5 Hidden Risks of Psoriasis

As many as 7.5 million Americans have psoriasis, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF). This autoimmune disease causes raised, red, scaly, itchy patches to appear on the skin and can be a debilitating condition. But while the itch and red patches can often be managed with topical creams and medications, some “silent” symptoms of psoriasis are the most dangerous. A growing body of research has shown people with psoriasis are at an increased risk of developing other chronic and serious health conditions, such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

Here’s the breakdown:

High blood pressure and cholesterol – In a 2011 study at the University of California Davis, dermatologists found that people with psoriasis have a harder time controlling their high blood pressure and needed more medication to control their hypertension than people without the skin condition. Researchers also found that people with psoriasis are more likely to have high cholesterol.

Heart disease – People with severe psoriasis are 58 percent more likely to have a major cardiac event and 43 percent more likely to have a stroke, according to research. A 2012 study funded by the NFP showed that inflammation over large areas of the body caused by psoriasis can lead to inflammation in major arteries, such as the aorta. Combined with increased risk factors for high blood pressure and cholesterol, the risk of heart attack is significantly increased. The good news is that aggressive treatment of psoriasis can lead to a significant decrease in the risk for developing heart disease.

Diabetes – A 2012 study published in the Archives of Dermatology found that people with severe psoriasis are also 46 percent more likely to have type 2 diabetes and those with mild psoriasis have an 11 percent increased risk of developing diabetes. The connection was true even in the absence of traditional diabetes risk factors, such as obesity. However, obesity is also a risk factor for psoriasis, so maintaining a healthy weight and getting regular diabetes screenings are important preventive measures for people with psoriasis.

Cancer – Research has also shown a connection between psoriasis and certain types of cancer, such as a squamous cell carcinoma (a form of skin cancer) and lymphoma. The exact link between psoriasis and cancer is still unknown, but some scientists believe some medications used to treat psoriasis could be the culprit. Talk to a dermatologist about your overall health and risk factors to ensure the best treatment for your needs is prescribed.

Depression – About one-quarter of people with psoriasis suffer from depression as a result of the emotional distress caused by the embarrassing skin condition. In fact, the NPF says people with psoriasis are twice as likely to become depressed as the rest of the population. Studies have shown that treating psoriasis can alleviate the symptoms of depression.

With proper treatment and healthy lifestyle choices, people with psoriasis can prevent more serious health problems. If you suffer from psoriasis, talk to your dermatologist about what you can do to reduce your risk of developing these deadly conditions. Call Greenville Dermatology at 864-242-5872 to schedule an appointment today.

Answers.com: Things to Know About Exfoliation

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

It is hard to open a beauty publication these days without reading something about exfoliation and the importance of it. There are a host of products on the market as well that advertise that they help to exfoliate the skin. Here are some important things to know about exfoliation.

What Is Exfoliation?

To understand exfoliation, it is first important to understand the way our skin is made. New skin cells are formed only at the lowest layer of the skin. Once the skin cell is made, it will slowly be pushed upwards by new skin cells being made beneath it. As it is pushed up, it flattens out and becomes harder and thicker with a substance called keratin. Once on the surface of the skin, the skin cell will eventually dry out and fall off naturally. When the skin cells fall off, it is called “exfoliation.” Since exfoliation happens naturally, we should only have to help ourselves exfoliate if there is a problem with the skin. Not everyone has to exfoliate.

Who Should Exfoliate?

While anyone can exfoliate, not everyone needs to. Teenagers with acne, people with oily skin, and those with aging skin can all benefit by exfoliating. Acne and oil can hinder the natural exfoliation process and cause dead skin to pile up. As we age, the rate at which new skin cells are formed slows down, leading to dull looking skin. By exfoliating, we can speed up the rate of cell turnover, making skin look younger.

Who Should Avoid Exfoliation?

People with sensitive skin and a skin condition called rosacea can actually create more problems by exfoliating. Exfoliating with a sensitive skin condition or rosacea can make the skin very red and inflamed. People with these conditions are better off using anti-inflammatory products to calm the skin.

How Do I Exfoliate?

There are two types of exfoliation: physical and chemical. For some people, all that is required is simply washing the face with a clean washcloth and gently scrubbing the face with exfoliation cleanser. For more severe cases, using a hand held rotary device such as a Clarisonic, or getting a microdermabrasion may be necessary. For people with more sensitive skin, mild cleansers with fruit acids such as glycolic acid may be more appropriate. A dermatologist can determine if even more aggressive exfoliation needs to be performed such as facials or chemical peels.

What Are The Benefits Of Exfoliation?

When done correctly, exfoliation can improve the skin tone, texture and appearance. Skin conditions such as acne improves. Dull, sun damaged skin can become more youthful in appearance.

What Is The Downside Of Exfoliation?

People with sensitive skin who exfoliate can make their skin more red and irritated. Over aggressive exfoliation for any skin type can result in excessive irritation and other problems. Exfoliation at home should only be performed once or twice a week. Chemical peels, microdermabrasion and facials should only be performed once a month or less. Small, hard, white bumps called “milia” can form if over aggressive exfoliation is performed.

