severe cases of toenail fungus, these medications are often costly and come with serious side effects. Before committing to anti-fungal pills, discuss alternative treatments with your doctor and carefully review the potential repercussions.

Preventing Toenail Fungus

Stay Dry

Fungi thrives in warm, moist environments, so don’t let your feet stay wet for long. After you take a shower or go swimming, dry your feet thoroughly before putting on your socks and/or shoes. In addition, after a sweaty workout, shower and dry your feet promptly so that your feet aren’t trapped in wet socks for a long period of time. If your shoes become wet, thoroughly dry them before wearing them again.

Stay Clean

Clean your feet regularly using warm water and soap. Always wear clean socks and shoes. In addition, you may wish to spray your shoes with an anti-fungal product.

Stay Neat

Trim your toenails regularly and keep the front edge as straight as possible. Since your nail clippers and nail file will regularly come into contact with the infection, clean and sanitize these tools after use with soap and rubbing alcohol. In addition, don’t share these tools with your spouse or children.

Stay Away

Fungal infections can easily spread from one person to another. For this reason, you should not share socks or shoes with anyone else. If you enjoy pedicures, choose a salon that is rigorous about its cleaning techniques and ask the employees about their sterilization procedures. Finally, avoid walking around swimming pools or community showers without sandals.

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If you suffer from toenail fungus, don’t despair! Effective treatments like topical creams and laser therapy can eliminate the fungi, though it will take time for new nail to grow in and replace the infected portion. Once your feet are fungi-free, use the simple tips above to prevent it from returning.

For help, contact DermaHealth. We offer conjunctive therapy for nail fungus, combining topical treatments with laser therapy to destroy the infection once and for all. To learn more, please give us a call at 417-447-7777 or click here to schedule a free consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!

How to Look Naturally Younger

No one wants to look in the mirror and find that their skin seems to be aging before its time. Age spots, wrinkles, dullness, and sagging skin can damage your confidence and lower your self-esteem. If you would like to turn back the clock and learn how to look naturally younger, consult a skincare specialist for help. A variety of treatments available these days can help your skin look brighter, clearer, and younger. Check out the suggestions below to learn how to look naturally younger.

How to Look Naturally Younger

Microdermabrasion

During this treatment, the top layer of your skin is painlessly removed to reveal the healthier skin beneath. The new layer will feel much smoother and appear healthier. Microdermabrasion is often used to treat sun-damaged skin, dull skin, wrinkles, fine lines, scarring, and uneven skin tone.

Chemical Peels

You may benefit from a chemical peel if you’re dealing with deep lines, wrinkles, acne scars, or any skin discoloration. This is a skin-resurfacing procedure that utilizes special chemical solutions that are designed to carefully remove the top layers of skin. After a short period of time, new and smoother skin will grow, giving you a younger appearance.

Laser Therapy

Versatile and fast, laser therapy works by directing pulsating beams of light at a specific, controlled area of skin. Non-ablative treatments target the lower layers of the skin, while ablative treatments target both the surface and lower layers of skin. By penetrating the skin tissue, the laser can reorganize and stimulate the production of collagen and elastin fibers. Laser therapy can address a variety of skin issues, including acne scars, age spots, wrinkles, fine lines, veins, and lesions.

No one wants to look in the mirror and find that their skin seems to be aging before its time. Age spots, wrinkles, dullness, and sagging skin can damage your confidence and lower your self-esteem. If you would like to turn back the clock and learn how to look naturally younger, consult a skincare specialist for help. A variety of treatments available these days can help your skin look brighter, clearer, and younger. Check out the suggestions below to learn how to look naturally younger.

Microneedling

Also known as collagen-induction therapy, microneedling works by stimulating the skin’s natural production of both elastin and collagen, which are necessary for healthy skin. Your skincare specialist will utilize a small tool to create micro-injuries, which will stimulate the skin’s repair process and provide therapeutic effects. Microneedling is used to treat acne scars, stretch marks, wrinkles, fine lines, and pigmentation issues.

Vampire Facials and Facelifts

Don’t let the name scare you away! The term vampire only refers to the fact that these procedures require a small draw of blood to get started. This is done to obtain the platelet-rich plasma that will be used during the treatment. Remarkably, the plasma accelerates the healing of damaged skin and the growth of new, healthy skin. Many people claim that the facelift results rival that of a surgical procedure!

Neuromodulators

Skincare specialists use neuromodulators to block the signals that normally take place between the nerves and the muscles in order to prevent the muscles from contracting. This works to smooth wrinkles and reduce the appearance of crow’s feet and frown lines. It can also create the appearance of a lift for the eyebrows, nose, neck, and upper lip.

