Blog - Rao Dermatology

Overview of Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic disorder of facial skin. It is mostly observed as redness and broken blood vessels on the cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead, often with pimple-like bumps in later stages. It can easily be mistaken for a rash, acne, or allergies, so here are some ways to tell Rosacea apart.

Rosacea affects both men and women, though women tend to be diagnosed more frequently. Men often see more severe symptoms as they tend to delay seeking medical advice until the later stages of Rosacea.

What does Rosacea look like?

Signs and symptoms that you have Rosacea include:

Bumps

Solid, red bumps start to develop. They are small in size and can appear to resemble acne (without blackheads). Stinging and burning might occur.

Flushing and Persistent Redness

Those who have a history of blushing / flushing may have early Rosacea. This is usually the first sign that you might have it.

Blood Vessels

Small, visible blood vessels may start to show on the skin.

Symptoms that are a potential indicator of Rosacea are:

Burning or Stinging

You might feel a burning or stinging sensation on your face, in addition to feelings of tightness.

Dry Appearance

If the skin around the center of your face is rough, it might also appear dry.

Eye Irritation

Ocular Rosacea is the term for when eyes appear to be bloodshot or watery. Damage to corneas may occur as well as potential vision loss (this is a severe case). Eyelids can also be affected, showing signs of redness and swelling, along with styes.

Plaques

Plaques appear as isolated, raised, red patches. The surrounding skin is not affected.

Around the Face

The symptoms of Rosacea can also appear on the neck, chest, scalp, or ears.

Thickening of Skin

Extra tissue can cause skin thickening and enlargement. This is called Rhinophyma, which can cause the skin of the nose to grow and swell.

Swelling (Edema)

Edema, also known as swelling, causes fluid to collect in cavities and tissues of affected areas. It might appear along with other symptoms, or on its own.

Rosacea Treatment

Rosacea cannot be cured completely, but it can definitely be controlled. If you feel that you are experiencing any of the above symptoms of Rosacea, we encourage you to fill out the form at the bottom of this page for a consultation to learn more about treatment options.

Dr. Jaggi Rao is a double board certified dermatologist and a certified cosmetic surgeon who is eager to help you feel and look your best!

Source:

www.rosacea.org

Wrinkle Treatment Using Neuromodulators

Botulinum toxin A, a neuromodulator, is commonly used to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles, particularly those found on the forehead and in the eye zone. This treatment is designed to target a specific area of muscles through an injection that is delivered by a trained professional. This procedure is safe as long as it is completed by a reputable provider.

Who Can Provide Neuromodulator Treatment?

If the treatment’s purpose is for the minimization of facial wrinkles, the following professionals can provide it:

Physicians
Dermatologists
RNs

Reasons People Turn to Neuromodulators

Many individuals decide to get neuromodulator treatments for cosmetic issues that can’t be remedied easily. These conditions include frown lines, wrinkles around the mouth, and saggy skin. Neuromodulators have even been used to help minimize the unevenness of the skin’s texture by smoothing it out and reducing the appearance of crevices.

What Happens During the Procedure?

Neuromodulator injections are performed during an outpatient procedure that takes anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. It is accomplished by:

Selection of the injection site, which is determined by the patient’s intention and the professional’s assessment of the area to be treated
The neuromodulator injections are delivered in a series of small shots
No local anesthetic is required

What You Need to Remember About Your Neuromodulator Treatments

While the advantages of using neuromodulator injections for cosmetic purposes are readily apparent (smoother looking skin), the treatment is not a permanent solution and so, the injections must continue regularly in order for you to maintain your new look. Injections should be done every three to six months. It is a quick easy way to keep your skin looking its youngest.

Patients should not have neuromodulator injections if they are pregnant, have a neurological disease, or are breastfeeding. Moreover, certain types of medications can interfere with the desired effects. It is best to discuss with our team to determine what is the best fit for you – the form is at the bottom of this page.

Learn more about neuromodulators and how they can improve your wrinkles here.

5 Common Skin Care Myths

Rao Dermatology offers some tips for keeping your skin healthy and young. Skin care is a topic that is filled with many myths. Some of these myths are perpetuated by companies who are only interested in getting you to buy their newest product. Others are old wives’ tales that have been repeated so long that people simply accept them as truth. Here is a look at five of the most common skin care myths that you should ignore.

Buy the Highest SPF Sunscreen

In general, a higher number means that you get more of something. Although this notion is technically true with sunscreen, the extra protection is essentially useless. The increased protection of any sunscreen above SPF 30 is negligible. It is also important to check that your sunscreen provides broad spectrum protection in order to prevent damage from every type of UV ray.

You Only Need Sunscreen on Sunny Days

Most people leave their sunscreen in the closet until the sunny summer months come around. However, your skin can be damaged by the sun all year long. You should even wear sunscreen during a cloudy day. Although you might not get a sunburn when it isn’t sunny, the damage from the sun will gradually age your skin over the years.

