Acne is a skin condition which has plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), inflamed pimples, and deeper lumps (nodules) and occurs on the face, as well as the neck, chest, back, shoulders, and upper arms. While acne is most often associated with teenagers, adults can develop acne as well. Acne often clears up on its own without treatment. However, severe acne can be disfiguring, as well as cause emotional trauma to the patient, and it should be treated by a dermatologist.

Treatments include topical creams, gels, or lotions; antibiotics taken by mouth, or special treatments such as microdermabrasion and chemical peels.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis is caused by a reaction to substances called allergens that come into contact with your skin (for example, poison ivy). In susceptible people, these contact allergens can cause itching, redness, and blisters.

Mild rashes that occur from allergic contact dermatitis usually respond to topical steroid creams and/or oral antihistamines that your dermatologist will prescribe.

Severe rashes may need to be treated with systemic methods such as oral and injectable corticosterioids, antibiotics, or other anti-inflammatory and immunologic agents.

Athlete's Foot is a very common skin condition which, while easily treatable, may recur in susceptible individuals.

In some people, the skin between the toes peels, cracks, and scales. Redness, scaling, and even dryness on the soles and along the sides of the feet are also common symptoms. Athlete's foot can also produce itching and burning of the feet, while a few individuals may develop a single small patch of intensely itchy blisters.

Treatments include anti-fungal creams or pills.

Dry Skin is a skin condition resulting from loss of pigment. The result is white patches spread over the body. Any part of the body may be affected, but the most common areas include the face, lips, hands, arms, legs, and genital areas. can occur at any age and for many reasons. In general, skin becomes drier with age, during the winter months, and in low-humidity climates.

Skin is dry because it lacks water or oil. All treatments aim to replace water in the skin. Below are some helpful tips that can be added to your daily routine to prevent and treat the bothersome aspects of dry skin.

          Dry Skin Care Tips

          Avoid Hot Water ? Hot water removes natural skin oils more quickly;
          warm water is best for bathing.

          Use a mild soap ? Soaps can dry the skin. Try to use a mild soap or
          non-soap cleanser.

          Moisturize immediately after bathing ? Ointments and creams are most
          effective for trapping water in the skin. It is best to apply one of these
          emollients right after bathing while the skin is still moist.

For more severe dryness, a prescription or over-the-counter urea or lactic acid-based product may be used since both of these agents help the surface of the skin hold water.

Hair Loss

   Excessive hair loss can be the result of impreper chemical treatments, hereditary thinning or balding, alopecia, illness, stress or other causes. Our Dermatologist will evalute a patient's hair-loss problem so they can determine whether the problem will resolve on its own or medical treatment is needed.

 

Hand Eczema describes dry, chapped hands that later become patchy, red, scaly, and inflamed. Once skin becomes red and dry, even so-called "harmless" things like water and baby products can irritate the rash, making it worse.

Your dermatologist may offer a combination of methods to heal your skin, such as an oral antibiotic or medicated ointment or cream.

The Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) causes blisters and sores around the mouth, nose, genitals, and buttocks, but they can also occur almost anywhere on the skin.

HSV infections can reappear periodically and may be painful and unsightly. For chronically ill people and newborn babies, the viral infection can be very serious, however it is rarely fatal. There are two types of HSV ? Type 1 and Type 2.

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Often referred to as fever blisters or cold sores, HSV Type 1 infections are tiny, clear, fluid-filled blisters that most often occur on the face.

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Infection with HSV Type 2 usually results in sores on the buttocks, penis, vagina, or cervix, two to twenty days after contact with an infected person. Sexual intercourse is the most frequent means of getting the infection. While there are no known cures for herpes, there are several safe medications to reduce outbreaks. See your dermatologist for more information.

Hives are itchy, pink swellings that can vary in size and cause burning and stinging. The most common causes of hives are foods, drugs, infections, warming of the skin after exposure to the cold, sweating, sunlight, hot baths, blushing, or anger. They are very common and usually go away within a few days to few weeks, however early treatment can alleviate discomfort and complications.

Antihistamines are usually prescribed to treat hives. No one antihistamine works for everyone so your dermatologist may have to try more than one or different combinations to find what works for you.

Ichthyosis is the name of a rare genetic skin disease which causes the formation of dry, fish-like scales on the skin's surface. Ichthyosis causes the skin to build up and scale, causing it to be extremely dry, among other problems. The condition often begins in early childhood and usually lasts throughout life.

