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Grand Strand Dermatology, LLC

"Love The Skin You're In"

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9400 Frontage Road (Hwy 17 Bypass)

Murrell Inlet, SC 29576

(843) 215-1100

933 Medical Circle

Myrtle Beach, SC 29572

(843) 215-1100

843-215-1211

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Must-try summer hair care

  • Created in Pamphlets

Must-try summer hair care

Summer activities can do major damage to your hair. A few simple steps can keep your locks looking healthy all summer long.

Mother and young daughter having fun in swimming pool.

Though it is part of our routines to make sure to protect our skin before heading out for a fun, sun-filled summer day (and every day!), rarely do we give our hair the same attention. From chlorinated swimming pools to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, our hair experiences heightened stress in the warmest months of the year. To avoid damage and provide protection to our locks, it’s essential to understand the risks and take proactive measures. To keep your hair healthy, silky, and shiny, try these board-certified dermatologist-approved swim season tips.

What happens to our hair in the sun

Hair, similar to skin, is susceptible to damage from the sun — specifically UV damage, says Dr. Farah Moustafa, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor and director of laser and cosmetics at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. While all hair may be impacted, she says lighter, blond, or gray-colored hair is more susceptible than darker shades. How come? Dr. Moustafa explains it’s due to the lack of a naturally protective pigment known as melanin. This pigment works to protect against free radicals caused by UV light and their effects on keratin, an important protein in hair biology. According to Dr. Moustafa, UV damage breaks down the proteins in hair and also changes its color. "This manifests as dry, brittle, frizzy hair which lacks luster," she continues.

Another way we put our hair through the wringer in the summer is by swimming in pools. Though most add chlorine to keep water fresh and clean, this chemical isn’t good news for our locks. As we practice our backstroke, chlorine dissolves our hair lipids, which are the fats in our hair that coat the hair shaft and offer protection. Thus, Dr. Moustafa says, we are more susceptible to damage and split ends. Additionally, chlorine can break down the chemical bonds of the protein in our hair, which leads to even more breakage.

And one more thing: if you have blond hair and your mom ever warned you about taking a dip in the pool, she wasn’t wrong. Dr. Moustafa says chlorine works with the copper in the water and becomes absorbed by your hair, resulting in a green hue.

Dermatologist tip

Apply oil or a leave-in conditioner to your hair before entering the pool. This creates a physical barrier between your hair and harmful chlorine.

How to protect your locks

Although you may not be able to cover up all your hair every time you venture outdoors, you can provide strength and help keep your hair healthy by taking a few precautions.

  • Use sun protection. When in the sun, Dr. Moustafa suggests wearing a wide-brimmed hat to cover your hair. As much as possible, try to avoid peak hours of sun exposure, typically from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There are also many hair care products, including leave-in conditioners, sprays, powders, and so on, that include SPF. Seeking shade also protects you from the sun.

  • Time your trip to the salon. If you regularly have your hair professionally colored blond or highlighted, you’re putting your locks through a bleaching process to arrive at your preferred light-colored hue. To get the most out of your hair color and to protect your locks from the sun’s rays, Dr. Moustafa says to avoid coloring before you take a sun- and pool-filled vacation. "When you dye your hair blond, you make it more susceptible to UV damage and damage from chlorine," she says. However, if you go darker, you’re not increasing your risk.

  • Consider a swim cap for pools. If you’re a fan of doing laps or simply splashing around in a pool, Dr. Moustafa recommends purchasing a swim cap to keep your hair out of harm’s way. If it’s too uncomfortable for you, she says you can also apply oil or a leave-in conditioner before entering the pool. "This creates a physical barrier between your hair and the harmful chlorine," she adds.

  • Rinse and wash your hair after swimming. When you’re ready to hang up the pool towel for the day, rinse your hair immediately after swimming. Then, wash your hair with a specially formulated swimmers’ shampoo. This removes chlorine from your hair. Follow up with a deep conditioner to help restore moisture.

Bottom line: Your hair needs some summer TLC, too, so add another step in your routine to protect those dazzling locks.


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Last updated: 8/31/21


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Skin Cancer Removal Procedures

Skin Cancer patients can expect a surgical plan to remove their skin cancer based on the location , size, and type of tumor. Most treatments to remove cancerous lesions can be conducted under local anesthesia.

 

The Skin Cancer is removed with a Surgical tool called a curette with a hoop or scoop on the end for scraping. An electric current is then applied to the area through a needle-like electrode designed to kill the remaining cancer cells and reduce bleeding.

After care instructions: The ED&C site must be kept clean if it is to heal rapidly. It is a small open wound which may or may not leave a scar. To clean the site, follow these instructions

First Wash Your Hands With Soap and Water

1. Remove Initial dressing in 24 hours.

2. Wash the area with soap and water twice a day. Apply a thin film of Aquaphor or Vaseline and cover with a fresh bandage until healing has occurred. This may take up to 2/4 week, depending on size of the wound and location.

