November 9th, 2012

There are a number of people who, unfortunately, are suffering from acne. Acne is a skin condition that causes imperfections of the facial skin. It is usually associated with whiteheads, blackheads, and blemishes. Some cases of acne are more severe than other cases. However, regardless of the severity, acne can cause huge problems. Not only is acne unattractive, it can actually leave dark spots on the skin as well as scarring. Even when the acne goes away, it can end up leaving its nasty mark. Because acne is an embarrassing and frustrating problem to deal with, many people look to find a solution to help reduce and eliminate the acne altogether.

Self-Treatment 

For those looking for acne treatment in Austin TX, there are actually a number of different options. The first option for treatment would be acne self-treatment. There are tons of different over the counter products designed to combat acne and help to eliminate it completely. These products may or may not work. The truth is that some products work for some people while others simply do not help. There are tons of different brands to choose from. Some of those brands include:

• Neutrogena
• Clearasil
• Biore
• AcneFree

Dermatologists

These are just some of the different products that can be found in drugstores and different chain stores, including Wal-Mart, Target, and K-Mart, as well as your local dermatologist. Aside from self-treatment, there are several other options of acne treatment in Austin TX. A visit to an Austin dermatologist is highly recommended for someone who suffers from acne. A dermatologist can evaluate the facial skin to determine the severity of the acne and the best types of treatment. The dermatologist may prescribe an oral medication or a topical medication to help reduce and eliminate the acne. These types of products are usually much stronger than the over the counter products.

Spa Treatment

Some people prefer to visit the spa for certain services that can help improve the skin. Such services include glycolic acid peels, facials, and blackhead extractions. The glycolic acid peels often help to get rid of the dead skin cells while improving the surface skin and getting rid of the acne. There are tons of different facials offered by those who work at the spa, some of which may be specifically available for those with acne-prone skin. While acne is frustrating to deal with for anyone, there are tons of different options available, many of which can truly help to reduce the acne and get rid of it completely.

November 7th, 2012

When skin problems crop up and refuse to be easily solved, frustrated parties can look for professionals who can help them. In fact, the best Austin dermatologists will be able to solve a range of issues.

Suspicious Moles

If individuals notice, for example, that a mole has changed color or become more irregular, they will need to have it examined as soon as possible. Catching malignancies early on is the best way to ensure that they are removed in time. Dermatologists might in some cases perform a biopsy that will determine whether the mole is in fact cancerous. Even if it is benign, patients can still choose to have it removed with certain cutting-edge surgical techniques.

Acne

Though dermatologists are certainly lifesavers, the vast majority of their workload will involve the clearing up of skin blemishes and acne. Teenagers and young adults, for example, often fret about the pimples that have developed on their faces, necks, and backs. Professional skin doctors can often prescribe sophisticated chemical peels that will allow the acne to be cleared. Complete facial peels can be used on the most severe cases. When the acne has been cleared up, individuals should be happier in their daily lives and will likely project an improved self-image to others.

Rashes

Rashes can also rear up from time to time. With the right chemical agents, of course, most rashes can be cured in a few days. If individuals have an allergic reaction to something and find themselves covered with painful hives, they will need to see an expert right away.

Insect Bites

If home owners have multiple dogs running around the premises, they will likely experience a flea infestation at some point in their lives. Austin Texas dermatologists can provide certain chemical drips that will ease the discomfort. Prescription-strength aloes will also help with the itching that has surely developed around the bite marks themselves.

Warts

Dermatologists can also work with patients to develop treatment plans for warts. Warts can appear anywhere, but are most common on the fingers and the soles of the feet. In most cases, freezing techniques can be used to remove the warts. The session can be done in an hour or so and is not painful.

Wrap-Up

Ultimately, Austin Texas dermatologists can help men and women with all of their skin problems. Whether their issues are serious or mundane, a personalized treatment plan can be developed and set into action.

Check out our general services page for more information.

November 7th, 2012

Botox, Botulinum Neurotoxin, is extremely popular in the world of cosmetic surgery and improvements. It is often used as a non-invasive method to address wrinkles and fine lines in the face. When injected, it actually paralyzes muscles in the face, diminishing the appearance of wrinkles in the process.

Botox Points of Injection: Where is it applied?

There are several Botox points of injection which are most commonly used. For those who have lines appearing on the forehead, an injection of Botox is effective in providing a smooth appearance once more. Wrinkles known as “crow’s feet” around the eyes can be treated as well as lines that appear between the eye brows. While the forehead may be the main area that is treated with Botox, patients may also have the lines treated around the nose. Botox can also be used to address a gummy smile or to provide lips with a plump appearance. At times, it has been used to tighten the jawline. However, this is more difficult than and not as effective as other methods. Patients can have their eyebrows lifted or the corners of the mouth turned upwards through the injection of Botox. Cosmetic surgeons have been known to use several creative applications for Botox.

