REPORTER TV talk show

This was a talk in Reporter TV news channel on March regarding some of the common skin conditions that women deal with. 

WHAT ARE WARTS???

Warts are nothing but a virus infecting usually the skins top layer and the layer starts becoming thicker. The warts are usually contagious and it commonly enters the skin through small cuts and grazes.

It usually spreads with contact with wart.

What causes warts?

It is due to a virus known as Human Papilloma virus. Commonly enters through cuts and scrapes and it can spread from one part of body to another.

Who gets warts?

Anyone can get warts

More commonly in children, immunosupressed, people who bite nails, at sites of hair removing llke beard in men, legs in women.

What we see?

There are different types of warts:

Common wart

 Also known as Verruca Vulgaris

It is commonly seen as skin coloured or dark lesion with rough surface. Commonly on the fingers, back of hand, palms. It has tiny clotted blood vessels which looks like black dots. Sometimes it is felt only as rough bumps.

Foot warts

Also known as plantar warts.

It usually is seen in the soles, if many plantar warts grow together it is called mosaic warts. Some people complaints of pain.

Subungal warts

It usually occurs underneath the nails and is more difficult to treat as there may be extension beneath the nail.

Flat warts

Also known as verruca plana.

Small, smooth, flat topped warts usually in children on their face, men in their beard region.

Finger like warts

Also known as Filiform warts

It is small finger like projections near the mouth, eyes or nose.

Genital warts

They are usually seen in the genital region, pubic area or the anus. They can vary from very small to large, and sometimes looks like small cauliflower like pieces and can have mild pain, itching or bleeding.

What we can do….

Stop picking and scratching on the wart

Stop nail biting

Keep your razors clean

Use a foot wear always

Don’t touch others warts.

For genital warts:

Using condoms

Single partner

Abstaining from sex with an infected person

How to treat…

Warts are usually in the superficial layers of the skin and occasionally they disappear on their own. But it is best to get it treated. In most cases it goes of in a single sitting but may need multiple sittings.

Different methods include:

Salicylic acid or combination is used and seen if it disappears.

Cryotherapy: liquid nitrogen to get it removed, but may require multiple sittings.

Electrocautery and radiofrequency: It can be removed by burning it with the machines

Excision: Some doctors excise the warts

Laser: It is again burning the warts that is more resistant and can be done more precisely

Others: bleomycin, immunotherapies.

Dry as a Bone....

                     "You never miss the water till the well runs dry"

Xerosis commonly known as dry skin is common in all age groups with multiple causes.

Usually it’s seen when your skin starts losing its water and oil. Some people are more prone for dryness.

Why its dry

Age:

Dry skin is common in children with a family history of asthma and allergies known as atopic skin.

Usually our skin tends to become drier as we age because we tend to lose the capacity to retain water as we age.

So it is better to use a regular moisturizer after 35-40 years of age.

Climate:

Winters usually make our skin dry and so does places where the environment is dry due to trans epidermal water loss.

Skin Diseases:

Certain skin diseases like icthyosis, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis can cause dry skin.

Systemic Diseases:

Internal diseases like thyroid dysfunction can cause dry skin

Swimming :

Pools with high chlorine content predispose to dry skin.

What we see

Is dry cracked skin

Scaling

Itching

What we can do

Do not take a hot water bath

Use a gentle soap as per your dermatologists advise

Apply oil before taking bath.

Take quick and short showers

Pat dry your skin after bath

Moisturizers are the main treatment which contains petrolatum is ideal, which helps you seal the water in the skin right after bathing

Cleaning your face twice a day is good enough, not more frequent

Chapped lips needs a moisturizing balm too. 

Eating away Acne...

    Acne is one of the commonest compalint of a patient in dermatology department. It was more commonly a disease of the western population, but since the adoption of western eating habits acne prevalence has risen in our country.

Most of the studies conducted in this regard prove that there exists a direct correlation between diet and acne.

Some of the common associations are listed below

Acne and carbs

A high glycemic load carbohydrate diet is shown to increase acne by increasing what is knwon as IGF1 which increases the oil production in our skin and also certain hormonal variations which trigger acne.

Acne and dairy products

In a study showing the effects of milk and acne in about 6000 girls it was found that a postive relation existed between the intake of milk and development of acne. It was said the development of acne due to consumption of milk was due to the metabolic effects of milk.

Acne and choclates

 In studies showing the relationships between choclate and acne it was proved that it is not choclate par se, it is the high glycemic load in the sugars that promote acne. Infact it is said that swiss dark choclate actually clears the skin.

So what to eat????????? 

It is said, like for any health issues, a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables is good for maintaining healthy acne free skin. A lot of hydration with water will help.

Fiber rich foods like legumes, vegetables

Also foods rich in Vit  A (yellow vegetables like carrots, pappaya rich in retinoids also helps preventing acne) especially when your retinoids used in treatment are mainly Vitamin A derivatives.

Fish which contains omega 3 fatty acids (rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids), also have an important role in decreasing the inflammation in acne.

So lots of fiber, high omega 3 fatty acids, low saturated fats and low glycemic index foods are the key to prevent acne.

BEAUTY IS ONLY SKIN DEEP... LOOK BEAUTIFUL

As the saying goes "beauty is only skin deep" , then why not look beautiful?

Well there are different aspects to beauty.

If everything in this world were in perfection this idiom holds good that “beauty is only skin deep” and world would judge a persons beauty on their character.

But on the contrary it is not only on how a persons character is, it also depends a lot on outward appearances and how they carry themselves about.

In the history of mankind the usage of beauty products dates back tens of thousands of years ago.

It is said that “beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder”, but it is believed that there is a universal proportion for a beautiful face which follows the divine ratio or golden ratio (1:1.618) which it is known. It is common to all forms in the nature.

Qoute from The beautiful face “ A beautiful face combines facial features that are attractive, shapely, balanced, elevated, symmetrical and in volumetric proportion. These features are further enhanced by impressive, unified and expressive harmony. These, in turn, are complemented by wonderful hair, teeth and skin”.

So unlike the earlier times of applying products on the face to look beautiful the concept has changed. Dermatologists and aesthetic surgeons use a variety of invasive and non invasive procedures to bring about a makeover in a persons skin volume, colour, texture. Procedures are done for the hair, nails and skin to make a person look attractive.

Some of the common procedures in a dermatology clinic that are being done to change the way a person looks are

Chemical peels

Botolinum Toxins

Dermal Filllers

Lasers

More about these procedures, soon to come.....

About the Doc...

Dr Joseph Chalissery did his MBBS from MOSC medical college Kolenchery and
did his post graduation (Diploma in dermatology, venerology and leprosy,DDVL) from Kasturba medical college (KMC), Manipal.
  After postgraduation he worked as a dermatologist in Lisie Hospital, Cochin.
  He underwent training in cosmetology and lasers under American Academy of Aesthetic medicine and is currently a member of American Academy of Aesthetic medicine.
  He is currently working as Consultant Dermatologist in Sunrise Hospital, Kakkanad, Kochi and also practices laser surgery and cosmetology in Almeka Medical Center, Palarivattom, Kochi.