Procedures
Dermatology & Dermatologic Surgery
Dermatology is a specialized field of medicine concerned with disease and disorders to the skin and its structures (including the hair, nails, and mouth) that are inherited or caused by an allergy, skin irritation (i.e.., exposure to chemicals, environmental changes, etc.), infections and injury (trauma).
Treatment is available for skin disorders (i.e.., acne, “ringworm”, itching, “shingles”, psoriasis, dandruff, poison ivy, warts, etc.) and various growths (i.e.., moles, skin tags, cysts, keratoses, skin cancers, unsightly dilated blood vessels, and other benign, pre-cancerous, or malignant growths).
I try to have available, hand out sheets with information about your diagnosis and treatment so you can read about it after your office visit.
Special Diagnostic Test/Therapy
- Koh Testing: Removal of scales from the patient’s skin for microscopic examination in order to determine the existence of mites (The “7 year itch”) or to isolate a fungus and/ or yeast.
- Skin Biopsy: The surgical removal of a small piece of skin which is then strained and then examined under the microscope by a specialist (a Derma pathologist) to identify characteristic changes in skin disorders. This test can be critical to the special identification of a skin disorders. (i.e.., cancerous, or non cancerous) and determination of the proper method of follow up treatment.
- Glycolic Acid Peels: An extremely effective treatment to remove the top layer of the skin and many superficial lesions.
Surgery
- General Procedures: Cautery (burning) and Cryosurgery (freezing) for removal of many benign and pre-malignant growths. Scalpel Excision (cutting), Snip Excision (cutting) and Curettage (scraping) with Electro desiccation (electric destruction) of moles, cysts, skin cancers, and other unwanted growths.
The Villages Office