Why Choose Botox?

Many individuals prefer Botox because it is non-invasive and does not involve major surgery. In addition, this method is not as expensive as other more involved surgical procedures. Botox generally lasts for several months. This is an excellent option for the individual who is uncertain of results. If they are not happy with the outcome, they can rest assured that it is not permanent. Satisfied patients can have the procedure repeated as needed. Botox is also a method of choice because it can be performed quickly. A patient could even schedule an appointment for a lunch break and return to work after the treatment has been completed.

Lines are going to appear on the face. That is a simple fact of life. Some people must deal with more than others. Many patients opt for Botox treatments to turn back the hands of time in order to help erase the marks of aging. Botox can reverse the effects of aging without forcing a patient to endure difficult procedures that are extremely costly and painful. A consultation with a cosmetic surgeon is a wise decision. All Botox points can be discussed before a plan is formed.

Visit your Austin dermatologist for procedure information and to schedule your Botox appointment today!

November 7th, 2012

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed today. A skin cancer is basically an abnormal growth of the skin cells. It typically occurs in the epidermis, which is the top layer of the skin. Skin cancers are named by the type of skin cell from which they originate. Therefore, the most common skin cancers seen today are termed basal cell, squamous cell and melanoma.

What Is Melanoma?

Melanomas are by far the most dangerous type of skin cancer, resulting in more deaths than the other types. However, like most skin cancers, melanomas are often caught early, thereby preventing complications and death. In fact, learning the abcd of skin cancer can dramatically decrease the length of time between the formation of a skin cancer and its detection since it describes how an abnormal skin lesion will appear. Abcd is a simple acronym that any person can learn and apply to themself.

What Is the Abcd of Skin Cancer?

The letter “a” stands for asymmetry. Most normal skin lesions, including moles, are symmetrical. This means that if they were cut in half, each side would look exactly the same and have the same shape. However, cancerous lesions are more often asymmetrical with both halves demonstrating different appearances.

The letter “b” stands for border. The border of a normal freckle or mole is usually smooth and even rounded. However, a cancerous lesion usually has a border that appears indistinct or fuzzy. It may appear that the color is beginning to spread into nearby skin cells. The border may also appear to be jagged.

The letter “c” stands for color. Normal lesions are all one hue whether they are light or dark. Cancerous lesions may display numerous colors or many shades of the same color such as blacks and browns.

The letter “d” stands for diameter. Although this characteristic is a bit less distinct than the others, most cancerous lesions are greater than six millimeters in diameter. This is often described as being larger than an eraser on the end of a pencil. On the other hand, if any other suspicious symptoms are present, a lesion that measures less than six millimeters should be thoroughly examined by a doctor as well.

Learning to recognize the abcd of skin cancer is a great tool in early detection of the disease. This is vitally important because many skin cancers can be completely eradicated if they are caught early enough. Each individual should bring their physician’s attention to any skin lesion that is asymmetrical, has an irregular border, has varying colors or has a wider diameter than six millimeters.

For more information on skin cancer treatment please visit here.

How has skin cancer affected you or someone you know and how did you handle it?

October 31st, 2012

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June 16th, 2011

Cryosurgery is a standard therapy for both benign and malignant conditions of the skin. This handout hopes to answer or anticipate any questions you have.

After The Procedure

You will note swelling and redness around the site. This is normal.

Your “sharp” feeling of discomfort will continue for a few more minutes, and then give way to more of a “sore” feeling. As the area begins to swell, some patients find that they continue to have this “sore” feeling for several days.

For this discomfort, you may take acetaminophen (Tylenol©) unless you have been instructed otherwise by your physician.

Over the next few days, you may develop a blister at the treated area, or the area may begin to weep or drain. If the blister is tense and uncomfortable, you can pop it with a sterile (heated under a flame or cleansed with alcohol) needle. If the blister does not bother you, no treatment is needed. However, do NOT peel off the top of the blister roof. It will act as a dressing on top of your wound.

Wound Care

You may bathe of shower as per your regular routine.

Cleanse the site twice a day with soapy water, and then apply a thin film of white petrolatum (Vaseline©).

You do not need to cover the area, but can if you prefer.

Do NOT allow the site to become dry of crusted, or attempt to dry it out with rubbing alcohol.

Continue this regimen until the area is pink and healed. Depending on the size and location of your cryosurgery site, and you own body’s ability to heal, this may take two to three weeks.

