Skin picking and illicit drugs effects

March 10, 2017

Skin picking and illicit drugs effects on your beauty can cause serious health complications too

Skin picking and illicit drugs effects: Heroin withdrawal

Withdrawing from heroin, a highly addictive opiate is an intensely uncomfortable experience. Restlessness, nervousness, severe cravings and goose bumps can trigger the urge to self-mutilate. Users in withdrawal often say that they feel like they’re crawling out of their skin. In this state, skin picking may provide a momentary sense of release. Heroin withdrawal affects the skin in several important ways. Goosebumps, along with chills, shivering and cold sweats, occur as the brain adjusts to the absence of this powerful opioid. These bumps are caused by tiny muscles that tighten at the base of the fine hairs that cover the skin. For the user in withdrawal, compulsively rubbing or tugging at the skin may counteract the sensations of cold and restlessness.

Skin picking and self-mutilation can also help the user cope with opiate cravings. The sensations of pleasure or pain are a temporary distraction from the desire to use heroin. Ritualistic picking can provide an outlet for the intense anxiety, nervous tension, and restlessness that characterize withdrawal. But skin picking provides only a temporary relief from the symptoms of opiate withdrawal. Once physical withdrawal symptoms begin, they can last for several days. The best way to avoid withdrawal symptoms like goose bumps, sweats, and muscle pain is to enter a medically supervised detox program like AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury MD. At a detox center, you can receive the physical and moral support you need to minimize the symptoms of withdrawal and avoid a relapse.

Skin picking and illicit drugs effects: Treatment for skin disorders

This is one such treatment which needs a lot of expertise that is why doctor Akoury carries out an assessment on all her patients to evaluate their psychological soundness before taking any treatment action. It must be noted that this substance is very addictive and a comprehensive psychiatric assessment is very vital. Under normal cases an initial, personalized assessment should cover the following areas:

What triggers the behavior?
What does the individual get from the behavior?
Does the individual have co-occurring mental health problems, like anxiety or depression?
Does the individual have an alcohol or drug problem?
Does the person have a family history of mental illness?
Has the person tried any medications or therapies in the past?

Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have not approved any medications specifically for the treatment of BFRBs, several drugs have been used successfully to control the impulse to pick or scratch the skin. The following are some of the medications which can be essentially helpful:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and escitalopram (Lexapro), have been approved for the treatment of depression and/or obsessive-compulsive disorder
Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil) and imipramine (Elavil)
Opioid antagonists, such as naltrexone (ReVia), are used to reduce the pleasurable effects of alcohol and certain narcotics
Neuroleptic medications, such as olanzapine (Zyprexa) and risperidone (Risperdal), are used to treat repetitive, compulsive behaviors

Along with these medications, behavioral modification therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can help reduce the urge to self-mutilate. These therapies have also proven to be valuable in the treatment of drug addiction. You can benefit from all these by scheduling an appointment with doctor Akoury now.

Skin picking and illicit drugs effects: Heroin withdrawal

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Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders

January 19, 2015

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders – Skin lightening

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders. Hyperpigmentation is caused by an overproduction of melanin which is the pigment that gives our skin, hair and eyes their natural colour.

When the skin is affected in whichever way an immediate solution needs to be sort out in good time. Failure to do so may lead to serious repercussions to the delicate organ of the body. And because of the environment we leave in today our skin is one of the most vulnerable to several environmental attacks. One of the risks the skin is likely to suffer from is the hyperpigmentation disorders. Before we get into treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders, we need to have a brief understanding of what is the subject matter. Hyperpigmentation is caused by an overproduction of melanin which is the pigment that gives our skin, hair and eyes their natural colour. The overproduction of melanin is likely to be triggered by a variety of factors, but the main ones can be linked to:

It is therefore very important to understand that hyperpigmentation problems can be improved or eliminated all together by a variety of treatments, including topical lightening agents, laser-intense pulsed light, cryotherapy and chemical peels. Treating hypopigmentation may be a greater challenge. Nonetheless hypopigmentation after a burn or similar skin injury may resolve itself over time as melanocytes migrate to the damaged area. Current treatments for vitiligo are of limited effectiveness. For many people, camouflaging hypo-pigmented areas with sunless tanning products represents a viable alternative.

Treatment

Hyperpigmentation treatments include:

Topical lightening agents
Laser-intense pulsed light
Cryotherapy and
Chemical peels

None of the methods is optimal for every individual or for every hyperpigmentation problem. We discuss each of the options below.

