Dr. Simon Madorsky, facial plastic surgeon, addressed an audience of California Dermatologists at the CalDerm Symposium, September 23-25 in Carlsbad. He spoke on Fillers and Nuromuscular Toxins (such as Botox), providing advice and tips for these injectables, as well as explaining relevant facial anatomy. He also spoke to the group about wound repair, including various skin flaps and grafts. These are used for both trauma and skin cancer reconstruction. He had the chance to meet Dr. Sandra Lee, aka Dr. Pimple Popper!! The post Dr. Madorsky speaks to California Dermatologists about Trends in Co ..read more

Chronic open wounds present a lifestyle challenge for patients. In particular, lower leg wounds can take months to fully heal and may require wound care to prevent infection and maintain a healthy, healing wound.  A wound vac or “vacuum-assisted closure of wound” can expedite healing. A wound vac decreases the air pressure on the wound which facilitates healing. It removes fluid from the wound, gently debrides the wound, and prevents a scab from forming. The wound heals from the edges with healthy epithelialization. The wound vac also helps increase blood flow to the wound which further e ..read more

Diffuse actinic sun damage can present a challenge for both patients and providers. First line treatment options include topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) cream or photodynamic therapy (PDT). Topical 5-FU cream is applied to the affected area for 2-3 weeks creating inflammation, redness,and crusting as the body eliminates the actinic damage. Alternatively, topical levulan is applied to the affected area followed by the 17 minute blue light exposure of PDT. The blue light activates the levulan causing a chemical reaction that treats the actinic damage. Similar to a 5-FU reaction, in PDT the patient ..read more

Have you ever wondered how your medical provider can look at a lesion and know whether or not it’s something to be concerned about? There are multiple aspects to evaluating pigmented lesions – the most important being physical exam. But there is a very helpful tool that providers have in their tool box: a Wood’s Lamp. It is a type of black light emitting a wavelength around 365nm – the blue edge of the visible light spectrum that includes UV light.  A Wood’s Lamp is a blue fluorescent light that is a very useful tool used frequently in dermatology for the evaluation several diagnoses, suc ..read more

What should you do when you notice a lesion or area of your foot that looks different from the rest of your skin? Should you go to your primary care doctor? A dermatologist? A podiatrist? The lesion could be a variety of things including a wart, an ulcer, a fungal infection, a bruise or blood blister, an ordinary mole, or a skin cancer.  Dermatologists and dermatology PAs are specially trained to identify and treat skin lesions on the foot. While skin cancers on the foot are uncommon overall, they do occur, including on the toes and under the toenails. The most common type of skin cancer ..read more

Acne is caused by a variety of factors. These factors include increased p. acnes bacteria, increased oil production by oil glands, “clogged pores,” genetic susceptibility, and increased androgen hormones. It is important to target multiple causes of acne to best control it. There are many “tried and true” options and some newer and less well known treatment options.  Initial treatment options for mild to moderate acne focus on consistent application of topical products.  Face washes should contain an active ingredient against acne. Examples include benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid ..read more

Some patients find themselves with a large number of skin cancers and pre-cancerous lesions. While surgical excision is recommended for certain types of skin cancer, pre-cancers and superficial skin cancers can often be treated in other ways. These non-surgical options are often ideal for patients with many lesions who want to limit the number of surgical procedures.  One option is topical therapy. The two most common topical therapies are 5-fluorouracil, commonly known as “5-FU”, and imiquimod, brand name Aldara. 5-FU is considered a “chemo cream” that kills cancer cells and prevents the ..read more

“I’ve got some good news, no more cancer.” Dr. Adam Aronson calmly said to Wade Jackson. A dermatologist and Mohs surgeon, Dr. Aronson confirmed that all cancer had been removed from Wade’s lower eyelid, through the process of Mohs surgery, where layers of skin are removed and viewed under a microscope until cancer cells are no longer present. Wade was then ushered next door to the SCARS Surgery Center, where oculoplastic surgeon Dr. Justin Karlin reconstructed the eyelid tissue. Although the news was good, it was just one more step in Wade’s years-long dance with skin cancer.  Four years ..read more

Many patients have been hesitant of dermatologic and cosmetic procedures due to the fear of leaving scars.  Patients who have surgical or biopsy scars may be hesitant to undergo more procedures. Surgical scars occur for various reasons including high tension closures, swelling, a mismatch of skin during closure, complications such as infections interfering with wound healing and simply genetics.  But did you know that your scars can be treated?  There are several approaches to treating scars, old and new. We can use simple techniques such as si ..read more

We publish a newsletter designed especially for patients and the public. It features real patients, expert advice, and the latest in skin cancer prevention and treatment. See our latest Skin Cancer Bulletin, Winter 2022. The post Skin Cancer Bulletin first appeared on Skin Cancer And Reconstructive Surgery Center ..read more