ccrutchfield's blog

Acne rosacea is a chronic disorder that primarily affects facial skin. It typically appears after age 30, first as red blotches on the cheeks, nose, chin, or forehead. Over time, the affected areas become more severe and more persistent, and blood vessels may appear. Untreated, acne rosacea can develop into bumps and pimples. Many sufferers also experience irritated eyes that appear watery or bloodshot.

Many of my patients come to me for Botox® Cosmetic, a revolutionary enzyme that makes wrinkles virtually disappear. At very high doses, it is considered a toxin, but to treat wrinkles, a dilution 3 million times less than the toxic level is used. The Botox enzyme has been used safely and successfully since the 1980s for a number of conditions, including muscular disorders. Side effects do not occur frequently but could be potentially serious, including:

Considering cosmetic dermatology? Take your time in learning about and evaluating procedures, especially those that make permanent changes. For example, I see many people who get permanent eyeliner-type tattoos and want to know how to get them removed 3 or 4 years later. Although some are delighted with permanent cosmetic procedures, ideally you should consider something that lasts at most 2 years. Most treatments that we offer last 6–12 months.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common type of eczema, often called “the itch that rashes.” The itch can be overwhelmingly intense, especially in children, who are its primary sufferers. The disease usually begins in childhood – 90% of initial cases of the condition develop before age of 5 years, with 65% developing the condition during their first year.

Eczema and atopic dermatitis are medical terms, sometimes used interchangeably, that describe irritation and inflammation of the skin. Eczema is characterized by symptoms including redness, swelling, itching, crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, or oozing of the skin. Atopic dermatitis is a recurring condition in which people have eczematous changes in their skin associated with itching and dry skin. Often, patients with atopic dermatitis have a personal or family history of asthma and/or seasonal allergies.

Skin color is determined by cells called melanocytes that produce a pigment known as melanin. The variation in skin color we observe in people around the globe is determined by the type and amount of melanin produced by melanocytes.

A recent theory suggests that differences in skin color are a function of the skin’s ability to protect against ultraviolet radiation. Persons living closer to the equator produce more melanin because the ultraviolet radiation is more intense, and people living further away from the equator produce less melanin, resulting in lighter skin color.

Psoriasis does not discriminate; it has dispensed its misery to those in all walks of life and ethnicities for centuries. Unfortunately, this is one of the rare cases where tolerance will not be tolerated! We are working to rid the world of this “equal opportunity disorder,” but, regrettably, there is not yet a cure for psoriasis. Until that day comes, you can control your psoriasis and dramatically improve your quality of life.

Acne is actually a wide variety of complex disease states, from small bumps to red inflammatory nodules and pustules, all influenced by genetic and hormonal makeup. To help understand it, we start with the fact that the human body is covered with millions of hairs, the vast majority so small they can’t be seen. But you can see the pores where the hairs protrude. And that’s where the trouble begins.

The variations in skin color and tone we see across the human race is limitless. This amazing diversity is determined by the amount of pigment known as melanin, which is produced by specialized pigment-forming skin cells called melanocytes. 

Vitiligo is a skin condition caused by the destruction of melanocytes. It can affect any location on the body, and it manifests as a conspicuous white patch or patches. Although vitiligo affects all ethnicities equally, it is most noticeable in patients with darker skin. Entertainer Michael Jackson was perhaps the most famous sufferer of vitiligo.