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders – Topical lightening agents

These are creams or serums used on the skin to help lighten skin and skin pigmentation problems.
They can treat many types of skin pigmentation, including melasma, freckles, sunspots, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) secondary to lasers, peels and acne.
Ideally, lightening agents do not completely remove pigmentation, but do significantly lighten it.
Pigmentation issues such as freckles or sunspots can be completely removed with laser in most cases.
Topical lightening agents can also be used to prepare the skin for laser treatments. This reduces the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (worsening of pigmentation) after laser treatment, especially for olive to dark skin types.
The first method of treating skin pigmentation is to prevent its appearance or worsening by daily application of sunscreen as well as sun avoidance. Then a topical lightening agent can be used in conjunction with a good sunscreen.

What are the common topical lightening agents? They may include the following:

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders – Hydroquinone

This is the most widely and successfully used skin lightening agent. It is resourceful in sorting out conditions like melasma or chloasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and other disorders of pigmentation. Over the counter strengths can go up to 2%, but concentrations higher than this require a prescription from a medical professional. Hydroquinone can be quite irritating to the skin resulting in redness or when it comes in contact with dermatitis when used in higher concentrations.

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders – Kojic acid

This is derived from fungus such as Aspergillus and Penicillium. It can be used in concentrations between 1% and 4% and can be compounded with other agents. Nonetheless it can cause skin irritation and therefore, it is not as effective as hydroquinone, but has no chance of rebound pigmentation or ochronosis.

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders – Paper mulberry

Paper mulberry extract is isolated from the roots of an ornamental tree, Broussonetia papyrifera. A Korean study compared it to kojic acid and hydroquinone, and found that only 0.396% paper mulberry was required to inhibit the enzyme tyrosinase that produces melanin, in comparison to 5.5% hydroquinone and 10% kojic acid. Skin irritation with paper mulberry is less than other lightening agents such as hydroquinone. Paper mulberry bark can be found in Enlighten from Osmosis.

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders – Arbutin

Originating from bearberry, Arbutin helps to lighten the skin by inhibition of the enzymes that help produce melanin. It has less irritation than kojic acid and hydroquinone.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3. It inhibits the transfer of the pigment forming cells, the melanosomes, to the surface of the skin.

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders – Vitamin C

Topical vitamin C also helps interfere with pigment production. An additional benefit of vitamin C is the anti-oxidant effect it has, so it will help prevent skin from environmental damage. Vitamin C also stimulates the production of collagen. Stability of vitamin C is the main problem of most vitamin C products. Cosmedix provides vitamin C in the form of L-ascorbic acid and is highly stable in this form.

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders – Glycolic acid

This is an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) which can have a discohesive effect on the epidermis, or top layer of skin, to help desquamate (exfoliate) the pigmented skin cells. In so doing, it facilitates skin turnover and pigment is lost more rapidly. Glycolic acid is found in varying concentrations in rapid skin care products.

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders – Retinoids

These are derived from vitamin A. Retinoids work in a number of ways to help reduce pigmentation. However the actual mechanism of action is not very clear, but it is believed that their depigmenting properties arise from inhibition of the enzymes causing pigmentation, dispersion of pigment granules in the top layer of skin, and also by accelerating skin turnover to help pigmented skin cells shed more quickly. It is also this final property that helps retinoids smooth skin, reduce wrinkles, and active acne. Retinoids can be irritating to the skin and may need to be commenced slowly.

Finally the business of skin care is not just for any one, it needs professionals with the calling to do the job effectively. That is why Dr. Akoury made a decision to create a medical center (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center) whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Dr. Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. This is the passion am talking about. You can now call the most passionate skin care expert today to schedule for an appointment with her for any skin related concerns.

Treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders – Skin lightening

Effects of Pigmentation disorders to the Skin

January 19, 2015

Effects of Pigmentation disorders to the Skin – Pimples and Wrinkles

Effects of Pigmentation disorders to the Skin

Are you sure that the color of your skin is the right one? Do you occasionally or seasonally have skin colour variation? There will be no beauty if the skin color keeps changing. This is one of the biggest concerns to people globally who are very mindful of the beauty of their skin. This concern has triggered the home of skin care solution (AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury) to come up with this informative article. In this write up, we will tell you what pigmentation is and also make known to you the effects of pigmentation disorders to the skin. While appreciating that skin pigmentation disorders affect the color of your skin, your skin gets its color from a pigment called melanin. Therefore pigmentation simply means that the coloring effect. Effects of pigmentation disorders to the skin are real and unhealthy. As I had said your skin gets its color from a pigment called melanin made from special cells in the skin. When these cells are damaged or becomes unhealthy, it affects melanin production. It is important to note that some pigmentation disorders will affect just patches of skin while others will affect your whole body.

