Milaria

I. Definition:
"Prickly heat" or miliaria is a common rash caused by sweat retention.

II. Causes:
Prolonged exposure to perspiration can lead to plugging of the sweat ducts. This results in the duct breaking open and the escape of sweat below the skin which causes the rash known as miliaria.
Heat and humidity are factors involved in the cause of miliaria.

III. Treatment:
The key to treating miliaria is to avoid excessive heat and humidity.
Wearing loose cotton clothing will help prevent miliaria.
Cool baths and air conditioning are very helpful.
Some patients find that using a bath brush with soap to exfoliate the skin will decrease the occurrences of this condition.
If you have a severe case of miliaria the doctor will give you a prescription lotion to apply to the rash.

Pityriasis rosea

I. Definition:
Pityriasis rosea is a common, harmless skin rash which occurs in young people. It usually lasts for a month or so.

II. Causes:
The cause of pityriasis rosea is unknown. It may be caused by a yet unidentified virus.

III. Treatment:
Nature always cures this disorder, sometimes slowly.
The rash of pityriasis rosea is irritated by soap; bathe or shower with plain water. The rash makes the skin dry; it helps to put a thin coating of bath oil on your freshly dried skin after a shower or bath.
If the rash itches, treatment with a cortisone cream usually brings prompt relief. The cortisone does not cure pityriasis rosea; it will only make you more comfortable while getting over the rash.

Bullous Pemphigoid

I. Definition:
Bullous pemphigoid is a blistering disease that usually occurs in people over fifty years of age. The blisters are large and can occur anywhere on the skin but are more common on the skin fold areas such as the groin and armpits. Bullous pemphigoid can also involve the mouth. The disease is rarely life-threatening.

II. Causes:
Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune disease. This means that the cells in the body that normally fight infection or germs attack the skin cells, causing blisters. No one knows why the immune cells start attacking the skin cells.
Bullous pemphigoid is not contagious; that is, it does not spread from person to person.

III. Treatment:
When the blisters break, the best thing to put on the blisters is Polysporin or some other antibacterial ointment to prevent infection.
Several oral medications can be used including Dapsone, Prednisone, and Imuran. These are all very powerful medications with side effects that require your doctor to monitor your blood work at least once a month.
There is no medical cure for bullous pemphigoid. The condition can be controlled with strong medications. Bullous pemphigoid sometimes gets better on its own and can even disappear completely after a few years.

Keloids

I. Definition:
A keloid is a greatly enlarged scar that projects above the skin surface. The skin heals by formation of scar tissue, which at first is often red and somewhat prominent. As the months pass, a scar usually becomes flat. Unfortunately, sometimes scars enlarge to form firm, smooth, hard growths called keloids.

II. Causes:
We don't know why keloids form.
While most people never form keloids, others develop them after minor injuries and even insect bites or pimples.
Keloids may form on any part of the body, although the upper chest and upper back are especially prone to keloid formation.
Keloids are a cosmetic nuisance and never become malignant.
Keloids occur more frequently in dark-skinned people.

III. Treatment:
There is no satisfactory treatment for keloids.
Some doctors have had success injecting keloids with bleomycin an anticancer drug.
The best treatment is to inject a long-acting cortisone into the keloid once a month. After several injections with cortisone, the keloid usually becomes less noticeable and flattens in three to six months time.
A new treatment for keloids is to apply a silicone gel preparation over the keloid scar for 12-24 hours each day. This treatment is started three to four weeks after the wound or injury. The gel preparation should be covered with an ace bandage, cloth wrap, or tape and changed every 7-10 days based upon need. Silicone gel is available from your doctor. The gel can be washed and used over each day. With daily use, the keloid will become flatter and smoother within two to twelve months. We do not know how this treatment works.

Grover's Disease

I. Definition:
Grover's disease, or transient acantholytic dermatosis, is a common itchy rash. The rash usually takes the form of small red bumps on the chest, stomach, back and sometimes the arms and legs.

