Information About Moles

Posted on 02/03/2014 by Michael James

Moles, which are known as benign skin lesions, appear when the cells, known as melanocytes, grow in clusters. The cell melanocyte gives the skin the pigment for its natural color. When these cells are not spread throughout the skin they form into moles. Moles usually tend to be brown or black in color and can appear anywhere on one’s skin. Most individuals may have up to 40 moles by the age of 30. Mole on face

Congenital nevi is a type of mole that appears at birth and can become a cancerous mole. Dysplastic nevi is a type of mole that has an irregular shape and is larger than the size of a pencil eraser. Moles which stay the same throughout your life should cause no concern. However, if you have any mole which becomes itchy, painful or appears after the age of 30, it is recommended for you to see a dermatologist who can better evaluate the mole to make sure it is not cancerous.

Dermatologists may need to do a biopsy to make sure that the mole is not cancerous. The dermatologist can later remove the mole by simply cutting it off. Those who would like to remove a mole for cosmetic reasons may also do so, after speaking to their dermatologist.

What is Partial Trichophytic Closure?

Posted on 01/21/2014 by Michael James

Trichophytic closure is a type of scar closure that is used in conjunction to a hair restoration. For many years, trichophytic closure has been used for scalp surgeries allowing hair to grow into the scar, improving the appearance. When hair is introduced into the scalp scar, it helps reduce the contrast of the scar and the hair area. Trichophytic closure can be done on the upper edge, lower edge, and double edge of the scar.

Scar tissue and the transection of the lower portion of hair follicles, on the edge of the scar, are what cause the lack of hair in the scar. Partial trichophytic closure, recently introduced by Dr. Parsa Mohebi, requires the hair transplant surgeon to observe the donor wound edges and calculate the width of the edge that needs to be removed at any area. The surgeon will use magnifying loupes in order to carefully observe the edges of the wound, making sure that there is no transection in the hair follicles.

Partial trichophytic closure assures that hair will grow into the scar from the upper edge in order to minimize the contrast between the scar and the surrounding hair areas. With this method the visibility of the donor scar is minimized drastically if done properly.

What is a Scar?

Posted on 01/06/2014 by Michael James

Many of us will have the experience of getting scars, but some may wonder what is a scar? Scars occur when the skin starts to heal itself. Once the upper layer of the skin is damaged, a person’s body begins to form collagen fibers to close the wound. Once the wound is completely healed, scars will begin to form. There are many factors that can cause scars to form different shapes and colors.

Pale scar Scars start off by appearing red in color, which is when the blood vessels are inflamed and damaged. This part is known as hyper pigmented scars. Once a scar matures, the skin pigment will be lost and the color will change to white, which is known as hypo pigmented. Scars take approximately six to twelve months to completely heal and become white. The size, shape, and depth of the scar are all factors that contribute to how the scar will look after completely healing. In order to prevent darker scarring and infection, it is important to always keep the scar area clean and moist, during the healing process.

Although you can never get rid of scars, there are many treatment options now that can help to camouflage the look of the scar. Some types of treatments are topical creams, surgery, dermabrasion, steroid injections, laser resurfacing, and filler injections. Depending on where your scar is located and the size of the scar, your doctor can recommend you to try one of the treatments.

Ingrown Hair Treatment

Posted on 12/24/2013 by Michael James

When your hair curls around and can’t grow out of the skin it is referred to as an ingrown hair. This problem is commonly mistaken for pimples. Ingrown hair is known to be found on the cheeks and neck for men, especially after shaving. Women in most cases find ingrown hair on their legs and sensitive shaving areas. Those who have curly hair are more prone to getting ingrown hairs, especially because their hair can easily be curled underneath the skin preventing it from growing out properly.

Ingrown hair on leg Just like what is seen with pimples, when one has an ingrown hair, it produces a small raised red bump. That bump will be itchy and many times might be sore to the touch. Treatment for ingrown hair may not be necessary at all times because ingrown hair sometimes tends to go away on its own. However, if the ingrown hair does not go away, it is best to treat it as it may leave a dark spot or scar on your skin. If an ingrown hair becomes infected, a doctor’s visit is necessary where they can safely use a needle to release the hair.

