Wives can help detect melanoma early in men over 50

A study shows that women are nine times more likely than men to notice the signs of melanoma in other people. Men assisted by women in self-examination were less likely to miss problematic damaged skin areas than women assisted in self-examination by men.

In celebration of Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month in May, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) encourages women to screen both their partners and themselves for signs of skin cancer.

According to an Academy survey of 1,250 married women between the ages of 40 and 64, most women currently do not help their partners with skin cancer self-exams, even though many believe they are more observant than their men:

• 45 percent of those interviewed said that they, rather than their spouses, were more likely to notice a suspicious skin spot. 35% say that they have already found dubious spots in their husbands’ speech before they noticed them.

• Two-thirds, or 67 percent, of women surveyed said they check their skin for signs of skin cancer at least once a year, but only 44 percent help their husbands do it.

• Only 37% of those surveyed said their spouses check their skin at least once a year, and another 29% were unaware if their partners did a self-examination of their skin at least once a year.

“Because the risk of skin cancer is higher among men over 50, it is important for them to have regular skin examinations to spot the disease at its earliest stage, when it is most treatable,” says dermatologist Dr Henry W. Lim, President of AAD. “Since it is difficult to examine some parts of our body by ourselves, it is best to ask our partner for help.”
With the purpose-built “Check It Out!” video, the American Academy of Dermatology is encouraging women to help their partners examine their skin for signs of skin cancer. In a humorous style, the video shows three common situations where wives are more observant than their husbands and reminds ladies to regularly check their husbands’ skin for new or suspicious spots.

“Although women help their male partners with so many things, a recent AAD study shows that less than half of married women between the ages of 40 and 64 help their partners self-examine for signs of skin cancer,” says Dr. Lim “We hope this video will encourage wives to examine their partners and themselves. If you notice any suspicious areas on your or your husband’s skin, if any spot changes, itches or bleeds – see a dermatologist.”

Proceedings of the American Academy of Dermatology
April 27, 2017 article published under the title “Partners may help detect melanoma early in men over 50, study suggests” on sciencedaily.com

Видео:

Face and Body Sculpting: Tune into the Radio Frequency of Youth!

author: Maria Ilieva, Esteline Clinic

Radiofrequency lifting is a non-surgical method. It improves skin texture. It is extremely effective for tightening the contour of the face and shaping the body.

Radio frequency works by generating heat in the three layers of the skin (epidermis, dermis and hypodermis). Heat increases local metabolism and improves blood and lymph circulation. This leads to the stimulation of fibroblasts responsible for the synthesis of collagen and elastin. The result that is achieved is smoother and more elastic skin, without surgical intervention and a recovery period.

The immediate effect of radiofrequency lifting is the visible refreshing of the skin, noticeable immediately after the procedure. However, it takes between three and six months to achieve a maximum, impressive result, as the accumulation of collagen is a long-term process. The retention of the effect is from one to two years, depending on daily care, maintenance therapies and the genetic predisposition of the skin to aging. Usually 4-5 procedures are recommended every 21 days, as long as one cycle of cell regeneration lasts.

All problem areas of the face and body can be treated with radio frequency: the cheeks, the double chin, fine wrinkles can be removed, and the facial contour can be shaped.

When the treated areas are on the body, we might describe the procedure and its results as “needle-free liposuction.” Abdomen, thighs, arms can be treated – all areas with localized fat deposits. Unlike liposuction, however, radio frequency sculpts the body without sagging skin, what’s more, it smoothes and improves its elasticity.

Radio frequency is not applied to areas with varicose veins, active allergies and burns on the skin, in the presence of open or fresh wounds. Not recommended for pregnant women or during menstruation. The procedure is also contraindicated in persons with medical metal prostheses or pacemakers.

What is SPF and does it really protect the skin from harmful rays?

Dr. Ivan Peev, dermatologist at Esteline Clinic

Many of you are probably quite confused when you walk into a pharmacy or store to choose the right sunscreen. Every year the choice becomes more difficult as more and more new cosmetic sunscreen brands are released. However, all of them have 3 “SPF” symbols on their packaging – Sun Protection Factor or “sun protection factor”.

What is SPF?

