Medical Dermatology

Comprehensive skincare for patients aged 3 and up.

Taking care of young skin is crucial to help ensure a lifetime of healthy skin. As the largest organ of the body, the skin is affected by a vast array of bodily functions and visually exhibits the state of health of the body.

While young skin is incredibly resilient, it is still susceptible to many of the same perils that other bodily organ tissues are vulnerable to, including pitting, scarring, inflammation, discoloration, dehydration, and much more. To help avoid lifelong effects, swift diagnosis and treatment are necessary.

Diagnosing and treating pediatric skin conditions is central to our mission at Texas Dermatology Specialists. That is why we offer comprehensive pediatric dermatology care that covers skin, hair, and nails.

Diagnosis of Pediatric Skin Conditions
A wide variety of skin conditions can benefit from our pediatric dermatology services at Texas Dermatology Specialists. These include:

• “Baby” eczema
• Severe/chronic diaper rash
• Birth injury/lesion
• “Salmon patches” or “stork bites”
• Vitiligo
• White bumps
• “Cradle cap” (seborrhea)
• Dandruff
• Brittle nails
• Discolored nails
• Acne (mild to severe)
• Abnormal hair loss
• Dermatitis
• Skin rashes
• Hives
• Itching
• Pain
• Eczema
• Moles (suspicious)
• Psoriasis
• Dermatofibroma
• Abnormal scarring
• Sunburn
• Allergic reactions (poison ivy, poison oak, food-related)
• Bacterial, viral or fungal skin infections
• Warts
• Inherited/genetic skin conditions
• And more…

As you can see, there are countless reasons why you may need to bring your baby, youngster, or teen in to see one of our professional clinicians.

The key to ensuring expedient and accurate diagnosis and treatment of pediatric skin conditions is to make sure that your child is seen by a professional as soon as possible after symptoms appear.

If you have any doubt regarding whether your child’s condition warrants a visit, just give us a call and one of our friendly and experienced team members will be happy to advise you.

Treatment For Pediatric Dermatology Skin Conditions
After your youngster’s skin condition has been diagnosed, your doctor will provide treatment options to you.

You and your dermatologist will work closely together to ensure that you fully understand the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care.

As a loving parent or caregiver, your assistance will be integral to the recovery of your child’s skin condition. As such, you will always be fully “in the loop” when it comes to dermatologic care for your infant or adolescent.

Our dermatologists are happy to answer your questions and get you in as soon as possible to have your child’s skin, hair, or nail condition diagnosed and treated.

About Vitiligo and Skin Pigment Disorders

What are they?

Vitiligo is the patchy loss of your skin’s natural color. This occurs when melanin, the pigment that determines your skin’s color, is damaged or destroyed. Although vitiligo can negatively impact your self-esteem, it is physically harmless. Vitiligo affects about 2 percent of Americans and develops in people of all skin colors; however, if you have dark skin, the contrast between the dark skin and the lighter areas of color loss is more noticeable. Moreover, this condition is often unpredictable. You may personally experience only small patches of pigment loss, but for others, the condition may be much more widespread. It can be temporary for some and permanent for others. In extreme cases, it can alter a hair or eye color and/or develop inside the mouth.

What causes it?

The exact causes of vitiligo are unknown, but several possibilities are thought to be major contributors. Among these include immune system dysfunction, certain viruses, stress, sunburn, injury, and exposure to certain chemicals. As mentioned, symptoms include the development of white patches of skin, often with reddish-brown boundaries. These white patches can appear on many areas of the body, including the forehead, eye area, lips, mouth, hands, arms, elbows, underarms, knees, feet, neck, and torso.

Common treatments

Treatment for vitiligo varies and depends on the extent of your specific form of vitiligo. Realistic expectations are important and should include reducing the contrast between your normal skin and the lighter areas and improving your self-esteem and confidence. Effective solutions for vitiligo include topical medications, sun avoidance and/or sunscreen (SPF 30 minimum), UV-B light therapy, a combination light, and medication therapy, or, in severe cases, skin grafting.

Providers

Our approach & expertise

We know that sudden or unusual changes in your pigmentation, such as with vitiligo, can cause social and emotional distress. As your knowledgeable community skin healthcare providers, we have the knowledge to help you manage this condition. We” work with you to find the best solution, and you can lean on us for support in managing this condition.

About Rosacea

What is it?

Rosacea is characterized by persistent skin redness, the prominence of blood vessels, blotchiness, and reddish bumps or pimples on the face; it’s as if you have the inclination to blush or flush quickly and without reason. In particular, it commonly develops in the cheeks, chin, nose, forehead, ears, and neck.

What causes it?

The exact causes of rosacea are unknown, although genetics, problem blood vessels, and irregular immune system function are thought to contribute. There are, however, known common triggers that you should avoid, such as sun exposure, alcohol, spicy foods, and hot liquids.

Common treatments

There is no outright “cure” for rosacea and it is often unpredictable; even if you avoid triggers and follow a treatment plan that eliminates the symptoms, it can return without warning. However, the skin experts at our dermatology practice can help you manage the condition by minimizing symptoms as much as possible. For milder cases, topical medications can reduce redness while oral medications can shrink bumps and pimples. For more severe symptoms, laser or IPL (intense pulsed light) therapy is effective for improving blood vessels and/or reducing blushing and flushing.

