SKIN CONDITIONS

An AK forms when the skin is badly damaged by ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun or indoor tanning. Most people get more than one AK. When you have more than one AK, you have actinic keratoses, or AKs.

Left untreated, AKs may turn into a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. By seeing a dermatologist for checkups, the AKs can be treated before they become skin cancer. If skin cancer does develop, it can be caught early when treatment often cures skin cancer.

If you have questions or concerns about actinic keratosis, please contact us today!
Learn More By Visiting American Academy of Dermatology

A birthmark is pretty much what it sounds like: a mark that’s on your skin when you’re born. Some birthmarks show up soon after you’re born. Birthmarks come in different shapes, sizes and colors and can be anywhere on the skin. Some are so little and pale that you might not even notice them.

Other birthmarks are bigger and are purple, red, or black. You might notice these more, especially if they are on someone’s face. Birthmarks usually don’t hurt, and no one really knows what causes them. Some go away on their own, and others might stick around your whole life. If you have a birthmark that bothers you, talk to your mom or dad about it. You can ask them to take you to a skin doctor (dermatologist). The skin doctor can talk to you about your birthmark and decide if it needs to be treated or if you should just leave it alone.

Contact us today to help you with all your questions or concerns about birthmarks!
Learn More By Visiting American Academy of Dermatology

You or someone you know has probably had a cyst. In many cases, a person will have a cyst, not realize what it is, and then ignore it because it’s not bothering them at the moment. But this can turn a minor issue into a larger, chronic problem.

The most common type of cyst is a sebaceous cyst. Think of a cyst as a balloon with the opening at the top on the outside of the skin. The skin on the inside that lines the balloon is producing skin cells. Instead of those skin cells falling off into the atmosphere, the cells become trapped in the balloon. The balloon grows as it becomes filled with skin cells. The balloon may even rupture, which causes the cyst to become painful. Essentially, a cyst is a ball of skin cells that are trapped underneath the skin but can be treated by a specialist.

If you have further questions or concerns about cysts, please contact us at Fort Wayne Dermatology!

Eczema is a general term used to describe an inflammation of the skin. In fact, eczema is a series of chronic skin conditions that produce itchy rashes; scaly, dry, and leathery areas; skin redness; or inflammation around blisters. It can be located anywhere on the body, but most frequently appears in the creases on the face, arms, and legs. Itchiness is the key characteristic and symptom of eczema. When scratched, the lesions may begin to ooze and get crusted. Over time, painful cracks in the scaly, leathery tissue can form.

The cause of eczema remains unknown, but it usually has physical, environmental or lifestyle triggers. Encountering a trigger, such as wind or an allergy-producing fabric, launches the rash and inflammation. Although it is possible to get eczema only once, most cases are chronic and are characterized by intermittent flare-ups throughout a person’s life.

For mild cases, over-the-counter topical creams and antihistamines can relieve the itching. In persistent cases, a dermatologist will likely prescribe stronger medicine, such as steroid creams, oral steroids (corticosteroids), antibiotic pills or antifungal creams to treat any potential infection.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with your questions or concerns about eczema!

Herpes simplex is a common viral infection. If you’ve ever had a cold sore or fever blister, you picked up the herpes simplex virus. Most cold sores are caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Other names for cold sores caused by HSV-1 are oral herpes, mouth herpes, and/or herpes simplex labialis. A closely related herpes simplex virus, HSV-2, causes most cases of genital herpes.

Most people get HSV-1 as an infant or child spread by skin-to-skin contact with an adult who carries the virus. A person usually gets HSV-2 through sexual contact.

For treatment options and/or questions about herpes simplex virus, please contact us today.
Learn More by Visiting American Academy of Dermatology.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a disease that usually begins as pimple-like bumps on the skin. The pimple-like bumps tend to develop in places that everyday pimples do not appear. HS is most common on the underarms and groin. Some people say their HS looks like pimples, deep acne like cysts, folliculitis and/or boils. Getting treatment for HS is important. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent HS from worsening and scarring. It is best to see a dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis.

Contact us today to help you with all your hidradenitis suppurativa questions and/or needs!
Learn More by Visiting American Academy of Dermatology.

Hives are welts on the skin that often itch. These welts can appear on any part of the skin. Hives vary in size from as small as a pen tip to as large as a dinner plate. They may connect to form even larger welts. A hive often goes away in 24 hours or less. New hives may appear as old one’s fade, so hives may last for a few days or longer. A bout of hives usually lasts less than 6 weeks. These hives are called acute hives. If hives last more than 6 weeks, they are called chronic hives.

The most common signs of hives are slightly raised pink or red swellings, welts that occur alone or in a group, and/or they hurt or itch. If your hives causes your lips and eyelids to swell, you must go to the emergency room (this is called angioedema).