II. Causes:
The cause is unknown.
Usually occurs in white men over 40 years of age.
Sometimes the rash is associated with sun exposure, heat and sweating.

III. Course:
The rash can last for weeks to months. It usually disappears within one to two years.

IV. Treatment:
Corticosteroid creams and ointments applied to the skin often control the rash and itching.
The disease can be controlled but not cured.
Avoidance of heat and heavy exercise can help control the rash.
Applying talc baby powder to the areas several times a day will help prevent recurrences.
Adding moisture to the air with a humidifier will often help prevent flare-ups of Grover’s disease.

source-skinsite.com

Onychoschizia

I. Definition:
Onychoschizia or splitting of the fingernails is one of the most common problems that the dermatologist sees. The term onychoschizia includes splitting, frail, soft or thin nails and nails with ridges. Onychoschizia is more common in women.

II. Causes:
Repetitive and prolonged wetting and drying of the fingernails is the single most common cause of splitting and ridging of the nails.
Splitting of the nails is rarely caused by internal disease or vitamin deficiency.
Nail polish remover causes onychoschizia.
Trauma to the fingers contributes to onychoschizia.

III. Treatment:
The best treatment is to avoid repeated wetting and drying of the nails. Try to wear cotton lined rubber gloves when performing household chores that involve getting the hands wet.
Rub lotions containing alpha-hydroxy acids such as Neostrata or lanolin containing lotions such as Elon into the nails both before and after getting the hands wet.
Watch people who have beautiful nails. Notice how they use their hands or finger pads to do simple chores rather than use their nails. Never dial a phone with the nail tips; use a pencil. Nails should never be used as tools. Get in the habit of using your fingers as if they have wet polish on them. Never peel or scrape off nail polish.
Shape and file the nails with a very fine file and round the tips in a gentle curve. Daily filing of snags or irregularities helps to prevent further breakage or splitting. Never use metal instruments on the nail surface to push back the cuticle because this scrapes away the microscopic protective cells of the nail surface.
When (and if) the nails are "buffed," do this in the same direction as the nail grows and not in a "back and forth" motion because this can cause nail splitting.
Nail polish can protect the nail surface. The almost daily application of a "top coat" will keep the nail tips protected. Nail polishes with nylon fibers in them may add strength and protection to fragile nails. Use nail polish remover as infrequently as possible because it dries out the nails.
One study has shown that biotin (a vitamin) 2.5 mg a day taken by mouth is beneficial. Do not do this if you are pregnant.
Some patients are convinced that one pack of Knox Gelatin mixed with orange juice and taken by mouth each day will restore nails to a youthful state. There is no scientific data that supports the use of unflavored gelatin to strengthen nails.
Taking colloidal minerals and a multivitamin each day has been shown to increase the speed of nail growth which in turn leads to healthier nails.

Age Erasers

Lets admit it, all of us have something about ourselves that we do not like and given an option we would like some (maybe all!!) of our features changed. With the advent of technologies like plastic surgery and innovations like botox, it has been easier for people get their desired looks.
A surgery however means putting yourself under the scalpel, spending hours at the clinic, risking yourself for the possible side effects and of course, a huge hole in you pockets. On the brighter side, the latest “non surgical age erasers” promise to wipe your wrinkles, crow eyes and take years off your age.

