Acne refers to a condition of plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples (small inflamed area) and even deeper, larger lumps (cysts or nodules). Acne is a common condition that affects most teenagers to some degree, many young adults and can continue or even start in adulthood. Hormones which are present in both males and females, and especially increased during adolescence, stimulate the sebaceous (oil) glands of the skin to enlarge, produce oil, and plug the pores. Although not life threatening, acne can be very upsetting and even disfiguring, leaving behind scars in some cases.

Scars result because the skin and underlying tissues have been damaged and/or healing has been compromised. The more the skin is damaged or the longer it takes to heal, the worse the scar may be. The goal of any acne treatment plan is aimed not only preventing further acne breakouts, but also to limit the severity of the patient’s acne and to decrease the occurrence of scarring. Your dermatology practitioner can treat acne scars by a variety of methods. Skin resurfacing with certain lasers, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, or specific surgery can flatten some scars. Collagen or other filling products can elevate other types of scars. Surgical scar revision techniques can correct pitted scars, and combinations of these dermatologic treatments can make noticeable differences in appearance.

These are frequently called "liver spots" by some or “sun freckles” by others. Often these are the flat, brownish areas usually found on the face, hands, feet, or other chronically sun exposed areas. Even though they are associated with aging, chronic sun exposure is a major cause. They can usually be easily lessened or removed by your dermatology practitioner through fading creams, liquid nitrogen therapy or cosmetic procedures such as laser, pulsed light, chemical peels or microdermabrasion.

In very general terms, a cyst is a closed sac having a distinct membrane and developing abnormally in a body cavity or structure (such as an oil gland) which has filled with a particular form of matter. Cysts can be found on any part of the body. Often these need to be treated medically as certain cysts can become infected and require antibiotics, or they may need to be surgically opened and drained and the sac removed to prevent the reoccurrence.

Generally, dermatitis (sometimes called eczema by patients) refers to inflammation of the skin. There are several types of dermatitis and each occurs from different causes and is present with different appearances, symptoms and treatment options. Any inflammation of the skin needs to be evaluated for appropriate treatment needs.

The term Eczema (often called dermatitis by some patients) is used to describe various kinds of inflamed skin conditions including allergic contact dermatitis and nummular dermatitis. Eczema can have symptoms including redness, blistering or oozing sores, and scaly, brownish, or thickened skin and usually itches quite a bit. It affects millions of people including infants and children. Topical medications can be quite helpful in controlling the symptoms.

A chronic medical disorder that results in excessive sweating most often of the under arm area, hands and/or feet. In severe cases, the condition can impact people’s daily work and social activities. Treatments are available and effective for most cases and range from topical over the counter and prescription medications, oral medications, BOTOX® injections and surgical intervention.

An inflammation or irritation and possible infection of the hair follicle, which is the tiny pocket from which each hair grows. Most infections are superficial and although they may itch, in most cases they're seldom painful. In a very few situations, superficial folliculitis can clears by itself in a few days, but deep or recurring folliculitis may need medical treatment. Always be on the look-out for signs and symptoms of infection such as redness or a ‘warm to the touch’ feeling of the area, pain, drainage or swelling.

A skin condition that often shows up as brown patches or patches of hyperpigmentation on the face of adults. The most common sites of involvement are the cheeks, bridge of nose, forehead, and upper lip. Melasma occurs mostly in women. Its exact cause is unknown but is often associated with hormonal changes such as pregnancy or usage of birth control pills or hormone pills.

Everyone has moles (also known as "nevi"). Moles can appear anywhere on the skin, alone or in groups. They are usually brown in color but moles have a wide range of appearance and can be various sizes and shapes. Most appear during the first 20 years of a person's life, although some may not appear until later in life. Sun exposure increases the number of moles. Everyone should perform monthly self examinations, looking at all their moles and determining if any have changed. ANY CHANGES IN A MOLE OR OTHER SKIN LESION SHOULD BE EVALUATED BY YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER. It is also very important to remember the A-B-C-D’s of mole evaluation as the presence of one or more of these could indicate a serious medical problem:

A stands for ASYMMETRY, when one half of the mole doesn't match the other half.
B stands for BORDER, when the border or edges of the mole are irregular, ragged, blurred.
C stands for COLOR, when the color of the mole is not the same throughout or if it has shades of tan, brown, black, red, white or blue.
D stands for DIAMETER, when the diameter of a mole is larger than 6mm, about the size of a pencil eraser.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that is usually characterized by thickened, red areas of skin covered with silvery scales. The extent of skin involvement can range from very mild in just a few areas to almost full body involvement. The joints, nails, and mucous membranes may also be affected. Psoriasis is not contagious and cannot be passed from one person to another, but it is common for it to occur in members of the same family. There is no known cure but symptoms can be fairly well controlled in most cases. There are many treatment therapies available ranging from topical creams to oral and injectable medications to UVB and laser light therapy. With the advancements in treatments in recent years, Dermatologists can help even the most severe cases.

