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Services
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Age spots |
| The skin is the body’s largest and most visible organ. As we grow older, it is apparent that there are certain changes in our skin that we can see and feel. The skin becomes drier, more wrinkled, and spots and growths appear. Some of these skin changes are natural, unavoidable, and harmless. Others are itchy or painful, and some changes, such as skin cancers, are serious and require medical attention. Many of these skin problems can be prevented. Most of these skin problems can be addressed by therapies now available. |
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Seborrheic Keratosis |
| These are light to dark brown or black and can be flat or raised spots or wart-like growths look like they were stuck on the skin surface. They are not cancerous and are very common in older persons. These benign growths did not originate from the sun and they do not turn into a skin cancer. If annoying, they can be easily removed by a dermatologist. |
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Cherry Angiomas |
| These are harmless, small, bright red raised bumps created by dilated blood vessels. They occur in more than 85 percent of middle-aged and elderly people, usually on the trunk. Electrocautery, laser surgery, or other surgical therapies remove these spots. |
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Lentigines |
| These are flat brown lesions on sun exposed skin. They are often called “liver spots” although they have nothing to do with the liver. They are caused by the sun and usually appear on the face, hands, back and feet. They are generally harmless. They may look like melanoma and therefore may require evaluation. Commercial "fade" creams will not make lentigines disappear, but effective prescription medications and surgical resurfacing treatments are available. |
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Vascular Ectasia |
These are dilated facial blood vessels may be related to sun damage. They are also called “broken capillaries" or telangiectasia. They respond to the same treatments as other broken blood vessels, vascular laser being the most common.
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Wrinkles |
| As the skin ages, collagen and elastin, fibers that keep the skin firm, weaken. The skin looks loose and lax, becomes thinner, and loses fat, making it look less plump and smooth. As these changes take place, gravity works at pulling the skin, causing it to sag.
The sun is the major cause of unwanted changes in the skin with aging. Cigarette smoking and heredity can also contribute to wrinkles.
Wrinkles caused by the sun can be prevented if proper sun protection is adhered to beginning in early childhood.
- Always wear sunscreen with SPF of at least 30
- A hat with a brim and other protective clothing
- Don't deliberately sunbathe
- Try to avoid sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Remember that sun exposure as a child or teenager makes a big difference to the appearance of the skin at the age of 30, 40, or 50. If you have already sun-damaged your skin, you will still benefit from beginning sun protection as an adult. It's never too late. |
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Microdermabrasion |
Particle Skin Resurfacing, also known as Microdermabrasion, is a non-invasive, non-surgical procedure that uses a highly controlled spray of fine crystals to remove the outer layer of skin resulting in an improvement to the texture and appearance of the skin. This procedure is used to treat fine lines & wrinkles, sun damaged skin, acne prone skin, blackheads and whiteheads, superficial age spots, and other various skin conditions. After the first treatment patients notice immediate improvement in the texture and appearance of their skin, with no downtime. Most benefit is after a series of treatments.
Particle Skin Resurfacing is a precise and painless mechanical exfoliation that removes the outer layer of the skin, which may normally take up to two weeks to naturally exfoliate. Using a fine spray of aluminum oxide crystals, Particle Skin Resurfacing polishes the skin. All skin types, including most skin areas (face, trunk, and extremities), will benefit from this treatment, especially sun damage, rough skin, blackheads, fine lines, and pigment irregularities. It is a good alternative for patients who do not want acid peels or are not good candidates for chemical peels.
If someone is looking for an exfoliating treatment that is progressive, but not aggressive, Particle Skin Resurfacing is great for giving the skin a smoother more youthful appearance.
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Spider Veins |
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| Spider veins are small, thin veins that lie close to the surface of the skin. Although these super-fine veins are connected with the larger venous system, they are not an essential part of it.
A number of factors contribute to the development of spider veins, including heredity, pregnancy and other events that cause hormonal shifts, weight gain, occupations or activities that require prolonged sitting or standing, and the use of certain medications.
Millions of women are bothered by spider veins- those small yet unsightly clusters of red, blue or purple veins that most commonly appear on the thighs, calves and ankles. In fact, it’s estimated that at least half of the adult female population is plagued with this common cosmetic problem.
