Raja Sivamani, M.D., M.S., C.A.T., Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology at the University of California, Davis, delivers an interesting overview of our skin and the conditions that affect the skin.

Dr. Sivamani is a board certified dermatologist with a particular clinical focus in the areas of medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology, as well as acne and sebaceous gland disease. Sivamani received a B.S. in Bioengineering from UC Berkley and then successfully completed the graduate program in bioengineering (UC Berkeley-UC San Francisco).

Sivamani talks about his background and what excited him about the field of dermatology, specifically the mechanics and engineering of skin, the largest organ, but also the most social organ. And it was the humanistic quality of the field, with its social implications that intrigued him to focus in the area.

Sivamani’s work is often centered on sebaceous gland disease and various advanced bioengineering adaptations for dermatology. His work and research brings together multiple areas of science and technology, including bioengineering, Allopathic medicine, and Ayurvedic medicine and merges them with specifics of plant sciences and food sciences. His goal: to integrate nature for new, tailored medical therapies in an innovative, advanced, efficient manner.

Sivamani talks about techniques and processes utilized in his practice, including the types of lighting that they use to observe patients. He discusses the use of ultraviolet light, specifically detailing the application of a Wood’s lamp for examination. A Wood’s lamp uses transillumination (light) to help dermatologists detect bacterial or fungal skin infections, skin pigment disorders, or other possible irregularities.

The skin doctor discusses glands and pores in detail as well as various skin conditions such as eczema and other forms of dermatitis that can cause the skin to become dry or itchy or produce rashes or swelling. Sivamani outlines how bacteria function, and he discusses probiotics and the microbiome in detail. He details metabolic byproducts and the benefits of the therapeutic use of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics for application on the skin.

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