The area may continue to be pink for several weeks, and over the next few months the area may become darker or lighter than the surrounding skin. This may be a permanent change.

Signs Of An Infection

Your wound may continue to ooze or drain for several days, and a small rim of redness around the site is normal.

Symptoms of infection include a large area of surrounding redness, white pustular drainage, swelling, or pain that is not controlled by over-the-counter pain medication.

If you have questions about your cryosurgery treatment site, please don’t hesitate to call the office (478-3376).

June 16th, 2011

The advent of vaccines, antibiotics, and antiseptic techniques has saved our millions of our children from pneumonia, meningitis, kidney, heart, and liver damage, upper respiratory infections, and paralysis. Some of the pediatric viral and bacterial killers of as recent as 20 years ago, have become almost extinct thanks to the miracles of modern Medicine and public health measures.

However, the “bugs” physicians now see affecting children’s skin have changed. Rare are the cases of measles, German measles, mumps, etc., which had distinctive skin appearances but were untreatable. These illnesses now are replaced by cases of Staphylococcus aureus and Group A Streptococcus bacterial manifestations, and some common viral diseases mentioned below. These can be harder to diagnose because of their variable appearance, but some are treatable with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications, though some still may be deadly.

About 20% of Pediatrics visits involve skin manifestations of viral, bacterial, or other infectious agents. Here is a list of just some of the relatively common rashes that the Pediatrician, Family Practitioner, or Dermatologist sees, from the more mundane to those that require immediate medical attention:

• Impetigo – from a toxin that Staph or Strep bacterial species produces causing localized “honey-colored” crusts typically around the nose, mouth, or eyes (but can be on any skin site). It is contagious but treatable with topical and/or oral antibiotics. In children less than 5 years, if the rash spreads with fever, this may be “Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome” and needs immediate attention.

• Tinea Capitis – a fungal infection of the hair of the scalp causing hair loss, scale, & itch. It more often involves African-American children due to hair texture. If on the skin of the body, it is termed “ringworm” or tinea corporis.

• Head Lice – small 6-legged arthropods that lay eggs on the hair shaft and go to the skin of the scalp to feed on blood. Head lice is mainly seen in Caucasian- or Asian-type hair textures. It is highly contagious.

• Scabies – another small arthropod that burrows under our skin and lays eggs. Causes intense itching with a rash at the armpits, genitals, hands, and buttocks. Also is highly contagious.

• Pityriasis Rosea – from the HHV-7 virus. Rash can start off as one larger skin lesion (a “herald patch”) with a spread of the small scaly plaques on the back and chest in a “Christmas tree” distribution. It is not thought to be contagious and does not usually require treatment.

• “Slapped Cheeks” – aka Erythema Infectiosum, is caused from Parvovirus B19, where the child gets bright red cheeks and then a lacy red pattern on the arms and rarely joint pain. Parvovirus infection can be dangerous to the fetus if transmitted to pregnant women in the second trimester.

• Chicken Pox – though much less common because of the Varicella vaccine, there are breakthrough cases of “atypical” chicken pox still seen. Classically, there are small, red, itchy blisters that start on the chest or back and spread outward in crops to the face, arms, etc. . This very itch rash is highly contagious unless the receiving individual is properly immunized

• Scarlet Fever – from a toxin that Strep pyogenes (from strep throats) causing fever, red “strawberry” tongue, a sandpapery rash, and a rash on the inner elbows or sides of groin. The kidneys can be affected.

• Kawasaki’s Disease – often in children less than 5 years old with at least five days of fever, hand and foot skin changes, lymph node swelling, red eyes. Child must be treated in the hospital with anti-inflammatory medications, and will need a cardiac evaluation.

• Erythema Multiforme– usually a skin reaction from the Herpes Virus (or various medications) causing fever, skin pain, and “bulls-eye” lesions on the palms and soles. If these blisters go on to affect larger areas of the skin or the mouth, eyes, or genitalia, the child needs immediate medical attention.

As parents, caregivers, and teachers, you should worry if the child has a new rash associated with a persistent fever (e.g. a rectal temperature of over 100.4˚F if less than three months old or above 101-103˚F otherwise). Fever is just part of the equation, so if your child seems listless and difficult to wake up, with poor appetite, severe nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea, headaches, neck stiffness, light sensitivity, gets sudden seizures, has difficulty breathing or sleeping, and “just doesn’t seem right,” call your Doctor or 911, or go to the Emergency Room.

Roopal Bhatt, MD, is a Dermatologist now practicing in the Four Points Area.

