subject: A Dermatologist Provides Help For All Ages [print this page] Patients of all ages need to see a dermatologist on occasion. Our skin is an amazing organ. If stretched out, it would be approximately 20 square feet. It has three different layers: the epidermis, the dermis, and the subcutaneous tissue. This spectacular body organ protects us from germs, keeps our internal systems at the right temperature through a miraculous regulating system, and allows us to feel heat, cold, and other sensations. From infanthood to old age, our complexions change and have different needs over the years. Here are some treatments that might be needed during different life phases.
During the earliest years of life, a baby's epidermis is extremely sensitive and reacts to the world more easily than adults. These tots may get rashes from allergic reactions or from wearing their diapers too long. Young children of preschool and elementary school ages may also develop contact rashes, have allergies to foods or the environment, and may develop chicken pox. They may develop warts, blisters, and other conditions.
Teenagers most often have the need for a dermatologist because of acne. Due to their rapidly changing bodies, hormones are raging; the faces, backs, and shoulders break out in blemishes. This is an unpleasant shock to their self-confidence and can become a crisis if not handled appropriately. Some teens develop full-scale cysts on their face, back, and shoulders which will leave substantial scarring, physically and emotionally, if dermatological intervention doesn't occur. To get rid of pimples and breakouts, there are many different types of treatment used today. There are topical medications and oral prescription drugs. There are laser and light therapy techniques that are highly effective. Some young adult acne sufferers have even been helped with tiny amounts of Botox injected into their complexions.
In adulthood, both men and women have a need for this medical specialist, as well. There are many complexion flaws as well as skin cancers that may show up in this stage of life. Individuals may develop rosacea, spider veins, adult acne, and carcinomas such as basal, squamous, and melanoma cell varieties. Dermatologists can prescribe medications, perform laser or pulsed light therapy, and remove cancerous lesions through Mohs surgery. Mohs surgery is a technique designed to remove diseased skin yet save as much healthy tissue as possible. With this method, small amounts of tissue surrounding the cancerous region are cut away and examined under a microscope to make sure the diseased portions have been removed. If there are still cancer cells present, more tissue will need to be removed. If the small incision has done the job, there will be a smaller scar as a result.
Finally, in the oldest age bracket, patients will come to this doctor to find remedies for their wrinkles, crow's feet, and discolored skin patches. There are arrays of cosmetic procedures that can provide a more youthful complexion, including chemical peels, laser treatments, Botox, Restylane, and collagen treatments. No matter what ages patients are, a dermatologist can help them have their healthiest complexion possible.
