Since the beginning of humanity, man has sought to define beauty. Whether by philosophy, mathematical constructs, social studies, or biology, the fascination with and the study of beauty has consumed our emotions and intellect. Averageness, symmetry and sex-specific traits have been associated with attractiveness. Recent studies are shaping a new reality of beauty, one founded on evolutionary and biologic findings that link our fascination with beauty to our reproductive success.
It is proposed that beauty can be external or internal or both. External or physical beauty is immediately visible. Internal or inner beauty is not always immediately visible. Ideally both types of beauty are connected. The dermatologist needs many clinical skills, including an understanding of psychology, when addressing skin-related problems - appearance-related problems in particular.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and cosmetic dermatology is the science of beauty.

Best wishes from Brazil!

Dr. Érica Monteiro
Cosmetic Dermatologist
www.dermatologia.com.br

My tip: choose not so detergent soap and always moisturize your skin after bath.

Best wishes from Brazil!

Dr. Érica Monteiro
Cosmetic Dermatologist
www.dermatologia.com.br

This is great for removing large amounts of hair fast. Legs, bikini
areas, backs, ect. The skin is cooled with ice or cryogen spray, slightly
before the time of the laser pulse. The laser then pulses for a
fraction of a second with some feeling of pressure to the skin, much
like a “thump”.

The number of treatments vary from person to person. Factors that
determine how long it takes are: Hair color, Hair diameter, growth cycle of the hair. Laser Hair removal will not work on blond, gray, or red hair.

Prior to laser hair removal

- Do not have plucked, tweezed or waxed your unwanted hair for at least 4-6 weeks. The hair should be shaved and visibly present.
- Stop depilatory cream one week prior to treatment the hair must be at skin surface to remove.
- No sun exposure 36-48 hours prior to treatment The laser targets the pigment in the hair, so the less pigment in the skin helps the laser focus its energy on the hair.
- Do not use self tanning products 2 weeks prior to laser treatment.
- Makeup, deodorant and lotions need to be removed before treatment.
- Do not use retinoids A or acids products 2 weeks prior to treatment

Best wishes from Brazil!

Dr. Érica Monteiro - Cosmetic Dermatologist
www.dermatologia.com.br

Best wishes from Brazil,

Dr. Érica Monteiro - Cosmetic Dermatologist
www.dermatologia.com.br

Chemical peel uses a chemical solution as: phenol, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), alphahydroxy acids (AHAs), retinoic acid (RA), Jessner solution and others. The formulation used may be adjusted to each patient’s needs.

Glycolic acid, retinoic acid and Jessner’s peels result in superficial skin injury and are well tolerated. They remove thin lesions on the skin surface, reducing pigment.

Trichloracetic acid (TCA) concentration usually is 20 to 35%. The treatment is painful and treated areas are swollen, red and crusted for the next week or so. It can lead to an impressive improvement in skin texture with a reduction in blotchy pigmentation, freckling and keratoses.

Phenol results in deep skin injury. It is not often used nowadays because of the risk of scarring and because of its toxicity.

All chemical peels carry some uncertainty and risk Chemical peel is normally a safe procedure when it is performed by a qualified, experienced dermatologist. However, some unpredictability and risks such as infection and scarring, while infrequent, are possible.

Fine wrinkling can be reduced, brown marks, freckles and pigmentation can be removed or lessened.

Antibiotics and oral antiviral agents may be recommended after deeper peels. Superficial peels result in mild facial redness and occasional swelling which usually resolve within 48 hours. The peeling is similar to sunburn. Most people can continue their normal activities. Make-up can be applied a few hours after the procedure. Moderate depth peels result in intense inflammation and swelling, which resolve within a week. The peeling is more marked. Mild redness can persist for several weeks. Most people take a week off from work after a moderate depth peel.

Best wishes from Brazil!

Dr. Érica Monteiro - Cosmetic Dermatologist
www.dermatologia.com.br

The incidence of melanoma has been increasing faster than any other cancer over the past 20 years. The way to decrease your chance of developing melanoma is to recognize if you are at risk and take measures to decrease that risk or be more vigilant.

The following are risk factors. The more risk factors you have, the higher your chances are of getting melanoma.

