Dermatology & Advanced Skin Care offers a full array of dermatological services to help you maintain healthy skin. You can read more on this page about specific services.
Acne
Acne is the most frequent skin condition seen by medical professionals. It consists of pimples that appear on the face, back and chest. About 80% of adolescents have some form of acne and about 5% of adults experience acne. In normal skin, oil glands under the skin, known as sebaceous glands, produce an oily substance called sebum. Read More »
Actinic Keratosis
Actinic keratoses are rough, reddish patches or warty growths which appear on sun-exposed areas of the body. These growths have an estimated five to ten percent chance of turning into skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. Actinic keratoses that have been rough, red, irritated or tender can be destroyed by several methods. The most common method is cryosurgery (freezing). This involves liquid nitrogen which freezes skin cells causing them to die and peel off. Cryosurgery will usually destroy the precancerous actinic keratoses, but may also damage some of the surrounding skin tissue. A blister may form which may heal with some whitening of the skin and mild scarring.
Photodynamic treatment is another treatment used with a topical medication called Levulan Kerastick . This method is a 2-step process (drug+blue light) designed to treat actinic keratoses (AKs) primarily of the face and scalp. In the first part, the Levulan Kerastick is applied to the area to be treated. You will be asked to wait in the office for 60-90 minutes in order for the solution to penetrate. During the second part of the treatment, you will receive the Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy (PDT). You may experience burning, tingling, stinging (sometimes severe) or prickling of the AKs.The sensation of stinging and/or burning plateaus at 6 minutes into the Blue Light treatment for most individuals but can vary from one minute to 24 hours after the Blue Light treatment. After treatment, you MUST STAY OUT OF THE LIGHT FOR 40 HOURS. Healing usually occurs in 10-14 days. There may be swelling and scaling after treatment but these effects are temporary and should resolve within 4 weeks. We recommend following up with your provider approximately 4-6 weeks after your procedure for evaluation. Some lesions may not respond and a second treatment session may be required after 8 weeks.
Other methods are chemical peeling agents and, rarely, removal by excision. Read More »
Eczema
There are a variety of types of eczema as well as causes. Eczema is associated with very dry, itchy skin. It can become red and bleed, particularly if the area becomes broken from scratching. Eczema is not contagious and can be treated. Mild cases can usually be treated with topical remedies and a mild skin care routine. More advanced cases may require oral medications. Atopic dermatitis, also called atopic eczema, is the name given to a stubborn, itchy rash that occurs in certain persons with sensitive or irritable skin. Read More »
Moles (Nevi)
Moles are brown or black growths, usually round or oval, that can appear anywhere on the skin. They can be rough or smooth, flat or raised, single or in multiples. They occur when cells that are responsible for skin pigmentation, known as melanocytes, grow in clusters instead of being spread out across the skin. Generally, moles are less than one-quarter inch in size. Most moles appear by the age of 20, although some moles may appear later in life. Read More »
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a skin condition that creates red patches of skin with white, flaky scales. It most commonly occurs on the elbows, knees and trunk, but can appear anywhere on the body. The first episode usually strikes between the ages of 15 and 35. Psoriasis is a chronic condition that will cycle through flare-ups and remissions throughout the rest of the patient's life. Psoriasis affects as many as 7.5 million people in the United States. About 20,000 children under age 10 have been diagnosed with psoriasis.Read More »
Rashes
"Rash" is a general term for a wide variety of skin conditions. A rash refers to a change that affects the skin and usually appears as a red patch or small bumps or blisters on the skin. The majority of rashes are harmless and can be treated effectively with over-the-counter anti-itch creams, antihistamines, and moisturizing lotions. Read More »
Rosacea
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that causes facial redness, acne-like pimples, visible small blood vessels on the face, swelling and/or watery, irritated eyes. This inflammation of the face can affect the cheeks, nose, chin, forehead or eyelids. More than 14 million Americans suffer from rosacea. This condition is not contagious, but there is some evidence to suggest that it is inherited. There is no known cause or cure for rosacea. There is also no link between rosacea and cancer. Read More »
Skin Cancers
Skin cancer is the most common form of human cancers, affecting more than one million Americans every year. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. Skin cancers are generally curable if caught early. However, people who have had skin cancer are at a higher risk of developing a new skin cancer, which is why regular self-examination and doctor visits are imperative. Read More »
Warts
Warts are small, harmless growths, that appear most frequently on the hands and feet. Sometimes they look flat and smooth, other times they have a dome-shaped or cauliflower-like appearance. Warts can be surrounded by skin that is either lighter or darker. Warts are caused by different forms of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). They occur in people of all ages and can spread from person-to-person and from one part of the body to another. Warts are benign (noncancerous) and generally painless.Read More »
Wrinkles
Wrinkles are a natural part of the aging process. They occur most frequently in areas exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck, back of the hands and forearms. Over time, skin gets thinner, drier and less elastic. Ultimately, this causes wrinkles - either fine lines or deep furrows. In addition to sun exposure, premature aging of the skin is associated with smoking, heredity and skin type (higher incidence among people with fair hair, blue-eyes and light skin). Read More »