As you may know, I see many patients each week as I practice dermatology. After asking questions about the problem and examining the patient, I make a diagnosis and suggest the appropriate treatment. I also attempt to do my best to understand how my patients feel about their illness and...

You may not realize it, but on March 20, 2013, a little less than one month from now, it will be the first day of spring. I would bet that you have not thought about your feet at all during the winter months. Or if you did, it was to...

Smartphone applications are used for everything these days, and for the most part they are helpful and help to simplify life. Whether is it to check the weather, to see if your plane is delayed or if you can get a seat at your favorite restaurant, apps, for the most...

Thus far, there have been 34 reported deaths and 490 non-fatal cases from the outbreak of fungal meningitis caused by tainted steroid injections used to alleviate debilitating back or neck pain. It is a national tragedy that makes each of us think twice about possible consequences to invasive...

In most parts of the country, frigid winter is here, and there is now a real nip in the air. Humidity has dropped and the air is drying out for winter. Home heating systems are also running 24/7, which further strips the air of moisture.

This...

For years, I have had trouble sleeping. I fall asleep easily enough but usually awaken between 2 am and 4 am in the morning. I will then read the newspaper on my iPad or do some work. After an hour or so, I fall back to sleep. I have to...

I want to make it clear that I love my iPad. It was a Mother's Day gift from my husband and an attempt to make life just a bit easier for this wife, mother, daughter (think sandwich generation), doctor, organizer, social secretary, soccer Mom, chauffer, cook, volunteer, book club member......

There have been several recent reports in the media of intravenous infusions of different solution or fluids used to enhance one's appearance or performance. One report was of amino acid intravenous drips used to improve test-taking ability by Asian students. In the US, infusions have been reportedly used...

To achieve my goal of helping black women avoid the devastating disorder, alopecia, this is the third of three posts discussing the subject. I will begin by discussing traction alopecia, which is one of the three most common types of alopecia that I see in my black female patients. I...

It is very important to me as a woman of color and as a dermatologist to try to help women understand more about the devastating disorder, alopecia. My goal is also to help you avoid hair loss, particularly the types that are easily preventable and treatable. Regrettably, there are several...

When I lecture to groups of dermatologists, I often say that hair loss is epidemic among black women. In the twenty years that I have been in practice, I have gone from seeing five women with hair loss each week to seeing 25 or more. No one knows for sure...

The Renfrew Center Foundation outside of Philadelphia had a special "Barefaced and Beautiful" day on Monday, February 27th, to highlight eating disorders. The idea was to go without makeup for a day in order to start a dialogue about healthy body image and inner beauty. The Renfrew Center specializes in...

Every week, there are reports in the news of dangerous medications or medical products on the market. One recent report captured my attention. It was a report of a skin lightening cream that had poisoned a woman in California and another in Virginia. These skin lightening creams were...

I have quite a large number of male patients, who come to my practice with a toiletry kit full of skin care products. They either want to know if I approve of the products that they are using or they want suggestions for new products since the old ones are...

Unlike most women, I only get manicures three or four times a year. My decision is not based on the cost of a manicure, its not because I don't have a nail salon nearby or because I don't have an hour or so each week to sit down and get...

Itchy skin is a common complaint this time of year. In most cases, the itching can be attributed to dry skin but there can be several other reasons for itching. A few years ago a colleague called me to tell me that she had very itchy skin and she was...

Every New Year, most of us think conceptually about "bringing in the new and getting rid of the old," but when it comes to items that we use everyday, we often forget. Sometime forgetting results in the item not working as well as when it was new, but other times...

In the midst of a cold, gray winter, with daylight ending before 5 o'clock, its no wonder that many of us feel tired and have little energy. However, if you find yourself thinking, I just don't feel like myself, then it's time for you to take action. But before you...

Everyday we are bombarded with many products that we are told we must use or we should not live without. I have compiled a list of 12 inexpensive beauty and health essentials for 2012. They will cost you less than $40.00. Although they may not be what you think, they...