Heartland Dermatology provides a complete range of dermatology services including treatment for the following:
Acne |back to top|
There is no single cause of acne. Foods such as chocolate or greasy foods do not cause acne, but certain foods may make some people’s acne worse. Heredity, increased male hormones in both males and females, menstruation, stress, certain cosmetics, and certain medications may contribute to acne.
Blistering Rashes |back to top|
Blisters are a frequent cause of seeking a dermatologic evaluation. In most cases, they are the result of benign conditions such as insect bites, herpetic infections or contact dermatitis. However, there are several “bullous” or blistering diseases that may require a prompt evaluation. The cause of a blister may be related to an immune system defect or a structural defect in the skin. In either case, the blisters may be very itchy, occur anywhere on the skin, and when broken be susceptible to infection. Diagnosis can be made by two different types of skin biopsies. Once the diagnosis is made, treatment is based on the type of blistering disease.
Dermatitis and Eczema |back to top|
Dermatitis and Eczema
are terms used interchangeable to describe a variety of skin disorders characterized by superficial scaling, redness, papules, and blisters. These terms encompass inflamed skin conditions such as allergic contact dermatitis, nummular eczema, dyshydrotic eczema, atopic dermatitis and a number of other skin disorders.
Poison Ivy is the most common allergic contact dermatitis in the United States. Poison oak and poison sumac are also plants that can cause allergic reactions. Nummular eczema is characterized by coin-shaped patches that are often bright red, slightly swollen papules or blisters. Dyshydrotic eczema is characterized by recurrent blister-like eruptions that occur on the palms, soles, and sides of fingers. Atopic dermatitis describes skin eruptions associated with individuals who have a family history of allergies such as hay fever and asthma.
Hives |back to top|
Hives occur in 10% to 20% of all individuals at some time during their lives and are seen in all age groups. Hives consist of pale to red, well-demarcated, itchy lesions that form wheals. They vary in size from less than a quarter of an inch to eight or ten inches. They are often round or oval but frequently they coalesce into larger lesions with irregular borders. Hives are formed by the release of a chemical called histamine from cells which lie along the blood vessels in the skin. Common causes of hives include infections, medications, heat, cold, vibration, pressure, light water, food and food additives as well as insect bites. The diagnosis of hives is generally made on physical examination. More importantly a thorough history is important in determining possible causes. Sometimes a specific cause is impossible to determine.
Itching |back to top|
Most causes of itching are due to dry skin. As we get older we tend to lose natural body oils in the skin. There are ways to combat dry skin during the winter months and all year around. These include bathing or showering in lukewarm water instead of hot water and limiting the use of soap. This helps to protect the natural body oils we have in the skin. Applying a moisturizer while the skin is still moist after a shower or bath helps to seal moisture into the skin. Adding humidification in the home helps dry skin as well. In spite of this, those of us with more sensitive skin can develop a rash from the dryness and scratching. Sometimes prescription medications are needed to control the itching and rash.
Moles |back to top|
Moles
are benign lesion having a uniform color generally ranging from dark brown to flesh color. They are well defined oval to round shaped lesions that everyone has. While moles are probably determined before birth most appear in childhood and darken with exposure to the sun. Over time they usually get larger but remain asymptomatic. Occasionally, moles may itch or bleed when traumatized but the make up of the mole remains unchanged.
Occasionally a mole may become a cancerous growth called a melanoma. Recognizing that a mole is changing in asymmetry, shape, color or size could alert the individual that the mole is becoming a cancerous growth. Other things to watch for are moles that bleed, itch, become painful, or first appear when a person is past twenty.
Nails |back to top|
Nails serve important functions and the main components of the nail apparatus include the nail plate, proximal nail fold, nail matrix, nail bed and the hyponychium. Nail disorders can be manifestations of cutaneous or systemic diseases, or may be due to trauma or infections. The growth of the nail plate is influenced by physiologic factors, disease processes and even medications. Although many times overlooked, the health of the nails aid in determining many dermatologic and systemic diagnoses.
Psoriasis |back to top|
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease affecting 2 of every 100 people in the United States. Psoriasis is not contagious, but is more likely to occur in individuals whose family member(s) have it. The cause of psoriasis is unknown. Normally skin cells mature and shed every 28-30 days; whereas in psoriasis, this process is accelerated and occurs every 3-4 days resulting in thickening and scaling of the skin. Psoriasis will generally occur in areas of injured skin. It may also be triggered by strep throat and certain medications.
Psoriasis may occur in a variety of forms that differ in their intensity, duration, location, shape and pattern of scales. Typically psoriasis lesions are red with silvery scales, commonly found on the elbows, knees, scalp, genitals, arms, and legs. Psoriasis may occur at any age and affect any part of the body, including fingernails and toenails.