- A mole that is changing
- Atypical nevus syndrome
- Having a mole that is >15cm in diameter and has been present since birth
- White pale skin
- A prior melanoma
- A close family member with melanoma
- Using a tanning bed ten times a year or more before age 30
- More than 50 moles on your body
- Suppression of the immune system
- The tendency to burn and freckle instead of tan

Preventing Melanoma
The best prevention is to recognize any risk factors you may have and prevent sun damage. Use a sunscreen that has at least an SPF of 15 anytime and everyday and avoid sun exposure.

Recognizing Suspicious Moles using the ABCD’s system:

- Asymmetry - Draw a line through the middle of the mole. If the halves don’t match, the mole is asymmetric and more likely to be abnormal.
- Border - The borders of atypical moles are not well defined.
- Color - An uneven color throughout the mole is a sign of abnormality.
- Diameter - Moles that are enlarging in diameter greater than 6 mm. This is about the size of a pencil eraser.

If you are concerned about a mole, you must see your dermatologist!

Best wishes from Brazil!

Dr. Érica Monteiro - Cosmetic Dermatologist
www.dermatologia.com.br

- Keratolysis, removal of dead surface skin cells usually using salicylic acid, blistering agents, immunomodulators, or formaldehyde, often with mechanical peel of the wart.

- Cryosurgery, which involves freezing the wart (with liquid nitrogen), creating a blister between the wart and epidermal layer, after which the wart falls off.

- Surgical curettage.

- Laser treatment using vascular laser (example: Dye Laser).

- Imiquimod, a topical cream that helps the body’s immune system fight the wart virus.

- Cantharidin, it can causes dermal blistering.

The wart can regrows after the skin has healed.

Your dermatologist can prescribe topical treatments containing salicylic acid to mantain the treatment at home.

I do not recomend you to use any medication without medical advice.

Best wishes from Brazil!
Dr. Érica Monteiro - Cosmetic Dermatologist
www.dermatologia.com.br

Warts are contagious, but most only pose a very low risk of being passed to another person through direct or indirect contact.

Most warts pose no significant health risks and will disappear within a year or two of first appearing. However, because warts can be unsightly – and in the case of genital warts, may pose significant health risks – some patients may choose to treat them with medications or chemicals, or to have them surgically removed. However, it is not uncommon for warts to recur even after they’ve been treated effectively.

There are several different major categories of warts. The type of HPV a person contracts will determine the type of wart that develops. More than 100 HPV viruses have been identified. These viruses stimulate the rapid growth of cells on the outer layer of the skin (epidermis), causing the formation of warts on the skin and mucous membranes.

We can identify diferents categories of warts:

- Common warts: Typically appear on the fingers, especially in areas where skin has been broken around the nails and on the back of the hand.

- Plantar warts: they appear on the soles of the feet at pressure points (such as the balls and heels of the feet).

- Flat warts: smooth warts that typically grow in large groups more than 20 at a time, most commonly on the face of children and in areas irritated by shaving in adults.

- Genital warts: irregular, bumpy growths with the texture of a small cauliflower that can be transmitted through sexual contact or contaminated things. Beware, some types may cause abnormalities that can lead to genital cancer.

In WARTS part II you will learn more…

Best wishes from Brazil!

Dr. Érica Monteiro - Cosmetic Dermatologist
www.dermatologia.com.br

Best wishes from Brazil,

Dr. Érica Monteiro
www.dermatologia.com.br

Type I: Pale white skin, blue/hazel eyes, blond/red hair. Always burns, does not tan.
Type II: Fair skin, blue eyes. Burns easily, tans poorly.
Type III:Darker white skin. Tans after initial burn.
Type IV:Light brown skin. Burns minimally, tans easily.
Type V: Brown skin. Rarely burns, tans darkly easily.
Type VI: Black skin. Never burns, always tans darkly.

It is very important to protect skin from the sun damaging because exposure to ultraviolet radiation contributes to ageing skin and is the main cause of skin cancer. The pale skin people may need to take particular care because of photodamage.

The point is: no matter what the weather, or what you are doing, protect your skin. Take particular care in summer and make sure your children are appropriately protected as well as yourself. You must protect your skin in the winter.

Best wishes fro Brazil!

Dr. Érica Monteiro - Dermatologist
www.dermatologia.com.br