There are two important reasons for physicians to address the role of diet when managing psoriasis patients. One is to limit risks of cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities. The other is to potentially improve psoriasis severity.
Evidence suggests certain food types can flare psoriasis and losing weight can improve treatment response for some with psoriasis, according to Rajani Katta, M.D., co-author of an article that examines how dietary changes can impact skin diseases ― including psoriasis, published earlier this year in Skin Therapy Letter.
“We know that patients who have psoriasis are at higher risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and a number of metabolic abnormalities. It’s really important that psoriasis patients know that and realize that changing their diet can be an important part of preventing these comorbidities,” said Dr. Katta, a dermatologist with Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston.
Check out the recommended dietary triggers and suggestions from experts.
Think you need to lie out to boost vitamin D levels? That it’s safe to tan as long as you wear sunscreen? That skin cancer isn’t that big a deal? Top skin doctors help set the record straight on common sun, sunscreen, and skin cancer myths.
Myth: “A base tan protects you.”
It’s a dermatologist mantra: There. Is. No. Such. Thing. As. A. Safe. Tan. “A tan is literally your body’s response to being injured by UV exposure,” says Darrell Rigel, MD, a clinical professor of dermatology at New York University Medical Center. When your cells are exposed to UV light, they produce more melanin, the pigment that colors your skin, which is why you tan. But this is a sign that damage has already been done, not protection against future sun exposure. In fact, a “base tan” provides the SPF equivalent of about a 4, says Steve Rotter, MD, a dermatologic surgeon in Virginia. (As a comparison, a white T-shirt gives you more coverage—about an SPF 7).
Myth: “80 percent of sun damage occurs before age 18, so the injury is already done.”
The latest thinking shows that you get closer to just 25 percent of total sun exposure by age 18—that 80 percent figure is outdated and inaccurate. Further, experts say revamping your sun habits at any age is a smart move. “It’s the same as smoking cigarettes—no matter how much damage you’ve done, it’s always good to stop,” says Rigel. While it’s true that melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is more closely linked to childhood sunburns, “it’s cumulative sun exposure that’s associated with other skin cancers, not to mention wrinkles, thinning skin, dark spots, and ‘broken’ capillary veins on the skin,” says Jessica Wu, MD, Los Angeles dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at USC School of Medicine. Here are more sunscreen dos and don’ts you should know this summer.
Myth: “I have dark skin, so I don’t need to worry.”
“This is just profoundly, radically false,” says Ranella Hirsch, MD, a Boston dermatologist and past president of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery. Many people with more pigment in their skin will have a lower skin cancer risk, says Rigel, but they’re not immune. One CDC paper found that up to 30 percent of darker-skinned ethnic groups reported at least one sunburn in the previous year. “Unfortunately, skin cancer is frequently diagnosed later in people of color—perhaps because of the misconception that they are not at risk—so it’s often progressed to a later stage and is more difficult to treat,” says Wu. Singer Bob Marley, for example, died of melanoma on his toe that was misdiagnosed as a soccer injury. Furthermore, skin color isn’t as simple as it sounds, because people are more heterogeneous than you think, explains Hirsch. So even if you have a dark complexion, you could have genes that make you more susceptible to skin cancer.
Click here to find out what other myths people mistaken about sun protection.
Credit: Lauren Gelman, Reader’s Digest
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At TDC, you can be rest assured that only our expert physicians, with many years of training & expertise, treat our patients with Botox and Fillers for optimal safety and results.
“A Vaughan woman allegedly offering discounted cosmetic non-surgical procedures out of her home has been charged in relation to the death of a 23-year-old woman who police say died as a result of cosmetic injections.
In a press release Thursday, York Regional Police said they were called to a hospital on April 18, 2017, where they found a woman in life-threatening condition. Officers learned that non-surgical cosmetic procedures were performed on the victim inside a private residence in Vaughan. The victim succumbed to her injuries in hospital.”