Poison ivy and poison oak are among the most common causes of allergic reactions in the United States. A poison plant rash is an allergic contact dermatitis caused by contact with plant oil called urushiol, which is found in the sap of poisonous plants like poison ivy and poison oak. Contact with urushiol can occur in three ways: direct contact, indirect contact and airborne contact. Sensitivity develops after the first skin contact with urushiol oil. An allergic reaction seldom occurs on the first exposure. A second encounter can produce a reaction which may be severe. Treatment of the symptoms can usually be accomplished with over-the-counter and prescription strength medications. New medications/vaccines are available for some patients for yearly prevention.

A rash is basically defined as an eruption on the body typically with little or no elevation above the surface. There are many causes of rashes and the rash is often a symptom of other specific conditions. All rashes should be evaluated if bothersome, symptomatic, last longer than a few hours or is recurrent. Emergency care is necessary if a rash is present with any alteration in breathing, difficulty catching your breath, difficulty swallowing or change in orientation/consciousness.

Ringworm is a fungal infection that develops on the top layer of your skin and refers to any one of several contagious diseases of the skin, hair, or nails. It's characterized by an itchy, red circle of rash often with healthy looking skin in the middle, but at times it can also have small blisters or fluid filled sacs and scales present. Ringworm is called also tinea. Treatment is based on the location of the infection and the severity.

A chronic inflammatory condition involving especially the skin of the nose, forehead, and cheeks. It is characterized by skin congestion (small red, pus-filled bumps or pustules), flushing or blushing, the development or more noticeable small facial blood vessels (telangiectasia), and in the late stages of the condition, marked nodular swelling of tissues especially of the nose. Also called or referred to as acne rosacea. After an accurate diagnosis by your dermatology healthcare professional, many effective treatments are available.

Scabies is a very itchy skin condition caused by a tiny, burrowing mite. The presence of the mite leads to intense itching in the area of its burrows. The discomfort of scabies can produce an almost irresistible urge to scratch, especially while in bed at night. Scabies is contagious and can spread quickly through close physical contact. The condition can strike anyone of any race or age, and regardless of personal hygiene. Because of the contagious nature, healthcare practitioners often recommend treatment for entire families or contact groups to eliminate the mite. Medications applied to your skin kill the mites, although one may still experience some itching for several weeks.

Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is a viral infection caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. Anyone who has had chicken pox can develop shingles. The virus remains inactive in certain nerve cells of the body, and when it reactivates it causes zoster. It is not known for sure what causes the virus to reactivate in some people, but stress, illness, trauma, and a weakened immune system have all been suspect. At first, 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. A fever or headache may also be present. The rash soon turns into groups of blisters which generally last for two to three weeks. The blisters start out clear but then begin to look yellow or bloody before they crust over (scab) and disappear. It is unusual to have pain without blisters, or blisters without pain. Shingles is much less contagious than chicken pox. Treatment is more effective the earlier it is begun. About 20 percent of those people who have had chicken pox will get shingles. Most people get shingles only once.

Skin cancer is the most common of all types of cancers. It is estimated that more than one million Americans develop skin cancer every year. There are three main forms of skin cancer -- Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Melanoma. Basal Cell and Squamous Cell cancers are curable. Melanoma is also completely curable when detected early, but can be and most often is fatal if allowed to progress and spread. If a skin biopsy reveals cancer, the dermatologist has a wide range of medical and surgical procedures to use for treatment, depending upon the type of cancer, its location, and the needs of the individual.  It is important to develop a regular routine to inspect your body for any skin changes. If a growth, mole, sore, or skin discoloration appears suddenly, or begins to change, see a dermatologist. It is wise to have an annual skin examination by a dermatologist, especially for adults with significant past sun exposure or a family history of skin cancer.

