Have You Considered a Complete Skin Evaluation? | Tips from Your Southlake, TX Dermatologist

Photo By Andrey_Popov at Shutterstock

There are many services provided by a dermatologist. One of the ways they can help is by providing you with a complete skin evaluation. In short, the said service is exactly what it sounds like, which is to say, a head-to-toe examination of the patient’s skin, hair, and nails for moles, growths, changes in pigmentation, and other potential issues. By doing so, a dermatologist can provide Southlake, TX residents with an up-to-date assessment of the condition of their skin, thus empowering them with the knowledge needed to protect their skin health.

Why Is Skin Health So Important?

Here are some of the reasons that people should care about their skin:

It Protects Us from Pathogens

The skin is the human body’s first line of defense from the pathogens that seek to break in. First, the cells that make up the epidermis have a close connection with one another, thus enabling them to form a very simple but nonetheless very effective barrier that can’t be penetrated by pathogens under normal circumstances. Second, the dermis contains sebaceous glands that produce sebum, which is useful for keeping the skin well-moisturized as well as creating a slightly acidic environment that is inhospitable for most pathogens. Third, the skin provides a home for more benign microbes that pose no threat to human health under normal circumstances, thus making it that much more difficult for their much more dangerous counterparts to get a foothold. Fourth, there are Langerhans cells in the skin that call in white blood cells whenever they sense the presence of microbes that have managed to penetrate the initial layer of skin, meaning that they are effectively a warning system for the subsequent lines of defense. Summed up, the skin is one of the most important components of the immune system, which is why Southlake, TX residents should prioritize the protection of its health with the professional assistance of a dermatologist.

It Protects Us from the Elements

Speaking of which, the skin serves to protect the rest of the human body from the elements as well. For example, its presence prevents grit and other small pieces of debris from coming into contact with the more sensitive components of the human body that are positioned inside rather than outside, which can do a great deal of damage given sufficient time. Likewise, the skin does a lot to minimize water loss, thus enabling people to continue functioning for long periods of time without having to constantly rehydrate themselves.

With that said, what is particularly notable is how the skin protects us from UV radiation, which is weak enough that some of it can penetrate the Earth’s protective atmosphere but still energetic enough to wreak havoc with living tissues. Our skin protects us from UV radiation in a number of ways. One, it produces melanin that can be used to prevent UV radiation from reaching vulnerable cells. Two, it can thicken its outermost layer of dead skin cells to create a deeper barrier that the UV radiation will have to penetrate before reaching the more vulnerable cells. Three, the skin is actually capable of engaging in some degree of repair-work when UV radiation manages to get through its defenses anyways, thus reducing the extent of the damage.

Unfortunately, the fact of the matter is that the skin’s natural capabilities aren’t always enough, meaning that the recommendations of a dermatologist can be so important for those who want to keep it as healthy as possible in spite of its constant exposure to the elements.

It Produces Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a critical nutrient for human health. Primarily, interested individuals will have heard about how it helps us to absorb calcium, meaning that those who get enough vitamin D will develop strong, healthy bones whereas those who don’t get enough vitamin D will develop soft, brittle bones. In fact, the problem was so common in the London of the Industrial Revolution thanks to its near-permanent shroud of smog that the Germans and the Dutch were known to call it the English disease. Besides ensuring strong bones, vitamin D plays an important role in other functions such as enabling muscles to move, enabling nerves to transmit messages, and enabling the immune system to fight off pathogens.

For the most part, we don’t get vitamin D by eating it in the same way that we get so many of our other nutrients. There are some foods such as mushrooms, fatty fish, and fortified products that contain vitamin D. However, we get most of our vitamin D by making it when our skin is exposed to a certain kind of ultraviolet radiation. Due to this, the continuing health of our skin is actually critical for ensuring that we can get all of the nutrients that we need, which is one more reason that Southlake, TX residents can benefit from the help of a dermatologist.

It Makes Us Look Good

With that said, the importance of a dermatologist’s assistance isn’t always grounded in maintaining the normal functions of the human body. Simply put, our skin is one of our greatest assets when it comes to our appearance, which makes sense because it is literally what enables us to put our best face forward. Naturally, this means that consulting a dermatologist is critical for anyone who fears that they have some kind of skin problem that could affect how they look in a negative manner. Some people might see this as being shallow, but since how we look has an enormous effect on our confidence as well as our social interaction with other people, it is an eminently practical consideration.

Contact Us

Interested in learning more about how Compassion Dermatology can carry out a complete skin evaluation? Please contact us with any further inquiries. For that matter, please remember that a dermatologist can provide a wide range of other skin-related services, meaning that those who have any other questions about what a dermatologist can and cannot do shouldn’t hesitate to get in touch with us call 817-380-5911 or book an appointment online by clicking here.


