Acne

Acne is a condition affecting the sebaceous (oil) glands. It may consist of whiteheads (closed comedones) and blackheads (open comedones) or may be pustular, nodular or cystic.The face, chest and back are the typical areas involved. Acne occurs most frequently in the teenage years, but may affect children as young as 8 and persist into adulthood.

Acne is caused by overactive oil glands secreting into a clogged pore. The tendency toward clogged pores is hereditary or may rarely be due to the use of heavy creams on the face. At the time of adolescence the oil glands normally become more active. In rare instances a hormonal imbalance may cause over secretion of oil in women.

Treatment for acne is targeted at opening the clogged pores, decreasing the secretion of oil into the follicle or decreasing the inflammation caused by the secretion of the oil into the clogged follicle. Acne treatments include topical and oral medications that may in extreme cases include Accutane. We are happy to offer chemical peels and extractions of clogged pores by our aesthetician. Acne treatment should be early and aggressive in cases of nodulocystic lesions or scarring. The use of lasers for the treatment of acne is a developing field that we are following closely and may be offering in the future. A drawback of current laser treatments for acne is the need to repeat treatments frequently and the lack of persistence of clearing.

For more information visit www.aad.org.

Warts

Common warts are caused by infection with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). They most commonly occur on the hands and feet but may occur anywhere on the skin. When warts occur on the sole of the foot, they are called “plantar warts”. While generally not dangerous, warts can be painful, are contagious, and genital warts increase a woman’s risk of abnormal PAP smears and cervical cancer. Treatments include peeling agents, liquid nitrogen cryotherapy, surgical removal, and laser treatment.

For more information visit www.aad.org.

Dermatitis

Dermatitis literally means inflammation of the skin. The most typical causes of dermatitis are psoriasis, atopic dermatitis (eczema), seborrhea and contact dermatitis.

Psoriasis affects 1% of the general population and is manifested by red scaly patches on the elbows, knees, lower back, hands, feet, and scalp. Psoriasis is not contagious. Its exact cause is unknown, but heredity and past strep infection may play a role. Stress, smoking, alcohol abuse, and certain medications can make psoriasis worse but do not cause it. Topical treatments for psoriasis include steroids, vitamin A and vitamin D, and tar creams. Oral medications and phototherapy are the next level of care. The new injectable immune modulators are an exciting recent advance in the treatment of psoriasis. Whether oral supplements with fish oil and flax seed oil help in the treatment of psoriasis is another area that is receiving much attention.

Contact dermatitis may either be allergic such as poison ivy or irritant such as due to the overuse of harsh soaps and detergents. We are often able to pinpoint the cause of allergic contact dermatitis with the use of patch testing. We use the TRUE Test which tests a patient’s reaction to the 23 most common allergens such as fragrance, latex and nickel. By avoiding the offending allergen, your dermatitis will clear.

Atopic dermatitis (eczema) is a common itchy scaly rash of childhood that may persist into adulthood. Three quarters of young children with atopic dermatitis will outgrow it by the time they enter school. It also may be newly diagnosed in an adult. It tends to occur in patients who have a family history of sensitive skin, asthma or seasonal allergies.

Seborrhea is a waxy scaly rash that may be seen as diaper rash or cradle cap in infants or as a chronic scaly rash of the scalp, eyebrows,ears, nasolabial facial folds, or central chest in adults. It is one of the most common causes of dandruff.

For more information visit www.aad.org.

Skin Cancer Surveillance

We agree with the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society in recommending an annual full skin exam to all patients over the age of 40. If you have risk factors for skin cancer such as a family history, many moles, or a history of blistering sunburns, you should start your screening sooner.

When you come to our office for your first medical visit we will recommend that you have your skin screened for skin cancer. We advocate that skin cancer screening be a team approach, and we will do our best to educate you as to how to perform monthly self exams so that you may bring any suspicious areas to our attention.

For more information visit www.aad.org.