Some people with ichthyosis may experience some or all of the following:

Limitations in movement: The tightness of the skin may make it painful to move some parts of the body.

Secondary infection: Splitting and cracking of the skin can lead to skin infections and/or systemic infections.

Impaired eyesight or hearing: Skin build-up over the eyes or ears may occur.

There is no cure for the disease, however the key to taking care of ichthyosis is to hydrate (moisturize) the skin, hold in the moisture, and keep scale thickness to a minimum.

The most common Infection of the Nails is caused by an organism called fungus. Fungal nail infections, or onychomycosis, tend to run in families because of an inherited tendency, but not everyone is susceptible.

Treatments include topical antifungal creams, lotions, gels, and lacquers, however, it is difficult for them to penetrate the nail.

Oral medicines like itraconazole, terbinafine, and fluconazole are used, and may require monitoring with blood tests. These new internal treatments are very safe when monitored by the dermatologist. In general, toe and fingernail fungus usually requires pills except in very mild cases.

Debridement or removing the infected part of the nail may enhance the effectiveness of the treatment. Dissolving or surgically removing the nail if the nail is thick and deformed may be helpful in a few situations, and used only if the infection is very severe.

Keratosis Pilaris is an inherited skin condition characterized by tiny, flesh-colored to slightly red bumps that appear on the outer areas of the upper arms and give the skin a sandpaper-like texture. Other symptoms can also include itching, especially during the winter months and in low-humidity climates. Each tiny bump is a plug of dead skin cells that forms at the site of a hair follicle.

Moisturizers may help with the dryness and associated itch. Mild peeling agents are most effective in opening the plugged hair follicles and work by removing the excess skin. Topical retinoids also are commonly used.

Lichen Planus is an inflammatory disease that affects the skin, the mouth (oral), or both. It may also affect the genital skin. LP of the skin is characterized by reddish-purple, flat-topped bumps that may be very itchy. Some may also have a white lacy appearance. The two most common treatments include the use of topical corticosteroid creams, ointments, or other anti-inflammatory drugs, and antihistamines taken by mouth.

Melasma

    A skin condition that presents as brown patches on the face. The most common sites of involvement are the cheek's, nose, forehead, and upper lip. 

 

Molluscum Contagiosum is a common skin disease which affects the top layers of the skin, producing flesh-colored or pink dome-shaped growths that often become red or inflamed. Similar to warts, this virus enters the skin through small breaks of hair follicles and can be spread by skin-to-skin contact.

Molluscum can be frozen with liquid nitrogen, destroyed with various acids or blistering solutions, treated with an electric needle, or treated daily with a home application of a topical retinoid cream or gel. Laser therapy has also been found to be an effective treatment.

Perioral Dermatitis is a common skin problem that mostly affects young women and produces small, red bumps and mild peeling of the skin around the mouth. Occasionally, the areas around the nose, eyes, and cheeks can be affected and this can be accompanied by mild itching or burning.

Treatment includes an oral antibiotic which may be needed for several months to prevent recurrence.

Pityriasis Rosea is a rash that usually begins with a large, scaly, pink patch on the chest or back. It is frequently confused with ringworm, however antifungal creams do not help because it is not a fungus.

Eventually, the patches take on an oval shape and may form a pattern over the back similar to the outline of a Christmas tree. Sometimes the disease can produce a very severe and widespread skin eruption, along with fatigue and aching. Within six to eight weeks, the rash usually disappears, however it can sometimes last much longer.

Pityriasis rosea often requires no treatment, however, external or internal medications may be prescribed to relieve itching. Ultraviolet light treatments given under the supervision of a dermatologist may be helpful.

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease that generally appears as patches of raised, reddish skin covered by a flaky white buildup. These patches, or plaques, frequently form on the elbows, knees, lower back, and scalp. However, the plaques can occur anywhere on the body.

While psoriasis cannot be cured, a number of treatment options can help control psoriasis. These include topical treatments, ultraviolet (UV) light therapy and oral medications.

Rosacea is a skin disease that causes redness and swelling of the face. As the disease progresses, small vessels and tiny pimples begin to appear on and around the reddened area.