SPF, or sun protection factor, is a measure of how effectively a sunscreen protects the skin from the ultraviolet ‘B’ (UVB) rays responsible for skin burning, skin damage and the development of skin cancer.

For example: If the skin normally burns after a 10-minute stay in the sun, using SPF 15 increases the time the skin will burn by 15 times, or 150 minutes. This is a rough calculation and depends on the phototype of the skin (its color), the intensity of the sun, and the amount of sunscreen applied. SPF is a measure of protection against a given amount of UVB rays, but cannot be used to determine the duration of sun exposure.

What is the difference between SPF 15, 30, 50+?

The number after SPF does not mean the percentage of UVB protection as most people mistakenly believe. If we assume that we have one beam that consists of 100 photons (light particles), respectively:

SPF 15 – lets through 7 out of 100 photons or 93% UVB protection

SPF 30 – lets through 3 out of 100 photons or 97% UVB protection

SPF 50+ – lets through 2 out of 100 photons or 98% UVB protection

spf

We can calculate that SPF 30 provides 4% more sun protection than SPF 15. On the other hand, however, the difference in protection between the two SPFs is double because SPF 15 lets in 7 photons and SPF 30 lets in 3 photons.

Which SPF is right for me?

The rule is simple – if you have light skin, light hair and eyes and burn easily, it is recommended to use SPF 30 or preferably SPF 50+. If you tan easily, you can also use a lower factor, since the skin already has natural protection from the sun (melanin). I recommend that my patients always use SPF 30 or 50+.

More important is how often you apply sunscreen and whether you use other means besides creams and sprays. It has been calculated that for maximum sun protection it is necessary to apply 2 mg/cm2 of skin in 2 hours, that is about 30 mg. for the whole body. Most people use a second or a quarter of that amount. It is estimated that by applying half the amount of SPF, you are practically giving yourself SPF 5.5! Since the use of a tube of 200 ml. for 2-3 days is financially burdensome, if you can’t afford it, my advice is to avoid strong sun exposure between 11am and 5pm. Stay under an umbrella on the beach, wear a hat and sunglasses and don’t forget to apply sunscreen product in 2 hours.

Is SPF 75 or 100 more effective?

Recently, some cosmetic brands are marketing products with SPF 75 and even 100. The fallacy is that a higher factor does not mean it provides higher protection. It is more important that the product is broad-spectrum and also protects against UVA rays (responsible for so-called photoaging and some diseases), with the ratio being at least 1:3 UVA/UVB. Very high SPF values provide much higher protection against UVB than UVA, giving the illusion of more effective sun protection.

What type of sunscreen product and what filters should I choose?

Sunscreen products contain filters that have the ability to absorb or reflect ultraviolet radiation. Some of them are equipped with organic or mineral filters, others chemical, and most often a combination of them is found. Here are some of the most common filters:

  • Mexoryl (SX or XL)
  • Titanium dioxide
  • Zinc oxide
  • Avobenzone (Parsol 1789)
  • Octocrylene
  • Tinosorb M S (bisoctrizole and demotrizinol)

These substances are safe and medically tested, although some of them do not have specific protection against UVA rays.

Most companies have created products for different skin types. For oily and acneic skin, it is desirable for a sunscreen product to be a fluid with a light and non-greasy texture. Creams are more suitable for thin and dry skin. For sensitive and allergic skin there are creams containing mostly organic filters and less chemical ones. There are now also specific sunscreen products for atopic skin. People prone to pigmentation should choose sunscreen products with maximum broad-spectrum filters against UBV, UVA, infrared rays. Suitable for the body are fluid-spray and oil, because of the easier distribution.

As a rule, children under 6 months should not be exposed to the sun – some manufacturers have a special series for children, if you can’t find one, sunscreen with mineral filters is a suitable option.

When choosing a sun protection product, always do it in a pharmacy and look for those with a quality certificate. If in doubt, consult your pharmacist. It should inform you what UV filters the product contains and whether it will provide you with the protection you need.

Do not forget:

  • Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out in the sun! A person of average height should use 2 tbsp. (about 30ml) to cover your entire body!
  • Apply every 2 hours and after swimming or heavy sweating!
  • Protect your lips with SPF 30 lip balm!
  • Don’t forget sun sensitive areas like eyes, ears and nose!

