Common Skin Conditions

The skin is funny. Not in an “LOL” way, but in the sense that it is unusual, unpredictable, and easily misinterpreted. This “funniness” is culpable, to a certain degree, in the ongoing ignorance, andRosacea Treatments Edmonton misdiagnosis of some of the most common skin conditions. Some rashes are minor, but others are quite telling and require further medical attention. Skin discolouration too, is easily blown off as a simple bruise. It is fair to say, many individuals have a difficult time trying to decipher between minor and major skin conditions. We’ve compiled a short list of common skin conditions to help you determine what is urgent and what is not!

 Acne

Acne is easily the most common skin disorder, occurring primarily in teenagers.

It is formally defined as “an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands, characterized by comedones and pimples, especially on the face, back, and chest, and, in severe cases, by cysts and nodules resulting in scarring”. It is often wrongfully labeled as pimples. However, acne is the combination of pimples, blackheads and cysts. Acne should not be remedied by a simple over-the-counter formula. Instead, it should be treated by a dermatologist, especially to avoid severe acne, which results in permanent scarring.

Eczema

Although not as common as Acne, Eczema is more physically abnormal and therefore, more apparent. Eczema is an inflammatory condition of the skin attended with itching and the exudation of serous matter. Further characteristics include scaly, dry skin. It can materialize in both children and adults. In fact, Atopic dermatitis is the frequent form of eczema that plagues young children. Although its origin is unknown, dermatologists believe there are both genetic and environmental factors at work.

 Hives

Hives can be classified as any of a series of eruptive conditions of the skin including wheals of urticaria. The relevant area may be red, raised, and itchy.  They can derive from numerous dispositions such as bites, stings, food, and medication.  They don’t tend to last beyond four hours. However, a person with chronic urticaria has hives for months or years.

Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic form of acne whereby facial blood vessels enlarge resulting in red pustular lesions.  Although no official cause has been determined, researchers have attributed the skin condition to the immune system and the environment. Although Rosacea is most common among women over 30, individuals outside this demographic can be affected as well, at less frequent rates.

While this list is not exhaustive, we hope it functions as a useful guide for categorizing your skin condition. If you’ve observed anything about your skin that does not quite meet any of the above criteria it can be serious; contact our office as soon as possible.

Healthy Skin Obsessed

These days, trends only last as long as it takes the development of another product, theme, or idea to grab your attention. Despite this, healthy skin is one trend that manages to stay afloat and Healthy Skin Edmontoncontinue to remain a hot topic as others fizzle out. Pop culture has become skin care obsessed and we’re excited about it. We don’t want you to fall behind, so we’re sharing our healthy skin tips so you can ride the wave.

The Inside Job

Avoid alcohol, smoking, and caffeine consumption

These three substances, especially when consumed in a frequent and simultaneous manner, are capable of aging your skin rapidly and significantly. According to research from the British Skin Foundation, “smoking reduces the skin’s natural elasticity through the breakdown and reduction of collagen.” This lack of collagen is important to your skin’s health because it is a protein responsible for the strength of the skin. Consequently, the reduction and removal of collagen also results in the formation of wrinkles.

Be intentional about your food consumption

Healthy skin is the summary of what you put on the inside and outside of your skin. However, it is fair to say that the internal aspect holds a little more weight to the process and yields long-term effects. Consume foods that are high in antioxidants such as berries, carrots, beet, and squash. These foods will prevent free-radical damage. You should also include foods that contain vitamin A, such as green leafy vegetables and oranges, to help promote skin repair. Finally, drink lots and lots of water (eight glasses, daily). Water is the ultimate internal key to healthy-looking skin.

The Outside Job

Have a Skin Care Routine

Sadly, most people simply wash their faces with the body wash that is conveniently placed in the shower and that’s the end of their skincare routine. Using a little more effort, invest in a good cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and exfoliant that compliments your skin type and get in the habit of using these products daily. Your skin reacts well to consistency.

Protect Your Skin from the Sun 

Invest in products that contain UVA and UVB protection to prevent sunburn or skin diseases. A little sun is certainly healthy as well, but you must be moderate.

Rest

Spend more time getting acquainted with your pillow and your dreams. Sleep is essential to healthy skin. Try going to your bed at the same hour every night, keep your bedroom cool, and apply a pea size amount of natural coconut oil over your eyes.

Try these tips to get the best out of your skin.

Envious Benefits of Eye Lifts (Blepharoplasty)

One of the first telling signs of aging and weariness are drooping eyes. After all, when you deprive yourself of sleep, keeping your eyes open longer than they are intended to be, overtime you weareye-lift-edmonton them out. In addition, inadequate skincare regimens and failure to remove makeup significantly deteriorate of the appearance of your eyes. While there are anti-aging creams and eye correction solutions that aim to mitigate these challenges, eye lifts are the increasingly popular alternative. Eye lifts, which are formally known as Blepharoplasty or Eyelid surgery, works to reduce the droopiness from the lower lids and remove excess skin from the upper ones. So what’s the reason for their popularity? Well, they have benefits that people value.

