Healthy Skin Solutions

Dust Mites

Thu, 17 Aug 2017 06:20:00 GMT

Cooler weather means it’s time to haul out all your warm, woollen blankets from the cupboards they’ve been stored in since last winter. Along with these blankets however, comes dust mites. Dust mites can wreak havoc on your skin and make the cosiest time of the year itchy and uncomfortable. We’ve compiled all you need to know about these pests to help you get through the colder months without discomfort.

What is a dust mite?

Dust mites are microscopic relatives of spiders that feast on the skin shed by people and animals (did you know that roughly 70 to 80% of house dust is us?). Areas that are used the most such as beds, blankets, and upholstered furniture contain the most dust which leads to a higher concentration of dust mites. The mite has been linked to dermatological and respiratory allergies such as eczema and asthma. Below are some symptoms you may experience if you’ve been exposed to dust mites.

Symptoms of a dust mite allergy

Signs that you may be having an allergic reaction to dust mites include;

An allergic reaction to dust mites may also trigger or worsen eczema and asthma symptoms.

How to avoid dust mites

No matter how clean your house is, it is still possible you may be harbouring dust mites. Here are some steps you can take to reduce the amount present in your home.

What to do if you have an allergic reaction to dust mites

Dust mite allergies are very common (around half of all eczema sufferers are sensitive to dust mites!), and we see patients with them every day. While the symptoms can be very aggravating there are always ways to reduce people’s suffering. If we believe you have an allergy to dust mites, we will then discuss what treatment options would be best suited to your situation.

For more information, please come in and see our team. We will be able to give you the best advice based on your specific circumstances. It is important to act sooner rather than later to avoid further complications.

Eczema in Winter

Thu, 08 Jun 2017 23:40:00 GMT

The cold, windy weather in winter can wreak havoc on your skin. If you’re feeling itchy this winter you may have eczema, a skin condition that causes dry skin. Eczema flare-ups are most common in winter due to the dry air combined with indoor heating systems which dry your skin even further.

Here are some simple tips to help you combat the symptoms through a long winter.

Although these tips can help reduce the symptoms of eczema, getting it under control can be difficult. If you would like a long term solution, feel free to contact us today for an appointment.

HerCanberra's Article: 5 Common Skin Conditions You May Not Know You Have

Mon, 16 May 2016 23:53:00 GMT

I had the pleasure of chatting to the team at HerCanberra recently about the 5 most common skin conditions people may not know they have.

The HerCanberra team produced a fantastic article, which I've included below but the link to the full article is also at the end of the article.

SKIN CAN BE A DUBIOUS THING: ONE DAY EVERYTHING IS FINE, THE NEXT, IT’S AN ITCHING, BURNING DISASTER.

In your lifetime, it’s likely you’ll have at least one common skin condition, whether it’s skin tags, rosacea or discolouration. But why does it happen, what are the treatment options and can it signal something more sinister? Don’t just rely on Google: it can be a cesspool of ill-informed suggestions and home remedies. To help suss it all out, we speak to Luke Clews at Healthy Skin Solutions in Kingston.

1. Rosacea

What: This chronic skin condition most commonly affects people aged between 30 and 60, with women suffering from it significantly more than men. Usually it presents on the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin with symptoms like red, flushed skin and papules (raised, red lesions) and pustules. It is usually quite a sensitive condition and can flare suddenly, with stinging and burning being a common symptom.

Why: Triggers of flare-ups vary but common ones include sensitivities to face creams, sunlight, alcohol, spicy foods and even hot showers. The cause (or causes) of rosacea have not been identified but a number of factors are associated with its development including sun-damaged skin, Demodex follicularum skin mites andHelicobacter pylori infections.

Treatment: Rosacea can be treated effectively, but it is very important to ensure that all triggers are identified and avoided as well as using the appropriate medications (topical and oral).

2. Skin tags (acrochordons / papillomas / soft fibromas / fibroepithelial polyps)

What: These harmless skin lesions form most commonly in skin creases (e.g. groin, armpit, eyelids) and usually don’t grow larger than a grain of rice.

Why: While their occurrence is mostly thought to be a consequence of ageing, there is a growing belief that the presence of multiple skin tags indicates the presence of insulin resistance (a precursor of type 2 diabetes) in the patient.

Treatment: While they are benign, many people don’t like the way they look and have them removed either via excision (with a scalpel), cryotherapy (frozen off) or ligation (tying thread around the base).

