Articles

Non-surgical body contouring refers to cosmetic treatments which are non-invasive that are used to help individuals eliminate fat, shape or contour areas of the body, and tighten skin. Lipolysis, the medical term for destruction of fat cells, is one example of technology used for nonsurgical body contouring.

Vaginal rejuvenation is a broad term referring to surgical and non-surgical techniques used to tighten the vagina, treat incontinence, and improve sexual experiences. Non-surgical treatments are non-invasive procedures designed to help tighten and tone the vaginal area. Examples include laser therapies

Nummular dermatitis is a type of eczema characterized by intensely itchy, red, scaly, and at times weeping or oozing, coin-shaped lesions. Nummular dermatitis typically affects the extremities, with the legs being the most common site of involvement. The condition can occur at any age, with men being

A cold sore is a blister or a cluster of blisters that typically form on or around the lips and mouth. Affected people can experience recurrent bouts of blister outbreaks, often triggered by sun exposure, hormonal fluctuations, stress, illness, or injury. The condition is caused by an infection by the

Pemphigus is a rare group of autoimmune skin diseases that causes painful blisters on the skin and/or mucous membranes (lips, mouth, esophagus, nose, eyes, genitals). The different types of pemphigus include: pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus vegetans, pemphigus foliaceus, endemic pemphigus, pemphigus erythematosus,

Pityriasis alba is often thought of as a low grade form of eczema. It presents with ill-defined, light colored (hypopigmented), slightly scaly patches of skin most commonly found on the face. It affects mainly children and adolescents and is often more noticeable in darker skin tones or tanned skin.

Pityriasis rosea is a common, self-limited rash that typically begins with the appearance of a solitary, enlarging, circular, pink, scaly patch - known as the “herald patch”. In the following 1-2 weeks, numerous smaller, round to oval, pink, scaly patches appear, typically on the trunk in a Christmas-tree-like

Prurigo nodularis is a condition where repeated scratching or picking at a site creates itchy, raised, hard bumps on the skin. Prurigo nodularis can appear anywhere on the body, but is most commonly found on the arms, legs, trunk, or buttocks. The condition is more common in older individuals (over 50),

Pseudofolliculitis barbae is a chronic inflammatory condition that predominantly affects Black men. Affected individuals develop pink papules and pustules around the hair follicles on the face and neck due to shaving. As the papules and pustules resolve, it can result in hyperpigmentation (darker discoloration)

Pyogenic granulomas are benign vascular growths that grow rapidly and frequently present as raised, red lesions that bleed with minor trauma. These lesions are most commonly found on the face or fingers, but can also develop on other parts of the skin or oral mucosa (lips or gums). Children, teenagers,

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory condition where the immune system goes into overdrive, creating clusters of inflamed tissue called granulomas to form in different parts of the body. Though it can affect many organ systems such as the skin, eyes, heart, and nervous system, involvement of the lungs and

Sebaceous hyperplasia are benign, non-worrisome, enlarged oil gland growths. They present as pinkish orange or yellow papules, sometimes with a central dell, most commonly found on the central face of middle aged or older people. Sebaceous hyperplasia can also be found on the chest, areola, mouth, or

Dry skin is a common skin condition that results when the skin loses moisture and its natural oils resulting in scaling, flaking, cracking, and itching. It is sometimes also referred to as xeroderma or xerosis. Dry skin affects people of any age and skin type and can occur anywhere on the body. Dry skin

Skin tags are very common, benign, skin growths. They present as fleshy outgrowths of the skin, at times extending from a stalk or stem. They are frequently found in areas of high friction such as around the neck, in the axilla (armpits), or in the groin folds. They are usually flesh colored, but can

Stasis dermatitis is a type of eczema that develops on the lower legs as a result of poor circulation. In affected people, the valves in the deep leg veins that help push blood back to the heart begin to fail, leading to the leakage of fluid, varicose veins, and subsequent swelling of the lower legs.

Stretch marks are a type of scar that occurs when the skin stretches rapidly. Examples include: growth spurts during puberty, pregnancy, rapid weight loss or gain, and bodybuilding. It can appear as pinkish, purplish, or flesh colored linear bands or streaks on the skin that are depressed or indented.

Sunscreen use is critical to protecting your skin from UV radiation. Wearing the right sunscreen will allow you to maximize your time in the sun while being protected from its harmful rays. Dermatologists recommend picking a broad spectrum sunscreen (one which blocks both UVA and UVB rays) with an SPF

Telogen effluvium is a common cause of temporary hair loss caused by excessive shedding of telogen or resting hairs. All hair cycles through the stages of hair growth - from growing to involution to resting and eventually shedding. In a normal scalp, about 90-95% of hair follicles are in the growing

The sun emits UV radiation in the form of UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVA rays, which are the longest, penetrate the deepest in the skin and are responsible for tanning and premature aging. UVB rays are shorter and responsible for vitamin D production in the skin. UVB rays are also the cause of sunburning. UVC

Tinea refers to a group of fungal infections which can affect the skin, hair, and nails. The specific name of the infection depends on the affected area of the body. A few common examples include: tinea capitis (infection of the scalp/head) - often referred to as ringworm tinea corporis (infection

Tinea versicolor, also called pityriasis versicolor, is a common skin infection caused by the overgrowth of a yeast. Typically, it presents as patchy areas of lighter or darker discoloration on the trunk and shoulders that can be scaly in appearance. It can affect anyone, but is more common in teens

Traction alopecia is a type of hair loss that occurs as a result of the hair being pulled too tightly. It commonly occurs in hair styles such as ponytails, buns, tight braids, cornrows, hair weaves, and hair extensions. The prolonged traction or pulling leads to hair breakage and resultant hair loss

Urticaria is the medical term for hives - a common skin rash which presents with itchy pink welts. The welts can vary in size, shape, and distribution. A defining characteristic is that the individual lesions are transient, appearing and resolving within a 24 hour period. So, even though an individual

Venous lakes are bluish, purplish, vascular papules that occur on sun exposed areas such as the ears and lips. They are a result of long-term sun exposure and sun damage. As they are harmless, no treatment is necessary. However, they can be treated or removed if bothersome or symptomatic. Disclaimer: