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| February 2012 |
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I seem to get more skin tages as I age, is this normal? |
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SKIN TAGS are common, benign skin growths that usually start in the middle ages. Some people are more prone to them, either by hereditary or increased weight.
It is felt that they are caused by friction. Therefore, they usually occur in the neck, axilla, groin, under the breast and eyelids. They grow slowly from pinhead size to 'pea' size. (It is kind of gross how often we use food to describe things in Medicine.)
There are 2 reasons for getting them removed, cosmetic, and to prevent irritation and infection. They can be easily removed by snipping or cautery. |
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| December 2011 |
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Can you safely remove a tattoo? |
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Time to Re-think your Ink. Tattoo lasers selectively targets the pigmented particles of the tattoo with a brief (billionths of a second) single pulse of light. This laser pulse, fractures the ink into smaller particles, allowing them to be eliminated through the surface of the skin (or taken away by the body's scavenger cells). Treatments are uncomfortable and a freezing cream is recommended. Treatments are 4-8 weeks apart. Due to the infi nite variety of tattoos and the mixing of the inks, it is impossible to predict exactly how many treatments are necessary to fade a tattoo and expect to have some skin changes under the tattoo. The treated skin may look different then surrounding skin, especially in sun exposed areas (leaving a 'ghost' of lighter skin).
Typically, amateur tattoos clear after 4-6 treatments, whereas professional tattoos can require 8 to 12 treatments (or more). Dark inks respond the best. Colour inks are much more difficult. I have the most trouble removing green.
The removal process could become much easier if tattoo artists begin using a recently released tattoo ink called Freedom-2 that can be eradicated with just one laser treatment. |
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| November 2011 |
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I've tried everything to treat my dry skin but no luck. Can you help? |
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I recommend: First exfoliate, apply an AHA 15% lotion (do not wash off), wait at least 8 hours and then take a tepid bath with Aveeno Oatmeal bath. If you have children, no harm is done if your child wants to eat the oatmeal. (Isn't that right Alexis?) DO NOT put oil in the bath water. It coats the skin and prevents water absorption. After 15 min., tap dry your skin and then apply a mixture of pure Eucerin/glycerine/water (40/10/50) with hydrocortisone 0.5% and menthol 0.3% (compounded by your pharmacist). Or, warm body butter, but be careful of perfumes and preservatives. For really thick dry skin, wrap the area in Saran wrap, put on your pj's and watch a movie. Best to be done when your partner is away for the day.
The more frequent the treatment, the better the results. In between treatments you can wash with a gentle cleanser (Cetaphil or Cliniderm). DO NOT use soap. The Alpha-hydroxy acid can be used daily or 2-3x per week. Urea or lactic acid 3% is an adequate substitute (check with your pharmacist).
I like to spoil myself and see a massage therapist or have our body scrub done. They massage in the moisturizer while I get a relaxing massage. |
| October 2011 |
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What is an effective non-chemical treatment for teenage acne? |
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WOW! That is a loaded question for a medical doctor.
1. WATER: The elixir of life ~ all cellular functions require water. Drink a lot of water. Keep water in the skin.
2. OIL: Necessary to prevent water loss and dehydration of the skin. The quality of the oil is important. Extra Virgin olive oil is preferred over Tar Sand oil (Sorry Ft. Mac). Lipid drops are excellent to put on top of a light moisturizer if your skin is dry or flaky. If your oil glands are plugged, you need to add oil to the surface of the skin until treatments can unplug the pores and allow your oil to fl ow freely over the skin. Omega 6 decreases sebum production and increases exfoliation. Omega 3 helps decrease redness and inflammation.
3. DIET: Dr. Perricone's many books cover this issue.
4. EXFOLIATION: Do Not Use Any Scrubs, or Toners with Alcohol! Exfoliate with fruit acids or enzymes. Pumpkin Mask treatment is a favorite. Remember to moisturize after exfoliation. Clarisonic Brush has well documented studies of removing sebum from the pores.
If your skin is working properly, with a water and oil balance, it will be able to resist infection. Pustular Acne may still need medical intervention. |
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Are there any treatments to get rid of facial veins? |
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Yes, there are currently several different treatments that are available.
I recommend Intense Pulse Light (IPL) treatments. It uses visible light energy, which is absorbed by the hemoglobin in the red blood cells. The heat produced during this process then destroys the blood vessels. I have the Palomar Starlux with it's integral cooling system. It cools the skin to 4'Celcius. Delivering a comfortable, effective treatment, while protecting the skin.
Lasers (Nd:YAG, KTP and Pulse-dye), also use light energy. However, a narrow spot size means having to zap many times along a blood vessel. There is a risk of vein rupture and bruising. Uncomfortable, but newer machines are better. Both IPL and lasers require 5 or more treatments and may require a touch up every few years depending on genetics and skin care.
Cautery, uses an electrical current and a fine needle point to burn the vein (think electrolysis - ouch!). May cause scarring. I do not recommend this.
Schlerotherapy. Using a very tiny needle, a sclerosant is injected in the vein. This destroys the lining of the vein, and the vein is re-absorbed by the body. This is does not hurt!
Treating facial veins improves the circulation and lymphatic drainage of the skin. I have seen people's noses start to shrink in size after only 3 treatment. This is not about vanity. It is never too late to start exercising for the health of your body, and it is never too late to invest in the health of your skin. |
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Please send questions to : info@turennesthetics.ca |
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