::HAIR
How is Hair Formed? Each hair seems to emerge from a pit in the skin (or epidermis) called the hair follicle. At the base of the follicle stem cells divide and are added to the base of the hair. This pushes the hair out of the follicle and makes the hair grow. The part of the hair that sticks out of the follicle is made up of dead cells filled with keratin, the same protein that makes up fingernails. Hair has the greatest tensile strength of any part of your body, equaling the tensile strength of an equal weight of rolled aluminum.

Why Do I Loose Hair? Each hair grows for a certain length of time, depending on the caliper of the hair. Then it has a period of non-growth equal in time to the growth period. At the end of this time, the hair falls out of the follicle and a new hair appears.

What Can Cause My Hair to Break? Many people with extremely curly hair will get perms to straighten their hair. The perms work by breaking small bonds in the hair allowing the hair to become limp. After many perms the hair becomes damaged and will often break off 4-5 inches from the scalp.

What Can I Do If My Hair Has Been Damaged? Using a high protein shampoo and avoiding any hair processing will give your hair time for new growth to occur.

::NAILS
Beautiful nails are clean, clear, and healthy. If your toe or finger nails are becoming thick, yellow or brittle, you may have what millions of others suffer from: a fungus infection of the nail.

What Causes Nail Fungus? It is not uncommon to get a fungal infection of the nails. The fungus that infects the nails is the same as the one that causes athletes foot. It lives deep within and under the nail at the base. Once the fungus is under the nail, the nail itself provides a protected environment for that allows it to grow. Nail polish and socks may cover the problem temporarily, but if left untreated the nail will only get worse. It can eventually deform and become painful.

Is There Any Treatment? Fortunately there are new medications available to eliminate the nail fungus. Proper therapy usually requires 3 to 4 months but the results are incredible. The nails will usually clear and grow back normal in less than one year.
What Can I Do to Keep Healthy Nails?
Do not trim nails too closely

* Don't wear tight shoes* Change socks and shoes daily * Wash socks thoroughly (with bleach, if possible) * Keep hands and feet as dry as possible * Wear gloves when working in the garden

::SKIN CANCER
It is estimated that more than one million Americans will develop skin cancer every year. It is also the most prevalent of all cancers. Early detection is the best way to a cure. Develop a regular routine to inspect your body for any skin changes. If any growth, mole, sore, or discoloration appears suddenly, or begins to change, see your dermatologist.
Precancerous Skin Condition are small scaly spots most commonly found on the face, lower arms, and back of the hands in fair-skinned individuals who have had significant sun exposure. They are call Actinic Keratosis. If not treated, some actinic keratoses may become skin cancers, requiring more extensive treatment. If diagnosed in the early stages, actinic keratoses can be removed by cryotherapy (freezing), by applying a cream or lotion form of chemotherapy, or by chemical peeling, dermabrasion, laser surgery or other dermatologic surgical procedures. Sunscreens help prevent actinic keratoses.

There are three kinds of Cancerous Skin Conditions
Basal Cell Carcinoma - This skin cancer usually starts off as a small, fleshy bump or nodule - most often on the head, neck, and hands. Sometimes these cancers may appear on the trunk as red patches. Basal cell carcinomas seldom occur in African Americans, but they are the most common skin cancers found in fair-skinned persons. People who have this cancer often have light-colored eyes, hair and complexions, and don't tan easily. These tumors don't spread quickly. It can take many months or years for one to grow to a diameter of one-half inch. Untreated, the cancer will begin to bleed, crust over, heal, and then the cycle repeats. This type of cancer rarely metastasizes (spreads to other parts of the body), it can extend below the skin to the bone and cause considerable local damage.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma - This skin cancer may start as a bump, or as a red, scaly patch. Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common skin cancer found in fair-skinned persons. Typically, it is found on the rim of the ear, the face, the lips, and mouth. It is rarely found in dark-skinned persons. This cancer can develop into large masses. Unlike basal cell carcinoma, it can metastasize. When found early, and treated properly, the cure rate by dermatologic surgery for both basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma is 95 percent.

Malignant Melanoma - Every year, an estimated 7,300 Americans will die from melanoma. It is important to note that the death rate is at last declining because patients are seeking help earlier. Like the less aggressive skin cancers, basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, melanoma is almost always curable when detected in its early stages.
Melanoma may suddenly appear without warning, but it may also begin in, or near a mole, or another dark spot in the skin. It is important to know the location and appearance of the moles on our bodies so any change will be noticed. The most important step you can take is to have any changing mole examined by a dermatologist so that any early melanoma can be removed while still in the curable stage.

::MOLES
Moles are harmless skin growths that may be flat or protruding. They vary in color from pink flesh tones to dark brown or black. Everyone has moles; some of us have a lot, others have only a few. The number depends on our genes. Moles sometimes appear in “crops,” especially during the early teens.

