Dermatology for Seniors
Annual skin cancer exams
Patients should be examined “head to toe” annually to check for suspicious moles, pre-malignant and malignant skin tumors. In most cases, a dermatoscope will be used for mole evaluation. A basal cell cancer is shown here; it was removed by Mohs cancer surgery.
New non-surgical approaches to basal cell cancer include imiquimod cream, an immune inhancer, and the pulsed dye laser.
Skin Wellness Regimen
This fundamental regimen is always the starting point in an anti-photo aging regimen. It consists of prescription topical retinoids, prescription topical alpha-hydroxy acids, chemical mini-peels, sunscreens and oral antioxidants and practicing sun safety (and avoidance of tanning parlors) . It is an affordable start since the cost for each visit is billed as an “office visit.” (Plus, we are not selling you products!)It helps fine lines, eradicates whiteheads and blackheads, erases early liver spots and pre-malignant keratoses. New: Hughes Dermatology is reintroducing topical conjugated estrogen creams in post-menopausal women for its documented youthful effect. Topical estrogens are safe.
The next “minimally invasive” additional steps may include management of wrinkling (crows feet, frown lines) in the upper third of the face with Botox, dermal fillers for marionette lines and loss of lip fullness (Juvederm & Restylane), volumizing the lipo-atrophic face with Sculptra, cryosurgery to remove actinic keratoses and liver spots, improvement of rhytids around the mouth with Er:YAG laser resurfacing, ablation of red vessels with the pulsed dye laser, scar management, and laser rejuvenation (collagen and ground substance production with the long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser).
Sidney Coleman, M.D. states, “Aesthetic surgery is moving rapidly away from excision and suspension procedures to augmentation procedures for rejuvenation in particular. The primary event of facial aging is atrophy or loss of fullness. The obvious solution for atrophy is restoration of volume or fullness.”
Female Baldness
Hughes Dermatology can diagnosis and treat most types of female baldness. Following a consultation appointment which will include a hair telogen count and laboratory evaluation, a specific diagnosis will be made (examples: telogen effluvium, female pattern baldness, alopecia areata, tinea capitis, psoriasis, lupus, etc.). Telogen effluvium is treated by recognition and treatment of the underlying medical cause. Pattern baldness, which is genetic, is successfully treated with 5-alpha reductase inhibitors and topical minoxidyl. Please see us for treatment of this psychologically devastating malady!