There are a variety of skin conditions that cause people to seek the services of a dermatologic surgeon, but the most common causes are:
» Aging and its effects on appearance, such as lines and wrinkles, brown spots and resistant fat deposits.
» Skin damage from sun exposure, such as benign and malignant growths and tumors, broken capillaries, lines and pigmentation problems.
» Diseases and disorders of the skin such as skin cancer, acne, moles, birthmarks and rashes.
» Other diseases that visibly affect the skin, such as diabetes, HIV, hormonal imbalances and internal cancer.
» Trauma – injury and accidents that can cause relatively minor wounds and scars to more serious disfiguration.
» Genetic factors with skin manifestations – inherited tendencies toward certain disorders such as hair loss, varicose veins, dark shadows under the eyes and resistant fat deposits.
Learn more about specific conditions and their treatment options:
Millions of people suffer the ravages of acne scars long after adolescence has passed and the acne condition has faded.
Unsightly blemishes commonly called age spots frequently appear on the back of the hands and sometimes the face. They are typically sharply defined, rounded, brown or black, flat patches of skin.
The natural skin aging process generally produces lines and wrinkles, age spots, splotches and pigmentation problems, broken capillaries, dull skin texture and color, and other skin flaws.
Birthmarks should always be checked by a dermatologist, and noticeable ones can be lightened and the appearance can be improved.
Upper and lower eyelids that have loose or excess skin and fat tissue can be improved with a surgical procedure that can restore a youthful appearance to the eye area.
Sometimes diet and exercise aren't enough to get rid of those stubborn areas of fat. Dermatologic surgeons are experts at a variety of body sculpting techniques.
Hair loss can be treated by dermatologic surgeons with a variety of methods to help fill in balding areas of the scalp.
Whether from injury, surgery or burns, scars are the body’s natural way of healing and replacing lost or damaged skin. Fortunately, there a number of dermatologic treatments that can improve the appearance of scars and even restore functionality.
One out of every five Americans will develop some type of skin cancer over the course of their lifetime. However, with early detection and treatment, most skin cancers are completely curable.
Most skin growths are benign and harmless, but differentiation from malignancy is essential. ASDS dermatologists are experts in techniques to remove skin growths.
Spider veins are formed by the dilation of a small group of blood vessels located close to the surface of the skin. Although they can appear anywhere on the body, spider veins are most commonly found on the face and legs. They usually pose no health hazard, but may produce a dull aching in the legs after prolonged standing and indicate more severe venous disease.
Laser technology is presently being utilized for efficient and long-lasting body hair removal. The laser energy causes thermal injury to the hair follicle, stunting hair growth.
Tattoos are no longer considered permanent and irreversible designs or marks on the skin. Dermatologic surgeons can safely and effectively use different techniques to successfully remove unwanted tattoos.
Varicose veins are abnormally swollen or enlarged blood vessels caused by a weakening in the vein's wall. They can be harmful to a patient's health for a variety of reasons.
Wrinkle creases begin to appear as the underlying collagen and elastin fibers begin to break down and wear out. While this breakdown is part of the natural aging process, wrinkled skin also can result from sun exposure, excessive squinting, frowning, smoking and smiling.