Summer dress season is in full swing, and with the freedom of scoop necks and spaghetti straps comes the stress of selecting a sunscreen. What SPF is necessary? Do children need a special formula? And are chemical ingredients really dangerous? There are lots of rumours about sunscreen floating around online and on the beach, adding to the confusion. With skin cancer on the rise in Canada, it’s more important than ever to separate fact from fiction. We asked dermatologists to debunk the most dangerous, deceptive and downright silly myths.
Myth: There’s no added value to wearing anything above SPF 30
The Canadian Dermatology Association (CDA) recommends using a sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30, but going higher can add an extra layer of protection. SPF, which stands for sun protection factor, is a measure of how long you can spend in the sun before burning. Wearing a sunscreen with SPF 30 allows you to be outside 30 times longer without getting a sunburn. That means that someone who burns in 20 minutes without protection would be able to spend 600 minutes, or 10 hours, in the sun before turning red.
If you put on sunscreen perfectly — applying a generous layer to all exposed areas of the body — SPF 30 should be adequate, says Jennifer Beecker, a dermatologist and research director in the Division of Dermatology at The Ottawa Hospital. However, research shows that people apply a quarter to half the recommended amount, which reduces the SPF. “We find that when patients put on a higher SPF, it can counteract the under-application effect,” says Beecker, who is also national chair of the CDA Sun Awareness Working Group.
Several studies back this up, including one published last month in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. In that study, people wore SPF 100+ sunscreen on one side of their face and SPF 50+ on the other, and the researchers found that SPF 100+ was significantly more effective in preventing sunburn.
Click here to find out what other myths there are about sunscreens.
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Can a simple injection stop you from sweating through your shirt?
Yes, it is hot in here, and no it’s not just you. But each person’s sweat quotient is as unique as their thumbprint, and some people are definitely sweatier under the arms than others.
Approximately 3 percent of Canadians suffer from a condition known as hyperhidrosis, broadly defined by the Canadian Dermatology Association (CDA) as “a disorder that defines individuals who sweat more than the body would normally need to maintain optimal temperature.” But lo, there’s a treatment that can help — one that a) isn’t “many towels,” and b) has long been injected elsewhere on the body by regular women and Real Housewives alike: Botox.
Read on to find out whether a needle to the pit is the solution to your perspiratory woes.
How do I know if my level of sweat is a crazy amount of sweat?
“It’s a quality of life issue,” says Dr. Darren Ezer, a trained anesthesiologist employed at the Toronto Sweat Clinic. Ezer says that while “excess sweat” is a subjective judgment (“because everybody sweats”), there are some general signs of a problem: Does your underarm situation cause you to leave social situations? Do you have to change your shirts multiple times a day? Are you soaking through your clothes without exerting yourself? Per the CDA, excess sweat can cause your work productivity, confidence and wardrobe to take a huge hit. “Those are people who we’d [diagnose] with moderate-to-severe hyperhidrosis, and who would be candidates for Botox.”
Botox? Really?
Yes, really. The known forehead-wrinkle-fixing neurotoxin has been employed for more than two decades as a Health Canada–approved treatment for excess underarm sweat.
How does it work? Dr. Anatoli Freiman of the Toronto Dermatology Centre explains that injections of Botox “inhibit nerve transmission to the sweat glands under your arms, slowing down the production of sweat and reducing output by as much as 90 percent.” It might not totally eliminate the need for anti-perspirant, but that’s a personal judgment call.
How much does it cost?
The treatment is covered by most third-party insurance providers, but runs up to $1,000 without coverage. A doctor’s referral isn’t necessary, but Ezer says it’s worth talking to your physician if you think your sweat quotient is excessive. (You don’t need to suffer from hyperhidrosis to seek out a Botox injection, but you’d probably find it unnecessary.)
What’s the procedure like?
“As far as needle-based procedures, it’s not very painful at all,” Ezer says. Clinicians may apply a topical numbing cream to start, though this is relatively uncommon. Then a very thin, small needle is used to inject about 100 to 150 units of Botox in each armpit. The entire procedure takes less than 10 minutes, and patients can go back to work right afterwards. The effects last between six to eight months.
