Adult Dermatology
Adult Dermatology focuses on the treatment of conditions of the skin, hair, and nails in adults. Skin problems can be associated with internal medical issues or have genetic predispositions. They can also arise from external factors such as infections, environmental exposures, and sun damage.
Examples of common adult skin conditions include:
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Most individuals have experienced acne eruptions at some point in their lives. For a lucky few, over-the-counter preparations take care of the problem. However, those with more severe forms of acne need the help of a specialist. Not all acne is equal. What works for a teenager may not work for an adult woman. At Advanced DermCare, our skin care experts specialize in the evaluation and treatment of all types of acne. We begin by counseling our patients on proper diets and routine skin care to integrate a holistic approach to treating acne. We also offer a comprehensive menu of cutting edge options, including topical and oral prescription medications, blue light therapy, photodynamic therapy, chemical peels, and laser treatment for acne scarring. By creating a regimen tailor-made for your skin, we strive to keep you acne -free while avoiding unwanted side effects such as redness, flaking and skin irritation.
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Hair loss may be a natural process such as androgenetic alopecia (male and female pattern), a side effect of medication, a temporary reaction to surgery, pregnancy or illness, or a sign of an underlying health condition such as thyroid imbalance, anemia, or nutritional deficiencies. Hair shedding may occur when the scalp is inflamed with a variety of conditions such as psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis or autoimmune conditions. Treatment for hair loss is based first on the identifying underlying cause. Since some causes of hair loss are complex and hard to pin down, a thorough work-up often requires more than one visit.
Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune cause of hair loss that affects both children and adults. In AA, patients often develop distinct round patches of hair loss that can infrequently advance to more diffuse thinning. Fortunately, complete hair re-growth can be achieved in many cases, usually with a combination of simple treatments such as local corticosteroid injections and/or cream application and newly approved, innovative oral medications.
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Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disorder characterized by a recurrent, itchy, widespread rash that typically begins during childhood. Almost 32 million people in the U.S. suffer from some form of eczema, including 10-20 percent of all infants. Symptoms vary from person to person but often include dry, red, itchy patches on the skin which become exacerbated by constant scratching.
Treatment involves the avoidance of triggers such as hot water, harsh soaps and cleansers, and environmental allergens. Symptoms can be relieved by the liberal use of moisturizers, cool compresses and corticosteroid creams and ointments. If this proves insufficient, physicians may prescribe stronger corticosteroid ointments or other newer non-steroid anti-inflammatory topicals, antibiotics to combat infection, or antihistamines to control itching. More severe eczema may require a combination approach, sometimes incorporating phototherapy and/or oral or injectable medications. Your Advanced DermCare team will work with you to design a skin care regimen that both clears your eczema and keeps it from flaring in the future. With newer treatments that are now available, no patient should have to suffer with atopic dermatitis.
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Dermatitis can develop as a result of many different skin diseases including atopic dermatitis (eczema), psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, allergic skin reactions or irritation from environmental factors such as cold weather, hot showers, harsh soaps and sun exposure. Patients with dermatitis experience skin that feels rough, tight and may be itchy or red. For most, this is only a temporary problem and can be managed through simple changes in the daily skin care routine, including using moisturizers and avoiding harsh cleansers or over-washing. For more severe cases, prescription creams and ointments may be recommended to stop inflammation.
Some common types of dermatitis that we treat include:
Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)
Contact Dermatitis
Asteatotic dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis
Stasis dermatitis (associated with varicose veins)
Diaper Dermatitis
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Fungal infections are common skin conditions that may cause redness, itching, burning and scaling. They can also cause blisters or peeling. Fungus can grow anywhere on the body, but tends to develop in warm, moist areas such as the feet, groin and armpit area. Common types of fungal infections include tinea pedis (athlete’s foot), tinea cruris (jock itch), tinea corporis (ringworm), onychomycosis (toenail fungus), tinea versicolor and yeast infections.
Fungal infections can usually be treated successfully with antifungal topical or oral medications. They are not usually serious, but may be contagious or create an entry point for more dangerous skin infections, so treatment is important. Keeping the body clean, changing socks and underwear every day, and keeping skin folds dry can help prevent fungal infections.
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Patch testing is used to determine the cause of skin rashes that occur after direct contact with chemical triggers known as allergens. Common contact allergens include nickel, fragrance, preservatives, chemicals found in rubber, dyes and adhesives. Contact allergies may be widespread but are often localized to areas exposed to the offending chemical (e.g. ears for nickel, scalp and hairline for hair dye, eyelids for cosmetic products). At Advanced DermCare, we offer patch testing using one of the most comprehensive panels available in the Tri-state area. Patch testing does not check for food or inhaled allergies such as those that cause hives, lip or throat swelling, asthma or hay fever.
Patch testing is performed by placing several different allergens (usually over 80) onto the skin of the back which are secured with tape for 48 hours. After being removed, the area is subsequently examined for signs of a reaction 2-4 days later. Your ADC skin care expert will discuss the findings of this test, providing you with educational material to avoid any future contact with any relevant triggers.
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Pruritus is an unpleasant sensation that causes the urge to scratch the skin, and is often accompanied by other skin or underlying systemic diseases. The cause of the sensation is often difficult to identify, but involves nerves that respond to chemicals released in the skin. Pruritus typically occurs in patients with other skin conditions, such as eczema and urticaria (hives), as well as parasitic infections like lice, bed bugs or scabies. A wide range of internal conditions may also cause itching, burning, and discomfort and pruritus may sometimes be a sign of more serious problems. As with all skin conditions, effective treatment requires proper identification of the underlying causes. The only way to be certain is to consult a physician who knows and understands your skin.
