Tag: Recovery Period

Bidding Good Gye to Ugly Acne Scars

Aside from the humiliation caused by full-grown acne to a patient, more depression is brought by the skin disorder once it gets healed or dried up the wrong way because it results to ugly traces or scars.

According to dermatologists, acne scars have resulted from inflamed and infected pimples or blackheads that werent treated properly. They have also categorized the types of acne scars into two: the pigmented scars and the ice pick scars. The former is known to leave behind purplish-brown marks once the pimple blemish goes away while the latter is known to leave small depressions on the skin after the lesions have dried up.

Studies show that women are more prone to acne scarring compared to men because of heredity or lighter skin color.

Research has also proved that pigmented acne scars are more prominent to darker colored women because it has resulted from the bigger collection of pigment cells already present in their skin.

Treating Traces of Acne

Since acne is a common skin disorder, it is expected to heal all by themselves after the proper medication has been given. But sometimes, cases occur that persistent blackheads or pimple become infected which results to acne scars and pockmarks. Because of this, dermatologists and some medical experts have taken precautions and developed treatments to exterminate acne scars:

1. Dermabrasion. One of most popular acne scar treatment is dermabrasion. The treatment involves scraping off the top layer of skin physically. After a series of deep dermabrasion treatments, the patient has to take a time off from work or from school for the recovery period. This is known to be one of the most effective methods that remove deep acne scars for good.

2. Micro-dermabrasion. If you have lighter acne scars, experts recommend microdermabrasion, a less invasive approach that scrapes off a very thin layer of skin and doesnt require long recovery period. This treatment involves a medical sand blasting technique that cleans the pores.

3. Laser resurfacing. While dermabrasion using scrapping off layers of skin, laser resurfacing uses a highly concentrated light beam or laser to burn off skin cells.

4. Acid peels. Another way to remove acne scars is by using acids peels. The method usually takes a week or two to heal the skin. Although this treatment is known to be effective, you might want to consider other acne scar treatment because it causes discomfort and reddening of the skin during the healing process.

5. Collagen injections. The collagen injection is also one of the most scar removal approached recommended by doctors. The treatment uses a protein called collagen, which is also known as a natural component of human tissue.

The collagen is injected underneath the scar to raise it to the level of the surrounding skin to restore its normal appearance. Since collagen breaks eventually, the scar treatment has to be repeated over time.

6. Chemical peels. This treatment involves the use of a chemical in order to remove the top layer of the scarred skin. It is also used to smooth depressed acne scars to give the skin an even color. Thirty to 40 percent glycolic acids are used in these peelings that are applied to the skin.

7. ClearLight. This treatment involves a new therapeutic light that uses the innovative Acne PhotoClearingTM – APCTM technology. This targets and destroys the surface of the acne that quickly and easily repairs it. It is also known to be effective in clearing inflamed acne in one month.

Other fast-reduction scar treatments include the use of copper-peptide products like copper peptide serum and tri-reduction protect to exfoliate the skin.

Case Study: Hydroderm vs. Other Skin Care

Case Study: Hydroderm vs. Other Skin Care
Wondering about the performance of Hydroderm vs. other skin care methods? In the past, there were few alternatives to hide the signs of aging. You were often limited to wearing scarves or neckties to cover up baggy neck lines and loose skin around the collar. Now there are a number of surgical procedures and cosmetic products on the market to take care of these unsightly problems. This article will explore how these new methods stack up against Hydroderm skin care products.

Chemical peels are one of the more common skin care methods being used today. A chemical peel actually burns off the top layer of skin with acid to remove the dead skin cells and let the healthy layer underneath shine through. This is a popular choice because it is non-invasive and does not require surgery. Chemical peels may not be as effective as a surgical procedure like a face life, but they are a good way to remove acne scars or sun damage.

Botox is one of the latest skin care methods to hit the marketplace. It uses small injections of collagen around the mouth, neck, or eye area to relax the muscles and reduce lines and wrinkling. It is also commonly used for people who have issues with involuntary muscle contraction, along with helping to smooth appearance. Botox injections are commonly administered into the neck area, making them non-invasive and easy to recover from.

One of the oldest methods of taking years of one’s appearance is the face lift. This is a much more involved, and often painful, surgical procedure in which the skin is actually cut and then tightened. Obviously, this is more costly than any of the other methods listed, including Hydroderm. A face lift may also require an extended recovery period to heal from the incisions that have been made.

Hydroderm is a new collagen infusion that is designed to moisturize the skin and tighten up wrinkles and lines. It is generally used in the neck area to pick up sagging skin. Hydroderm includes tri-dimensional proteins that fortify and revitalize dry, baggy skin. It is also currently the only way to infuse collagen into your system without painful injections at the doctor’s office.

Hydroderm compares favorably vs. other skin care methods like the face lift, chemical peel, or Botox. In three weeks of the Hydroderm system, you can eliminated about half of the wrinkles on your face and neck. Even better, this does not require any surgery or injections and can be done in the privacy of your own home.