5 Benefits of Seeing a Dermatologist Regularly | Southlake, TX

Photo By puhhha at Shutterstock

A dermatologist is one medical professional that you’ll definitely want to visit regularly in Southlake, TX for all of your skincare needs. They address a multitude of skin issues not treatable by your primary care physician. Having extensive knowledge about the ‘body’s largest organ’ puts them in the perfect position to assist you with whatever issue you’ve been experiencing on your face, shoulders, arms, torso, back, or legs. If you want to feel less discomfort around your skin condition or improve the look and texture of it, you’ll want to make visiting a skin doctor a regular part of your healthcare routine.

Many benefits come with seeing a dermatologist. In addition to providing you with answers concerning an undiagnosed skin condition, they perform a multitude of services. Learning more about how the medical expert can assist you in being the healthiest version of yourself possible is highly beneficial. It gives you the knowledge needed to take a proactive stance concerning your health.

How Seeing a Dermatologist Often Benefits You

A dermatologist has gone through extensive training to be in the position that they’re in. They take their role very seriously. You must know why seeing them is a crucial part of your health and wellness routine. That way, you’re able to experience the full value of their services.

  1. To receive a complete skin evaluation: A skin doctor looks you over from head to toe. They check out any changes you might have in mole size, shape, and color as well as any inflammatory response in the skin. The evaluation doesn’t stop there. The skin doctor also checks out your hair and nails. The importance of doing this is to identify any possible medical conditions that could be causing the problem. Once skin doctor diagnoses the problem, they recommend the appropriate treatment option. You can then determine if it’s something that you want to pursue based on the info provided to you by your skin doctor.
  2. To doing screenings for precancers and cancers: Among the most essential services provided to you are regular skin screenings. They can discover any potentially dangerous cancers on the skin before they worsen. They give you treatment options that best meet your needs, too. Some involve topical medication while others are surgical in nature. Meeting with you after diagnosing your issue to discuss your options is imperative. It allows you to decide that best benefits you consciously.
  3. To have a skin-plumping, peeling or sculpting cosmetic procedure: Cosmetic procedures of certain types can be done by your dermatologist, too. For example, the doctor administers Botox injections in the lips or forehead as a way of rejuvenating the skin and plumping it. Chemical peels help remove dry, dead skin and take years off a person’s face. Body sculpting increases self-confidence by making the body look slimmer. There is a wide variety of services provided to you by your skin doctor. Looking into the ones that appeal most to you is easy. Simply enquire about their availability when you meet with your doctor once again.
  4. To have non-invasive lipolysis of the flanks or abdomen: If treating fat on your body in a non-surgical way appeals to you, your skin doctor will be happy to speak to you about SCULPSURE. It doesn’t involve surgery and produces favorable results that make you feel more confident about your appearance. The safe procedure is one that many people choose as opposed to cosmetic surgery involving a knife. They prefer to get results that won’t cause scarring, and that doesn’t require weeks of recovery time.
  5. To remove scarring: Surgical or acne scars can make you feel self-conscious about the way you look. A medical professional can minimize the appearance of scarred skin. The result is skin that looks less damaged and more presentable when out in public. It doesn’t need to be something that holds you back any longer. You can step into your power and own your experience with pride. You can maintain your results by doing as the doctor asks you to do following the procedure.

As you can see, working with a dermatologist to address your skin condition has its benefits. There is no other medical professional in Southlake, TX better qualified to do so. Tapping into their wealth of knowledge and making good use of their skills and expertise is highly advisable. It could give you the results you were hoping to achieve with your skin.

Qualities That the Best Dermatologists Demonstrate

There are some qualities in a dermatologist that are ideal. The Southlake, TX professional that you visit should be knowledgeable and approachable. They should treat you with a great deal of compassion and respect.

When they provide you with information about your skin, they do so in a way that is comprehendible and respectful. They make sure that you have a clear understanding of the treatment options that they offer before you agree to them. The skin doctor also makes you aware of ways you can take better care of your skin in the future so you can avoid any additional problems from occurring.

Taking time to get to know your skin doctor helps build a professional relationship with them based on mutual respect. You’ll feel comfortable asking for help with your skin, and the medical professional knows that you’ll follow their advice carefully. It’s a win-win situation that allows you to see more favorable results because you’ll be taking instructions from the skin doctor and applying them to your daily habits and routine.

Restore Your Skin’s Beautiful Texture and Appearance Right Away

Compassion Dermatology can give your skin a glow that you haven’t seen in a while. In addition to providing our Southlake, TX patients with complete skin evaluations, we offer many cosmetic services and medical procedures that benefit them. If you need to see a dermatologist, don’t wait. You can conveniently set up an appointment online or calling 817-380-5911. Give yourself the gift of healthier, more radiant skin.