Skin Cancer

Skin cancer — the abnormal growth of skin cells — most often develops on skin exposed to the sun. But this common form of cancer can also occur on areas of your skin not ordinarily exposed to sunlight. There are three major types of skin cancer — basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

You can reduce your risk of skin cancer by limiting or avoiding exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Checking your skin for suspicious changes can help detect skin cancer at its earliest stages. Early detection of skin cancer gives you the greatest chance for successful skin cancer treatment.

Basal cell carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma usually occurs in sun-exposed areas of your body, such as your neck or face. Basal cell carcinoma may appear as: a pearly or waxy bump; a flat, flesh-colored or brown scar-like lesion; a bleeding or scabbing sore that heals and returns.

Squamous cell carcinoma

Most often, squamous cell carcinoma occurs on sun-exposed areas of your body, such as your face, ears and hands. People with darker skin are more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma on areas that aren't often exposed to the sun. Squamous cell carcinoma may appear as: a firm, red nodule; a flat lesion with a scaly, crusted surface.

Melanoma

Melanoma can develop anywhere on your body, in otherwise normal skin or in an existing mole that becomes cancerous. Melanoma most often appears on the face or the trunk of affected men. In women, this type of cancer most often develops on the lower legs. In both men and women, melanoma can occur on skin that hasn't been exposed to the sun.

Melanoma can affect people of any skin tone. In people with darker skin tones, melanoma tends to occur on the palms or soles, or under the fingernails or toenails. Melanoma signs include: a large brownish spot with darker speckles; a mole that changes in color, size or feel or that bleeds; a small lesion with an irregular border and portions that appear red, pink, white, blue or blue-black; a painful lesion that itches or burns; dark lesions on your palms, soles, fingertips or toes, or on mucous membranes.

Acne

Acne is a skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. It causes whiteheads, blackheads or pimples. Acne is most common among teenagers, though it affects people of all ages.

Rosacea

Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes redness and visible blood vessels in your face. It may also produce small, red, pus-filled bumps. These signs and symptoms may flare up for weeks to months and then go away for a while. Rosacea can be mistaken for acne, other skin problems or natural ruddiness. Rosacea can affect anyone. But it's most common in middle-aged women who have light skin. 

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes red, itchy scaly patches, most commonly on the knees, elbows, trunk and scalp. Psoriasis is a common, long-term (chronic) disease with no cure. It tends to go through cycles, flaring for a few weeks or months, then subsiding for a while or going into remission. 

Psoriasis signs and symptoms can vary from person to person. Common signs and symptoms include:

• Red patches of skin covered with thick, silvery scales

• Small scaling spots (commonly seen in children)

• Dry, cracked skin that may bleed or itch

• Itching, burning or soreness

• Thickened, pitted or ridged nails

• Swollen and stiff joints

Psoriasis patches can range from a few spots of dandruff-like scaling to major eruptions that cover large areas. The most commonly affected areas are the lower back, elbows, knees, legs, soles of the feet, scalp, face and palms.

Eczema

Atopic dermatitis (eczema) is a condition that makes your skin red and itchy. It's common in children but can occur at any age. Atopic dermatitis is long lasting (chronic) and tends to flare periodically. It may be accompanied by asthma or hay fever. Atopic dermatitis most often begins before age 5 and may persist into adolescence and adulthood. For some people, it flares periodically and then clears up for a time, even for several years.

Atopic dermatitis (eczema) signs and symptoms vary widely from person to person and include:

• Dry skin

• Itching, which may be severe, especially at night

• Red to brownish-gray patches, especially on the hands, feet, ankles, wrists, neck, upper chest, eyelids, inside the bend of the elbows and knees, and in infants, the face and scalp

• Small, raised bumps, which may leak fluid and crust over when scratched

• Thickened, cracked, scaly skin

• Raw, sensitive, swollen skin from scratching

Pigment Problems / Hyperpigmentation

The material in your body that gives your skin and hair its color. The more pigment you have, the darker your hair or skin. Also called melanin. Hyperpigmentation isn’t necessarily a condition but a term that describes skin that appears darker. It can occur in small patches, cover large areas, affect the entire body.

