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[Acne and Acne
Scars]
Acne is most common in mid-teen
years, simply speaking, it is caused by excessive sebum production plus
proliferation of propionibacterium Aches in blocked pores sebum glands resulting
inflammation.
The treatment includes topical
benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, salicylic acid, and topical or systemic antibiotics.
Cryo-sludge treatment, chemical
peels, introlesional injection, blue light or laser treat can also used for
several cases. The key is treat early since scar is difficult to treat.
The best way for prevention is to
wash your face more frequent, especially right after you sweat or PE. For the
scar treatment, micro dermabrasion, chemical peel, laser surgery can be combined
for treatment.
[Rosacea and Broken Blood
Vessels]
Most common in 3rd –
4th decades, persons with light complexion. Etiology is unknown, but
infective, immunological stress may be involved to cause vascular ectasia,
dermal edema and nonspecific perivascular inflammation.
Topical metronidazole, systemic
antibiotics are used for treatment. Rhinophyma and broken blood vessels need
laser surgery.
[Warts and
Moles]
Viral Warts are caused by the
human papilloma virus which have more than 50 subtypes. Warts are common, their
sharps vary with anatomical site and viral subtype. Spontaneous resolution
occurs in 30% in 6 months. Multiple and symptomatic ones need cryotherapy or
laser surgery.
A small umbilicated pear-like
lesion are called molluscum contagious, caused by a pox virus. It is same as
viral warts.
Mole means a small growth on
skin. It is usually slightly raised and dark and sometime, hairy. You should
have it checked by your doctor before you think it is harmless.
[Birth Mark and Port-Wine
Stain]
Birth marks can be red, black,
blue, r brown color. Red modular lesions are cherry angioma or hemangioma. Large
fart area called port-wine stain. Those are tumors formed by excessive blood
vessels. Green light lasers are effective treatment.
Other colored birth marks are
usually congenital. Nevi, they should be checked by a doctor, before it is
removed.
[Age Spots and
Malasma]
Early stage of age spots are
freckle, when it get larger brownish macular lesion, it called lentigo, or
café-cus-lait. These are relative superficial hyperpigmentation produced by skin
in response to sun damage. When deeper, especially in middle age female, the
patchy brown darkness on cheek, are called malasma which has extra factor of
hormone imbalance. The treatment usually involves sunscreen in the morning and
bleaching cream before sleep for couple of months. For quick result, chemical
peels, laser treatment are usually needed.
[Skin Cancers and
Melanoma]
The most lethal form of skin
cancers is melanoma. The diagnosis of early stage disease is the best chance for
curative surgery. Since the surgical excision is the only effective treatment so
far. According to American Cancer Society (1996), incidence of melanoma is 1 in
100 people. 34,100 new cases every year (3% all cancer) and 7,200 die (1% of all
cancer death).
Rules of ABCD may help you catch
it early. A: Asymmetrical lesion; B: Border Irregular; C: Color Uneven, colored
area maybe red, blue, black, or white. D: Diameter more than 6 mm. Special
attention should be give when you have black lesions on palm or soles under
nails, or on lips. Check with your doctor about all uneven colored lesions or a
lesion seems out of place immediately.
Basal cell carcinoma are slow
growing, locally invasive malignant tumors. A pearly, shiny, red-pink lesion
with rolled borders and telangiectasia is common. Squamous cell carcinoma tends
to occur on sun-exposed sites. It usually looks like a crusty, dirty,
cauliflower-like mass that bleeds easily and may metastasize. The treatment is
surgical excision. |
