How Often Should You Get a Skin Screening?

Acne or acne vulgaris is a skin condition that affects the skin's hair follicles. Acne is most common amongst teenagers, however can often affect adults as well. Multiple factors contribute to breakouts, including bacteria, hormones, genetics and inflammation.

Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition that is characterized by facial redness, small and superficial dilated blood vessels on facial skin, papules, pustules, and swelling. Rosacea is a very common skin condition affecting all skin types and ages.

Treatment for Acne and Rosacea is multifaceted and best when customized by a dermatologist. Lafayette Dermatology utilizes various means of treatment that could include oral & topical antibiotics, topical regimens, and isotretinoin (for the treatment of acne). Chemical peels and facial treatment can be very helpful for acne and rosacea when customized per individual.

In addition, laser is often recommended for treating rosacea and redness associated with acne scars.

We offer laser skin rejuvenation with the Cutera Excel V device. This advanced laser technology helps to improve vascular and pigmented lesions on the skin. It is most commonly used to address persistent facial redness, scars, pigmented lesions, sun damage, angiomas, leg veins, port wine stains, red birthmarks, and rosacea. As one of the most advanced treatments to improve the appearance of skin tone, the Excel V combines two ultra-precise, best-in-class laser wavelengths (532nm/1064nm) in one device, which allows for us to treat all skin types with this laser.

All laser treatments are overseen by a physician onsite. Multiple sessions are needed to achieve maximum results. Generally 2-4 treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart yield the best outcome.

Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is characterized by dry, itchy, red, and scaly patches of skin. Eczema can range from minor to severe and can present on any part of the body. Sometimes the rashes can lead to infections. Eczema is not contagious and can be treated.

Lafayette Dermatology will always customize your treatment plan based on the severity of your skin condition. Treatments can include, but not limited to, moisturizers, corticosteroids, antihistamines, and antibiotics. Other prescription strength medications may be considered for more severe cases.

A mole, or nevus, is a common lesion on the skin generally characterized as brown, round, and can be flat or slightly raised. Although moles can change over time and are generally benign, it is important to become familiar with the appearance of your moles to note any changes that could signal skin cancer. A dermatologist should examine any mole that grows, changes in shape or color, or bleeds. There is no "treatment" for moles, however a dermatologist may decide to remove a mole if it becomes irritated or looks suspicious.

There are many other benign skin lesions including dermatofibroma, cyst, milia, sebaceous hyperplasia, lipoma, skin tag, syringoma, neurofibroma, cherry angioma, and seborrheic keratosis. All benign skin lesions are addressed in a skin check and the dermatologist can determine whether treatment is necessary.

Pigment concerns can range from hypopigmentation (loss of pigment) or hyperpigmentation (increase of pigment).

Vitiligo is a skin condition characterized by a loss of pigment (hypopigmentation), resulting in white patches. Vitiligo is considered an autoimmune disease. It is not contagious and cannot be cured, however Lafayette Dermatology offers various treatments that help to even the skin tone, including laser treatments.

Hyperpigmentation is an overproduction of pigment in the skin resulting in darkening of the skin. 'Sun spots' are flat, discrete brown areas known as lentigines, or lentigo. These usually appear on the face, chest and back, as well as the back of the hands and the top of the feet. These spots are caused by sun exposure and range from light to dark brown. Melasma is another type of hyperpigmentation, which is most common in women and affects about 45 million people worldwide. This condition appears as irregular patches of brown skin on the forehead, cheeks, upper lip and nose. Melasma is common during hormonal fluctuations associated with pregnancy, oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy.

The Lafayette Dermatology physicians and aesthetician are experts in treating pigment concerns. Light treatments, topical regimens and chemical peels are part of a multifaceted approach to pigment correction.

Hair loss is caused by various reasons such as autoimmune conditions, genetic factors, hormone changes, tissue scarring from injury, stress etc. It may manifest as gradual thinning, circular bald spots, sudden loss of hair, full body hair loss or patches of scaling that spread over the scalp.

Treatments can include medications (topical or systemic) and/or PRP (platelet rich plasma).

PRP (platelet rich plasma)
PRP is blood plasma that contains concentrated amounts of platelets and growth factors. Your own concentrated platelets are rich in bioactive proteins and they work with the 8 life giving growth factors to trigger and accelerate healing and repair. After a simple blood draw, then separation by centrifuge, your own platelets are prepared and administered as needed.

What is PRP used for at Lafayette Dermatology?

Hair loss: Studies have shown that injecting these growth factors into the areas of hair loss, trigger natural hair growth and maintain it by increasing blood supply to the hair follicle and increasing the thickness of the hair shaft.Facial Rejuvenation: PRP can be used with Skin Pen Microneedling to enhance the treatment. PRP is used as the "serum" in the microneedling treatment. The PRP is activated to release growth factors and signaling proteins, which strengthen your skin, stimulate collagen and play a significant role in remodeling the skin. It can also be applied to assist in quicker healing after halo laser and other aggressive skin care treatments.

Molluscum contagiosum and warts are benign epidermal eruptions that result from viral infections of the skin. A wart is typically a raised round growth made up of hardened skin, though some can be flat in nature. Molluscum are small pink, white, or skin-colored bumps with an indented center.

Both warts and molluscum can spread to different areas on the body and are contagious. Treatments include salicylic acid, cryotherapy (freezing), chemical agents, immunotherapy injections and surgical excision.

Other medical dermatologic conditions we treat are listed below:

• Birthmarks
• Blistering disorders
• Connective tissue disorders (Lupus, Morphea, Scleroderma, Dermatomyositis)
• Herpes
• Vitiligo
• Keratosis pilaris
• Nail disorders (bacterial and fungal)
• Infections of the skin (bacterial, fungal, viral)
• Scabies
• Seborrheic Dermatitis (dandruff)
• Tinea Versicolor

All of our Board Certified Dermatologists offer a wide range of surgical dermatologic procedures as listed below:

• Surgery of the skin
• Removal of skin cancers, including but not limited to:
• Basal Cell Carcinoma
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• Malignant Melanoma
• Cyst removal
• Mole removal
• Skin tag removal
• Wart removal
• Destruction and other treatments of pre-cancerous lesions, such as actinic keratoses as well as benign lesions, such as sebaceous hyperplasia