3. Acanthosis nigricans

What: Acanthosis nigricans is another common problem that occurs in body folds that is associated with insulin resistance, a precursor of type 2 diabetes. Sufferers experience a darkening and thickening of skin in their armpits, groins or on the back of their necks.

Why: It is actually more accurate to think of acanthosis nigricans as a symptom of an underlying disease, rather than a distinct disease itself. Other causes can be diseases of the endocrine system such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Adison’s disease or Cushing’s syndrome. Lastly, certain medications can cause acanthosis nigricans (hormone treatments, corticosteroids, insulin and nicotinic acid). It should also be noted that in rare cases this disorder can be a symptom of cancer.

Treatment: Treatment revolves around ensuring the sufferer addresses the cause of the disease; their blood sugar imbalance, as well as using appropriate topical preparation to lighten skin (if appropriate).

4. Keratosis pilaris

What: Known colloquially as “chicken skin”, this harmless condition is very common, affecting 50-80 per cent of adolescents and up to 50 per cent of adults, with the prevalence reducing with age.

Why: It is caused by an excess of the skin protein keratin blocking the top of hair follicles, leaving the skin with a rough, bumpy and sometimes reddened appearance. It usually presents on the upper arms, but also commonly arises on the face (where it can be mistaken for acne), thighs and buttocks.

Treatment: While the problem doesn’t cause any lasting harm to an individual, some people dislike the cosmetic appearance and use various methods to reduce the symptoms. These include topical creams and ointments, pumice stones and exfoliating and pulsed laser treatment. However, these are unlikely to provide a long-term solution and will generally need to be repeated.

5. Dandruff / Seborrheic dermatitis

What: Dandruff is the shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp that causes flakes of skin to appear. Dandruff is a common condition, which is commonly accompanied by itching.

Why: Dandruff is so common that people generally wouldn’t consider it to be a disease at all, but it can indicate the presence of a fungal infection (Malassezia globosa), dermatitis or (more rarely) psoriasis. A small amount of flaky skin on the scalp is perfectly normal, but if a person is constantly brushing their shoulders clean and scratching their scalp, then it may be time to have it looked into.

Treatment: Most cases can be treated with medicated shampoos, as the disease is restricted to the upper layers of skin. However, in the cases of dermatitis and psoriasis it is vital to treat the causes of the disease, making a more comprehensive program necessary. And for the Mums out there; cradle cap is actually an infantile form of dermatitis!

If any of the above problems persist, contact Healthy Skin Solutions for a consultation on 6295 6040 or visit their website at healthyskinsolutions.com.au

http://hercanberra.com.au/cplife/5-common-skin-conditions-you-may-not-know-you-have/

Vitamin D and your skin

Mon, 09 May 2016 06:38:00 GMT

More and more studies are exposing a link between a lack of vitamin D and skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and urticaria (hives).

Most people understand the importance of getting their daily doses of vitamins and minerals. They will load up on the ‘essentials’ such as a B complex, vitamin C and calcium, but vitamin D is often forgotten.

With the cooler months now upon us, getting a natural source of vitamin D from the sun will become more difficult. For that reason, it is more important than ever to keep up our vitamin D levels to ensure optimal skin health and overall health and wellbeing.

Vitamin D is known as “the sun vitamin”, however, contrary to popular belief, simply being out in the sun is often not enough to achieve adequate levels for our bodies. Over a billion people worldwide are vitamin D deficient and studies have found that people with eczema are more likely to have insufficient levels. People with eczema and low vitamin D levels have also been shown to be more at risk of developing skin infections.

Whilst the reason has not yet been discovered, skin conditions like eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis often worsen in the colder month for adults and especially children. Harvard Medical School suggests that people, whose symptoms do worsen in winter, should try taking a vitamin D supplement when their symptoms flare and see if it makes a noticeable difference.

If vitamin supplements don’t appeal to you, then there are other easy methods of achieving healthy vitamin D levels. Try eating foods with plenty of fatty fish oils, egg yolk and fortified dairy products (as long as you’re not allergic!) for a great source of the essential vitamin.

So for growth, development and your skin, be sure to start including vitamin D in your daily vitamin routine.

Gut health and how it affects your skin

Mon, 15 Feb 2016 22:30:00 GMT

An increasing body of research is starting to confirm a long-suspected link between the health of your digestive tract and your skin.

Many people know that their acne/dermatitis/eczema/rosacea/whichever will flare up if they start to experience gut trouble. Bloating and indigestion? Better get the steroid cream ready!

