About Excessive Perspiration

What is it?

Excessive perspiration is a temperature-regulating mechanism that allows your body to cool, but when it happens excessively and for no reason, it’s called hyperhidrosis, a condition characterized by relentless perspiration, typically on the hands and feet as well as under your arms. If left untreated, excessive perspiration can cause painful skin irritation due to the chronic dampness of the skin.

What causes Excessive Perspiration?

The causes of hyperhidrosis are not fully clear, but it’s believed that genetics plays a role or that it occurs because of an underlying systemic issue. What is certain is that it’s not due to stress; in fact, the condition often causes stress, apprehension, and even anxiety about being in public situations.

Common treatments?

We know it’s not unusual to have excessive perspiration in a nerve-wracking social or professional situation. However, if you suffer from this condition all day every day even when there is no clear cause, it’s possible that you have hyperhidrosis. Our experts have the knowledge and experience to help you treat this condition, regardless of where it’s occurring in your body. Some of these treatments include prescription antiperspirants, iontophoresis (a device that prevents sweat production), prescription oral medications, Botox (yes, Botox!), and miraDry (a treatment that hinders sweat production).

Our approach & expertise

Our practice has skilled dermatologic experts who have the experience and knowledge to provide effective solutions for your particular needs and goals. Our focus on you as a person is what makes us different from others, and we’ll be with you each step of the way with empathy, advice, and support. Healthy skin is our passion. Contact us today at Signature Dermatology if you have excessive perspiration so that we can help you deal with this often embarrassing condition.

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About Warts

What are they?

A wart is harmless, though contagious, skin growth that feels rough to the touch and is often characterized by minuscule clotted blood vessels that resemble tiny black dots. Though not a health risk, you may wish to have it removed because of social embarrassment. Warts can be caused by a variety of factors, the most common of which are the following: common – gray or brown growths with a round top that grow anywhere, particularly on the fingers or toes; plantar – growing into your skin, rather than protruding from it, they are hardened growths on the soles of your feet, making walking difficult and painful; flat – small, flat growths that can be pink, yellow, or brown, and which often develop on the face, arms, or thighs, filiform – small, flesh-colored skin flaps on your nose or around the mouth, chin, or neck; and periungual – painful growths under or around your nails, often inhibiting nail growth.

What causes Warts?

Warts are caused by HPV, the human papillomavirus. Through a tiny cut or scratch in your skin, this virus will attack skin cells, causing rapid growth that becomes warts. These warts can easily spread via direct skin-to-skin contact, although indirect means are also common, such as touching a towel or clothing that also has touched a wart. They can also spread on your own body once a single one forms.

Common treatments

We offer treatment options tailored to your needs and aesthetic goals., and we’re here to address your concerns and provide support throughout the process. When treating warts, the goal is to destroy the growths themselves or fight off HPV. Either way, our dermatology specialists will work with you to find the best solution for your unique conditions. In many cases, warts simply disappear on their own, though this may take years. For immediate treatment, we offer several effective methods: prescription-strength salicylic, bichloroacetic, or trichloroacetic acids; pulse-dyed lasers; and cryotherapy. Our neighborhood practitioners urge patience when treating warts, as it can take weeks or even months to produce results.

Our approach & expertise

We understand how warts can be a physical nuisance and even affect your self-esteem. As your experienced community skin experts, we have the knowledge to help you manage this condition. Healthy skin is our passion. Contact us if you have a wart that you want to eliminate so you can have clear, smooth skin once again.

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About Vitiligo and Skin Pigment Disorders

What are they?

Vitiligo is the patchy loss of your skin’s natural color. This occurs when melanin, the pigment that determines your skin’s color, is damaged or destroyed. Although vitiligo can negatively impact your self-esteem, it is physically harmless. Vitiligo affects about 2 percent of Americans and develops in people of all skin colors; however, if you have dark skin, the contrast between the dark skin and the lighter areas of color loss is more noticeable. Moreover, this condition is often unpredictable. You may personally experience only small patches of pigment loss, but for others, the condition may be much more widespread. It can be temporary for some and permanent for others. In extreme cases, it can alter a hair or eye color and/or develop inside the mouth.

What causes Vitiligo?

The exact causes of vitiligo are unknown, but several possibilities are thought to be major contributors. Among these include immune system dysfunction, certain viruses, stress, sunburn, injury, and exposure to certain chemicals. As mentioned, symptoms include the development of white patches of skin, often with reddish-brown boundaries. These white patches can appear on many areas of the body, including the forehead, eye area, lips, mouth, hands, arms, elbows, underarms, knees, feet, neck, and torso.

Common treatments

Treatment for vitiligo varies and depends on the extent of your specific form of vitiligo. Realistic expectations are important and should include reducing the contrast between your normal skin and the lighter areas and improving your self-esteem and confidence. Effective solutions for vitiligo include topical medications, sun avoidance and/or sunscreen (SPF 30 minimum), UV-B light therapy, a combination light, and medication therapy, or, in severe cases, skin grafting.

