Common Conditions
Whether it's the health of the skin or the appearance, the dermatologic team at Premier Dermatology diagnoses and treats all conditions of the skin, all over the body.
Acne
Acne is the term for plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples, and even deeper lumps (cysts or nodules) that occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and even the upper arms. Acne affects most teenagers to some degree. However, the disease is not restricted to a particular age group; adults in their 20s - even into their 40s - can get acne. While not a life threatening condition, acne can be upsetting and disfiguring. Severe acne can lead to serious and permanent scarring. Premier dermatologists recommend teenagers be evaluated at the first sign of acne in order to prevent scarring.
Angioma
There are many different types of angiomas. An angioma is a benign growth that consists of small blood vessels. These tumors can be located anywhere on the body. Some of the different types include spider angiomas and cherry angiomas. The cause of most types of angiomas is not known. Cherry angiomas are due to aging and do not have any known significance. Spider angiomas are more common in childhood and during pregnancy, and a few can appear on anyone. When present in large numbers, they may warn of liver damage.
Cysts
Cysts are closed sacs found within the body. Location and the composition of the membrane lining differentiates cysts from one another. There are three types of cysts found in the skin that are considered common. These include the epidermal (sebaceous) cyst, trichilemmal (pilar) cyst, and milium. There are also less common cysts.
Eczema
Eczema is a general term encompassing various inflamed skin conditions. One of the most common forms of eczema is atopic dermatitis (or "atopic eczema"). Approximately 10 percent to 20 percent of the world population is affected by this chronic, relapsing, and very itchy rash at some point during childhood. Fortunately, many children with eczema find that the disease clears and often disappears with age.
Hemangioma
A hemangioma (he-man-jee-O-muh) is a bright red birthmark that shows up at birth or in the first or second week of life. It looks like a rubbery bump and is made up of extra blood vessels in the skin.
A hemangioma can occur anywhere on the body, but most commonly appears on the face, scalp, chest or back. Treatment for a baby's hemangioma (infantile hemangioma) usually isn't needed as it fades over time. A child who has this condition during infancy usually has little visible trace of the growth by age 10. You may want to consider treatment if a hemangioma interferes with seeing, breathing or other functions.
Molluscum
Molluscum Contagiosum is a common skin condition caused by a poxvirus that infects only the skin. The virus enters the skin through small breaks in the skin barrier. After an incubation period, growths can appear anywhere on the skin. As the name indicates, molluscum is contagious and is spead by direct skin to skin contact. Children, whose immunity is not as well developed as adults, are most often affected by mollescum.
Nail Changes
Nails reflect our overall health, which is why proper nail care is so important. If your nails change, swell, or cause pain, see your dermatologist because these can be signs of serious nail problems. If you have diabetes or poor circulation, it’s especially important to seek treatment for any nail problems.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis (suh-rye-ah-sis) is a condition that causes the body to make new skin cells in days rather than weeks. As these cells pile up on the surface of the skin, you may see thick, scaly patches.
Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis. Those thick, scaly patches that develop on the skin are called plaques (placks). About 80-90% of people living with psoriasis get plaque psoriasis. When someone has plaque psoriasis, you'll often see raised patches coated with a silvery-white scale.
Warts
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.
Seborrheic Keratosis
Seborrheic keratosis (seb-o-REE-ik care-uh-TOE-sis) is a common skin growth. It may seem worrisome because it can look like a wart, pre-cancerous skin growth (actinic keratosis), or skin cancer. Despite their appearance, seborrheic keratoses are harmless.
Most people get these growths when they are middle-aged or older. Because they begin at a later age and can have a wart-like appearance, seborrheic keratoses are often called the “barnacles of aging.” It’s possible to have just one of these growths, but most people develop several. Some growths may have a warty surface while others look like dabs of warm, brown candle wax on the skin. Seborrheic keratoses (or SKs) range in color from white to black; however, most are tan or brown. You can find these harmless growths anywhere on the skin, except the palms and soles. Most often, you’ll see them on the chest, back, head, or neck.
Excessive Sweating
Sweating is the body's natural way of staying cool, but for some people excessive sweating - or Hyperhidrosis - can be a life-altering condition. It can disrupt all aspects of a person's life, from career choices and recreational activities to relationships, emotional well-being, and self-image.
Hyperhidrosis is a true medical condition affecting about 3% of the population, although many people go undiagnosed. The condition most commonly presents itself on the hands, feet, underarms, head and face. There is good news for people suffering from hyperhidrosis.
Sun Damage
When sunlight hits your skin, it damages healthy cells. Without sun protection, this damage can build up. In time, you see signs of sun damage like freckles, age spots, and wrinkles. Some people develop precancerous skin growths, skin cancer, or both.
Actinic Keratosis
Actinic keratoses (AKs) are so common today that treatment for these lesions ranks as one of the most frequent reasons that people consult a dermatologist. Most people simply want the lesion removed for cosmetic reasons and are unaware that they have developed a potentially serious skin condition that can progress to squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer that can spread.
Melanoma
Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is characterized by uncontrolled growth of pigment-producing cells. While it is less common than basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), melanoma is more dangerous because of its ability to spread to other organs more rapidly if it is not treated at an early stage.
Only 20-30% of melanomas are found in existing moles. While 70-80% of melanomas arise on normal-looking skin.
Skin Cancer
Cancer develops when DNA, the molecule found in cells that encodes genetic information, becomes damaged and the body cannot repair the damage. These damaged cells begin to grow and divide uncontrollably. When this occurs in the skin, skin cancer develops. As the damaged cells multiply, they form a tumor. Since skin cancer generally develops in the epidermis, the outermost layers of skin, a tumor is usually clearly visible. This makes most skin cancers detectable in the early stages.