Sclerotherapy is a procedure to treat spider veins that is performed by many dermatologists. Sclerotherapy consists of injecting the veins with a sclerosing solution that causes the veins to collapse and fade from view. The procedure may also remedy the bothersome symptoms associated with spider veins, including aching, burning, swelling, and night cramps. |
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Actinic Keratosis (pre cancerous lesions) |
 Actinic Keratosis is considered the earliest stage in the development of skin cancer. They are common lesions of the epidermis (outermost layer of the skin). They are caused by long-term exposure to sunlight. Actinic Keratosis are most likely to appear after age 40, however, in geographic areas with year-round high-intensity sunlight they may be found in persons as young as the teens and twenties. Half of all older, fair-skinned persons who live in hot, sunny areas have Actinic Keratosis. The most significant predisposing factor to Actinic Keratosis is fair skin and long-term sun exposure.
Chronic sun exposure causes skin cells to change size, shape, and the way they are organized. The skin cells affected in Actinic Keratosis are the keratinocytes. Keratinocytes are the tough-walled cells that make up 90 percent of the epidermis and give the skin its texture.
Changes in keratinocytes can be seen when the skin becomes rough, scaly, or mottled, and develops bumps or small horn-like growths. Further changes in cell growth can turn Actinic Keratosis into Squamous Cell Carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. |
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 Your insurance may now cover Actinic Keratosis treatment with Levulan!
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Two-Step Levulan® Photodynamic Therapy Offers an Effective Treatment Option
The Levulan Photodynamic Therapy System (PDT system) using the BLU-U® Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy Illuminator is an advanced 2-step treatment for minimally to moderately thick Grade 1 or 2 AKs (AKs that have not yet become enlarged and thick) of the face or scalp. The system is unique because it uses a light activated drug therapy to destroy AKs. This system consists of treatment with Levulan Kerastick Topical Solution, 20% and the BLU-U Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy Illuminator (BLU-U).
Efficacy proven in medical studies
Many of the patients participating in the studies experienced 75-100% clearance of Grade 1 or 2 AKs eight weeks after treatment with Levulan Kerastick Topical Solution and BLU-U.
Percent of patients who had a 75-100% response at 8 weeks
Many patients rated the cosmetic response as good to excellent
Based on the combined results of two medical studies, 94% of patients treated with Levulan PDT and BLU-U rated the cosmetic response as good to excellent.
Additionally, no scarring was reported during the medical studies. The most common side effects experienced by patients in these medical studies included scaling/crusting, hypo/hyper-pigmentation, itching, stinging, and/or burning, redness and swelling. Severe stinging and/or burning at one or more lesions being treated was reported by at least 50% of patients at some time during treatment.
How does Levulan PDT work?
When Levulan Kerastick Topical Solution is applied to Grade 1 or 2 AKs, the solution is absorbed by the AK cells where it is converted to a chemical that makes the cells extremely sensitive to light. When the AK cells are exposed to the BLU-U, this light causes reactions which destroy the AK cells.
Step 1: Application of the Levulan Kerastick Topical Solution
The first step in the Levulan PDT System is the application of the Levulan Kerastick Topical Solution, 20% to the individual AKs on your face or scalp by your dermatologist or other health care professional. This solution is an acid that occurs naturally in your body. It makes the AKs more sensitive to light. This application prepares the AKs for step 2 in the Levulan PDT treatment. Once the Levulan Kerastick Topical Solution is applied to the AKs, your doctor will direct you to wait the recommended time in order to allow the solution to penetrate the target cells we mentioned earlier.
Step 2: BLU-U Treatment
After your incubation period, you will receive a blue light treatment, which is the second and the final step in the treatment. The BLU-U treatment time is 16 minutes and 40 seconds.
Important Safety Information
What is Levulan Kerastick used for?
The Levulan Kerastick for Topical Solution plus blue light illumination using the BLU-U Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy Illuminator is indicated for the treatment of minimally to moderately thick actinic keratoses (Grade 1 or 2) of the face or scalp.
Who should NOT take Levulan?
Levulan Kerastick should not be taken by patients who have cutaneous photosensitivity at wavelengths at 400-450 nm, porphyria, or known allergies to porphyrins.
Levulan Kerastick has not been tested on patients with inherited or acquired coagulation defects. There have been no formal studies of the interaction of Levulan Kerastick for Topical Solution with any other drugs and no drug-specific interactions were noted during any of the controlled clinical trials. It is possible that concomitant use of other known photosensitizing agents might increase the photosensitivity reaction of actinic keratoses treated with the Levulan Kerastick. It is important to tell your physician if you are taking any oral medications or using any topical prescription or non-prescription products on your face or scalp. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing.
What are the possible side effects?
