Acne

One common myth is that you have to let acne run its course. Another is that it is related to eating greasy foods or not washing your face enough.

The cause is multifactoral and includes:

• Genetics

• Hormones

• Low rate of exfoliation (slow cell turnover leads to black heads called comedones)

• Bacteria

• Inflammation

The medications we prescribe address each of the above factors. When cystic acne predominates, we worry about scarring, so we prescribe stronger medicines such as oral antibiotics or Accutane.

Rosacea (rose-AY-sha) is a common skin disease. It often begins with a tendency to blush or flush more easily than other people. The redness can slowly spread beyond the nose and cheeks to the forehead and chin. Even the ears, chest, and back can be red all the time.

Even the neck and chest can flush at times. The condition can also include papules, pustules, and cysts.

The underlying cause is not the same from patient to patient but includes:

• Genetics

• Dietary triggers such as caffeine, spicy food, and alcohol

• Pro-Inflammatory microbes that lie invisibly under the skin

Treatments Include:

• Metronidazole Cream

• Azelaic Acid

• Soolantra

• Oral Antibiotics

• Accutane

• Rhofade

Keratosis Pilaris

A common skin condition which appears as tiny bumps on the skin. Some people say these bumps make their skin look like plucked chicken skin. Others mistake the bumps for small pimples.

It is a genetic condition that typically begins in childhood on the cheeks, arms, and legs. There are no consistently effective treatments, but exfoliating agents containing Urea lactic acid, Salicylic acid, and Glycolic acid can minimize the bumps. The good news is that Keratosis Pilaris tends to improve with age, especially on the face.

Moles

Moles are called Nevi. We are sometimes born with them, but they often start to grow as a toddler. Cancerous moles are called Melanoma. They are typically flat and asymmetric in both color and shape. When we diagnose Melanoma in its earliest state, it is 100% curable so DO NOT DELAY your annual skin cancer screening.

Seborrheic Keratosis

A common skin growth that develops in pregnancy and as we age. They are often very odd-looking but are completely innocent and easy to remove for comfort and beauty.

Acanthosis Nigricans

Thickening of the skin so that it appears darker and almost velvety. It usually occurs in people who are overweight or diabetic and tends to center on the neck and underarms. There is no good treatment, but the cosmetic appearance improves with weight loss and glucose control.

Melasma

A common skin problem seen as brown or grey discoloration on the cheeks, upper lip, and forehead. It is more common in women on birth control pills or who are pregnant. Sunlight is the trigger and the discoloration is excessive melanin. Treatment includes sunblock that prevents UVA and UVB rays such as titanium and zinc oxide. Prescription creams with Hydroquinone, Azelaic acid, Retin A, Kojic Acid, Tranexamic acid, and Cysteamine Hydrochloride are all beneficial. In-office procedures include Glycolic Acid peels, Jessner peels, and IPL laser treatments.

Tinea Versicolor

A non-contagious yeast infection that develops from overgrowth of yeast-like organisms called pityrosporum that live in small amounts on your scalp and trunk. With excessive perspiration, they "sprout" and travel down the neck to the back and chest or further down to the groin. The result is faintly scaly tan-pink-or cream created patches. Treatment includes topical or oral antifungal medications.

Vitiligo

And auto-immune skin condition in which our melanocytes are attacked by our own immune system causing them to stop making melanin sometimes associated with hypo or hyperthyroidism. Treatment includes topical steroids. Of note, people often confuse vitiligo with temporary loss of pigment after inflammation (such as occurs with eczema).

Genital Warts

Also called condylomata acuminata, are warts that appear in the genital area.

Head Lice

Most people get contract head lice when they have head-to-head contact with someone who has head lice.

Herpes

Herpes simplex is a common viral infection. If you’ve ever had a cold sore or fever blister, you picked up the herpes simplex virus.

Impetigo

Is a common skin infection, especially in children. It’s also highly contagious. Most people get impetigo through skin-to-skin contact with someone who has it.

