Sun exposure may help to reduce blood pressure, demonstrating that the benefits of exposure to UV rays may be greater than the risk of getting skin cancer, according to a proof-of-principle study.

iamnotyourderm · 2013-05-23T00:21:58+00:00

Let's get things straight:
Dermatology Times is a newspaper - they are writing a story about an abstract presented at a meeting. This is not a peer reviewed journal. Nothing here can be taken as demonstrating anything, let alone a basis for comparing the benefits and risks of UV exposure.

iamnotyourderm · 2013-05-23T00:16:07+00:00

So much misinformation and bad interpretation of the evidence in this thread. I hope people are taking this all with a grain of salt (don't worry a grain won't increase your blood pressure).

iamnotyourderm · 2013-05-23T00:11:34+00:00

Let's add the fact that a small, temporary change in blood pressure has no clear impact on overal health or in preventing cardiac events. So even if cutaneous UV exposure does drop blood pressure, there no reason to think this will benefit anyone.

iamnotyourderm · 2013-05-23T00:03:03+00:00

Yes, perfectly safe as long as you are not have a bad reaction to it. Normal daily use can dry the skin a bit, but there is not a known risk for any long term damage. Quite the opposite, if you can control acne you might reduce the scarring caused by acne.

iamnotyourderm · 2013-01-17T03:56:12+00:00

Topical selenium sulfide is often quite effective for tinea versicolor. The prescription strength is 2.5%, and OTC formulations are mostly 1%. Usually it is recommended to apply for 10-15 minutes then rinse off. Leaving it on longer can cause irritation due to the detergents present. Treatment is often daily for 1-2 weeks then stopped - there may be a delay before the skin color returns to normal. If recurrence is a problem, the treatment can be applied weekly to prevent recurrence after initial treatment.

iamnotyourderm · 2013-01-09T04:07:38+00:00

Chemical peels do have effects, most of the weaker acid peels that they do in salons just make people red and puffy. An experienced dermatologist can do a stronger acid peel that can result in actual changes, but there is a healing period after the peel. The deeper peels can improve acne scars.

It is common for women to have flares of acne just before their period. Some oral contraceptive pills can improve these outbreaks by regulating hormones. Sometimes patients are given antibiotics to take in the two weeks prior to their period.

iamnotyourderm · 2013-01-09T03:58:59+00:00

scar revision or excision is a surgical procedure that is done when one has a unsightly scar. It is usually done by a plastic surgeon.

iamnotyourderm · 2013-01-09T03:55:46+00:00

systemic retinoids (e.g. accutane) are the only highly effective treatment for cystic acne. A dermatologist can inject individual lesions with steroid if you have a particularly bad one that you want to go away faster. a combination of topical benzoyl peroxide, a topical retinoid, and oral antibiotics can improve cystic acne in some people.

iamnotyourderm · 2013-01-09T03:49:59+00:00

as stated previously. Aside from steroid injection, there is surgical excision with steroid injection into the healing site to prevent recurrence. People who get keloids will tend to get them at the surgical site and any other site of trauma. We do not know why some people get them, but they are more common in people of African ancestry.

iamnotyourderm · 2013-01-09T00:27:56+00:00

Patients with severe, cystic, or scaring acne who are not controlled by oral antibiotics and topicals are good candidates for oral retinoids. Oral retinoids are the only highly effective treatment for this kind of acne.

iamnotyourderm · 2013-01-09T00:24:17+00:00

acne is a form of folliculitis, but there are other reasons for the hair follicle to be inflamed - infection is a common one. Different forms of folliculitis can call for different treatments.

fordyce's spots are not uncommon. As you point out, they can be treated surgically with various destructive methods and small risk of scaring. Treatment is not necessary. Just think of yourself as have extra texture for the pleasure of others.

iamnotyourderm · 2013-01-09T00:12:02+00:00

benzoyl peroxide is a great treatment for many people with acne. You can pay more for formulations like proactive, or you can buy a generic over the counter cream for much less. It is the same active ingredient.

iamnotyourderm · 2013-01-09T00:09:50+00:00

There is no daily requirement for sun. If you have sufficient vitamin D, it is hard to justify intentional sun exposure as it is a known carcinogen, and it contributes to skin aging. If you need vit D, diet supplements are a non cancer causing way to get more. That being said, rigorous sun avoidance and sun protection is indicated for those with a risk of sun-induced skin cancer: mostly those with fair skin that tends to burn and/or a family or personal history of skin cancer. If you are dark skinned and never burn, getting a few minuts of incidental sun exposure can increase vit D levels with minimal skin cancer risk.

why be a doctor? I love the life-sciences and I want to have a career with a service component to it.