Enhanced Appearance

Eye lifts do exactly what the name suggests…lifts your eyes thereby enhancing your appearance. The procedure transforms the appearance of your eyes by reducing the sagging skin; it is restorative in that way. It is innately rejuvenating, it brightens your face holistically, and it also boosts your confidence and self esteem in the overall appearance of your skin.

Reduces Signs of Aging

Blepharoplasty is beneficial in that it reduces the signs of aging that are initiated by wrinkles around the eyes. The lift to both the upper and lower lids simultaneous diminishes the lines in the skin. Dermatologists suggest pairing the lift with a skin rejuvenation treatment to optimize the anti-aging results.

Vision Improvement

Research has shown that eyelid surgeries tend to improve faulty and unreliable vision. More specifically, where the droopiness of the eyes are severe enough to contribute to vision impairment, the surgery restores your line of sight by removing the excess deposit of skin and tissues.

If you want to reap the benefits of eyelid surgery and believe it’s the perfect option for you, contact our office for an appointment today.

 

Nano Laser Peel – Totally Worth It!

If there were a new technology that you could carry in your purse, it would have to be the Nano laser peel. However, with its long-lasting and outstanding effects, you wouldn’t need to anyway. A Laser Peel EdmontonNano Laser Peel is the ultimate rejuvenating tool for combating dry, dull, and tired-looking skin. Using light energy, the treatment removes the top layers of your skin at a depth that catalyzes and accelerates the skin’s renewal process.  So why is it “totally worth it?”

It’s the perfect intermediate solution

Nano laser peel is an ideal treatment for defending against dull and tired looking skin because it is the middle ground for similar treatments. More specifically, chemical peels entail a much lighter process, whereby the application of a peel solution results in the removal of the outer layer of the skin simply by peeling the solution once it has hardened. On the other end of the spectrum is deep laser resurfacing which dissolves the molecular bonds of damage cells layer by layer. Despite this, it has the potential to leave a layer of heat-damaged cells. Both techniques are still effective, however the Nano laser peel provides the right amount of impact on the skin with very little side effects.

Requires less time

The use of the light energy accelerates the procedure at a significant rate.  As a result, you can book an appointment, have a quick turn around time in treatment, and carry on with your day without compromising your busy schedule.

 Targets multiple issues

The Nano laser peel may revive your skin from a world of dullness, but it is equally effective for combating acne scarring, wrinkles, and aging skin.

Rejuvenating your skin shouldn’t be difficult and inaccessible. Nano laser peels are favourable for clients and dermatologists continue to recommend them for quick, visible, and radiant results. If you think Nano Laser Peel is for you, call our office today and book your appointment.

NanoPeel is a great maintenance strategy that continues to combat aging after the deeper laser peels.

 

The Dos and Don’ts of Tanning!

The summer days are thriving and you should be soaking up every bit, literally. We’re not talking about running through the sprinklers at your local park or divingMan Sun Tanning into a welcoming pool in the sweltering heat. We’re talking about tanning! You should be soaking up some sun and getting the best of it before the winter comes to terrorize you with dry skin. Tanning is a welcomed practice, however, we at Rao Dermatology believe everything should be done in a safe and moderate way. The sun, as lovely as it is, is packed with UV Rays that can cause skin cancer and other skin diseases. These tips below will help you practice safe tanning so you can feel comfortable and look radiant while you enjoy your summer.

Always wear Sunscreen

Whether you’re a naturalist or you subscribe to using pre-packaged store-bought brands, using sunscreen is a must. Protection from UVA and UVB radiation is imperative due to the stammering and grave harm, primarily skin cancer, which can result from exposure. Use sunscreen that is combative and states explicitly that it contains UVA/UVB protection, and most importantly, ensure it contains other health benefits such as replenishing and nourishing your skin.

Use other skin products with UVA/UVB protection

It’s easy to think that you have the ultimate protection once you have drowned your body in sunscreen. However, other parts of your body also need adequate coverage. If you are wearing make-up, it should be able to defend you from the sun. Skinceuticals has a highly effective line of sunscreen-based lip and eye protection to give you maximum coverage for your tanning excursions.

Limit your “Face time”

Your face is much more sensitive than the rest of your body. At no point should they both be exposed to the sun for equal amounts of time.  Dermatologists recommend a maximum of 10 minutes face-tanning time. Anything longer than the allotted time can result in premature aging, dark spots, wrinkles, and discolouration. Also aim to exfoliate prior to sun tanning; it will kill dead cells and cleanse your pores.