If you have questions about this topic or others, please contact her at contact@fourpointsdermatology.com

September 17th, 2010

The most talked-about “super bug” is a subtype of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus called MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), a highly antibiotic resistant strain with the ability to produce toxins to weaken its host. This bacteria has killed more people this past year than the HIV virus, and estimates have reported that “staph infections” have cost hospitals alone 14.5 billion dollars in 2003. Aside from affecting skin, staph can also cause deeper tissue, bone, joint, heart valve, lung, and bloodstream infections which can be deadly in both ill and healthy people.

MRSA used to be mainly acquired from hospitals. In recent years, there has been an offshoot of hospital-associated MRSA called community-associated MRSA (ca-MRSA). Ca-MRSA, representing about 12% of MRSA infections, is often heartier due to rapid spread and adaptability, and may even have the ability to counter some of our bodies’ immune defenses.

Transmission is through direct skin to skin contact, sneezing, and touching objects already contaminated with the staph bacteria. 20-30% of the normal adult population has staph colonized in their noses, belly buttons and other body parts. This means that the bacteria are present without causing disease except in cases of skin breakdown or immune system compromise (such as with Diabetes, HIV, or Cancer/chemotherapy). Staph is more prevalent in situations of close contact as in daycares, adult homes, shelters, hospitals, military barracks, and certain sports. IV drug users and those with chronic indwelling catheters, recent surgical wounds or long hospitalizations have a higher incidence of staph infections, and of course, there are higher rates of spread within families.

What do staph infections look like on the skin? First, they can occur almost anywhere on the body. Patients often come to me with recurring “red hair bumps” or “pus-bumps” or deeper “boils” that either won’t go away or seemingly do resolve but then keep coming back. Other patients say that they have “spider bites” that do not itch but become filled w/ pus, hurt, become red and swollen. When asked, they often never actually see the “bugs” that bite them. Even if the rash did start off due to insect bites, that skin can get secondarily infected from scratching. If staph gets into deeper tissue, bones, lungs, heart, or the bloodstream, it can cause fevers, chills, body pain, tissue damage, and internal organ failure in the most severe form.

Treatment starts with first speaking with your healthcare provider. If Staph aureus is suspected, the provider should do a bacterial culture of the affected tissue and/or nose, lance and drain any abscess, and place the patient on antibiotics if the patient has symptoms such as pain, pus, fevers, or expansion of the infection. Systemic antibiotics should especially be given if the patient has other immune suppressing health issues as discussed above. If there is a high suspicion for MRSA, two appropriate antibiotics should be started at once and kept on it for the appropriate length of time. It is very important to take the full course of antibiotics that the doctor prescribes.

An ounce of soap is worth a pound of antibiotics. Hand washing, hand washing, and more hand washing is the key to prevent spread of staph. 30 seconds of plain soap and water or using the alcohol preparations until hands are dry are effective to eradicate the germs without causing resistance. Also, cover open wounds and do not share personal hygiene items. Avoid unnecessary antibiotic use (as when having viral illnesses), and if already on oral antibiotics, take them as instructed for the full time prescribed.

To find out more, go to the CDC website: www.cdc.gov. Please see your healthcare provider if you suspect you may have a staphylococcus infection.

Roopal Bhatt, MD is a dermatologist starting her practice in the Four Points Area. To reach her for questions on this topic or others, please e-mail her at contact@fourpointsdermatology.com.

September 17th, 2010

Oh, we shouldn’t have…. What exactly happens to our bodies after we just consumed the largest holiday meal of the year? Those excess calories from carbohydrates, proteins, and fats that are not used for daily body metabolic activity ultimately get converted to body fat – eek. But for some people, the skin can show food consumption in other ways aside from just showing our love handles.

First, excess lipid or fats can deposit in our skin and other organs, but not in the way we ordinarily think. There are some genetic and metabolic syndromes and even medications that cause very high levels of cholesterol circulating in our system. These cholesterol levels or triglycerides can deposit right in our upper layers of skin causing distinctly yellow-orange small pea-sized bumps in certain parts of our body such as near the eyelids, palms, knees, elbows, arms, and legs. We call these skin lesions xanthelasma if involving the eyelids and xanthomas if involving the rest of the body skin. Though often reversible by diet and cholesterol -lowering medication, some of these skin lesions can sometimes be permanent.

