The weather has finally made the transition from winter to spring here in Knoxville, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome the warmth.

While we love the change in weather, our skin doesn’t always reciprocate the feeling. We have some tips today to easily take your skin from dull to fresh.

- Simplify your skincare. Throw away your thick, winter moisturizers and opt for a light lotion with SPF 30+. Look for gentle yet effective cleansers that target your trouble areas (acne, anti-aging).

- Exfoliate. Cell turnover slows during the winter, causing your skin to look dull. Increase the cell turnover and brighten up your skin by exfoliating at least four times a week.

- Update your makeup. Substitute heavy foundation for light, tinted moisturizer. You still get coverage but it lets your skin breathe. Also, use cream shadows and blush to play up your features.

Now go outside and enjoy this weather with your spring-ready skin!

If you need more serious help with skin issues or something else that is troubling your skin, we are here to help. Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Schedule an appointment today with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.

Contact Knoxville Dermatology Group at 865.690.9467.

Sunscreen should be an essential part of your morning skin care routine. Experts have warned us again and again about the risks of skin cancer as well as aging skin if you do not use sunscreen.

For those of us who do use sunscreen, the labels can be confusing. They say UVA, UVB and many other three letter words that don’t make a lot of sense. We want to break it down for you, and help you understand the best way to protect your skin from the sun.

UVA rays are less likely to cause sunburn than UVB rays, but they penetrate your skin deeper. These are the sneaky rays that can get to your skin through windows, lightweight clothing and your car windshield. UVA rays are responsible for breaking down the collagen in your skin and causing premature aging such as sagging skin, wrinkled skin and sunspots.

UVB rays tan your skin and cause sunburns. They are the main culprit when it comes to skin cancer. These rays can also go through windows and even clouds. UVB rays are most prevalent during mid-day hours.

Both UVA and UVB rays are equally harmful to your skin, so make it a priority to slather on sunscreen before you walk outside. All sunscreens protect against UVB rays, but it wasn’t until recent years that some sunscreens started including UVA protection. Look for one that specifically says UVA/UVB or “broad spectrum coverage” on the bottle.

If you need more serious help with skin issues or something else that is troubling your skin, we are here to help. Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Schedule an appointment today with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.

Contact Knoxville Dermatology Group at 865.690.9467.

Bacterial infections and viral infections (or viruses) have similar symptoms- runny nose, cough, and sore throat- but must be treated differently.

A bacterial infection, luckily, can usually be treated by an antibiotic. Because bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that thrive in many environments including internally and externally, an antibody is the best form of treatment.

If you already have a bacterial infection, there is nothing you can do besides rest and take medicine to help it go away. However, you can try to prevent catching it before it crops up. First, wash your hands often, not just after using the restroom. Second, keep your hands away from your face. This will bring unwanted germs to places like your mouth, nose and eyes where they can easily get inside your body. Finally, eat healthy foods that are high in immune-boosting vitamins.

Beware of common areas that could be infected: gas pump, menus, grocery cart, bathroom-door handle and toilet flush, gym equipment and more.

If you need more serious help with skin issues or something else that is troubling your skin, we are here to help. Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Schedule an appointment today with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.

Contact Knoxville Dermatology Group at 865.690.9467.

A cyst is a lump that appears just below the skin and is usually a by-product of an infection or clogged oil gland. Epidermoid cysts are the most common type of skin cysts and mainly occur on the upper portion of the body. They can be hard to notice at first because they are slow-growing and painless. You will come to find that many of them are filled with fluid.

Epidermoid cysts have a round appearance with a small, dark portion usually visible on the skin. If you touch it, you can typically feel the cyst wall and can move the cyst around under the skin fairly easily. If the cyst is infected, it will become red and tender to the touch and a white or yellow puss may be produced when squeezed. These cysts rarely disappear without having a dermatologist treat them through injecting cortisone, draining them or surgically removing them.

While cysts can be genetic, the best way to lower your risk of getting them is exfoliating. The most common way epidermoid cysts form is through clogged oil glands or pores, which can be prevented through regular face and body exfoliation. If you do discover a cyst on your skin, call your local dermatologist for treatment.

If you need more serious help with skin issues or something else that is troubling your skin, we are here to help. Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Schedule an appointment today with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.

Contact Knoxville Dermatology Group at 865.690.9467.

Lice is often times associated with children (remember the lice checks in elementary school?), although anyone is susceptible to catching it. These unwanted insects live on humans and feed on our blood. They are usually found on the scalp and along the hairline.

Getting rid of lice can be tricky because they are such small insects and are easily spread. Sometimes the eggs are placed on the new host when items such as brushes, stuffed animals and even clothes are shared.

The most common treatment is some form of over-the-counter cream or shampoo that is designed to kill the insects and their eggs. After performing the treatment, patients may use a fine-tooth comb to remove the insects and eggs as well. Two of these treatments are usually needed to ensure all the head lice and their eggs have been killed. If this doesn’t work, you should see a doctor.

Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Visit with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential. Schedule an appointment with Knoxville Dermatology Group today at 865-690-9467.

It is never too late to slow the progression of aging and prevent further damage. In your 50s and above, cell turnover is very slow and the skin has trouble holding moisture. Dryness is a top problem in aging skin, as it magnifies lines and wrinkles. We have a few tips for taking care of your skin in your 50s and older.

It is important to keep up with the same skincare routine that you had in your 30s and 40s, although now you might be introduced to more permanent damage. Spider veins, hyperpigmentation and skin cancer are common skin woes that occur as you age. These need professional care and sometimes need lasers or surgery.

Hormonal changes are also a culprit in the skin’s aging process. Menopause can cause loss of skin elasticity and increase in the dullness of skin for women. There are many creams, serums and other products to help reduce the appearance of aging. Talk to your local dermatologist about what is best for your skin.

Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Visit with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential. Schedule an appointment with Knoxville Dermatology Group today at 865-690-9467.

Your skin is still very young in your teens and early 20s. Unfortunately, this also means that oil production is at its peak and acne could be just around the corner. Or maybe you are the opposite and have chronically dry skin. Either way, we are here to give you some tips for taking care of your skin in your teens and 20s.

For many people oil production blocks pores and causes acne. One way to deal with this is to take skin care seriously. Make sure to wash your face every morning and every night with a salicylic acid face wash. Follow that will a non-comedogenic (AKA oil-free) moisturizer to keep your face hydrated. If you see a pimple starting to form, use an acne spot treatment or talk to one of our dermatologists. A lot of times people need stronger spot treatment like a retinol or higher percentage benzoyl peroxide cream.

Skin in your twenties depends on your skin type (oily, dry combination). If you have naturally oily skin, you are likely to still have breakouts. If you have naturally dry skin, you won’t necessarily have breakouts but the dry skin could lead to quicker aging. The main idea is to be gentle and treat your skin for the type you have- you should know it by now! If you need help identifying what your skin type is and what skin care regimen is best, give us a call today at 865-690-9467.

Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Visit with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential. Schedule an appointment with Knoxville Dermatology Group today.

All through our lives, our skin is changing. From birth to childhood, skin has different qualities than teen years. Mature skin also involves changes and it is important to realize some of the common traits, problems and solutions for aging skin in order to address specific issues that need to  be recognized and properly treated.

We are exploring this area of dermatology in this week’s Skin School blog article to better educate our  clients (current and potential) and help them achieve overall healthy skin.

Mature Skin Traits

As we get older, our skin undergoes a number of changes. How skin ages depends on several factors: lifestyle, diet, heredity, as well as other personal habits.

The most common characteristic of elderly skin is dryness. This is because as we age, our skin begins to thin. As it thins, it is less able to retain moisture, thus leading to dry skin.

Dry skin can lead to problems in a younger person, but can cause even more problems for the elderly. Because their skin is thin and can be easily torn, bacteria get in, thus increasing their chances of developing an infection.

Sun damage is another common trait of aging skin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, skin damage from the sun is due to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light, which “breaks down elastic tissue (elastin) in the skin and causes the skin to stretch, sag, wrinkle, and become blotchy, occasionally with pre-cancerous growths and even skin cancer.”

Sun exposure (UV radiation) is the most common cause of pre-cancers and skin cancer, either basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. Many Americans (a million each year) will develop a skin cancer by age 65.

Skin changes that accompany aging include:

• Roughened or dry skin
• Benign growths such as seborrheic, keratoses, and cherry angiomas
• Loose facial skin, especially around the eyes, cheeks, and jowls (jaw line)
• Transparent or thinned skin
• Bruising easily from decreased elasticity

Common Skin Conditions in Older Adults:

• Wrinkles: Wrinkles are the most visible sign of aging skin. They follow chronic sun exposure and form when the skin loses its flexibility. Smokers tend to have more wrinkles than nonsmokers.
• Facial movement lines: These lines (often known as “laugh lines” and “worry lines”) become more visible as the skin loses its elasticity (in your 40′s or 50′s). The lines may be horizontal on the forehead, vertical above the nose, or curved on the temples, upper cheeks, and around the mouth and eyes.
• Age spots: “Age spots” are brown patches that appear on sun-exposed parts of the body (face, hands, and forearms), usually during the adult years.
• Bedsores: Bedsores (also known as pressure ulcers) are skin ulcers that develop from pressure when people lie in bed or sit in a chair for long periods of time. Bedsores are a fairly common disorder in elderly people who have difficulty moving on their own. People with diabetes are more prone to bedsores because of their poor circulation and decreased feeling in their skin. Frequent rotation or re-positioning helps to prevent bedsores.

Tips for Preventing Mature Skin Conditions

Nothing can undo sun damage, but the skin can occasionally repair itself. Here are some tips to help keep your skin healthy.

• Use sunscreen when outdoors. Sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more provides the most   protection.
• Wear a hat and long sleeves when outdoors and sunglasses that block UV rays.
• Avoid the use of tanning booths and sunlamps.
• Examine yourself regularly for “changing moles” and new growths.

