What is Medical Dermatology?

A dermatologist is a medical expert specializing in the treatment of hair, skin, nails, and oral cavity. These doctors receive specialized training to treat various kinds of skin diseases, both rare and common, for people of all ages.

The practice of medical dermatology involves the assessment and diagnosis of conditions of the hair, skin, nails, and mouth to improve the general health. These treatments aim to manage those diseases and disorders that are confined to the skin through a wide array of alternatives.

Sometimes the skin indicates to a dermatologist that something may not be right within the body. Medical dermatology enables the analysis of the affected site and the opportunity to offer the patient the best possible treatment for their specific condition.

Medical dermatology provides patients with various treatments to address any type of skin concerns that they may be experiencing while creating a healthier appearance and feel to their skin. Judicious and board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness provides medical dermatology treatments to patients in Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and surrounding locations.

Medical Dermatology Treatments

Medical dermatology provides a wide range of services to restore and rejuvenate the skin, including:

Acne treatments
Wart removal treatments
Eczema treatments
Psoriasis treatments
Melasma treatments

Wart Removal

Warts are non-cancerous, but these irritating growths of hardened skin can be bothersome to both adults and kids. They can develop anywhere on the body but usually occur on the feet and hands. We offer various treatments for the removal of warts as different warts respond to specific therapies.

Acne Treatments

Some skin conditions are more severe than others. However, every person suffers from acne at some point in their lives.

Acne develops when hair follicles are clogged with surplus oil and dead skin leading to large and tiny bumps with prolonged swelling. Ranging from chemical peels to acne extraction, we have many treatments to address breakouts as well as scarring from previous acne.

Psoriasis Treatments

Psoriasis refers to a group of chronic skin disorders occurring on any part of the body. More people suffer from this condition than commonly perceived-it affects over 7.5 million people in the US only.

A dermatologist can provide multiple treatment alternatives for this non-contagious skin problem. They can also detect the type of psoriasis the patient has which increases the possibility of long-term relief from this condition.

Dermatitis & Eczema Treatments

Eczema develops on the skin’s surface as a dry and discolored rash. Patients may feel like scratching this rash leading to inflammation and infection. Dermatologists can provide patients with multiple treatment options to treat dermatitis and eczema symptoms.

Rosacea Treatments

Blushing or flushing easily could indicate the initial stages of rosacea. The progression of this condition can cause tiny bumps resembling acne which initially occur in the center of the face. Rosacea can slowly spread to other facial areas. Therefore, it is essential to treat it promptly.

Board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness receives patients from Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and other towns and neighborhoods in part of the US for medical dermatology.

If you would like to learn more about procedures and treatments at Metro East Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center by Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Jamie L. McGinness please contact us here or call (618) 622-SKIN (7546)

Taking new patients in and around the greater St. Louis, Missouri and Illinois area: East St. Louis Missouri, Shiloh Illinois, Belleville, Millstadt, Saint Clair County, Madison County and more.

What Causes Psoriasis?

While the exact cause of psoriasis is not entirely known, scientists understand that psoriasis occurs due to various factors such as genetics, the immune system, and environmental reasons.

In the general population, up to 10 percent of people may inherit one or more genes that make them susceptible to psoriasis.

However, only two to three percent of people with the gene develop this condition. Board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness provides treatments for psoriasis to patients in Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and surrounding communities and suburbs in this part of the nation.

The Genetic Link

If a person has psoriasis, it is likely that someone in their family may have had this condition as well. There appears to be a genetic link in psoriasis development.

One in three individuals with psoriasis has a relative with the condition. Researchers indicate that up to ten percent of the general population may inherit one or more genes that make them susceptible to psoriasis. But only two to three percent of individuals with the gene actually develop the condition.

Environmental Factors

Some environmental factors may trigger the psoriasis genes which causes the condition to activate. These factors differ between people, and while one trigger may cause psoriasis to become active in one person, it may have no impact on another.

Certain known-trigger factors affecting psoriasis symptoms are:

Stress
Skin Injury (bug bites, cuts, scrapes, severe sunburns)
Infection (including strep throat or thrush)
Specific drugs (such as antimalarials, indomethacin, lithium, quinidine)

The Primary Role of the Immune System

The purpose of the immune system is to protect the body from an “intruder,” such as a common cold virus. However, sometimes the immune system mistakenly attacks the normal cells of the body mistaking them for intruders.