Interesting cases from practice: Laser treatment of rosacea

Dr. Ivan Peev,
Dermatologist and Medical Manager
Aesthelin Clinic

Rosacea is not a widely known disease, but it is nevertheless a big problem because it significantly affects the quality of life, similar to acne. The disease is often underestimated because its initial symptoms are not something that people pay much attention to, and therefore do not take preventive measures, allowing the disease to worsen. But what is Rosacea?

Rosacea is also called “the disease of the Celts” because it is characteristic of people with fair skin and hair. The disease is characterized by chronic inflammation of the skin of the face. Redness is observed most often on the cheeks, nose, forehead and chin, which is the result of dilated skin vessels, the so-called broken capillaries. As the disease progresses, inflammation in the form of purulent pimples and cysts is very often observed.

What are the complaints?

  1. First stage – short-term redness on the skin of the nose, cheeks, and sometimes on the whole face or on the neck and shoulders in connection with various emotions – anger, shame and with every change from warm to cold and vice versa. In addition to redness, swelling of these parts may occur. Over time, the redness persists, becomes permanent and more intense.
  2. Second stage – bright red nodules appear on the already reddened skin, some of which have a pus-like tip, similar to acne.
  3. Third stage – is characteristic of men. Enlargement of the sebaceous glands of the nose, in the form of nodules of different sizes. Connective tissue grows and as a result the nose becomes enlarged and deformed.

As you can see, the disease is not pleasant, and if you have similar symptoms, you should immediately consult your dermatologist to take quick measures for its relief and treatment.

What is the technology?

In most cases, the treatment of rosacea is complex, it is determined by the nature of your skin, complaints and stage of the disease. In many cases, it is necessary to take medicines in addition to cosmetics. Unfortunately, the treatment is long and often not effective enough. As an alternative, in recent years, laser technologies have also become widely used.

How is laser treatment superior to other methods?

  • Removes dilated capillaries. There is no cosmetic or drug that can
  • Laser rays suppress inflammation. An alternative to antibiotic treatment and retinoid preparations
  • It heals the skin and reduces flare-upsShapes the deformed nose
  • Оформя деформираният нос
In our clinic, we use the Nd:Yag laser to treat varicose veins and inflammation. The technology is from Fotona and is particularly effective for such ailments.

лечение на розацея

For maximum effective results, 3 to 4 procedures are required, one per month.

During the procedure, slight stings are felt. A jet of cold air is used to minimize unpleasant sensations.

Лечение розацея

What to expect after the procedure?

Redness and slight swelling are noticeable after the procedure. Epithelializing cream and sunscreen are applied.

Within the next 1-2 hours, the redness gradually subsides, but the swelling may last 1-2 days. Thicker treated capillaries may turn gray, then disappear within a week. Smaller capillaries disappear immediately.

In the next few days, it is mandatory to pay attention to the sun protection of the face and use a sun protection cream with a factor of 50+. For this reason, winter is the most appropriate time to carry out such treatment.

I’m sure those of you who have similar symptoms and illness will probably have many additional questions that are not addressed in such a small article, but you can always make an appointment for an examination to determine your condition and types of treatment that to relieve your illness.

розацея лечение резултати

През погледа на Пациента. Микродермабразио. Втора част.

Д-р Иван Пеев завършва процедурата и отговаря на някои често задавани въпроси за нея.

Макар че курсът от процедури се проточи във времето, успях да го извърша в рамките на месец. Нужно ми беше и допълнително време да разгледам и отговоря на много ваши въпроси за процедурата. Благодаря за което!

Нека първо да обобщя крайният резултат. Кожата ми се чувства освежена, чиста. Процедурата е заличила дребните и фини бръчки, придавайки и блясък и гладкост. В заключение бих казал, че това е една много приятна процедура със  задоволителни резултати.

А ето и вашите въпроси:

Една след друга ли трябва да се правят процедурите? През колко време и могат ли да се правят през всеки сезон?

