Category: Uncategorized
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Suspecting skin cancer? Here’s what to expect
Have you spotted a mole or skin spot that looks a bit suspicious? You have booked an appointment with your dermatologist, and you are wondering what would happen next when you arrive at the doctor’s clinic. Your dermatologist will ask you for a few details about the suspicious spot as well as your medical history.…
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Could the dark streak on my nail be cancerous?
Image source from DermNet (https://dermnetnz.org/) Patients often come to the dermatologist when they spot a dark line or streak on their nails. Thanks to the power of health education, many are now aware that they need to get this checked for possible cancer. A dark line on the nail is known as longitudinal melanonychia. Although…
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Caring for Sensitive Skin: What You Need to Know
Many people describe their skin as “sensitive” — but what does that really mean?Sensitive skin syndrome is a recognised condition where the skin reacts with unpleasant sensations such as stinging, burning, itching, or tingling in response to things that normally shouldn’t cause discomfort. What Can Trigger Sensitive Skin? Sensitive skin doesn’t always have one clear…
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Ask About Acne
In conjunction with June as the Acne Awareness Month, let’s take a look at a few commonly asked questions about acne treatment and skin care. 1.How do I integrate acne treatment into my skin care regime? Topical treatment for acne can range from benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics like clindamycin, to retinoids. A simple mnemonic to remember…
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Dermatology for Dentists
Although Dermatology may seem distant and distinct from the world of Dentistry, there are areas of overlap where patients will require care from both specialties. These conditions include hypersensitivity and drug reactions, psoriasis, lichen planus and pemphigus vulgaris. These notes are meant as an aide memoire for undergraduate dental students during their medical rotation but…
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Reading list for Dermatology
Dermatology is a diverse specialty encompassing more than 3000 conditions and different subspecialties ranging from medical dermatology, cosmetic dermatology, dermatologic surgery, dermatopathology, etc. This diversity lends itself to an interesting and varied daily clinical practice. If you are considering dermatology as your field of practice, you may be wondering about educational resources that may be…
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Chemoprevention in Skin Cancer Medicine
Chemoprevention can be defined as the use of natural or pharmacologic agents to prevent or reverse skin cancer genesis. These medications target pathways brought upon by UV-radiation induced tumorigenesis and intervene in the period following damaging UVR exposure and before the development of skin cancers. Molecular targets include inflammatory cytokines, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostanoids, melanocortin one…
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How will my doctor repair my wound during skin cancer surgery?
Removing a skin cancer using surgery (whether Mohs micrographic surgery or local excision) will result in a wound on the skin and/or surrounding structures. Finding the most appropriate way to repair this wound depends on the location of the wound, the availability of spare tissue around the area, any free margins that may be affected…
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4 Principles of Eczema Treatment
Eczema is a common inflammatory skin condition which leads to redness, dryness and flaking of the skin. The damaged skin may also be prone to infections such as impetigo and herpes. I find it useful to frame the treatment of eczema using 4 principles (just like the four legs of a chair, the combination of…
Dr Kwan Zhenli - Dermatology 