Dermatology
Our skin is amazingly a major organ in our body
It protects against germs and infection entering our body and bloodstream. Our skin helps support our immunity from infection, but also helps in the production of Vitamin D, helps regulate our temperature and continually divides to support healing and self-repair.
Skin helps to regulate body temperature through our sweat glands. As the body part responsible for the sense of touch, the skin works with the nervous system to alert the body to potential dangers by detecting pressure, pain, heat, and cold. When exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, the skin manufactures Vitamin D, an essential vitamin for healthy skin. Vitamin D promotes the body’s absorption of calcium, which is essential for the normal development of healthy teeth and bones.
Skin diseases affecting the skin can cause rashes, inflammation, itchiness or other skin changes. Some skin diseases are minor. Others cause severe symptoms. Skin disease treatments may include systemic and topical medications and lifestyle changes. Topical treatments commonly include creams and ointments.
Some of the most common skin diseases include:
- Acne, blocked skin follicles that lead to oil, bacteria and dead skin build up in your pores.
- Alopecia areata, losing your hair in small patches.
- Atopic dermatitis (eczema), dry, itchy skin that leads to swelling, cracking or scaliness.
- Psoriasis, scaly skin that may swell or feel hot.
- Raynaud’s phenomenon, periodic reduced blood flow to your fingers, toes or other body parts, causing numbness or skin colour change.
- Rosacea, flushed, thick skin and pimples, usually on the face.
- Skin cancer, uncontrolled growth of abnormal skin cells.
- Vitiligo, patches of skin that lose pigment.
Acne:
Topical therapy is the standard of care for mild to moderate acne.
Prescription medicines that can be used to treat acne include:
- Topical retinoids
- Topical antibiotics
- Azelaic acid
- Antibiotic tablets
- In women, the combined oral contraceptive pill
Topical antibiotics help kill the bacteria on the skin that can infect plugged hair follicles. They’re available as a lotion or gel that’s applied once or twice a day.
Psoriasis:
Causes red, itchy scaly patches, most commonly on the knees, elbows, trunk and scalp. Psoriasis is a common, long-term (chronic) disease. It may have an auto-immune component resulting in excessive skin turnover leading to the skin plaques commonly associated with flares and outbreaks. Treatment is most often symptomatic to reduce the itch and scaliness.
Treatments fall into 3 categories:
- Topical – creams and ointments applied to your skin.
- Phototherapy – Exposes your skin to certain types of ultraviolet light.
- Systemic – oral and injected medicines to disrupt some inflammatory processes believed to impact in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
Steroidal creams or ointments (topical corticosteroids) are used to treat mild to moderate psoriasis in most areas of the body. The treatment works by reducing inflammation. This slows the production of skin cells and reduces itching.
Topical corticosteroids range in strength from mild to very strong. They are prescribed by your doctor in short courses. Stronger corticosteroids must only be used for very short periods. For this reason, using milder steroidal creams first is recommended.
Athena medicines
Zineryt, Locoid Lipocream
Contact your healthcare provider for any queries you may have.