Medical dermatology encompasses thousands of conditions of the skin, hair, and nails. Every day, the Center for Dermatology and Skin Cancer Surgery helps patients manage acne, hair loss, warts, nail fungus, melasma, rosacea, moles, psoriasis, eczema, dandruff, excessive sweating, and so much more. While most are not life threatening conditions, they are physically and emotionally uncomfortable, having a huge impact on quality of life. Our team handles each situation discreetly, with a sensitive combination of professionalism and compassion.
You deserve the best treatment possible by a board certified dermatologist. Call us today to become a patient!
SKIN CANCER
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer with an estimated 4.3 million cases of BCC are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer with more than 1 million cases of SCC are diagnosed in the U.S. each year.
ACTINIC KERATOSES
Actinic keratoses are a result of cumulative sun exposure and are considered precancerous as they may turn into squamous cell carcinoma. These tend to present as tender, red scaly growths that present on chronically sun exposed sites.
ACNE
Acne is an inflammatory condition associated with the hair follicle and attached sebaceous glands. It can present with whiteheads, blackheads, inflammatory papules, nodules and cysts. It can first manifest during puberty, but can also affect individuals throughout their 30s and 40s. Acne can be controlled with medical management and can prevent the lifelong scarring that may occur as a result.
ALLERGY TESTING
Allergic contact dermatitis causes frequent visits to dermatologists. The causes can be numerous, something as common as nickel, but can also include environmental triggers, preservatives, fragrances. Sometimes history alone is not sufficient to diagnose the cause of the allergic contact dermatitis, and requires allergy testing.
ALOPECIA
Alopecia, or hair loss, can be a challenging and emotionally painful medical condition. . It can be the result of an inflammatory process that may ultimately cause scarring, or may be related to a genetic predisposition and cause a non-scarring process. It is important to identify the underlying cause, as the primary treatment depends on the etiology of the alopecia.
AGING / SUN DAMAGED SKIN
Aging skin is seen in the face, arms, and hands. The initial manifestation may be dark spots appearing on the arms. With time, the breakdown of normal collagen and elastin from UV exposure can lead to easy bruising and can result in purple patches on the arms.
CYSTS
Epidermal inclusion cysts are the result of an occluded follicle that results in the retention of keratin with a sack underneath the skin. These cysts can often rupture, spilling the contents of the sack into the surrounding skin, which causes an inflammatory reaction. The result may be a malodorous, and cheesy-white draining skin lesion that can cause significant emotional distress.
BENIGN LICHENOID KERATOSIS
Benign lichenoid keratosis is a benign growth typically appearing on the trunk of older men and women. Clinically, this can often be misinterpreted as a basal cell carcinoma as it has a very similar appearance. A biopsy will demonstrate a lichenoid appearance, which is a histological pattern where these lesions derive their name. These are benign lesions requiring no further treatment.
ALOPECIA AREATA
Alopecia areata is a subset of alopecia, that is the result of the immune system attacking the hair follicles. Sometimes, the alopecia can progress to affect the entire scalp, and ultimately the entire body. There are treatments for alopecia areata including topical medications, steroid injections, and if unresponsive, systemic treatments.
ECZEMA
Eczema is a chronic skin condition that causes persistently itchy, dry, and red skin. The underlying etiology is associated with a defect in the external skin barrier, causing recurrent cycles of inflammation - often known as the 'itch-scratch' cycle. Treatment of eczema is focused on the restoration of the skin barrier, achieved with a combination of topical hydration and anti-inflammatory medications.
DANDRUFF/ SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS
Seborrheic dermatitis is more commonly known as dandruff. It causes flaking and itching of the scalp, eyebrows, nasolabial folds, ears, and occasionally sternum The skin rash is in response to a naturally occurring yeast on the skin, pityrosporum ovale. It is easily treated with a combination of antifungal and anti-inflammatory shampoos and creams.
COLD SORE / HERPES INFECTION
Herpes simplex virus can cause cold sores on the lip as well as elsewhere on the skin. The most common implicated virus is the herpes simplex virus-1 (or HSV-1), although herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) has also been implicated. HSV-2 is more commonly associated with genital herpetic infections.
FUNGAL INFECTIONS
Fungal infections may affect the skin of the feet. This is also known as athlete's foot. For detailed information this condition, see the article on athlete's foot on this website. Fungal infections may also affect the vagina. This is also known as vaginitis or female yeast infection.
EXCESS SWEATING / HYPERHIDROSIS
Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, can interfere with daily functioning, often causing social embarrassment. It is caused from an overproduction of sweat by the eccrine glands, whether it is triggered by metabolic disturbances, underlying medical condition, or an exaggerated nervous system response to an emotional trigger. There are many different treatments available for this condition.
DISCOLORATION
Skin discoloration can often be a challenging skin disorder. It may be as simple as a response to inflammation that occurred within the skin. It may also be as complicated as the body's immune system attacking the melanocytes, the pigment producing cells of the body. It may also be a result of a hormonal influence that occurs during pregnancy or while on hormone replacement therapy.
HIVES / URTICARIA
Hives usually cause itching, but may also burn or sting. They can appear anywhere on the body, including the face, lips, tongue, throat, or ears. Hives vary in size and may join together to form larger areas known as plaques. They can last for hours, or up to one day before fading.