Д-р Пеев: Както при повечето терапии, за да се постигне по-видим резултат е необходимо да се направя минимум три процедури, по една на седмица. Могат да се правят през всеки сезон. Най-наложителни са след лятото за избистряне на тена и хидратация на кожата.

Изсушава ли се кожата от тази процедура?

Д-р Пеев:  Кожата не се изсушава. На следващият ден след процедурата може да има леко залющване от пилинга, което преминава за два дни. След терапията кожата се усеща по-хидратирана и чиста.

Каква е разликата между продуктите, които се продават на пазара и имат микродермабразио ефект и самата процедура?

Д-р Пеев:  Продуктите съдържат абразивни частици и са в пъти по-слаби, тъй като се разчита на механичното триене. При дермабразиото има вакуум, който се контролира, диамантения диск е с  точно определена големина на корундовите кристали и всичко се случва много по-хомогенно и прецизно.

За колко време се възстановява кожата, след всяка процедура?

Д-р Пеев:  Няма период на възстановяване. Веднага след процедурата, кожата е зачервена и за около 1 час, може да се усеща леко опъната, Понякога може да се видят фини драскотинки, които изчезват за 2 дни.

Ако имам пъпки и ранички по кожата мога ли да направя тази процедура?

Д-р Пеев:  Не е желателно, да се прави, освен, че ще е болезнено е възможно да разнесе възпаленията и те да заздравеят по-трудно. Желателно е да се изчака и когато кожата е спокойна да се направи процедурата.

Сигурно това не са всичките въпроси, които имате, но и не е възможно в кратка статия да отговоря на всичките ви питания.  В секцията Контакти на сайта ни можете да си запишете час  за преглед, където да разгледаме  в детайли, личните ви здравни проблеми и да потърсим решение за тях.

Don’t underestimate your ear problems

Dr. Ivan Peev

Dermatologist and medical manager of Esteline Clinic

Our ears are exposed to constant external influences such as sun, cold, heat, moisture, etc. All these skin-aggressive factors can cause a number of problems. There are more than 100 diseases of the auricle, and unfortunately, most of them are tumors. It is understandable that most people do not take enough care of this part of their body. But it is very important not to underestimate even seemingly small problems.
The patient complains of the appearance of hardening at the tip of the earlobe, which constantly causes him to comb and touch it.

To the untrained eye, this ear appears to be completely normal, but the small spot that is noticeable can hide a serious problem if measures are not taken in time. Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common skin cancer on exposed parts exposed to direct sunlight. The most effective treatment in this case is its surgical removal, and interventions in this area are complex and require experience, which fortunately our surgeon Dr. Litov possesses. Manipulation is performed with local anesthetic (lidocaine). A very tolerable burning pain is felt during the injection itself, after which the site practically remains numb for more than an hour. The hard material is removed without disturbing the cartilage tissue, after which the wound is sutured with atraumatic aesthetic sutures of 0.1 mm/d thickness. antibiotic cream is applied and covered with an elastic breathable bandage.

ушна операцияушна операция

The entire manipulation is completed in 30 minutes. The patient was advised to keep the dressing from getting wet for a minimum of 2 days. After the second day came for her replacement replacement and revision of the wound.

Result

The result is visible after removing the sutures and is excellent – practically no change in the shape of the earlobe is noticeable. The redness will subside within a week or two, and after a few months there will be practically no trace of the surgical intervention. The patient is extremely satisfied with the result and no longer feels the unpleasant hardening of the tip of the ear. In his case, the histological result showed a slight atypia (change) of the cells, which justified our treatment and made us even more satisfied with a job well done.

проблеми по ушите

Details and essence of chemical peeling that would interest you

Stella Georgieva
Medical beautician at Esteline Dermatology Clinic

First, I will clarify what “skin peeling” means. This is the removal of the uppermost layers of the epidermis, and the dermis can also be reached. Stimulates the regeneration of collagen, elastin and epidermis. This rejuvenates the skin and slows down the aging process.

Chemical peels are one of the many exfoliation methods out there. It represents a controlled chemical burn of the skin. I can imagine how this sounds to you, and if I don’t explain the procedure in more detail, maybe none of you have the experience.