If you have scarring from an ingrown hair, it is best to see a dermatologist so they can observe the scarring and recommend treatment options for you. Some treatment options may consist of using a bleaching cream, laser treatment, microdermabrasion, or chemical peels.

Scalp Scar Reduction

Posted on 12/11/2013 by Michael James

Scalp scars from any procedure such as scalp reduction, old plug surgery, trauma or neurosurgical procedures can be treated to minimize the look of the scar. Modern hair transplant yields natural, proven, and permanent results along with special wound closure techniques to minimize scars.

Here are some methods that a hair transplant surgeon can use to reduce the visibility of the scar:

Left: Before Scar Revision, Right: After Scar Revision

1. Simple Scar Revision: This method can be used if there is a wide scalp scar due to the initial technical problem during the wound closure.
2. Scar Revision and Trichophytic Closure: This method allows the hair to grow inside the scar, which helps to minimize the contrast between the scar and the surrounding areas of the scalp.
3. Hair Transplantation inside the Scar: In this method, the hair will be harvested from other areas of the scalp and will be transplanted inside the scar to blend the scar with the rest of the hair. The hair will be harvested through the FUE hair transplant technique. The benefit of using this technique is that with FUE, follicles are extracted individually, giving the surgeon the opportunity to place them into the scar without having new scarring.
4. Scalp Micro Pigmentation on the Scar: By introducing dermal pigments into the scar, the visibility of the scar can be significantly improved because it helps reduce the contrast in color between the scar tissue and the surrounding scalp area.

In order to know which technique would fit your needs, it is recommended to visit an experienced hair transplant surgeon.

Keratosis Pilaris

Posted on 11/26/2013 by Michael James

Keratosis pilaris are rough, small bumps that appear on a person’s upper arms and thighs. This condition comes from a buildup of the protein known as keratin. When this protein builds up, it plugs the hair follicles. These bumps are the size of a grain of sand and in most cases are not itchy.

If you are wondering whether or not you have keratosis pilaris, it is best to see a doctor. Most of the time the doctor can tell if it is keratosis pilaris just by looking at it, without needing any further tests. It is known that keratosis pilaris can worsen during dry seasons; humidifiers can be used to add moisture to the air. Family history is the first question that you may be asked, as this is a genetic condition and can affect you at any age, but worsens during puberty.

Keratosis pilaris is not harmful, so medical treatment is not necessary. However, scarring may occur as a result of this condition, so it is recommended to exfoliate with a mild soap and moisturize skin at least twice a day. Over-the-counter creams and lotions are what most people use to treat this condition. The effectiveness of these creams is very limited. There have been a few cases that it was treated by laser therapy, however research is still being done to find out the best treatment for this condition.

Medication usage on a regular basis can improve the appearance of one’s skin. Even with medical treatment, keratosis pilaris can continue for years.

Scar Types

Posted on 11/12/2013 by Michael James

Skin is the largest organ of a person’s body. Any type of trauma including burns, injury, and surgery can cause a scar to appear on the skin. Scarring can happen on any part of the person’s body that the trauma occurred. Some scars may be small or in locations that aren’t visible to the public eye. However, some people may have scars that are visible, which bother them. There are treatments that can help improve the appearance of the scar, but you can never make it completely disappear.

Scarring happens when the healing process begins. The depth and the size of the wound are one of the many factors of how big and visible the scar will be. Other factors can be your age, ethnicity, genes, and location of the injury. When it comes to surgical scars, the way the surgeon closes the wound can affect the visibility and size of the scar.

There are different types of scars:

Keloid Scar, Contracture Scar, Hypertrophic Scar, Acne Scar

1. Keloid scar: spreads past the original injury and begins to grow
2. Contracture scars: when you burn your skin
3. Hypertrophic scars: Red scars which are raised
4. Acne scars: forms when people have severe acne. Acne scars can vary, some can be deep and some can even have a little bump.

