Mask + Acne = Maskne Is wearing a mask making you breakout? You're likely experiencing "Maskne", AKA- acne caused by wearing a face mask. Now that face masks are a regular extension of our everyday attire and it seems we spend more time wearing them than not, it's no surprise that even people with typically clear skin are seeing pesky pimples and stubborn blackheads pop up around their chin, jawline, nose and mouth. What Causes Maskne? Let's dive into some of the reasons why your mask may be causing acne. Your mask is dirty. Cloth / re-usable face masks should…
A reaction to food, whether due to a food allergy or food intolerance, can be scary and confusing. Dr. Neetu Godhwani, an allergist and immunologist at Advanced Specialty Care, shares and answers some of the most common food allergy questions she receives from patients. Follow along as Dr. Godhwani explains food allergy vs food intolerance, child vs adult food allergies, common reactions, treatments and more! What is the difference between a food allergy vs a food intolerance? A food allergy occurs when the immune system overreacts to a specific food with an abnormal response. The symptoms for an immediate type…
The thyroid gland and parathyroid glands make certain hormones that help regulate your metabolism and calcium levels. The thyroid gland is responsible for producing thyroid hormones which regulate the metabolism and the parathyroid glands produce parathryoid hormones to regulate calcium level within the body. Thyroid disorders, though extremely common, require special care due to their location within the neck. What is the Thyroid Gland? Your thyroid gland makes thyroid hormones which regulates your metabolism. The thyroid gland is located in the middle of the lower portion of your neck, just below the larynx (voice box). It is shaped like a…
One thing that we often hear from our audiology and hearing aid patients is, "How long will it take to get used to my new hearing aids?" The short answer is between 30 and 45 days. The state of Connecticut actually requires that we give patients at least 30 days to "trial" their hearing aids before you keep them and at Advanced Specialty Care, we actually go beyond that. Our policy is a 45-day trial period and the reason we give you that additional two weeks is because it can really take a month and half to acclimate to the…
Get to know ENT provider, Donna Haupt, PA-C, at Advanced Specialty Care in Connecticut. Donna Haupt has over 10 years of experience as an ENT Physician Assistant as well as prior specialty care and family medicine practice experience. Donna shares what ultimately lead her to ear, nose and throat care and what she strives to accomplish as a healthcare provider. 1. How did you get into the field? What lead you to otolaryngology? As a Physician Assistant, I was trained in all areas of medicine which allowed me, during my first ten years in practice, to develop an wide-ranging background…
As an audiologist at Advanced Specialty Care for the past 16 years, I have seen thousands of patients; I also live in the same city as our primary Danbury location. I love living where I work. When there is a big storm, my patients and I experience similar problems. When we have a week-long power outage, I worry about how my patients with rechargeable hearing aids are getting along. I also love living where I work because I recognize so many street names. Hearing aid patients came in several times a year for check-ups so I tend to associate patients…
Phototherapy and Light Treatments use special waves of light, some with UV and others without, to treat skin conditions as well as for anti-aging purposes. These treatments are best performed under the direction of a Dermatologist or Skincare specialist who use safe, medical grade devices and are able to make adjustments as needed based on your skin type, conditions and more. Light-emitting diode (LED) therapy, also known as photodynamic therapy, or PDT, is one of the most commonly used forms of phototherapy. It uses red or blue lights to target skin issues such as acne and signs of aging. LED…
Get to know Audiologist, Olivia Mitchell, Au.D.! Dr. Mitchell, Audiology and Hearing Aid Specialist at Advanced Specialty Care, shares what inspired to her pursue a career as an Audiologist and the reward that comes from helping her patients. 1. How did you get into the field of audiology? Ever since I was young, I knew I wanted to work in the medical field. I was introduced to audiology during my undergrad studies and instantly fell in love. Helping people communicate with their loved ones quickly became my passion and I am so excited to start my career doing this at…
The COVID-19, or Corona Virus, Pandemic has had a devastating impact on the entire world population. This respiratory virus readily infects humans through droplets transmitted through the nose, mouth and conjunctiva of the eyes causing symptoms such as fever, headache, and cough and in some cases death due to severe lower respiratory compromise and multi-system failure. Unfortunately, because this is a new strain of Coronavirus previously not seen in humans and there is not enough history with the illness at this time to chart out results further than 6 months, the full scope of symptoms and potential long-term effects to…
It’s true, allergy season really is getting worse each year! Research has shown that since 2016, allergy season has gotten increasingly worse each year and the trend is continuing in 2020. But what’s behind the surge in pollen production? Many experts are pointing to climate change as the cause. As temperatures rise, allergy season increases in duration which means pollen producing plants stick around for much longer than in years’ past, especially Ragweed which is one of the biggest culprits of allergy symptoms. Additionally, scientists have discovered that when plants are exposed to increased levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), they…