A skin lesion is defined as any growth on the surface of the skin. Skin growths and pigmented spots become more common as we age. There are many different types of lesions or spots. They may range from harmless spots to skin cancers that require treatment. Most are caused by years of sun exposure. Any new growth or a change in any existing growth, lesion or mole needs to be evaluated by your dermatologist or other healthcare profession for possible biopsy and treatment.

Skin tags are small, soft, usually flesh-colored growths that protrude from your skin. They usually appear to sit up on a “stalk” of skin. They most generally don’t cause any problems, unless they become irritated from clothing, jewelry or activities such as shaving. These are easily assessed and removed by the dermatology practitioner.

Infections on or of the skin are often easy to diagnose and treat. They can result from multiple conditions and range from mild to very severe. All areas showing signs or symptoms of infection must be evaluated for appropriate treatment. Signs of skin infection can include redness, warmth to the touch, swelling, pain at the area, and drainage.

Spider veins are small enlarged superficial blood vessels that appear red or blue, commonly occurring on the legs, but can occur on face or elsewhere. These dilated blood vessels may be short, unconnected lines each about the size of a large hair or can be connected in a matted, "sunburst" pattern. Sometimes, they occur in a small area and aren't very noticeable, or they can cover a large area of skin and be quite unattractive. Many methods of treatment are available ranging from laser therapies to injectable sclerosing medications.

Damage to the skin from the sun or UVA-UVB rays can result in acute short-term or long-term chronic damage. Acute overexposure to sunlight can result in painful, red, blistering, sunburned skin. A bad burn can cause serious consequences such as skin cancer later in life. Long-term overexposure can cause wrinkles, freckles, age spots, dilated blood vessels, changes in the texture of the skin that make skin look older, and the development of skin cancers.

Excess facial or body hair can be a nagging cosmetic concern for men and women. There have been many advances in hair removal including lasers and intense pulse light (IPL) treatments. The number of hair removal treatments required for optimal long-term benefits usually depends on the area to be treated, the hair density, and the patient’s hair growth cycle. Hair grows in cycles and many factors influence its growth. Laser treatments are usually repeated every four to six weeks during treatment and then on an as needed basis. A typical laser hair removal patient may experience brief swelling and redness following the procedure. Your dermatology practitioner or skin care therapist can discuss all aspects of the treatment and post procedure care at your appointment.

Essentially varicose veins are blood vessels caused by a weakening in the vein’s wall causing a backward flow of blood in the legs aided by the damaged or diseased valves in the veins. These are abnormally swollen and/or enlarged dilated larger blood vessels most often in the legs, and are often raised above the skin surface. They can occur alone or may occur along with spider veins. Patients frequently have pain in the affected area that ranges from dull and throbbing to a burning sensation, and can experience swelling as well. The larger vessels are more likely to cause discomfort, although smaller blue veins have been shown to cause pain also. Many treatment options are available and your dermatology practitioner can discuss this in detail with you based on the assessment and severity of your condition.

Warts are growths caused by a virus that commonly involves the skin. Warts are generally classified by their clinical features or by location, and there are several different kinds of warts. Although warts are passed from person to person, sometimes indirectly, the risk is quite small. From the time of exposure to the development of a wart can a few weeks to several months. Patients with a weakened immune system seem to be more prone to a wart forming. Some people get warts depending on how often they are exposed to the virus. Multiple treatment options are available from freezing with liquid nitrogen to multiple prescription acid application to surgical or laser removal. The treatment recommend for you will be based on the size, location and number of warts.

As our skin ages, the collagen and elastin fibers that keep the skin firm weaken. The skin looks loose, becomes thinner, and loses its underlying fat, so that it looks less plump and less smooth. While all these changes are taking place, gravity is also at work, pulling at the skin and causing it to sag. The sun is the major cause of unwanted changes in the skin with aging, and depends largely on how much sun you have been exposed to in your lifetime. Cigarette smoking and heredity also play an important role in the development of wrinkles and creases. Many treatments, including some newer, very promising therapies are available. All are aimed to varying degrees in smoothing the texture, increasing the tone, increasing collagen production or elasin ability, plumping the underlying tissues, evening out the skin tone or color, decreasing or eliminating the visible lesions of sun damage, and relaxing of the muscles that cause expressional wrinkles are now available. Laser, Intense Pulsed Light procedures and chemical peels are even more aggressive treatments. Be sure to discuss what options are best for your skin needs with your dermatologist.