Our approach & expertise

We know that sudden or unusual changes in your pigmentation, such as with vitiligo, can cause social and emotional distress. As your knowledgeable community skin healthcare providers, we have the knowledge to help you manage this condition. We” work with you to find the best solution, and you can lean on us for support in managing this condition.

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About Seborrheic Keratosis

What is it?

Also known as seborrheic verruca, most people will develop at least one seborrheic keratosis during a lifetime. Seborrheic keratosis is a common skin growth. It may seem worrisome because it can look like a wart, pre-cancerous skin growth (actinic keratosis), or skin cancer. Despite their appearance, they are harmless, benign, and don’t become cancerous. They are characterized as brown, black or yellow growths that grow singly or in groups and are flat or slightly elevated. Often they are mistaken for warts and generally no treatment is required unless the growth becomes irritated. However, because it looks similar in appearance to precancerous growths, your dermatologist might biopsy the tissue to confirm the diagnosis.

What causes Seborrheic Keratosis?

People who are prone to develop these harmless growths tend to have fair skin, and they can also be hereditary, so check with family members if you are worried. These growths also develop in people with medium to dark skin and tend to be smaller and around the eye area. If you are pregnant or had estrogen replacement therapy, people have been known to develop these. Most people develop seborrheic keratoses later in life. People who have had a lot of sun exposure tend to develop more of these. These are not contagious, and if you are getting more of them, it’s usually due to age.

Common treatments

Trust your dermatologist to tell if your skin growth is a seborrheic keratosis or skin cancer. If there is any question we will remove the growth and do a biopsy. Most seborrheic keratoses are harmless like skin tags, and might not need treatment. Talk with your dermatologist if you have any concerns, or if they are getting irritated from rubbing or clothing. A common way of treating these is with cryotherapy, your dermatologist will apply liquid nitrogen to the growth, and will tend to fall off in a few days. There are other ways as well, and depending on your skin type your dermatologist will recommend the best solution for you. After removal, it usually does not return. We offer treatment options tailored to your needs and aesthetic goals, and we’re here to address your concerns and provide support throughout the process. Call an office today and make an appointment if you are concerned you have seborrheic keratosis.

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About Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

What is it?

What causes Shingles?

Common treatments

About Skin Tags

What are they?

What causes Skin Tags?

Most of these don’t cause symptoms unless they are repeatedly irritated by rubbing against jewelry, clothing, or other items. The tags are harmless, but they won’t go away without treatment. A reason for treatment may include irritation or if you don’t like the way the skin tag looks. Friction can also play a role in the development of these. Frequently, they develop on the neck, underarms, and eyelids, as well as within body folds, such as under the breasts or in the groin area. In some cases, they seem to be associated with obesity, and genetic factors also appear to play a role. Unfortunately, there’s no way to minimize the risk of developing these.

Common treatments

If you have any of these that are irritated, or you just don’t like where they have developed, we are here to help. Skin tags can be removed in several ways, they can be cut off with scissors or excision, but minor bleeding could occur. Freezing or burning, the skin tag may require a short time to fall off, and these procedures have a risk of skin discoloration, darkening, or lightening, following the procedure. Sometimes, repeat treatments are necessary if the tag doesn’t fall off or it grows back, or if new tags grow in other areas. If you are concerned about your skin tags ask your dermatologist about how to treat your skin. Our goal is that you look your best, so make an appointment today if you have skin tags and want to remove them.

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About Poison Ivy

What is it?

Poison ivy is a common plant from the Toxicodendron species of plants. If you’ve ever had poison ivy, you know the symptoms, which can include continuous itching, skin irritation, and redness and inflammation. Most people know they shouldn’t scratch the rash, but the incessant itching makes it difficult to stop. Although scratching doesn’t cause the rash to spread, it can prolong the symptoms, and delay healing. and even cause a secondary infection.

What causes Poison Ivy?

Coming into contact with this plant – as well as its relatives poison oak or poison sumac – results is a common rash called Toxicodendron dermatitis, which is caused by an oil in the plant. Even though the rash itself isn’t contagious, you can get this condition from touching anything else that has touched the plant, such as a toy, pet, or clothing.

Common treatments

Over-the-counter medications are usually enough to contain and relieve the itching and irritation caused by poison ivy, including calamine lotion, antihistamines (e.g., Benadryl), cool showers, a baking soda/water mixture for the skin, or OTC topical corticosteroids. The symptoms usually run their course in about 2-3 weeks. although we recommend seeing a dermatologist before then. However, if the rash is located near your mouth, throat, eyes, or groin, we suggest seeing a dermatologist as soon as possible, as you may need a prescription oral corticosteroid or even an injection.

Our approach & expertise

We understand how uncomfortable poison ivy can be, as the incessant itching can make it hard to concentrate on anything else. As your neighborhood skin experts, our staff of dermatologic specialists has the experience and knowledge to help you deal with this troublesome condition. Contact an office today if you notice symptoms so that we can help you manage this troublesome condition.

Schedule an appointment with us now!