Chances are good you’re washing or sanitizing your hands more now than you ever have in your life. With the current state of things relating to COVID 19, we have all become more cautious with our hand hygiene. Our hands ordinarily take a lot of abuse. Repetitive wet-dry cycles from hand washing and/or irritating chemicals in hand sanitizer can compound these abuses. This is especially the case in individuals with sensitive skin. Considering this, at Advanced Dermatology of the Midlands we expect that more and more of us will start to suffer from hand eczema (hand dermatitis).
NEWS
At Advanced Dermatology of the Midlands, we are closely monitoring the developments with the COVID 19. Just like you, we have numerous concerns about this situation. Considering that, we want you to understand our current position and approach. We know that trying times require both unique and up-to-date safety precautions to keep our patients and staff healthy.
First, we are committed to being there for all our patients through this challenging time. Despite the problem going on worldwide, people will continue to have concerns that arise with their skin and require skilled dermatology care. We plan to remain open to continue to take care of your dermatology needs.
We are aware of the increase in a number of coronavirus cases in the US and are continuously monitoring and reviewing this matter, especially as it pertains to our patients and staff. Our greatest concern is for our patients who are on prescriptions for skin, hair, or mucosal diseases that may alter and weaken the function of their immune system. For patients on these medications, if they feel like they have an infection of any sort, we recommend they consider holding their medication until they feel well again—having recovered from the infection.
Additionally, if it comes to pass that we have an increasing number of cases of coronavirus in Omaha or surrounding communities, we foresee that some patients may consider stopping their medication until circumstances have changed and concerns surrounding coronavirus have subsided.
Though we received a favorable prediction on Groundhog Day this year, many of us still question the reliability of that large rodent. As winter drags on, a number of our patients seek warmer places to visit. For this reason, we wanted to give you some quick Sun Tips for Winter Travelers with the anticipated sun exposure. It is easy to be complacent with our cabin fever so that we can quickly get too much sun and even sunburn on a winter getaway vacation.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that most commonly affects the skin and joints. A few different types of psoriasis are recognized, and we call the most common version of chronic plaque-type psoriasis. People with psoriasis often have red scaling plaques on their skin. These plaques can cover a very small portion of the skin or be very extensive. The most common areas involved are pressure points including the elbows, knees, low back, and scalp. Roughly 1/3 of patients with psoriasis in the skin will also have inflammation in the joints causing joint pain and/or stiffness. This is called psoriatic arthritis.
At Advanced Dermatology of the Midlands, we see those skin checks saves lives on a near-daily basis. Skin cancer rates have been on the rise in our country for decades. Melanoma is the third most common skin cancer and has the greatest tendency to be lethal. Per year in the United States, there are more than 100,000 new cases of melanoma diagnosed. When it comes to the diagnosis of melanoma, the single most important thing is early detection. Early detection saves lives by allowing us to catch melanoma in its earliest stages when it can be easily cured.
At Advanced Dermatology of the Midlands, we are heavily involved in developing and bringing to practice new medical and surgical therapies to improve the care of patients with skin disorders. Because it is so common and can cause so much trouble for our patients, we have a special focus on acne.
We would like to share with you three new acne treatment updates, which are innovative medications for acne that have come to the market recently. Our dermatologists believe that all three of these acne treatments will each have an important role in improving the management and control of acne for select patients.
Psoriasis is a common autoimmune skin condition. It affects as much as 3 to 4% of the population. In the most frequently seen form of psoriasis, people can develop red scaly plaques in various areas on their body especially over pressure points, such as the elbows, knees, low back, and scalp. This type of psoriasis is specifically called chronic plaque-type psoriasis. In the case of psoriasis, as an autoimmune disease, a cascade of steps by the immune system leads up to inflammation triggering the skin spots.
Unfortunately, acne can leave scars. When talking about scars from acne it is important to separate the visible scars from the ones we can’t see. Most of the medical information out there will focus on visible scarring in the skin. In doing this, however, it overlooks the invisible (psychological) scars that can also occur due to acne.
Even at the best of times, heels take a lot of abuse. When we are standing, they bear more of our weight than any other part of the body. With us moving, including walking and running they are exposed to all sorts of elements including rough, hard, and uneven surfaces both on the ground we walk and in our footwear. Environmental humidity levels can also contribute to problems, whether there is excess moisture or dryness.