When trying to decide if exfoliation is right for your skin, be sure to consult your dermatologist first. At Greenville Dermatology, our skin care experts can help you determine what exfoliation regime you should follow and what type of products are best suited for your skin. To schedule an appointment, call (864) 242-5872 today. 

10 Surprising Activities that Could Ruin Your Skin

We are all guilty of bad habits that we continue to do because, well they’re habits. What we may not realize is that some of these common habits can be damaging to our skin. To help you understand how your daily routine is affecting your skin health, we put together a list of 10 surprising activities that could ruin your skin:

·         Swimming – In the height of summer, nothing feels better than a refreshing dip in the pool.  Unfortunately, chlorine can be damaging to the skin. Even after a shower, chlorine can cling to skin and react with topical medications, cleansers and lotions. Avoid this pitfall to summer’s favorite activity by using an extra sudsy soap after swimming.

·         Taking long, hot showers – Taking long, hot showers is a refreshing way to relax, especially after a busy day. But, this steamy retreat can also cause the outermost layer of the epidermis to strip away, making your skin scaly and dry. Keep your showers warm enough to be comfortable, and allow for only short bursts of steaming hot water.

·         Testing too many products – Trying new skin products can be dangerous if you have sensitive skin or unknown allergies. Always test new cleansers, cosmetics and lotions on a small patch of skin, such as on the arm. Avoid testing products on the face until you are sure the products are safe for your skin.

·         Talking on the phone – Chatting for hours on the phone can cause breakouts and rashes along the jawline and cheek. Use a speaker phone when available and use antibacterial wipes often to keep your phone and skin clean!

·         Getting hair products on your face – Hair products can clog pores and cause breakouts. Use a clean towel and cover your face to protect skin when applying hair sprays. Wearing a sweatband when working out will prevent products from dripping onto your face as you sweat.

·         Squinting your eyes – Squinting can lead to fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. Wearing outdated contacts and glasses will cause you to squint more often, so be sure to avoid unnecessary aging by keeping your eyewear updated.

·         Waxing too often – If you love to stay hairless, know that too much waxing can result in raw skin and increased bumps. Take at least a three-week break to let your skin regenerate.

·         Exfoliating too often – Body scrub lovers beware. Exfoliating too much can strip the skin of its necessary oils needed to maintain a natural glow. Keep your exfoliating ritual to only once a week for best results.

·         Sitting in the sauna – Saunas are wonderful for pre/post workout downtime. What most people don’t know is that hanging out in the sauna for too long will cause sagging overtime. Keep your sauna and steam room usage to a minimum.  

·         Cooling off in air conditioning – While we like to crank up the air conditioning during these hot, humid summer months, it can be damaging to the skin. Air conditioning strips the air of the humidity and moisture your skin needs to look and feel its best. Bump up the temperature on your air conditioner and get fresh air as often as possible to help your skin retain moisture.

Making a few small changes in your daily routines can give your skin the healthy glow you desire. For more information about the best regimen for you, talk with one of our skin care experts at Greenville Dermatology.  To schedule a consultation or annual skin screening, call (864) 242-5872 today.

Swimmer’s Ear Strikes Again

The height of the summer season means more and more people flocking to the pools and beaches to cool off from the sweltering heat. It also brings with it an increased risk of swimmer’s ear, or inflammation of the skin in the ear canal. In fact, 44 percent of all swimmer’s ear cases occur between the months of June and August.

Swimmer’s ear occurs when water is trapped in the ear for an extended period of time and bacteria found in water breaks the skin barrier through cuts or scrapes in the ear canal. Once the skin barrier is broken, it opens up an entry point for the water bacteria to infect the area. The infection causes the skin to become inflamed and swell. This can be incredibly painful because there is not a lot of room in the ear to accommodate the swelling.

Anyone who goes swimming can get swimmer’s ear. Not surprisingly, the more time you spend in the water – lakes, ponds and pools alike – the more likely you are to develop this irritating condition. Those who clean or scratch their ears regularly are especially prone to swimmer’s ear because of an increased risk of trauma to the ear canal.

Symptoms of swimmer’s ear include ear pain, itching and yellow and white discharge. The difference between a middle ear infection and swimmer’s ear is the presence of pain when the ear lobe is gently pulled. Tugging on the lobe of someone with swimmer’s ear will create movement in the infected canal and cause pain.

Studies suggest that topical treatments work best for uncomplicated swimmer’s ear. Antibiotic ear drops with or without a topical steroid may need to be prescribed to help decrease swelling. Treatment typically lasts a week before it is completely healed, but most patients feel relief from pain within three to four days of starting the drops.

To help prevent swimmer’s ear, remove any lingering water after swimming or bathing, shake your ears dry and place two to three drops of rubbing alcohol in your ear to evaporate the water.

If you want to learn more about how to prevent swimmer’s ear or other summer-related skin issues, visit Greenville Dermatology and speak to one of our skin care experts today. Call (864) 242-5872 to make an appointment.

TheraClear™: The Facts and Benefits

More often than not, most of the patients we see are suffering from mild to severe acne and are looking for a way to achieve fresher, clearer skin. While antibiotics are often prescribed to remedy problems with acne, the use of antibiotics over an extensive period of time can often cause more problems down the road. Luckily, in the past few years, a new device called TheraClear™ has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of acne.

