Other
Common Skin Disorders
Scars
and Keloids
Description
A
essential part of the body’s natural healing process,
scars are the result of the skin’s repair of wounds
caused by accident, disease, or surgical incision.
The more the skin is damaged and the longer it
takes to heal, the greater the chance of a noticeable
scar. Typically, a scar will become increasingly
prominent at first, then will gradually fade;
many disfiguring marks which seem unsightly at
three months may heal quite satisfactorily if
given more time.
A
scar’s visibility will depend on a number of factors,
including its color, texture, depth, length, width
or direction. How the scar forms will also be
affected by an individual’s age and by its location
on the body or face. Younger skin, for instance,
makes strong repairs and tends to overheal, resulting
in larger, thicker scars called keloids. Skin
over a jawbone is tighter than skin on the cheek
and will tend to increase a scar’s prominence.
If it is depressed, it will make skin seem shaded,
and if it is higher than surrounding skin, it
will cast a shadow. A scar that crosses natural
expression lines will be visually striking because
it will not follow a natural pattern, and a scar
that is wider than a wrinkle will stand out because
it is not a naturally occurring line.
Any
one, or a combination of these factors may result
in a scar that, although healthy, may be improved
functionally or cosmetically by treatment.
Treatment
Several
techniques performed today by dermatologists can
alter or camouflage the appearance of a scar.
Most of these procedures are performed routinely
in a dermatologist’s office under local anesthesia.
Only severe scars, such as burns over a large
part of the body, require general anesthesia and
a hospital stay. Typically, methods of scar treatment
are not traumatic or life-disrupting and do not
involve major surgery.
Modern
scar revision techniques can change the length,
width, or direction of a scar, raise depressed
scars, or lower elevated scar. However, no scar
can ever be completely erased and no magic technique
can be expected to return skin to its pre-scar
appearance. A scar’s color cannot be altered;
as it gets older, it usually fades and can often
be concealed effectively with make-up, but a certain
difference in pigmentation will usually remain.
The
most important step in the treatment of scars
is careful consultation between patient and dermatologist-analyzing
what bothers a patient most about a scar and effectively
determining the technique best suited to its treatment.
Methods
of scar treatment
1.
Steroid injection
2.
Punch grafts
This
is the best procedure for the treatment of deep
“ice pick” scars.
3.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion,
is a method of treating acne scars, fine scars
or minorirregularities of surface skin, and improving
the look of some surgical scar revisions. The
treatment involves using power driven instrument
is used to remove the top layers of the skin.
Most effective in the treatment of facial scars,
dermabrasion used on other parts of the body has
tended to result in slower healing, greater redness
and an increased chance of post-operative
scarring.
4.
Chemical peels
Most
commonly used on the face, this treatment removes
the top layer of the skin with a
chemical in order to smooth depressed areas and
give the skin a more even tone.
5.
Collagen injections
Injectable
collagen, a natural animal protein, is one of
the most popular “filter materials”
used in the treatment of soft, superficial scars.
Injected into a scar, it will
fill in depressions, raising them to the level
of surrounding skin.
Microdermabrasion,
chemical peels, and collagen injections are available
at Adora Day Spa. For a complementary consultation,
please call 307-773-8520.
Dermatology
Update by Dr. Sandra Surbrugg
Recent
News about Scars
W
hen
a pierced earlobe develops a hard lump that seems
to be spreading and swelling, it is probably a
keloid. This type of scar forms when the skin
overcompensates during the healing process to
produce excess scar tissue. When the skin is injured,
cells called fibroblasts are activated to produce
skin tissue (primarily collagen) to fill in the
hole. Normally, the body signals when to stop
the healing process. Sometimes, however, the signal
malfunctions and collagen production continues,
which causes the scar to thicken. Keloids most
often form in people with darker skin. And, they
can develop in response to practically any trauma
to the skin. Steroid injections or compression
may help control keloid growth. Generally, it
does not help to have keloids surgically removed
because they tend to recur after excision.
If
you are prone to making keloids when you scar,
you should use extra care to avoid damage to your
skin that can lead to scar production. One way
to minimize keloids is to avail yourself of professional
help sooner than later when your skin is in trouble;
prompt care can make a difference.