Are there side effects?
Generally, says Ezer, “it’s very well tolerated,” as the risk of bruising and infection is very low. Also, there is no strong evidence of “compensatory sweating.” (Read: You won’t start sweating more out of your back to compensate for your less-sweaty armpits.) Botox also won’t inhibit your body’s ability to excrete toxins, notes Dr. Freiman. That said, patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding, have certain neurological disorders (like Myasthenia Gravis and Eaton Lambert Syndrome) or those who are allergic to albumin should not receive Botox. All told, the only expected effect is that, according to Dr. Ezer, “you’ll start sweating like a normal person — a normal sweater.”
Body acne affects up to 50% of people with acne. Dr. Catherine Zip, a Calgary dermatologist and spokesperson for the Acne and Rosacea Society of Canada, helps us understand what body acne is, the causes and treatments.
Hazy days of summer…
As temperatures climb and we dig through our closets in search of tank tops and swimwear, we may be reminded of the red bumps on our chest and back – body acne. Although acne most commonly involves the face, in up to 50% of acne sufferers, it also involves the body.
What is body acne and where does it appear?
Body acne, also dubbed “bacne”, is simply acne that is located on the body, including the chest, back, shoulders and, less commonly, the upper arms.
Why do people get body acne?
The development of body acne is felt to be the same as that of facial acne. Blocked oil glands in the skin, oil production, bacteria, hormones, genetics and inflammation all contribute to the development of acne.
To learn more about body acne and treatment for it, click here.
Skin cancer is on the rise in Canada, due in part to UV ray exposure both from the sun and from man-made sources like tanning beds.
Men are less worried about sun exposure than women, a new survey says, but dermatologists say that’s a mistake.
In the Canadian Dermatology Association’s annual survey on sun and skin cancer awareness, 55 per cent of men said that they were concerned about the risk of skin cancer as a result of sun exposure, compared to 67 per cent of women.
The problem is, more men than women die of melanoma. The CDA estimates that in 2017, 450 women died from melanoma, compared to 790 men. Men also account for a greater percentage of melanoma cases than women.
Most people are aware of the dangers of sun exposure, said Dr. Jason Rivers, clinical professor of dermatology at the University of British Columbia, but not enough people translate that awareness into action and protect themselves.
“Women are more health-aware and more likely to take actions in terms of health maintenance and prevention compared to guys,” he said. He thinks this is true across medicine, but also in dermatology.
Men are also more likely to put off getting a problem looked at, which might mean things are worse by the time they get medical attention, he said. “In a sense, it’s reflected in part in the fact that mortality rates are increasing faster in men than women with regards to skin cancers, specifically melanoma.”
In men, most melanoma cases appear on the back – likely because they have their shirts off more often during hot weather, he said. “This is an area that you can’t see, so that may be one area and one reason why people are less likely to detect this early.”
Rivers would like everyone – men and women – to take more precautions when they’re in the sun. Simple things like wearing more clothing, putting on a hat and sunglasses, and using sunscreen can help to reduce the risk of skin cancer.
Katie Gerber’s melanoma was caught at an early stage.
Katie Gerber wasn’t that worried when her boyfriend pointed out the especially dark mole on her left buttock. It was in a place that wasn’t exposed to the sun and besides, “it was perfectly round and it didn’t have any of the odd edges or any of the other signs that you look for,” she remembered.
Still, to be on the safe side, the 29-year-old made an appointment with her dermatologist to get it checked out. “When it came back as melanoma, it was really jarring,” Gerber, who lives in Los Angeles and is now 39, said.
One of the common myths about melanoma is that it’s always the result of sun exposure. While the sun probably plays a role in many cases, experts say some people inherit genes that make them prone to develop this skin cancer without any exposure to the sun’s rays.
At TDC, you can be rest assured that only our expert physicians, with many years of training & expertise, treat our patients with 
Can a simple injection stop you from sweating through your shirt?
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