Get the Facts about Staph

As your child goes back to school and fall sports begin, make sure you are informed about staph infections.

Staph infections are caused by a type of bacteria called staphylococcus. These bacteria live harmlessly on your skin, but can cause infection if they enter a wound.

Staph infections can spread through contaminated objects and skin-to-skin contact. Sharing bed linens, towels, or clothing with someone who has a staph infection increases your risk of getting a staph infection. Warm, humid environments and excessive sweating can also contribute to the spread of staph infection.

A particularly severe form of staph infection is called MRSA or Methcillin Resistant Staph Aureous infection. It is more severe because it is resistant to many antibiotics and is more easily transmitted from person to person.

Tenderness, swelling, and redness are common signs of infection. If your child develops these or other symptoms, call your doctor immediately.

Help your child prevent staph infection by teaching them about cleanliness and good hygiene. The single most important way to prevent staph infections including MRSA is frequent hand washing. If he or she has a cut, keep the skin clean and dry, use antiseptic ointment, and cover the wound.

For more information about staph and other skin infections, talk to your dermatologist today!

It’s Never Too Early to Treat Aging Skin

Although you may not see laugh lines or crow’s feet yet, it’s never too early to start thinking about aging skin. As we age, our skin becomes drier, thinner, and even begins to sag. By beginning an anti-aging skin care routine early, you can postpone and even reduce the effects of aging.

When you are in your twenties, you should have a skin care routine that includes acne treatment, daily cleansing, and moisturizing. You should also start using preventative aging products. Don’t forget that the sun is one of the leading causes of aging skin, so try to use a product with sunscreen. When shopping for acne products you will want to buy those containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Serum’s that include Vitamin C will also help fight damaged skin.

Once you reach your thirties, it is time to expand your skin care routine. Look for anti-aging products that firm, prevent lines, and repair your skin. Exfoliating is another good way to cleanse your skin and give you a healthier glow. Look for products that contain a retinoid to help improve the overall texture and tone of your skin.

By the time you are forty, you should pick specialized products that target your problem areas. Everyone’s skin is unique and requires different treatment, so make sure your skin is getting the attention it needs. Collagen-building ingredients like peptides are often helpful for more mature skin.

No matter what stage of life you are in, it is time to take care of your skin. Talk to your dermatologist about an anti-aging skin regiment that works for you.

People of Color and Skin Cancer

By the year 2050, the United States Census Bureau predicts that the population will be 50 percent Hispanic, Asian, or African American. That is why now, more than ever, we must raise awareness of the potential for life-threatening skin cancers in people of color.

It has for a long time been an urban myth that only Caucasians are susceptible to skin cancer. But this couldn’t be further from the truth! It is true that people of color are less likely to develop skin cancer due to the genetic makeup of their skin. But this also means that people of color who develop skin cancer are more likely to die from it due to delays in detection and difficulty seeing moles and spots on their skin.

The skin is made up of the epidermis, the dermis, and fat layers. In the outermost layer of the skin, the epidermis, cells called melanocytes are produced. It is these cells, melanocytes, which determine the amount of melanin or pigment in the skin. The more melanin that is present, the darker the skin will be.

It is melanin that helps defend our skin against the harmful effects from the sun which cause skin cancer. In many ways, it is your own personal SPF. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, “in African American skin, melanin provides a sun protection factor approximately equivalent to 13.4, compared to 3.4 in white skin.”

There are several forms of skin cancer. The most common is basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and the second most common is squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). There are also other skin cancers, including melanoma. Just as there are various types of skin cancer, those who are affected by them vary too.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer among African Americans. When people of color are exposed to certain skin conditions that prevent complete healing, such as scarring, burn tissue, and ulcerations, there is not the same level of melanin as before. Therefore, the person has a higher likelihood of developing very aggressive skin cancer that can eventually spread to other places on the body and lead to death. As we said before, these are more likely due to late detection which can often mean it is too late for treatment.

No one is immune to skin cancer, be sure to check your skin regularly and visit your dermatologist at least once a week.

Stressing Stress Relief

More than ever before, life is stressing us out!

You may be familiar with the common effects of stress such as poor sleep or insomnia, headaches and even heart attacks, but from a dermatological aspect, stress can greatly affect your skin, hair and nails, too.

It’s normal to lose hair as part of its life cycle, but stress can significantly increase hair loss. You can lose up to ½ to ¾ of your hair, which may not fall out until three months after the stressful event. It takes a while to affect your hair, but will take an additional six to nine months to grow back!

Stress also can affect your skin by aggravating pre-existing conditions such as psoriasis, acne and rosacea. It also dehydrates your skin, which lowers the skin’s ability to repair itself.

When you’re tense, cortisol levels in your body shoot up, causing an increase in oil production and possible acne flare-ups. Worse yet, higher cortisol levels have been shown to advance the growth of harmful melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer.

To help fight against stress-causing acne, I prescribe to my patients topical treatment that they can apply to troubled spots to help decrease flare-ups and speed up recovery. I find that when patients feel more in control about handling stress, their stress levels actually decrease.

Brittle, broken nails are another result of stress. Stress not only weakens nail beds but also may form habits such as rubbing or biting nails, which also damage or destroy your beautiful digits.

To lower your stress, figure out what is the source of your stress so you are better equipped to handle it the next time.

You can also decrease the negative effects of stress when you exercise more, lower the temperature on your showers or baths, use detergent-free soaps and sunscreen, and moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!

For more information or for treatment options to help lower the side effects of stress, call (864) 242-5872 today.