Understanding Anal Warts

7/5/13 || Dr. Dale Prokupek Hello friends, I hope you had a wonderful Independence Day.  I spent my day at a BBQ and unexpectedly got into conversation with a friend about HPV and Anal Warts.  He learned a lot so I figured I'd blog about it.

So, everybody is familiar what warts are all about. In fact, you may even have it at some point of your life. They can be as simple as a small solid blisters that appears harmless. In bigger cases, they may look like a cauliflower attached to your skin. They are commonly found on hands and feet and many just ignore their presence. However, do you know that you may be unaware that you have it? Yes, they can be hidden in your anal area; hence you never had the chance to see it.

Appearance and Symptoms

Once the warts are found around your anal area or inside it, this is medically termed as “Condyloma Acuminata”. However, they may not only be confined on this area. Sometimes, they are also seen on your genital area. And since they start in sizes similar to a pin’s head, they may be barely visible. The fact that they are hidden from your view without presenting any pain or discomfort, you may not even know that they are there. However, if left untreated, they can grow bigger and multiply, ultimately covering your anal area. And worse cases may even lead to skin cancer. Though it may be asymptomatic for some, other may experience certain types of discomforts. They experience bleeding, itching, have mucus discharge and a feeling of mass or lump on their anal region.

How You Acquire It

As you look at the horrible images of anal warts, you may wonder how one acquires it? Obviously, you wouldn’t want to have it one of these days and the best thing for you to do is to exercise all measures to prevent it. Actually, this is one form of a Sexually Transmitted Disease that can be acquired through direct contact. However, it does not follow that only those who had anal sex can have them. Remember that these types of warts can be present in genital areas too.  Hence, to avoid getting infected with such wart, see to it that you do not have multiple sex partners and screen your intimate partner for presence of these warts. Remember that even normal looking tissues may have embedded virus in them, causing warts to appear after a few months. Furthermore, you do not acquire the warts overnight. It will take around 3 months after contact for these warts to become visible.

Treatment

If you find yourself infected with anal warts, you need to know that things are not as worse as you think it is. The good news is; anal warts can be treated. In fact, for mild cases, it can be done through in an outpatient clinic where you can go home after these have been removed. Treatment modalities include topical meds, surgical removal; freezing with a liquid nitrogen, electrical cautery or electrical coagulation. Of course factors like the severity of the condition and cost matters a lot in the choice of treatment that you need to avail.

As with other types of disorders, anal warts can be treated. However, you may need to have follow-up visits to your doctor’s clinic since there are possibilities that they can recur. Most of all, early management is often preferable.

-- Dr. Dale

Living With Hepatitis C: Truths Unveiled

7/11/13 Hello Friends,

I want to spend a little time breaking down Hepatitis C and explain different preventative measures.

Our body is made of complex systems with the ability to heal itself. However, certain factors reduce its capacity to protect, making it vulnerable to certain illnesses. One example of this is the liver. This organ is known to filter all toxins that get inside our body. It’s one of the body’s most tolerant organs since it doesn’t show symptoms of health problems until the illness has progressed to its latter stage. And one health threat that commonly hits the liver is Hepatitis C.

What is Hepatitis C?

This illness is caused by a virus which greatly affects the liver. And if the filtering organ of our body is defective; other vital body systems will also suffer. Hence, if you have this illness, you will also experience jaundice, itching, loss of appetite, dark colored urine, abdominal swelling, right upper abdominal pain, clay colored stool, nausea and vomiting. Your kidney, autoimmune system, skin and circulatory systems will also suffer. Hence remote cases of Hepatitis C suffer complications which include:

• Lymphoma

• Essential mixed cryoglobulinemia

• Monoclonal gammopathy

• Autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura

• Sialadenitis

• Thyroid illnesses

• Necrolytic acral erythema

• Porphyria cutanea tarda

• Lichen planus

• Leukocytoclastic vasculitis

• Porphyria cutanea tarda

• Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis

• Diabetes Mellitus

• Osteoclorosis

• Eye disorders

Preventive Measures

The good news is; Hepatitis C can be prevented. Hence, if you have it, do all measures to prevent it from spreading. And for those who are still devoid of this illness, be cautious enough so as not to contact the disease. Since this can be spread through blood contact, be careful when handling blood and needles. Use your own razor and toothbrush and have a monogamous relationship. You need to know that Hepatitis C cannot be passed on through breastfeeding, sharing of utensils, coughing, holding hands and even kissing. Hence, you don’t have to outcast Hepatitis stricken individuals from the society. They too deserve to live a good quality life like you do.

Is Hepatitis C Curable?

People who are diagnosed with this illness have one common question in mind. They want to know if their illness is curable. This is considering the fact that medicines are already available such as antiviral drugs and peginterferon. These are touted to help to get rid of Hepatitis C virus from the body’s system. These are also taken to lower the chances of developing liver cirrhosis and liver cancer at the latter part of the illness. Unfortunately, these medicines do not totally cure the illness but are there just to manage the symptoms and further progression of the disease. Records show that some individuals reacted positively to these drugs when Hepatitis C virus is undetectable on the person’s blood. Since Hepatitis C is incurable, management is centered to the prevention of further complications thereby preserving the person’s health as much as possible.

If you have been diagnosed with Hepatitis C, you need to know that life doesn’t stop at the time you know that you have the illness. By living a healthy lifestyle and doing all you can to preserve your liver’s health, you can prevent possible complications of the disease.

-- Dr. Dale

IPL Laser Therapy, and then some.

Hi friends, hope you're having a great summer. Though time may rob you of your youthfulness and charm, modern technologies have their own ways to pull back the time and restore the looks that you once had. Various cosmetic procedures have been introduced to the market these days. All of them have the promise to make you beautiful and IPL (Intense Pulse Light) Therapy is just one of them.

What It Can Do For You

This equipment employs a broad spectrum light designed to get rid of unwanted wavelengths on your skin thereby addressing various skin conditions at the same time. This is applied to the skin through an articulated arm. As it travels through your skin’s surface, it hits the bulb or shaft of your hair. The heat energy emitting from IPL will eradicate hair producing papilla. And since the bulb has the highest melanin concentration, IPL allows you to have a smooth and fair skin. Intense Pulse Light Therapy addresses various types of skin problems. Among these are skin redness, age spots, liver spots, wrinkles/fine lines, broken capillaries, facial flushing, telanggiectasis, freckles, tattoos and varicose veins. Furthermore, it remedies port wine stains, minor sun damage, flat birthmark, hypopigmentation, large pores and unwanted hair.

Benefits

IPL’s no downtime benefit draws a lot of people to choose this procedure. This means you can go back to work right away after your IPL therapy. And unlike other forms of dermal procedure, it leaves no burns or blisters on your skin. With this type of cosmetic procedure, you can expect your skin to look younger and fairer than it usually does.

Other Alternatives

When it comes to skin care, you need to know that you are not just limited in your option to IPL alone. There are other alternatives that you can use. Among these are as follows:

Botox

It gets rid of facial lines through injectibles.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (Testosterone)

Sometimes, your skin problem can be related to your depleted Testosterone levels. This is especially true to those who are candidates for menopause and those who have ceased to have their monthly period. HRT is touted to resolve problems on loss of skin elasticity, decreased collagen and wrinkles. And because this enhances the skin’s ability to hold water, it alleviates dryness of skin as well.

Dermal Fillers

By employing artificial fillers, one can enjoy a rejuvenated look. Unlike face lifts, this comes up with a more natural look. It resolves issues on volume loss of tissues and scar depression. It also improves appearance of lips.