The Best Skin Care Apps

The secret to beautiful, healthy skin is at your fingertips. With a simple download to your smart phone, you can now scan, snap or swipe for advice and prevention tips on just about every health topic. Skin care is no exception. Use apps to:

Look your best

From insider tricks for loosening and cleansing blackheads to recipes for homemade exfoliators, beauty advice apps are available in abundance. Apps like “mySkin” also help users find the best skin care products for their skin type. For a personalized recommendation, build a wish list in the app to review with your dermatologist at your next appointment. We think “2000 Beauty Tips,” “Age Defying Tricks,” and “Natural Beauty Tips” are fun.

Assess Acne and Aging

With “Skinfoto,” users can take before-and-after photos of problem areas to track acne, skin tone and pore size and monitor how the face reacts to particular skin care products. “My Own App” also uses photos and facial recognition technology to assess the signs of aging by measuring the number of lines, wrinkles and age spots on a user’s face.

Minimize UV exposure

Get localized, real-time information on UVA and UVB rays to help plan your day and minimize exposure to the harmful rays with apps like “MyUVAlert,” “Sunblock,” and “Ultraviolet.” Some of the apps also provide sunscreen reapplication reminder alerts and tips for staying safe in the sun.

Detect skin cancer

Apps like “LoveMySkin,” “SkinVision” and “UMSkinCheck” are available to help evaluate suspicious moles or skin lesions for skin cancer. The apps let users take a photograph or scan of the suspicious area and then uses mathematical formulas to check for the ABCDEs of skin cancer: asymmetry, irregular border, varied color, a diameter larger than a pencil eraser and the evolution of the area (any new symptom or change in size, shape, color, or elevation). Some of the apps also allow users to track moles over time, set periodic self-exam reminders and even send snapshots directly to their dermatologists.

While beauty and medical apps can be beneficial for preventive maintenance and provide insight into your skin health, they are not a definitive source for diagnosing skin conditions. In fact, the apps often carry disclaimers that they cannot provide accurate diagnosing and should not be used to replace advice from a trained physician. The skin care experts at Greenville Dermatology are available to help you find the best products and treatments for your skin. Visit us today or schedule a consultation by calling (864) 242-5872. 

The Truth Behind Hand Sanitizer

At the height of flu season, it is important to wash your hands properly and frequently. Most people tend to use antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers because they appear to be a more convenient option. However, these products may not be as beneficial to the skin as we once thought. 

Antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers have recently come under scrutiny by the FDA, which this month proposed a rule that will require manufacturers to prove their products are safe for long-term use and are more effective than plain soap and water in preventing illness and the spread of infection. According to health officials, there is no evidence that the products are more effective than washing with plain soap and water. In fact, they may cause more harm than good.

Evidence suggests that long-term exposure to certain active ingredients used in antibacterial products could pose potential health risks. Most antibacterial products contain an ingredient called triclosan. Although triclosan helps kill bacteria, it also helps make the bacteria resistant to antibiotics, creating super bacteria.

Other harmful ingredients found in antibacterial products are parabens. These chemicals are used to prevent microbe growth in a lot of personal care products like shampoos and body washes. Parabens have also been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, and skin irritation. The four most common parabens to watch out for in hand sanitizers are: butylparaben, ethylparaben, methylparaben and propylparaben. According to health officials, about 2,000 individual products contain these harmful ingredients.

Most hand sanitizers have 60 percent alcohol or ethanol and are generally a safe alternative when soap and water are not available. However, health officials believe that washing with soap and water is still the best method for preventing the spread of illness.

At Greenville Dermatology, we carry a range of natural soaps, body washes and skincare products that will help keep your skin feeling fresh and healthy. Our skincare experts are also available to help you find the best products for your skin. Visit us today or schedule a consultation by calling (864) 242-5872. 

The Risks and Rewards of Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is one of the leading cosmetic procedures requested by our patients today. Nearly half a million laser hair removal treatments were performed by dermatologic surgeons in 2011, the last year for which figures are available, according to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.

Laser hair removal uses pulses of laser light to destroy hair follicles and permanently remove unwanted hair. The procedure provides three main benefits:

-It’s precise. When performed properly, the lasers can target and destroy dark, coarse hair without damaging the surrounding skin.

-It’s fast. It only takes a fraction of a second to destroy a hair follicle, and the laser can treat many hairs at the same time.

-It’s effective. On average, 90 percent of patients have permanent hair loss after an average of three to five sessions.

However, complications resulting from poorly performed laser procedures led to a surge in litigation in recent years. A recent study published in JAMA Dermatology showed the percentage of lawsuits over laser surgery that involved a non-physician operator increased to 78 percent in 2011 from 36 percent in 2008. Laser hair removal was the most commonly performed procedure cited in the litigation.

