General Dermatology

Treatment of Common Skin Conditions

Cosmetique’s board-certified dermatologists provide world-class medical care in the areas of medical and cosmetic dermatology. We see patients who are experiencing a variety of common skin problems, including:

Acne

Acne affects most people at some point in their lives. Men and women of all ages can get acne. It occurs when hair follicles get clogged with oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria.

Contrary to popular opinion, acne is not a condition you must allow to run its course. It’s treatable. The most effective acne treatments include oral medications like antibiotics or isotretinoin, topical medications with salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, or LED treatments such as red and blue light therapy.

Actinic Keratoses

Actinic Keratoses are precancerous skin cells with a scaly appearance that is red, brown, or flesh-tone. When untreated, actinic keratosis can develop into squamous cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer.

Treatments for actinic keratoses are similar to skin cancer procedures and include cryosurgery, curettage, electrodesiccation, laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels, or creams that contain 5-fluorouracil or imiquimod. An anti-inflammatory gel can also be used for actinic keratosis treatment.

Eczema

Eczema or atopic dermatitis typically looks like a rash, with symptoms like redness, swelling and intense itching. However, eczema is often difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are intermittent. They will often occur in conjunction with allergies, including asthma and hay fever.

No cure exists for eczema, but symptoms can be reduced with a regular treatment regimen. Dr. Sarnoff may recommend oral antihistamines, oral corticosteroids, topical corticosteroids and non-steroid immunosuppressant creams. To prevent symptoms, keep your skin moisturized and reduce your exposure to irritating soaps and detergents.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that affects more than seven million Americans. Psoriasis occurs when cells build up too quickly on the surface of the skin, causing scaly skin patches called plaques to appear. Genetic and environmental factors are said to be triggers for psoriasis.

For temporary treatment of active psoriasis flare-ups, Dr. Sarnoff may prescribe topical corticosteroids or over-the-counter skin moisturizers. Alternative treatments for treating psoriasis often use ingredients like coal tar, salicylic acid, Vitamin D analogues, or retinoids.

Rosacea

Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition that affects more than 14 million people in America. It’s often called acne rosacea because of the symptomatic red pustules that occur. However, acne and rosacea are not the same.

You may be able to reduce rosacea symptoms by knowing and reducing your particular rosacea triggers. If necessary, Dr. Sarnoff may recommend treatment with topical medications, oral medications or laser therapy. An IPL photo facial can work to reduce facial redness and broken capillaries. In severe cases, a deeper laser resurfacing treatment may be recommended.

Hair loss

Hair loss, or alopecia, is a temporary or permanent condition that affects men or women. While a body imbalance is the general cause, certain lifestyle factors and genetic traits are linked to hair loss.

A wide range of treatments exist, from custom blended topical medications and shampoos to surgical hair transplants. Hair transplants have been performed for more than 30 years. Today, they provide a natural hair line and appearance.

Warts

Warts are flesh-colored skin growths that typically appear on the fingers, hands and feet. They can affect people of all ages. Warts are caused by HPV, the human papillomavirus. Sometimes a wart is marked with clotted blood vessels that look like black dots.

Cryotherapy is the most common wart treatment. This involves freezing warts with liquid nitrogen. In some cases, Dr. Sarnoff may recommend electro surgery, which involves burning the wart with a cautery device. Warts may also be surgically removed with a laser or scalpel.

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a loss of melanin and skin pigmentation due to damaged melanocytes, the skin’s pigment-producing cells. The occurrence of vitiligo is impossible to predict and affects men and women of all ages, skin types and skin tones. When treated early, vitiligo may be reversible. But in general, there’s no known cure.

To help mask the skin discoloration, topical medications, oral medications and light-based therapies may be recommended. Repigmenting medications may be used, or light therapies combined with psoralen, a topical medication derived from plants.

Rashes

Rashes are often the result of common skin infections and allergic reactions. The cause varies, but most cases are minor problems that resolve with home treatment. For adults, rashes are usually caused by contact with a skin-irritating substance, such as plants, soaps, cosmetics, jewelry, fabric or latex.

Symptoms typically appear within two days of the initial contact. If a rash does not subside, the skin can become extremely irritated and you must seek medical attention, especially if the rash is accompanied by symptoms such as a fever or shortness of breath.

Schedule a Dermatology Appointment in New York

If you are experiencing any type of discomfort or problem with your skin, contact Cosmetique Dermatology, Laser & Plastic Surgery to schedule an appointment. Most insurance plans are accepted. Our physicians are also experts in cosmetic dermatology, offering you a variety of surgical and non-surgical options that will make you look and feel your best.

 

Call 212.794.4000 today to make an inquiry or schedule a confidential appointment at our Manhattan Office.
For Long Island, please call 516.484.9000.

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