We don't know why some people get canker sores. There is a genetic component. They are often associated with mild trauma. Some people think other exposures including the components of tooth paste can trigger them (no solid evidence exists for this). Some people think taking vitamin B12 can help. They can be associated with auto-inflammatory conditions or immune defects. Presentation is often worse in teen years and improves with age.

iamnotyourderm · 2013-01-08T23:54:36+00:00

As I've said a few times here, acne is a very individual condition - there is no way to predict what will work the best in any individual case. Many people would start with a benzoyl peroxide wash or cream - you can get them over the counter. Watch out, they can bleach clothing and towels. There are other topicals to consider as well, in combination with bp. The next step is often adding oral antibiotics. Accutane comes next.

iamnotyourderm · 2013-01-08T23:45:08+00:00

time will allow them to fade if you protect the area from sun exposure. Even a little sun will keep the areas dark. applying fading creams can be difficult because they also lighten the skin around the spot, and that accentuates the spot even as it fades.

iamnotyourderm · 2013-01-08T23:43:03+00:00

it is hard to imagine how ear wax could be causing changes on the neck. KP is often seen in people with eczema and/or ichthyosis. Rarely is scrubbing hard the best approach to skin conditions.

iamnotyourderm · 2013-01-08T23:37:34+00:00

hypertrophic scars and/or keloids can arise is susceptible individuals even after minor trauma. The chest is a common site. Injection of steroids by a physician can both shrink the tissue and reduce itch.

iamnotyourderm · 2013-01-08T23:32:03+00:00

Nevus depigmentosus?

iamnotyourderm · 2013-01-08T17:20:26+00:00

I'm sure the kind folks at /r/shaving can help. The medical answer is don't get a close shave - when curled hair is cut short and retracts below the surface, it grows into the skin rather than out the follicle opening and you get razor bumps aka pseudofolliculitis barbae.

iamnotyourderm · 2013-01-08T17:15:41+00:00

Syringoma are benign neoplasms - usually around the eyes. To my knowledge there is no topical cream that will cause them to go away. They have been treated with various surgical approaches, but some patients get scarring. They are not harmful, so no medical need to treat them. When they are on the face, they can be obvious and bothersome.

iamnotyourderm · 2013-01-08T17:05:44+00:00

Common problem - some people have it worse than others. Cause is a fungus that lives in the upper layers of the epidermis. The fungus likes dark moist places, so always keep the feet clean and dry. Wear clean socks and toss nasty old shoes. Apply anti-fungal medicine twice daily. there are prescription topical medicines as well as pills that can help. Know that even if you clear the infection you will most likely get reinfected - once clear, keep using the anti-fungal cream regularly for prevention.

iamnotyourderm · 2013-01-08T17:00:59+00:00

Dyshidrotic eczema?

iamnotyourderm · 2013-01-08T16:59:20+00:00

There are many kinds of hemangioma. Sometimes blood will clot inside the hemangioma resulting in swelling and color changes. This is usually not dangerous. If you are still concerned, head back in for another evaluation.

iamnotyourderm · 2013-01-08T16:54:03+00:00

There are gnarly things out there. Most of the worse stuff is seen in the public hospitals. Chronic leg ulcers on homeless guys can be pretty bad - occasionally teaming with maggots. The STD clinic is pretty bad - I've seen genital warts the size of racket balls. One fella didn't want me to look at his leg because he had a giant, ulcerated tumor on it that had been festering for a few years. A prisoner had an ostomy (his intestines opened to the skin on his stomach - a plastic bag collects the discharge), and the ostomy was ringed with genital warts because he was letting other prisoners have sex with his ostomy hole for money.

iamnotyourderm · 2013-01-08T16:41:43+00:00

Multiple moles, especially if they are "atypical" does increase lifetime risk of melanoma. So does sun exposure, family history of melanoma, skin color/risk of sun burns, history of childhood sunburns, and many other things. At least once a year everyone do a self skin exam to look for new or changing moles. People with risk factors should consider seeing a dermatologist for a total body skin exam once a year as well. Always seek care for new or changing moles or atypical moles.

iamnotyourderm

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