Psoriasis Overview: Managing a Complex Autoimmune Disorder
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that accelerates cell production in the epidermis, leading to thickened skin, scales, and redness. This condition affects 3% of adults in the United States, totaling over 7.5 million people. It is linked to various other illnesses, including psoriatic arthritis, cardiometabolic issues, and mental health disorders, significantly impacting quality of […]
Understanding Perioral Dermatitis: Causes and Management
What is perioral dermatitis? Perioral dermatitis is a fairly common skin condition that primarily affects young women, but can affect any gender. This is typically a chronic condition with redness, small bumps (papules), and tenderness surrounding the mouth, that is not contagious. What causes perioral dermatitis? Unfortunately the exact causes of perioral dermatitis are not […]
The Mask of Pregnancy: What You Need to Know About Melasma
What is Melasma? Melasma is a common disorder of hyperpigmentation characterized by gray-brown patches on the face, mainly the cheeks, chin, nasal bridge, and forehead. Women of color with darker skin tones, particularly from East Asia, Latin America, and Africa, are typically affected. Men and patients with lighter skin tones are less commonly affected. What […]
Alopecia Areata: Unraveling the Mystery of Sudden Hair Loss
Hair is often an important part of our identity, but what happens when it starts falling out unexpectedly? For many, the answer could be alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that causes sudden patchy hair loss. It is one of the most prevalent hair loss disorders, with a reported worldwide lifetime incidence of 2%, with no […]
Comparing Psoriasis and Seborrheic Dermatitis: Diagnosis and Treatment Insights
Dealing with an itchy, scaly scalp is challenging, but when you’re unsure of the cause, it can further impact your quality of life. In this article, we will discuss two of the most common causes and how to differentiate between them. What is Psoriasis? Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by thickening […]
Androgenetic Alopecia Explained: Causes, Diagnosis, and Solutions
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), also known as female or male pattern hair loss, is the most common hair loss following puberty. Described as progressive miniaturization of the hair follicles, AGA is described as hair thinning which ultimately develops into alopecia or hair loss. AGA affects approximately 50% of women and 80% of men across all ethnicities. […]
Breaking the Itch-Scratch Cycle: Insights into Prurigo Nodularis
Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes extremely itchy, raised bumps (or nodules) on the arms and legs. While anyone can develop prurigo nodularis, it tends to be more common in adults, especially among African Americans. Prurigo nodularis is often linked to other atopic or systemic conditions, including chronic kidney disease, diabetes, […]
Everything You Need to Know About Stasis Dermatitis
What is stasis dermatitis? Stasis dermatitis, also called gravitational dermatitis, venous eczema or venous stasis dermatitis, is a condition that involves skin changes that are the result of high venous pressures caused by venous reflux. This can be due to a weakening of the valves of the leg veins that help push blood back to […]
All About Vitiligo: From Symptoms to Treatment Solutions
What is vitiligo? Vitiligo is a condition characterized by loss of pigment in patches. The outermost layer of skin is called the epidermis. At the base of the epidermis are cells called melanocytes that produce a substance called melanin. Melanin is responsible for skin pigmentation. In vitiligo, a selective amount of these pigment-producing cells may […]