Patients

Scabies (from the Latin, scabere, which means “to scratch”) is one of the most common skin conditions in the world. At any given time, over 100 million people throughout the world have scabies. It is caused by a very tiny mite which burrows in the skin. It is easily contagious with skin to skin contact.…

Nummular Dermatitis (which is sometimes called “Eczema”) is a term that describes a constellation of findings that is quite variable (in appearance, age of onset, symptoms etc.) but is very common. It is one of the most frequently made diagnoses in all of dermatology. Nummular Dermatitis can occur at any age, but it more frequently…

Mohs Micrographic Surgery is a specialized surgical technique where skin cancer is precisely removed, and the tissue is processed in the same office to insure that all of the cancer has been eliminated. The procedure is so named in honor of Dr. Frederic Moh, the surgeon who developed the procedure. The Mohs procedure is not…

Sun damage is a major problem in the U.S. Skin cancer (including Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Melanoma) is becoming more prevalent every year. Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common type of cancer in the world. There are also a variety of non-cancerous lesions that are sun induced and other inflammatory disorders…

Hand Dermatitis is a descriptive term that includes any number of entities that result in a recurrent tendency for the hands to become irritated, itchy, scaly and/or generally inflamed. Sometimes the feet can be involved as well. Hand Dermatitis is a very common problem. It is quite frustrating and can be tricky to treat at…

Spontaneous ecchymosis (also called ‘actinic purpura’) is extremely common. It occurs primarily on the forearms and hands but can also occur on the legs. Basically, tiny vessels rupture in the skin and leave black, purple and/or red patches. The patches can easily tear. Though the process is similar to “bruising”, this occurs in the skin…

Acne is a common skin problem. It occurs most often in people between ages 10 and 30, but it can affect persons of any age. Acne is caused by a complex combination of factors. These include hormones, bacteria and an individual’s genetic tendency to have blocked pores. For the most part, having acne has very…

Methotrexate (MTX) is a commonly used drug in dermatology and other medical fields. It affects the immune system in ways to help fight against inflammation in the body. In high doses, it can be used for chemotherapy, but it is used in very low doses for various types of arthritis, psoriasis, urticarial (hives), Grover’s disease…

Psoriasis is a common skin problem that affects 2% of the population. Although some answers have been found, the specific cause for psoriasis isn’t completely understood. Psoriasis is definitely not contagious. In some instances, a hereditary pattern can be seen in families, but most of the time, this is not the case. Psoriasis is not…

Dry Skin (or Xerosis) can be a significant problem for many people. This is especially true during the cool parts of the year or during times when temperatures fluctuate. Dry Skin can cause itching and irritation, and if it is bad enough, it can predispose some people to skin infections. For these and other reasons,…