Dermatology

Acne is a common skin condition that causes pimples. Pimples form when channels connecting oil glands in the skin to pores on top — called follicles (pronounced FALL-uh-kulz) — become clogged. Almost everyone gets acne at some time, but it is most common in teens and young adults. Acne can cause scarring, but treatments may help minimize or prevent this. Read more (PDF).

Alopecia (al-oh-PEE-shah) is a medical condition in which hair is lost from some or all areas of the body. Usually hair is lost from the scalp when the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, which is where hair growth begins. Read more (PDF).

Atopic dermatitis (pronounced dur-muh-TIE-tiss) is a skin disease. It is the most common type of eczema. Eczema is a term that refers to many kinds of skin problems. It can cause a rash that most often appears inside the elbows, behind the knees, on hands and feet, and on the face. Atopic dermatitis happens to a lot of babies and children, and it can be a problem for a long time. It causes dry, itchy skin that gets worse if you scratch it. Read more (PDF).

Fungal infections are caused by fungi that live on our skin, hair and nails. Fungi called dermatophytes (pronounced DUR-muh-to-fites) cause common skin infections like ringworm, athlete's foot and jock itch. Fungi called Candida (pronounced kan-DEE-duh) cause diaper rash. All of these conditions can be itchy and uncomfortable. Most fungal infections can be treated.

A hemangioma is a spot on the skin.. There are different kinds. Some look red and are in the top layers of skin. Some look blue and are deeper in the skin. Some are a mixture of both. Hemangiomas may fade over the years. Some hemangiomas do not need treatment. Others can cause problems with vision, breathing and feeding, or disfigurement. Read more.

Hyperhidrosis is a condition that causes excess sweating, more than is required for regulation of body temperature.

Moles are growths on the skin. They can be flat or raised and are usually pink, tan or brown. Moles are very common. If your child has a mole that looks different from others (atypical) or changes over time, it should be checked by your child's healthcare provider. Read more (PDF).

Molluscum, or molluscum contagiosum are smooth, pearly, flesh-colored skin growths caused by a virus. They begin as small bumps and may grow as large as a pencil eraser. Read more (PDF).

Neurofibromatosis (NF) can affect many parts of the body, including the brain, spinal cord, nerves, skin, and other body systems (neurocutaneou). NF can cause growth of non-cancerous tumors on nerve tissue, producing skin and bone changes that are not typical. Learn more.

Tuberous sclerosis is a rare genetic disease that causes non-cancerous tumors to grow in the brain and on other vital organs such as the kidneys, heart, eyes, lungs, and skin. It usually affects the central nervous system and can cause symptoms including seizures, developmental delay, behavioral problems, skin differences and kidney disease. It is also called tuberous sclerosis complex or TSC.

Birthmarks are flat, usually pink or red, marks with irregular borders. Most birthmarks go away by themselves by the time your child is 18 months of age. Birthmarks on the back of your child’s neck may stay for years, but they are harmless. If your child has a mark on their skin, it is a good idea for them to see a healthcare provider who knows a lot about birthmarks. Sometimes, a mark that looks like a birthmark is something different. For example, some marks could be port wine stains or hemangiomas. Those are two conditions that need more care. Read more.

Warts are harmless skin growths caused by a virus. Warts can grow on any part of your child's skin. How they look depends on where they are located on the body.

Pulse dye laser treatment is a high-tech way to treat skin conditions like hemangiomas and port wine stains. It uses a specific wavelength of light to destroy blood vessels that cause these conditions. The yellow light is designed to destroy only the parts of the skin that are red. Other skin is not harmed. Read more (PDF).

Long pulse laser is used to treat pigmented birthmarks like nevus of ota or traumatic tattoos (like pencil lead stuck under the skin).

For keloids and alopecia

Our team treats some skin problems using surgical procedures. These procedures are done in the clinic or operating room. We have a lot of experience removing skin growths (called excisions) like moles on your child's chest, arms or legs. It might be important to remove moles if they make it more likely for your child to get skin cancer. Some moles may also removed if they are bothersome (itchy or painful) or if your child does not like how they look.