Dermatology Research Articles | Medical Opinion Articles

Vitiligo: Present and Future, With John E. Harris, MD

Expert on vitiligo John E. Harris, MD, associate professor of dermatology at University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) in Worcester, spoke with us about the skin disorder.

Anxiety, Depression Higher in Patients With Atopic Eczema Compared With Other Chronic Diseases

Depression, anxiety, and reduced quality of life are seen more frequently in patients with atopic eczema—and these associations imply that it may be more than just a skin disease.

Daily Pulsed Blue Light Effectively Suppresses Acne Bacteria

Complete suppression of Propionibacterium acnes can be realized with repeated, low irradiation and radiant exposure and is more successful than single, higher irradiation and radiant exposures.

Familial Psoriasis May Not Be Tied to Obesity

Obesity does not necessarily induce or contribute to familial psoriasis, according to a study published in the Journal of Dermatology.

Dermatologists’ Tips to Treat and Control Dandruff

Do you have a favorite black sweater, but youre afraid to wear it because of dandruff?

Vanderbilt Study Finds Elderly Face No Added Risk From Cosmetic Surgery

Senior citizens are at no higher risk for complications from cosmetic surgery than younger patients, according to a recent study by plastic surgeons at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Is Waxing Good for You?

Taking pride in ones appearance can mean different things to different people. For some, its being well dressed and groomed; for others, it may be keeping up with the latest trends.

One Blade or 6? Is More Better?

The average man will shave thousands of times during his lifetime. When young, perhaps while watching a brother, father, or grandfather shave, boys often look forward to the day when they too could shave like an adult. Initially, when coming of age, much like having a driver’s license, it’s fun. But you’re an adult now, and the fun quickly wears away. Like being sent on a milk run to the supermarket, or being stuck in traffic, shaving inevitably becomes a chore that adds another routine to an already hectic morning.

Quarterback Phil Simms Teams Up with the American Academy of Dermatology to Tackle Skin Cancer

In recognition of Mens Health Awareness Month and the start of summer, the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy) has released findings from a new survey, which found that more than 90% of American men know something about skin cancer, but only six in 10 (61%) know how to detect signs on their skin, and even fewer actually visit a doctor for annual skin cancer screenings (18%). These shortcomings were more apparent in younger men (18-34), who were also significantly less likely to believe that they are at risk for skin cancer than men over 35 (31% vs. 42%), and are more likely to protect their skin for cosmetic reasons than they are for health reasons (32% vs. 20%).

Tanning Mom Update

In May 2012, Patricia Krentcil, commonly known as the Tanning Mom, became a media spectacle after being charged with child endangerment for allegedly putting her 5-year-old daughter in a tanning booth. The 45-year-old denied the charges, claiming her daughter got sunburned the old-fashioned way, by playing outside. There was a flurry of press reports and outrage expressed at the time, and Krentcil got more than her share of 15 minutes of fame. This accusation came a few weeks after the Mayo Clinic announced that one of the most dangerous forms of skin cancer, melanoma, had increased steadily for young women, and that this was attributed to the increased use of indoor tanning beds. Statistics indicate that consumers using indoor tanning beds have a 74% higher likelihood of developing melanoma.

Jackson Whites: Albinism and Piebaldness

Jackson Whites: Albinism, Piebaldness, and the Legendary People of the Ramapo Mountains

Jackson Whites is a pejorative term for a group of people who have been living for centuries in the beautiful and remote Ramapo Valley, a breathtaking section of the Ramapo Mountains that crosses the New York/New Jersey border at Suffern, NY. Many believe this name is short for Jacks and whites, with Jacks purportedly having been slang for runaway slaves; however, this is just one of many currently unprovable myths regarding this population. The group has mainly a Native American, African American, and Caucasian heritage. They prefer to use the Dutch spelling to describe themselves as the Ramapough Mountain Indians; they also go by the name of Lenape Nation. There is little documentation of their over 300-year history in the area, largely because the Lenape people had no written language.

Blue Man Paul Karason Dies at 62

Until his death in 2013, Paul Karason garnered attention from the media as the notorious blue man. However, Karason did not become famous on purpose. His trademark blue skin was the result of an alternative medical treatment he used to reduce the symptoms of dermatitis 15 years before he died. Although this treatment is known to be harmful, it did not cause his death, according to Fox News.

Michael Jackson’s Skin Condition

In the years before his death, several theories swirled around Michael Jacksons skin. Jacksons skin had been medium-brown in color since he was a child, but the pop superstars skin became noticeably lighter during the 1980s. In his 1991 book Michael Jackson: The Magic and the Madness, biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli accused Jackson of bleaching his skin to appear whiter. Taraborrelli does write that a doctor had diagnosed Jackson with vitiligo in the 1980s, but insists that the condition was the result of skin-bleaching chemicals rather than heredity.

Dermatology

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