Performed improperly, laser hair removal can cause disfiguring injuries, severe burns and, on the rare occasion, death. It is extremely important to consult a qualified medical professional to perform laser hair removal.

Using a laser requires planning by trained physician who can assess your skin type, perform a proper skin screening prior to treatment and create an appropriate schedule for follow-up treatments. Your dermatologist will be able to advise you on the best options to protect your health and provide optimum results.

Dr. Miller is a board-certified dermatologist and is a licensed and trained laser hair removal operator. If you are considering laser hair removal, schedule a consultation with Dr. Miller by calling Greenville Dermatology today at (864) 242-5871. 

Answers.com Article: Skin Resolutions for the New Year

 

The following is a preview of an article Dr. Miller wrote for Answers.com. Click here to read the full article.

It's never too late to start taking care of your skin to make it look its best. If you want skin that glows and appears younger and less wrinkled, here are some New Year's skin resolutions to get you started.

1. Stop Smoking

There are plenty of other health reasons to stop smoking, but the skin is affected by smoking as well. A smoker's skin over time becomes thickened, leathery and less able to heal itself. The nicotine literally cuts off the blood supply and oxygen to the skin. If you don't smoke, don't start. If you do smoke, do yourself a big favor and stop. You will not only feel better, but look better as well.

2. Wear Sunscreen

Protecting your skin from the sun is essential and mandatory for healthy, wrinkle-free skin. It needs to be worn every day on sun exposed areas. The rays of the sun that cause aging and wrinkles (called UVA) reach the skin even on cloudy days and penetrate deeply enough to damage the collagen layer and the living skin cells. Incorporate a sunscreen into your daily regimen either in your make up or a light moisturizer.

3. Avoid Tanning Beds

It is now a known fact that tanning beds cause skin cancer. Utilizing tanning beds in the teen years increases the risk for developing a melanoma, the most deadly skin cancer, later in life. If that isn't a good enough reason by itself, then tanning beds can also cause skin wrinkling and a leathery appearance to the skin. Tanning beds should simply be avoided.

4. Maintain a Healthy Diet

A diet rich in antioxidants and nutrients is not only good for general health, but for the skin as well. Incorporating colorful fresh fruits and vegetables into the diet and avoiding foods high in fat and foods prepared by frying can help the skin repair damage from the sun and the pollutants in the air.

To find out more resolutions for clear and glowing skin, click here to read the rest of the article or call Greenville Dermatology today at (864)242-5872.

Is a Chemical Peel for You?

Source

Chemical peels can vastly improve your skin’s appearance. A chemical solution is applied to the skin, which makes it “blister” and eventually peel off, revealing smoother and less wrinkled skin underneath. Greenville Dermatology offers peels using alpha-hydroxy glycolic acid, beta-hydroxy salicylic acid, and TCA (trichloroaecetic acid). So how do you know if a chemical peel is for you?

 

Who is a good candidate for a chemical peel?

The most common candidate for a chemical peel is a person with sun-damaged skin, uneven pigmentation, actinic keratosis or acne scarring. Generally, fair-skinned patients are better candidates for chemical peels. People with darker skin can still achieve good results but are more likely to have an uneven skin tone after the procedure. Ask your dermatologist if your skin is right for a chemical peel.

 

What happens during a chemical peel?

On the day of your peel, your skin will first be prepped for treatment with a thorough cleansing. Next, your dermatologist will apply the chemical solution to your face quickly and evenly. Your dermatologist will watch your skin’s reaction carefully in order to remove the peel at the right time. After the peel is removed, your dermatologist will treat your skin as needed. Patients who get a medium peel may need cool compresses followed by a lotion or cream to soothe the skin. A deep peel will require surgical dressing.

 

Is there downtime?

Recovery time after a chemical peel depends on what kind of peel is done and how deep it is. After a medium or deep peel, you will have downtime. A deep chemical peel requires recuperating at home for two to three weeks.

 

When will I see results?

You will see results once your skin heals, depending on the strength of the peel. A light peel can heal in one day, whereas a deep peel can take 14 days or longer to heal. 

 

How long will the results last?

Most results are not permanent because our skin continues to age. If you have sun-damaged skin or precancerous skin growths called AKs, you will likely continue to see new spots and growths on your skin. 

 

The results you see after getting a chemical peel depend largely on the skill of the person performing the peel. To protect your health and achieve the best results, a dermatologist or dermatologic surgeon should perform the procedure.

