Dallas Associates of Uptown

Lentigo (Age Spots)

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About Lentigo (Age Spots)

What is it?

Most types of lentigo are caused by sun or radiation exposure. Lentigo is most common in middle-aged or older people. Solar lentigo is caused by sun exposure and is often referred to as age spots or liver spots. Solar lentigo commonly appears in sun-exposed parts of your body. It can be found on any part of your body and is most often caused by sun damage or exposure to radiation. There are numerous types of lentigo, but the most common type is called lentigo simplex.
Lentigo maligna is a type of growth that develops in areas of long-term sun exposure, such as your face, arms, or legs. Lentigo starts as a brown flat spot with an irregular shape that slowly gets bigger. Eventually, the spot may develop into melanoma, a type of skin cancer that begins in the top layer of skin and then invades the underlying skin layer. See your doctor if you notice:
  • A new skin growth
  • A change in an existing mole
  • Any skin changes that seem unusual

What causes it?

Most types of lentigo are caused by sun or radiation exposure. Lentigo is most common in middle-aged or older people. Solar lentigo is caused by sun exposure and is often referred to as age spots or liver spots. Solar lentigo commonly appears in sun-exposed parts of your body.
Ultraviolet radiation breaks down the connective tissue — collagen and elastin fibers — that lies in the deeper layer of the skin (dermis). Without the supportive connective tissue, the skin loses its elastic quality. This condition, known as solar elastosis (e-las-TOE-sis), is characterized by yellowed, thickened skin with deep wrinkles that don’t disappear with stretching.

Common treatments

Lentigo doesn’t usually cause pain or itchiness. The spots are also non-cancerous, but they can resemble other types of spots that can be cancerous. It’s a good idea to get them checked out by a dermatologist. Common treatments are listed below and offered at most of our clinics, just ask.

Chemical peels

A chemical peel is used to removed damaged skin cells on your hands, face, or neck. During a chemical peel, a chemical solution is applied to your lentigo. The chemicals exfoliate your skin spot to uncover healthy skin underneath.

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy is a method of freezing your skin spot with liquid nitrogen. It’s used for abnormal skin spots that are non-cancerous or precancerous. The treatment takes up to 10 days to heal from and usually doesn’t leave a scar.

Laser therapy

Laser therapy involves using beams of light to remove your lentigo skin spot. Laster therapy allows for a more precise removal than with traditional surgery. Many people who undergo laser surgery also have quicker recovery times.

Hair Loss and Restoration

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Discover more about alopecia or hair loss and what our board-certified dermatologists can do to help treat it.

Everyone loses hair. It is normal to lose about 50-100 hairs every day. If you see bald patches or lots of thinning, you may be experiencing hair loss. The medical term for this condition is alopecia.

Learn more below or contact Dermatology Associates of Uptown today for a consultation.

Causes

There are many causes of hair loss. Women may notice hair loss after giving birth. People under a lot of stress can see noticeable hair loss. Some diseases and medical treatments can cause hair loss.

The most common cause of hair loss is hereditary hair loss. About 80 million men and women in the United States have this type of hair loss. Other names of this type of hair loss include Male-pattern baldness, Female-pattern baldness, or Androgenic alopecia.

Alopecia areata is a prevalent autoimmune skin disease resulting in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere on the body. Alopecia areata occurs in males and females of all ages, but onset often occurs in childhood. Over 6.6 million people in the United States and 147 million worldwide have or will develop alopecia areata at some point in their lives.

Cicatricial alopecia is a rare disease which destroys a person’s hair follicles. Scar tissue forms where the follicles once were, so the hair cannot re-grow.

Central centrifugal cicatricial (scarring) alopecia primarily affects women of African descent. It begins in the center of the scalp and radiates out from the center of the scalp as it progresses. The affected scalp becomes smooth and shiny. The hair loss can be very slow or rapid.

There are many risk factors that can contribute to or cause hair loss, including:

  • Underlying medical conditions
  • Illness
  • Certain cancer treatments
  • Ringworm
  • Trichotillomania, which causes people to pull out their own hair
  • Hormonal changes
  • Stress
  • Weight Loss
  • Vitamin A deficiency
  • Protein or Iron deficiency
  • Eating Disorders
  • Inadequate hair care and certain hair styles

Symptoms

Hair loss may cause gradual thinning, bald patches, or complete baldness. It varies from person to person, and condition.

Treatment

Once your dermatologist determines what is causing your hair loss, there are many effective options for treatment.

  • Treatments:
  • Chemical Peels
  • Cosmetic Injections
  • Hair Loss and Restoration
  • Laser Therapy
  • Mohs Surgery
  • Mole Removal

Contact us to book a consultation to learn more about treatment options!

Actinic Keratoses

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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 Dallas Associated Dermatologists.

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.

Since it is always possible that an actinic keratosis may be a precursor to skin cancer, don’t take any chances with your health. Talk to your dermatologist right away for a screening.

Conditions

  • Shingles
  • Psoriasis
  • Eczema
  • Moles
  • Skin Cancer
  • Varicose Veins
  • Acne
  • Actinic Keratoses

“As usual, it was great! Dr. Crawford more or less is why I’m able to type this. He has found numerous melanomas, squamous and basal carcinomas over the past 15 years. Today was a cyst. Something new for me but was a success.”

Psoriasis

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About Psoriasis

What is it?

