Holistic Dermatology and Integrative Medicine

Varicose Veins? Try Horse Chestnut.

Pressure from standing upright creates pressure in the legs and leads to enlarged leg veins.  This pressure makes the valves in the veins ineffective, in effect turning the little systems of blood veins in the body into one long vein.  This pushes fluid out into the tissues, causing swelling of the legs and varicose veins.

Reversing gravity by elevating the legs is a great natural treatment.  Another natural treatment is the use of horse chestnut extract, which contains multiple bioflavinoids including a flavinoid called escin.  Horse chestnut products are standardized based on escin concentration, as this is considered to be the active ingredient.  It has multiple beneficial effects.  The other bioflavinoids present in the extract work synergistically with the escin.

As a bioflavinoid, ascin strengthens the capillaries and blood vessels.  It prevents leakage of material through the capillary walls by supporting the layer of cells that form the inner lining of the blood vessels.  That reduces the amount of leg swelling from leakage of fluid.  It also has constrictive effects on the vessels.

Elevation of legs and horse chestnut use are just a few of the ways to support leg varicosities.  Since there are other steps to take, possibilities of slowing the process if action is take early, and dangerous consequences if clots form in these vessels, it is important to get evaluated by your physician when leg vein problems begin.

To your health,

Alan M Dattner, MD

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As always, the content of this blog is for information and education purposes only, and should not be used to prevent, diagnose or treat illness; please see your physician for care.

Sunlight Controversy: How much sun is enough? How much is too much?

The controversy over sunlight benefit versus danger rumbles on, with new data on both sides of the question.  From the American Academy of Dermatology meeting, two very different pieces of information stand out favoring cautious sunlight protection.  A study recently reported showing an increase in the incidence of melanoma for people who had used tanning beds before the age of 35.  Early damage from excessive light exposure shows up later. 

 

Other studies reported showed that exposure to two times the MED (the minimal amount of light necessary to cause redness of the skin) caused 100 times the amount of messenger RNA for collagenase (the enzyme which breaks down collagen in skin.)  Collagen is the fibrous substance which gives the skin its shape and strength.  Breakdown of collagen is associated with aging and wrinkles.  One half the amount of sunlight necessary to cause redness increased the collagenase activity fourfold.  Furthermore, even one tenth the amount of sunlight exposure necessary to cause redness caused some increase in collagenase activity.

 

All of the data which was presented demonstrated the various aspects of the process of sun damage leading to aging, at the molecular level.  The speaker is a respected authority on the science of skin aging, so the data appears valid.  I have reviewed other studies in the past which show similar findings, which also lends credibility to his argument.  I will discuss the benefits of sunlight and vitamin D production in later blogs, which inform the other side of this controversy.  If you sign up for my monthly newsletter, I will email you the top five tips to minimize the effects of solar damage

 

Regardless of controversy, sun exposure is a double edged sword with both benefits and dangers.  Living a full life exposes us to both those benefits and dangers; finding the right balance and using protective supplements and topical antioxidants is the best we can do.

To your health,

Alan M Dattner, MD

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As always, the content of this blog is for information and education purposes only, and should not be used to prevent, diagnose or treat illness; please see your physician for care.

Dermatologist-Approved Hair Care Tips

As you may have read, I just attended the American Academy of Dermatology Annual meeting in San Francisco.  I want to tell you about some of the fascinating things about hair care I learned as I review my notes from the conference.

At a really interesting seminar on hair disorders, speakers covered basic biology, rare disorders, and common conditions affecting the hair.  The hair shaft, made up of strands of protein, is covered by a “cuticle” of overlapping scales which protect and hold together the shaft. 

Over-Brushing

Activities such as over-brushing removes the scales making up the cuticle and allows the shaft to come apart, making the shaft frizz and become weak.  Scratching the scalp or hair has the same effect.  The result is broken hairs and the impression that hair is not growing.  Some conditioners and combing products are available with special lubricants which reduce friction and reduce the removal of the cuticle scale.

 
Heating Wet Hair

Another way to damage the cuticle layer is to wet the hair and then heat it with a curling iron or a hair dryer that is too close.  The overheated water turns to steam inside of the hair shaft, forming tiny gas bubbles which cause the "cuticle" to burst off.  It was really fascinating to see this close up with a scanning electron photograph showing a lot of bulges from the gas bubbles forming in a wet, heated hair.  Hair treated this way looks frizzy, smells burned, and breaks easily.

 

Be gentle with your hair and it will look good and serve you well.

To your health,

Alan M Dattner, MD

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As always, the content of this blog is for information and education purposes only, and should not be used to prevent, diagnose or treat illness; please see your physician for care.

Holistic Dermatology at the AAD?

I just returned from the American Academy of Dermatology meeting with lots of new information from the host of sessions I attended. I will present a series of blogs from my experience at this meeting in the upcoming months.  On the exhibit hall floor, many products from skin care companies appeared for the first time.  Products which I have been using in my alternative medicine practice for the past 15 to 20 years.  What an affirming surprise to find how far ahead of the curve I have been, and to see that methods I have been practicing are finally catching on.

