Monday, November 5, 2007

Chemo Therapy & Hair Loss

Chemotherapy consists of the administration of drugs that destroy rapidly reproducing cancer cells. Cancer cells are some of the most rapidly reproducing cells in the body but other normal cells (such as hair follicles) which contribute to the formulation of hair shaft and nails are also rapidly reproducing. Unfortunately chemotherapy preferentially destroy cancer cells but also affects normal cells and hair follicles too. This causes hair loss also known as anlagen effluvium type of alopecia. Not all chemo therapy drugs cause hair loss, some times hairloss is so slight and hardly noticeable. in other cases there may be temporary, partial or complete baldness. The amount of the hairloss depends on the drug, dosage and prakruti (basic nature) of the individual patient.

Can psoriasis be cured?

No. The tendency to develop psoriasis is inherited through a person’s genes. We hope to be able to safely modify these genes in the future, but the technology is not yet developed. We do foresee a time, when we will have more specific and more effective therapies for the various forms of psoriasis. Also, while psoriasis cannot be cured, it can often be completely cleared for periods of months or even years. Occasionally, it never returns at all. In most patients, however, it is a chronic, life-long condition with alternating periods of flaring and clearing.

Top Acne Scar Removal Treatment Methods

No one likes pimples that leave scars, but there are ways to help remove them. If you’ve severe acne in the past, or if you have pimples now, and they’re leaving scars, there is help. Know what some of your options are for treatment, and understand that acne scar removal is possible even with persistent acne woes, and scarring.

If you feel that you need help removing scars from pimples, it can be done relatively pain free. Today’s options for removing scars are up to date and modern. There are all kinds of treatments, but only a qualified dermatologist can help you get those scars off of your face or body, so you can start feeling confident about how you look. Depending on the type of acne that you’ve had, or are experiencing now, your doctor will determine the routine of acne scar removal that you need. They’re trained in the right way to treat all types of skin problems, and it’s always best to leave treatment decisions in their hands for acne scar removal.
Some of the different ways that this is done can range from medication, surgery, and light or laser therapy. Medications like Tetracycline are antibiotics that will clear up acne by stopping infection, and the skin heals naturally. Another type of medication that helps with acne scar removal is called Accutane. It has high doses of Vitamin A that eliminate oils from the skin, and cuts down on the scarring by eliminating infection.

There are potential side effects of the antibiotics and Accutane. After a while you can develop immunity to the antibiotics, or even become very allergic to the medications. If you take Accutane you can’t take it at all if you are pregnant, or might become pregnant because it causes birth defects. Only a dermatologist should prescribe this type of acne scar removal.

Light or laser therapy is great for removing scars that are moderate or severe too. You’ll know that your doctor is recommending these types of acne scar removal treatments when Blue or Red Light Therapy is discussed. Fotofacials are another type that is often used too.
It rids your skin of scars by using pulsating frequencies of lights or lasers. Scars are either totally removed, or they are faded to the point that a good makeup will hide the remaining evidence. The best thing about it is that results are sometimes better with this type of acne scar removal treatment. It’s important too that medications don’t have to be used for an extended period, and it’s not as dangerous. Acne scar removal is possible, and all you have to do is to make an appointment, and start on the way to healing your scars on your body, and your outlook on you.

Tattoo Removal

Tattoos are supposed to be permanent aesthetic statements about who you are and what you care about. Of course, this can become a bit of a problem over time, when a person's interests change, but their tattoos don't. Fortunately, technological advances have made tattoo removal a much more viable option than it may have been in years past. In particular, laser tattoo removal has risen to prominence as a safe and quick method of erasing some of that unwanted ink, surpassing more traditional methods like chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and the surgical removal of the tattooed skin.

Laser tattoo removal offers a level of quickness, safety, and precision not present in earlier techniques for getting rid of tattoos. Plus, laser procedures leave very little, if any, scarring of the skin.

Removing tattoos is quite simple with lasers, but the length of the procedure, as well as the number of treatments and healing time, depend on the size and complexity of the tattoo itself. During the procedure, the intense light energy of the laser (usually Alexandrite, Nd:Yag, or Ruby) attacks the pigment of the dye in the targeted tattoo. This gradually causes the tattoo's colors to harmlessly dissolve away as the body's natural scavenger cells remove the areas treated by the laser. Tattoo removal lasers range from a single wavelength of light to a broad spectrum, as particular colors of light are absorbed better by particular colors within the tattoo. This explains why laser tattoo removal is easier with black or blue tattoos than green or yellow tattoos. Still, regardless of the colors or composition of a particular work of body art, laser removal is still a proven, effective technique for removing tattoos of all kinds.

Anywhere from 3-12 treatments may be necessary to thoroughly erase tattoos. To help you find the best option for your tattoo removal work, we can set up a consultation with a knowledgeable skincare specialist.

Chemical Peels

It might not have the most pleasant sounding name in the world, but a facial chemical peel is a safe, commonly used method of treating acne, age spots, brown spots, large pores, fine wrinkles, and uneven skin pigmentation. The traditional chemical face peel procedure involves the application of a chemical solution designed to smooth and exfoliate skin while removing its damaged outer layer. The formula for this solution changes depending on your skin, but usually involves a combination of different types of trichloroacetic acid, alpha-hydroxy acids, and sometimes phenol.

Many of the compounds used in chemical peels are found in nature, such as Glycolic acid (of the alpha-hyrdroxy family), which is derived from certain fruits and plants. It assists in the skin treatment by stimulating new collagen and skin growth while allowing dead skin cells to fall off naturally. Salicylic acid, a simple organic fruit compound, is an effective acne scar chemical peel and also works for oily and acne prone skin, by increasing cell turnover. Mandelic acid, meanwhile, is an extract from bitter almonds, and is often used in a chemical peel for uneven skin tones and or patients with pigmentation problems.

Most chemical peels take only 10-15 minutes to perform, and the majority of patients report only a mild stinging from the chemical solution. With less the invasive chemical peels mentioned above, the recovery time is quick, with most redness and dryness subsiding within a week's time. There are chemical peels that require much more downtime because of the blistering that occurs after treatment.

Acne Scar Treatment

Acne scarring is generally caused by more severe cases of acne. Nodules under the skin—painful lumps or puss-filled cysts—are generally what create the worst cases of acne scars. These nodules are more likely to scar than other types of acne.

Most acne breakouts leave a red mark or hyperpigmented area on the skin after healing. This is normal, and the redness typically fades away after 6-12 months as the skin fully heals. If any traces of your acne scars are present after one year; however, it is considered a permanent acne scar.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways to treat acne scarring, depending on the type and severity of your condition. You should begin by meeting with a skin care specialist, preferably during the active stages of your acne. A reputable provider (i.e. a dermatologist or licensed skin care provider) should be able to recommend a proven acne scar treatment that's right for you.

Although severe acne scarring can be difficult to treat, you do have options. The best thing you can do for yourself and your skin is to meet with a specialist in your area for a consultation. He or she will analyze your skin to determine which treatment will be most effective for treating your acne scars.