Blog Archive
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, both in the United States and around the world. About 9,500 women, men, and (rarely) children are diagnosed with some form of skin cancer in the US every day. Melanoma only accounts for 1% of total skin cancers in the US...
If you’ve ever popped a pimple yourself, you may already be familiar with why dermatologists warn against it: Popping pimples damages your skin. However, when a wart crops up, your urge to take action may override your experience and good sense. However, popping or cutting or burning off a wart...
Dry, flaky skin can be embarrassing if it’s on your face or other visible areas, such as your hands or arms. You may have tried to control it with moisturizers, lotions, and creams. But if it keeps coming back, the problem may extend beyond your skin. Several chronic conditions may...
When you’re lucky enough to grow older, you’re undoubtedly also unlucky enough to develop fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging that don’t match the way you feel inside. You aren’t ready for or don’t want a facelift or other plastic surgery, so what do you do? Even the...
With all the tasks you have, the last thing you need is another item on your to-do list. That’s why dealing with your rosacea gets pushed to the back burner. Until you’re in the middle of a flare and madly grab the concealer to hide the patches on your cheeks,...
The most common type of cancer in the United States — and around the world — isn’t breast cancer, lung cancer, or colon cancer. It’s skin cancer. Skin cancer is so common, in fact, that one in five US women and men develop it by the age of 70. One...
Psoriasis is a skin condition that affects approximately eight million women, men, and children in the United States. It’s much rarer than a group of skin conditions known as eczema, which affects 32 million. Although eczema is four times more common than psoriasis, it can be easy to confuse the...
Known clinically as verruca vulgaris, warts — by any name — are something that nobody wants. Unfortunately, once you get warts, you may inadvertently pass them to another person. You can also infect other areas of your body, spreading warts from head to toe. One reason warts are so contagious...
On a good day, a healthy person loses about 50-100 strands of hair. These may end up on your brush or comb, or they may shed onto your clothing or your environment. Your hair follicles release these strands at the end of their growth phase, so they can start producing...
Ah, summer; the season of hot weather, barbeques, and trips to the beach. Whatever reason you have for going out and enjoying the warmth outside, you need to be sure to protect your skin — the largest organ responsible for protecting your body from external threats. It allows you to use your...
Each year, the American Association of Plastic Surgeons releases a report on the most popular surgical and nonsurgical aesthetic treatments. The conclusions have been the same since 2021-22: The #1 nonsurgical treatment is injectable neurotoxins such as Botox®. The #2 treatment is dermal fillers, such as Restylane® and Juvéderm®. What's the difference...
Moles are clusters of skin cells, called melanocytes, that produce pigment. Most adult women and men have around 40 moles on their bodies and faces. Some are small, some are flat, some are raised. Most moles are benign, which means they aren’t, and never will be, cancerous. Still, if you have a fair...
The words cancer and cure don’t often appear hand-in-hand, so when you first learn that you have skin cancer, your reaction may be utter despair. It doesn’t help to learn that more than two people die from skin cancer every hour in the United States. So you might be a...
Even though acne is common — about 85% of women, men, and teens or tweens have at least one outbreak during their youth — when yours is the face that’s broken out in cysts, pimples, or zits, you may feel very much alone. Acne is a highly visible skin condition,...
More than five million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States, making it our most common type of cancer. Unlike most cancers, you can prevent the majority of skin cancer cases. Also, when caught early enough, almost all skin cancers are curable. Whether skin cancer runs in your family or...
After Botox® was introduced as a cosmetic treatment for upper facial wrinkles more than 20 years ago, anti-aging has never been the same. You no longer had to go through jars of useless cold creams and lotions, searching for a way to erase wrinkles from your forehead and eyes. A...
Dermal fillers such as Restylane® have revolutionized aesthetics and skin rejuvenation. Without a single cut or stitch, you can lift and contour your face and even rejuvenate your hands. In 2020, women and men in the United States underwent 3.4 million dermal filler treatments. Hyaluronic acid- (HA) based Restylane is one of the...