 Don’t Bake Your Skin

First –time tanners can tan for about 20 minutes and increase each time by five to ten minutes. However, monitor your skin. Do not stay in the sun for more than 1.5 – 2 hours.

Long-Term Effects of Neuromodulator Injections

At Rao Dermatology, we celebrate the use of neuromodulator injections for healthy, young, and wrinkle-free skin. Our techniques and technologies are clinically tested and Edmonton Botox Infohave proven to temporarily eradicate wrinkled skin.  While our treatments provide you with optimal results and minimal side effects, not all dermatologists practice proper neuromodulator etiquette, which includes accurate medical history checks and the frequency and intervals of your appointment. As a result, long –term effects can ensue. Below, we’ve listed a series of long-term effects that can materialize from the improper and untracked usage of neuromodulator injections.

Pain deriving from Injection

Following multiple injections, it is possible for patients to experience pain at the neuromodulator injection site. More specifically, the area may become tender, swell, or bruise. Follow up treatments, when completed properly, should be able to eliminate these long-term side effects. However, in rare cases, the area of the injection site may permanently become tender.

 Allergic Reactions

Patients who receive neuromodulator injections can experience allergic reactions. If you receive treatment and observe abnormalities such as irregular breathing, chest pains, abnormal heartbeat or bleeding, contact your physician or go to your nearest Emergency centre; you may be unaware that your neuromodulator injections have a negative impact on your allergies.

Eye Irritation

If you receive neuromodulator treatments in areas near your eye on a regular basis, you can develop irritation around that area. More specifically, you may experience watery, red or itchy eyes and in the most extreme cases you can develop blurry vision. In milder cases, consult your dermatologist so they are able to accurately monitor these effects. In the more severe instances, such as blurred vision or swelling, contact your physician.

Finally, any irregular side effects that occur following frequent neuromodulator injections should prompt you to speak with your dermatologist or family physician.

 

Are You Sporting Alligator skin?

Ladies, how many times have you had to pull your dress down just a little further to hide the ash? And men, aren’t you tired of having to pull your socks over your Dry Skin Edmontonknees to take the attention away from your scaly skin? We, at Rao Dermatology, do not want you to cover up, especially during the summer. Dry skin may be unattractive and irritable, but most importantly it is curable.

First, let’s tackle the most obvious method for controlling dry skin: moisturize. If you suffer from dry skin, you must be vigilant in reading and nitpicking your moisturizers. Look for lotions and moisturizers that are specifically for dry skin. Products that contain lipids are particularly beneficial as they help contain the moisture to your skin.

Another easy way to tackle dry skin is to avoid hot showers. Hot water strips your body of its natural oils and does not replace them. As a result, your skin is much dryer than it should be. Take warm or cool showers and use a body wash that replaces the natural oils that are removed and replenishes the skin. Also try to pat dry following your shower, to keep your skin a little damp.  Don’t forget to moisturize after your shower as well.

Equally important for combatting dry skin is hydration, both internally and externally. Drink lots of water to keep your body hydrated internally; this will support the water retention for your skin. Externally, soaking in a tub of tepid water for about 30 to 45 minutes will re-hydrate your skin.

Finally, oil treatments are beneficial to dry skin. Get familiar with the natural oils that make your skin glow in a healthy way. Packed with Omega -3, flax seed oil helps to improve your skin’s overall appearance. Incorporate natural oil treatments into your weekly regimen to see visible changes.

Dry skin can make you feel like an alligator, but if you incorporate these tips, we promise you won’t turn into one!

 

 

Should I be calling my Dermatologist?

To some people, skincare is a trivial matter.  There is very little concern for the products and methods that are used on the skin. In a lot of cases, so long as your Edmonton Dermatology skin isn’t on fire or isn’t severely irritable, you’re okay. While these instances are causes for concern, the need for a dermatologist span far beyond matters of severity.

At Rao Dermatology, we offer a myriad of services that are beneficial for your skin, but how do you know you need them? This article provides a list of instances when you should call or visit, or get a recommendation from your GP to see a dermatologist.

Stubborn Acne

One of the first signs of bad skin is stubborn acne. If you have been using over-the-counter products for a long period of time and your condition has not improved or has worsen, you must see a gynecologist. Although your Family Doctor can prescribe quick fixes for mild acne, Dermatologists can advise and administer treatments that are geared specifically towards your skin type.

Sunburn

Excessive exposure to the sun can have serious effects that creep up silently. If you’ve spent a lot of time in the sun or visiting tanning salons, a Dermatological check up should be a part of your yearly routine.  The skin is a sensitive organ, but it is also discrete. Dispositions occurring under the skin as a result of sunburn or overexposure to UV rays may not be immediately apparent.

