Kelly Hood, M.D.

Join us this Wednesday, June 26 for our lunch & Dysport event. $50 off the purchase of 2 or more areas. Limited appointments available. Call for yours today 925-283-5500.

On February 28 all of your Dysport treatment will be a donation to New Day For Children. Call today for an appointment.

Non-invasive Testing Offered to Diagnose Skin Cancer Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, it is caused by genetics and DNA damage to skin cells after a person has been exposed to ultraviolet radiation. The two most common sources of ultraviolet radiation are direct sun exposure and tanning beds. The majority of melanomas are black or brown, but they can also be skin-colored, pink, red, purple, blue, or white. Some people are genetically predisposed to developin...g melanomas, especially those of the Caucasian decent. If recognized and treated early, melanomas are not life-threatening. However, if left to grow, the cancerous cells can advance and spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma kills an estimated 10,130 people in the US annually. In the past, patients presenting with suspicious moles or growths required a biopsy. Now, researchers have developed much less invasive methods for diagnosing melanomas. One of them is called Dermtech's Pigmented Lesion Assay, or PLA. This uses sticky patches to collect skin cells from a lesion. The collected cells are then analyzed for specific RNA molecules to diagnose melanoma. To diagnose other types of skin cancer, performing biopsies still remain the best way. But PLAs will provide a first step to making a diagnosis for those who are looking for diagnosis options without scalpels or stitches.

Dr. Hood wrote an article for the latest issue of Lamorinda Weekly. Use the link below to read the article. http://www.lamorindaweekly.com//issue1124/pdf/page%2017.pdf

Rake In The Saving With $50 Off Of Dysport. Offer applies to the first 25 people to book an appointment through the end of November. Call Today!

**UPDATE** You can use your FSAs (Flexible Spending Account) to cover Botox! Symptoms such as dry eyes or headaches can be treated with Botox. The tax-free money from your FSA can also be used to pay for many summer-time products, like sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on order to better your health and keep your skin feeling great! ... Speak to your healthcare administrator about the specifics of your FSA's rules.

Dermatology Times November 2016 Antiperspirants remain the first line of treatment for hyperhidrosis. ... Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition in which a person sweats excessively and unpredictably. The best products for hyperhidrosis are creamy, rub-on formulas labeled clinical strength. The products contain a higher concentration of the active ingredients, but are also recommended for morning and evening application. The evening application is the most important. The lack of sweating at night prevents dilution of the active agent and creates a better protein plug within the sweat duct. Clinical strength antiperspirants may damage clothing and other natural fabrics such as silk and rayon. This problem can be minimized by laundering the clothes immediately after wearing. Armpit shields, which can be worn underneath the garment, help absorb additional sweat and protect the fabric. Another helpful tip for athletes, and others who wear occlusive footwear and suffer from excessively sweaty feet, is to apply the same creamy rub-on formulas to the soles of the feet. A night time application is the best solution to avoid shoe, carpet and clothing damage.

Join Us On November 5th Please RSVP to [email protected] or via phone 925 283 5500

This is long, but worth the read Insect repellents containing DEET or picaridin are safe when used properly, and are important for bite protection in children. Insect bite reactions are common in children aged 2-10 years, and the emergence of Zika virus raises new concerns about the dangers of mosquito bites. DEET, used since 1957, is effective against mosquitoes, black flies, ticks, mites, and land leeches. It works by forming a vapor barrier that deters insects from coming... into contact with the skin. The barrier extends about 4 cm from the skin. DEET can also be used on clothing but may cause damage to spandex, rayon, acetate, and leather, and can dissolve plastic and vinyl. Although it is available in concentrations of 5%-100%, concentrations of 10%-35% provide adequate protection in most situations. the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the use of DEET for preventing insect bites in children older than age 2 months, and in pregnant and lactating women. One DEET safety concern, however, is flammability. Both DEET and the aerosol vehicle used in some DEET-containing products, are flammable, so caution is warranted, she said. Occlusion following use of DEET should also be avoided as it can increase absorption, and the product should be washed off after use. Picaridin is another insect repellent that, like DEET, forms a vapor barrier to deter insects from getting close to the skin and biting, and can be used on both the skin and clothing, but it does not damage plastics or fabrics. It has similar efficacy as DEET, and has a number of advantages over DEET in that it is odorless and does not feel sticky or greasy when applied. It has not been reported to cause any serious toxicity or mutagenesis. Picaridin which is effective against mosquitoes, dog and deer ticks, chiggers, and flies has been used in Australia since 1998, and in the United States since 2005. I do recommend DEET or Picaridin, at 10%-25% for DEET, or 7%-15% for Picaridin. Patients should avoid, such as products that contain blends of natural plant oils, which have been shown to be ineffective, providing less than an hour of protection, she said. I advise against the use of combination insect repellent/sunscreen products. One reason is that sunscreen needs frequent reapplication, while insect repellent does not. Further, studies have demonstrated that using sunscreen over insect repellent dramatically increases the percutaneous absorption of DEET, and reduces the SPF of the sunscreen. If both are needed, sunscreen should be applied first to reduce transdermal penetration of the active insect repellent ingredient, and should be reapplied every 2 hours. See more

Lamorinda Lip Doctor...Lip augmentation in less than 20 minutes with no bruising.

I enjoy fragrances and massages but here is additional information. Many spas, local massage parlors, and practitioners of alternative medicine now offer aromatherapy, the use essential oils by topical application or inhalation for health benefits. Tea tree, peppermint, eucalyptus, citrus, and lavender are some of the essential oils that are extracted from plants, generally by steam distillation but sometimes by cold pressing or solvent extraction. In addition to their use i...n aromatherapy, essential oils are commonly used as flavoring for food and beverage, as scents for candles, perfumes, cosmetics, and soaps, in cleaning products, and are being used by our patients for their supposed health benefits. Essential oils are complex chemicals that are not standardized or widely studied and can be responsible for contact dermatitis and systemic contact dermatitis as well as possibly other side effects if they contain pesticides or solvent residues. See more