Depending on the depth of impact, there are superficial peelings (there is an increased shedding of horn cells), medium and deep peelings (they affect the dermis level and stimulate collagen and elastin).

The main groups of acids that are used are ANA’s (alpha hydroxy); BHA’s (beta hydroxy), PHA’s (polyhydroxy) and aromatic hydroxy acids (AMA’s).

ANA’s are found naturally in plants and known as “fruit acids”. In citrus fruits – citric acid. In sour and fresh milk – lactic acid. In grape juice – tartaric (tartaric) acid–women in ancient Rome and ladies in the court of the Sun King used old wine to maintain their appearance. In extract of bitter almonds – mandelic acid. The main representative is glycolic acid, found in sugar cane, sugar beet and unripe grapes. These peels are mostly superficial to medium deep. They have a good effect on acne, dry skin, dehydrated and exhausted skin, uneven skin pigmentation and fine wrinkles.

From the group of BHA’s, salicylic acid is the most widespread. It works superficially. It is often used in combination with ANA’s acids because it prepares the skin for subsequent better penetration of the remaining acids. It has a strong antibacterial effect, which is why it is used in cases of contaminated skin with comedones and for the treatment of acne.

I guess this theory is not very interesting, so I continue with some more interesting facts about the procedure itself and the possible reactions.

You must have heard people who have undergone this type of therapy complain that they have developed pigment spots, or that it has gotten worse and they have pimples after peeling. There are risks and complications that, although rare, may occur. Regarding skin pigmentation – in most cases, this is due to improper sun protection, which is extremely important and should not be omitted as home care by the patient. Another reaction is a complete lightening of the natural color of the skin. The appearance of pimples after a chemical peel is due to the “cleansing effect” it has. They disappear spontaneously and should not bother you.

The changes you can expect after the procedure within 7-8 days are:

-stretched, dry skin with increased sensitivity

– peeling that lasts 2-5 days

This therapy is not as pleasant as a feeling during the procedure. Patients report intense warmth, burning, stinging, tingling, and mild itching. It is good that it does not take more than half an hour and even after that you can return to work or show yourself in front of people, because the redness of the skin goes away within 20-30 minutes.
Despite the things you have to endure, chemical peels have established themselves in the field of aesthetics as one of the most effective procedures. To get the desired effect, you will need to do 4-6 procedures.

What I can say in conclusion is that beauty requires sacrifices, and in some cases it is necessary to keep our skin looking healthy.

Dr. Ivan Peev about laser rejuvenation

Dr. Ivan Peev
Dermatologist at Esteline Clinic

Topics related to human beauty and its maintenance have always been interesting and exciting for people, and it is quite normal that medical theory and practice adapt to the trends of the modern world. This is nice and positive because it’s nice to see smiling and pretty faces.

For you, as users of such procedures, it is important to know that laser procedures are maximally effective, painless, with no recovery period and it is not visible that they have been done.

How do we achieve this?

The answer is simple – we have great equipment. Fotona’s 4D Laser Rejuvenation fully meets our and your requirements. It is the only device in the world that allows treating the skin, both externally and internally, through oral access.

The procedure itself

The procedure consists of 4 steps, but can be 2 or 3 depending on the problem being treated. In the first step, a special technology of fractional heating of the skin is used, in which we evenly heat the dermis without the risk of superficial burns. The effect is to stimulate the production of collagen (the most important protein for the youthful appearance of the skin), remove redness in sensitive skin, shrink enlarged pores and soothe inflammatory lesions in acne or rosacea.

In the second step, we work deep into the skin, aiming to reach a temperature of around 42 degrees, at which the metabolic processes in the skin are enhanced. The result is skin tightening and natural lifting in the areas where it is subjected to the strongest gravity.

In the third step, we process the cheeks and lips from the outside. This step allows us to heat the collagen and elastin fibers as much as possible, causing them to shorten. A filler-like smoothing of nasolabial folds and wrinkles around the mouth and chin is observed.

The fourth step is superficial laser peeling. It brightens the skin and evens out the complexion, lightens dark spots. Skin feels visibly refreshed.

Frequency and number of necessary procedures

3 or 4 procedures are needed, after which 1 procedure is done for maintenance, once or twice a year. However, beauty requires effort.

