Altman Dermatology

How Psoriasis Can Impact Your Life

For most psoriasis sufferers, their skin condition is a permanent fixture of day-to-day life. Raised, red, and flaky patches of skin can crop up anywhere on the body at any time. Not only is psoriasis a medical skin condition that needs treatment, but it can also be annoying and difficult to explain to friends and loved ones.

Would you like a humorous way to introduce your friends and family to your life living with psoriasis? Share this video to help others understand your experience in a lighthearted way.

The skilled dermatologists at Altman Dermatology can help determine the best dermatology care plan for your psoriasis. Our skin care center also offers acne treatment, skin cancer treatment, and dermatology care. You can find out more about our dermatologists by checking out our website or by calling us at (847) 305-1189.

Know the Role of Your Diet in Managing Psoriasis

Many individuals with psoriasis have learned that what they eat can affect how often they experience psoriasis flare-ups. If you have psoriasis, it’s important to eat a healthy, well-rounded diet centered on fresh fruit and vegetables, lean meat and fish, low-fat dairy, and whole grains. However, you may find that some of these foods can trigger your psoriasis symptoms.

High Fat Foods

By avoiding inflammatory foods such as full-fat dairy and fatty red meat, psoriasis patients may find a reduction in their psoriasis symptoms. In addition, high fat dairy and red meat put you at an increased risk of heart disease. Individuals with psoriasis are already have a greater risk of developing heart disease; therefore, choosing low-fat dairy products and lean red meat cuts is of even greater importance.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Omega 3 fatty acids not only help protect you from heart disease, but they also act as anti-inflammatories and may reduce psoriasis inflammation. Many studies have shown that fish oil can improve psoriasis symptoms.

Skin Healthy Vitamins

Vitamins A and D are known for their ability to promote healthy skin. Foods rich in vitamin A include tomatoes, carrots, mango, cantaloupe, dark leafy greens, sweet potatoes, and winter squash. Vitamin D is also crucial to healthy skin. You can get the amount of vitamin D you need by making sure to experience at least 15-20 minutes of sunlight every day.

Gluten

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. Individuals with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that triggers an immune reaction in the small intestine, are at an increased risk of having psoriasis. Many psoriasis sufferers have found that a gluten-free diet reduces their symptoms.

For expert dermatology care, including the treatment of psoriasis, turn to the dermatologists at Altman Dermatology in Arlington Heights. To set up an appointment, call us today at (847) 305-1189 or visit us on the Web.

Understanding the Different Types of Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, accounting for almost half of all cancers diagnosed in the United States. Learning to recognize some of the different types of skin cancers will better enable you to seek prompt dermatologic care when you see a suspicious area of skin.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma begins in the basal cell layer of the skin. Typically, basal cell carcinoma develops in areas that are often exposed to the sun, such as the face. This is the most common type of skin cancer for individuals with fair skin. Symptoms are waxy, pink, raised bumps. They may also have superficial blood vessels with a central depression. Basal cell carcinoma rarely spreads to other areas of the body.

Melanoma

Melanoma begins in pigmented cells and can occur on any area of the body, whether they are exposed to sunlight or not. Most commonly, men have melanoma on their neck, head, and torso, while women typically develop melanoma on their lower legs and torso. Look for black or brown lesions with asymmetrical borders, color, or shape. Melanoma accounts for 77% of deaths related to skin cancer, but only for 4% of diagnosed skin cancer. In addition, melanoma is the most likely skin cancer to metastasize.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma begins in the squamous cells, which form part of the epidermis. For individuals with dark skin, squamous cell carcinoma is most often found in areas not as exposed to the sun, such as the feet and legs. For fair-skinned individuals, squamous cell carcinoma is most common on areas of the body that are frequently exposed to the sun, such as the neck, face, hands, and head. Rough, raised, dull red skin lesions may be squamous cell carcinoma.

Do you have any questions about new or changing areas on your skin? Seek the professional opinion of a dermatologist from Altman Dermatology. Early diagnosis and skin cancer treatment can improve your treatment results. You can schedule an appointment today by calling us at (847) 305-1189.

Learn How to Protect Your Skin!

Learning how to properly care for and protect your skin is crucial for maintaining your health and preventing signs of aging such as wrinkles. The following links can help you learn more about how to protect your delicate skin from the harmful UV rays that cause skin cancer and premature aging. In addition, they provide more information on how to care for and treat other common skin conditions.

• You can learn more about the different types of skin cancer from the World Health Organization, along with information on various risk factors.
• Visit the Skin Cancer Foundation for more information about the warning signs for skin cancer and how to live a healthy lifestyle in the sun.
• This article from The New York Times explains some daily steps you can take to prevent wrinkles and other signs of aging.
• Learn about the symptoms of scabies, a treatable skin condition that affects all groups and ages worldwide, with this fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• This article from the U.S. National Library of Medicine will help you identify warning signs of shingles and proper treatment options.

For more information about taking proper care of your skin, contact the skilled dermatologists at Altman Dermatology at (847) 305-1189.

Treating Scalp Psoriasis

Even though it may affect only three out of every hundred people, individuals that suffer from scalp psoriasis are likely to feel self-conscious and embarrassed because of the symptoms. This can create severe self-esteem issues for young children who are learning to live with the disease.

Thirteen-year-old Maria understands what it’s like to have low self-confidence because of with a skin condition. In this video, Maria visits a skin care center to learn what causes her scalp psoriasis and a powerful way to treat the symptoms. A skin care treatment for her scalp allows her to comb out the flakes caused by her psoriasis and begin to re-build her self-esteem.

If your life has been dramatically affected by living with scalp psoriasis, a dermatologist can help you learn about your treatment options. For more than 40 years, Altman Dermatology has helped patients with a variety of skin conditions in the Arlington Heights area. To learn more about our range of treatments, call (847) 305-1189.