Medical Services

Acne

Acne is the term for clogged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples, and even deeper lumps (cysts or nodules) that occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and even the upper arms. Acne affects many teenagers and some adults. While not a life-threatening condition, acne can lead serious and permanent scarring.

Acne Treatments:

There are many ways to treat acne. Medically, we would prescribe oral and topical medications.

In conjunction with treating acne/acne scarring medically, we can also treat it cosmetically with a variety of chemical peels, microdermabrasion and LED Blue light therapy. Your medical provider will determine the right course of action based on the severity of acne.

Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic skin disease that causes redness and swelling, primarily on the face and chest, but also may affect the eyes. Symptoms include facial flushing, blushing and dry red eyes. The condition can occur over a long period of time and often progresses to a persistent redness, pimples or visible blood vessels.

Treatment for Rosacea:

We recommend oral and topical prescriptions to treat rosacea. Another way to calm/treat flaring rosacea is Intense Pulse Light (see cosmetic services).

Eczema

Eczema, or dermatitis, is a general term encompassing skin itching or rashes. A prevalent form in children is atopic dermatitis, estimated to affect up to 20 percent of the population. Dermatitis is often caused by common substances externally contacting and causing inflammation. Eczema can be chronic but is often overcome by avoidance of skin irritants and allergen patch testing to determine specific triggers.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that affects more than 4.5 million adults in the United States. About one quarter of people with psoriasis develop a related inflammation of the joints. Psoriasis flares can be triggered by infection, increased blood sugar (pre-diabetes), and many oral medications such as blood pressure beta-blockers. Several new therapies called biologic agents are producing substantial improvements in quality of life.

Actinic Keratoses

Actinic Keratoses (AKs) are sandpapery rough textured spots that are often located on the face, scalp or hands and develop after years of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. AKs are considered the earliest stage in the development of skin cancer and have the potential to progress to squamous cell carcinoma, a type of non-melanoma skin cancer that can be fatal if neglected.

Actinic Keratoses Treatments:

Generally, we will prescribe a topical cream or ointment to apply to the affected area to destruct the pre-cancerous cells. These medications are a variety of strengths and will be prescribed by your medical provider accordingly.

In addition to this, we normally have the patient come in for a series of 3 Photo-Dynamic Therapy treatments in which a medicine called Amulez Gel is applied to the skin and then activated by the light of the treatment. The PDT is LED and Infrared light (not UV light) which activates the Amulez Gel and gently destructs the pre-cancerous cells which are drawn to the surface of your skin by the “at home” medications prescribed.

What should I expect post PDT treatment or AK’s?

It is very important to arrive to your appointment with a hat, sunglasses and scarf. Although, you may be slightly red post treatment, we want you to avoid direct sun exposure and indoor lighting for 24-48 post treatment. Amulez Gel is cleansed off your face post treatment but remains absorbed for 24-48 hours which can get reactivated. Too much light exposure may cause a sunburn like response.

Skin Cancer

Skin Cancer develops when skin cells become damaged and the body cannot repair or eliminate them. Skin cancer may be induced by ultraviolet radiation (UV) that is present everywhere all year round. Irreversibly injured cells can multiply and form a tumor often in the outermost visible skin layer. Skin cancers are divided into the typically noninvasive nonmelanoma skin cancers, basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma, and the potentially invasive malignant melanoma.

Skin Cancer Treatments:

  • Topical Chemotherapy medication
  • Removal via Excision
  • Radiotherapy (SRT)
  • MOH’s Surgery (we refer out for MOH’s)

 

Superficial Radiotherapy (SRT)

  • Keloid Scars
  • Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancer

 

What is Superfical Radiotherapy? 

The Superficial Radiotherapy (SRT)-100 device uses low energy superficial radiotherapy (SRT) that penetrates no deeper than the thickness of the skin. Superficial X-ray is a noninvasive therapy for hyperactive itchy and painful keloid scars post-surgery and is an alternative therapy for surgical removal for some types of skin cancer. With SRT, there are no needles needed, scarring is minimal, healing time is fast, and risk of infection and recurring lesions is very low. Superficial radiotherapy has been used for over 50 years, but recently the SRT-100 device allows for a nonsurgical treatment option in the private office setting.

Keloids

A Keloid scar is a common hyperactive scar type that can be painful, itchy and disfiguring. Keloids can come after acne, skin piercing, surgery scars, and any skin trauma. Steroid injections and surgical removal of keloids are plagued by the keloid lesion often recurring. Two to three superficial X-ray therapy treatments are performed for keloids, starting the day of the surgical keloid removal. SRT is highly effective at preventing the keloid from reforming post removal without the need for repeated painful steroid injections, keloid compression garments, or skin pressure dressings.

What are Basal and Squamous Cells Carcinomas?

Superficial Radiotherapy treats non-melanoma skin cancers which are an epidemic in the USA. Non-melanoma skin cancer rates are increasing each year especially in people age 60 years and older. Superficial X-ray eliminates basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinomas in a virtually painless manner with highly effective cure rates. Mohs micrographic surgery is another very successful treatment option, but SRT allows for skin cancer removal without needles, scalpel, and sutures. The Superficial X-ray therapies are split up two to three treatments a week for approximately twelve total fractions. Most patients see skin irritation (redness, scaling) about two weeks after starting therapy and this redness peaks at about four to six weeks. After the X-ray treatments the skin appears pink and then fades to be normal skin color or slightly lighter in about three to six months. After the superficial radiotherapy, the remaining scar is only a few millimeters larger around the original skin cancer.