Blog

Had a new patient come in for a "pigment" treatment on the chest. 32 year old gal had been tanning all her life. She had some moles all over the body. The pigment area of concern was a "mole". I said we should send it off to the lab for exam. It came back as melanoma. The only reason she ended up in the doctor's office was a cosmetic concern. My advice yearly skin exams, no tanning, suncreen and protective clothing. There is no excuse for it.

Labels: Melanoma, Moles, Pigment Spots

Keratosis Pilaris: A genetic condition of the follicles that sometimes resembles acne, but appears as rough bumps on the upper arms, backs of the thighs, and buttocks. It is also common in teens.

We use an inhouse resurfacing cleanser that works like a treat! Avoid scratching the bumps, as this may lead to scarring or spreading. Lasers DO NOT work for this condition.

Labels: Keratosis Pilaris, Lasers, Seborrheic Keratoses

Shaving Bumps: Called Psudo-Folliculitis Barbae, shaving bumps are a widespread problem, especially among women with curly hair and in the bikini area and underarms. As the hair follicle grows out of the skin, it immediately curls and re-enters the skin. The skin becomes inflamed and irritated, creating bumps.

Wash the area twice daily with an exfoliant to raises the hairs from under the skin and prevent them from growing back into the skin. This should be done twice a day. Options include laser treatments to remove the hair follicles.

Labels: Laser Hair Removal, Lasers, Shaving Bumps

Dermatoses Papulosa Nigra: These little black or dark brown bumps that usually appear on dark skin, and start out as little freckles under the eyes and on the top of the cheekbones. They can grow in clusters, and tend to run in families.

Electrocautery or hot iron tip can be used to melt these right off. Carbon Dioxide or Erbium Lasers are very useful for a clean treatment.

Labels: Dermatoses Papulosa Nigra, Laser Peel, Laser Resurfacing, Lasers

Often known as “barnacles of old age,” these benign lesions occur from excessive growth of the top layer of skin cells. They show up on the body, under the breasts, shoulders, and in places where they get rubbed by clothing. They can range from light tan to black in colour, and look like they have been pasted on your skin. Electrocautery or hot iron tip can be used to melt these right off. Carbon dioxide or an Erbium Laser is very useful at giving a clean reduction without any scarring.

Labels: Laser Resurfacing, Lasers, Seborrheic Keratoses

Skin Tags: A skin tag is a bit of skin that sticks out and may appear attached to the skin. They may be smooth or irregular, flesh colored or pigmented, raised or dangling. They can show up almost anywhere, but most commonly appear on the eyelids, neck, armpits, and chest, and especially in women. They can be instantly snipped away almost painlessly with surgical scissors. We also use a cutting laser that works at the speed of light!

Labels: Laser Resurfacing, Lasers, Skin Tags

Open Pores: Pores expand because they become clogged with dead cells and oil - which make them look larger. Sun damage, lack of exfoliating, and clogging blackheads are common culprits.
Treatment To get pores back to their normal size, you need to get rid of the blockage that causes them to expand. The key elements are unplugging the pores and cleaning dirt, bacteria and oil; limiting sun exposure; exfoliating and using the right ingredients like vitamin A, Azelaic acid, and alpha and beta hydroxy acids. Some of the latest LASER treatments really give excellent results.

Labels: Laser Resurfacing, Lasers, Pores

As moles age, the pigment gets deeper so they lose their colour and stick out more, which makes them more visible. A simple shave biopsy can bring the mole down to the level of your surrounding skin. If done right, it doesn’t even leave a scar. Moles can also be excised, but then a scar is a given

Labels: Moles