One product, which appeared in various forms, was homeopathic Arnica for post operative healing and pain prevention.  In some cases it was sold with or combined with the enzyme bromelain.   I was reassured to see that I had been using this at least 20 years ago, that my correct insights had been confirmed.

Sadly, Still Using Only the Western Model

Unfortunately, although products I have used are appearing, the philosophy and understanding with which I employ these seems to be sorely lacking.  Probiotics (healthy bacteria, like acidophilus) were both praised and questioned for use in treating atopic dermatitis.  Despite multiple positive studies, skeptics mentioned one study in which children's dermatitis actually did worse with probiotics.  But no consideration was given in the study regarding which diets corresponded to counteracting yeast and helping the probiotics work better.  Now that alternative medicine supplements are being accepted into traditional medicine, researchers are creating studies on them, but are treating these supplements in the same way they treat pharmaceuticals.  So the idea of having a magic pill that cures everything still seems to float above the concept of treating the whole person, which is what I continue to do and promote as a holistic dermatologist.

To your health,

Alan M Dattner, MD

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As always, the content of this blog is for information and education purposes only, and should not be used to prevent, diagnose or treat illness; please see your physician for care.

The Value of Eliminating Allergic Foods

I recently read an article in the Science Section of the New York Times by Tara Parker-Pope entitled “Telling food allergies from false alarms”.  The article focuses on the efficacy of food allergy antibody tests (only one of many kinds of allergy tests there are.)  It suggests that people avoiding a number of foods face malnutrition and inconvenience. 

The article overlooks the great value in helping patients eliminate foods which trigger a wide variety of conditions, most of which have an inflammatory etiology.  Any blood test, be it of antibody reactivity, neutrophil change, or lymphocyte response, may be helpful to point out foods to test for potential clinical improvement by elimination and challenge.  I have seen numerous conditions including acne, eczema, irritable bowel, hidradenitis, migraines, and fatigue improve with food elimination.  A physician experienced in multiple forms of food testing can help associate symptoms with exposures, choose appropriate tests, and interpret results.

One things I do agree on is that allergy tests can give a wide variety of food and allergen sensitivities which may or may not indicate the cause of a patient's presenting condition.  The absolute best way to learn what foods are causing skin or any other problems is to eliminate all possible trigger foods, check to see if the problem clears, and then every few days, add a food back to the diet to find out which is the culprit.  The value of trials of food elimination to improve disease should not be overlooked for lack of definitive testing in major centers.

To your health,

Alan M Dattner, MD

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As always, the content of this blog is for information and education purposes only, and should not be used to prevent, diagnose or treat illness; please see your physician for care.

Five Tips for Dry Winter Skin

This winter, be sure to protect your skin from the sun, snow, and wind.  Here are five tips for your best dry skin protection.

To your health,

Alan M Dattner, MD

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As always, the content of this blog is for information and education purposes only, and should not be used to prevent, diagnose or treat illness; please see your physician for care.

Have a Sweet Holiday...

But not too sweet!  The Holidays are a time for parties, celebrations, and special treats.  Candies, cookies and cakes appear as gifts and thank you’s at all sorts of homes and businesses at this time of year.  It is not uncommon to hear a nudge to eat that “forbidden treat”- “Go ahead, it's the holidays.”  In the process, a lot more sugar gets eaten at this time of year.  Other rich foods, like egg nog, and alcoholic drinks, and even foods suspected of being allergic, get consumed as well. 

 

Some people date the onset or aggravation of their skin problems to this time of year.  Sugar aggravates acne and other conditions by a variety of different pathways.  It favors overgrowth of yeast in the digestive tract, which leads to leaky gut, absorption of allergens from food, and inflammation of oil glands. 

 

A spike in blood sugar is answered by a spike in insulin levels, and then a rise in Insulin-like growth factor (IGF).  This IGF has been shown to affect the follicular area in more than one way that leads to acne formation.  This is just one way in which too much sugar can lead to a skin problem.

 

Other rich foods, alcohol, and allergy producing foods all have ways in which they can aggravate not only acne, but other skin problems.

 

So I wish you a sweet New Year and Holiday season, filled with love and deeper joy, but light on the sugar in its many forms.

To your health,

Alan M Dattner, MD

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As always, the content of this blog is for information and education purposes only, and should not be used to prevent, diagnose or treat illness; please see your physician for care.

Eating Curry for Alzheimers?

Well, not exactly...

Some of the best features of natural, unprocessed remedies made from plants is that they are often less toxic and less expensive than pharmaceuticals.  However, as an integrative physician and holistic dermatologist, I believe in using the medicine that is best for each individual patient at each individual time.  Some of the best medicines that exist and are being developed are naturally occurring remedies which are strengthened through pharmaceutical concentration.  For example, a friend of mine developed a highly concentrated form of blue-green algae in the form of a pill which may be beneficial for fighting virile strains of the flu.

An exciting development from researchers at New Delhi Jamia Hamdard University in India: they have successfully used cucurmin--extracted from turmeric and turned into nano form--to control and cure cirrhosis of liver in animal model experiment.  The experiment has been shown to reverse severe damage to the liver.  Human trials are starting and researchers hope for major breakthroughs.

