- We have a Snapchat, it comes from Katie.
- I have dark scars on the inside of my legs
they've been on and off since 2012.
But ever since 2014, its like they've been stuck on me.
I've tried everything, which includes medical body wash
and lotion and nothing seems to work.
I have no idea where these scars came from.
I'm always scared to wear shorts around people
because I'm scared they'll think I'm gross,
have a skin condition or worse, make fun of me.
I just wish I could get rid of these scars for good
please help me.
- I love her accent
- Yeah!
[Crowd Clapping]
its so sweet
so I think since everybody
is looking at me I'll take this one.
So what I think is going on with Katie,
- Fine I won't look at you anymore.
- Aww!
- For 10 dollars I'll take this one, no.
- So, Katie I think what's going on here
is this is something called folliculitis
which is actually super common
and it's inflammation of the hair follicles
which leads to these pustules
and these red bumps that occur on follicles.
But I think what's the twist in this
which happens to many of us,
is not just the inflammation
but its the footprints that its leaving.
Again, dermatologists love jargon
this has a fancy name too
its called post inflammatory hyperpigmentation
and anybody who's olive toned
or pigmented has experienced this,
because whenever your skin has been inflamed
with even a pimple or a rash
it leaves a dark brown footprint.
So I think in the photos Katie shared with us
what you see is all those
hyper pigmented discolored footprints
from where she's had the inflammation before.
- I think you make such a good point
that any type of trauma to the skin
in certain people can lead to this hyper pigmentation
but just another reason why
we're telling you not to pick and not to scratch
because once you do that you
form what's called an excoriation.
I know some big words too right?
- Well done.
- But there is some good news here which is
things have come a long way in terms of treatment.
- Absolutely, so in terms of folliculitis
what she's been trying actually so she, we saw that
photo there of some of the meds she's used
one was clindamycin which is an antibiotic
that kills some of the bacteria on the skin
that isn't an infection, but when you irritate
the follicle that bacteria tracks around the follicle
that's what causes those pustules
and those red bumps to begin with.
She's also used benzoyl peroxide,
which you can buy over the counter, also kill bacteria,
settles inflammation. But in a lot of cases
changing your shaving habits,
changing your waxing routine, that can help too.
But Katie, in order to help with this
Dr. Corey L. Hartman with Skin Wellness Center of Alabama
has agreed to see you to
try to treat these dark scars for good.
[Audience Clapping]
- So that's an Alabama accent she had I love that.
- Come down to the southeast and visit us sometime drewsky.
- You haven't picked up that little southern, twang yet.
- But he's a transplant he's not originally from the south.
- But I do love a good old southern accent.
- Yeah.