If the internet has taught us one thing, it’s that just about everything we do now can be done better, more efficiently, and more elegantly than we ever thought possible. From de-pitting an avocado to transforming old wood into faux marble, there’s a hack for everything. Though “hacking” seems like...
Every year, dermatologists and aestheticians across the United States administer about 4.5 million BOTOX® Cosmetic or Dysport® treatments to women and men. In fact, of all the minimally invasive cosmetic procedures now available, treating wrinkles and other aesthetic issues with neuromodulators such as Botox and Dysport is the most popular....
Psoriasis is a disease of your immune system that causes it to attack perfectly healthy tissue, as if that tissue were an invader. Your skin begins to malfunction. Instead of turning over and shedding dead cells, the cells linger on the surface, creating itchy and embarrassing plaques. Your overstressed immune system...
Sometimes you wonder who writes the rules. OK, you understand the concept of re-applying sunscreen every two hours when you’re at the beach or the pool. After all, your skin’s already probably bare, and it doesn’t matter if you have streaks of zinc-oxide cream on your nose or shoulders. But you live...
When you were younger, you may have chosen quantity over quality: You loved fast fashion that filled your closet with variety. But, just as quickly, those garments filled your trash can, too. You then learned to look for quality in garments, in foods, and in other areas of your life....
Each day, approximately 9,500 women, men, and even some children are diagnosed with skin cancer in the United States. Skin cancer is, in fact, more common than any other type of cancer. It’s also one of the few cancers that you can easily see. Even though skin cancer is highly visible and quite...
We dermatologists are passionate about skin: protecting it, rejuvenating it, and resolving any medical or cosmetic issues that arise. We’re also passionate about using the right kinds of products on our own skin and helping find the right products for our patients, too. If you’re wondering how you can look...
Warts are small, hard mounds of flesh that may resemble miniature cauliflowers. Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a family of viruses that includes about 150 strains. The medical name for warts is verruca vulgaris. Types of warts include: Plantar warts (on the soles of feet) Common warts...
As medical practitioners in the West become more aware of the mind-body connection and start to view their patients holistically, they’ve also gained insights into how physical disease can cause mental distress. For adults and children who suffer from skin conditions, the visibility of those conditions may lead to depression...
Almost three-quarters of women and men in the United States have had acne at some point in their lives. Even though acne’s most strongly associated with the teenage years — and their surge of androgenic hormones — you can develop acne at any age. Women, especially, are prone to acne...
Rosacea is an as-yet incurable skin condition in which you develop red patches on your face. You may also have red, angry pustules that look like acne. In severe cases, rosacea roughens and thickens your skin texture and may even deform your nose, a condition known as rhinophyma. The expert...
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder most commonly associated with scaly, rashy, and itchy skin. Psoriasis is common and affects almost eight million adults in the United States. Although psoriasis can’t be cured at this time, various treatment strategies help keep you comfortable and reduce your risk for complications. Our expert...
If you’re an average woman or man, you probably have 10-40 moles scattered about your face and body. Most moles are benign (i.e., noncancerous) and nothing to worry about. However, some moles change from benign to abnormal and may proceed to skin cancer. New moles may also be a concern....
Although you may not hear as much about skin cancer as you do about other types of cancers, such as breast or lung cancer, skin cancer is actually the most common type of cancer in the United States. Rates of melanoma — the deadliest form of skin cancer — have...
Your skin is your body’s second largest organ, right after the recently discovered interstitium. Its job is to protect you from the environment, including the sun. If you treat your skin right, your whole body benefits. Our expert dermatologists at Specialists in Dermatology believe that healthy skin and a healthy...
“Eczema” is an umbrella term that encompasses a range of recurring, itchy, rashy skin disorders. If your dermatologist told you that you have eczema — or if you suspect that’s what’s behind your flares of discomfort — you may wonder what your next step is so that you can finally...
Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition that affects about eight million women, men, and children in the United States alone, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. The inflammation occurs because your immune system has become overactive. If you have psoriasis, your overactive immune system kicks your skin-cell production into high...
Skin is the body’s largest organ, and, like your heart and lungs, it requires preventive care, especially when it comes to skin cancer. Along with wearing sunscreen daily and avoiding outdoor activity during the sun’s peak hours, a full body check can make all the difference. Fortunately, skin cancer screenings...
If you live in Texas, you’re at risk for skin cancer, no matter how dark your skin is or what your genetics are. Of course, if you’re fair or have a familial or personal history of skin cancer, you’re at increased risk, but everyone should protect themselves year-round from the...
Regular trips to the dermatologist help your skin stay healthy and cancer-free. But what can you do between dermatology appointments to keep your skin strong and youthful? Do the same things you do to keep your other organs healthy, including eating well, exercising, and providing your cells with the building...
If you’re losing your hair, you may be desperate to stop the endless shedding of strands. Hair loss — also known as alopecia — may occur for a number of reasons, including autoimmune disorders that cause your body to attack your hair follicles. However, hair loss isn’t inevitable, nor is...
Mascara is great, but if your lashes are sparse, short, or nearly absent, mascara may not give you the lash boost you want. You may already have nice lashes, but want your eyes to look amazing — even before your makeup routine. If so, you’re in luck. RevitaLash® is a...
Acne is what’s called a multifactorial disease. That’s a fancy way of saying there’s more than one factor involved in the cause of the disease. Among the various factors that contribute to acne are your hormones. Your hormone levels fluctuate throughout your lifetime, and these fluctuations affect your skin. The...
Warts, otherwise known as verruca vulgaris, are an extremely common skin anomaly that’s caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Although they’re mainly a cosmetic problem, if you have warts, you may feel self-conscious and even ashamed. Could you pass them to someone else? The expert dermatologists and skin specialists at...
The bad news is that if you’re plagued by the reddened or roughened skin that comes with rosacea, a cure doesn’t yet exist for your condition. The good news is that controlling many of the environmental factors that trigger a flare not only keeps your skin looking good, but often...
Photoshop, airbrushing, and camera filters have taught us to falsely expect our skin to be as even and flaw-free as a magazine ad or a celebrity selfie. These days, you can even make your own selfie look flawless with lighting and filter options on your phone camera. Then you look...
You may get regular mammograms, if you’re a woman, to check for breast cancer, or a regular digital exam or PSA test, if you’re a man, to check for prostate cancer. You may have given up — or entirely avoided — cigarettes to minimize your risk for lung cancer. Though...
The expert dermatologists and skin specialists at Specialists in Dermatology — located in Houston, Texas, and The Woodlands, Texas — stress the importance of sun protection and regular skin cancer screenings for everyone. Below are some of the factors that go into choosing a method of sun protection to keep...
Even though psoriasis is a common skin disorder, you may feel like you’re the only one who has it. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disorder marked by red, silvery, and itchy lesions that can have a profoundly negative effect on your confidence and self-esteem. The caring and expert dermatologists...
If you have raised scars (aka hypertrophic scars) on your face or body, you’re probably tired of the attention they attract. You’re tired of talking about how you got the scar and just want to erase the physical evidence of the accident or surgery that caused the scar in the...
You’re polite, tolerant, and patient. But you can throw those admirable qualities out the window when it comes to your acne. You don’t have to tolerate it, and you don’t have to be (too) patient: You can banish acne by modifying the factors that cause it. The caring and expert...
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that starts in your melanocytes, which are cells in the upper layer of your skin that produce melanin. Melanin is the pigment that gives your skin its color, from palest cream to darkest brown. All types of skin cancer are potentially life-threatening, but...
Though the skin condition rosacea tends to affect light-skinned women, anyone can get it. Men often develop more severe types of the disease, including rhinophyma, which is thick, reddened skin on the nose (think of the old-time comedian W.C. Fields, industrialist J. P. Morgan, and former President Bill Clinton.) You...