TheraClear™ is able to treat multiple causes of acne in a single treatment. Using a pneumatic tip that gently suctions the skin into a chamber, the device is able to remove blackheads and oil from the skin and unblock pores. Simultaneously, a broad band of intense light is emitted to selectively kill the acne bacteria and leave the good bacteria intact.

After a single treatment, patients are able to see improvements. A series of four to eight treatments seven to ten days apart is recommended for optimal results. Each treatment is relatively painless and takes between 10 to 20 minutes. After the initial series of treatments, patients can receive maintenance treatments as needed.

TheraClear™’s mode of killing bacteria and suppressing oil glands is the leading technology for treating acne. Based on Theravant research, 85 percent of patients have excellent results, 10 percent show satisfactory improvement, and only 5 percent show little improvement. While TheraClear™ does not cure acne, it is proving to be successful in treating acne without the use of medication.

If you are interested in receiving TheraClear™ treatments, call Greenville Dermatology at (864) 242-5872 to set up an appointment today. 

Answers.com Article: Six Ways to Improve Wrinkles

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

Almost everyone would like to look younger. However, we all differ in how severe our wrinkles are. We may have a few fine lines or deep furrows or we may have a combination of fine lines and deep furrows. Here is a list of wrinkle reducers from the least invasive to the most radical to help us improve our wrinkles.

1. Sunscreen

Wear a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher with the words "broad spectrum" on the label every day and frequently reapply it.

2. Topical Exfoliating Cleansers and Retinoids

Use an exfoliating cleanser that contains glycolic acid to increase the turnover of skin cells on the face and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Adding a topical retinoid cream such as Retin-a at night also improves and preserves the collagen layer that becomes damaged with age.

3. Chemical Peels and Facials

Chemical peels and facials are more aggressive ways to exfoliate the skin. One peel or facial can accomplish what using an exfoliating cleanser would do in weeks to months.

4. Laser Resurfacing or Tightening

The next step in reducing wrinkles is laser resurfacing or lasers that tighten the skin. There are two types of lasers that resurface the skin: ablative and non-ablative (more commonly known as "fractional"). Non-ablative resurfacing is very safe, but may take multiple treatments to accomplish significant improvement in wrinkles. Lasers that tighten the skin target deeper layers of the skin and can be very painful, but the resulting tightening of the skin can improve a significant amount of wrinkling.

5. Neurotoxins and Fillers

One way to reduce wrinkles quickly is with neurotoxins (Botox and its competitors) and fillers that target the brow lines, “crow’s feet” and the so called “parentheses and “marionette” lines around the mouth. Newer products such as Sculptra and Voluma replace the volume lost in our faces as we age which reduces deeper wrinkles. The improvement that these products offer lasts from 3 months up to over a year.

6. Facelift

The ultimate wrinkle reducer is the facelift. For some, this may be the best option. A facelift used to be a very major procedure and still can be. However, there are abbreviated versions of a full face lift that can be done on an outpatient basis.

Most cosmetic doctors agree that a combination of treatments usually works better than a single treatment. To speak with a dermatologist or plastic surgeon about the best plan for your skin, call Greenville Dermatology at (864) 242-5872 today.

Beware of Bedbug Bites

We continue to hear news about those creepy little bedbugs popping up in mattresses, particularly in hotels. With summer underway, travel season is in full swing and many of our clients have been asking how they can protect their families from the itchy bites caused by bedbugs.

Bedbugs can live behind walls and wallpaper, in the seams of upholstered furniture, behind electrical outlets, under wall-to-wall carpeting and inside bed frames and mattresses. Contrary to popular belief, there is no association between bedbugs and dirt. They simply feed on blood from animals and humans and like to live nearby their food source. That is why infestations are commonly found in areas with high rates of turnover – like apartment buildings and hotels. Getting a bedbug infestation can be as easy as one jumping into a suitcase and traveling back home with you.

Bedbug bites are characterized by itchy, red welts that typically appear in clusters, with each cluster containing three to five bites in a zigzag pattern, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

Here are some tips for treating bedbug bites:

• Clean the bites. Wash the affected area with warm soap and water.
• Treat the itch to prevent scratching. Scratching can cause the skin to become infected. Apply a corticosteroid cream to the bites to minimize itching.
• Seek treatment. According to the AAD, you should see a dermatologist for treatment if you have several bedbug clusters, blisters, infected skin (where bites feel tender or ooze pus), or if you form an allergic skin reaction resulting in red, swollen skin or hives.

Treatment may require an injection of an antihistamine, corticosteroid or epinephrine for a severe allergic reaction. An antibiotic or over-the-counter antiseptic medication may be necessary to treat any infections. For itchiness, an antihistamine pill or liquid medicine might also be prescribed. It is important to visit a dermatologist during these circumstances to determine what treatment is right for you. Consult a pest-control company to find out how to get rid of bedbug infestations.

If you think you might have bedbug bites, follow these tips and call Greenville Dermatology today at 864-282-5872 to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist.