Parkway Medical Blog

Many people find themselves applying a number of skin care products to keep their skin feeling and looking its best. If you are not getting the desired results from your skin care products, try applying products in this sequence:

Moisturizer: For best results, a moisturizer should be applied after bathing and spread on damp skin. Moisturizer forms a protective coating that reduces the amount of water lost through the skin. This, in turn, decreases dryness, itch, and cracking skin. When using a topical medication, be sure to apply the medication first. Then wait one or two minutes before applying the moisturizer so that the medication can penetrate the skin. The same procedure should be done in using a treatment serum.

Sunscreen: Wearing sunscreen every day helps prevent premature aging caused by the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Dermatologists recommend applying a broad-spectrum (offers UVA and UVB protection) sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. To give the sunscreen time to work, be sure to apply it 20 minutes before going outdoors.

While some makeup and moisturizers contain sunscreen, dermatologists recommend applying a separate sunscreen. The sunscreen found in moisturizers, foundations, and other products tends to have a low SPF, and this sunscreen usually wears off quickly.

Foundation: Applying a foundation over other topical products allows the products to work effectively and gives the best cosmetic result.

Makeup including powder and blush: These products look best when applied last. If you are not getting the results you want from your skin care products, be sure to try these recommendations. Hopefully, you will see a visible difference.

This fall, for the first time, Arizona children 11 years and older entering 6th grade will be required to be vaccinated against meningococcal disease and pertussis (whooping cough) prior to school entry. The recommendation is for all persons aged 11-18 years to receive one dose of meningococcal vaccine at the earliest opportunity, and children 11-12 years to be vaccinated with the pertussis vaccine providing it has been at least five years since their last tetanus/diphtheria vaccine dose.

The meningococcal vaccine protects against infections caused by meningococcal bacteria. It is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children two to eighteen years of age, and it can cause serious blood infections. College freshman are also at increased risk.

Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the upper respiratory system that is making a big comeback especially among teens and pre-teens.

These immunizations are available at Parkway Medical. Our providers would be happy to discuss them further with you.

The summer is here and our skin needs sun protection. Regardless of age or skin type, everyone is at risk for developing skin cancer. With that in mind, here are three efficient and inexpensive ways to reduce sun damage: water, sun block and hats.

Water helps the body work better. It also helps keep the skin moist and fresh. Collagen and other building blocks of the skin are made up of mostly water. Without enough water, the body will re-absorb as much water as possible. Staying hydrated helps avoid this, and keeps all of your body systems working better.

Sun block protects the skin from sun effects, but you have to use it properly. It should be applied every two to three hours and re-applied after swimming. If you use a sun block rated SPF 30, and you don’t apply enough, you have effectively cut the protection in half. So, apply liberally. Many people don’t use sun block because it feels greasy or stings the eyes. Natural powder sun block made from minerals is a good alternative. Sunforgettable by Colorescience goes on dry, lasts a little longer, is waterproof and does not feel greasy. It works well, is relatively inexpensive, and is easily applied to children without a fight!

Finally, wear a wide-brim hat. Because of the extensive blood supply to the scalp, most of our water loss is from our head. A hat will decrease this dramatically, especially if it is ultraviolet rated. Wearing a hat makes us feel cooler and keeps the sun off of our faces and ears. The top of the ear has a high incidence of skin cancer.

Visit Parkway Medical to check out our array of physician-endorsed sun blocks, hats and sunglasses.

MRSA or Methcillin Resistant Staph Aureus is a bacteria resistant to the penicillin family of antibiotics. The presentation is usually skin lesions, boils, abscesses that may have started as a cut or scratch. Frequently these are treated with broad spectrum antibiotics without success. Once cultured, the bacteria can be identified and treated with appropriate antibiotics. Frequently in debilitated patients the bacteria can cause a form of pneumonia. The bacteria has the ability to alter its structure to make it resistant to the usual antibiotics. This occurs due to multiple reasons. Food and water supply containing antibiotics, overuse or inappropriate use of antibiotics, and treated hospital infections have led to the development of these bacteria. Certain other antibiotics also have led to the proliferation of resistant bacteria.

The best way to prevent MRSA is good hygiene, especially frequent hand washing. This is extremely important in healthcare workers as the bacteria is transferred from one to another through skin to skin contact. Ask health care workers to wash their hands before seeing you, especially in the hospital setting. It is important to note that the bacteria is NOT transferred through the air, but can be transferred through sharing towels, poor hygiene, living in unsanitary conditions, and contact sports. Learn to recognize the lesions and seek medical attention soon in order to get early treatment.

Additional information about MRSA can be found at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, www.cdc.gov or through the Arizona Department of Health Services, www.azdhs.gov.

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by a reduction in bone density and quality that causes bone to be more fragile and increases risk of fractures (broken bones).  Did you know?

• The maximum bone density of our hips is built by the time we are in our late teens; spines by our early 20’s.
• Osteoporosis has no symptoms, until there is a broken bone.
• 30% of women over the age of fifty are at risk for osteoporosis.
• 6 out of 100 men by the age of 65 have osteoporosis.
• 50% of individuals who sustain a hip fracture do not return to their previous level of independence.

In 1900, life expectancy in the U.S. was approximately 45 years. As that has increased over the past century, we are confronted with the task of improving the quality of life well into our 80’s and 90’s.

Parkway Medical offers bone density testing. This safe, easy test allows us to successfully prevent and treat osteoporosis. The bone density test, called DXA (dexa) is safe, painless, simple and quick. The amount of X-ray exposure is less than 10% of a routine chest X-ray, and the test takes less than 5 minutes. You will be positioned on a table; then an X-ray beam will be passed through areas to be measured: usually the hip, spine and perhaps forearm. You may remain fully clothed if you avoid wearing zippers, snaps, underwires, etc.

Using DXA scanning to diagnose those at risk for fractures, we can markedly decrease fracture incidences, as well as the associated pain and disability.

Ask your healthcare practitioner if DXA scanning would be appropriate for you.

Thermage and Body by Thermage are non-surgical, non-invasive procedures that smooth, tighten and contour the skin, producing long lasting results for an overall naturally younger looking appearance. Any area of the face or body with loose or lax skin can benefit from this treatment. A hand piece with a smooth, flat tip delivers Thermage’s unique monopolar capacitive radiofrequency (CRF) technology, which safely heats the deeper layers of your skin. This stimulates existing collagen and promotes new collagen growth over time resulting in smoother, tighter skin. Unlike many laser procedures requiring four or more sessions, a single Thermage treatment produces results. With an excellent safety record, no downtime and the ability to return to normal activities immediately after the procedure, Thermage is an ideal way to improve your skin’s overall look and condition. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 480-348-3245.

So you want to live to be one hundred yet look like you’re thirty. You envision your skin to be soft, your eyes to sparkle, your muscles to be strong and your libido to match. Many healthcare providers believe that keeping our hormone levels regulated is part of the key.

The safety issues of hormone replacement and supplementation have become more controversial with the availability of bio-identical hormones. For women, synthetic hormones meant to replace estrogen and progesterone are not equivalent to those produced by the human body, nor do they perform the same as what the body makes. In fact, in some cases they are harmful. By replacing the estrogen and progesterone with bio-identical preparations in variable amounts, women can get closer than ever before to the image they desire.

There is great news for men as well. There are many causes of low testosterone. A common reason is stress or burnout. Psychological trauma, depression, and prescription medications can also cause low testosterone levels. Physical signs may include muscle loss, weight gain, fatigue and low sex drive.

A diagnosis can be quickly confirmed by careful history and laboratory testing. Relief may be as easy as a visit to your healthcare provider.

Nurse Practitioner Kathleen Rickard along with Dr. Stuart Medoff can assist patients who wish to proceed in this direction. Call 480-348-3200 if you are interested in an evaluation.

It’s everywhere! The cosmetic revolution began some time ago and now is growing exponentially. It seems as though everywhere you turn, there are ads, coupons, and deals to make you prettier, healthier looking, slimmer, or whatever you want. So, what makes Parkway Medical Laser & Skin Centre different?

First, we recognize(and you should as well) that cosmetic enhancement isn’t a necessity. It is a luxury. Many patients ask, “What do you think I need?” Our answer is always the same. “You don’t need anything. We are not treating a disease. What will make you happy?” Botox, dermal fillers, laser, microdermabrasion and other methods of skin rejuvntaion are for enhancement. They can make you look relaxed and feel better about yourself.

Finally, combination therapy is the ideal solution. There are many modalities and products to try. Each one has its benefits. But, a combination works even better. Laser treatments, combined with dermal fillers(ex: Restylane, Juvederm) and Botox enhance the whole picture and can easily be used in combination to achieve the desired result. Add skin care products and you have a winning combination.

Three new vaccines have become available, two of which will soon be required for school-age children.

The meningococcal vaccine protects against infections caused by meningococcal bacteria. It is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children two to eighteen years of age, and it can cause serious blood infections. The disease is most common in infants less than one year old and people with certain medical conditions. College freshman are also at increased risk. The vaccine is recommended for all children at their routine pre-adolescent visits (ages eleven and twelve). For those who have not been vaccinated, a dose is recommended at high school entry.

Gardasil is a vaccine against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). There are over forty types of HPV, and while most infections do not cause any symptoms and resolve on their own, some types cause cervical cancer. Gardasil does not protect against all types of HPV, but it protects against the four major types which cause 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts. It is recommended for girls eleven and twelve years old and is approved for females ages nine to twenty-six.

Zostavax is a vaccine that reduces the risk of developing Shingles, also known as Herpes Zoster. Shingles is a very painful rash that usually occurs on one side of the face or body and lasts seven to ten days. One in five people have severe pain that persists even after the rash clears up. Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Once a person has chickenpox, the virus can live in an inactivated state for years. If it becomes active again, it causes Shingles. It is more common in people over sixty years of age and in patients who have a weakened immune system. Zostavax is recommended for people over the age of sixty.

These vaccines are available at Parkway Medical. Our providers would be happy to discuss them further with you.

Acupuncture is known to be effective in the treatment of many conditions, including acute and chronic pain, allergies, gastrointestinal reflux, urinary problems and anxiety, to name a few. It also is effective in treating smoking cessation and obesity. However, these conditions in particular have a strong emotional and behavioral component to them. Treatment with just one modality is usually not enough.

This is where hypnotherapy comes into play. When a patient has a strong motivation to stop smoking or to lose weight, there is often an acknowledgement that long-term behaviors and habits need to be altered. Hypnotherapy can aide in developing new patterns of thoughts and behaviors that result in life changes. It can also help someone approach a problem with newfound self-confidence. Acupuncture complements hypnotherapy in the process of quitting smoking or losing weight. It tends to have an effect on curbing one’s physical craving for nicotine or food. When treatments are repeated on a regular basis, this reduction in cravings can translate to success in altering one’s behavior.

Of course, patient motivation is a necessity in this process. Acupuncture can also aide in the inevitable emotional and physical agitation that may accompany changes in addictive behavior, especially in the case of smoking cessation.

Parkway Medical offers combination packages in acupuncture and hypnotherapy. Dr. Grant Phillips, who practices acupuncture, and Julie Jones, our hypnotherapist, offer this combination therapy for both smoking cessation and weight loss.