    Moles begin to grow in infancy. New ones can develop at any age. Once a mole appears. It usually stays for life without becoming a medical problem. A growing or changing mole in a youngster is almost always harmless. On the other hand, if an adult’s mole markedly changes in color or size, or bleeds, a physician should check it.
    Sometimes the skin around a mole loses its color so the mole appears to be surrounded by a white ring. This is called a “halo nevus” and is harmless. We leave it alone. With time, the white ring often disappears.
    Malignant melanoma, a rare cancerous growth that may resemble a mole, is dangerous and should be removed surgically. It seldom appears before the age of 20 years.
Most moles are harmless and safe to ignore. Moles may be treated under the following conditions:
A mole that has bled, has an unusual shape, is growing rapidly, or has changed     color noticeably is giving a warning signs of possible malignancy.
A mole that is irritated by your clothing, comb, or razor is only a nuisance, but your
   doctor can remove it to prevent on going irritation.
A mole that is unsightly can be removed for “cosmetic reasons.”

   Treating a protruding mole is a simple procedure. After numbing the skin, the    doctor removes the projecting part of the mole with scissors or a scalpel. He    may, as a matter of course, send the removed portion to a laboratory for    microscopic examination. The wound heals to leave a flat mole, but the color    generally remains the same. As a rule, dark moles leave dark spots.
   Complete destruction of a mole requires removing the full thickness of skin. The    resulting scar may be more noticeable than the mole was. For that reason, I    avoid complete removal of facial moles and urge you to forget about treatment.    Instead, think of moles as beauty spots.

::ACNE
Acne is a plague for teenagers. We all remember being embarrassed about that pimple that appeared at the end of our nose just before the big dance. It is also common to see acne starting after the age of twenty. Fortunately, there are many treatments available for those suffering from acne.

Acne in children can start as early as infancy, however, it usually occurs during the early teenage years. The three forms of acne seen most often are whiteheads and blackheads, deep red bumps, and scarring-cystic acne. A person may have only one form or a mixture.

Whiteheads, blackheads, and deep red bumps can usually be treated with antibiotics and various creams containing antibiotics and retinoids. When scarring is present, one must consider the use of Accutane. Accutane works by drying up the oil glands that cause acne and can show dramatic results in most patients with scarring acne. It is a strong medication and therefore, monthly visits and lab test are indicated. After taking Accutane for 3-5 months, a patient will, in most cases, stay clear for several months or years. A second or third course is necessary in some cases.

Hormonal acne can appear at any age, but often after the late teens. In females there is often a flair around the menstrual cycle. The acne is concentrated on the jaw line and cheeks and excess hair on the face may be present. Hormonal acne can be improved by starting birth control pills, which seem to decrease the influence of the body’s normal hormone in causing acne.

Each individual responds differently to each medicine and the acne regimen must be tailored accordingly. A patient should expect results in 2-6 weeks. Once the acne is under control, it is possible to decrease the number of medicines used and still obtain the desired results.

In summary, there are many types of acne, which must be treated differently. All types can be quite distressing and scarring acne can affect a person for life. Prompt treatment can eliminate the chance of scarring and future emotional trauma.

::WARTS
Warts are harmless skin growths caused by a virus. They have a rough surface on which tiny dark specks may be seen. They may grow on any part of the body. Their appearance depends on their location. On the face and tops of the hands warts protrude, while on such pressure areas as the palms of the hands and soles of the feet they’re pushed inward. Warts on the bottoms of the feet (called plantar warts) grow inward from the pressure of standing and walking and are often painful.

Warts are common. They may bleed if injured. However, they never turn cancerous.

Since warts are caused by a virus, they are slightly contagious. Warts may spread on the body, since a wart is the source of a virus that can seed other areas. We don’t know why some persons get warts easily while others never get them. There’s no way to prevent warts.
People have been trying to cure warts for thousands of years. The “success” of folk remedies for warts are due to the fact that warts often disappear by themselves, especially in young children. This spontaneous disappearance is less common in older children and adults.

Treatment
There is no single perfect treatment of warts, since we are unable to kill the virus. Treatment consists of destroying the wart. Warts can be destroyed with surgery, by freezing with liquid nitrogen, or with chemicals. The treatment to be used on your warts depends on their location and size, your type of skin, and my professional medical judgement.

Sometimes new warts will form while existing ones are being destroyed. All we can do is treat the new warts when they grow large enough to be seen.

Warts in the genital area require special consideration. While genital warts are not cancerous, in women they may cause cancerous changes in the cervix. Women with genital warts should have a Pap smear performed by their personal physician or gynecologist. In adults, genital warts are usually transmitted through sexual intercourse. To prevent further contagion, genital warts should be faithfully treated until they have cleared. Men with penile warts should use condoms to prevent transmitted of warts to their sexual partners.