In advanced cases, the disease can be characterized by a enlarged red nose and puffy cheeks. Approximately half of all rosacea patients experience burning and grittiness of the eyes---a condition commonly known as conjunctivitis, which should be treated immediately.

Rosacea is treated with various topical and oral medications. Severe cases may be treated with lasers or intense pulsed light therapy.

Scabies is caused by a tiny mite that infests the skin, causing little red bumps to appear. In more advanced cases, the skin may become crusty or scaly. Creams, lotions, a sulfur ointment, and oral medications are often used as forms of treatments. Antihistamines may be prescribed to relieve itching, which can last for weeks, even after the mite is gone.

Shingles or zoster, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. If you have had chicken pox, you can develop herpes zoster.

Symptoms include burning, itching, tingling, or extreme sensitivity usually limited to one side of the body. A red rash eventually appears, along with a fever or headache. The rash soon turns into groups of blisters which generally last for two to three weeks. The blisters start out clear but then look yellow or bloody before they crust over (scab) and disappear.

Usually, shingles clear on its own in a few weeks and seldom recurs. If diagnosed in the early stages, oral anti-viral drugs can be prescribed to decrease both viral shedding and the duration of skin lesions.

Skin Cancer is the most common type of cancer. However, if caught in its earliest stages, it's also completely curable. That's why the Dermatology Center of Shelby, in accordance with the American Cancer Society, recommends routine self skin examinations and skin cancer screenings with a dermatologist or a physician.

Cancer screening involves examinations and tests to catch cancer in its earliest stages of development even though you may have no symptoms. If you are between the ages of 20 and 39 you should have a skin exam by your personal doctor or a dermatologist every three years, and once a year from age 40 on.

Skin cancer can appear anywhere on the body, but is most common on areas exposed to the sun, such as the back and shoulders for men and legs for women. People should watch for moles that change in size, color or shape. An asymmetrical mole, a darkly pigmented mole, or one with an irregular border should raise a red flag. A mole does not have to be raised to be dangerous -- in many cases, flat, dark lesions are cause for concern.

What are the signs and symptoms of skin cancer? Skin cancer can be found early, and both doctors and patients play important roles in finding skin cancer. If you have any of the following symptoms, tell your doctor. Any change on the skin, especially in the size or color of a mole or other darkly pigmented growth or spot, or a new growth, scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or change in the appearance of a bump or nodule. The spread of pigmentation beyond its border such as dark coloring that spreads past the edge of a mole or mark or a change in sensation, itchiness, tenderness, or pain

Tinea Versicolor is a common skin condition that consists of small, scaly white-to-pink or tan-to-dark spots which can be scattered over the upper arms, chest and back. The condition prevents the skin from tanning normally. As the rest of the skin tans in the sun, the pale spots become more noticeable, especially on dark skin.

Tinea versicolor is treated with topical or oral medications. Topical treatment includes special cleansers including some shampoos, creams, or lotions applied directly to the skin.

Several oral medications have been used successfully to treat tinea versicolor. Because of possible side effects, or interactions with other medications, the use of these prescription medicines should be supervised by your dermatologist. After any form of treatment, the uneven color of the skin may remain for several months.

Vitiligo is a skin condition resulting from loss of pigment. The result is white patches spread over the body. Any part of the body may be affected, but the most common areas include the face, lips, hands, arms, legs, and genital areas.
The best treatment for vitiligo is often times no treatment at all. In fair-skinned individuals, avoiding tanning of normal skin can make areas of vitiligo almost unnoticeable because the (no pigment) white skin, of vitiligo has no natural protection from sun. These areas are easily sunburned, and people with vitiligo have an increased risk to skin cancer. Therefore, a sunscreen with a SPF of at least 30 should be used on all areas of vitiligo not covered by clothing.

Warts are non-cancerous skin growths caused by a viral infection in the top layer of the skin. Viruses that cause warts are called human papillomavirus (HPV). Warts are usually skin-colored and feel rough to the touch, but they can also be dark, flat and smooth. The appearance of a wart depends on where it is growing. The different kinds of warts include common warts, which usually grow on the fingers, around the nails and on the backs of hands; foot warts (or Plantar warts); and flat warts.

Warts can be treated by applying salicylic acid gel, solution or plaster. For adults and older children, cryotherapy (freezing) is generally preferred. Electrosurgery (burning) is another good alternative treatment, while laser treatment can also be used for resistant warts that have not responded to other therapies.