The procedure itself has no age or gender restrictions. The duration of the procedure depends on the number of steps and is from 20 to 60 minutes.

Microdermabrasion

Doctor Ivan Peev tries the procedure on his own skin and tells you about it from the first person.

Many of you may be familiar with the term Microdermabrasion, but the hard-to-pronounce word confuses some people. In fact, behind this term lies a very easy, quick and non-invasive skin rejuvenation and refreshing procedure that is extremely popular among our patients. In this case, speed also influenced my choice, and since I don’t have much time, I decided to start with it our new column “Through the eyes of the patient”, in which I or other doctors / patients will tell you about various procedures in detail, which will surely will be interesting to you.

The procedure itself is not new and has a 40-year history, during which time it has established itself with its popularity and patient satisfaction.

Application

At the beginning, it is important to say what Microdermabrasion is applicable for and what its benefit is.

The procedure is suitable for a wide range of people, but especially those with thick skin, enlarged pores, hyperpigmentation and fine wrinkles.

• reduces superficial, fine wrinkles
• has a good effect on hyperpigmentation
• gives shine and smoothness to the skin
• reduces acne scars and stretch marks

The treatment is relaxing and perfect for your lunch break. You will feel more refreshed and rested, leaving yourself in the hands of our excellent beautician Stella Georgieva.

Доктор Иван Пеев пробва процедурата на собствената си кожа и ви разказва за нея от първо лице.

Може би много от вас са запознати с термина „Микродермабразио“, но труднопроизносимият дума обърква някои хора. Всъщност зад този термин се крие много лесна, бърза и неинвазивна процедура за подмладяване и освежаване на кожата, която е изключително популярна сред нашите пациенти. В този случай бързината оказа влияние и на моя избор и понеже нямам много време реших да започна с нея новата ни рубрика „През погледа на пациента“, в която аз или други лекари/пациенти ще ви разказваме за различни процедури в детайли, които сигурно ще ви бъдат интересни.

Самата процедура не е нова и има 40 годишна история, време през което се е наложила със своята популярност и удовлетворение на пациента.

Приложение

В началото е важно да кажем за какво е приложимо Микродермабразиото и каква е неговата полза.

Процедурата е подходяща за широк кръг от хора, но най-вече такива с плътна кожа, разширени пори, хиперпигментации и фини бръчки.

• редуцира повърхностни, фини бръчки
• повлиява добре хиперпигментациите
• придава блясък и гладкост на кожата
• редуцира белези от акне и стрии

Процедурата е релаксираща и е перфектна за обедната ви почивка. Ще се почувствате по освежени и отпочинали, оставяйки се в ръцете на нашият отличен козметик Стела Георгиева.

Step 1 – skin preparation

подготовка на кожата

It is extremely important to properly prepare the skin for any procedure so that there are no unpleasant complications and infections. Stella washed my skin with appropriate products to remove dirt and sebum and then we were ready for the real part of the treatment.

So far there was no pain and I experienced the initial stages without anesthesia and unpleasant sensations. Actually, no joke – the whole procedure is very relaxing.

Step 2 – skin treatment with microdermabrasion

Микродермабразио стъпка 2

The leather is treated with a diamond disc of microcrystals, the complicated name of which is corundum microcrystals. A diamond disc and crystals might sound a little scary, but it’s not, as I’ve found out.

Deep exfoliation is achieved, which leads to regeneration of the skin, improvement of blood and lymph circulation. The serum, which is applied with the movements, has an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and keratolytic (keratin softening) effect. The face is passed several times.

Step 3 – application of glycolic peeling 15%

Микродермабразио

To enhance the effect of the procedure, a serum with glycolic and salicylic acid is applied to improve skin texture, affect uneven pigmentation, inflammation and fine lines. During this step, I felt a slight burning sensation in the area around the eyes, nose and forehead.

Step 4 – exfoliation with antioxidant serumМикродермабразио

After the strong softening of the keratin from the previous steps, the skin needs another pass with the diamond disc to remove the last remnants of “dead cells”. The Antiox + serum instantly soothes slightly irritated skin from peeling. I liked this step the most, I felt a sudden relief and coolness from applying the serum.