More than half of women in the United States lose a significant amount of hair during their lifetimes, a condition known as female pattern hair loss (FPHL). Though it’s normal to lose 50-100 strands a day and about 250 when you wash your hair, if you’re losing more than that,...
According to NBC News, about 80% of all US women, men, and children who use the internet have searched at least once for information about their health. In fact, after checking your email and checking out cool new products to buy, “checking” your health is the most popular activity online....
Warts are medically benign, but aesthetically unappealing, growths on your skin that can resemble little heads of cauliflower or manifest as raised patches dotted with black “seeds.” All warts are caused by one of more than 100 types of human papillomavirus (HPV). Once you’re infected with HPV, you have it...
If you’ve worn protective sunscreens every day of your life since you were a child, you’ve undoubtedly reduced your risk for skin cancer, but you haven’t completely eliminated it. Some skin cancers are genetic and can even appear on areas of your body that never get exposed to the sun’s...
If you have psoriasis, you may choose your wardrobe and even your activities based on how active your disease is. The inflamed, itchy, scaly plaques that cover your skin can make you feel self-conscious and affect the way that others react to you, too. Our expert dermatologists at Specialists in...
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne in adults is increasing. Up to 35% of women in their 30s, 26% in their 40s, and 15% in their 50s have acne, as do 20%, 12%, and 7% of men, respectively. Adult acne often has the same causes as teenaged acne...
Though the Texas sun beats down hard year-round, summer vacations and holiday weekends leave more of your skin exposed than usual. Though you may want to take a break from minding serious issues like your health while you play under the sun at the park or pool, getting into the...
You’ve heard about all of the new nonsurgical cosmetic procedures that keep you looking youthful and glowing. But with so many options available, how do you choose? Luckily, you don’t have to. At Specialists in Dermatology in Houston and The Woodlands, Texas, our experts take time to evaluate your skin...
Nobody really wants to think about skin cancer, which is why the Skin Cancer Foundation designated May as Skin Cancer Awareness Month. If you do think about skin cancer — before you hit the beach or pool to bask under the sun’s damaging rays — you can minimize your risk...
Just as you wouldn’t show up at a spring barbecue in winter’s woolens, you shouldn’t show up with winter’s dry and parched skin, either. Before a season changes is the best time to prepare your skin to weather the weather. Because we get more than our share of the sun’s...
Balding and hair thinning (also known as alopecia) used to seem like an inevitable consequence of genes and aging. Starting as early as their teens or 20s, men may lose hair in a horseshoe pattern that then expands over the entire top of their head. Women whose hormones fluctuate due...
With all of the new anti-aging treatments and products available now, deciding which you need can be confusing. At Specialists in Dermatology, in The Woodlands and Houston, Texas, our expert dermatologists know that being stressed out about your skin isn’t good for your health — or your skin — so...
Though we usually think of our teen years as the time when we have to deal with acne and all of its unpleasant and embarrassing lesions, adult acne is pretty common. About 35% of women between the ages of 30 and 39 get acne, as do 20% of men. Worse,...
Winter’s cold, dry air taxes almost everyone’s skin. But if you’re one of the 16 million women and men with rosacea in the U.S., you’re extra susceptible to winter skin woes. At Specialists in Dermatology, our rosacea experts in Houston and The Woodlands, Texas, recommend five steps to keep your...
Whether you’re dealing with your first acne breakout or (what seems like) your millionth, you want your pimples gone. Fast. Here at Specialists in Dermatology, located in Houston and Woodlands, Texas, we have prescription-strength medications to get rid of acne and state-of-the-art treatments to improve the quality and health of...
Eczema is itchy, irritating, and persistent. And it’s common enough that experts have marked October as Eczema Awareness Month. The good news? From topical therapy to oral medications, there are many successful treatments available that can get this frustrating skin condition under control.And once your eczema has cleared, there are...
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. In fact, more than 3 million people every year develop nonmelanoma skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. That’s more than the number of people diagnosed annually in the United States with all other...