For treatment options and/or questions about hives, please contact us today!
Learn More by Visiting American Academy of Dermatology.

Impetigo (im-peh-tie-go) is a common skin infection, especially in children. It’s also highly contagious. Most people get impetigo through skin-to-skin contact with someone who has it. Children and athletes like wrestlers and football players often get it this way. Staph and strep cause most cases of impetigo. These bacteria cause impetigo by getting into the body. They can get in through a cut, scratch that barely breaks the skin, or bug bite. A rash, sore, or burn also provides a great entry point for the bacteria.

Thankfully, treatment can quickly cure impetigo. While it is highly contagious, impetigo is rarely serious, and it often clears on its own in a few weeks. Treatment, however, is recommended. By treating it, you reduce your risk of developing complications and spreading it to others.

Please contact us today with any questions or concerns about impetigo!
Learn More by Visiting American Academy of Dermatology.

Keratosis pilaris is a common skin condition, which appears as tiny bumps on the skin. Some people say these bumps make their skin look like plucked chicken skin. Others mistake the bumps for small pimples. These rough-feeling bumps are plugs of dead skin cells. The plugs appear most often on the upper arms and thighs (front). Children may have these bumps on their cheeks.

If the itch, dryness, or the appearance of keratosis pilaris bothers you, treatment can help. Dry skin can make these bumps more noticeable. In fact, many people say the bumps clear during the summer only to return in the winter. If you live in a dry climate or frequently swim in a pool, you may see these bumps year-round.

Keratosis most often appears on the upper arms, thighs, cheeks & buttocks on children, teens & adults. If you are experiencing keratosis, please reach out to us and try out KP Treatment kit!

Learn More by Visiting American Academy of Dermatology.

Moles are common. Almost every adult has a few moles. Adults who have light skin often have more moles. They may have 10 to 40 moles on their skin. This is normal.

You should not be overly worried about your moles. But you should know:

• A type of skin cancer, melanoma, can grow in or near a mole.
• Caught early and treated, melanoma can be cured.
• The first sign of melanoma is often a change to a mole — or a new mole on your skin.
• Checking your skin can help you find melanoma early. A dermatologist can show you how to examine your skin and tell you how often you should check your skin.

If you are concerned about a mole/s, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us today!
Learn More by Visiting American Academy of Dermatology.

Psoriasis is a skin condition that creates red patches of skin with white, flaky scales. It most commonly occurs on the elbows, knees, and trunk, but can appear anywhere on the body. The first episode usually strikes between the ages of 15 and 35. It is a chronic condition that will then cycle through flare-ups and remissions throughout the rest of the patient’s life. Psoriasis affects as many as 7.5 million people in the United States. About 20,000 children under age 10 have been diagnosed with psoriasis. This skin condition is genetic, but not contagious. Treatment for psoriasis does not cure it but aims to minimize the symptoms and speed up the healing process.

There are 5 distinct types of psoriasis: plaque psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, inverse psoriasis, pustular psoriasis & erythrodermic psoriasis. Psoriasis is classified as Mild to Moderate when it covers 3% to 10% of the body and Moderate to Severe when it covers more than 10% of the body. The severity of the disease impacts the choice of treatments. Some treatments include over-the-counter medications, prescription topical treatments, and light therapy/phototherapy.

Contact us today to help you with all your psoriasis questions and/or needs!

“Rash” is a general term for a wide variety of skin conditions. A rash refers to a change that affects the skin and usually appears as a red patch or small bumps or blisters on the skin. Most rashes are harmless and can be treated effectively with over-the-counter anti-itch creams, antihistamines, and moisturizing lotions. Rashes can be a symptom of other skin problems such as eczema, impetigo, ringworm, or shingles.

If you experience a rash that does not go away on its own after a few weeks, make an appointment to see one of our dermatologists to have it properly diagnosed and treated.

Ringworm is a skin infection caused by fungus. The name “ringworm” probably comes from the rash that many people see. On the skin, the rash often has a ring-shaped pattern and a raised, scaly border that snakes its way around the edge like a worm. Ringworm is quite common, and you have already had it if you had athlete’s foot, jock itch or scalp ringworm. This skin condition can appear on just about any part of your body.

No matter where ringworm appears on the body, treatment is important. Without treatment, the rash tends to grow slowly and cover a large area. Treatment can get rid of the ringworm and stop the itch, which can be intense. Because ringworm is contagious, treatment can also prevent you from spreading it to others.

Contact us today to help you with all your ringworm questions and/or needs!
Learn More by Visiting American Academy of Dermatology.

