Why You Should Keep An Accurate List Of Your Medications Handy For Appointments
Does it feel like every time you go to the doctor you hear the same questions? The doctor, the nurse, the medical assistant, and even the input forms ask for it: What medications are you taking? Do you wonder why they don’t know this by now? Shouldn’t it be in your records and easily accessible,…
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Do You Have HS And Do Not Know It?!
The average time for someone to be correctly diagnosed with Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is 7 years. The longest time Dr. Kaplan has seen was a patient who came in being treated for staph infections not knowing that the entire time she had HS. She thought she had recurrent folliculitis. Some patients assume they have chafing…
Tick Season Is Here But Are You Prepared?
While the importance of identifying changing moles as a sign for skin cancer is well known, this time of year someone will inevitably make an appointment with a “changing mole” or a “blood blister” that is in fact an engorged tick! While tick bites can be unpleasant, the most concerning consequence of a tick bite…
What’s New In Acne? Accutane Is Back!
Accutane, the original brand name for Isotretinoin, also known as 13-cis-retinoic acid, was re-introduced in the US earlier this year. What does this mean for patients? First, some history. Accutane was patented in 1969 but not introduced until 1982. Accutane is used to treat severe acne – nodular, cystic, or acne refractory to conventional treatments.…
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month
Over 5 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year, making it America’s most common cancer. Nearly 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers and about 85 percent of melanoma cases of skin cancer are associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun, fortunately, making skin cancer one of the…
Adult Female Acne
Acne is one of the more common skin conditions, affecting hair follicles when they become clogged with dead skin cells and oil. Acne is a broad term that includes the appearance of pimples, blackheads and/or whiteheads. While acne tends to be considered a condition that plagues teenagers, it is not limited to adolescent years. Adult…
Have a Mole You’re Worried About but Want to Avoid Needles and a Scar?
Moles are common skin growths, presenting as small, dark brown spots, sometimes flat and sometimes raised. They are formed by clusters of pigmented cells, occurring when melanocytes grow in clusters or clumps. Melanocytes are the skin cells which give us our color by producing the natural pigment known as melanin. Moles most commonly appear during…
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Acne Caused By Aggressive Supplements
Are you experiencing acne breakouts while on dietary supplements? Do you ever wonder whether these supplements are the culprit behind your acne? Acne can be caused or aggravated by supplements, even seemingly innocuous supplements. The main culprits causing breakouts are supplements containing Vitamins B6/B12, iodine or whey, and ‘muscle building supplements’ that may be contaminated…
COVID Vaccine & Cosmetic Facial Fillers
While we are so relieved we finally have COVID-19 vaccines and know there is light at the end of the tunnel for this pandemic, a recent update from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reveals that the Moderna vaccine may raise specific dermatological concerns. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine received authorization for emergency use in the US on…
Maskne and Skin Care Tips During COVID-19
COVID-19 has added a new word to our vocabulary: maskne. Yes, “maskne” – mask acne – is now a thing. 2020 has brought with it anxiety and stress that have done its damage on clear skin in addition to the worry wrinkles that are now becoming a permanent part of our forehead. Unique to this pandemic, many…
Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia – Hair Loss In Women
Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) describes a type of hair loss typically seen on the front of the scalp in women. This condition is on the rise and has become one of the more frequently seen causes of hair loss in women. FFA is a type of scarring alopecia, which was described first in 1994. Increased incidences have been reported worldwide,…
Noticing Some New Sun Damage?
Sun exposure has positive benefits to our physical and mental health, but when most people consider UV light and its effects, skin cancer and premature aging are the first to come to mind. There is no question that exposure to the sun and other sources of UV light, like tanning beds, damages the skin. That’s…