Common Dermatologic Conditions

While many of the treatments at The Clinic for Dermatology & Wellness focus on skin issues and concerns associated with aesthetics and aging, we use some of those same treatments to effectively treat and manage medical dermatology conditions.

Below, we’ve addressed some of the more common skin concerns that our patients turn to us to help them treat, as well as the treatments we provide to ensure that you leave our care looking and feeling as beautiful and confident on the outside as you do on the inside.

Acne

Acne is the most prevalent skin issue in America, with nearly 50 million people suffering from the condition that occurs when hair follicles become congested with excess oil and dead skin cells. Acne usually appears on your face, chest, upper back and shoulders, though it can occur anywhere on your body. There are several types of acne, including:

Whiteheads and blackheads (comedones)
Small, tender red bumps (papules)
Pimples (pustules)
Large, painful lumps beneath the surface of your skin (nodules)
Painful, pus-filled lumps under the surface of your skin (cystic acne)

In most cases, acne initially shows up during the hormonally turbulent teenage years; yet adult-onset acne is also a problem. Whereas teenage acne often appears in the T-zone of the face (the skin over the forehead and nose), adult acne is often linked to hormonal imbalances, and occurs most often along the jawline and chin. Depending on the severity of your acne and how long you’ve had it, scarring can be an issue.

While research is ongoing to discover the exact cause of acne, the prevailing view in dermatology is that it is the result of a combination of bacterial overgrowth, overactive sebaceous or oil glands, and abnormal function of the pilosebaceous unit and hair follicles. In many patients, diet, emotional stress and hormones often lead to flare-ups or worsening acne symptoms.

At The Clinic for Dermatology & Wellness, we understand the impact that acne can have on your confidence, which is why our team includes providers that have a high success rate with acne treatments, focusing on methods that will rapidly decrease your symptoms during a flare-up. Some of the treatments we offer include:

Our acne treatments are completely customized to you and your individual needs, and offer a significant amount of flexibility and variability. You may choose to combine several procedures to increase the effectiveness of your treatment, all of which will be determined at your appointment.

Rosacea

A chronic skin condition that usually shows up after the age of 30, rosacea manifests itself as redness across your cheeks, nose, forehead and chin. Despite the fact that more than 16 million Americans are affected by rosacea, doctors are unsure of what exactly causes this condition. What they do know is that while rosacea can affect anyone, it is more prevalent in women, as well as those with fair skin.

Many rosacea patients tend to have sensitive skin, and as this sensitivity and flushing worsens over time, small blood vessels develop in the prominent regions of the nose and cheeks. In some cases, prolonged pimples and bumps (papules) result in scarring of the cartilage structure of your nose, and the skin thickens, creating a “cauliflower” appearance known as rhinophyma. Rhinophyma can not only disfigure your nose and negatively affects your self-image, but can also result in significant discomfort. Other complications from rosacea include facial swelling, eye issues and persistent dry skin.

The redness associated with rosacea comes and goes, and patients often describe stinging, tingling or burning sensations, especially when aggravated or triggered due to several contributing factors that cause increased blood flow to your skin’s surface, including:

Skin products that cause irritation
Exercise
Caffeine and alcohol
Spicy food
Sun or wind exposure
Extreme temperature
Certain medications that dilate blood vessels

At The Clinic for Dermatology & Wellness, we understand that unpredictable rosacea flare-ups can be a frustrating and embarrassing problem.

That’s why we provide several treatments that can keep rosacea symptoms at bay, allowing you to enjoy clear skin more often and prevent your condition from worsening over time. Many medications can greatly diminish papules and pimples in most patients, though the redness and blood vessels can be just as concerning and are less affected by medications. For a more permanent, lasting resolution of redness and flushing, laser or light therapy can often help a patient maximize the benefits of their treatment.

Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation is a common occurrence in which patches of skin become darker in color than the unaffected surrounding skin. This increase in pigmentation can have a wide variety of causes. Excess sun exposure over our lives may result in “age spots” or “liver spots”, which are known medically as solar lentigos. Melasma is a common skin disorder in which patches of darker skin appear on the face, and in some patients may worsen with pregnancy. In post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, a pimple, a rash, or a bump that was red or purple may fade, leaving a darker patch of color behind.