3. Do not use Neosporin or other over the counter topical antibiotics as allergies to these medications are quite common and they can slow down healing.

4. Keep wound moist with Vaseline and band-aid, as stated in number 2. A scab or leaving it open to the environment will slow down healing.

It is normal for the site to become puffy, reddened, or irritated. However, if the site is warm to the touch, oozing, or severely reddened or very sore, you need to contact the office at (843)215-1100.

 

The skin cancer growth is removed with surgical excision by cutting or shaving it out of the skin with a scalpel. Local anesthesia is used to numb the affected area. Depending on the type of tumor, our surgeons my remove a certain amount of surrounding tissue. 

After Care Instructions: First Wash Your Hands With Soap and Water

1. You may apply an ice pack following surgery. Apply the ice pack on for 20 minutes, and then remove for 20 minutes, and repeat the process as needed. 

2. Remember, applying direct pressure to the surgery site stops bleeding.

3. You may take Tylenol for Pain if needed.

4. Leave the wound dressing on for 24 hours

5. While showering, remove your current dressing and clean your wound, and the remove for gently with warm water and soap to remove any dried blood and prevent scab formation.

6. Apply Vaseline ointment at least one time daily, and cover the entire wound with a band-aide or gauze dressing.

7. On your scheduled day of suture removal, cleanse the wound, and leave the area DRY(do not apply any ointment) and return to our office at your scheduled time to have the sutures removed

8. If your wound is in the beard area on your face or other area where you normally shave, please avoid shaving near the wound.

9. If the surgical site starts to bleed excessively and doesn't stop with applied pressure for 15 minutes, the dressing become saturated with blood. If there is excessive swelling or the site become inflamed and warm to the touch. Call the office at 843-215-1100

 

The surgeon removes the visible skin cancer and come surrounding tissue via and incision. The removed tissue is frozen, dyed, and evaluated under a microscope by a pathologist to see if the cancer has been removed entirely. If cancerous cells are still present, the process of excision and evaluation is repeated until the cancer is no longer detected. The diagnosis of the removed tissue is made in real-time, so the patient can be confirmed cancer-free the same day. The process can take several hours to fulling remove the cancer.

After Care Instructions: First Wash Your Hands With Soap and Water

1. You may apply an ice pack following surgery. Apply the ice pack on for 20 minutes, and then remove for 20 minutes, and repeat the process as needed. 

2. Remember, applying direct pressure to the surgery site stops bleeding.

3. You may take Tylenol for Pain if needed.

4. Leave the wound dressing on for 24 hours

5. While showering, remove your current dressing and clean your wound, and the remove for gently with warm water and soap to remove any dried blood and prevent scab formation.

6. Apply Vaseline ointment at least one time daily, and cover the entire wound with a band-aide or gauze dressing.

7. On your scheduled day of suture removal, cleanse the wound, and leave the area DRY(do not apply any ointment) and return to our office at your scheduled time to have the sutures removed

8. If your wound is in the beard area on your face or other area where you normally shave, please avoid shaving near the wound.

9. If the surgical site starts to bleed excessively and doesn't stop with applied pressure for 15 minutes, the dressing become saturated with blood. If there is excessive swelling or the site become inflamed and warm to the touch. Call the office at 843-215-1100

 

Typically used to treat minor skin cancers and pre-cancerous lesions, cryosurgery involves the use of liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy the cancer cells. The procedure, also known as cryotherapy is repeated until the affected area no longer shows signs of pre-cancer or cancer.

After Care Instructions: 

1. You do note need to cover the area treated, unless instructed to do so.

2. The discomfort is temporary but may last for 10-30 minutes after treatment.

3. the area may appear red for up to one hour after freezing but often returns to normal color within 10-15 minutes.

4. A blister may form within 24 hours of treatment. this may be clear fluid filled or blood filled, if it is uncomfortable, you may drain it by using a clean needle cleansed with alcohol. If this is done, cover with a Band-Aid and Vaseline ointment for approximately one week. This bandage should be changed daily. 

5. Sometimes a scab will will form over the area treated. This will come off on its own and does not need to be covered.

6. If you have any questions or concerns after reading the above information, please do not hesitate to call our office at 843-215-1100



Side Effects of Skin Cancer Removal 

With any kind of skin cancer removal, scarring is likely to occur. Incision sites may be sore, red, or drain small amounts of fluid. Healing will continue for weeks and even months after your surgery, incision lines will fade and continue to improve. Sun exposure on wounds and scar lines can result in irregular pigmentation or cause the sight to become red, raised, or dark, so patients should follow post-op preventative instructions carefully. 

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