Rashes

Eczema is often a chronic condition that goes through cycles of flaring up and subsiding. It often occurs individuals who also suffer from hay fever or asthma. While there is no cure for eczema, there are several measures that can be taken to reduce symptoms substantially.

Medical approaches typically are often in the form of topical preparations, such as corticosteroid creams, antibiotics, and oral medications to reduce itching or inflammation. Light therapy often improves skin conditions, and natural sunlight or artificial UVA and UVB sources may be used. Long-term light therapy has its own risks, such as increasing the risk of skin cancer and prematurely aging the skin. Sometimes, eczema outbreaks are brought on or aggravated by stress. Treating the stressor may reduce the effects of eczema. Moisturizing well and with appropriate creams is an essential part of controlling eczema, and an important part of every eczema consultation at SkinDC.

Psoriasis is another common chronic skin condition that causes skin cells to grow rapidly and build up on the skin’s surface. Psoriasis has a thick, scaly appearance, sometimes with silvery scales and dry, itchy, red patches that may be sometimes bleed or become painful. As with eczema, psoriasis is a chronic condition for which there is no cure, and individuals experience periods of flare ups that often alternate with periods of better control. There are several variations, such as plaque psoriasis – the most common – nail psoriasis, scalp psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis.

Treatments for psoriasis can interrupt the skin cell growth cycle, which in turn reduces inflammation and plaque growth, as well as remove existing plaques from the skin. The physicians at SkinDC are well trained in the treatment of psoriasis and up to date on the newest and most effective treatment modalities.