GENERAL DERMATOLOGY

Schedule a visit with one of our board-certified dermatologists or physician assistants for your medical dermatology needs including treatments for hair, skin, and nails. We treat a variety of common skin conditions and offer preventative screening exams for skin cancer. See below for information on some of the conditions we often treat.

Acne
Acne is the term for blocked pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples, and deeper lumps (cysts or nodules) that occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders, and upper arms. Acne is one of the most common skin conditions in the country affecting teenagers and adults. Untreated acne can cause physical disfigurement (scarring) and emotional distress.

Treatment for acne varies depending on the type and severity of lesions, as well as the patient’s age, skin type, and lifestyle. We offer various treatment options for acne including topical customized regimens, oral medications, medical grade skin care, and acne surgery (extractions).

You may require various cosmetic, laser and light treatments for acne and scarring. Treatment options include: SkinWave Infusion Facial, Blue light LED treatment, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), Laser Genesis, microneedling, or Frax treatment.

Atypical Moles/Dysplastic Nevi
A common mole is called a nevus. These are not dangerous, and you may have numerous nevi anywhere on your body. If a mole begins to change color, shape, size, or become symptomatic (i.e. itchy, painful, bleeding) it needs to be evaluated.

A Dysplastic Nevus is a mole with unusual features. It is usually larger, has irregular colors and borders, and is asymmetrical. People who have had multiple dysplastic nevi are at a higher risk for developing melanoma skin cancer. At this time, the only way to diagnose melanoma is with a thorough skin exam and removal of suspicious lesions for laboratory examination. We use dermoscopy, a specialized technique to evaluate moles during your skin exam.

Benign Skin Lesions
There are variety of benign skin lesions we diagnose and treat in the office including benign keratoses, skin tags, dermatofibromas, angiomas, and more. Treatment options may include surgical removal, treatment with liquid nitrogen (cryosurgery), or laser surgery.

Cysts
Cysts are as small, hard lumps or inflammatory lesions found on the skin. Sometimes they get inflamed or infected and can become painful. These can often be treated with either intralesional steroid injections, incision and drainage, or excision. Occasionally, larger cysts may require treatment with oral antibiotics.

Dermatitis and Eczema
Eczema is an inflammatory condition that causes itching, dryness, red scaly skin. There are several types of eczema including: atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, nummular eczema, seborrheic dermatitis. Certain environmental factors may trigger eczema flares lasting days to weeks. Combination therapy including topical emollients, oral antihistamines, topical corticosteroids, and injectable treatments may be needed to treat active eczema.

Disorders of Skin Pigmentation
Many patients suffer from disorders of skin pigmentation including scarring, melasma, vitiligo, sun spots, age spots, and more. Treatment plans are customizable dependent upon diagnosis and skin type. Some treatment options may include topical therapy, oral medication, or laser treatments.

Folliculitis
Folliculitis is a common inflammatory or infectious skin condition that develops in the hair follicles, sometimes resembling an acne breakout. Causes may include tight clothing, waxing/shaving, topical treatments applied to the skin, and more. Folliculitis can be treated with lifestyle modifications as well as topical washes, and/or oral antibiotics.

Full-Body Skin Exams
Full-body skin exams are an important tool in screening patients for benign or cancerous lesions that one may not detect or recognize on self-examination. We will inspect your skin from head to toe for any suspicious growths. This quick and painless preventive measure is an invaluable tool in the early detection of skin cancer, abnormal moles, as well as many other dermatologic conditions.

Hair Loss
At Westport dermatology we take a customized approach to diagnosing and treating hair loss.

Your initial visit will be an assessment to determine the type of hair loss you have. Your doctor may recommend a biopsy of the scalp and lab work. Determining the type of hair loss you have is important for optimizing results.

We believe each case of hair loss is unique and we develop a personalized treatment plan for results. We offer supplements, in office treatments, and customized topical and oral medications to treat hair loss.

Click here to learn more about PRFM for hair loss treatment.

Molluscum Contagiosum
Molluscum is a contagious viral infection of the skin commonly seen children. The condition is benign, however clearing of the bumps may take several months. Multiple simple treatments are available to accelerate clearance which may include topical treatments, beetle juice (cantharidin), and cryotherapy in the office.

Rosacea
Rosacea is a common, chronic, acne-like condition that causes redness and pimples on the face. Although rosacea can occur in anyone, it most commonly affects middle-aged women who have fair skin. Left untreated, rosacea tends to worsen over time. Rosacea signs and symptoms include flushing and redness of the face, broken capillaries, sensitive skin, and papules/pimples. Rosacea may flare up for a period of weeks to months and then diminish before flaring up again. Rosacea can be mistaken for acne, an allergic reaction or other skin problems.

While there’s no cure for rosacea, treatments can control and reduce the signs and symptoms. If you experience persistent redness of your face, see your doctor for a diagnosis and proper treatment which include topical and oral medications, as well as laser therapy.

Skin Cancer Screening Treatment
The incidence of skin cancer is on the rise. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of their lifetime. Annual skin exams and skin cancer screenings can help detect suspicious moles, abnormal growths, precancerous spots, and skin cancer. Due to extensive sun (UV) exposure most of us have had, we are at an increased risk for skin cancer. Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment will improve cure rates and ensure the best outcome. Skin cancers found and removed early are almost always curable. We, at Westport Dermatology, will perform a step-by-step skin exam and educate you on what to look out for. We use dermoscopy, a specialized technique, that uses light and magnification to identify suspicious lesions during your skin exam.

Tinea
Tinea is a fungal infection of the skin caused by a yeast. It may appear as a pigmented patch, anywhere on the body, and may be dry, scaly and itchy. Treatment includes topical or oral medications.

Warts
Warts are benign skin growths caused by viruses. HPV, or human papillomavirus, and its subtype are responsible for most warts. Wart viruses are contagious, but not dangerous. The following treatments are available for children and adults: Cryotherapy – (freezing procedure), “Painting” – a mild acid or a blistering agent on the wart, and topical creams -which augment the local immune response. We also offer immunotherapy to select patients for treatment of warts.