Skin Conditions

Skin Conditions

Pregnancy Dermatoses

  • The dermatoses of pregnancy are a heterogeneous group of pruritic/itchy inflammatory dermatoses that occur exclusively during pregnancy and/or in the immediate postpartum period. These include the following conditions:
    • Pemphigoid gestationis
    • Polymorphic eruption of pregnancy (pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy [PUPPP])
    • Atopic eruption of pregnancy (eczema in pregnancy, prurigo of pregnancy, pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy)
    • Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
  • Skin Care Tips to follow during pregnancy that every mother to be should keep in mind
    • Drink Plenty of Water
    • Sleep for atleast 8-10 hours a day
    • Take a balanced diet
    • Sun Protection
    • Avoid Stress
    • Regular Light Exercise
    • Avoid Harsh Soaps & Face Wash
    • Use of Fragrance free moisturizers liberally

Paediatric Dermatoses

Pediatric dermatoses includes diseases and skin care requirements in individuals from birth to adolescence, a relatively short period in lifetime when significant physiological, psychological, and maturity changes take place. Such conditions are one of the most common presentations in a dermatology clinic and reflect the health and hygiene status of children. The incidence and severity of these skin lesions are influenced by geographical area, seasonal and cultural factors, and socioeconomic status.
Kids are constantly exposed to high levels of dirt and germs, so it’s crucial that they learn how to properly care for their skin. Starting early will ensure that they will continue caring for their skin into adulthood. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
  • Use of Gentle Skin Cleansers
  • Liberal use of Moisturizers
  • Sun Protection
While selecting the Skin care products for your children, following things should be kept in mind. I prefer to keep conversations with parents grounded in the potential for irritation and allergies.. Here, I am educating parents about some hazardous ingredients:-
  • Everyone loves the idea of their baby smelling great, but products with fragrances are often associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory problems, and other side effects. To avoid any skin complications, ensure the moisturizer you choose is fragrance-free.
  • Parabens are widely used as preservatives in body washes, shampoos, facial cleansers, and deodorants. They can also cause irritations and allergies in young children, so it’s best to avoid these as well.
  • Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (FRPs) are sometimes used to help prevent bacterial growth, but this chemical can also lead to allergies and irritation and may even be harmful to the immune system. It’s a good idea to avoid any cleansers, body washes, conditioners, or shampoos with this ingredient.
  • Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)/Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). Approximately over 90 percent of shampoos and body washes contain sulfates.6 SLSs can irritate the eyes, skin. So. It is best to avoid such products for your children.

Geriatric Dermatoses

It includes the spectrum of skin conditions in elderly. As you age, your skin naturally ages along with you. The production of collagen and elastin slows down, which causes your skin to lose some elasticity. Skin also becomes thinner and more fragile; glands lose their ability to effectively moisturize the skin; and it’s therefore common for older adults to have dry skin. Besides these natural effects of aging, the environment can have a compounding effect, including when a person gets too much sun or has been exposed to harsh weather conditions. A person’s ethnicity and heredity are also factors in how his or her skin ages. Since skin of the elderly population is going through a lot of changes from both an intrinsic and extrinsic point of view.  The pathophysiology of geriatric skin disorders and their specific management, slightly from an adult population.

Here are some handy tips for skin care in elderly

  • Wash Gently
  • Sun Protection
  • Liberal use of Moisturizers
  • Balanced Diet
  • Drink Plenty of Water
  • Avoid Smoking

If still it is not working. You can contact me for an individualized skin care plan.           

Blistering Disorders

These are group of skin diseases in which blistering occurs in the form of vesicle or bullae as a primary event either by genetic mutation or autoimmune response. It can be of various types. Most common types are as follows :-
  1. Pemphigus Vulgaris – It is the most common type of blistering disorder. It occurs mostly in the age group of 40 – 50 years and affects both genders.
  2. Bullous Pemphigoid – It is usually an acquired autoimmune blistering disease of the elderly.
To have an accurate diagnosis and treatment, contact us

Moles

Moles are a common type of skin growth. They often appear as small, dark brown spots and are caused by clusters of pigmented cells. Moles generally appear during childhood and adolescence Commonly people think of a mole as a dark brown spot, but moles have a wide range of appearance.
Some people consider it as fashionable and if they do not have one, they even got it painted on. These were called “beauty marks.” However, not all moles are beautiful. They may be raised from the skin and very noticeable, with hairs, or may be a sign of some disease. Moles can appear anywhere on the skin, alone or in groups and of various sizes and shapes.
Moles may darken, with exposure to the sun. During the teen years, with birth control pills and pregnancy, they often get darker and larger and new ones may appear.
Many people have flat moles. It’s important to remember that not all moles look alike. They may be skin colored or pink, light tan to brown, and even blue-black. They may be round or oval, or their shape may be slightly irregular. They may be flat or raised, large or small, with or without hairs, mottled or evenly colored. If the appearance of a mole worries you or if it changes suddenly in any way, you should consult a dermatologist.

Treatment of Moles

The majority of moles and other blemishes are benign (non-cancerous). If in doubt, the dermatologist will remove the mole, or part of it, so that thin sections from the mole can be cut and examined under a microscope. This is a simple and harmless procedure. If the growth was only partially removed and it is found to be cancerous, then the entire lesion and an extra margin of safety will need to be removed.
The most common methods of removal include numbing the spot and then removing mole off with Radiofrequency/ Electrocautery, or for some moles, cutting out the entire lesion and stitching the area closed.
Most procedures used to remove moles take only a short time and can be performed in a dermatologist’s office. Sometimes a mole will recur after it is removed. If a removed mole does begin to reappear, the patient should return to see the doctor.
Most moles cause no problems. But occasionally a mole may look ugly, unattractive, irritating, or changing. If you see any signs of change or want a mole removed for cosmetic reasons, consult your dermatologist.

Food Allergy

Food Allergy usually presents as gastrointestinal symptoms and its effects over skin. Food allergy have symptoms closely related to eating food, maybe within a few seconds or minutes. The immune response of a food allergy is a strong reaction happening after eating the food, a person is allergic to.
An allergy will have an immune response, and is detectable through a skin prick test or a blood test. Sometimes it is very severe and can lead to even hospitalization.
Red Flag Signs to look for
  • Itching of the mouth can be an immediate symptom with onset within seconds of coming in contact with the allergic food.
  • Swelling of the face may happen on eating the food. The swelling mostly affects the lips, cheeks and eyelids. This is also known as Angioedema.
  • Swelling of the tongue, lips and throat can come on after a few minutes and can be quite dramatic. This can have a rapid onset within minutes. Also known as “Oral Allergy Syndrome”
  • Abdominal pain (stomach cramps) and vomiting may also occur if the food to which there is an allergy is swallowed. This is a protective response of body, which tries to throw the allergic material out of the body.
  • Diarrhea is a symptom that would happen each time after eating an allergy food.
  • A widespread rash can also occur with a food allergy within half an hour of eating the food.The rash is itchy with wheals/edema.
Anaphylaxis
The most severe and dangerous effect of food allergy is anaphylactic reaction. Which is sometimes severe that it causes shock.

Identifying the Allergen (Food)

  • Maintaining a diary – Try keeping a food and symptom diary. Write down everything that you eat and drink and how good or bad your skin problem is. Grade your skin problem according to your symptoms on a scale 0f 1-10. You may need to keep this dairy for a few months.
  • Skin Prick Testing
  • Blood Test
It can be difficult to do this on your own, having someone to give you guidance and support can aid in diagnosis.

Proper followup and study is needed to identify that patient has food allergy.