|
|
|
Stephen E. Rostan, MD |
R. Carter Grine, MD |
|
Board
Certified By the American Board of Dermatology and Dermatopathology |
Board
Certified By the American Board of Dermatology |
|
Pamela Guest, MD |
|
|
Board
Certified By the American Board of Dermatology |
Elena M. Avila,
PA-C
|
|
|
Adult Dermatology
|
|
|
|
Rosacea |
|
Rosacea (pronounced
rose-AY-shah) is a condition that mostly affects the skin of the
face---usually in the area where people blush. There are a
number of symptoms, ranging from mild to more severe, as you will
see from the following list. |
|
**Redness ---This
can look like nothing than a blush or a sunburn. It's caused
by flushing (when a large amount of blood rushes to blood vessels
just under the skin, and the vessels expand to handle the flow).
If this continues to happen, over time, the redness becomes more
noticeable and does not go away. |
|
***Pimples --- As a
result of continual flushing, the skin eventually becomes irritated
and inflamed and pimples may appear on the face. The pimples
may be papules (small, red, and solid) or pustules (pus- filled,
like teenage acne or "acne rosacea." This is why rosacea is
often referred to as "adult acne" or "acne rosacea." But
people with rosacea don't have the comedones (blackheads or
whiteheads) usually seen in teenage acne. |
|
***Broken or
Enlarged Blood Vessels --- Doctors call this telangiectasia
(tell-an-jek-TAZE-yah). When people with rosacea flush, the small
blood vessels of the face get larger---eventually showing through
the skin. They may appear as spots or a thin wavy lines.
Flushing, blushing, or redness may hide them, but they may become
more visible as the underlying redness is cleared by treatment. |
|
***Enlarged, Bumpy
Nose--- This is present in more advanced stages of rosacea
especially in men. When rosacea isn't treated early, small,
knobby bumps may gradually appear on the nose, giving it a swollen
appearance. |
|
Rosacea is usually
seen in adults. It can affect those in their 30s, all the way
up to and including people in their 70s and 80s. While
rosacea is most common in people with fair complexions, it can
affect people of all skin color and skin types. |
|
Don't try to treat
your rosacea yourself. Dermatologists are experts in treatment
of rosacea. Your dermatologist will recommend the right care
for your symptoms. |
|
|
|
Sun Burns |
|
Sunburn is from
over-exposure to the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. While the
symptoms are usually temporary (such as red skin that is painful to
the touch), the skin damage is often permanent and can have serious
long-term health effects, including skin cancer.
Keep in mind:
- There is no
such thing as a "healthy tan". Unprotected sun exposure causes
premature aging of the skin.
- Sun exposure
can cause first and second degree burns
- Skin cancer
usually appears in adulthood, but is caused by sun exposure and
sunburns that began as early as childhood. You can help prevent
skin cancer by protecting your skin and your children's skin
from the harmful rays of the sun.
Factors that make sunburn
more likely:
- Infants and
children are especially sensitive to the burning effects of the
sun.
- People with
fair skin are more likely to get sunburn. But even dark and
black skin can burn and should be protected.
- The sun's
rays are strongest during the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The sun's rays are also stronger at higher altitudes and lower
latitudes (closer to the tropics). Reflection off water, sand,
or snow can intensify the sun's burning rays.
- Sun lamps
can cause severe sunburn.
The first signs of a
sunburn may not appear for a few hours. The full effect to your skin
may not appear for 24 hours or longer. Possible symptoms include:
- Red, tender
skin that is warm to touch.
- Blisters
that develop hours to days later.
- Severe
reactions (sometimes called "sun poisoning"), including
fever,
chills, nausea, or rash.
- Skin peeling
on sunburned areas several days after the sunburn.
|
|
|
|
Warts |
Many of
us have had a wart somewhere on our bodies at some time.
But other than being a nuisance, most warts are
harmless.
Warts are actually benign tumors of the epidermis
What causes warts?
Warts are a
type of infection caused by viruses
in the
human
papillomavirus
(HPV) family. There are more than
100 types of HPV viruses. Warts can
grow on all parts of your body. They
can grow on your skin, on the inside
of your mouth, on your genitals and
on your rectal area. Some types of
HPV tend to cause warts on the skin,
while other HPV types tend to cause
warts on the genitals and rectal
area. Some people are more naturally
resistant to the HPV viruses and
don't seem to get warts as easily as
other people. |
|
|
