Medical Dermatology

Acne Vulgaris is a common skin condition seen in adolescents and adults. There are several types of acne including comedonal, inflammatory, cystic and hormonal. Sometimes acne can result in scarring and can have a profound effect on quality of life. Luckily, we have many effective treatments for acne including topicals, oral medications, photodynamic therapy, and chemical peels.

Psoriasis is an inflammatory condition of the skin resulting in itchy, scaly red plaques. Common sites for psoriasis are the elbows, knees, genitalia, scalp, nails, hands and feet. Some psoriasis patients will also develop psoriatic arthritis. Psoriasis is treated with topical steroids, vitamin D analogs, light therapy, and biologic medications.

Eczema is also known as atopic dermatitis. This is an inflammatory skin condition that affects children and can persist into adulthood in some cases. It is caused by an underlying genetic barrier defect in the skin. Atopic dermatitis is commonly associated with other allergic disorders such as seasonal allergies, asthma, and food allergies. We can treat atopic dermatitis with topical medications, light therapy, biologics and immunosuppressants.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, affecting about 1 in 5 Americans in their lifetime. There are three main types of skin cancer which include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. The least aggressive and most common type is basal cell carcinoma which usually presents as a non-healing pink bump. The second most common type is squamous cell carcinoma which usually presents as a scaly lesion or plaque. The most deadly type is melanoma which typically presents as a new or changing mole. If you have a personal or family history of skin cancer, annual skin checks are advised. In some cases, these may be recommended more frequently depending on your history.