The Reasons Why You Should See a Dermatologist

Why would you see a dermatologist?

Dermatalogists are skin experts. With concerns related to the skin, hair and nails, a dermatologist is the best person to see for insight and treatments. Some very common reasons why people see dermatologists include screening for skin cancer, acne treatments, scar treatments and eczema. Not only do they treat your skin-related concerns, dermatologists can provide you with a ton of information and advice on how to take care of your skin. They’ll inform you on your skin type and recommend which products to use so that your skin looks and stays healthy.

What will a dermatologist do for acne?

Treating and examining acne is one of the common duties of a dermatologist. A person would normally look up and see a dermatologist when they find that their acne is resistant to over-the-counter acne treatment products. Dermatologists will take an in-depth look at your skin. This allows them to pinpoint what could be causing your acne—whether it’s from taking certain medications or if you have a hormonal imbalance. Having acne scars you want treated is another reason to visit a dermatologist.

Do dermatologists treat spider veins?

Spider veins (or varicose veins) are the bulgy, thick veins that are often seen on the calves and legs. These veins are red, blue or flesh-coloured. They’re not life-threatening or dangerous to have, but they can cause discomfort such as cramping and aching. Even if spider veins aren’t causing any pain, they could easily make someone self-conscious when their legs are bare.

Source: SpaMedica. This patient had laser leg vein treatments at SpaMedica in Toronto.

Why do people get spider veins in the first place?

One of the main causes of spider veins is due to pregnancy. When a woman is pregnant, there’s more blood in her body which causes veins to enlarge. Other reasons include:

- Lack of movement or exercise

- Standing for long periods of time

- Hormonal influences: puberty, pregnancy and menopause

How does a dermatologist treat spider veins?

A dermatologist can reduce and remove the appearance of spider veins through laser leg vein treatments. They’ll use lasers with multiple wavelengths, IPL and radiofrequency energy. One treatment lasts anywhere from 15-30 minutes, depending on how many leg veins are present.

Do I need a referral to see a dermatologist in Ontario?

OHIP requires patients to be referred by their family physician for medical dermatological conditions. If you don’t have a family doctor, you can get a referral at a walk-in clinic or local emergency room. However, for cosmetic dermatology treatments, referrals aren’t required.

Dermatologists can treat just about anything related to the skin. If you have a persisting concern that involves your hair, nails and skin, don’t hesitate to see a dermatologist. It’s better to tackle the problem early on than to let it linger for too long.

References

1. http://www.dermetics.ca/dermatology.html

Skin Cancer: The Signs You Should Watch Out For

Getting outside and soaking up the sun is what many of us tend to do when summer hits. While the heat and sunshine feels good on the skin, sometimes there are consequences to spending lots of time outside in the sun. Too much sun exposure can result in skin cancer. Although it’s one of the most preventable diseases, skin cancer is one of the fastest rising cancers in Canada. Last year, Canadian Cancer Society released a report that estimated 6,500 cases of malignant melanoma would be diagnosed that year. They estimated that 1,050 people would die from the disease.  

There are three different types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. The basal cell is the most common form of skin cancer in Canada. It might be easy to shrug off or overlook spots on your skin because you’d assume it would go away—but skin cancer doesn’t fade away like a pimple or blemish. Pay attention if the lesion is crusty, bleeds, gets bigger or itches. These are signs that should alert you to see your doctor to have your skin looked at.

If You Have a Family History of Skin Cancer, Get Yourself Checked

If you there’s a history of skin cancer in your family or you have a lot of moles, it’s best to see a dermatologist or physician to perform mole checks. This involves taking photos of different areas of the skin and comparing the photos to a new set a year later.  By doing this, your physician can see if moles or lesions are getting bigger or look suspicious. Some areas that will be looked at include the bottom of the feet, nail plates and back. Even mucosal surfaces like the eye and tongue will be checked.   

Source: http://commonskindiseases.blogspot.ca. These are how the different skin cancer cells look like.

