Utah Valley Clinic Dermatology

Acne occurs when tiny follicles on your body become plugged. Typically, Acne begins in puberty when hormones change, but it can also occur at any stage of life

Symptoms

Acne commonly appears on the face and shoulders. Symptoms of acne include the following:

• Whiteheads
• Blackheads
• Crusting of skin bumps
• Cysts
• Papules, or small red bumps
• Redness around the skin changes
• Scarring the skin

Dermatitis is swollen or inflamed skin cause by touching something that irritates your skin, such as a chemical or cleaning product, or by touching something you're allergic to, such as perfume.

Symptoms

The main symptom of dermatitis is a rash. The skin may be red, chapped, or cracked. It may also be painful and itchy.

Causes

The main causes of dermatitis relate to irritants such as products (soapy water, cleaners, or rubbing alcohol), poison ivy, nickel (a metal used in jewelry), perfumes, etc.

When to See a Doctor

See a healthcare provider if your rash does not get better within 2 weeks, or if it gets worse.

Eczema is a long-lasting (chronic) skin-condition. It's most common in babies and children, but adults can have it too. As children with this condition get older, it may get better or go away. In adults it tends to come and go for a long time.

People with eczema may lack proteins that maintain the skin's barrier to water. This can cause the skin to be very sensitive to irritants.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of eczema include:

• Dry, itchy skin (itching may begin before the rash appears
• Raw, red skin with blisters that weep clear fluid or crust over
• Rashes on the face, inside the elbows, behind the knees, and on the hands and feet
• Thickened areas of skin from long-term scratching

When to See a Doctor

See a provider if:

• Symptoms do not get better with the care you give at home
• The treatment your provider recommends does not work
• You show signs of an infection - such as red and painful skin

When something is wrong, our body usually gives us some kind of indication, from pain or swelling to redness and irritation. One of these warning signs is Hives, which are itchy red bumps that appear on the skin.

Causes

Causes of Hives may include:

• Food:Allergic reactions to food are one of the most common causes of Hives. Nut or nut products are often to blame, including peanuts and soy.
• Medication:While it may seem odd, certain medications can also can Hives. Common medications include anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. Talk to your doctor before starting any medication regime and let them know immediately if you notice hives or other adverse reactions.
• Other sources:Hives can be caused by the skin reacting to scratching, itching, or increased pressure. Exposure to cold air, water, or even too much sunlight can cause Hives. These reactions are usually temporary and may come and go over time.

Psoriasis is a common yet chronic skin disease. It is believed to be caused when a person's immune system sends bad or faulty signals that tell skin cells to grow too quickly.

Normally, new skin cells grow every couple of weeks and the body will naturally shed old cells. This process keeps the skin healthy. If you have Psoriasis, new skin cells form more quickly, in a matter of days. The body does not shed these excess skin cells. The excess cells then pile up on the surface of the skin, causing psoriasis.

Types of Psoriasis

There are different types of Psoriasis that include:

• Plaque Psoriasis: This is the most common form of Psoriasis. It appears as raised, red patches covered with a buildup of dead skin cells.
• Guttate Psoriasis: This is the second most common form of Psoriasis. It appears as small, dot-like lesions. This form of Psoriasis often starts in childhood or young adulthood.
• Inverse Psoriasis: This form of Psoriasis appears as red lesions often found behind the knee or under the arm or groin.
• Pustular Psoriasis: This form of Psoriasis appears as white blisters surrounded by red skin. It occurs most often on the hands and feet.
• Erythrodermic Psoriasis: This form is a severe form that leads to widespread patches across most of the body.

When to See a Doctor

If you have symptoms of Psoriasis you should contact your healthcare provider. You should also talk to your doctor if your skin condition:

• Causes pain or discomfort
• Makes performing daily tasks difficult
• Appears to worsen with treatment

The largest organ on your body is your skin. If the top layer of the skin gets an infection from a virus you ma notice an appearance of skin growths. These growths are called Warts. Warts are not cancerous. They are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV).

You can get warts from another person or spread it yourself through touch or nail biting. HPV can also enter the body through damaged or cut skin.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of Warts may include small, fleshy, grainy bumps (or growths) that appear on the fingers, hands, face, arms, or legs. These growths may be rough or painful to the touch. The growths may have small black pinpoints which are small, clotted blood vessels.

When to See a Doctor

You should contact a health provider if:

• If you've tried to treat the warts yourself and they don't go away
• The warts are painful
• The warts interfere with daily activities
• You have a weakened immune system
• You have a fever or other symptoms of infection

Mohs surgery is a specialized and highly effective technique developed specifically for skin cancer. It works best in treating basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, the two most common types of skin cancer. It's usually performed in areas where preserving as much healthy tissue as possible is a top priority, such around the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, hairline, hands, feet, and genitals.

Dr. Lowe is a board certified dermatologist who has completed fellowship training in Mohs surgery. He leads an advanced team of nurses and laboratory personnel at Utah Valley Clinic to oversee your treatment and ensure that you receive the best care possible.

How It Works

Mohs surgery is a precision operation designed to remove skin cancer around sensitive areas while keeping as much healthy tissue as possible. This helps minimize scarring during the recovery process.

The surgery itself involves removing thin layers of cancerous skin and testing them until only healthy, cancer-free skin remain. This allows doctors to know that all cancer cells have been removed during the surgery. This precision gives Mohs surgery the highest reported cure rate of all skin cancer treatments.

The treatment is usually completed in under four hours, but it will depend on the microscopic mapping and what Dr. Lowe and his team find. Plan on scheduling out the full day for your treatment.