Rashes |back to top|
The word rash is used to describe a variety of different eruptions of the skin. Some rashes may present suddenly and have a short duration while others may come and go or last for several years. Most rashes are considered to be an inflammatory reaction in the skin due to a change in the immune system. Drug eruptions, infections, allergic reactions, and immune mediated diseases may all present with rashes in the skin. Often the distribution and pattern of a rash may aid the dermatologist in the diagnosis and treatment.
Scalp and Hair |back to top|
Hair has no vital function in humans, yet its psychological importance is immeasurable. Whether it is loss of scalp hair in either men or women or excessive hair growth on the face or other body parts, distress may occur due to the cultural beliefs of the acceptable amount of hair for certain body areas. Hair grows in three cycles and the hairs are in these cycles at different times. The hair grows to a certain length, rests and then sheds, being replaced by new hair. As we age, the rate of the new hair growth declines, producing thinner hair. Hair loss, alopecia, can be caused by many things including childbirth, high fever/illness, thyroid disease, inadequate protein in the diet, certain medications, low serum iron, surgery, certain cosmetic procedures, and/or hereditary thinning (referred to as androgenetic alopecia). Treatment options vary depending on the underlying etiology.
Scalp disorders are very broad, ranging from mild itchy, scaling scalp to scarring alopecia, irreversible hair loss. Certain infections and other skin diseases can involve the scalp. These are all independent processes with diffuse symptoms and their treatment is individualized.
Skin Allergies |back to top|
Skin Allergies or Contact Dermatitis is caused by exposure to the chemicals in the environment. It is an exterior rather than internal process in which the skin becomes inflamed. The reaction may include hives, acne, loss of skin pigment or darkening of skin pigment, sensitivity to light, atrophy, purpura and eczema. It must be determined if the contact dermatitis is due to an allergen or an irritation. Patch testing is the principal method used to confirm the diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis to specific allergen.
Skin Growths |back to top|
Skin growths become more common with age. They may appear as benign “liver/age spots” or as more serious skin cancers that require immediate attention. Many lesions can be attributed to years of sun exposure. Among the most common growths are red, scaly spots called actinic keratosis. In the early stages they can be easily removed with special creams or simple office procedures. If left untreated, they may develop into skin cancer that could require surgical removal.
The most common form of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, typically looks like a small, shiny, fleshy bump on the head, neck or chest. They tend to grow slowly and seldom spread to other parts of the body. Squamous cell carcinoma typically appears as a nodule or red scaly patch. They are often found on the rim of the ear, the face, the lips and the back of the hands. When treated early, both squamous cell and basal cell skin cancers have a 95% cure rate.
The most serious form of skin cancer is known as malignant melanoma. This generally appears as a dark brown or black growth, similar to a mole, with irregular borders and irregular color. Any change in a mole could signal melanoma and should be examined immediately.
Sun Damage |back to top|
Chronic damage from the sun is one of the most common causes of skin disease. Most of us are exposed to the majority of our lifelong sun exposure within the first 20 years of our life; however, we are all exposed chronically on a near daily basis. This chronic exposure may cause premature aging of the skin, pigment changes in the skin, and the appearance of skin cancers. Patients who are chronically immunosuppressed are at a significant risk from sun damage and may develop invasive skin cancers much more quickly than those who are not immunocompromised. Sun protection at an early age in association with lifelong sunscreen use and sun protection are the keys to minimizing sun damage.
Warts |back to top|
Warts are lesions in the top layer of the skin caused by a virus, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). There are many strains of the virus producing different types of warts. They are generally asymptomatic but may be tender at times especially warts on the feet. They are generally flesh colored and feel rough to the touch but can be flat and smooth. Common warts usually grow on the fingers, around the nails and on the backs of the hands while plantar warts usually grow on the soles of the feet. Flat warts are smaller and smoother than other warts and tend to grow in groups of 20 to 100 and can occur anywhere. Warts are passed from person to person but some people are more likely to catch the wart virus than others.
Wrinkles |back to top|
Fillers may be used to restore volume and fullness to the skin to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles, folds, and depressions in the skin, and/or scarring. Injections are made directly into the skin under the wrinkle or scar with a very fine needle thus lifting up and smoothing out the wrinkle or scar. Results can be seen immediately but are not permanent and touch-up injects are needed.
Collagen is a natural protein that gives support and structure to skin, bones, ligaments, and other body parts. Depending on the type of collagen used allergy testing may be required. Touch-up injections may be needed every 3 to 12 months. For some, however, collagen injections can stimulate the body’s own production of collagen, lengthening the time necessary between follow-up injections.
Restylane is a safe and natural filler made of non-animal-based hyaluronic acid which already exists in the human body. Because it is non-animal-based and fully bio-compatible, allergy testing is not required. Results last for approximately six months.