Dermal Fillers

Many areas of your skin can achieve a smoother and fuller appearance through the use of dermal fillers, which are injected into the skin to restore volume loss. They are often used to fill in facial wrinkles, and they may also work to plump thin lips, improve the appearance of scars, soften facial creases, and enhance shallow contours.

_____Would you like to learn how to look naturally younger? All of these procedures can provide natural, beautiful results if applied by an experienced and knowledgable skincare specialist. For help, contact DermaHealth. Our consultants can help you decide which services and products will work best for your concerns during a free consultation. To learn more, please give us a call at 417-447-7777 or click here to schedule a free consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!

Structure of Skin

Did you know that your skin is the largest organ in your body? Although most people worry about how their skin looks, remember to focus on your skin’s health as well. To ensure that your skin can complete its many important jobs, keep it nourished, hydrated, and protected. This will improve your overall health as well as your appearance. In addition, learn about the structure of skin so that you better understand how it works and how you can take care of it.

Structure of Skin

Your skin acts as a physical barrier against the environment, protecting your entire body from external harm. It allows water and electrolytes to pass through it while regulating how much of each substance may exit and enter. In addition, your skin protects your body from a variety of dangers, including toxins, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and microorganisms.

Most people are familiar with the outer layer of skin, the epidermis. Underneath the epidermis, you will find the dermis, a supportive layer of tissue that connects the epidermis to the hypodermis. The hypodermic, the deepest layer of skin, consists of fatty tissue. To learn more about the structure of skin, simply scroll down.

The Epidermis

The most external layer of your skin, the layer you see every day, is the epidermis. Its thickness depends on its location on your body. The epidermis on your eyelids, for example, may be just 0.5 mm, while the epidermis on the bottom of your feet can reach up to 1.5 mm! The layer is largely composed of flat, keratin-filled cells. Skin cells form near the base of the dermis and then rise up to the epidermis as they age. Thus, your skin remains in a constant state of renewal. When the body sloughs off older skin cells, the newer cells reaching the surface replace them.

Melanocytes and merkel cells are also found in your epidermis. Melanocytes make melanin, which provides your skin with color and protects against UV rays. Merkel cells allow you to feel light touches, and high concentrations of these cells are found in your fingertips and lips.

The Dermis

A lot of action occurs in the center layer of skin, also known as the dermis. The dermis plays an important role on hot days, because it bears the responsibility of creating sweat. Perspiration exits through your pores and helps regulate your body’s temperature and remove toxins. Oil production, which influences your skin’s level of hydration, also occurs in the dermis.

The roots of your hair and many nerves are located in your dermis, as are collagen and elastin, which provide support for the epidermis and increase the skin’s elasticity. As we age, our bodies produce less and less collagen and elastin, which can lead to wrinkles and fine lines.

The Hypodermis

The deepest layer of your skin, the hypodermis, is sometimes referred to as subcutaneous tissue. Along with large amounts of fatty tissue, which cushions internal organs and protects the body from heat and cold, the hypodermis also contains nerve endings, sweat glands, and follicles. The connective tissues located within the hypodermis attach your skin to your muscles and bones.

The depth of your hypodermis depends on your age and amount of body fat. As you grow older, the amount of fat in your hypodermis decreases. This frequently results in the appearance of sagging skin.

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Is your skin troubling you? Whether you’re concerned about acne, wrinkles, or lesions, DermaHealth can help. Our consultants can help you decide which services and products will work best for your concerns during a free consultation. To learn more, please give us a call at 417-447-7777 or click here to schedule a free consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!

What Are Skin Tags?

Skin tags have a variety of “technical” names. For example, if you prefer, you can refer to a skin tag as a cutaneous papilloma, an acrochordon, a fibroepithelial polyp, a fibroma molluscum, a cutaneous tag, or a fibroma pendulum. According to the National Institutes of Health, you can find skin tags on approximately 46% of the population. By the age of 70, almost 60% of people will have developed skin tags. So what are skin tags? And how can you get rid of them?

What Are Skin Tags?

Skin tags are small growths that contain fibers, nerve cells, ducts, and fat cells covered by a layer of skin. They are usually very small and flat initially. Since they are normally the same color as flesh or just slightly browner, the first sign of a skin tag may be feeling a pinhead bump that you had not noticed before. As skin tags grow, they often develop a stalk that lifts them above the skin’s surface.

Where Do Skin Tags Grow?