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Psoriasis is a common, chronic inflammatory skin condition that involves overgrowth of skin cells called keratinocytes. These build up on the surface of the skin, especially in areas of friction such as the elbows, knees and scalp, forming red, scaling plaques. Over eight million people in the US are affected by psoriasis, and it can affect any age group from infancy to the elderly. In addition to skin problems, as many as 20-30% of psoriasis patients experience joint disease called psoriatic arthritis. Psoriasis has been found to be associated with other “comorbid” conditions such as heart disease, obesity, depression, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease, often requiring a multidisciplinary team approach to care.
While we still have no “cure” for psoriasis, new treatments offer the promise of clear skin, even to those with the most severe disease. Our physicians are experts in the care of psoriasis, keeping up to date with the cutting edge research that makes psoriasis one of the fastest moving areas of dermatology. Whether your ideal treatment plan involves creams or solutions applied to the affected areas, medications taken by mouth, light therapy, or more advanced injectable therapies, our skin care team will design your safest route to clear skin.
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Rosacea is an acne-like condition that typically affects the central face of adults. Depending on your type of rosacea, you may experience redness, flushing, a burning sensation, pimples, swelling, prominent blood vessels or thickening of the skin. Rosacea may also affect your eyes, sometimes necessitating co-management with an ophthalmologist. Treatment may require a combination of topical medications, oral antibiotics, and laser therapy. Common rosacea triggers include sun exposure, hot or spicy foods, stress, and the use of harsh facial cleansers or cosmetic products. Along with daily sunscreen application, elimination of these ‘triggers’ will help to reduce the frequency and severity of rosacea flares.
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Seborrheic keratoses (SK) are common, harmless warty growths that appear on the skin of adults, especially the elderly. More than 90% of adults aged 65 and older are believed to have at least one SK. Their exact cause is unknown but increased numbers of SKs tends to be hereditary. While SKs pose no health risk, individual lesions may become irritated, crust, or bleed. SKs typically appear as round or oval shaped, “stuck on” bumps anywhere on the body and vary in color from white, pink, brown or even black. Medical attention may be necessary if numerous SKs develop in a short period of time or the SKs become inflamed or interfere with clothing. Most SKs can be diagnosed by our experts visually, but if there is any doubt, biopsies may be performed to distinguish these benign lesions from skin cancer. If removal is requested for cosmetic purposes, this may be achieved through cryotherapy, curettage, or electrocautery, however such elective treatment may not be covered by insurance.
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Skin cancer refers to the abnormal, uncontrolled growth of skin cells. One in five people will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. In addition to a history of sun exposure, risk factors include fair skin, family history of melanoma, being over 40 years old, and having an impaired immune system. Skin cancers vary in shape, color, size and texture, so any new, changed or otherwise suspicious growths or rashes should be examined immediately by a physician. Fortunately, skin cancer is almost always curable if detected and treated early. Our experts at ADC perform comprehensive and thorough full body skin examinations to detect skin cancer at its earliest stages.
When our skin care experts suspect a skin cancer or unusual growth, they will sometimes perform a simple in-office procedure called a skin biopsy.
Advanced DermCare is proud to have an on-site, highly experienced Board Certified skin pathologist to assure the most accurate biopsy assessment. When it comes to evaluating your biopsy, nothing can replace having a pathologist who is specially trained and Board Certified in Dermatology, general Pathology, and Dermatopathology . We are one of the only private group practices in the region to offer this important service.
The most common skin cancers are:
Basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer and accounts for about 80% of all skin cancers. In the United States there are an estimated 3-4 million new cases of BCC per year. They usually appear as a small pink bump that grows slowly over time and can bleed easily. Left undetected BCCs can be destructive and disfiguring. Luckily, this type of skin cancer rarely spreads beyond the skin and can usually be completely removed if caught early enough.Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) arises from skin cells called keratinocytes. This type of cancer is almost always slow growing in areas of the body overly exposed to the sun, but 5 to 10 percent or cases can be more aggressive and grow more rapidly. Undetected SCC may rarely spread to lymph nodes and other organs if left untreated.Melanoma
Melanoma occurs in melanocytes, which are cells that provide color to our skin. They can occur in a preexisting mole that changes, or as a new growth that has is Asymmetric, has an irregular Border, has uneven Color, has a Diameter larger than a pencil eraser, or is rapidly Evolving. Melanomas are less common than BCC and SCC but are more concerning because they carry the highest risk of spread to lymph nodes and other organs. This means early detection is important – when the cancer is small and confined to the skin it is almost always completely curable through surgical removal.Actinic keratoses
AKs are common pre-cancerous skin lesion that typically present as red, rough or gritty spots on chronically sun exposed areas such as the face, ears and tops of the hands. Since some AKs will progress to skin cancers over time, treatment is necessary. Depending on the site, number and location or your AKs, we may recommend cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen, curettage, treatment with medicated creams, or photodynamic therapy performed in the office.Click here for more information
Repeated exposure to sunlight, especially ultraviolet light, can cause a variety of cosmetic and medical problems in our skin. These include skin cancers and pre-cancerous growths, telangiectasia (red or purple “broken capillaries”), uneven pigmentation, lines and wrinkles, thinning of skin, loss of skin elasticity. The damage our skin suffers from sunlight is cumulative and often gradual, so the effects appear as we age and worsen with time. Advanced Dermcare offers a vast array of cosmetic treatments to correct and rejuvenate sun damaged skin.