Dermatologists treat over 3,000 skin diseases, including acne, psoriasis, and skin cancers, plus a huge variety of nail and hair conditions.

As well as prescribing topical and oral treatments, dermatologists are trained to carry out skin surgery, laser treatments, and more. With such expertise dermatologists are the best people to diagnose and treat your medical condition.

Skin conditions

Common reasons for a referral to a dermatologist include eczema, psoriasis, severe acne, and acne scars. But the skin is a complex organ and there are in fact over 3,000 skin diseases, with about 20 of them accounting for the vast majority of dermatologists’ workload. In recent years, skin cancers have increasingly been added to this workload, due in part to holidays abroad and the erroneous belief that tanned skin is healthy. There are also many underlying systemic diseases that manifest as skin rashes.

Nail conditions

Fungal infections are a very common nail condition treated by dermatologists. Beyond infections, a dermatologist can also diagnose a range of abnormal growths within the nail. Some of these nail growths can be benign but may also be viral warts, fibroid tumors, or malignant growths. Symptoms and signs of nail conditions can include discoloration, scaling, or the nail ‘lifting’ so it is no longer completely attached.

Hair conditions

A dermatologist is the best person to diagnose and provide hair loss treatments, which can be the result of a wide variety of conditions. These include anaemia, alopecia areata, male pattern baldness, hair follicles, female pattern, and many different autoimmune diseases, thyroid disorders, traction, and baldness. Female hair loss can also occur due to polycystic ovary syndrome, after pregnancy and during menopause.

What can a dermatologist diagnose?

Many scalp, hair, and nail conditions can be diagnosed by a thorough physical examination. The consultant will also review your medical history, ask about the symptoms, and examine the affected area.

In some cases, certain tests such as dermoscopy, a blood test, a skin swab, or skin biopsy may be necessary for diagnosis, or a trichometry or trichoscopy with video dermatoscopy.

You should seek medical advice when you first notice a medical condition. Consult your GP first for common problems such as mild acne, rosacea, and minor rashes.

They may refer you to a dermatologist if a specialized diagnosis and treatment is required. Seeking a consultation early will reduce the potential risks and complications that may arise due to the dermatological condition.

Dr Anastasia Therianou is a consultant dermatologist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, a big teaching medical team in a hospital located in central London.

While she covers general dermatology including acne, psoriasis, and eczema, her particular interest areas are: hair and nail disorders, skin cancers, and complex skin diseases.

Dr Anastasia Therianou is one of the few dermatologists in the UK who specializes in hair loss.  To arrange a consultation book an appointment with Dr. Anastasia Therianou, an expert in dermatological care for hair loss and mole problems by phoning 0203 869 5134 or 0203 464 4884.

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Manicure & Pedicure

Νail polish originated in India with henna during the Bronze Age. The ancient Chinese used to make polish from egg whites, flowers, and wax, while gold and silver polish represented royalty. During the 17th century, nail cosmetics became mainstream. Nail polish became commercially available in 1932 when Charles Revson added pigments to clear lacquer. This company is today known as Revlon.

Cons of Manicures and Pedicures

The physical processes and materials used in nail cosmetics can cause complications. The poor cutting technique may result in ingrown toenails, while removal of the cuticle destroys the protective seal, providing a portal of entry for bugs and fungi.
The long term use of acrylic nails, gel nails, or nail gels such as Shellac and OPI can cause an allergic skin reaction around the nail or even reaction of the skin in distant areas such as face or neck.

Nail weakness, brittleness, and thinning can occur from filing the nail to remove any ridges and this is common following a gel polish manicure.

Discoloration of the nail can also occur after several weeks of continuous nail polish. Traumatic onycholysis can happen on the removal of artificial nails.

Pros of Manicures and Pedicures

However, there are disorders of the nails such as psoriasis, lichen planus, and others, most of which are difficult to treat. Cosmetology may be a useful tool while waiting for treatment to work, or following treatment failure or if treatment is not possible at times. Different types of cosmetic nail procedures can be used as ‘camouflage’, to cover the affected nails.

Nail lacquers help maintain nail hydration by preventing contact with water and slowing evaporation. Moreover, they can hide nail dystrophies and dyschromia.

Nail polish can be used to cover onychomycosis in those patients who do not want oral medicines. Nail shape abnormalities may be improved with nail extensions.

Artificial nails can be used for a rare condition where patients have born without nails and this is called anonychia.

Finally, I would like to commend on the use of UV machines lamps and whether this is risky for developing skin cancer. There is a debate about the associated risk of skin cancers.

Concerns arose in 2009 following two patients who developed skin cancer on the dorsum of their hand and they both had a history of exposure to UV nail machines.

Most recent studies suggest that the risk is not higher in women who use UV nail machines and the use of sunscreen or fingerless gloves is thought to reduce the risk to zero.

People though who have photosensitive disorders or take photosensitive drugs should avoid their use.

I hope all the above have been useful for you to decide whether you should continue, stop, or even start having cosmetic nail procedures like manicure and pedicure.

If you would like to book an appointment with Dr. Anastasia Therianou Consultant Dermatologist.

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