Author Archive
The Doctor is In … Turning Back the Hands of Time
By Dr. Kathy Fields
They say a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. And when it comes to preventing the appearance of aging hands, this maxim couldn’t be more true. The reality is, while corrective therapies and treatments are available, results are harder to achieve and less of a sure thing than the proverbial ounce or two of good old-fashioned prevention.
Unlike the dramatic results we see from invasive procedures on our faces and other parts of our bodies, restoring youthfulness to hands through lasers and injectables is a hard sell. Skin on the hands is thinner and there is less fat pad to work with so treatments require multiple visits, are extremely expensive and very uncomfortable. The cost and time commitment scare most people away … so they are left with scary hands.
The most effective method for prevention and correction is consistent, daily adherence to a topical anti-aging regimen. An effective anti-aging hand treatment should include proven ingredients to increase collagen and improve smoothness and thickness, and sunscreens to protect against wrinkles and discolorations caused by the sun.
So not only should you make hand care a part of your daily and nightly routine, you should keep your anti-aging hand products “handy” at the office and in your purse or car so you can make hand care a lasting habit with long-term results.
The Doctor is In … Acne for Two
By Dr. Kathy Fields
Because acne can have such a strong effect on self-esteem, any mom hates to see her child battle breakouts. But for someone who has made a name for herself helping others combat acne and reclaim their sense of self-worth, watching my own son battle acne is especially painful. When the stress of watching him struggle started to show on my own skin, I realized that while battling breakouts usually is all about controlling the acne cycle, in the case of my son’s skin, and mine, I would try a lot less nagging and become more strategic to get him to easily use his meds.
My son is great at homework, sports and finding time for his girlfriend and even the bands on his braces. But the early morning rush out the door and the late night studying leave no energy for his skincare routine. Miraculously, as soon as I surrendered to this realization, I was able to stop forcing a regimen on him and start subtly slipping the regimen into his routine.
Step one: I took his entire regimen out of hiding in the bathroom medicine cabinet and placed things strategically where he was most likely to see them and use them. The acne face wash went in the shower where I knew he’d be likely to use it at least once a day. The toner was placed next to his toothbrush. And the treatment product became un-ignorable when placed next to his computer.
Step two: Knowing he has an easy plan of action, I backed off and watched the transformation. It was a reminder for me to pay attention to my own skin needs and be more consistent with my routine despite all my travel and long days.
Sure he went to school with a zit or two but I had learned to accept it was his choice and not my character defect. And in the end both our skin and our stress cleared. All it took was some consistent compliance to a regimen and giving myself and my son the freedom to fight our own battles – our own way!
The Doctor is In… Moles
By Dr. Kathy Fields
Medically known as melanocytic nevi, moles are small dark spots on your skin that appear predominately during the first 20 years of life. Hormones, sun exposure and genetics are all factors in the number, location and type of moles we each get.
Moles on their own aren’t necessarily dangerous; however, UV exposure can trigger malignant transformations, causing moles to become cancerous. The good news is that if caught early, melanoma is nearly 100% treatable. The best way to catch your moles before it’s too late is to map them.
Every year on your birthday, I recommend getting in your birthday suit and taking full body pictures. Compare them year after year, carefully checking for the ABCDE’s of melanoma.
A—Asymmetry: the spot isn’t symmetrical and may have an odd shape
B—Border: look for a border that isn’t sharp or defined
C—Color: the color is not uniform and may have different shades of red, brown or black
D—Diameter: the spot is the size of a pencil eraser or larger
E—Evolution: the spot is changing in size and/or shape
This may seem like a lot of work, but at the end of the day you are responsible for your health and well-being. Just like with breast cancer, most melanoma cases are self-diagnosed and not found in your annual exam. If you want a derm’s attention on your moles, make an appointment specifically for a mole evaluation. There’s not much money in mole checks … so while a great derm will make time for it, others will opt for more lucrative procedures like botox. And if you don’t feel your derm is taking your moles seriously, find a new one. There are countless great dermatologists out there who care about the health of their patients.
The Doctor is In … Tanning Myths Debunked
By Dr. Kathy Fields
I saw Hannah, a teenage patient, last week because she wanted to check in with me before flying to Hawaii next week for spring break. I’d seen Hannah frequently over the last six months while treating her severe acne and we had gotten to know each other quite well. So I immediately noticed a difference in her skin tone when she stepped into my office … her skin was much darker than it was the last time I saw her in January. Before leaving, I talked to her about sun protection for her trip; I wanted to make sure she knew how to protect her skin.