This is part one of a 2-part series on mature skin and its care. Tune in next week for more information about mature skin and how to keep it in great shape!

Would you like to learn more about the treatments and products available to get your skin in better shape? A member of our team here at Knoxville Dermatology Group can help! Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Schedule an appointment today with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.

Contact Knoxville Dermatology Group at 865.690.9467.

There is a condition that affects the immune system and results in hair loss on the scalp and body called alopecia areata. Alopecia areata affects millions of Americans and these numbers continue to rise. Our team of board certified dermatologists here at Knoxville Dermatology Group believes awareness and education about skin diseases such as alopecia areata are essential are not only to its proper management, but also to overall healthy skin.

About alopecia areata
According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, alopecia areata affects approximately two percent of the population, including more than 4.7 million people in the United States alone. Alopecia areata usually starts with one or more small, round, smooth patches on the scalp and can progress to total scalp hair loss (alopecia totalis) or complete body hair loss (alopecia universalis).This common skin disease is highly unpredictable and cyclical; hair can grow back in or fall out again at any time, as the disease course is different for each person.

How does alopecia areata occur?
Current evidence suggests that alopecia areata is caused by an abnormality in the immune system. This particular abnormality leads to autoimmunity. As a result, the immune system attacks certain tissues of the body such as the hair follicles, disrupting normal hair formation. Biopsies of affected skin show immune cells inside of the hair follicles where they are not normally present; however, what causes this is unknown.Sometimes alopecia areata can be found among family members, thus linking this condition to heredity.

Who is affected by alopecia areata?
Alopecia areata occurs most often in children, teens, and young adults. However, it can also affect older individuals and sometimes toddlers. This condition affects males and females equally.

Diagnosis and Treatment
The characteristic “exclamation point” hair signals presence of alopecia areata. Found in areas of hair loss and visible with a hand lens, these short, broken off hairs are narrower closer to the scalp (appearing like an exclamation point). A biopsy of the scalp is sometimes necessary for a diagnosis.

As with many chronic disorders for which there is no single treatment, a variety of remedies are promoted, but results vary by person. Furthermore, there is no known effective method of prevention, although the elimination of emotional stress is helpful. Research has not found any drugs or hair-care products associated with the onset of alopecia areata.

Flare-Ups in Existing Conditions
It has been observed by dermatologists that prolonged, intermittent direct pressure of the hair bearing areas causes patchy loss of alopecia, which mostly recovers when the continuous pressure source is removed. This can occur when wearing a tight-fitted helmet or resting the head/neck against something for long periods of time. The direct pressure is damaging the hair germinal cells and producing auto antibodies against them, which further aggravates the problem.

Evidently, mobile phones’ radio waves produce an inflammatory reaction in the skin and thus cause damage to the hair germs in the matrix. This triggers the auto immune mechanism that results in patchy hair loss.

What You Can Do

• Do not apply contact irritants as this may cause further worsening, and, sometimes cause permanent scarring if the reaction is severe.
• Find the cause (posture, stress, etc.) and remove it if possible.
• Wear lotion and a high SPF sunscreen everyday to prevent exposure to unhealthy rays. Also wear hats and accessories for additional protection.
• Keep educating yourself about this condition so you can manage it properly.

To best address the skin needs for those afflicted with alopecia areata, routine visits with a dermatologist is recommended. Not only will they assess the skin’s condition, but also are able to provide patients with advice for proper skin care. The board certified dermatologists of Knoxville Dermatology Group understand how challenging living with alopecia areata can be. However, their knowledge and attention to patient needs is conducive to proper management.

Schedule an appointment today with one of our board certified physicians to gain more knowledge about your skin so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential!

Spring has officially arrived and although you may be eager for the first warm day to wear sandals or flip-flops, your feet may not be as enthusiastic about their looming reveal.  After being cooped up in heavy socks and boots all winter, your feet need some extra care so that they look good and feel great! Today’s Skin School blog provides you with information about pedicures and how to prepare feet for the changing season.

In recent years, there has been more focus placed on exercise and fitness. This means we are on our feet a lot more, which can lead to considerably more wear and tear on our feet. With that being said, feet need extra attention to treat problems such as bunions, corns and calluses.

Pedicures are a good way to keep your feet healthy and looking good. A pedicure consists of soaking the feet, clipping and filing the nails, pushing the cuticles back, getting off the dead skin, applying lotion, and a deep intense massage.

Over time, feet can buildup dry, cracked skin, particularly on the heels. Exfoliation is essential during a pedicure because it gently removes these tough, dead skin cells to allow healthier skin to show through. Skin on the feet will be elastic, smoother and callous-free.

At Knoxville Dermatology Group, any one of our board certified physicians can provide you with general information regarding proper skin care for feet; however, we suggest you contact a podiatrist to answer specific questions you may have.

Schedule an appointment today with one of our board certified physicians to gain more knowledge about your skin so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential!
Contact Knoxville Dermatology Group at 865.690.9467.