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Archive for September, 2009

20% Off Colorescience Promotional Event! Notes from a San Francisco Bay Area Dermatologist

Monday, September 28th, 2009

Please come by our office on Friday, October 2nd for a Colorescience promotional event!  Not only will all Colorescience products be 20% off, but a representative from Colorescience will be on hand providing free makeup consultations.

Colorescience is truly blending the line between makeup and science, and is the evolution into the 21st century of mineral color skincare.

Completely free of dyes, talcs, fillers, mineral oil, perfumes and other ingredients found in traditional lines, Colorescience gives you beautiful results without disrupting healthy skin function.  I find their products also help to eliminate redness caused by skin conditions like rosacea and sun damage as well.

So please join us on Friday, October 2nd to find out more about Colorescience and take advantage of the savings!

 

Further Evidence on the Benefits of Vitamin D: Notes from a San Francisco Bay Area Dermatologist

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

We continue to hear more and more about Vitamin D.  Dermatologists have for years counseled their patients to practice rigorous sun protection, which may contribute to low vitamin D levels in certain patients.  Now we are encouraging vitamin D supplementation as a way to raise vitamin D levels.

As highlighted in Dermatology Times, the UK’s Telegraph (9/22, Devlin) reported that patients with colon cancer “who had higher levels of vitamin D…when diagnosed with colon cancer were 50 percent more likely to survive than those with low levels,” according to a study appearing in the British Journal of Cancer. Meanwhile, a second study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, showed that “patients who had high levels of the vitamin when they were diagnosed with skin cancer were more likely to have thinner tumors.” Meanwhile, “skin cancer patients who had the lowest levels of vitamin D in their blood when they were diagnosed were almost a third more likely to relapse than those with high levels,” researchers found.

This study correlates higher levels of vitamin D with increased survival from colon cancer and a better prognosis with skin cancers.  The sun is not needed to get adequate vitamin D. Vitamin D supplementation is widely available in oral form and  I recommend 1000-1500 mu of vitamin D  a day along with 1000mg mg  of Calcium  a day . Vitamin D testing is now available and may be recommended for you by your primary care doctor or dermatologist.

 

What is Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)?: Notes from a San Francisco Bay Area Dermatologist

Monday, September 14th, 2009

Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) is the increase of pigment in an area of skin where inflammation has occurred.  If you have ever noticed that your skin becomes darker where you have had acne, eczema, or where the skin has been injured or traumatized, the reaction may be due to postinflammatory hyperpigmentation.  PIH can also occur after chemical peels or laser hair removal treatments.

The nature of PIH is somewhat mysterious as it may be triggered after certain events, but not others.  Or, as is possible with laser hair removal or chemical peels, may show up after you have already had several complication free treatments.  It can occur in any skin type, but is more common in darker-skinned or ethnic individuals.

While the exact causes of PIH are still unknown, there are treatments to help resolve its footprint.  The use of prescription strength hydroquinone (a skin-lightening agent) with a retinoid is very effective if used consistently.  The idea is to exfoliate the affected layers of skin while also reducing excess pigment production.  A dermatologist can prescribe these medications and track their effectiveness.

The best way prevent PIH is to use sunscreen daily.  The sun makes PIH worse, so avoid sun exposure on affected areas.  Also, if you are receiving laser treatments for hair removal, be sure that the practitioner is experienced and will use settings appropriate for your skin type.  In our practice we have lasers specific for different skin types to make the procedure as safe as possible.  However, PIH is unpredicatable, so even with the most competent care, it can still occur.  That is why it is important to have any laser treatments  performed at an office with a dermatologist on site that can help resolve any complications promptly.

 

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