All of these conditions, and many more hyperpigmentation diseases, are a result of an increase of melanin in your skin. Melanin is a naturally occurring pigment in our bodies that is responsible for giving our eyes, hair and skin their color. Melanin is also designed to protect your body from harmful UV rays, which is why when you spend time out in the sun, your skin becomes darker. A suntan is actually your body increasing the production of melanin to protect against UV damage.

For many patients, continued sun exposure may exacerbate their underlying hyperpigmentation condition, as the darker areas become even darker with the triggering of new melanin production provoked by sun exposure. Overall, there are a great many contributing factors that can result in increased pigmentation:

Aging, due to a decrease in collagen and an increase in melanin cells
Hormone changes due to pregnancy, menopause or hormone therapies
Skin injury or inflammation after the healing of a skin injury
Illness or medication
In some cases, hyperpigmentation may be an unavoidable condition. However, in many instances proper sun protection can prevent it from worsening. This includes applying (and reapplying) a broad-spectrum sunscreen every two hours (SPF 30 or higher), and staying out of the sun during the hours when it is most intense (between the hours of 11am to 2pm).

At The Clinic for Dermatology & Wellness, we treat hyperpigmentation using several methods. Topical agents (both over the counter and prescription), chemical peels, and some laser or light treatments can be used alone or in combination to achieve optimal results.

Birthmarks and Vascular Lesions

There are two primary kinds of birthmarks: vascular lesions or pigmented lesions, both of which can present at birth or develop shortly after. Pigmented birthmarks are made up of a cluster of cells responsible for skin color that can range in color from light brown to dark brown or black, and sometimes even blue. Moles are included in this category, and are also considered birthmarks. The exact causes of birthmarks are unknown, but may be a result of genetics. Pigmented birthmarks such as café-au-lait spots, Nevus of Ota and Becker’s nevus can sometimes be improved with laser treatments, though in some cases (especially with moles), surgical removal may be necessary.

Vascular lesions may also present as a birthmark, often as a red flat area (patch), or raised and bulbous (nodular). The most common form of vascular lesion is a hemangioma. Hemangiomas can be present at birth; more commonly they appear later in life, typically after age 40 (known as senile angiomas). In both childhood and age-related varieties, hemangiomas classically occur more often in women, and about 60 percent are found on the head and neck (childhood) or trunk (later in life). All versions of hemangiomas are treatable using a variety of techniques ranging from radiofrequency (RF) ablation to laser therapy.

Vascular malformations are another common type of vascular lesion, made up of veins, arteries, capillaries, and/or lymphatic vessels. There are several kinds of vascular malformations, each named for the blood vessel it affects most. Vascular malformations appear at birth, and unlike hemangiomas (which can lighten or shrink with time), they grow proportionately as you grow.

Like pigmented birthmarks, no one knows what causes vascular lesions, but is usually a chance occurrence. It can also be an inherited trait. In most cases, vascular lesions are benign and harmless, but if they are large, they may affect the movement of your limbs or even your breathing or other large organ systems.

At The Clinic for Dermatology & Wellness, we can diagnose and treat vascular lesions using a variety of methods. There are multiple, mild therapies, including laser and light sources that are very effective at diminishing or altogether eliminating these lesions, which include hemangiomas, capillary vascular malformations, spider angiomas, broken blood vessels and scars, among others. All of our vascular lesion removal procedures are well-tolerated, using no anesthesia, and offer virtually zero downtime or side effects. Some patients may note post-treatment swelling or transient darkening of the lesion(s), although this is rare and will resolve within two to four days.

Rashes

One of the most common reasons that patients visit The Clinic for Dermatology & Wellness is a persistent rash that fails to respond to over-the-counter therapies. As skin specialists, our highly trained and experienced dermatology providers are here to diagnose and control rashes.

Rashes can result from a wide range of issues, including:

Infectious – tinea corporis (ringworm); shingles; measles; hand, foot and mouth disease
Autoimmune – lupus; psoriasis
Allergic – atopic dermatitis; contact dermatitis

In every instance, it is essential to know the underlying cause of the rash in order to ensure that the correct treatment is prescribed. In some cases, the wrong medication simply has no therapeutic effect, while in other cases, the wrong medication can cause the rash to worsen.

At The Clinic for Dermatology & Wellness, we understand that while many skin concerns are unavoidable, they typically aren’t something you have to live with indefinitely. Our wide range of treatment options makes it easy to find a solution to almost any concern. Call our office today at (541) 200-2777 to schedule a consultation.