Common Dermatologic Conditions

Acne

Most of us believe that acne is a disorder that affects only teenagers. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Controlled by oil glands and hormones, acne can also be influenced by other factors including stress, diet and makeup. After an evaluation and discussion, we'll classify your acne and start you on a regimen tailored specifically for you. Once a regimen has been chosen, it's important to note that treating acne is more like a marathon instead of a sprint.

Actinic Keratosis

Actinic Keratoses, or AKs, are better classified as precancers. If left alone to grow without treatment, these lesions have the ability to develop into destructive skin cancers that have a small chance of spreading to other parts of the body. The primary cause of AKs is the sun.

Alopecia

Alopecia means hair loss. The word is used to describe any condition that leads to loss of hair on any part of the body. Three of the most common forms are:

Alopecia Areata |  Localized hair loss in round or oval areas with an exact cause that is not known, but may be reversible.

Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA) |  Seen almost exclusively in women of African descent. If not treated early, CCCA can lead to irreversible baldness.

Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) | known as pattern baldness, this is the thinning that occurs due to heredity and hormones.  With treatment, it can be reversed.

Dermatitis

Dermatitis is also known as eczema. There are many disorders that fall under this category including:

• Atopic dermatitis
• Seborrheic dermatitis
• Contact dermatitis

Identifying the type and any aggravating factors is key to helping a patient achieve relief from this chronic condition that has no cure.

Excessive Sweating

Did you know that excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) is considered a medical condition? If you experience uncomfortable sweating of the underarms, palms and/or soles that causes embarrassment and interferes with your day-to-day activities, there are medical treatments available to help.

Keloids

Keloid scars form when the skin fails to recognize a signal to stop healing after an injury. Common skin injuries that can cause keloids to form include surgery, accidental cuts, burns and blunt trauma. While aggressive treatment is generally desired to decrease the symptoms and improve the cosmetic appearance, care must be taken to avoid worsening the scars.

Melasma

Melasma is the darkening of the skin that affects many women. Called the "mask of pregnancy," melasma is caused by the interaction between hormones and sunlight. Lighter-skinned women are more frequently affected with this condition. Treatments include creams, chemical peels, laser procedures and sun avoidance.

Rosacea

Often described as "adult acne," rosacea is actually a distinct and vague disorder. We do know that rosacea affects people as they mature, but it appears to be a completely different problem than acne. In addition to selecting the right medications, it is important to use the proper cleansing and moisturizing systems and to avoid the triggers that aggravate the rosacea. With proper attention, rosacea can be adequately controlled, even if there is no cure.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a disorder of the skin. The cause of psoriasis is hereditary in nature and interferes with the skins immune function. Psoriasis can also affect joints, causing arthritis that can be quite painful and deforming. Medications and treatments can be effective in helping the symptoms, but at this time there is no cure for psoriasis.

Pseudofolliculitis

Folliculitis is the medical term for HAIR BUMPS or INGROWN HAIRS and involves inflammation of hair follicles, often with formation of small pus bumps. Here at Skin Wellness Dermatology, we use several treatments for this condition -- one being a special antibiotic cream or even laser surgery to minimize scarring or keloids that may have developed.

Scaly Scalp

Did you know that a scaly scalp can be a subtle sign of an underlying problem? Scaly scalp can be the result of many different conditions including annoying dandruff, a fungal infection, psoriasis or alopecia. No matter the cause, there is a treatment available to help. Don’t suffer in silence; take control of that scaly scalp today.

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is a preventable condition that is caused by over-exposure to the sun.

Malignant melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer but the least common. This form of cancer is able to quickly spread to other parts of the body. At least one person dies every hour in the US from malignant melanoma. The prognosis is poor if the cancer has already spread when diagnosed.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of cancer. This type accounts for about 80% of all skin cancers. It rarely spreads and is treatable by removing the tumor.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is most common in fair skinned people. This type of skin cancer is typically found on areas of the body that are frequently exposed to the sun, but it can develop anywhere and can spread.

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a disorder of skin pigmentation characterized by white patches affecting any part of the body. Approximately 1-2% of the population is affected and 20% of these people have a family member similarly affected. The cells responsible for producing melanin pigment (melanocytes) are absent in the skin lesions of vitiligo. The exact cause of vitiligo remains unknown.

A number of treatments are available including topical steroids, phototherapy, and skin grafting or depigmentation therapy. To date, there is no cure for vitiligo, but in consultation with a dermatologist, many options for treatment may be explored.

Warts

Despite urban myth, playing with frogs does not cause warts. Instead, warts are caused by a viral infection and spread by skin-to-skin contact. Once a person has been exposed, there is no way to get rid of the virus, but the affected skin can be treated to destroy the wart.