The most common side effects include scaling/crusting, hypo/hyper-pigmentation, itching, stinging, and/or burning, erythema and edema. Severe stinging and/or burning at one or more lesions being treated was reported by at least 50% of patients at some time during the treatment.
What precautions should be taken?
Patients should avoid exposure of the photosensitive treatment sites to sunlight or bright indoor light prior to and at least 48 hours after blue light treatment. Exposure may result in a stinging and/or burning sensation and may cause erythema or edema of the lesions. Sunscreens will not protect against photosensitivity reactions caused by visible light.
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Basal Cell Carcinoma |
 Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer and fortunately the least dangerous. It usually appears as a small, shiny bump or pinpoint red bleeding area on the head, face, nose, neck or chest. It's more common in older fair-skinned people with blond or red hair and blue or green eyes with a history of sunburns. Untreated, these skin cancers can bleed and crust over. They grow slowly and rarely spread to other parts of the body. |
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Squamous Cell Carcinoma |
| Squamous Cell Carcinoma typically occurs in areas of chronic sun damage (the rim of the ear, the face, the lips, lower arms or the back of hands). These skin cancers can destroy normal tissue. Squamous cell cancers occasionally spread to internal organs. If left untreated, Squamous Cell Carcinomas can be aggressive. |
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Malignant Melanoma |
Malignant Melanoma is a less common but more serious form of skin cancer. This skin cancer usually appears as a dark brown or black mole-like growth with irregular borders and variable colors. Men over the age of 50 are at the highest risk for melanoma, but it can affect anyone of any age. Melanoma is more likely to strike people who had severe childhood sunburns. The most frequent sites for melanoma are the upper back in men and women, the chest and abdomen in men, and the lower legs of women. Melanoma can spread to other organs and can be fatal. |
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Border irregular
The edges are ragged or uneven. |
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Diameter larger
It is larger than the size of a pencil eraser (6 millimeters) or has changed shape |
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Asymmetry
One side does not look like the other side. |
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Color varies
More than one color is present. Melanoma may include streaks of tan, brown, black, red, blue and white. |
| Evolution Any change in an existing mole or the rapid appearance of a new mole could be a sign of melanoma and should be examined immediately by a dermatologist. |
 ABCDEs of Melanoma:
Created to help people recognize the warning signs of melanoma,
the most lethal form of skin cancer. The ABCD & E are:
MIND THESE ABCDEs - They may save a life. |
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Acne |
 Acne is a skin condition which has plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), inflamed pimples (pustules), and deeper lumps (nodules). Acne occurs on the face, as well as the neck, chest, back, shoulders, and upper arms. Although most teenagers get some form of acne, adults in their 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, or even older, can develop acne. Often, acne clears up after several years, even without treatment. Acne can be disfiguring and upsetting to the patient. Untreated acne can leave permanent scars; these may be treated by your dermatologist in the future. To avoid acne scarring, treating acne is important.
Click Here for more information on Acne >>
 Levulan® Photodynamic Therapy - Acne Treatment using a blue light.
Levulan Photodynamic Therapy (LPT) is a relatively new acne treatment. Levulan PDT results in significant improvement in mild to severe acne and an improvement in the appearance of acne scars. Levulan has been approved by the FDA since 1999 for the treatment of sun damaged skin, however it is currently illegal to market it as an acne treatment. LPT can work in patients who have used Accutane unsuccessfully.
Blue Light Levulan Acne treatment involves three mechanisms of action against acne:
- Deactivates the bacteria that trigger acne
- Exfoliates the skin to unclog pores
- Shuts down the sebaceous glands in the skin by shrinking them. Sebaceous glands are the root cause in the formation of acne.
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Rosacea |
 Rosacea is 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. It also may involve the ears, chest and back. As the disease progresses, small blood vessels and tiny pimples begin to appear on and around the reddened area; however, unlike acne, there are no blackheads
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Acne Keloidalis |
 Some people, especially those who use a razor for cutting hair on the back of their necks, develop bumps and keloid-like scars. The area may itch and can sometimes become infected. Treatments include oral antibiotics, topical acne products, and topical or injected cortisone. When severe, lesions may need to be removed surgically or with a laser. Early treatment by a dermatologist is necessary for the best results. |
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Hidraadenitis Suppurativa |
 Hidraadenitis suppurativa is an annoying chronic condition characterized by swollen, painful, inflamed lesions in the axillae, groin, and other parts of the body that contain apocrine glands. The disease is a chronic acne like infection of the cutaneous apocrine glands that also can involve adjacent subcutaneous tissue and fascia. |
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Seborrheic Dermatitis |
 Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin disorder that can be easily treated. This condition is a red, scaly, itchy rash most commonly seen on the scalp, sides of the nose, eyebrows, eyelids, skin behind the ears, and middle of the chest. Other areas, such as the navel (belly button), buttocks, skin folds under the arms, axillary regions, breasts, and groin, may also be involved.