Next, we always think of gout as being a disease of older men, a painful condition traditionally causing large painful skin nodules on the big toes or ear cartilage or elbows, knees, and wrists. Rich, meaty foods, such as red meats and certain types of fish and seafood, and alcohol (beer, liquors) have high purine contents. If you consume these foods regularly and drink over two alcoholic beverages a day, or if you are on certain medications, the uric acid levels get high enough to crystallize out of the blood circulation into distant areas of our body, causing painful skin nodules with arthritis and kidney stones. The treatment is taking medication to lower uric acid levels and for pain control. Lifestyle changes include avoiding rich foods and alcohol and consuming more dairy products, complex carbohydrates, and fluids. Steady weight loss will help as well.

Salt lovers beware. Those who consumed too much salt probably felt it the next morning from tight clothing and rings. Unfortunately, those with heart failure cannot handle the extra fluid volume from salt and subsequent water retention. One skin manifestation from this is leg swelling. Long-standing leg swelling can make the skin of the lower legs itchy, reddish-purplish, and eventually hard. For those with heart failure, a low 2 gram sodium diet has to be followed.

Moderation is the key for everything including alcohol consumption. Chronic alcohol use can cause liver damage with end-stage cirrhosis as its worst outcome. Skin signs of alcohol-induced liver disease include yellowing of the skin and eyes, called jaundice, from excess bilirubin levels; the abdominal blood vessels are more pronounced on top of a swollen, fluid-overloaded belly; there are little smaller red superficial blood vessels that appear on the upper body called spider angioma; there is increased skin bruising and/or itching; and there are even nail changes. The only treatment for end-stage cirrhosis is surgery or liver transplant.

Lastly, there are some people who have severe gluten sensitivity, causing a gastrointestinal disease called Celiac Disease. These people are not able to tolerate wheat, rye, barley, and even some medications and food additives in their diets. A small subset of these patients get a skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis consisting of broken itchy red blisters on the elbows and knees and lower back. A strict gluten-free diet is essential to treat both the skin and gastrointestinal condition.

Roopal Bhatt, MD is a Dermatologist opening up her office in the Four Points Area.

For questions about this topic or others, please e-mail her at contact@fourpointsdermatology.com

September 16th, 2010

With all the news about our “super-bug” adversaries from staph infections to salmonella, e.coli and even influenza outbreaks, the medical community is hyper-vigilant to control infectious disease. We are living longer lives thanks to antibiotics, immunizations, proper medical and food preparation sanitary techniques, and earlier detection and prevention of disease. Our home and work environments are cleaner than ever – we have air and water purification systems, high-tech vacuums to remove dust and dander, and we even keep our pets dirt- and disease-free.

However, there may be a downside to our very “clean” society. The Hygiene Hypothesis is a theory amongst immunologists that has been gaining popularity in the last twenty years. Humans have coexisted with microbes throughout our existence, and we now are aware that we depend on disease to stimulate our proper immune function.

In our current industrialized society, as our children get less exposed to infectious agents and succumb less to the usual childhood diseases, they may be more susceptible to developing allergic disorders such as seasonal allergies, asthma, and atopic dermatitis. In some parts of the country, in particular in large urban centers, there is an epidemic of asthma and other allergic disorders. There has also been a rise of autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, and type I diabetes in our “developed” society. Interestingly, “third world countries” in Africa and Asia have an extremely low rate of allergy and autoimmune diseases, but of course have a very high infectious disease exposure rate.

The hygiene hypothesis has changed the way we think about “good” and “bad” disease. Dirt and disease most likely are necessary evils, as every subsequent allergen exposure and infection helps harden our immune system to prepare for the next latest and greatest attack. Maybe it is not the infectious agent that we need to worry about but the lack of exposure to infectious agents.

While no one wants to suffer through colds or gastrointestinal ailments, if the alternative were to have a chronic debilitating ailment such as asthma or multiple sclerosis, the choice may be a simple one .

For future treatment, scientists are working on using parasites and developing normal gut flora to help stimulate immune function.

While no one is suggesting to get rid of antibiotics and vaccines and basic cleanliness techniques, we have to be aware of the consequences of our modern ultra-clean lifestyles. We do not necessarily have to go place our children in the mud everyday to get their daily quota of dirt exposure, but we should let kids be kids and allow them to play outside with other children and not worry too much about them getting exposed to dirt and germs. Also, we must depend on our doctors to decide whether or not antibiotics are warranted in times of illness. Overuse of antibiotics can of course cause the development of antibiotic-resistance and thus the rise of “super-bugs.” It can also cause changes in our normal gut flora and secondarily prevent maturing immune systems from developing and functioning properly.

Roopal Bhatt, MD is a practicing Dermatologist in the Four Points Area. To reach her about questions on this topic or other topics, contact her at contact@fourpointsdermatology.com or visit her website at www.fourpointsdermatology.com.