While increased pigmentation usually isn’t harmful, it can be a symptom of another medical condition. There are several types of hyperpigmentation, the common ones being:

• Melasma. Melasma is believed to be caused by hormonal changes and may develop during pregnancy. Areas of hyperpigmentation can appear on any area of the body, but they appear most commonly on the stomach and face.

• Sunspots. Also called liver spots or solar lentigines, sunspots are common. They’re related to excess sun exposure over time. Generally, they appear as spots on areas exposed to the sun, like the hands and face.

• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This is a result of injury or inflammation to the skin. A common cause of this type is acne.

Hair Loss & Hair Issues / Alopecia Areata

Hair loss (alopecia) can affect just your scalp or your entire body, and it can be temporary or permanent. It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging. Anyone can lose hair on their head, but it's more common in men.

Baldness typically refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp. Hereditary hair loss with age is the most common cause of baldness. 

Hair loss can appear in many different ways, depending on what's causing it. It can come on suddenly or gradually and affect just your scalp or your whole body.

Signs and symptoms of hair loss may include:

• Gradual thinning on top of head

• Circular or patchy bald spots

• Sudden loosening of hair

• Full-body hair loss

• Patches of scaling that spread over the scalp

Scars

While it may seem obvious that you have a scar, it’s important to have a dermatologist examine it before it’s treated. Scars are complex. To treat you safely and effectively, it’s important for the person treating you to know about your health and the type of scar you have.

Different types of scars require different treatment. Your age and how long you’ve had the scar may also affect the types of treatment that will work best for you. A board-certified dermatologist has the training and experience required to tell you:

• What type of scar you have

• If a scar is likely to fade with time

• When to treat the scar to get the best results

What treatment is recommended

Stretch Marks

A stretch mark is a type of scar that develops when our skin stretches or shrinks quickly. The abrupt change causes the collagen and elastin, which support our skin, to rupture. As the skin heals, stretch marks may appear. Not everyone develops these narrow bands on their skin. Fluctuating hormone levels seem to play a role. You may also have a higher risk if people in your family get stretch marks.

When stretch marks first appear, they tend to be red, purple, pink, reddish-brown, or dark brown, depending on your skin color. Early stretch marks may feel slightly raised and can be itchy.

In time, the color fades and the narrow bands sink beneath your skin. If you run your finger over a mature stretch mark, you often feel a slight depression.

Like any scar, stretch marks are permanent, but treatment may make them less noticeable. Treatment can also help alleviate the itch.

Warts & Molluscum

Molluscum contagiosum is a relatively common viral infection of the skin that results in round, firm, painless bumps ranging in size from a pinhead to a pencil eraser. If the bumps are scratched or injured, the infection can spread to surrounding skin. Molluscum contagiosum also spreads through person-to-person contact and contact with infected objects.

Though most common in children, molluscum contagiosum can affect adults as well — particularly those with weakened immune systems. In adults with an otherwise normal immune system, molluscum contagiosum involving the genitals is considered a sexually transmitted infection.

The bumps associated with molluscum contagiosum usually disappear within a year without treatment but doctor-assisted removal is also an option.

Signs and symptoms of molluscum contagiosum include bumps on the skin that:

• Are raised, round and flesh colored

• Are small — typically under about 1/4 inch (smaller than 6 millimeters) in diameter

• Characteristically have a small indentation (umbilication) or dot at the top near the center

• Can become red and inflamed

• May be itchy

• Can be easily removed by scratching or rubbing, which can spread the virus to adjacent skin

• Usually appear on the face, neck, armpits, arms and tops of the hands in children

• May be seen on the genitals, lower abdomen and inner upper thighs in adults if the infection was sexually transmitted

Moles

Moles are a common type of skin growth. They often appear as small, dark brown spots and are caused by clusters of pigmented cells. Moles generally appear during childhood and adolescence. Most people have 10 to 40 moles, some of which may change in appearance or fade away over time.

