Dermatology Specialist

What are common skin conditions?

You may experience a wide range of skin conditions at any point during your life. Dr. Stephenson diagnoses and treats skin conditions including:

Acne

While acne commonly affects adolescents, you can develop it at any age. Acne is usually triggered by hormone levels. Too much testosterone can lead to your skin producing an excessive amount of sebum, an oily substance that your skin needs it in order to function. The extra sebum traps dirt and bacteria in your pores, causing pimples to form.

Actinic keratosis

Actinic keratosis is a crusty or scaly growth on your skin. While benign, actinic keratosis is caused by UV damage to your skin and can evolve into squamous cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer.

Skin cancer

The three most common types of skin cancer are squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are rarely life-threatening, but should still be removed. Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and can spread quickly through your body.

Eczema

Eczema is a family of skin rashes that cause itchy, red patches. It’s most often diagnosed in children, but you can experience eczema flare-ups throughout your life. When left untreated, eczema can lead to skin infections because of the severe itchiness and skin damage from scratching.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition where your skin produces new cells at an accelerated rate, leading to a thick, scaly plaque on your skin. You may develop itchy, red patches of skin with a layer of silvery scales. Your skin also becomes dry and prone to cracking, leading to tenderness and an increased risk of infection.

What are the warning signs of skin cancer?

When you examine your skin at home, you should check for the ABCDEs of skin cancer.

• Asymmetry
• Border irregularity
• Color abnormality
• Diameter
• Evolving
  
  

A normal mole is typically small, round, well-defined, and brownish. If you have a cancerous mole, it will change shape and be dark black or several different colors. It will also have poorly defined borders and not be perfectly round. Potentially cancerous moles are also often larger in diameter than a pencil eraser.

How are abnormal skin growths removed?

If you notice any abnormal growths or a change in any of your moles, make an appointment for a skin cancer screening with Dr. Stephenson right away. He provides mole excision procedures and cryotherapy to remove skin tags, moles, and other abnormal skin growths.

Call Dr. Stephenson or schedule a consultation online today.