Scrub Your Face to Prevent Acne

Good hygiene is important for the prevention of acne. However, many people wash their face too roughly and too frequently. This kind of face washing will irritate your skin and actually make it more prone to developing blemishes. You should only wash your face a few times a day using cold water and clean hands. Avoid using any harsh soaps or scented moisturizers.

Sunblock is Not Enough

If you spend time enjoying the sun then we might recommend that you add Vitamin C Serums in addition to sunblock. At Rao Dermatology we have just what you need to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun while still getting your dose of Vitamin D. Vitamin C Serums act as an antioxidant which helps to repair and renew cells. For more information on these serums please feel free to contact Rao Dermatology in Edmonton at 780-437-7189. We are here to help you take the best possible care of your skin.

Pop a Pimple to Remove the Pus

In general, you should let a pimple run its course. Popping it can cause scarring and might spread the infection. However, if you feel that you must pop it, do not use your fingers. Drain it using a sterile lancet that is pointed away from the skin. You can also use a device known as a comedone extractor.

Taking good care of your skin isn’t as confusing as it can seem. If you avoid following bad advice, your skin will be healthy for years to come.

Our Philosophy

Why choose us?

Today people have so many options for their skin care needs, including spas as well as other clinics.

So why come to Rao Dermatology?

The answer is 3 fold:

Skill set: Nobody can beat the extensive experience and training that is provided by our lead dermatologist, Dr. Rao. As a result, we can not only address your skin concerns but also deal with any complications that can arise from any interventions.
Philosophy: We believe in the prevent, treat, maintain concept to achieve the best skin possible. We want to have lifelong relationship with our patients from their 20’s onward because inevitably skin ages. However, we can be do a lot to delay the aging effects or at least minimize it. By working with you, we can help make you look your best.
Technology: We aim to always provide an assortment of up to date devices to achieve the most optimal results. With Dr. Rao being a world expert and speaker in the field of lasers and light technology, we can ensure that you are in capable hands.

We welcome you to view the video of Dr. Rao explaining in his own words the vision and philosophy of Rao Dermatology.

What exactly is a neuromodulator?

Neuromodulators have been very present in the media. We see it in newspapers, tabloids, and in movies. But other than the final results of neuromodulators– notably, smoother looking skin – how much do you actually know about the revolutionary procedure?

To get very scientific for a minute, this neuromodulator is a drug made from a neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum, called botulinum toxin.

The source of it varies widely from forests to cultivated soils to the intestinal tracts of mammals (crazy, right?). Only when the spores turn into vegetative cells and begin to produce botulinum toxin on their own is it harmful. Botulism is the result of this.

In extremely small doses, this neuromodulator prevents signals of nerve cells from reaching muscles, ultimately paralyzing them.

The powder itself is diluted with a salt water mixture and injected directly into neuromuscular tissue. Upon injection, the patient must wait upwards of three to five days for the paralyzing process, otherwise known as synaptosomal process, to take place. When the muscles become less stiff from fewer contractions, fewer wrinkles and fine lines result. Of course, the process sees better results with individuals who have finer lines to begin with. Deeper creases might not be corrected fully by the procedure due to some of the permanent effects of aging.

This neuromodulator can be personalized based on the needs of the individual.

Dermatologists have the capability to monitor the amount that is injected as well as the location receiving treatment.

When talking about this neuromodulator in regards to the cosmetic procedure, the individual might want to have a more dramatic result while another might want softer features.

The list of benefits is quite extensive, including correcting facial asymmetry, relaxing the forehead, and lifting eyebrows. The effects of this procedure can last up to four months as it is not a permanent solution to removing wrinkles and fine lines.

Sometimes, patients develop facial muscle memory, which means that they use the muscles that initially caused the creases, less and less due to the paralysis.

If this is not the case and treatments are not repeated, then the patient’s skin will revert to how it originally was, before the neuromodulator treatment took place.

It might seem counter-intuitive that we inject this substance into our bodies, knowing the potential dangers.

However, this neuromodulator is a therapeutic protein when dosage and frequency are considered. Dermatologists and plastic surgeons are trained at injecting it. And, as with many invasive procedures, neuromodulator treatment is not advised for pregnant women, breastfeeding women, or those with specific neurological conditions.

I am going to end on a bit of a factoid: Years ago, I only saw this neuromodulator as a way to get rid of wrinkles as stress and old age set in. Unbeknownst to me, there were several alternative uses! They include treating migraines, overactive bladder, and eyelid spasms. Furthermore, there is a misconception that this neuromodulator should be reserved for those in their 50s and 60s.

Rather than it being a proactive medical procedure, I observed neuromodulator treatment as a reversal process, which is somewhat false.

Those who initiate neuromodulator treatment in their 30s or 40s can benefit as the preventative measures maintains the youthful appearance into the later decades.

We welcome you to learn more about facial anatomy and neuromodulators here.