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder in which your skin produces skin cells much faster than normal. This causes them to build up into thick, flaky, itchy, inflamed patches. There are several types of psoriasis, including plaque psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, nail psoriasis, inverse psoriasis, and several other types that are rare. Common areas of the body where psoriasis develops include the scalp, torso, arms, thighs, armpits, groin, fingernails, and toenails. There’s also very painful psoriatic arthritis, in which both the skin and the nearby joints are stiff and inflamed. While psoriasis most commonly appears in people between the ages of 15 to 35, approximately 10% of people who develop psoriasis will be under the age of 10 when symptoms appear and 4% will have their first sign of psoriasis occur over the age of 60.

External Symptoms

Symptoms of psoriasis, especially early on, can be similar to other conditions like eczema or skin allergies. However, as time goes on, the physical symptoms of psoriasis can worsen including itchy, flaking skin that bleeds or cracks and thick, discolored, and/or ridged nails.

Internal Symptoms

Some of the most damaging symptoms of psoriasis occur internally with the emotional distress one faces with psoriasis, as well as psoriatic arthritis which occurs in 30% of people who are affected by the disease. Psoriatic arthritis is painful and affects the joints most commonly in the fingers and toes, feet, and lower back. Also, there is a higher rate of heart disease, stroke, and other internal diseases associated with psoriasis.

What causes it?

Genetics and the immune system function play major roles in the appearance of psoriasis. Instead of the immune system protecting the body from viruses, foreign proteins, and bacteria, the immune system in someone with psoriasis “misfires” and attacks healthy cells. This causes inflammation in the skin leading to more rapid growth of skin cells. The increased growth of skin cells requires more blood circulation to feed the process which results in a multitude of psoriatic symptoms.
The genetic predisposition to psoriasis involves the abnormal function of the inflammatory cells called T-lymphocytes, or “T-cells”. While many people live with these abnormal T-cells without having symptoms of psoriasis, there are many situations that can trigger these cells to create the red, scaly patches of psoriasis.
Common triggers include…

Strep infections

For children ages 10 or younger, the most common trigger for psoriasis is strep infection, the most common of which is strep throat.

Emotional distress

Emotional distress is a common trigger of psoriasis in adults.

The abuse of substances like alcohol and tobacco

Skin irritation

Skin irritations such as scrapes or irritations from getting a tattoo applied are other triggers for psoriasis.

Medications

Certain medications including lithium, antimalarials, Inderal, quinidine, and indomethacin have been associated with triggering psoriasis.

Common treatments

Though psoriasis is not contagious, it is unpredictable. You may heal without warning only to have it return just as quickly or years later. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for psoriasis, but our dermatologists have the knowledge and experience necessary to help you manage your symptoms. Our psoriasis treatment options include topical medications, Vitamin D (steroids or retinol creams/gels), oral treatments, biologic treatments (retinoid pills, chemotherapy medicine), light therapy, and UV-B light (controlled doses of sunlight).

Providers

Our approach & expertise

We know that an aggressive and troublesome skin condition like psoriasis can affect you both physically and psychologically. As your community skin specialists, we’re here to provide encouragement and answers to questions you may have about this problematic skin issue. Contact us today if you notice symptoms of psoriasis so that we can help you deal with this unpredictable condition. We provide treatment options that can be tailored to suit your needs and goals, and we’ll be by your side each step of the way, addressing your concerns and providing advice and after-care support.

Acne

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Acne is a common, benign skin condition characterized by localized breakouts in the form of postures, blackheads, and whiteheads.

Although acne is most common in teens, adults may also experience episodes of acne breakouts.

The worst part about acne is its appearance. Since acne most frequently occurs on the face, breakouts can cause extreme embarrassment and lead to a lack of self-confidence.

Acne is highly treatable by your dermatologist.

What are the Symptoms of Acne?

Since there are many types of acne, symptoms can vary depending on the type and severity.

Generally, the most common symptoms of acne include:

  • Whiteheads. These are pores that are both closed and plugged.
  • Blackheads. These happen in pores that are plugged, yet still open.
  • Papules. These are small bumps that are red and tender to the touch.
  • Pimples. Commonly known as pustules. These are papules, but they have pus at their tips.
  • Nodules. These are painful lumps under the skin that are solid and typically large.
  • Cystic lesions. These are defined as pus-filled lumps under the skin that are quite painful.

Types of Acne

The two most common forms of acne are:

  • Noninflammatory
  • Inflammatory

Within these categories are subcategories. For example, noninflammatory acne is characterized by blackheads and whiteheads, both of which rarely cause swelling and usually respond to over-the-counter medications.

As for inflammatory acne, this includes papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts. This type of acne is more difficult to treat since it involves infections that are deeper underneath the skin.

What Causes Acne?

When acne appears, it is due to four main factors that may work in combination with one another. These include:

  • Hair follicles clogged by dead skin cells and oil
  • Excess production of oil
  • Inflammation
  • Bacteria

Along with these factors, other things can trigger an acne attack or worsen existing acne. Among these are:

  • Hormonal changes
  • Medications
  • Stress
  • Diet

When hormonal changes occur during puberty or midlife, androgen production increases and can trigger or worsen acne. Also, medications containing testosterone or corticosteroids can make acne worse.

Treatment for Acne

You may have spent a lot of time trying various treatments to get rid of your acne. But the best treatment for all types of acne is dermatologic treatment.

If you have seen no improvements or your acne has worsened, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your dermatologist.