Acne scars can be treated depending on the size, location, and type of scar. Some scars can be treated by over the counter or prescription creams. Another form of scar treatment is by injections or by surgical removal. In order to find out what the best treatment is for you, it is recommended to see a physician. If you have a scar from surgery it is best to see the surgeon who performed the surgery. If you have acne scars, it is recommended to see a dermatologist.

Microdermabrasion for Healthy Skin

Posted on 10/29/2013 by Michael James

The reality of acne scars is that many individuals are affected by them not only through puberty, but well into our adult lives. Whether it is on our face, or other areas of our body. Some people may recover from having acne without any permanent scars, while others may be prone to and left with scars, especially when acne is disrupted unnaturally. Mild acne scars can be treated with over the counter and prescription medications or topical skin products. However, if your case is more severe and these products/medications are not working for you, skin resurfacing is the next available option.
Microdermabrasion for Healthy Skin Microdermabrasion is a popular procedure being done to help reduce the appearance of acne scars. This procedure also leaves ones skin looking brighter and softer. It can be performed with all skin types and tones.

During the process of microdermabrasion, tiny crystals will be sprayed onto your skin which will remove the outer layer very gently. The procedure is done without the use of any numbing medication. After the procedure, your skin will feel dry and have a tightness. Usually the skin will turn pink for about a day and will resume back to normal by the second day, but sun exposure should still be avoided. In order to hydrate your skin, the doctor will most likely tell you to use a moisturizer and drink plenty of water until the dryness of your skin goes away.

It is important to visit your dermatologist routinely to keep your skin youthful, glowing, and radiant.

Follicular Unit Extraction – No Scar Hair Transplant

Posted on 10/02/2013 by Michael James

The newest method in hair transplant known as Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is used to obtain hair grafts individually from the donor area.
The donor area of the scalp is located in the lower back and side portion of the patient’s head. Patients who have their hair transplant using this method will not have a linear scar in the donor area of their head. This gives patients the option to cut or shave their hair to shorter lengths, as desired, without having to worry about the appearance of a scalp scar.

One Week After FUE Transplant

There is a limited amount of grafts that can be transplanted per day with the Follicular Unit Extraction method. The grafts are harvested precisely and individually requiring more time to be spent on the extraction of the grafts. With this method transection of the hair follicles may occur damaging the follicular unit, causing fewer viable grafts to be transplanted. Choosing a hair transplant surgeon who is experienced in follicular unit extraction will help reduce your transection rate.

Patients who have Follicular Unit Extraction will not experience any discomfort in the donor area after they have the surgery. The recovery of this procedure is minimal with fewer complications compared to the traditional strip method, because there are no staples or sutures to be removed, making the healing process faster. FUE is recommended for patients who wish to have the option to wear their hair short, as well as for patients who have significant scarring and inadequate laxity of the scalp.

Will I have More Than One Scar?

Posted on 09/03/2013 by Michael James

Patient’s who have had a hair transplant surgery through the traditional strip method have a linear scar in their donor area. Many patients wonder if they will end up with more than one scar if they get another hair transplant. They answer to that question is no.

When a patient receives a second hair transplant, the surgeon who is performing the surgery will include the old linear scar in the new strip that will be taken out from the donor area. Once that step is done the patient will end up with only one scar no matter how many hair transplant they might receive.

Scar After 2 Hair Transplants

One of the factors for the size of the scar can depend on the Doctor that the patient chooses to have surgery with. Another factor will be how well the patient’s skin heals. Many doctors are now performing the trichophytic closure. Trichophytic closure technique helps hair grow inside of the donor scar. Once the hair grows and the scar heals it will help the donor scar blend in with the surrounding skin.

If a patient has had a hair transplant years ago, it is most likely that the scar they have is wider. Since technology has improved, the size of the scar can be reduced in most patients. Choosing an experienced hair surgeon is vital because if a professional hair surgeon does the procedure, the scar that you had from the previous hair transplant can most likely be reduced in size. Ofcourse, the results will always vary between every patient, but a good hair transplant Doctor will try to do everything to minimize the visibility of the scar for all patients.