By Dr. Sasi Kiran Attili, Consultant Dermatologist & Dermatopathologist Oral sunscreen pills are supplements marketed for skin protection. Oral sunscreen pills are not proven to prevent skin cancer. Some contain Polypodium leucotomos, a tropical fern extract, while others contain antioxidants, carotenoids or vitamins. But can these supplements actually prevent skin cancer? The short answer is […]
Babchi (bakuchi) is a traditional herbal treatment for vitiligo, used alone or as an ingredient in products such as Whit-Care cream. Although there is some preliminary evidence that babchi preparations may stimulate repigmentation, reliable clinical evidence for individual commercial formulations remains limited. Natural ingredients are not necessarily safer: babchi contains compounds capable of causing significant […]
Choosing a sunscreen for pigmentation is more complicated than simply selecting the highest SPF on the shelf. UVA protection for pigmentation matters because UVA contributes to immediate pigment darkening, persistent pigmentation and photoageing, while repeated small exposures can accumulate over time. Dr. Sasi Kiran Attili is a UK-trained dermatologist and board-certified dermatopathologist who assesses patients […]
SPF 30 vs SPF 50 are commonly compared when choosing sunscreen, but these numbers do not simply represent percentages of UVB protection. This explanation is convenient, but it can make the differences between sunscreens appear smaller than they really are. SPF works as a biological protection factor based on the ultraviolet dose needed to produce […]
Most rashes, pigmentation changes, infections and hair problems begin and end in the skin. Occasionally, however, skin signs of internal disease can provide an important clue to changes involving blood sugar, hormones, blood fats, nutrition or other organs. Dr. Sasi Kiran Attili is a UK-trained dermatologist and board-certified dermatopathologist. This combination of clinical dermatology and […]
There are various risk factors for skin cancer. Below is a standard questionnaire I get patients who see me to fill in, while waiting for their appointment. Try and answer these questions for yourself. If you are of Skin Type I or II and or say yes, to any of the other questions below, you […]
The answer to the Hidradenitis Suppurativa is indeed the answer to the Photo Quiz posted last week. This is a Dermatology Quiz posted last week is indeed Hidradenitis Suppurativa. This is a disabling skin disease akin to acne of the armpits and groins but can cause large, painful boils, cysts and scars which discharge pus. […]
How often should I bath my baby? Which is the best baby cream to use? Which is the best baby soap to use? How to care for Baby skin? These are common questions new mums and dads often have for which there is not a lot of scientifically based sound data out there. The […]
Interesting article that discusses the role of Alternative/ complementary medicine in dermatology. Just confirms what we as dermatologists always knew, that there is no scientific evidence to support the role of these treatment modalities. Moreover, caution has to exercised when using these treatments, as they can often cause severe side effects. American Journal […]
Dermatologists and patients would be interested to know that the Chicago blue-KOH stain can be extremely useful for rapid diagnosis of fungal skin and nail infections. This is a simple bedside procedure where Chicago sky blue 6B (1%) is mixed with an equal volume of 10% KOH in a glass dropper bottle. A drop of […]