Molluscum

Molluscum Contagiosum is a common skin disease. It is caused by a virus. This virus easily spreads from person to person.

Nail Fungus

Causes changes to the infected nails. You may see white spots or a change in the nail’s color. Other signs include debris under the nail and thickening nails.

Ringworm

A rash with a raised, wavy border is a common sign of ringworm.

Mites

Mites are a common skin condition called the human itch mite, this eight-legged bug is so small that you cannot see it on the skin. People get scabies when the mite burrows into the top layer of skin to live and feed. When the skin reacts to the mite, an extremely itchy rash develops.

Shingles

Shingles is a disease often causes a painful and blistering rash.

Warts

Warts are benign skin growths that appear when a virus infects the top layer of the skin.

Neurotoxins

Like Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, Jeuveau are injected into the skin to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers help restore lost fullness to the face, lips, and hands.

Microdermabrasion

A non-invasive procedure gently exfoliates the skin to diminish signs of aging.

Lasers

Lasers are for targeting sun spots, scars, and for tattoo removal.

Hyperhidrosis

Sweaty skin is a medical condition, also known as Hyperhidrosis, which can be treated with extra strength Antiperspirant or Subcutaneous Botox injections can be administered to underarms, hands, and feet.

Eczema

Eczema is also known as Dry Skin. Treatments include topical steroids, non-steroidal remedies such as Protopic, Eucrisa, and Elidel, or for more severe cases we can use a Biological Agent, such as Dupixent and Rinvoq.

Alopecia

Alopecia or hair loss is when a person has a medical condition called alopecia areata, the hair falls out in round patches.

Scalp Psoriasis

A common skin disorder that makes raised, reddish, often scaly patches. It can pop up as a single patch or several, and can even affect your entire scalp. It can also spread to your forehead, the back of your neck, or behind and inside your ears.

Bed Bugs

Tiny insects that feed on human blood.

Hives

Welts on the skin that often itch. Hives often result from an allergy, but they can have many other causes.

Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac

Rashes on the skin from an oil found in the plants, called urushiol.

Hidradenitis suppurativa

A disease that usually begins as pimple-like bumps on the skin. The pimple-like bumps tend to develop in places where everyday pimples do not appear. HS is most common on the underarms and groin.

Psoriatic Arthritis

Affects some people who have the skin condition psoriasis, a type of inflammatory arthritis. Symptoms include joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, which may flare and subside.

Scleroderma

Is when the body makes too much collagen. This excess collagen, the substance that holds our body together, causes hardening and tightening of the skin.

Lichen planus

Occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks cells of the skin or mucous membranes. On skin, lichen planus appears as purplish, itchy, flat-topped bumps.

Lupus

A disease that can affect the skin in many ways. It may cause a widespread rash on the back, thick scaly patches on the face, sores in the mouth or nose, or a flare-up that looks like sunburn.

Pityriasis Rosea

A common skin disease that causes a rash.

Actinic keratoses

AKs form on skin that soaks up lots of sun over the years. An actinic keratosis, or AK, is a rough, dry, scaly patch or growth that forms on the skin.

Psoriasis

A chronic disease that develops when a person’s immune system sends faulty signals that tell skin cells to grow too quickly. New skin cells form in days rather than weeks.

Seborrheic Dermatitis

A disease that causes a rash.. The skin tends to have a reddish color, swollen greasy appearance, and white or yellow crust on the surface.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)

Most common type of skin cancer.

Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans

A rare skin cancer. It begins in the middle layer of skin, the dermis. DFSP tends to grow slowly.

Melanoma

A type of skin cancer that presents as a mole on your skin. Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. Allowed to grow, melanoma can spread quickly to other parts of the body.

Merkel Cell Carcinoma

A rare but aggressive type of skin cancer that can appear on the skin as a hard patch, or a firm bump.

Sebaceous Carcinoma

Another rare but aggressive skin cancer that can develop in any sebaceous gland.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

A common skin cancer in humans.can appear as scaly red patches, open sores, rough, thickened or wart-like skin, or raised growths with a central depression.