GENITAL WARTS
Genital warts are usually asymptomatic, but depending on the size and anatomic location, they can be painful or pruritic. Genital warts are usually flat, papular, or pedunculated growths on the genital mucosa. Genital warts occur commonly at certain anatomic sites.
FOLLICULITIS
Folliculitis is a very common skin condition that results in inflammation related to a hair follicle. This can often have a clinical overlap with acne. This will often present with red bumps at the base of a hair follicle. Folliculitis can be caused by gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, with treatment dependent on the causative agent of the eruption.
LENTIGO / FRECKLES
Solar lentigo/freckles are flat spots which vary in color from yellow-brown to dark brown-black, depending on skin tone. They are generally much larger than freckles being >5mm in width. The number and size of solar lentigos often increases with age, and in comparison to freckles, they do not fade much during the winter months.
ITCH
The most excellent treatment for itching depends on the reason. You may be able to relieve itching and reduce the risk of skin damage caused by scratching with some simple self-help measures. Some antihistamine tablets can make you feel drowsy.
HYPERTROPHIC SCAR / KELOID
Keloids and hypertrophic scars represent an exuberant healing response that poses a challenge for physicians. Patients at high risk of keloids are usually younger than 30 years and have darker skin. Sternal skin, shoulders and upper arms, earlobes, and cheeks are most susceptible to developing keloids and hypertrophic scars.
MOLLUSCUM CONTAGIOSUM
In immunocompromised individuals, molluscum contagiosum may be very extensive and difficult to treat. The most appropriate therapeutic approach largely depends on the clinical situation. In healthy children, a major goal is to limit discomfort and benign neglect or minor, direct lesional trauma is appropriate.
LICHEN PLANUS
Lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the skin and the mucus membrane. Oral lichen planus (OLP), the mucosal counterpart of cutaneous lichen planus, presents frequently in the fourth decade of life.
KERATOSIS PILARIS
Many treatment options and skin care recipes are available for treating keratosis pilaris. Many patients have very good temporary improvement following a regular skin care program. As a general rule, treatment needs to be continuous.
ROSCEA
Rosacea is a chronic dermatological disorder with a variety of clinical manifestations localized largely to the central face. The unclear etiology of rosacea fosters therapeutic difficulty; however, subtle clinical improvement with pharmacologic treatments of various drug categories suggests a multifactorial etiology of the disease.
MOLES / MELANOMA
Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. Allowed to grow, melanoma can spread quickly to other parts of the body. This can be deadly. To diagnose melanoma, a dermatologist begins by looking at the patient’s skin.
LUPUS / CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASE
Mixed connective tissue disease has signs and symptoms of a combination of disorders — primarily lupus, scleroderma and polymyositis. In mixed connective tissue disease, the symptoms of the separate diseases usually don't appear all at once.
SHINGLES
As soon as you are diagnosed with shingles, your doctor probably will start treatment with antiviral medicines. If you begin medicines within the first 3 days of seeing the shingles rash, you have a lower chance of having later problems, such as post herpetic neuralgia.
SCABIES
Scabies is highly contagious, and person to person spread occurs via direct contact with the skin. Transfer from clothes and bedding occurs rarely and only if contaminated by infested people immediately beforehand.
PSORIASIS
Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition caused by an overactive immune system. Symptoms include flaking, inflammation, and thick, white, silvery, or red patches of skin. Topical psoriasis treatments like sprays, foams, and shampoos, as well as more advanced gels and ointments, now treat larger or more sensitive areas. They're safer and work better than older meds.
SPIDER VEINS / VARICOSE VEINS
Fortunately, treatment usually doesn't mean a hospital stay or a long, uncomfortable recovery. Thanks to less invasive procedures, varicose veins can generally be treated on an outpatient basis. Ask your doctor if insurance will cover any of the cost of your treatment.
VITILIGO
Recent progress in genetics of generalized vitiligo provide insights into underlying pathogenetic mechanisms and incrimination of vitiligo susceptibility genes that controls important aspects of immune regulation. There are two main goals of any vitiligo treatment; first is to stop the arrest of further depigmentation and second is to induce repigmentation.
SEBORRHEIC KERATOSIS
A seborrheic keratosis is a type of skin growth. They can be unsightly, but the growths aren’t harmful. However, in some cases a seborrheic keratosis can be difficult to distinguish from melanoma, a very serious type of skin cancer. In many cases, a seborrheic keratosis doesn’t need treatment.
PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY
Photodynamic therapy treats premalignant growths by using special drugs called photosensitizing agents, along with light, to kill pre-cancerous cells. The drugs only work after being activated by certain wavelengths of light. The process also is known as PDT, photoradiation therapy, phototherapy and photochemotherapy.
WARTS
Common skin warts are raised round or oval growths. The dots are small, clotted blood vessels. Warts may occur alone or in larger groups that merge and form patches. You can become infected with the virus that causes warts by touching another person's wart. Skin warts are most common in children and young adults.
SUNBURN
SPF measures sunscreen protection from UVB rays, the kind that cause sunburn and contribute to skin cancer. SPF does not measure how well a sunscreen will protect from UVA rays, which are also damaging and dangerous. Dermatologists recommend using a SPF 15 or SPF 30 sunscreen.