Questions and Answers

General Skin Questions

What are the warning signs of skin cancer?
The best way to detect skin cancer on your own skin is by using the ABCD’s of melanoma for the majority of lesions/moles.

• A – Asymmetry: One half of the mole doesn’t match the other half.
• B – Border Irregularity: The border is jagged or irregular, rather than smooth and even.
• C – Color: Moles dark in color with black, blue, white or red areas, or variable shades of brown, are suspicious for melanoma.
• D – Diameter: If greater than 6 mm (about the size of a pea) there is a greater chance of malignant melanoma.
• E - Evolving: A mole or skin lesion that looks different from the rest or is changing in size, shape, or color.

Also, sites on your skin that itch, scale or bleed could be signs of possible skin cancer. No matter the signs, the only way to accurately tell if a mole is cancerous is by having a physician perform a biopsy, which is the removal of a small amount of skin tissue used for laboratory testing.

I have a white flaky, itchy substance that is appearing on my skin, what is it?
This could be as simple as Seborrheic Dermatitis (another term for dandruff) or it could be a skin disease known as psoriasis, which causes your skin to become inflamed, producing red, thickened patches with silvery scales, often called plaques.

What is Psoriasis ?
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that affects up to 3% of Americans. The severity of the rash can range--affecting only a small portion of the body in most to covering large amounts of the body in others. It can also affect the joints and nails. Although most cases are mild, if not controlled it can be associated with a decrease in qualilty of life. It can be treated through various topical, light, and systemic therapies.

I hear a lot about new laser treatments for permanent hair removal. How effective and safe are those treatments?
Most of the treatments are both highly effective and safe for all skin types, even type IV skin. The outcome is usually significant and you can achieve a 75-90% reduction in total hair. All laser hair removal systems require anywhere from 4-8 treatments for maximum results.  
 
I’m interested in getting a cosmetic procedure to smooth my wrinkles but don’t have a lot of time. What is the most effective treatment that can be done quickly with the least amount of down time?
A highly effective way to reduce wrinkles in the eye and forehead area is the use of Botox® injections. Botox® works by decreasing the muscle function and thus decreases the ability to wrinkle, frown or squint. These injections are fast and effective, can be performed with little to no down time and results appear within 2 to 5 days. There are many other procedures which smooth and soften wrinkles, such as laser treatments, chemical peels, and Restylane® treatments. While these procedures are also safe and effective, many of these require multiple treatments for ultimate results.