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Hives/Urticaria |
 Urticaria (hives): Hives , or "wheals", are pale red swellings of skin that occur in groups on any part of the skin. Urticaria is the medical word for hives. Each hive lasts a few hours before fading without a trace. New areas may develop as old areas fade. They can vary in size from as small as a pencil eraser to as large as a dinner plate and may join together to form larger swellings. Hives usually are itchy, but may also burn or sting. Hives are formed by blood plasma leaking out of small blood vessels in the skin. This is caused by the release of a chemical called histamine. Histamine is released from cells called "mast cells" that lie along the blood vessels in the skin. Allergic reactions, chemicals in foods, or medications can cause histamine release. Sometimes it's impossible to find out why hives are forming. Hives are very common - 10-20 percent of the population will have at least one episode in their lifetime. Most episodes of hives disappear quickly in a few days to a few weeks. Occasionally, a person will continue to have hives for many years.
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Shingles |
 Herpes zoster, also known as shingles or zoster, is a viral infection caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. Anyone who has had chicken pox can develop herpes zoster. The virus remains dormant (inactive), in certain nerve cells of the body, and when it reactivates it causes zoster. About 20 percent of those people who have had chicken pox will get zoster. Most people get zoster only once.
There may be burning, itching, tingling, or extreme sensitivity in one area of the skin usually limited to one side of the body. This may be present for one to three days before a red rash appears at that site. There may also be a fever or headache. The rash soon turns into groups of blisters. The blisters 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. It is unusual to have pain without blisters, or blisters without pain.
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Moles |
 Everyone has moles, sometimes 40 or more. Most people think of a mole as a dark brown spot, but moles have a wide range of appearance.
At one time, a mole in a certain spot on the cheek of a woman was considered fashionable. Some were even painted on. These were called "beauty marks." However, not all moles are beautiful. They can be raised from the skin and very noticeable, they may contain dark hairs, or they may be dangerous.
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Warts/Verruca |
 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 be dark, flat and smooth. The appearance of a wart depends on where it is growing. There are several different kinds of warts (common warts, plantar warts (foot), flat warts).
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Onychomycosis |
 The most common infection of the nails is caused by an organism called fungus. Fungal nail infections, or onychomycosis, are more common on the toenails than the fingernails and affects about 12% of all Americans. It occurs in approximately 25% of people at age 40, and 40% of older people. Onychomycosis tends to run in families because of an inherited tendency, but not everyone is susceptible. It is rare in children unless one or both parents are infected.
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Seborrheic Keratosis |
 Seborrheic Keratoses are often confused with warts or moles, but they are quite different. Seborrheic keratoses are non-cancerous growths of the outer layer of skin. There may be just one growth or many which occur in clusters. They are usually brown, but can vary in color from light tan to black and range in size from a fraction of an inch in diameter to larger than a half-dollar. A main feature of seborrheic keratoses is their waxy, “pasted-on” or “stuck-on” appearance. They sometimes look like a dab of warm brown candle wax that has dropped onto the skin or like barnacles attached to the skin.
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Ringworm |
 Ringworm (tinea): Ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus. Ringworm can affect skin on your body (tinea corporis), scalp (tinea capitis), groin area (tinea cruris, also called jock itch), or feet (tinea pedis, also called athlete's foot). |
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Psoriasis |
 Psoriasis is a persistent skin disorder in which there are red, thickened areas with silvery scales, most often on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back. Some cases, of psoriasis are so mild that people don’t know they have it. Severe psoriasis may cover large areas of the body. Dermatologists can help even the most severe cases. It is an inflammatory disease of genetic nature
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Eczema/Atopic Dermatitis |
 The word "atopic" means there is a tendency for excess inflammation in the skin and linings of the nose and lungs. This often runs in families with allergies such as hay fever and asthma, sensitive skin, or a history of atopic dermatitis. Although most people with atopic dermatitis have family members with similar problems, 20% of them are the only ones in their family with the condition.
It can occur at any age but is most common in infants to young adults. The skin rash is very itchy and can be widespread, or limited to a few areas. The condition frequently improves with adolescence, but many patients are affected throughout life, although not as severely as in early childhood.
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