And I’m so glad I brought it up, because Hannah had been visiting the tanning salon and believed that the “base tan” she was building up would protect her from the sun. Although it’s not the first time I’ve heard this myth, it couldn’t be further from the truth. Because while a tan may look much better than a red, peeling burn, both are signs of sun damage and contribute equally to aging your skin.
What’s more, while tanning salons filter out most of the UVB (burning rays), their sun lamps emit significantly greater quantities of UVA (aging rays), which contributes to premature skin aging and increases the incidence of both melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers. And if you thought that was bad … a recent study of the top 10 tanning salons in New York City conducted by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found staff bacteria and fecal matter in every tanning bed tested.
Hannah was shocked after hearing this but I’m glad I got my message across. If you just can’t say no to that sun-kissed glow, fake it with self-tanner. Trust me, you won’t regret it!
Skin is a beautiful thing … wear it well.
Dermatology 911
By Dr. Kathy Fields
Patient Name: Lisa*
Gender: Female
Age: 15 years old
Concern: acne scars
Doctor’s Notes:
Lisa has struggled with acne since she was 12, but finally has it under control with a full face treatment regimen. Unfortunately, Lisa was a picker. After watching her pick and pop for months, her mom finally brought her in, worried about the pitting and scarring she started to notice on her daughter’s cheeks.
Unfortunately, Lisa’s mom was late bringing her in and the scarring and pitting reached the deeper layers of Lisa’s skin making it difficult to treat. Several uncomfortable laser treatments and over $1,000 later, Lisa’s skin was smoother and her acne scarring had diminished.
Lisa learned the hard (and expensive) way that popping zits won’t make them go away. In fact, picking zits is a surefire way to make sure you have souvenirs for a lifetime in the form of scars and remnant dark marks. Picking is a natural inclination, but as parents we need to keep an eye on our children and be proactive about getting them help. If you see your child picking her (or his) face, get her to a dermatologist before it’s too late. The only way to get clear skin is to treat the full face every day with an acne-focused skincare regimen and leave the extractions to professionals … like your local dermatologist.
*Patient name has been changed to protect privacy
Confessions of a Dermatologist
By Dr. Kathy Fields
Between visiting family in both Chicago and Florida, business travel across the country, and upcoming college campus visits, I practically live in my suitcase. I am constantly unpacking and repacking clothes, shoes, toiletries and skincare for different locales. And when it comes to what has become almost a weekly routine, this derm’s confession: I’m a slave to my pores.
Wherever I travel throughout the country, my priority is keeping my pores happy, regardless of climate. So I cater to them each and every day. When jet setting to Miami during the hot, humid summers, I pack a clay-based cleansing mask to unclog pores; an oil-free mattifying sunscreen and oil-blotting papers to reduce oil on-the-go. When I travel to Chicago during the cold, dry winters, my focus changes to moisturization (if skin gets too dry it will start creating excess oil, leading to clogged, enlarged pores). I bring a heavy moisturizer to apply on damp skin after showering to lock in moisture. Regardless of where I am, my daily routine always includes a product containing hydroxy acids to keep my pores clear, and retinol to fortify my skin structure so my pores stay tight and younger looking.
This may seem like a lot to go through, but at the end of the day it’s all worth it to look as young as you feel. Skin is a beautiful thing … wear it well.
Dermatology 911
By Dr. Kathy Fields
Patient Name: Michael*
Gender: Male
Age: 53 years old
Concern: yearly checkup
Doctor’s Notes:
Michael has been my patient for almost five years. At the request of his wife, he started coming in for yearly checkups. Michael is your typical “man’s man” … a hiker, biker and golfer who always steered clear of using skincare. He did turn over a new leaf when he married and started applying sunscreen to his face.
He’s been very healthy in the past few years, but this appointment I had to deliver some bad news … Michael had skin cancer on his left ear.
The sad truth is, this is not uncommon. In fact, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the majority of people diagnosed with melanoma are white men over the age of 50, and that risk continues to increase with every decade. And what’s more, they also found that men over the age of 40 have the highest annual exposure to UV rays.
Even men who are the most diligent with their sunscreen often forget their ears and their hairline. As hair recedes with time, most men forget to apply sunscreen on those newly exposed areas. And this can have huge implications, especially for golfers and outdoor enthusiasts, like it did with Michael. And the same applies for women. So cover up with a hat and sunglasses and apply sunscreen to all exposed areas, doctor’s orders!
*Patient name has been changed to protect privacy
Derm RF
Dr. Kathy Fields
Dr. Katie Rodan
Mary Radford, RN
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