Step 5 – Algo Mask (Optional)

алго маска

My face was slightly red, but I felt completely relaxed. Stella applied an algo-mask that soothed and cooled my face so that the skin could fully recover.

After about 10 minutes with the mask on, my face looked visibly refreshed and vitalized, there were patches of skin redness that cleared up within 2 hours. Stella advised me to use creams or serums containing hyaluronic acid for deep hydration at home. That’s not a problem, thanks to my wife we have quite a few at home.
The therapy will be repeated in a week, and to achieve the maximum effect, I will have to do about 5 procedures. I will let you know the final result after that.

Hen thorn – what is it and how to cure it?

How many of you have had hen thorn?

I hope you haven’t experienced it, it’s really unpleasant.
I tried to find out where his name came from, but I couldn’t read any amazing story to impress you with,
so probably its name comes from the resemblance to a chicken’s claw.

Imagine getting a toenail like that stuck in your foot, actually better not to imagine it.
Some patients have told me that with folk medicine they managed to get it out of their leg and it actually looked like a horn with roots. But let me put the myths and legends aside. In fact, few people know that hen thorn is a viral wart, but don’t think that it is transmitted by infected chickens. The virus that is to blame is called human papillomavirus (HPV). The same one responsible for both genital warts and flat warts, and much of these unpleasant growths.

If it’s not the hens, how does it get infected?

The people! They are the only carriers of the virus, it spreads mainly through contact. It’s not highly contagious, so not everyone gets it, and there are more than 100 types of HPV, but only a few cause chicken pox. Still, if you have cracked heels or sores on your feet, or you’ve been in the water for a long time and then walk barefoot around pools or in the locker room, the chance of getting infected is high. For that, put on your flip flops. Why pools? – the virus likes moist and warm places. However, keep in mind that if you have a strong immunity against this virus, you will not get infected no matter how long you walk barefoot. So don’t be surprised that some people never develop it.

Better early than late

Кокоши трънPain! This is the surest sign that you probably already have hen thorn. The pain is felt on pressure when walking and when standing. A wart does not always necessarily appear on the foot, sometimes it is on the tip of the toes and between the toes. The fingers can also get infected, then there is no pain, but the warts cannot be missed. Do not wait for it, it almost never disappears by itself, on the contrary, it grows and new ones are more likely to appear in the neighborhood. The longer you tolerate it, the deeper it grows, infects new cells, and the more difficult it is to treat.

Tomato peels or sulfuric acid?

Think of the wart as a mass of infected cells that form blood vessels from which it feeds. If you look more closely, the center often looks darker, precisely because of these vessels. There are two ways to destroy it: to remove it completely, or to cut off the blood supply. I’ve heard all kinds of stories, from harmless propolis application to aggressive use of sharp objects and acids. Fortunately, the majority of people start with lighter procedures, such as applying stickers from a TV commercial. I will focus on the two most effective methods that I use in my practice. Burning with liquid nitrogen or laser. The first aims to exfoliate the wart layer by layer and destroy the vessels by means of local freezing at -190°C. Described in this way, it sounds terrible, but in practice, during the therapy, a medium-strong, dull pain is felt, which gradually subsides within 10-15 minutes. 2-3 days after the treatment, a subcutaneous blister may form and a part of the wart may peel off. The disadvantages of this method are that the depth and strength of the frost cannot be controlled (NB: there is no risk of complications). It should be used with caution in limbs with impaired blood supply and diabetes. It is a relatively slow method, sometimes more than 5 treatments are needed. The pros are that it is a cheap treatment and with a little persistence and patience the cure is 100%. The idea behind laser therapy is to attack the blood supply to the viral wart, causing the wart to “dry up” and be rejected by the skin within 30-40 days. The procedure lasts less than a minute, the pain is instantaneous and lasts seconds. In most cases, with one procedure, the wart disappears. The downside of the therapy is that you have to be patient and wait a month, a month and a half until the last trace of the hen thorn disappears.
So dear friends don’t forget to put the flip flops in your bag!

Кокоши трън      Кокоши трън терапия

Before                                                                               he1 month after laser therapy