OUR CARIBBEAN SKIN SERIES / Keloids

Have you ever had a cut, which – after it has healed – feels bumpy or raised and often looks worse than the injury itself? That’s a keloid. Caused by scar tissue that keeps building up long after it’s necessary, keloids are about 20% more common in skin of colour.

They can happen around any type of laceration – acne, burns, cuts, viral infections like chicken pox, surgical incisions, even piercings or tattoos. Though benign, they can be uncomfortable or sensitive to the touch and, depending on their location, may cause some people to be self-conscious. Keloids typically occur on the earlobes, arms and torso and while many show up directly after an injury, some grow slowly but steadily over the course of months or even years. 

What are your options?

Surgery can remove keloids instantaneously, but they will likely recur at the incision site. With some patients, applying pressure to the area reduces blood flow and increases the chances of keeping keloids flat.

Steroid injections can help reduce keloids’ size and sensitivity, and cryotherapy, in which we freeze the area, is also effective, particularly with smaller scars.

Finally, laser treatments not only flatten keloids, they reduce associated hyperpigmentation.

Despite all these viable options, keloids can be tenacious. A good first step is for us to treat any underlying skin conditions in order to reduce the likelihood of recurrence, so if your keloids are really irritating you – aesthetically or otherwise – come in and see us. We’ll help determine which treatment may offer you the best shot at conquering your keloids.

IS WATER YOUR SKIN'S BFF?

We’re all familiar with the 8x8 water rule, which touts the importance of drinking an eight-ounce glass eight times a day. Recent research by Harvard Medical School, however, suggests there’s no one-size-fits all answer, with most people needing between four and six glasses a day to stay hydrated. Water undoubtedly has positive effects on our health, but is glowing skin one of them?

Here’s what happens when you drink water: it’s absorbed by the intestines, after which it’s distributed throughout your body via the bloodstream. This is great when it comes to things like temperature regulation, stable organs and efficient metabolism, but there is no direct scientitic correlation between water intake and skin hydration levels.

Hydrate skin from the outside in

We know what you’re thinking: How is that even possible? We’ve all seen the effects of dehydrated skin, a desert against which every line seems more pronounced – but because skin loses moisture through the epidermis, it needs a topical solution, just like a desert needs rain.

This is where good moisturisers like our incredible SkinCeuticals range come in. Scientifically formulated for all skin types and available as serums, gels or creams, they help restore skin’s protective barrier and keep precious mositure in.

Follow the skin’s golden rule

When it comes to skin health, a better rule to follow is The Golden Minute, whereby you moisturise within a minute of getting out of the shower in order to seal in that hydration. SkinCeuticals moisturisers, full of active ingredients like ceramides, fillagrins, and hyaluronic acid go much further for your skin than eight daily glasses of water ever could.

Here’s a quick look at some of your best bets…

SkinCeuticals Daily Moisture

This is part of our everyday routine! We love its barely-there feel, so our skin doesn’t feel bogged down or greasy. Bonus? It help minimise the appearance of pores and is durable enough to keep moisture locked in for the day without having to reapply.

SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel

An amazing hydrating serum that makes skin feel smoother and younger. We love that it’s completely oil-free and uses hyaluronic acid, a natural hydrator, to retain moisture where it’s most needed. Great for skin that’s prone to breakouts.

SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2

This is a super anti-ageing cream that nourishes and hydrates skin, encouraging self-repair by restoring strength to its external barrier. Fine lines and wrinkles? We can hardly see them!

SkinCeuticals Metacell Renewal B3

An aqueous emulsion that helps halt early signs of ageing by increasing the cell turnover on the skin’s surface. The result? Clearer, more evenly toned skin. Gorgeous!

So…should you drink water? Absolutely – once you also treat moisturisers like water for your skin.

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

At Serpentine Dermatology, we believe that beauty starts from deep within, and that women have much more to contribute than just what they look like.

The theme for International Women’s Day 2021 strives to bring more women to the table in order to create “an equal future free from stigma, stereotypes and violence” — and we could think of no better woman to share what she thinks about inner beauty and equality than Wendy Fitzwilliam: Miss Universe 1998, mother, attorney, Carnival lover, and a staunch advocate for HIV/AIDS education and awareness.

We hope the story of her beloved grandmother inspires you…

I have always found beauty in the most complete women. My maternal grandmother, Thin Granny, was girlie, strong, fiercely independent and kind to everyone with whom she interacted. Thin Granny dressed meticulously every day in the beautiful dresses she made herself.

Whether in her garden, at Mass or on a sojourn in her 80s to a Caribbean island with her wing woman, Aunty Naomi, her attention to detail and her confidence manifested in everything she did: raising her two children, preparing a meal, caring for the children often neglected in her village of Tortuga, holding her ground in a T&T not particularly celebratory of an independent woman, making her own way. She created her own successful lane by building an army of like-minded women who provided support to each other to navigate an often hostile professional environment not ready her. She did so with kindness, steely determination and glamour.

Many of the women I admire have these qualities in spades. Sharon Imbert, Meiling, Audrey Hepburn, Oprah, Rihanna, Mia Mottley all share a quiet confidence, steely determination and an ability to forgive, be kind and build up the people around them in ways big and small...like Thin Granny.

