A dermatologist is a physician who is trained to evaluate and treat children and adults with benign and malignant disorders of the skin, hair, nails and adjacent mucous membranes. Dermatologists also manage cosmetic disorders of the skin, including hair loss, scars, and the skin changes associated with aging. A dermatologist has experience in the following: the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers, melanomas, moles, and other tumors of the skin; the management of contact dermatitis and other inflammatory skin disorders; the recognition of the skin manifestations of systematic and infectious diseases; interpretation of skin biopsies; and surgical techniques used in dermatology.
Acne Treatments
Acne is a common and disfiguring skin condition affecting both teenagers and adults. It is caused by the clogging and distention of the hair follicles in the skin, acne is characterized by the appearance of blackheads, whiteheads, pus filled pimples, and acne cysts, most commonly on the face. Each individual’s acne is unique, and needs a treatment program designed specifically for his or her case. Acne can cause severe emotional distress, physical pain, and lead to permanent scarring. Depending on the severity of the acne, acne treatments for the skin may last several months or be a lifelong process. There are many effective treatments to improve acne, including topical acne treatments, oral medications, laser treatments for acne, Accutane, and chemical peels for acne.
Chemical Peels
A chemical peel is a technique used to improve the appearance of the skin on the face, neck or hands. A chemical solution is applied to the skin that causes it to exfoliate and eventually peel off. The new, regenerated skin is usually smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin. The new skin is also temporarily more sensitive to the sun. There are three types of chemical peels: superficial or lunchtime peel, medium peel and deep peel.
Psoriasis Treatments
This chronic skin condition is often found on the elbows, knees, scalp, and/or groin, however it can form on any part of the body. A common inflammatory disorder, Psoriasis is characterized by red, inflamed, scaly patches of skin. Effective treatments can dramatically reduce the symptoms of psoriasis that plague those who have this disorder. Three psoriasis treatments options are topical treatments, oral or injectable medications, and light therapy and laser treatments. Topical treatments include topical corticosteroids, tars, topical vitamin D, and tazarotene. Oral and injectable medications include methotrexate, soriatane, adalimumab and etanercept. Light therapy and laser treatments include phototherapy with ultraviolet or excimer lasers. Excimer laser treatments are quick painless and can reduce the amount of medication that is needed to control a patient’s psoriasis.
Eczema Treatments
Eczema is a skin disorder that can be extremely uncomfortable. Eczema can be brought on by a number of different reasons including allergies, environmental factors and heredity. Skin patches that are itchy, dry, and marked with red skin is often how eczema displays. The skin rash is most likely to be found on the face, the arms or the legs, specifically in creases or folds of skin. The first symptom of eczema is intense itching, to the point of being very uncomfortable, and sometimes very painful. Treatment depends on where eczema has affected the patient and what type of symptoms the patient is suffering from. Options include prescription topical ointments which are used to reduce inflammation, steroidal creams that are used to stop itching, and antibiotics that are used to stop any skin infections where skin may have been broken and bacteria may have entered the wound. Laser therapy is also a treatment for eczema.
Mohs Surgery
Mohs micrographic surgery is considered the most effective technique for treating many basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas, the two most common types of skin cancer. This allows the removal of all cancerous cells for the highest cure rate while sparing healthy tissue and leaving the smallest possible scar. The procedure is done in stages. After removing a layer of tissue, the surgeon examines it under a microscope in an on-site lab. If any cancer cells remain, the surgeon knows the exact area where they are and removes another layer of tissue from that precise location, while sparing as much healthy tissue as possible.