Don’t Buy Into the Skin Cancer Myths

Some myths about skin cancer tend to stick around and are confused as reality. There’s a widespread belief that if a person has darker skin, their chance of getting skin cancer is lower. But that’s not the truth. People of colour are less susceptible to UV damage because they have more melanin in their skin. That doesn’t make them immune to developing skin cancer from UV damage though. The rule still applies where if you see lesions or moles getting darker or expanding, you should have your skin looked at by a physician.

How to Protect Your Skin From the Sun

• The sun’s rays are typically the strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Duck into the shade or avoid spending too much time outside during these hours.
• People who use tanning beds increase their chances of developing skin cancer. It’s best to refrain from visiting tanning beds and salons.
• Getting sunburns is annoying and painful, and they also increase your chances of developing melanoma. Having five or more sunburns will double your lifetime risk.
• Wear long sleeved shirts and long pants. Covering up your skin acts as another line of defense from the sun.
• Apply a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher daily.
• Spend 10-15 minutes examining your skin once a month. Ask a family member or partner to check for unusual marks or lesions on difficult-to-see areas like your back.

Anyone can get skin cancer, but there are many preventative measures you can take to lower your chances. Enjoy the sun, but be smart about it.

What Dermatologists Do To Give You Gorgeous Skin

Having healthy and clear skin is a priority for many people. Who wouldn't want to have smooth and blemish-free skin? It also doesn’t hurt that you don’t have to feel any anxiety or embarrassment when communicating face-to-face with others, either. While some very lucky people are born with flawless skin, the rest of us have to purchase endless products or seek treatment to get it. Sometimes over-the-counter products will do the job, but when they don't, a good step to take is seeing a dermatologist. 

Dermatology is a field that focuses on healing and treating skin conditions related to the skin, hair and nails. It’s not just anyone who can treat and figure out how to address these specific concerns. That’s what a dermatologist is for. So if your concern involves wrinkles, brown spots or acne, they’re the best people to see and talk to. Of course, these aren’t the only concerns they deal with—dermatologists can diagnose and treat over 3,000 diseases.

Below is just a couple of the most common skin concerns dermatologists address on a daily basis.

Source: SpaMedica. This patient received acne and acne scar reduction treatments

Acne

Acne is just one of those things that always bother each and every one of us. Nobody likes it and nobody wants it. Unfortunately, many of us deal with it during puberty or even adulthood. An article by Best Health Magazine says that more than 70% of adults between ages 20-50 experience acne breakouts.

Sometimes acne can be controlled or treated with products you can buy over the counter. But when this doesn’t clear breakouts, you should consider laser acne treatments to help clear your skin. SpaMedica combines medical treatment, laser and topical solutions to treat acute acne.

Acne treatments start with a SonoPeel, an ultrasonic microdermabrasion treatment. The ultrasound waves liquefy and break up sebaceous plugs that block the exit of sebum from the hair follicle glands in your skin.

Your treatment provider then applies a mild topical chemical called keratolytic. It helps to remove your skin’s outer layer. This allows medical acne skin care products to penetrate your skin better, which in turn reduces inflammation and increase your blood flow to fight against acne bacteria. This is just the beginning of acne treatments—there are more steps involved to clear your skin. Four to six appointments gives you anywhere between 75-95% reduction of acne breakouts.

Source: SpaMedica. This patient received laser treatments to remove brown spots on her hand.

Brown Spots

Brown spots (also known as age spots) show up on exposed skin areas such as your face, neck, back and hands. Main causes are usually due to age, genetics or too much sun exposure. Brown spots are brown (that was a no-brainer), tan or black in colour and flat. Brown spots are typically seen in people over 50, but that doesn’t mean younger people aren’t getting them. Anyone who spends a lot of time out in the sun without any sunscreen will increase their chances of developing brown spots.

Luckily, brown spots can be treated fairly easily. By combining different laser systems, intense pulsed light and radiofrequency devices, your brown spots fade after one or two laser treatments. The results gradually improve with pulsed light. The treatment itself only takes a few minutes and you can go back to work or regular activities right after.  

Get Clear and Healthy Looking Skin Now

This is just the tip of the many concerns dermatologists see and treat. Sometimes removing small things like moles, scars and spider veins can make all the difference in your confidence and appearance. If you’ve got any dermatology-related concern, don’t hesitate to ask us questions or book your appointment online.