Therefore those who have darker skin produce more melanin compared to those with lighter skin. Besides that pregnancy, Addison’s disease, and sun exposure all can make your skin darker. In the meantime Vitiligo is a condition that causes patches of light skin. Albinism is a genetic condition affecting a person’s skin. A person with albinism may have no color, lighter than normal skin color, or patchy missing skin color. Infections, blisters and burns can also cause lighter skin. By the way skin pigmentation disorders and irregularities are very common today necessitating the need to adequately understand the effects of pigmentation disorder to the skin.

Effects of Pigmentation disorders to the Skin – Hyperpigmentation Disorders

Hyperpigmentation problems are particularly prevalent and many are associated with aging. While the triggers may vary, hyperpigmentation occurs when pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) become more active than normal, which leads to the production and deposition of more pigment (melanin). Conversely, hypopigmentation occurs when melanocytes are destroyed. Let us now consider some of the most common pigmentation problems as we progress into the discussion.

Effects of Pigmentation disorders to the Skin – Age spots-sun spots (solar lentigines)

These are those conditions which are associated with aging, sun damage and, to a lesser degree, other forms of skin damage. Occasionally they are given a misleading name called liver spots since they are unrelated to the liver and in no way reflect liver function. Age spots colors varies from light brown to black and are mostly located in areas exposed to the sun like the hands, face, and arms. Nonetheless it must be noted that it is not very clear how the sun damage triggers age spots even though UV radiation produces mutations, local inflammation and other changes that increase local proliferation of melanocytes and activate melanin-producing genes. In most cases, age spots are harmless but may be cosmetically frustrating.

Effects of Pigmentation disorders to the Skin – Freckles

Freckles (ephelides) are small, pigmented spots containing more melanin than the surrounding skin.
Freckles are not caused by aging or sun damage.
As opposed to age spots, freckles tend to fade with age.
Sun exposure, while not a cause of freckles, typically makes freckles much more prominent.
Freckles are found mainly in fair skinned people and tend to run in families.
The cause of freckles appears to be largely genetic.
Freckles are not considered a skin disorder and are harmless and for this reason, some consider them a cosmetic nuisance.

Effects of Pigmentation disorders to the Skin – Melasma and Chloasma

Melasma is a condition characterized by increased tan-like skin pigmentation naturally having irregular, patchy scattering on the skin surface.
Chloasma is a variant of melasma happening mainly in women and associated with increased levels of certain hormones.
Chloasma may be triggered by pregnancy, oral contraceptives and occasionally other hormonal imbalances.

While we are appreciating that hormonal change are the most common cause of melasma and chloasma there are other factors which also plays a role. For instance, a blend of sun damage and certain ingredients found in deodorants, toiletry and other personal care products may result in melasma seemingly due to local sensitization of melanocytes. And yet again in some cases, melasma resolves on its own if the underlying hormonal imbalance is removed like for example when hormonal contraceptives are replaced by a non-hormonal method or after childbirth. If the cause is non-hormonal, avoiding sun exposure and reducing or eliminating suspect skin or body care products may improve melasma. In persistent cases, various methods of skin lightening may be used.

Effects of Pigmentation disorders to the Skin – Hypo-pigmentation disorders

Hypo-pigmentation is far less common that hyper-pigmentation. Hypo-pigmentation occurs when pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) are either destroyed or stunned into inactivity. This generally occurs either due to serious skin damage like in the case of a burn or ablative laser resurfacing or due to an autoimmune disease where the immune system erroneously attacks melanocytes like in the case of vitiligo.

Effects of Pigmentation disorders to the Skin – Prevention of pigmentation disorders

Most hyper-pigmentation problems are either caused or exacerbated by sun exposure. Therefore taking all the necessary sun protection is very important for preventing hyper-pigmentation. Other steps to avoid skin damage should also help. Women with history of chloasma may be able to prevent recurrence by using non-hormonal birth control methods. However before you take that direction, it will be very important that you bring that to the notice of your physician and balanced against the merits and the demerits of the non-hormonal alternatives. Finally this topic of pigmentation is very wide and because of the several coloring effects that come with it due to various factors, it will be very important that you schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury today to help you understand the health of your skin for a better and sustainable glowing and healthy skin.

Effects of Pigmentation disorders to the Skin – Pimples and Wrinkles

Tag Archives: Skin disorders