Keratosis pilaris (KP) is a common skin condition that appears as tiny rough bumps on the skin. SkinCare Physicians’ dermatologist explains why it is harmless and shares tips that can be helpful should it bother you. Keratosis pilaris develops most often on the backs of arms and on the fronts of thighs. In young children, the bumps may also be present on the cheeks. The appearance may be reminiscent of goose bumps or the skin of a plucked chicken. Others mistake the bumps for small pimples. In reality, KP is just plugs of dry skin around the hair follicles. And … Continue reading »
Have you been noticing stubborn, brown patches on your face that aren’t fading after the summer? Persistent discoloration on the nose, cheeks, forehead and/or upper lip may suggest you have melasma. Here is dermatologist Dr. Karen Kim’s take on the condition. Understanding melasma’s triggers Melasma is a skin condition characterized by brown or grey-brown discoloration. It is due to overactive pigment-producing cells called melanocytes and tends to occur more often in women. It can be triggered by hormone fluctuations that occur during pregnancy, oral contraceptive intake or hormone replacement therapy. The face is the most common part of the body … Continue reading »
Itch can be a persistent, annoying problem for many patients. Itchy scalp can be particularly troublesome and is sometimes accompanied with dandruff, a rash or even open sores. By understanding the most common causes of itchy scalp and possible treatments, you will be able to determine if you might start relieving your itch with over-the-counter products or if you should see your doctor for a consultation. What makes my scalp itchy? If you think about it, scalp skin is very different from skin on other parts of the body. It holds many thick hair follicles and where hair follicles grow, … Continue reading »
Extended, unprotected exposure to the sun can harm the skin for a myriad of reasons such as skin cancer and aging, but photodermatoses, or “sun poisoning”, is a slightly less common but still dangerous effect of sun exposure. Many patients use the term “sun poisoning”, but what does it really mean? We asked dermatologist Dr. Robin Travers to explain the skin condition and its symptoms. Sun Poisoning Variations Sun poisoning is similar to severe sunburn, which can lead to patient confusion if symptoms go beyond those they may usually get from a day in the sun. Here are five different … Continue reading »
Have you ever heard a story about someone with head lice and then felt itchy for the rest of the day? There is a reason for this “contagious itching”! Researchers at Temple University* used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to get some answers. fMRI offers a way to measure brain activity by detecting changes associated with cerebral blood flow. In patients who were chronically itchy (such as those with atopic dermatitis, or eczema) who were shown a video of people scratching, their brains lit up in the supplemental motor areas, an area that can prompt people to action, such as … Continue reading »
Pregnancy comes with a lot of changes including in the medications you can take. Here is what you should know about acne treatments while pregnant. The forbidden acne medications during pregnancy Some medications should not be taken during pregnancy. These include: Isotretinoin Spironolactone Tazarotene Antibiotics such as doxycycline, minocycline, and tetracycline Not recommended acne treatments during pregnancy Most experts recommend stopping the following treatments: Topical retinoids including adapalene and tretinoin creams. Topical dapsone, brand-name aczone. While dapsone has not caused birth defects in animal studies, physicians would not recommend it during pregnancy as research data is limited (researchers tend not … Continue reading »
Seborrheic keratoses (SK) are very common skin growths. They may seem worrisome as they can look like a wart or a skin cancer, but they are completely harmless and can easily be removed by our dermatologists near Boston. SK’s tend to develop in middle age or older and increase in number over time. They can be seen almost anywhere on the skin, but favor the chest, back, head and neck. SK’s typically start as small rough bumps, and slowly thicken to take on a warty surface. Classically, they have a waxy “stuck-on-the-skin” appearance. The color can range from white to … Continue reading »
Not only is winter cold and flu season, but it is also one of the most active seasons for head lice breakouts in numerous schools. These tiny critters love to travel from hats to hoods to ear muffs hung and stored next to each other at school. That’s why head lice are very common, particularly in school children during the winter. Dr. Phillips, dermatologist at SkinCare Physicians, shares a few tips on how to detect and treat head lice. It is estimated that up to 12 million children, between the ages of three and twelve, get head lice every year. … Continue reading »
Do you feel like your skin has become more sensitive with time? Are there certain products that cause itching and a rash when you use them? Frustrated with buying new products and not knowing if your skin will tolerate them? Well, patch testing, a procedure available at SkinCare Physicians, can help determine if a product may be right for your skin or not. Common forms of skin allergic reactions to products Dermatitis, or eczema, is a common skin condition that many patients experience – manifested by a red, scaly, sometimes itchy rash on the skin. There are many types of … Continue reading »
Can you be one of the 16 million Americans estimated to be affected by Rosacea, a common inflammatory condition often starting in adult age? Dr. Laurel Morton, a dermatologist at SkinCare Physicians, explains what you need to know about rosacea and what you can do about this widespread disorder causing red, inflamed, bumpy skin. What is rosacea and what causes it? Let’s start with a definition: Rosacea is a disorder affecting the skin that causes flares of facial redness. This can come in several forms. Some patients exhibit very rosy cheeks and noses with flushed skin. Others have an adult … Continue reading »
