Include Regular Dermatology Care With Your Health Routine This Year

With every new year, there are often resolutions to get healthier. Resolutions usually include plans to diet, exercise, or reduce stress. One thing that often gets ignored, though, is skincare. But if you don’t pay attention to your skin ― which is the largest organ in your body ― you may overlook serious conditions that can negatively affect your health. 

Michele Meinhart, FNP, and her staff at Starkey Medical Esthetics are experts at diagnosing skin problems and providing treatment. 

The importance of skin

As the protective covering of your body, your skin is your first line of defense against germs and bacteria. It also helps maintain your immune system, and it helps regulate your body temperature through your sweat glands. Through basic touch, it also helps you sense temperature and pain through your nerve endings. 

Skin conditions to look out for

Our skin can develop many conditions, including the following:

Acne

When hair follicles are blocked by oil, dead cells, or bacteria, bumps on the skin can result. While these marks are typical in teens, they can occur at any age.

Alopecia

Alopecia is a condition that causes patches of hair to fall out due to damaged hair follicles.

Dermatitis

Dermatitis is a disease that typically causes itching, redness, cracking, swelling, crusting, and scaling of the skin

Psoriasis

This is a condition that causes painful, swollen, red, scaly skin.

Vitiligo

Damage to the melanin ― which makes the color in your skin cells ― can cause your skin to become much lighter in patches on your body.

Problems with the immune system can cause many kinds of skin conditions. Additionally, there are many types of skin cancer that can develop, such as basal cell carcinoma and melanoma.  Overexposure to the sun can be a major factor in many forms of cancer.

Methods of prevention and treatment

Be sure to contact your doctor if you notice anything unusual or different about your skin, including new rashes, dry spots, or swelling. For many conditions, eating better, keeping the skin clean, using ointments, or taking prescribed medications may help.

To help prevent skin cancer, regulate your overall sun exposure, wear sunscreen whenever possible, and avoid tanning beds. If you have skin cancer, treatment will depend on the kind and severity of the condition. 

Many skin conditions can develop at any time and at any age. So it’s vital that you have your skin examined regularly by a dermatology specialist. Ms. Meinhart and her team are experts at recognizing skin problems and recommending treatments. If you want to have your skin examined, book an appointment online or over the phone with Starkey Medical Esthetics today.