Let’s check out a few options that are available for a perfect makeover.
Wrinkle eraser: Artefill is the first and only FDA-approved non-resorbable injectable wrinkle filler for the correction of facial wrinkles known as smile lines. While the temporary dermal fillers such as Restylane and Sculptra are eventually absorbed by the body and require frequent repeat injections to maintain correction, the unique PMMA microspheres in ArteFill are not absorbed by the body and provide the permanent support your skin needs for long-lasting wrinkle correction.Treatment cost ranges from $2,000-$2,500
No more puffy eyes! — Dark circles, puffiness, fine lines and wrinkles - there are many concerns associated with eyes, a very delicate that require special care. It has been proven that Neuropeptides play many important roles in maintaining youthful, beautiful skin. This powerful science is now used to treat significant signs of aging in the eye area. N.V. Perricone’s Advanced Eye Area Therapy formula contains patented ingredients including multiple Neuropeptides and DMAE will help to restore a well-hydrated, contoured and firmed appearance to the eye area. costs .5 oz/$95
Look young: B.Kamin’s therapeutic anti-aging moisturizer is a powerful anti-aging, anti-oxidant treatment emulsion, which helps rejuvenate, refine and lift fatigued, sallow complexions. This modern preparation is formulated using innovative technologies, including copper and zinc oligopeptides, alpha lipoic acid and our unique moisturizing Bio-Maple compound, to help reveal a remarkable resilient complexion. Formulated with mineral aminopeptides, free radical scavengers, hygroscopic moisture-attracting molecules, physiological humectants and invisible film-forming occlusive technologies. $140 for 2.2 oz
Laser surgery in a bottle! — Goldfaden Instant face lift’s unique complex tightens, smoothes and lifts skin for up to eight hours with instant, extraordinary results. Costs $125

source- skincareblog.com

Athletes- drink coffee!

Prolonged exposure to sunlight, besides other factors leads to skin cancer. In 2007 alone, 1,000,000 cases of skin (non-melanoma) cancer have been estimated, with nearly 2000 people being killed by the disease.
Though it is not always possible to change one’s job requirements to go out and travel in the sun, change in your “lifestyle” can be an answer to the deadly disease.
If you are an exercise freak, just add to it a cup of that refreshing coffee – and you are at the least risk of developing skin cancer!
Yes, by building up this healthy but simple habit, you may actually reduce your risk from the painful and killer disease. This combination of exercise and caffeine may help bringing in a revolutionary remedy to the growing skin cancer cases across the world.
Dr. Allan H. Conney of the laboratory for cancer research at Rutgers said,
With an understanding of these mechanisms we can then take this to the next level, going beyond mice in the lab to human trials. With the stronger levels of UVB radiation evident today and an upward trend in the incidence of skin cancer among Americans, there is a premium on finding novel ways to protect our bodies from sun damage.
And if you are a ‘caffeine-drinking runner’ and the new finding proves true for humans, then you are just the ideal example of the lifestyle that can effectively reduce skin cancer risks.
But again, that does not mean, you can take the liberty of staying unprotected under the sun for hours! -skincareblog.com

Probiotic treatment may limit eczema in infants

Oral supplementation with the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri to the mother during pregnancy and to the infant after birth may help reduce the development of eczema and allergy associated with immunoglobulin E, a key protein involved in the allergic response, according to Swedish researchers.

Probiotics are small molecules that help maintain the natural balance of organisms, also referred to as microflora, in the intestines.

Altered microbial exposure may underlie the increase of allergic diseases in affluent societies. Probiotics may help, Dr. Thomas R. Abrahamsson of Linkoping University Hospital and colleagues note.

To investigate, the researchers enrolled families with a history of allergic disease. Expectant mothers were randomly assigned to receive L reuteri in an oil suspension or a placebo treatment, each day from week 36 until delivery.

Their babies continued with the same formulation from birth until 12 months of age and were followed up for another year. A total of 188 completed the study.

At 2 years, the incidence of eczema was 36 percent in the active treatment group and 34 percent in the placebo group. However, during the second year, only 8 percent of the L. reuteri group had IgE-associated eczema compared with 20 percent of the placebo group, a statistically significant difference.

Skin prick test reactivity was also less common in active treatment group than in the placebo group. The difference was statistically significant in infants with mothers with allergies (14 percent versus 31 percent). However, there was no effect on wheeze or other potentially allergic diseases.

Although the study failed to confirm an overall preventative effect on infant eczema, the investigators conclude that "the treated infants had less IgE-associated eczema at 2 years of age and therefore possibly run a reduced risk to develop later respiratory allergic disease."