This relationship is due to the fact that the health of the immune system is closely linked to the gastrointestinal tract. Many skin diseases show this link but we are only now beginning to discover how close this relationship is.

For example, rosacea sufferers suffer small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) at 10 times the rate of the healthy population (1) but appropriate treatment of this problem leads to clinical improvement in their skin condition. This is remarkable considering how stubborn rosacea can be and how resistant it is to conventional treatments. Another study found that over half of the participants with acne had dysbacteriosis (an imbalance of healthy and unhealthy gut bacteria) and that their condition improved markedly once this imbalance was corrected (2). Of course, convincing a teenager to change their diet can present its own challenges!

A common treatment for gut disturbances and bacterial imbalances is the use of probiotics. Recent studies have shown that various strains of probiotics are beneficial in the prevention of juvenile eczema (3) and as a complementary therapy to antibiotics in acne treatment (4). As time progresses we will likely see further use of probiotics, prebiotics and dietary interventions being used more commonly by GPs and Dermatologists.

In the meantime, come in to Healthy Skin Solutions (or call us on 62956040), where we routinely use these treatments (as well as other effective methods) to ensure your skin is whole, healthy and beautiful!

References

1. Parodi, A et al ., 2008, Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in rosacea: clinical effectiveness of its eradication , Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol., 6(7):759-64

2. Volkova LA, Khalif IL and Kabanova IN, 2001 , [Impact of the impaired intestinal microflora on the course of acne vulgaris](Article in Russian), Klin Med (Mosk)., 79(6):39-41

3. Baquerizo Nole KL, Yim E and Keri JE, 2014 , Probiotics and prebiotics in dermatology, J Am Acad Dermatol., 71(4):814-21

4. Jung GW et al., 2013, Prospective, randomized, open-label trial comparing the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of an acne treatment regimen with and without a probiotic supplement and minocycline in subjects with mild to moderate acne, J Cutan Med Surg., 17(2):114-22

We have changed our name!

Mon, 02 Nov 2015 03:53:00 GMT

We have changed our name! Previously named the Healthy Skin Clinic we have recently changed our name to Healthy Skin Solutions, which we feel better encompases our approach.

We are still the same team and encompass all the same values. Healthy Skin Solutions prides itself on maintaining a high level of care and professionalism for all patients.

Eczema in Canberra

Wed, 01 Jul 2015 09:00:00 GMT

Welcome to another Canberra winter! The sky is a piercing blue, the wind is cold and your skin is itchy and red.

Eczema is a term used to describe a family of skin disorders characterised by redness and inflammation, itch, and flaky skin. There are many different types of eczema (or dermatitis, the names are used interchangeably), but these aggravating symptoms are common to most of them.

And Canberra is a tough town in which to be a sufferer. This is because Canberra winters are usually very beautiful, very cold and very dry. This combination of low temperature and low humidity can be a real trigger for people’s skin.

That’s not to say that it effects everyone in the same manner; eczema flares have been linked to a wide variety of dietary and environmental cues, but every case is different and every person has a unique presentation and experience of this disease.

What can be said about eczema treatments in general is to do with diet. Basically, when a person is suffering from a disease like eczema it is essential that they eat a diet that is appropriate for the state of their health. That is, when your skin is flaring it is vital that you don’t add to the problem by eating foods that can cause further inflammation while maximising your intake of healthy and nutrient-rich foods.

The treatment regime we employ at the Healthy Skin Clinic is based around identifying an individual’s eczema triggers and then devising strategies that allow the patient to minimise their risk of further flare-ups. This approach has proven successful in thousands of patients and allowed them to live itch and aggravation free!

How the Change of Season Can Make You Itch

Tue, 02 Jun 2015 07:35:00 GMT

Canberra has begun its annual change of season, with gorgeous leaf-lined streets ablaze with colour and heaters and fires being fired up after a (thankfully) long break. However, for people who suffer from diseases like eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and rosacea the change of season can signal a worsening of their condition.

This is a common problem and is caused by a variety of different factors. In large part however, the problem comes down to levels of moisture in your skin.

Cold winds, low humidity, heating and wood fires, reduced thirst reflex or just the wrong warm clothing; the causes are varied but the results are itchy and inflamed skin. So what can you do to alleviate the discomfort?

In many cases the alleviation of discomfort caused by dry skin is simply a matter of paying attention to these simple rules. And when it comes to irritating skin problems, being mindful can save you a lot of problems down the track.