Most moles are harmless. Rarely, they become cancerous. Monitoring moles and other pigmented patches is an important step in detecting skin cancer, especially malignant melanoma. The typical mole is a brown spot. But moles come in different colors, shapes and sizes:

• Color and texture. Moles can be brown, tan, black, red, blue or pink. They can be smooth, wrinkled, flat or raised. They may have hair growing from them.

• Shape. Most moles are oval or round.

• Size. Moles are usually less than 1/4 inch (about 6 millimeters) in diameter — the size of a pencil eraser. Rarely, moles present at birth (congenital nevi) can be much bigger, covering wide areas of the face, torso or a limb.

Unusual moles that may indicate melanoma

This ABCDE guide can help you determine if a mole or a spot may indicate melanoma or other skin cancers:

• A is for asymmetrical shape. One half is unlike the other half.

• B is for border. Look for moles with irregular, notched or scalloped borders.

• C is for color. Look for growths that have changed color, have many colors or have uneven color.

• D is for diameter. Look for new growth in a mole larger than 1/4 inch (about 6 millimeters).

• E is for evolving. Watch for moles that change in size, shape, color or height, especially if part or all of a mole turns black. Moles may also evolve to develop new signs and symptoms, such as itchiness or bleeding.

Cancerous (malignant) moles vary greatly in appearance. Some may show all of the features listed above. Others may have only one or two.

Skin Infections

Your skin is the largest organ of your body. Its function is to protect your body from infection. Sometimes the skin itself becomes infected. Skin infections are caused by a wide variety of germs, and symptoms can vary from mild to serious. Mild infections may be treatable with over-the-counter medications and home remedies, whereas other infections may require medical attention.

Fungal Infection

These types of skin infections are caused by a fungus and are most likely to develop in damp areas of the body, such as the feet or armpit. Some fungal infections aren’t contagious, and these infections are typically non-life-threatening.

Skin Lesions

A skin lesion is a part of the skin that has an abnormal growth or appearance compared to the skin around it. Two categories of skin lesions exist: primary and secondary.

• Primary skin lesions are abnormal skin conditions present at birth or acquired over a person’s lifetime.

• Secondary skin lesions are the result of irritated or manipulated primary skin lesions. For example, if someone scratches a mole until it bleeds, the resulting lesion, a crust, is now a secondary skin lesion.

Many conditions can cause different types of skin lesions including but not limited to: acne, cold sores, actinic keratosis, allergic eczema, impetigo, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, chickenpox, shingles, epidermoid cysts, MRSA, cellulitis, scabies, boils, bullae, blisters, nodules, rash, hives, keloids, warts.  

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a disease that causes loss of skin color in patches. The discolored areas usually get bigger with time. The condition can affect the skin on any part of the body. It can also affect hair and the inside of the mouth.

 Normally, the color of hair and skin is determined by melanin. Vitiligo occurs when cells that produce melanin die or stop functioning. Vitiligo affects people of all skin types, but it may be more noticeable in people with darker skin. The condition is not life-threatening or contagious.

Hyperhidrosis / Excessive Sweating

Hyperhidrosis is abnormally excessive sweating that's not necessarily related to heat or exercise. You may sweat so much that it soaks through your clothes or drips off your hands. Besides disrupting normal daily activities, this type of heavy sweating can cause social anxiety and embarrassment.

Most people sweat when they exercise or exert themselves, are in a hot environment, or are anxious or under stress. The excessive sweating experienced with hyperhidrosis far exceeds such normal sweating.

The type of hyperhidrosis that usually affects the hands, feet, underarms or face causes at least one episode a week, during waking hours. And the sweating usually occurs on both sides of the body.

See your doctor if:

• Sweating disrupts your daily routine

• Sweating causes emotional distress or social withdrawal

• You suddenly begin to sweat more than usual

• You experience night sweats for no apparent reason