It is through our example of being the best version of ourselves, truly supporting each other as women and confidently occupying our spaces that we will achieve equality. As we celebrate International Women’s Day this month, let us joyfully, confidently support and celebrate each other.

OUR CARIBBEAN SKIN SERIES / Vitiligo

Your skin is as individual as you are – Caribbean skin even more so, thanks to its beautiful diversity. Vitiligo, which is characterised by a gradual loss of skin pigmentation that typically occurs in sharply defined patches, equally affects people of all ages, races and genders, but it is more noticeable in people of colour.

Links to autoimmune diseases

The condition may first manifest itself in parts of the body that are exposed to the sun, but other areas are soon affected, getting larger, whiter and more pronounced. There is currently no cure, but as work continues into determining precisely what causes vitiligo, this may someday change. Doctors suspect a genetic predisposition, perhaps triggered by environmental factors, or an autoimmune disease link, whereby the immune system attacks the cells that create skin pigment. In most cases, the loss of pigmentation happens on both sides of the body. As with other autoimmune conditions, vitiligo can be brought on by stress or other types of trauma. We can usually diagnose the condition from a skin biopsy.   

Social ostracisation

Sadly, vitiligo tends to attract a lot of social stigma, which is why having role models like Winnie Harlow is so important, as it helps people to understand the condition and hopefully, change their mindset. She advises young women to “make [their] own mould for what beauty is”.

Still, many patients – particularly younger ones – may grapple with self-esteem issues after diagnosis, including depression. We’ve therefore found that any treatment plan should ideally include psychological support. Public outreach at the national level would also be useful, as patients should not be made to suffer from greater societal ignorance or intolerance about the condition.

Other than the psychological distress and impact on quality of life – which are real issues – vitiligo is considered a benign condition, although patients are more easily prone to sunburn. In severe cases, it might contribute to vision problems and hearing loss, though these side effects are much less common.

Treatment options

The approach to treatment may differ depending on the patient’s age, as well as the extent and progression of the condition. Other than the regular sun protection advice, vitiligo treatment may involve a combination of topical creams, medications that control inflammation or regulate the immune system, and light-based therapy.

The hope is that future treatments may include drugs that stimulate the melanocytes, to either prevent loss of pigment or control the spread of vitiligo. While come people report results with alternative remedies, it’s important to let your doctor know what you’re taking, in case there are contraindications with some prescribed medicines.

If you notice lighter patches on your skin that you’re concerned about, have a family history of the disease, or feel that you may be at risk because of stress factors or underlying autoimmune conditions, just give us a call or schedule an appointment.

YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL

March 8 is International Women’s Day. Women are reportedly being most adversely affected by the pandemic, but we’ve noticed that instead of focusing on the real and urgent issues women face, there continues to be a disproportional interest in how women look rather than who they are.

This is partly what drives the multi-billion-dollar cosmetics industry, but to what end? While some products can definitely boost skin health, caving in to mainstream and social media pressure can sometimes lead to women – often the youngest and most beautiful – having body confidence issues.

To honour the spirit of International Women’s Day, we’ve asked a few outstanding ladies, all part of our Serpentine Dermatology family, to tell us what real beauty means to them. We hope it helps you to look at yourself with gentleness and see just how amazing you really are.

BEAUTY IS STRONG /

“Beauty and strength are synonymous — one cannot exist without the other. I feel most beautiful when my children make me smile. Motherhood has been the most powerful, empowering and sacred part of my life. It is, in essence, compassion and sacrifice that makes us all so potentially beautiful. Once we realise this, nothing can stand in our way! The world can be our palette to paint a masterpiece so exquisite, that never could we have envisioned we had the ability to create such beauty.”

— Tonya Abraham-Ali, Dermatologist

BEAUTY IS AUTHENTIC /

“We as women are designed to be a pillar of strength to our family, friends and community. It is important as women to lift each other up and stay focused in our faith. It is also fundamentally important to be aware that beauty comes from within and not what is deemed by society. In a world full of clones, it is important to be oneself. Let’s continue to love and spread light.”

— Cynthia Rennes, Nurse

BEAUTY IS KIND /

“Beauty is independence — being able to stand on your own two feet. A beautiful woman stands out amongst the crowds; you can always tell she’s caring and kind, and you would love to be her friend.”

— Savannah, 11 years old

BEAUTY IS CONFIDENT /

“What makes a woman beautiful goes far beyond what meets the eye at first glance. A woman’s beauty is reflected in how she lives her life and the outer display of her inner qualities. This confidence results in her seeing it unnecessary to compete with others, but rather, owning her unique light.

A beautiful woman leads a life of integrity, compassion for all, and generosity of spirit toward all living beings.
Among the most beautiful of characteristics is a woman who marches to the beat of her own drum — a capacity she gains through a deep sense of being independent, though having faith in the power of collaboration.

A sense of humour is always a beautiful trait and is something I think women should keep, especially as they strive to be the most powerful and successful version of themselves.

I admire women who treat others with fairness and equality. We are all one regardless of creed, race or circumstances.

A beautiful woman is one who takes care of her health and is willing to age gracefully, while, of course wearing her unique, beautiful smile as much as possible, even amid the many challenges that may come her way.”

— Meiling, Fashion Designer

Make sure to check in with us on Instagram and Facebook on March 8, when we’ll have a super-special beauty message for you!