Common Skin Conditions:

In our dermatology practice, we treat many different types of skin conditions.  The most common are acne, warts, moles, psoriasis, eczema, hair loss, rosacea  and skin cancer, although we are not limited to just these.

Below is a short overview of the most common types of skin conditions:

    *ACNE is the most common dermatologic condition affecting 95% of Americans.  While most get acne in their teens, it can miss those years and present in the adult years.  Treatment is effective, but may be long term.
    
    *WARTS are the result of local infection with human papilloma virus.  Treatment is tailor made for the type and location of your warts.

    *MOLES:  While most moles are benign, a few can progress to malignancy.  Others may just be unsightly.  Removal is most often possible with a minimum of scarring.  The following ABCD's of checking your moles will help you determine whether a mole should be checked or not.  Of course, when in doubt, you should have them checked.

• A stands for ASYMMETRY, when one half of the mole doesn't match the other half.
• B stands for BORDER, when the border or edges of the mole are ragged, blurred, or irregular.
• C stands for COLOR, when the color of the mole is not the same throughout or if it has shades of tan, brown, black, red, white, or blue.
• D stands for diameter; while melanomas are greater than 6 mm. (about the size of a pencil eraser) they can be smaller.  They can also change, bleed or itch.

    *PSORIASIS:  While once one of the toughest of dermatologic conditions to treat, psoriasis is closer to cure than ever before.  Those red, rough, scaling areas need not be tolerated any longer.

    *SKIN CANCER: Most skin cancers are not life threatening, but they can do great damage and cause disfigurement.  Virtually all skin cancers can be cured if caught early enough, so don't delay.  See your Dermatologist!

    *ECZEMA/ATOPIC DERMATITIS:  Eczema is a certain kind of inflamed skin condition including allergic contact dermatitis and nummular dermatitis.  Eczema can be red, blistering, oozing, scaly, brownish, or thickened and usually itches.  Proper diagnosis and regular treatment can bring relief and may reduce the severity and duration of the disease.

    *HAIR LOSS:  Many people suffer from hair loss just due to hereditary thinning or balding.  However, there are many other different types of conditions that cause us to lose our hair.  People who notice their hair shedding in large amounts after combing or brushing, or whose hair becomes thinner or falls out, should consult a dermatologist.  With correct diagnosis, many people with hair loss can be helped.

    *ROSACEA: A common skin disease that causes redness and swelling on the face.  Often referred to as "adult acne", rosacea may begin as a tendency to flush or blush easily, and progress to persistent redness in the center of the face that may gradually involve the cheeks, forehead, chin and nose.  Identifying the disease is the first step to controlling it.  A Dermatologist is well qualified to make this diagnosis.

Additional information about the common skin conditions we treat are available under the menu on the left.
Contact us if you have further questions or concerns.