The university studies and develops traditional methods of treatment and medicines, "We have all come across references to turmeric's healing powers in history and mythology.  So, we decided to check its efficacy.  It was found that when used in large doses, turmeric wasn't particularly useful.  But broken into nano particles, it worked wonders.  It even reversed cirrhosis which is incurable," said S. Ahmad, vice-chancellor of Jamia Hamdard. 

Curcumin extract is an antioxidant that helps revive dying cells.  As a repairing agent, it can regenerate cells that have begun to break.  The experiments on animals have proved that it has no toxic effect. "The trouble with traditional medicines is that not enough studies have been done to prove their efficacy.  Neither do we know how their utility could be enhanced. We are trying to fill in the blanks.  In this case, the result has been fascinating and we are confident that the human trials will be successful as well," added Ahmad.

I am excited that this and other experiments like it could pave the way for treating diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's!

To your health,

-Dr. Dattner

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As always, the content of this blog is for information and education purposes only, and should not be used to diagnose or treat illness; please see your physician for care.

4 Ways to Stop Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are caused by pressure from the blood in the veins.  When there is prolonged pressure from standing upright, hormonal changes, and weakening of the elements of the vessels, the valves begin to break down, causing the veins to appear on the surface of the legs.

There are several ways to relieve the pressure. Putting your legs up in the air on a desk or doing a shoulder stand and other upside down Yoga poses throughout the day are also very helpful, if you are careful about your spine.

Eating a diet rich in bioflavinoids, and taking bioflavinoid supplements, helps prevent and improve disorders of the veins, blood vessels, and capillaries.   

When prolonged standing cannot be avoided, be sure to wear comfortable shoes with good arch support. Some walking or movement of the legs periodically will help the pumping action to return blood. Your stockings should not bind anywhere. Any signs of pain or tenderness in the veins should immediately be reported to a physician, because of the possibility of venous thrombosis, with a clot that could break loose and block blood flow in vital organs like the lungs, heart or brain.

Top Four Tips for Healthy Veins from the Holistic Dermatologist:

1. Wear good, supportive shoes, elevate your legs above the heart regularly throughout the day, and/or wear compression stockings at a pressure suggested by your doctor.
2. Take horse chestnut extract standardized to contain 50-90 mg of aescin, 2- 3 times per day. Avoid with pregnancy, kidney or liver disease.
3. Eat a diet rich in vitamin C and bioflavioids, or supplement them, in order to strengthen the blood vessels.
4. Seek medical care if veins become hot, tender or rashy.

To your health,

-Dr. Dattner

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As always, the content of this blog is for information and education purposes only, and should not be used to diagnose or treat illness; please see your physician for care.

Safe Cleansers, for the Earth and for your Body

I encourage everyone to use a holistic approach to their dermatology conditions. Reducing your exposure to toxic chemicals is a great way to do that.  It can be a challenge at first, but your health is well worth the effort.  Here are some simple cleansing substitutes you can make yourself.  They'll help you avoid bleach, ammonia, alcohol, dyes, fragrances, and detergents, and save money.  Be sure to try cleansers on a small, hidden spot of what you are cleaning to make sure it does not cause fading or discoloration of the fabric before more widespread use.

Tub & Tile Cleanser: Mix 1 2/3 cups baking soda, a half cup high-quality liquid soap, a half cup water, and 2 tablespoons vinegar (if you add the vinegar too early it will react with the baking soda.)  

Carpet Cleaner: To absorb big spills, spread cornmeal over the spill. Wait about 15 minutes, then vacuum it up. For stains, a quarter cup biodegradable liquid soap with a third of a cup of water into a blender to make a foam.  Put the foam on the stain and rub. After rinsing, splash vinegar to finish.

Air Freshener: You can absorb odors in the fridge and in your home by putting cups of vinegar or baking soda around the house (on high surfaces to keep out of the reach of kids.)

Drain Clearing: Pour half a cup of baking soda down the sink, add a cup of vinegar. Cover the drain, and then rinse the drain with boiling water and salt. Repeat if it doesn't work immediately. 

Laundry Detergent: If you use liquid detergent, add half a cup of baking soda at the beginning of the wash.  If you use powdered detergent, add half a cup of baking soda during the rinse cycle.  You can then reduce your detergent by about half.  Try different amounts to see what works best for you.

Fabric Softener: Put two cups of white vinegar in your rinse cycle. Note that vinegar can cause colors to fade a little.

Window Cleaner: Mix three tablespoons of vinegar and one quart of club soda in a spray bottle. Add a squeeze of lemon or lime to air freshener, laundry detergent, and kitchen and tile cleaner for a healthy blast of freshness.

There are also a lot of non-toxic household cleaners which are healthier for both your skin and the "skin of the earth" than the traditional cleansers on the market.  Be sure to read the label to avoid being a victim of "greenwashing" (when a product's label is designed to look environmentally friendly, but the ingredients are the same old toxic mess.)  And as always, keep all cleaning products away from pets and children.

To your health,

-Dr. Dattner

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As always, the content of this blog is for information and education purposes only, and should not be used to diagnose or treat illness; please see your physician for care.