Skin cancers – especially melanoma – can occur anywhere on your skin. Since skin cancers are the most common cancer of all cancers and we don’t require fancy imaging such as CTs, MRIs or PET scans to pick them up – skin self-checks should become a monthly habit. Did you know that your nails are also areas of skin that can potentially get melanomas? Melanomas do not always occur in sun exposed areas, the sun protected groin area is also at risk. While melanoma makes up only a small part, it is the one that causes the most deaths.
Read More
Seborrhoeic dermatitis is the scientific term of what we know as cradle cap in babies. But can you get it in adulthood? Yes, you can. It just looks a little different.
Adult-onset seborrhoeic dermatitis is quite common. Clinically apparent symptoms occur in around 3% of the general population. But because mild symptoms are not recorded, the incidence is likely much higher. The peak prevalence is in your 30’s and 40’s, and men are affected more often than women.
Read More
Hives, also called welts, wheals, or urticaria, are red raised skin lesions – it looks like an isolated area of swelling, and it’s very itchy. You may have experienced these lesions after touching stinging nettles or an allergy to certain medications. There may be few or many of these lesions […]
Read More
Autoimmune diseases are a group of diseases where your immune cells (that should be fighting infections) start to attack your normal cells. For example, in vitiligo, your immune cells are attacking the colour cells in your skin, leaving you with a light patch. Or in alopecia areata, your immune cells are attacking your hair follicles, and you lose that patch of hair. In some autoimmune diseases like lupus (also called SLE – systemic lupus erythematosus), your immune cells attack various organs leading to all kinds of symptoms.
The skin (what a wonderful organ) is a very visible organ. So it’s easier to spot early signs that your body might be ‘attacking’ itself and that you might have an autoimmune disease. Dr Lerinza teaches us the 5 early warning signs that you should look out for…
Read More
Losing hair is distressing!
There are many types of hair loss. Some varieties are associated with patchy hair loss and some with more diffuse hair loss. Let’s take a closer look at a typical hair loss type causing diffuse loss of hair called – telogen effluvium.
Learn WHAT it is, WHY it happens and WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT!
Read More
More than just a healthy glow?
Dealing with sensitive, redness-prone skin is not simple or straightforward. Half the things you’re told are “safe for sensitive skin” aren’t at all, and the more products you try out, the worse it gets.
Here are some reasons you might be experiencing facial redness (spoiler: not every red face is rosacea!) and some practical tips to implement at home if this is something you struggle with.
Read More