Skin tags can grow on any part of the body, but they usually occur in places where the skin rubs against clothing or where there is skin-to-skin contact. The most common locations for skin tags to develop are under the breasts, in the armpits, on the eyelids, in the groin area, on the neck, or on the upper chest.

What Causes Skin Tags?

Because of the locations where skin tags are typically found, it is believed that irritation leads to blood vessels and collagen becoming trapped inside a thicker layer of skin. This is why skin tags frequently develop in folds and creases of the skin, as well as areas where clothing fits tightly around the neck or torso. However, various studies have also concluded that there are a number of risk factors for developing skin tags, including all of the following:

• People with diabetes as well as those with excess insulin in the blood are more prone to developing skin tags.
• An imbalance in a person’s levels of progesterone and estrogen may increase their risk of skin tags.
• Those who are obese are at greater risk of developing skin tags since they have more skin creases and folds.
• Pregnant women may develop skin tags due to hormonal changes.
• Individuals with human papilloma virus are at great risk for developing skin tags.
• Insulin resistance has been shown to increase the likelihood of developing skin tags.
• High blood pressure and high cholesterol levels have both been associated with skin tags.
• Genetic susceptibility is suspected, as individuals with close relatives who developed skin tags appear to be more likely to have skin tags themselves.
• In rare cases, polycystic ovary syndrome and Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome may cause skin tags.

Why Do People Have Skin Tags Removed?

Most people who wish to remove skin tags do so for cosmetic reasons. Skin tags can be unsightly, especially if they are numerous or unusually large. Depending on their location, they may also cause discomfort or pain when snagged on seat belts, clothing, or jewelry. A tight collar can irritate skin tags on the neck, while a bra may irritate those beneath the breast. Occasionally, a skin tag may need to be removed because it is bleeding due to irritation or because it has become twisted on its stalk, cutting off the flow of blood to the skin tag.

How Are Skin Tags Removed?

If you want to have your skin tags removed and you live in southwest Missouri, contact the skincare specialists at DermaHealth Laser & Skin Care Clinic today. We can remove your skin tag properly using medical scissors or remove it using an electrocautery device. Please give us a call at 417-447-7777 or contact us online for more information. We would be happy to help you remove that frustrating skin tag.

Types of Acne

Acne is a common skin condition most often associated with teenagers, but the American Academy of Dermatology reports that around 50 million Americans of varying ages suffer from a variety of different types of acne every year. While acne is considered a cosmetic problem rather than a health risk, severe cases can cause you to suffer from psychological and physical problems. For example, acne can provoke anxiety, depression, poor self-image, and permanent scarring.

Types of Acne

Cystic Acne

Cystic acne is the most severe form of acne. It can leave your face covered with painful breakouts beneath the surface of the skin that are large, red, and have a boil-like appearance. This type of acne often leads to the most serious scarring if it is not treated quickly and effectively. Cystic acne occurs when the pores in your skin become seriously blocked, which causes an infection deep in your skin that will spread whenever these pus-filled cysts rupture.

Whiteheads

When a combination of bacteria, oil, and dead skin cells form in your pores, they become plugged and closed. This results in the formation of whiteheads, which look like white spots on your skin. This type of acne affects many people and usually shows up on the oiliest areas of your face, including the chin, the nose, and the forehead. Whiteheads can occur at any time, but they often appear when your body is producing more oil, such as during puberty, menstruation, menopause, pregnancy, and when taking birth-control pills.

Blackheads

Perhaps the most common type of acne, blackheads normally develop on the top of the nose and the nasal area beneath. They form as a result of blocked hair follicles within your pores. As the combination of bacteria, dead skin cells, and oil reaches the surface, it reacts to the oxygen in the air to give the appearance of a black lump. It’s not uncommon for dozens of blackheads to appear at once and completely cover the surface of the nose.

Pustules

More often referred to as the common pimple, a pustule is a pus-filled bump that appears as a white spot with a yellowish center. It is usually surrounded by red skin. Pustules can become quite large, and they usually form due to an imbalance of hormones or hormonal changes in the body. This makes them very common among teenagers and young adults. Although you may be tempted to pop these pimples, that can lead to the formation of dark spots or permanent scarring.

Contact DermaHealth for Help

If you need help with any of these types of acne, contact DermaHealth Laser & Skin Care Clinic if you live in southwest Missouri. We offer a variety of treatments for acne, including microdermabrasion, DermaSweep, chemical peels, Blu-U light therapy, SRA laser treatment, and Isōlaz, 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!