Spots, unusual rashes, discolouration

If you observe a change in colour, consistently, or notice that your skin is more than one colour at a time, you need to see your dermatologist.  Random spots that appear and remain as well as old spots that seem to be changing are also matters to bring to a dermatologist’s attention.

Hair Growth

Sudden and rapid hair growth on your face and chest can be warning signs of a disposition in your skin. If this occurs, let your dermatologist know.

Wrinkling/Aging

Sometimes certain products that you use on your skin can accelerate skin wrinkling and aging. If you notice an increasing amount of wrinkles over a short period of time on your skin, call your dermatologist.

This list is not exhaustive, but if anything about your skin is abnormal it is worth bringing to your Dermatologist’s attention.

 

Fresh Skinceuticals Products

What’s New, What’s Poppin!  Fresh Skinceuticals ProductsFresh Skiinceuticals Products

At Rao Dermatology, we value the dermatological research, integrity, and value that is at the forefront of   advanced skincare brand giant, Skinceuticals.  Their scientifically backed ingredients and pure procedural design paired with their dedication to skin cancer research has allowed us to continually use and recommend their products. If you haven’t included this brand to your skincare collection just yet, these new products will certainly give you that little push you need. Besides, no collection is truly complete without Skinceuticals.

FOR AGING:  Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2

Skinceuticals’ newest anti-aging treatment, Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 is a standout formula for combating your aging-skin dilemma. Dermatological research reveals, “Aging skin is increasingly susceptible to lipid depletion.” What this does is it challenges the skin’s natural protective barrier, which accelerates aging. To retaliate against this disposition, the TLR 2:4:2 comprises of 2% lipids, 4% natural cholesterol, and 2% fatty acids to help restore and self-repair the skin’s external barrier.  Further, this cholesterol-dominant treatment simultaneously nourishes aging skin to improve the skin’s appearance making it radiant, fluid (manages pores), and smooth. It goes on the skin very lightly and has a fast absorbing texture, thereby alleviating any discomfort.  Don’t worry; this must-have is effective on all skin types, namely, normal, dry, oily, sensitive and combination.

SKIN PROTECTION FROM THE INSIDE OUT: C E Ferulic

Skincare is just as much about what is going on inside of your body as what is happening on the outside. Skinceuticals recognizes this dualism in skincare and highly recommend the C E Ferulic, a vitamin C serum is applied as a topical cream to obtain advanced environmental protection “from free radicals induced by environmental stressors such as UVA/UVB, infrared radiation (IRA), and pollution, which may lead to visible signs of accelerated skin aging.”  With an antioxidant combination of pure vitamin C and E as well as ferulic acid, C E Ferulic strengthens the skin’s natural protection and also enhances the outward appearance of the skin, making it firm, wrinkle-free, and radiant.  The vitamin C Serum is activated once it is absorbed in the skin remains effective for a minimum of 72 hours. It is most suitable for Dry, Normal, and Sensitive skin types.

Treat your skin to real medicine and try one or both of these Skinceuticals products to enhance your skin and feel confident in it!

Neuromodulators for Headaches and Migraines

Chronic headaches and migraines are usually unbearable. Remedies such as laying down in the dark, medicating with over-the-counter painkillers, or taking a napBotox for Headaches hardly ever provide much relief; and when they do, the relief is only temporary because in just a few hours the headache or migraine returns.  The FDA approved and dermatologists’ recommended solution for chronic headache and migraines among adults is the neuromodulator botulinum toxin type A. This article aims to shed light on the increasingly popular solution for combating tedious painful headaches.

This neuromodulator is a prescribed form of medicine that is injected into the muscles. In this particular case however, it targets and reduces chronic headaches that are “present more than 15 days per month”.  The procedure is not available for children and has a specific criteria, namely, the presence of migraines or chronic headaches lasting four hours or more each day at 15 or more days per month in individuals who are over the age of 18.

Following an in-depth assessment of your medical history and current health your dermatologist will administer the neuromodulator using a needle and direct it to your muscle. The procedure is quite simple and requires very little time commitment. Injections are usually administered every 12 weeks and first-time patients may have to commit to two to four injections to see optimal results. The mechanism of neuromodulators for headaches is still a mystery as scientists and doctors continue to uncover exactly why it is so effective on chronic headache and migraine patients. The most popular theory however, purports that the chemical injection decreases muscle contractions and in the process, triggers a muscle that onsets migraines.

As far as safety is concerned, neuromodulators for migraines and chronic headaches is a safe and regularly practiced procedure. In fact, Health Canada approved this form of treatment in 2011.  Although neuromodulator treatment has continued to be successful, we at Rao Dermatology always recommend that you check with your doctor first before commencing treatment.

If you would like more information on neuromodulators for chronic headaches and migraines, contact our office and we’ll assist you accordingly.