Adult Dermatology

Psoriasis

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 seven million people in the US are affected by the “heartbreak” of psoriasis, including men, women and children of all ages. In addition to skin problems, many also experience joint disease and other health complications.

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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Atopic Dermatitis(Eczema)

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disorder characterized by a recurrent, itchy, widespread rash that typically begins during childhood. About 15 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 environmental triggers such as hot water, fragrance, harsh soaps and cleansers; use of moisturizing lotions or creams; cool compresses and corticosteroid creams and ointments. If this proves insufficient, physicians may prescribe stronger corticosteroid ointments or other topicals, antibiotics to combat infection, or antihistamines to control itching. More severe eczema may require a combination approach, sometimes incorporating phototherapy and/or oral 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.
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Acne

[Psoriasis Treatment | Eczema Treatment | Acne Treatment | Danbury | Ridgefield | Southbury] Most individuals have battled acne eruptions at some point in their lives. For a lucky few, over-the-counter preparations such as benzoyl peroxide 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 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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Rosacea

Rosacea is an acne-like condition that 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 is often associated with acne-like eruptions, but without the ‘whiteheads’ and ‘blackheads’ that we normally associate with teenage acne. Rosacea may also affect your eyes, requiring referral to an ophthalmologist. Treatment may require a combination of topical medications, oral antibiotics, and laser therapy. Common rosacea triggers include: sun exposure, stress, alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods, 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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Skin Cancer and Actinic Keratoses

Actinic keratoses (AKs) are common pre-cancerous skin lesion that typically present as red, rough or gritty spots on sun exposed areas such as the face, ears and tops of the hands. AK risk factors include light skin and a history of heavy sun exposure, which may have occurred decades earlier. 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 creams, or a cutting edge office procedure called topical photodynamic therapy.

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. Risk factors include pale skin, family history of melanoma, being over 40 years old, and regular sun exposure. Fortunately, skin cancer is almost always curable if detected and treated early.

The most common skin cancers are:

  • Basal cell carcinoma – Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer. It occurs in the bottom layer of cells in the epidermis. 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), like BCC, also arises from skin cells called keratinocytes. This type of cancer is almost always caused by over-exposure to the sun, although it can also occur on areas of the body that have been burned, repeatedly exposed to x-rays or to harsh chemicals. SCCs carry an intermediate risk and may spread to lymph nodes and other organs if left untreated.
  • Melanoma – Melanoma occurs in melanocytes, which are cells that provide color to our skin. This type of cancer is rare but very dangerous because it carries 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

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. Early intervention is essential to preventing the cancer from spreading. Every day during routine screening exams, we discover skin cancers that our patients didn’t come in for and never knew existed.
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Fungal Skin Infections

[Hair Loss Treatment | Skin Allergy Treatment | Danbury | Ridgefield | Soutbury] 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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Dermatitis (InflamedSkin)

Dermatitis is a common condition that can develop as a result of many different skin diseases including atopic dermatitis (eczema), psoriasis, allergic skin reactions or 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, hot showers or baths. 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
  • Stasis dermatitis (associated with varicose veins)
  • Diaper Dermatitis

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Pruritus (ItchySkin)

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 unknown, 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, bedbugs or scabies. A wide range of conditions may cause itching in different areas.

The symptoms of pruritus include itching and discomfort. Dry itchy skin may be just that, or it may be a symptom of other, more serious problems. The only way to be certain is to consult a physician who knows and understands your skin. We have many types of treatments for itchy skin, most of which are not found as over-the-counter preparations. As with all skin conditions, effective treatment requires proper identification of the underlying causes.
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Seborrheic Keratosis

[Hair Loss Treatment | Skin Allergy Treatment | Danbury | Ridgefield | Soutbury] Seborrheic keratoses (SK) are common, harmless warty growths that appear on the skin of adults, especially the elderly. Their exact cause is unknown but tends to be hereditary. While SKs pose no health risk, individual lesions may become irritated, sometimes crusting and bleeding. SKs typically appear on the head, neck, or trunk; are usually round or oval shaped; and vary in color from pink to brown or even black. In some cases, SKs may itch. Medical attention may be necessary if numerous SKs develop in a short period of time, the SKs interfere with clothing, or other abnormal skin changes occur.

In some cases, our dermatologists may recommend a skin biopsy to rule out a skin cancer. Removal of an SK may also be recommended if it bleeds or becomes symptomatic. If removal is requested for cosmetic purposes, this may be achieved through cryosurgery, curettage, or electrocautery, however such elective treatment may not be covered by insurance.
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Alopecia (HairLoss)

Alopecia, or hair loss, is a common condition potentially caused by a number of reasons. Hair loss may be a natural process such as androgenetic (male pattern) baldness, a side effect of medication or a sign of an underlying health condition. It can result in total baldness, patchy bald spots or thinning of the hair, and may be confined to the scalp or affect other areas of the body. This problem exists in both males and females, and may be genetic in some cases.

Alopecia areata (AA) is a distressing type of sudden-onset hair loss that affects both children and adults. In AA, patients often develop round patches of hair loss or more diffuse thinning, sometimes associated with stress or autoimmune disorders such as thyroid disease. 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.

Treatment for hair loss is based on the underlying cause and may include stopping or changing a medication, addressing an underlying medical condition such as anemia or thyroid disease, treating infections, drug therapy or hair transplantation. Since some causes of hair loss are complex and hard to pin down, a thorough work-up often requires more than one visit.
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Patch Testing for Skin Allergies

Patch testing is used to determine the cause of contact dermatitis, a type of skin rash caused by 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 chemicals onto the skin of the back. The chemicals are contained in tiny metal wells and secured to the skin with tape for 48 hours. After being removed, the area is examined for signs of a reaction. A second reading is done at 96 hours to check for any delayed reactions. 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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Advanced DermCare

Office Hours

Monday:

8:00 am-4:30 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-4:30 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-4:30 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-4:30 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-4:30 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed