Not only Athlete's get Athlete's foot!

Tinea pedis ("athlete's foot") is the most common fungal infection seen in developed countries.

Anyone can develop the infection and the appearance of athlete's foot can vary from person to person.

Signs of infection are dryness, peeling, scaling, or cracking skin between the toes or along the sides of the feet or under the sole.

Prevention tips:

• Wash your feet thoroughly every day
• Keep your feet clean and dry 
• Wear clean socks - change them every day
• At home, expose your feet to the air whenever possible
• Throw out old shoes and never share shoes with others
• Wear flip flops in public areas such as the gym or school locker rooms, shower room, or public baths.

It's a new year; time to schedule your annual full-body skin exam.

The annual skin exam (for those who have never had an atypical mole) takes about 10 minutes. 

Be sure to ask questions or get explanations for anything you may not understand.  A biopsy may be performed on any suspicious looking growths.

How to prepare for your routine full-body skin examination:

• Remove all nail polish from your fingernails and toenails - skin cancers can form under nails and nail beds.

• Perform a full-body self-exam - note anything new, changed, or causing you concern. If you are unsure about how to perform a self-exam, ask your dermatologist to show you how.

Make the Most of Your Visit to the Dermatologist - SkinCancer.org

WHAT IS ACNE? Part 2

So the clogged pore is the primary event in acne.  Sometimes that is all there is - so retinoids, like Retin-A, Tazorac (the most potent), or differin and extractions are all that is needed.

However, most cases of acne show inflammatory (red) lesions, including some large painful cysts.  These are controlled by application preventively of topical antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide, and particularly effective in females - Aczone.  Additionally, oral medications can be used for one of 3 purposes:

1. Anti-inflammatory effects - doxycycline derivatives (they probably don't yield their benefits by killing bacteria);
2. Blocking testosterone in females - birth control pills or spironolactone; and
3. Preventing inflammatory lesions - Accutane type drugs.

Three pearls of wisdom for acne therapy:

1. Washing does not help acne (sorry Mom) - dirt has nothing to do with it and chemicals in soap are off the face in a minute so they have no time to penetrate;
2. Topical medications can be more effective than pills because they are delivered only to the target (skin and then into blood stream); and
3. You need to apply preventively: all over the place where you expect pimples.

Time, not usually medications, get rid of existing pimples. 80-90 % of patients are doing very well within a month on these regimens.

WHAT IS ACNE? Part 1

A lot is known.  It is due to the interaction between the oil glands in the skin and the male hormone, testosterone.  That is why we don't get it until after puberty: our testosterone is not high enough. 

The problem is, however, not with the testosterone (except in females with polycystic ovaries or those males supplementing) but in the genetic table set in the oil glands - when stimulated by testosterone they produce excessive oils (at least deep in the pores).

These excessive oils are digested by bacteria, corynebacterium acne; the free fatty acid produced from the digestion then irritates the nearby hair follicles yielding an abnormal product, parakeratin, which clogs the pores. Blackheads and whiteheads (grade 1 acne) are composed of parakeratin. Retinoids topically help prevent parakeratin.

More about retinoids, stages 2, 3, and 4 (zits - big & small) and rationales of treatment in ACNE Part 2 - coming soon to a computer screen near you!

Skin Cancer Rates Soar In US Hispanics

New research shows the importance of wearing sunscreen/protective clothing and having regular mole checks for all skin types.  Skin Cancer Rates Soar In US Hispanics - SkinCancer.org

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What Causes Eczema And What To Do About It.

WHAT IS ECZEMA (DERMATITIS)?

Simply it is a red scaling (rarely, it is blistering) conditioning of the skin that is normally itchy but not contagious. The two most common types are contact eczema and atopic eczema.

Contact occurs only where someone is in contact with the substance to which they are allergic. Common examples are jewelry (nickel) and plant dermatitis (poison oak, etc.).

Atopic eczema is genetic, often beginning at around 18 months and continuing for decades, though it often abates in middle age. It may involve the entire body, though the classic areas are behind the elbows and knees. There are effective topical and systemic treatments for both types of eczema.