 

Ask your dermatologist the following questions before getting a chemical peel:

• What will I need to do before and after the peel to get the best results?
• Do I have a higher risk for any complications?
• Will I have downtime?
• May I see before-and-after photos or speak with patients you treated with a chemical peel?

Dr. Miller is a board-certified dermatologist who performs safe and effective chemical peels on individuals of all ages. For a consultation, please call Greenville Dermatology today at (864)242-5872.

Scientists Discover Key to Tissue Healing



Ever wonder why a child’s scraped knee heals faster than an adult’s? Scientists may have figured out the science behind this phenomenon – researchers have discovered the gene responsible for tissue repair, known as Lin28a. This particular gene, which is active in embryos and children but not in adults, could lead to future advances in the treatment of injuries. 

"It sounds like science fiction, but Lin28a could be part of a healing cocktail that gives adults the superior tissue repair seen in juvenile animals," said the study’s lead author, George Daley, MD, PhD, director of stem cell transplantation at Boston Children's Hospital.

From insects and amphibians to fish and mammals, tissue repair has always been stronger in juveniles than in adults. Although the cause has never been known, Dr. Daley speculates that the Lin28a protein could play an important role. This protein regulates growth and development in juveniles, but its levels decrease with age.

To determine whether this protein might influence tissue repair in adults, Dr. Daley and his team tested their theory on mice. When they reactivated the Lin28a gene (which was dormant in adult mice), researchers were able to regrow hair and repair cartilage, bone, skin and other soft tissues in a mouse model. The protein also stimulated cell proliferation and migration, which are critical for tissue repair. The researchers found that the Lin28a protein achieves all of this by enhancing the mitochondrial metabolism, just like younger animals. This boost of energy in cells allows for faster healing and tissue repair.

"We were surprised that what was previously believed to be a mundane cellular 'housekeeping' function would be so important for tissue repair," said Shyh-Chang Ng of Harvard Medical School. "One of our experiments showed that bypassing Lin28a and directly activating mitochondrial metabolism with a small-molecule compound also had the effect of enhancing wound healing, suggesting that it could be possible to use drugs to promote tissue repair in humans."

This discovery is particularly important because this is the first time a gene has been found to reactivate embryo-like regenerative powers without causing cancer. Scientists are positive that knowledge of the Lin28a gene could be used to develop regenerative drugs to safely heal wounds faster.

Until this “miracle drug” is created, there are products that can speed tissue healing and help wounds heal without scarring. For more information or to make an appointment with us, please call Greenville Dermatology today at (864) 242-5872.

Eating for Clear Skin



1. Focus on Fish

Fish is a great source of essential fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6, which help reduce inflammation in our bodies that can trigger cells to clog pores and cause acne. Fish also contains zinc, an essential mineral that helps control the release of hormones and helps your body absorb vitamin A. Good sources for fatty acids and zinc are salmon, mackerel and sardines.

2. Cut Down on Dairy

Milk and cheese contain components related to the hormone testosterone, which stimulates oil glands in the skin and can set the stage for acne. Before you cut out dairy completely, remember that dairy is an important source of calcium and vitamin D, which are needed for strong bones. You can substitute almond or rice milk for dairy milk, or replace the calcium you would normally get from dairy with calcium-rich, leafy greens (such as kale and mustard greens), broccoli and sardines.

3. Boost your Beta-Carotene 

Beta-carotene is a red-orange pigment found in plants and fruits, especially carrots and colorful vegetables. Our bodies convert beta-carotene into vitamin A, which are important for healthy eyes, supple skin, and a strong immune system. Beta-carotene is an antioxidant that protects the body from free radicals that damage the cells through oxidation. Even as little as one carrot a day can improve skin color and may reduce wrinkles and other signs of aging. The following foods are rich in beta-carotene: carrots, kale, ketchup, peppers, pumpkin, spinach and sweet potatoes. 

4. Add Selenium

The antioxidant selenium can help preserve skin’s elasticity and reduce inflammatory damage to the skin. Small studies have found that taking selenium supplements improved the skin of patients with severe acne. Whole grains like quinoa and brown rice, and aromatic vegetables such as onion and garlic are all rich in selenium.

5. Water, Water, Water

There are many reasons that you should be getting enough water each day, and keeping your skin hydrated is one of them. Water allows your skin to regenerate faster and flushes toxins from your body. Skin is made up of three layers – the outer layer (epidermis), underlying skin (dermis) and the subcutaneous fat tissue. If the outermost layer of the epidermis doesn’t contain enough water, skin will lose elasticity and feel rough.

Although eating healthy can help improve your skin, sometimes products are needed to banish blemishes. Greenville Dermatology offers several products that can help ward off acne. Call (864)242-5872 today to make an appointment.