Dermatology Overview
Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin.[2] It is a specialty with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist is a specialist medical doctor who manages diseases related to skin, hair, nails, and some cosmetic problems.
- Skin Eruptions and Rashes
- Allergic Skin Conditions
- Scalds and Burns
- Virtiligo and Pigment Disorders
- Hirsutism & Hair Loss
- Acne and Sunburns
Benefits of Dermatologist Care
The dermatologist has a great list of highly specialized treatment modalities for common conditions. A few are listed below.
- Excision and treatment of skin cancer
- Cryosurgery for the treatment of warts, skin cancers, and other dermatoses.
- Chemical peels for the treatment of acne, melasma, and sun damage
- Intralesional treatment with steroid drugs or chemotherapy
- Phototherapy including use of narrowband UVB, broadband UVB, psoralen, and UVB.
- Allergy testing uses “patch” testing for contact dermatitis.
Health Tips & Info
Protect your skin from the sun every day.
Whether spending a day at the beach or running errands, sun protection is essential. You can protect your skin by seeking shade, covering up with sun-protective clothing — such as a lightweight and long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses with UV protection — and using sunscreen that is broad-spectrum, SPF 30 (or higher), and water-resistant.
Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet.
Findings from a few studies suggest that eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables may help prevent damage that leads to premature skin aging. Findings from research studies also suggest that a diet containing lots of sugar or other refined carbohydrates can accelerate aging.
Wash your face twice a day and after sweating heavily.
Perspiration, especially when wearing a hat or helmet, irritates the skin, so you want to wash your skin as soon as possible after sweating.
The recommended way to be certain is to do a spot test of the product for about 10 days. Its simple. Look for a non-obvious part of your skin, like a square inch of spot on the under surface of your forearm and apply the product on there twice daily for 10 days. It will be obvious there is a bad reaction. Stop immediately you notice irritation.
The first step in taking good care of your skin is to learn what type of skin you have. This will allow you to understand what practices and products work well for your skin type.
You can get a general overview of skin types from here.
Our Specialist
Dr. Mutiti T
Dr. Haloka J
