Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that causes redness and swelling on the face. Symptoms range from red pimples, lines and visible blood vessels to dry or burning skin and a tendency to flush easily. While there is no cure for rosacea, there are plenty of effective treatments available.

Cyst Removal

Cysts are balloon-like structures in the skin filled with solid or fluid material. They most often contain sebaceous material, the oily substance that would normally be present on the surface of the skin for normal lubrication. Cysts can occur anywhere on the body, although the face, neck, back and area behind the ears are the most common sites.

Small cysts can easily be expressed within seconds with a comet done or cyst expresser. Larger cysts may need a longer period of time to be spent on surgical removal. Cysts may stay in the skin for years, but they may also increase in size or rupture, which causes them to become tender, red and infected. Such cysts need drainage and may also require an oral antibiotic.

Cyst removal is typically done through surgical excision, a minor surgical procedure. A small incision is made in the area of the cyst and then the cyst and surrounding tissue will be removed to ensure complete excision. A local anesthetic is used for this procedure. Most cysts do not return when thoroughly removed. Some patients are left with a small scar after a cyst is removed that typically fades with time.

Hair and Nail Disorders

There are several different disorders affecting the hair and nails that may occur as a result of genetics, fungal or bacterial infections, hormone production or life habits. Nail disorders most often affect the toenails and involve bacteria or debris entering into the nail area. Common hair disorders include alopecia (hair loss), baldness, hirsutism (excessive female hair growth) and hair shaft disorders caused by how you treat your hair.

Treatment for hair and nail disorders will depend on the type of disorder and its underlying cause. Many nail disorders can be effectively treated through oral or topical medications to get rid of the infection, while hair disorders can also be treated with medication to stimulate or prevent hair growth.

Causes of Hair Loss

Hair loss can occur as a result of aging, heredity, medications or an underlying medical condition, and can affect men and women of all ages. It may leave you with pattern baldness, patchy spots or thinned hair. Most people are troubled by this undesired change to their appearance and may be frustrated that there is no cure available for this condition.

Androgenic Alopecia (AA) is a common form of incurable hair loss that occurs in many males and some females. Also known as Male Pattern Baldness, the disorder causes men to lose their hair in a characteristic manner, with the hairline receding into a sort of “M” shape across the forehead while hair along the crown thins out. In Female Pattern Baldness, there is no recession of the hairline, but a thinning of all hair equally. In addition, female AA rarely causes total baldness.

Alopecia Areata is a common autoimmune disease that causes a person’s hair to fall out as the immune system attacks the hair follicles. Hair often falls out in clumps and can be maintained in a small area or may lead to severe hair loss. Anyone can be affected by alopecia areata, and nearly 2% of the American population will develop the disease at some point. Some people may have an increased risk if they have a family history of the disease or of other autoimmune disorders such as diabetes or lupus. Children and young adults are also commonly affected.

Hair loss treatment

While many people let the condition progress naturally, there are several treatments available to help promote hair growth or hide hair loss. The best treatment option for each patient depends on the location and extent of the hair loss, but may include hair growth medications, wigs and hairpieces, and hair transplant or scalp reduction surgery.

Topical medications such as Minoxidil effective in both men and women, while the hormone-based Finasteride is most frequently used by men).

Although alopecia areata cannot be cured, there are several treatment options available to help promote new hair growth and prevent further hair loss. Corticosteroids are often used to treat autoimmune diseases and may be administered as injections, pills or topical ointment to suppress the immune system from attacking the hair follicles.

Minoxidil and other hair growth products can be used to help stimulate hair growth from areas that have been affected. A combination of these treatment options may improve their effectiveness, but there is no guaranteed treatment for alopecia areata.

Skin Tag Removal

A skin tag is a common type of skin growth that looks like a piece of hanging skin and most often develops on the neck, underarms, eyelids and under the breasts often as a result of clothing rubbing against the skin. Most skin tags are acquired, although some people are born with them.

While skin tags are not cancerous and don’t cause problems unless they are continuously irritated, many people choose to have them removed for precautionary or cosmetic purposes. There are several different ways to effectively remove skin tags, including freezing, burning and removing with scissors. Small tags may be removed without the use of anesthesia, while larger ones may require a local anesthetic. These treatments are usually effective in removing the growth, but may cause temporary skin discoloration or bleeding. Dr. Golomb will help you to decide which treatment option is best for you.

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