The exact reason behind psoriasis is still not entirely understood. But scientists believe that this condition occurs due to various reasons, including the immune system.

The immune system is overactive when a person has psoriasis. This leads to inflammation within the body. This is a cause behind the symptoms that appear on the skin.

The body generates an abnormal number of healthy cells. These surplus cells are pushed to the skin’s surface rapidly. The skin turnover cycle in the body is normally a month long. This reduces to just days with psoriasis.

The body just cannot shed skin cells that fast. Therefore, the cells gather on the skin’s surface. The red, thick patches on the skin, known as plaques, are actually an accumulation of excess skin cells.

Psoriasis and Comorbidities

When an individual has two or more conditions at a time, these are known as “comorbidities.” The comorbidities related to psoriasis include other immune diseases such as Crohn’s disease and psoriatic arthritis.

It is vital that the patient inform their doctor of any symptoms that they may be experiencing. This will help the doctor decide the best course of treatment to avoid or manage comorbidities.

Committed board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness receives patients from Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and nearby areas across the landscape for psoriasis treatments.

Taking new patients in and around the greater St. Louis, Missouri and Illinois area: East St. Louis Missouri, Shiloh Illinois, Belleville, Millstadt, Saint Clair County, Madison County and more.

Breaking Down Wart Removal

Warts are typically benign. However, wart removal is still advisable. Some warts may be intractable and challenging to remove. Surgical excision may be the only option in these types of cases.

A well-qualified, adept, and experienced skin specialist can safely and effectively perform a wart removal surgery in a minimally invasive way.

Board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness provides wart removal treatments to patients in Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and surrounding communities in this part of the US.

Advantages and Limitations of Wart Removal Surgery

The benefit of wart removal surgery is that it allows for quick removal of warts. The surgery is effective on stubborn warts, which may not be successfully treated with non-invasive approaches. Furthermore, it is a one-time surgery with fast and efficient outcomes.

A limitation of this procedure is that it can, at times, leave a scar. The surgery also involves the use of anesthesia. Any surgical procedure has some intrinsic risks. Besides, there may be a chance of the wart reappearing.

Need for Surgery

Warts may be painful and cause other inconveniences in some cases. Some warts may be cancerous, and these will require immediate excision to reduce the probability of metastasis. In these cases, surgery is commonly the most effective treatment option. Surgical procedures are safe in the hands of a trained and experienced medical practitioner.

What is Wart Excision?

Wart excision refers to removing the wart by cutting it out. The shave excision technique uses a straight blade rather than a curved surgical tool.

But this procedure should never be carried out as a home remedy which increases the risk of infection and does not offer precise outcomes. It is vital that a skilled wart removal dermatologist performs this procedure.

The location and nature of the wart are the two main criteria to understand if surgery is a good option and if yes, then what kind of surgery would be most suitable. Wart removal surgeries are usually carried out on an outpatient basis using only local anesthesia.

Types of Excisional Surgery

The two primary types of excisional surgery for the removal of warts are:

Shave Removal

This surgery is performed for elevated growths, including raised moles. The growth is excised with a sharp razor. The use of local anesthesia reduces the pain. This procedure does not usually require sutures. It creates minimal redness and scarring in the treated area.

Scissor Excision or Snip Excision

The area is desensitized using a local anesthetic in this technique. The dermatologic surgeon will grasp the growth with a pair of forceps and pull it away from the skin’s surface. Then a curved scissor is used to excise the growth from beneath and around the area. This surgery does not involve sutures and produces minimal scarring.

Recovery

Wart removal is an in-office procedure and does not typically involve any major post-operative discomfort or recovery duration. But some patients may return to their routine a day after the surgery.

Prudent board certified dermatologist Dr. Jamie McGinness receives patients from Shiloh, IL; St. Louis, MO, and other towns and neighborhoods in this region of the Midwest for wart removal surgery.

Taking new patients in and around the greater St. Louis, Missouri and Illinois area: East St. Louis Missouri, Shiloh Illinois, Belleville, Millstadt, Saint Clair County, Madison County and more.

What is Medical Dermatology?

Monthly Archives: August 2018