Providers

Our approach & expertise

Early detection of skin cancer plays a critical role in recovery and survival rates.

Skin cancer is defined as the growth of abnormal cells in the outer layer of the skin. A diagnosis of skin cancer means that a person has out-of-control, malignant skin cell growth.

This condition can ultimately be fatal when left untreated or undiagnosed. Skin cancer can grow unchecked and infiltrate other parts of the body.

A comprehensive skin exam with your dermatologist is the first line of defense against skin cancer.

What are the Symptoms of Skin Cancer?

The most common type of cancer, skin cancer, can range from very mild types to those that are life-threatening. Because of this, it’s vital to catch it as early as possible.

To do so, you need to know the common symptoms. In most cases, these include:

• Bleeding sore that heals but then returns
• Pearly or waxy bump on skin
• Flat lesion with a scaly, crusted surface
• Mole that changes color or size
• Lesions with irregular borders

Since these symptoms can be associated with various types of skin cancers, it is crucial that you not delay in seeking the advice of your Camelback Dermatology & Skin Surgery dermatologist to get a proper diagnosis.

Types of Skin Cancer

If you are unfamiliar with skin cancer, you should realize there are multiple types of skin cancer, some of which are mild while others are quite serious.

The most common types of skin cancer are:

• Basal cell carcinoma
• Squamous cell carcinoma
• Melanoma

Basal cell carcinoma is usually found on sun-exposed areas such as the neck or face. Signs of this cancer include flat lesions that are flesh-colored or have a scar-like appearance, as well as a sore that won’t heal or heals and then returns.

Squamous cell carcinoma usually appears on the ears or hands. Characterized by a flat lesion with a scaly and crusty surface, people with darker skin can develop this cancer on areas not often exposed to the sun.

Melanoma can occur anywhere on the body, can affect men and women, and be present on any skin tone.

What Causes Skin Cancer?

Skin cancer is very complex and can be caused by many different factors. No matter the type, skin cancer is caused by mutations in the DNA of skin cells, leading to them growing out of control — creating a cancer cell mass.

The main reasons why this occurs are:

• Exposure to UV rays from the sun or tanning beds
• Exposure to toxic substances or radiation
• Having a compromised immune system

Other risk factors include having a large number of moles on your body, having a predisposition to sunburns, or having a family history of skin cancer.

Treatment for Skin Cancer

Treatment results can vary. Your dermatologist at Camelback Dermatology & Skin Surgery will advise you as to the appropriate course of treatment based on your individual circumstances and the type of skin cancer that you have.

Due to the seriousness of skin cancer, don’t take chances by delaying your diagnosis and treatment. With skin cancer, early detection plays a critical role in recovery and survival.

Never try to diagnose an unusual-looking mole by yourself at home, schedule a consultation with your dermatologist if you have concerns.

Actinic keratosis is a skin condition characterized by one or more rough, scaly patches as a result of cumulative sun exposure.

Actinic keratosis can occur on any part of the body, but it most often occurs in out-of-the-way areas where a person has omitted using sunblock. This includes the ears, lips, back of the neck or hands, or even the scalp.

Actinic keratosis is sometimes called solar keratosis because it is caused by sun exposure. Those over the age of 40 are more apt to develop this condition since it occurs from the cumulative effects of UV light exposure.

Screening and treatment for actinic keratosis is available at Camelback Dermatology & Skin Surgery, a short drive away in Phoenix.

What are the Symptoms of Actinic Keratosis?

Though actinic keratosis can differ from one person to another, the signs and symptoms remain the same across the board. Typically, the most common signs and symptoms include a patch of skin that is dry, rough, or scaly. Most often, this patch of skin is less than one inch in diameter.

Other symptoms include color variations such as brown, red, or pink, itching or burning, crusting or bleeding, a slightly-raised bump on the top layer of skin, and new patches on such sun-exposed areas as hands, neck, head, and forearms.

Types of Actinic Keratosis

There are five different types of actinic keratosis:

• Hypertrophic
• Atrophic
• Bowenoid
• Acantholytic
• Pigmented

Of these five, the hypertrophic and atrophic types are the most common.

Also, studies have shown that for those individuals who suffer from hypertrophic actinic keratosis, there is a greater chance it may evolve into a form of cancer known as squamous cell carcinoma.

What Causes Actinic Keratosis?

When an actinic keratosis forms, it is most often due to a person being exposed to intense UV rays on a frequent basis.

While most cases result from overexposure to the sun’s UV rays, many people with this condition have also exposed their skin to the intensity of tanning beds.

While anyone can potentially get an actinic keratosis, some have certain risk factors that put them at even greater risk.

These factors include:

• Having red or blond hair and either blue or light-colored eyes
• Prior history of bad sunburns
• Tendency to freckle or burn when exposed to sunlight
• Aged 40 or older
• Working primarily outdoors
• Possessing a weakened immune system
• Living in a sunny climate

Treatment for Actinic Keratosis

While a simple examination of your skin may allow a doctor to diagnose actinic keratosis, a skin biopsy may be performed as an added precaution.

Don’t gamble with actinic keratosis, a potential precursor to skin cancer. Entrust your care to Camelback Dermatology & Skin Surgery’s esteemed dermatologists, screening and treating keratosis and other skin conditions in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Schedule an appointment today.