S
cleroderma
Description
S
cleroderma,
which literally means "hard skin" is
a general term for several chronic autoimmune
conditions. The disease typically begins between
the ages of 30 and 60 as a thickening and hardening
of the skin (initially on the fingers, hands,
or face), which occurs due to an overproduction
of collagen (the protein that imparts strength
and elasticity to normal skin). The typical scleroderma
patient is a women in her 30s or 40s whose hands
and feet were abnormally sensitive to cold for
many years before she developed thickening skin
on her hands and face.
Tight,
shiny, and thick skin on the face and fingers,
with puckering around the mouth, may lead to a
mask-like appearance. Collagen that proliferates
elsewhere can disrupt function of the gastrointestinal
tract, lungs, kidneys, and heart.
Treatment
While
there is no effective treatment of scleroderma,
some studies indicate that the drug penicillamine
helps reduce skin thickening and prevents internal
complications.
A
lthough
sensitivity to cold is a frequent precursor to
scleroderma, there are a number of other reasons
why some individuals have this symptom.
If
you have, however, any questions about any unexplained
changes in your skin, or if you have the symptoms
described above, it is a good idea to let your
dermatologist examine, diagnose, and decide on
an appropriate course of treatment for you.
O
nychoschizia
(shale nails)
Description
O
nychoschizia
(shale) is the medical term for the superficial
splitting and layering in the free ends of the
nail plates. This condition, which strikingly
resembles shale, can result from trauma or prolonged
exposure to hot liquids, solvents, or caustic
substances. Over time, repeated insult to the
nail plates causes them to dry out, become brittle,
and peel off in layers.
By
examining the nails, the dermatologist might find
clues to certain internal body disorders such
as anemia, kidney, lung, liver, or thyroid disease,
as well as skin conditions such as psoriasis and
some forms of hair loss.
Treatment
Easily
identified by the dermatologist, the problem can
be treated with special lubricants; however, it
is important to limit the damage by wearing gloves
when in water or chemicals. And, as nail polish
removers and solvents in polish can contribute
to the condition, it is helpful to reduce the
frequency of polish changes when faced with "shale
nail."
Other
Nail Conditions
W
hile
vertical ridges and other flaws on fingernails
are common, some unusual nail features may be
indicative of underlying disease or conditions.
For instance, pitting, spooning (upcurled nails),
and separation of the nail from its bed may be
caused by such diseases as anemia, hypothyroidism,
and psoriasis. Rounding and expansion of both
the nails and the ends of the fingers can be indicative
of such serious conditions as lung cancer and
inflammatory bowel disease. The horizontal furrow
known as "Beau's line" can result from
heart attack or serious illness that slows nail
growth abruptly. The line eventually grows out.
Because the nails often provide clues to various
disorders, the dermatologist will not want to
overlook them during comprehensive exam.
T
here
seem to be many more reported cases of nail fungus
among women who have "sculptured" nails.
The fake nails or tips that are applied over the
natural nail in order to enhance length, beauty,
and/or strength of the natural nails, rely on
even bonding of the nails' surfaces. When this
bond loosens and allows moisture to get into the
space between the nail and the acrylic, the warm,
dark location encourages the growth of fungus.
Thick, distorted nails (especially on the toes)
often indicate a fungal condition that, in most
cases, responds to oral antifungal drugs.
Dermatology
Update by Dr. Sandra Surbrugg
Recent
News about Nail Health
T
he
dermatologist can sometimes detect internal illnesses
on the basis of certain features on the fingernails.
For instance, asthma and tuberculosis can cause
"yellow nail syndrome" while congestive
heart failure turns nails red. Renal failure can
lead to "half-and-half nails" in which
half of the nail is normal colored and half is
white. Nails that are all white may indicate chronic
hepatitis. And, hemachromatosis (a disorder in
which excess iron is deposited in the organs)
is associated with gray, blue, or brown nails.
How a disease specifically affects a nail is not
always clear. And, while no one is suggesting
that a diagnosis can be made solely on the basis
of the condition of the nails, they can provide
a clue of an underlying problem.
N
ot
only is your skin your "outer wrapper,"
it is also the largest organ in your body. Many
people think of skin problems as superficial because
we think of "skin deep" as being synonymous
with superficiality, but our skin is also important
as the body's primary barrier against infection
and intrusion by all sorts of chemical agents
and biological invaders. Caring for one's skin
is as important as protecting the well being of
one's internal organs.
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