Skincare
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Rosacea: Types, Symptoms and Treatment
Does your face always look flushed? Do you have pimple-like bumps? If so, you could have a chronic inflammatory skin condition known as rosacea. Currently, rosacea affects as many as 3 million Canadians and is one of the most common disorders seen by dermatologists. Anyone can be impacted by rosacea, although it typically affects more women than men, and generally develops in adults between the ages of 30 and 50. It can also affect individuals with any skin type, though those who are fair skinned (such as those who are of Northern or Eastern European descent) are much more at risk. The exact cause of rosacea is not known, but…
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What Causes Acne?
Acne is one of the most common skin conditions affecting teenagers and young adults in Canada between the ages of 13 and 30. It occurs when the body produces an excess amount of an oily substance known as sebum, causing the hair follicles of the skin to become plugged. Once these follicles become plugged, bacteria then begins to thrive which results in inflammation and the formation of pimples – known as acne. Certain factors, as outlined below, can also contribute to acne. Hormones This is due to the increase in androgens that cause the sebaceous glands to become enlarged and produce too much sebum. Hormonal changes as a result of…
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Relieving Irritated Skin
Millions of Canadians live with or have had a skin condition in their lifetime. 20% of Canadians live with acne, while 3 million Canadians have been diagnosed with rosacea and/or psoriasis. Another common condition of the skin is skin dryness, flakiness and/or itching. While eczema is something that is often characterized by these same symptoms, they can also be the result of a change in weather and temperature – particularly in the fall and winter months. When there is a decrease in temperature, there is also a decrease in the skin’s moisture content. This can then lead to the skin becoming dry, irritated and itchy, flaky, and you can even…
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Managing Psoriasis in Colder Weather
With the winter season not too far off, cooler temperatures and a change in the weather will soon follow suit – and the colder the season, the drier, itchier and inflamed the skin can become. Psoriasis, a common autoimmune disorder that affects as many as 1 million Canadians and 125 million individuals, manifests itself as a skin problem. With Psoriasis, skin may feel itchy and/or sore and appear scaly and/or red. While the exact cause of Psoriasis is unknown, a combination of genetics and certain triggers (such as stress) are likely to play a part in the disorder; and while family physicians may need to prescribe medication to individuals with…
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What Causes Acne?
Acne affects as many as 5.6 million Canadians, a number that accounts for 20% of the country’s population. It occurs when dead skin cells clog the pores, resulting in an accumulation of an oily substance known as sebum, which is produced by oil glands, and is one of the most common skin conditions seen by dermatologists and family physicians like Dr. Ali Ghahary. Symptoms commonly associated with acne include: • Small, red pimple-like lesions • Redness • Swelling/inflammation While acne is most commonly seen on the face, it can also affect other areas of the body including the neck, shoulders, arms and back. Anyone can develop acne, but it usually…
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Sensitive Skin
Globally, more than 40% of the population say they have sensitive skin. While sensitive skin isn’t really a clinical term, it is a common expression, and typically refers to skin that is easily reactive and more prone to inflammation. As for what causes the skin to become sensitive, there are many contributing factors – particularly products that the skin comes into direct contact with. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS Surprisingly, the environment can actually play a fairly significant role in triggering sensitive skin and susceptible to other external irritants. Where you live, for example, could be one cause. If you happen to live in a big city, you’re likely to be exposed to…
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The Best Products for Your Skin Type
When it comes to finding the right skincare products, it’s important to know that everyone’s skin is different and not all products are made to be used universally. For example, you might have more sensitive skin and therefore need to use products that have less ingredients and are free from fragrance, while someone else’s main concern with their skin might not be sensitivity, but instead be fine lines and wrinkles. The type of product you should be using depends on your skin type, which there are 4 of: • Normal skin • Dry skin • Oily skin • Combination skin If you have normal skin, this means that your skin…
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Use of Soap and Sanitizer to Prevent COVID-19
We’ve heard about the different things we can do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as physically distancing from others, staying home as much as possible and only going out unless it is absolutely necessary, as well as wearing a mask or cloth covering to prevent your droplets from spreading (as, even if you’re asymptomatic, you could be infected with the virus.) But we have also heard about one other key factor that can significantly prevent the spread of COVID-19: Washing your hands! Because our hands come into contact with so many people and surfaces on any given day, it’d be impossible to not pick up germs along…
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Itchy Skin and Underlying Medical Conditions
Itchy skin can often be blamed on one thing: Dry skin – and while this is something that is much more common in the colder seasons (i.e. winter and fall), other people can be prone to dry skin and experience it year-round. Regardless, it’s always recommended that you use a moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated – even if it’s on the oiler side – as well as exfoliate and cleanse your skin regularly to keep it as healthy as possible. There are also other skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, that are associated with dry skin, and you may also develop some other symptoms such as scaling, flakiness,…
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The Effects of Diet and Exercise on the Skin
Having a healthy diet and getting regular physical activity is important for your overall health and wellbeing, as it can help reduce your risk of things like heart disease, diabetes, and even help you to maintain a healthy weight as well as boost your mood. However, diet and exercise can also have an effect on the skin – both positive and negative – all depending on the types of foods you eat and how much physical activity you’re getting. Diet and the Skin I always recommend patients eat a healthy diet – particularly diets that are low in carbohydrates. This means avoiding things like white bread, white rice, and white…