Rosacea (rose-AY-sha) is a common skin disease. It often begins with a tendency to blush or flush more easily than other people. The redness can slowly spread beyond the nose and cheeks to the forehead and chin. Even the ears, chest, and back can be red all the time. Rosacea can cause more than redness. There are so many signs and symptoms that rosacea has four subtypes:

1. Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea: Redness, flushing, visible blood vessels.
2. Papulopustular rosacea: Redness, swelling, and acne-like breakouts.
3. Phymatous rosacea: Skin thickens and has a bumpy texture.
4. Ocular rosacea: Eyes red and irritated, eyelids can be swollen, and person may have what looks like a stye.

Each of these subtypes of rosacea can occur interchangeably, but each type requires different treatment. Treatment seems to improve a person’s quality of life and reduce symptoms.

For treatment options and/or questions about rosacea, please reach out to us today!
Learn More by Visiting American Academy of Dermatology.

Seborrheic keratosis (seb-o-REE-ik care-uh-TOE-sis) is a common skin growth. It may look worrisome, but it is benign (not cancer). These growths often appear in middle-aged and older adults. Some people get just one. It is, however, more common to have many. They are not contagious. Most often seborrheic keratoses start as small, rough bumps. Then slowly they thicken and get a warty surface. They range in color from white to black. Most are tan or brown. Seborrheic keratoses can look like warts, moles, actinic keratoses, and skin cancer. They differ, though, from these other skin growths. Seborrheic keratoses have a waxy, “pasted-on-the-skin” look. Some look like a dab of warm, brown candle wax on the skin.

Seborrheic keratoses tend to:

• Start as small, rough bumps, then slowly thicken, and develop a warty surface.
• Have a waxy, stuck-on-the-skin look.
• Be brown, though they range in color from white to black.
• Range in size from a fraction of an inch to larger than a half-dollar.
• Form on the chest, back, stomach, scalp, face, neck, or other parts of the body (but not on the palms and soles).

Please reach out to us today with all of your questions/concerns about seborrheic keratosis.
Learn More by Visiting American Academy of Dermatology.

Anyone who has had chickenpox can get shingles. After the chickenpox clears, the virus stays in the body. If the virus reactivates (wakes up), the result is shingles — a painful, blistering rash.

Shingles is most common in older adults. A vaccine, which can prevent shingles, is available to people ages 50 and older. Dermatologists recommend this vaccine for everyone 50 and older.

If you get shingles, an anti-viral medicine can make symptoms milder and shorter. The medicine may even prevent long-lasting nerve pain. Anti-viral medicine is most effective when started within 3 days of seeing the rash.

Shingles tends to cause more pain and less itching than chickenpox. Common signs (what you see) and symptoms (what you feel) are:

• the warning (an area of the skin may burn, itch, tingle and will last 1-3 days), rash (a rash then appears in the same area)
• blisters (the rash soon turns into a group of blisters)
• pain (the pain is often bad enough for a doctor to prescribe painkillers)
• flu-like symptoms (the person may get a fever or headache)

If you need your vaccine for shingles or have any questions/concerns, please contact us today!
Learn More by Visiting American Academy of Dermatology.

Vitiligo (vit-uh-lie-go) causes the skin to lose color. Patches of lighter skin appear. Some people develop a few patches. Others lose much more skin color. Vitiligo usually affects the skin, but it can develop anywhere we have pigment. Patches of hair can turn white. Some people lose color inside their mouths. Even an eye can lose some of its color. Vitiligo is not contagious, and it is not life-threatening. Some strategies that help with people’s self-esteem issues that often correlate to having this condition is to learn more about vitiligo and to connect with others who have vitiligo.

Contact us today to help you with all your questions/concerns pertaining vitiligo!
Learn More by Visiting American Academy of Dermatology.

Warts are benign (not cancerous) skin growths that appear when a virus infects the top layer of the skin. Viruses that cause warts are called human papillomavirus (HPV). You are more likely to get one of these viruses if you cut or damage your skin in some way. Wart viruses are contagious. Warts can spread by contact with the wart or something that touched the wart. Warts are often skin-colored and feel rough, but they can be dark (brown or gray/black), flat, and smooth. There are a few different types of warts. The type is determined by where it grows on the body and what it looks like.

There are 4 different types of warts:

• Common warts – grow most often on fingers, around the nails, and on the back of hands and most often feel like rough bumps
• Foot warts – also known as plantar warts (grow often on the soles of the feet, can grow in clusters, can hurt, and can have black dots)
• Flat warts – can occur anywhere, children usually get them on the face, men tend to get them on the beard area, and women tend to get them on their legs (are smaller than other warts and tend to grow in large numbers)
• Filiform warts – looks like long threads that stick out, often grows on the face, and they often grow quickly

Contact us today to help you with all your warts questions and/or needs!
Learn More by Visiting American Academy of Dermatology.