Skin/Dermatology
Latest articles on Skin/Dermatology
Even if you are one of the "lucky" ones who always get the perfect tan, years from now, the wrinkles, age spots or skin cancer from chronic sun exposure won't seem so glamorous.
The Medical College of Wisconsin's Deidre L. Faust, MD, answers questions about Zostavax, the shingles vaccine that has been available since 2006.
First identified in the early 1960s, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus began infecting hospital and nursing-home patients in the mid-1970s. More recently, it's become a public health problem. Dr. Peter Sohnle explains why.
Shingles is an outbreak of rash or blisters on the skin that is caused by the varicella zoster virus - the same virus that causes chickenpox. "It can be quite painful, even to a gentle touch," notes John J. W. Fangman, MD.
Entire neighborhoods with higher incidences were more likely to have high percentages of non-English speaking individuals, low educational levels, high unemployment levels and greater public transportation requirements.
Years of research have led to a deeper understanding of HPV -- and a vaccine. Dr. Fredrik Broekhuizen explains that even though it's still too early to tell whether it offers 'lifetime' protection against cervical cancer, the vaccine could change screening policies.
"Probably 80% of the population, at some time in their lives, will have been exposed to HPV," notes Dr. Fredrik Broekhuizen. "That makes HPV itself not only a disease, but almost part of the human condition."
To decide on an appropriate treatment, physicians consider the type of psoriasis, the seriousness of the disease, the size of the patches, and how the patient reacts to medication. Dr. Priya Young discusses this sometimes embarrassing condition.
For some people, rosacea is a minor annoyance. For others, it can be a source of psychological, social, and occupational problems. Although it cannot be cured, it can be treated and controlled, says Dr. Priya Young.
Allergy and asthma incidence is rising, so testing has taken a more universal role in health care. "Testing is necessary for anyone who needs identification of specific allergens," says Asriani M. Chiu, MD.
Toxic epidermal necrolysis is a severe allergic reaction to antibiotics and other medications. It is rare, says Dr. Julie Mitchell: only about 2 cases occur per million people in one year.
For 50,000 diabetics each year, the disease can lead to amputation of a toe, foot, or leg. Fortunately, notes Joseph A. Sizensky, MD, preventive techniques can help reduce the need for this traumatic option.
More than 1 in 66 Americans develop invasive melanoma every year. The lesson, says Dr. Marcy Neuburg, is obvious. "People should protect their skin - and their children's - from sunburn and extensive sun exposure."
Patients with scleroderma need care from multiple experts. M. E. Csuka, MD, discusses her work with this uncommon, sometimes fatal rheumatologic disorder.
"Age spots" are due to a cumulative exposure to sunlight, do not change in color, and usually occur after the age of 40. You do not need to treat them, notes Dr. Julie Mitchell, but if you don't like the looks of them you have several options.
Although acne is usually not a serious health threat, it can be a source of significant emotional distress affecting patients' lifestyles. "Today we can offer more treatment options than ever before," says Dr. Priya Young.
"Our focus is on patient education," says Kimberly Spitz, RN, BSN, a certified plastic surgical nurse specialist. "We want everyone who comes in here to understand what certain procedures and products can and cannot do."
Whether reconstructive or cosmetic, plastic surgery often involves treatment decisions by the surgeon and the patient of the most personal sort, notes David L. Larson, MD, FACS.
Dr. Janet Fairley, Professor of Dermatology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, lists several options for hair removal: shaving, tweezing, waxing, chemical removal like depilatories, and permanent removal using electrolysis or laser treatments.
The number of patients and health care workers who have had allergic reactions to latex is down since the mid-1990s, mainly due to a change in the way latex gloves are manufactured.
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