There are more options for skin care treatment than ever before. So far, Hydroderm holds its own vs. other skin care methods. It is far more economical and convenient than having a surgical procedure such as a face lift or an injection of Botox. It remains to be seen how Hydroderm will fare vs. other new skin care methods as they appear on the market, but right now it is still one of the best alternatives available.

Surgical Procedures for Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are not really dangerous because normally it gets out of the body through urination. Then again there are cases when kidney stones develop to something bigger than expected so they stay in the body. When this happens then it is time to visit your doctor so that you can go through necessary tests and figure out the next best steps to be taken. Usually a patient with kidney stones may just be advised to stay home and drink lots of water so that eventually the kidney stones are flushed out. Sometimes though that is not enough and so after careful thought surgery may be considered as it is needed.

There are many things to consider before someone with kidney stones should consider surgery. Here are some of the things to observe and take note of. If you are experiencing these things then you seriously have to start thinking about surgery. If the kidney stones seem to be stuck over quite a long period of time and is starting to cause the person pain. Also, when the kidney stones blocks the normal flow of urine and causes a urinary tract infection to persist. On very bad occasion, ignored kidney stones that are getting bigger may eventually cause kidney tissue damage which is evident in bleeding.

For over 20 years open surgery was the only way to go when it comes to removing kidney stones. As in any open surgery, recovery period takes a long period of time as in around four to six weeks which is really bad news. This is the reason why people tend to just self-medicate thinking it will wade out.

However things can just get worse if you leave things at that but who can blame those people? Going under the knife is not something that is easy to undergo. The good news is that these days, due to advancement in technology, many surgery choices for the removal of kidney stones no longer require open surgery and can even be performed in an outpatient setting.

Here a number of procedures are discussed. The most common surgery choice is Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy or ESWL. There are a number of ESWL devices available but basically they all work the same way. Shock waves are created outside the body and then it penetrates the skin and tissues to make its way through the kidney stones that will eventually be broken down into small pieces.

Now for more kidney stones in more complicated areas or states, there are other procedures to choose from. For larger stones or kidney stones that are hard to locate, there is the percutaneous nephrolithotomy. This requires a bit of going under the knife since a surgeon has to make a tiny incision at the back to create a tunnel directly to the kidney. What is good about this procedure is that it can remove fragments of kidney stones directly. For stones located in the mid and lower ureter, Ureteroscopy might be needed. No incision is required for this procedure.

The surgeon simply passes a small fiberoptic instrument called a ureteroscope until it reaches the ureter. Upon locating the kidney stone, it is removed with a cage-like device or breaks it with a special instrument that produces shock wave. This particular procedure, however, is rarely used to day because of the high risks involved.

What You Should Know About Spider Vein Treatments

Spider veins are nothing more than a cosmetic problem. If you plan to undergo spider vein treatment, here are a few things you should know.

Before you undergo any type of treatment, you have to consult with your doctor. You will be asked a few questions with regards to your medical history, what medications you take, what type of work do you do and a few others because these are some of the cause of spider veins.

He or she will examine your leg to check if there are other problems. The hand held Doppler ultrasound device will be used to detect if there is a backflow within the venous system. If there are no serious problems, then you can undergo spider vein treatment but should there be any, you will be referred to another specialist.

Lets say there are no problems. Your doctor will then explain to you what happens when you undergo sclerotherapy. This procedure is the trend these days for this cosmetic problem. In this procedure, sclerosing agents are injected in the affected area which is designed to lighten the color of the veins.

If you have any questions, dont be afraid to raise them. Some people ask if it is going to hurt, what are the risks and benefits, how long is the recovery period and the costs which is perfectly normal since you will be the one who will undergo the procedure.

After getting all the necessary information and your willingness to still do it, you have to follow your doctors instructions to prepare you for treatment. You must not apply any moisturizer, sunblock or oil to your legs on the day of your procedure. You can wear shorts during the procedure but have to wear a prescribed support hose and slacks when you go home.

The procedure does not take that long. This may last from 15 to 45 minutes. It is a painless procedure and you dont have to be injected with anesthesia. If your doctor has their own clinic, it will be done right there.

Just how many injections will be used depends on the number of spider veins. Some patients will get 5 injections while this can go up to about 45. When the injection has been removed, the doctor will apply cotton ball and compression tape to that area of the leg.

Your legs will look bruised or slightly discolored for a few weeks and chances are you wont be going to the pool or beach for a few weeks because you will not be comfortable wearing a swimsuit. You can go to work and party but instead of wearing dress, you will be wearing slacks or a pair of jeans.

Since one session is not enough to make the spider veins unnoticeable, you will have to go back for the next session after one month. If new spider veins start appearing, it is your choice whether or not you want to undergo this procedure again. If you are vain, chances are you will.

Not everyone can undergo sclerotherapy. If you happen to suffer from diabetes, circulatory problems, heart condition or are suffering from a blood born disease like hepatitis or AIDS, you will have to find another form of spider vein treatment.