Our team is devoted to providing you with personalized care and the most advanced treatment options available.
We believe that informed patients are empowered patients, so we have included detailed descriptions of our most common diagnoses for skin, hair, and nails.
Acne is the most frequent skin condition seen by medical professionals. It consists of pimples that appear on the face, back, and chest. About 80% of adolescents have some form of acne, and about 5% of adults experience acne. Acne is made up of two types of blemishes: whiteheads/blackheads and red pustules or papules. Whiteheads/Blackheads are non-inflammatory and appear more on the face and shoulders. As long as they remain uninfected, they are more unlikely to lead to scarring. Red pustules or papules are inflamed pores that fill with pus, which can lead to scarring.
Actinic Keratosis (AK) is a rough, dry, scaly patch or growth that forms on the skin. An AK forms when ultraviolet rays from the sun or indoor tanning badly damage the skin. AKs are common and one of the most frequent reasons for seeing a dermatologist. Anyone who has many AKs should be under a dermatologist’s care. Most people who have multiple AKs continue to get new AKs. AKs are considered precancerous. Left untreated, AKs may turn into a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. If skin cancer develops, it can be caught early when treatment often cures it.
Atopic Dermatitis, often called eczema or atopic eczema, is a condition that usually develops by five years of age and causes extremely itchy rashes that come and go. AD can develop in any area of your skin at any age. In adults, AD tends to cause fewer rashes. Adults tend to have extremely dry skin, easily irritated skin, hand eczema, and/or eye problems (eczema on eyelids, cataracts). If you’ve had AD for years, patches of your skin may have permanently thickened and developed a leathery texture. This is caused by years of scratching. The affected skin also looks darker (or lighter) than the surrounding skin.
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Seborrheic dermatitis is a very common skin disease that causes a rash. When this rash appears, the skin tends to have a reddish color, swollen and greasy appearance, and/or white or yellowish crusty scale on the surface. One or more of these rashes can appear on the body. Sometimes, the affected skin itches. Patches usually form with oily skin (scalp, ears, eyebrows, face center, eyelids, etc.).
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Alopecia areata is a disease that develops when the body attacks its hair follicles (where hair grows from), which can cause hair loss anywhere on the body. Many people who develop alopecia areata develop a round or oval bald patch on their scalp. The hair loss tends to be unpredictable. While alopecia areata often causes hair loss on the scalp, you can lose hair on any part of your body. Some people develop hair loss in other body areas, such as eyelashes, eyebrows, or beard areas. Wherever the hair loss occurs, it happens without any signs of rash, redness, or scarring.
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a skin condition that causes painful lumps deep in your skin. These lumps usually develop on parts of the body where skin touches the skin, like the armpits, inner thighs, and groin area. It is a non-contagious inflammatory skin condition that requires specialized treatment.
Impetigo, a common bacterial skin infection, especially in children, is highly contagious. Blisters and crusts are common signs of impetigo. Most people get impetigo through skin-to-skin contact with someone who has it. Staphylococcus and streptococcus bacteria cause the most cases of impetigo. They can get in through a cut, scratch that barely breaks the skin, or bug bite. A rash, sore, or burn also provides a great entry point for the bacteria. MRSA, a resistant form of staph infection, requires more aggressive treatment to prevent recurrence.
Read more about ImpetigoMolluscum contagiosum is caused by a virus that causes small skin bumps that tend to clear with time. You can get molluscum at any age, but it’s most common in children between the ages of 1 and 10. Children with atopic dermatitis (eczema) tend to get it more easily and may require a longer treatment course.
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Shingles are a painful, blistering rash caused by a previous chickenpox infection. The varicella-zoster virus that caused the infection remains dormant in your nerves over the years and reactivates during times of stress or lower immunity as you age. Shingles is treated with an oral antiviral prescription to provide immediate relief of the painful rash.
Warts (HPV) are small, harmless growths that appear most frequently on the hands and feet. Sometimes, they look flat and smooth; other times, they have a dome-shaped or cauliflower-like appearance. Warts can be surrounded by skin that is either lighter or darker. Warts are caused by different forms of Human Papillomavirus (HPV). They occur in people of all ages and can spread from person to person and from one part of the body to another. Warts are benign (noncancerous) and generally painless.
Malignant melanoma is a form of skin cancer. It is often called "melanoma". This skin cancer can spread quickly. Finding and treating melanoma before it spreads is essential. With an early diagnosis and treatment, melanoma has a high cure rate.
A common warning sign of melanoma is change. Melanoma may start in an existing mole. A shift in a mole's shape, color, or diameter can be a sign of melanoma. Other changes to watch for include a mole that becomes painful, begins to bleed, or itch. Not all melanomas start in a mole. Some melanomas begin suddenly on normal skin. A sudden, new growth could be a melanoma.
Moles are brown or black growths, usually round or oval, that can appear anywhere on the skin. They can be rough or smooth, flat or raised, single or in multiples. They occur when cells responsible for skin pigmentation, known as melanocytes, grow in clusters instead of spreading across the skin. Generally, moles are less than one-quarter inch in size. Most moles appear by age 20, although some may appear later in life.
- Splitting or Peeling Nails
- Nail Psoriasis
- Nail Discoloration/Pigmentation
- Beau’s Lines
- Nail Fungus
- Onycholysis
Skin pigmentation disorders affect the coloring of your skin. Your skin gets its color from a substance called melanin. When cells that produce melanin become damaged, melanin production is affected. Some pigmentation disorders affect patches of skin; others affect your entire body. If your body creates an excessive amount of melanin, your skin gets darker, and vice versa, with too little melanin production leading to lighter skin.
Melasma is a skin condition that causes patches and spots, usually on the face, darker than your natural skin tone.
Vitiligo is a disorder that causes areas of skin to lose color, resulting in spots and patches of lighter skin. Some people develop a few spots. Others have more widespread color loss.
Psoriasis is a condition that causes the body to make new skin cells in days rather than weeks. You may see thick, scaly patches as these cells pile up on the skin's surface. Plaques can appear anywhere on the skin, but you're most likely to find them on the knees, elbows, lower back, and scalp. Plaques tend to vary in size. They may appear on the skin as a single patch or combine to cover a large area. No matter the size, plaques tend to be itchy. Without treatment, the itch can become intense. Some people notice their skin stings, burns, or feels painful and tight.
Some people who have psoriasis develop a type of arthritis called psoriatic arthritis. The first sign is frequently swollen, stiff, and sometimes painful joints when waking up. If this happens, tell a dermatologist right away.
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that causes facial redness, acne-like pimples, visible small blood vessels on the face, swelling, and/or watery, irritated eyes. This inflammation of the face can affect the cheeks, nose, chin, forehead, or eyelids. Rosacea is treated with topical prescription medications and facial laser treatment if needed.
Skin cancer is the most common form of human cancer, affecting more than one million Americans every year. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. Skin cancers are generally curable if caught early. People who have had skin cancer are at a higher risk of developing new skin cancer, which is why regular self-examination and doctor visits are imperative. The most common warning signs of skin cancer include a new non-healing bump or growth, a new mole, or one changing in size, shape, or color.
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer. BCC appears on the skin in many shapes or sizes. You may see a dome-shaped flesh-colored growth with visible blood vessels, a shiny pinkish patch, or a sore that does not heal completely. BCC rarely spreads to other body areas but can grow deep into tissue and bone.
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Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common type of skin cancer. SCC appears on the skin in many shapes. You may see a crusted or rough bump, a red, rough, flat patch, a dome-shaped bump that grows and bleeds, or a sore that does not heal or heals and returns. SCC commonly develops on skin exposed to the sun, such as the face, ears, lips, back of the hands, arms, and legs. SCC can spread to lymph nodes or other body parts left untreated.