No matter what treatment is used, warts occasionally fail to disappear. They may also return weeks or months after an apparent cure. Don’t become concerned if a wart recurs. Please make an appointment for a return visit. The treatment will be repeated, or a different method will be used to destroy the wart.

::ROSACEA
Rosacea is a fairly common annoying face rash of adults. The rash of rosacea has red areas and pimples. It’s especially noticeable on the nose, mid forehead, and chin. Rosacea pimples resemble the acne pimples of teen-agers, and years ago rosacea used to be called acne rosacea. Rosaces is only a skin condition and is not related to your general health. Sometimes eye irritation occurs in rosacea. While in some people’ rosacea causes itching or burning, its unsightly appearance is the usual reason for treating it.

The causes of rosacea are unknown. Rosacea is stubborn and often lasts for years. Foods or beverages that cause facial flushing, such as alcohol, spicy foods, and hot soups and drinks, may make rosacea temporarily more noticeable.

Antibiotics taken by mouth are usually effective in controlling rosacea. Why antibiotics work is not known, since rosacea is not an infectious disease. While antibiotics taken by mouth are the most effective way of controlling rosacea, antibiotics or sulfur medicines applied to the skin are sometimes helpful. Treatment only controls rosacea. Most persons with this condition need to continue taking antibiotics for months to years.

::PSORIASIS
Psoriasis is a common skin disorder affecting about 1 in 40 persons. In the United States more than 4 million people have psoriasis. The cause of psoriasis is not known. Many persons with psoriasis have blood relatives with this disorder, so heredity plays a role.

In psoriasis, areas of the skin grow much faster than normal and form red, scaling patches. The scalp, elbows, and knees are the most common sites, but almost any part of the skin may become involved. Fortunately, psoriasis is only a skin condition and does not affect your general health. (In rare cases it may be associated with arthritis.)
Psoriasis is a problem only because it itches and is unsightly. It is not contagious.

Psoriasis usually begins in young adulthood, although it can start in childhood or first appear in old age. In most cases psoriasis is mild and is limited to a few areas of the body. In a small percentage of cases, large areas of the body may become involved. Psoriasis is unpredictable; patches may clear up by themselves and even disappear for months or years.

You will be given detailed, individualized instructions for treatment of your psoriasis. Treatment is temporarily effective, and may need to be continued for quite a while. You will find it reassuring to know that
(1) diet does not affect psoriasis.
(2) psoroasis will not cause your hair to fall out and
(3) psoriasis is not caused by nerves.
A nervous upset sometimes worsens psoriasis – just as nervous upsets may worsen any illness.

If you have psoriasis of the scalp, it helps to wash your hair often. A medicated shampoo isn’t necessary. Some other treatments used in psoriasis are these:

Moderate sunlight exposure is often helpful. Don’t get sunburned, since psoriasis may settle in areas of injured skin.

Ultraviolet light by itself often helps psoriasis. Ultraviolet light is even more effective when used with tar or anthralin.

PUVA treatment combines a psoralen (an internal medicine) with ultraviolet light A (PUVA = Psoralen-Ultraviolet A.) This therapy is available only at certain centers, as it requires specialized light equipment. While PUVA is an effective treatment for extensive psoriasis, like all other treatments, it is only a temporary benefit.

Etretinate (Tegison), given by mouth, is justified only in very severe psoriasis because it may cause adverse effects.

Cytotoxic drugs such as methotrexate, given by mouth or injection, are used only for very severe psoriasis. Cytotoxic means poisonous to cells and these drugs are used only with special precautions.

While psoriasis is an unsightly nuisance, it should not prevent you from leading a full, active life.

::ECZEMA
Eczema, or dermatitis as it is sometimes called, is a group of skin conditions which can affect all age groups. In the United Kingdom, up to one fifth of all children of school age have eczema, along with about one in twelve of the adult population. The severity of the disease can vary. In mild forms the skin is dry, hot and itchy, whilst in more severe forms the skin can become broken, raw and bleeding. Although it can sometimes look unpleasant, eczema is not contagious. With treatment the inflammation of eczema can be reduced, though the skin will always be sensitive to flare-ups and need extra care.

The causes of eczema are many and varied, and depend on the particular type of eczema that a person has. Atopic eczema is thought to be a hereditary condition, being genetically linked. It is proposed that people with atopic eczema are sensitive to allergens in the environment which are harmless to others. In atopy there is an excessive reaction by the immune system producing inflamed, irritated and sore skin. Associated atopic conditions include asthma and hayfever. Other types of eczema are caused by irritants such as chemicals and detergents, allergens such as nickel, and yeast growths. In later years eczema can be caused by a blood circulatory problems in the legs. The causes of certain types of eczema remain to be explained, though links with environmental factors and stress are being explored.