Actinic Keratoses Removal

It’s important to remove these rough, scaly precancerous lesions on the face or scalp to avoid developing skin cancer.

Actinic keratosis is a skin condition caused by repeated sun exposure. Also called AKs for short or solar keratoses, actinic keratoses are rough, scaly or crusty spots on your skin that may appear tan, pink or red. They may itch or feel prickly or tender.

Your skin keeps a memory of all the sun exposure you have experienced since you were a child. Actinic keratoses are the accumulation of the damage over time.

We are here to help you feel good about the skin you’re in.

Treatment and prevention
AKs need to be treated and removed as they can be the first step in the development of skin cancer. We treat AKs by freezing them with liquid nitrogen. This causes the skin to separate between the normal skin and the AK. The AK will peel off in a few weeks when the skin underneath is healed.

There are also a number of topical treatments that each work a bit differently to treat your AKs. Efudex or Aldara are used over a number of weeks, while Picato is a gel used for small areas. Some patients are treated with a solution called Levulan, which is applied in the office and activated with a light source that will remove AKs over a few days.

While you can’t avoid all AK-causing sun exposure or undo the damage that’s already been done, you can prevent further damage by protecting yourself from the sun as much as possible.

• Use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher
• Wear protective clothing
• Use medical-grade skin care products
• Limit outdoor activities in direct sunlight

 

Blu light Photodynamic Therapy

This innovative, noninvasive treatment addresses several skin conditions, including acne and actinic keratosis.

This innovative blue light therapy can control or remove skin blemishes and lesions that affect your health and your self-confidence.

We use this state-of-the-art, non-invasive technology to control and treat conditions such as acne or precancerous skin lesions on the face or scalp called actinic keratoses.

The number of blue light therapy treatments you need depends on your skin type or condition.

How it works
Our dermatologists often use blue light photodynamic therapy in conjunction with a unique, light-activated medication called Levulan.

Levulan, which applied to your skin and then activated by blue light therapy, is a treatment to erase actinic keratoses.

When our doctors and skin specialists use blue light therapy to treat acne, a high-intensity, narrow band of blue light is used to kill acne-causing bacteria that causes breakouts.

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Mole Removal

We can remove moles with a simple procedure and stitch for fast healing and minimal scarring.

Moles are common growths on the skin, caused by a collection of cells called melanocytes. The good news is that most moles are harmless. We can help you learn more about moles that you may have and when to have it checked out by one of our board-certified dermatologists.

All about moles
Most moles will appear by the time you are 20 to 30 years old. They are generally round or oval and can be rough or smooth, flat or raised, or have hair growing out of them.

They often darken after exposure to the sun, during your teen years and during pregnancy. This is all normal.

While moles can change slightly over the years and remain harmless, some moles may develop into an aggressive type of skin cancer called melanoma.

What to watch out for
If you have moles on your body, make a habit of checking them regularly so you can spot any changes in texture or appearance. Pay special attention to areas of your skin that are exposed to the sun, including your hands, arms, chest, cheek, face and ears.

Moles that require a check by a dermatologist look different than your other existing moles. Here’s a checklist of mole types that need medical attention:

• Moles that bleed or ooze
• Moles that itch or appear scaly
• Moles that become tender or painful

Keep in mind the ABCs of moles that might need medical attention:

Asymmetry — half of the mole does not match the other half
Border —the edges or borders of the mole are ragged, blurred or irregular
Color — the mole is not the same color throughout or has shades of tan, brown, black, blue, white or red
Diameter — suspicious moles are larger than the eraser on a pencil
Evolving — moles that change in size, shape, or color need to be evaluated

Mole removal
Your dermatologist may recommend removing the entire mole or just taking a small sample of the mole to examine under a microscope, called a biopsy.

If the mole is found to be cancerous, your dermatologist will remove the entire mole and check the margins of the skin around the mole to make sure everything has been taken out. The small wound area will then be closed with a stitch for quick healing and minimal scarring.

 

Rosacea Treatment

While this condition has no cure, we offer topical treatments, oral medications, and in-office procedures to reduce symptoms.

Rosacea is a common disorder of the facial skin that affects millions of people. We understand it can be concerning to our patients and affect their appearance and self-confidence. While we don’t yet know the cause or have a cure, we do have treatments to help control the symptoms.

Rosacea gives patients a red-faced, acne-like appearance. Symptoms include redness on your cheeks, nose, chin and forehead, small visible blood vessels on your face, bumps or pimples on your face and irritated eyes.

Treatment options
Rosacea can be effectively managed using skin cleansers, topical treatments and oral medication. We also offer in-office procedures, such as intense pulsed light treatments and photorejuvenation.

It’s also helpful to know rosacea triggers and avoid them as much as possible. The key to managing rosacea could be as simple as limiting these triggers:

• Sun, wind, hot or cold weather
• Stress and anxiety
• Saunas and hot baths
• Heavy exercise
• Alcohol
• Hot drinks and spicy foods
• Certain skin care products and fragrances
• Rubbing alcohol, witch hazel, or topical products that sting

 

Skin Tags

These pesky bits of skin can be removed in a few minutes with easy in-office procedures.

A skin tag is a small bit of skin that protrudes from the surrounding area. This is a common, benign condition that can occur almost anywhere on your body.

Skin tags vary in appearance, from smooth or irregular, flesh colored or deeply pigmented, raised above the skin or hanging by a small piece of skin called a stalk.

Skin tags are more prevalent in women than men and become more common with age. They are most commonly found on the eyelids, neck, armpits, upper chest and groin.

Skin tag treatment
Skin tags typically don’t cause symptoms, but they can become irritated, especially if they are rubbed by clothing.

Treatment options that can be done in minutes, right in our office include freezing the skin tag with liquid nitrogen which causes the skin tag to fall off or cutting off with a scalpel.

Whether the skin tag is irritated, or you want it removed for cosmetic reasons, we are happy to help you feel more comfortable in your skin.

 

Melasma Treatment

We have several treatment options to reduce the appearance of brown facial patches caused by this chronic condition.

Melasma is a chronic complexion condition that causes brown patches to appear on your face.

This condition primarily affects women and is often triggered by a hormonal change such as pregnancy, menopause, oral contraceptives. Sun exposure and certain medications can cause recurrence of melasma over time.

Reduce the appearance of melasma
The best thing you can do for your face is to protect it from the sun. Wear sunblock with at least 30 SPF as well as zinc oxide and reapply every two hours. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and large sunglasses and try to avoid the sun during peak hours.

We also offer several treatments in our office to reduce the physical appearance of melasma.

• Microdermabrasion
• Dermapen®
• Fraxel ® laser resurfacing
• Customized chemical peels

 

Wart Removal

Whether removal is for medical or cosmetic reasons, we have options to get rid of warts quickly and easily.

Warts are small, often painless growths consisting of thick layers of skin. Warts are caused by a virus and can spread from one part of your body to another, and from person to person. They typically appear raised, round or oval-shaped and with a rough surface.

Treatment options
We are able to remove your warts if they are painful or you don’t like how they look. We have several removal options including:

• Cryosurgery
• Curettage
• Electrosurgery
• Chemical injections
• Topical ointments

 

To schedule an appointment, call us at 321.361.5606.