An individualized treatment plan may range from medications and treatments to dermatological surgical procedures. Additionally, biopsies might be necessary to accurately diagnose benign and malignant growths and skin cancers.
Skin Conditions
- Inflammatory Conditions: psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, acne, and dermatitis.
- Skin Infections: herpes, nail fungus, ringworm, shingles, and cellulitis.
- Benign Growths: warts, age spots, sun spots, cysts, angiomas, skin tags, keloids, and moles
- Precancerous and Cancerous Growths: Actinic keratoses, basal cell skin cancer, squamous cell skin cancer, and melanoma.
Skin Cancers
Dr. Riddle specializes in skin cancer detection and Mohs Skin Cancer Surgery.
Emphasis is placed on patient education and the prevention of skin cancers.
Our Providers strive to raise public awareness of skin cancers including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma:
- Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States; more than one million skin cancers are diagnosed annually. Yet, skin cancer has a 95% cure rate when it is detected early.
- One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime.
- The incidence of melanoma continues to rise significantly, at a rate faster than that of any of the seven most common cancers.
- One American dies of melanoma almost every hour (every 62 minutes).
Therefore, Dr. Riddle, Kynzie Oliver, PA-C, and Laine Elam, PA-C recommend that their patients be diligent in their sun protection and sunscreen use, and encourage everyone to examine their skin regularly for irregular moles or suspicious lesions, in addition to seeing a dermatologist on a regular basis.
For more information on common skin conditions visit the following sites:
Skin Conditions
Acne – Acne is a common skin disease characterized by pimples on the face, chest, and back. It occurs when the pores of the skin become clogged with oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria.
Age Spots (Lentigines) – Age Spots are blemishes on the skin associated with aging and exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. They range in color from light brown to red or black and are located in areas most often exposed to the sun.
Allergies – Allergies are an abnormally high acquired sensitivity to certain substances, such as drugs, pollens, or micro-organisms, that may include such symptoms as sneezing, itching, and skin rashes.
Alopecia (Hair Loss) – Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss; there are various types of alopecia, including alopecia areata. Alopecia areata is a condition that causes a person’s hair to fall out where hair would otherwise grow. Alopecia areata cannot be cured; however, it can be treated and the hair can grow back. Alopecia Coverage FAQ
Angiomas – Angiomas are benign tumors that are made up of small blood vessels or lymph vessels.
Cellulitis – Cellulitis is a diffuse infection of connective tissue with severe inflammation of dermal and subcutaneous layers of the skin.
Cysts – Cysts are a pathologic space in bone or soft tissue containing fluid or semi fluid material and, in the oral regions, almost always lined by epithelium.
Dermatitis – Dermatitis is a blanket term meaning any inflammation of the skin (e.g. rashes, etc.).
Eczema – Eczema is a skin condition characterized by irritated, dry, and itchy skin. Although usually triggered by an external agent, internal conditions such as poor nutrition, digestion, and circulation; excessive mucus; food allergies; stress; and environmental toxins contribute to eczema.
Herpes – Herpes is any of several viral diseases causing the eruption of small blisterlike vesicles on the skin or mucous membranes, especially herpes simplex or herpes zoster.
Keloids – Keloids are overgrowths of fibrous tissue or scars that can occur after an injury to the skin. These heavy scars are also called cheloid or hypertrophic scars.
Male Pattern Baldness – Male Pattern Baldness is the loss of all or a significant part of the hair on the head.
Moles – Moles are a small congenital growth on the skin, usually slightly raised and dark and sometimes hairy, especially a pigmented nevus. Also called nevus pigmentosus.
Nail Fungus (Onychomycosis) – Nail Fungus (Onychomycosis) is a fungal infection of the fingernails or toenails. The actual infection is of the bed of the nail and of the plate under the surface of the nail.
Psoriasis – Psoriasis is a usually chronic noncontagious inflammatory skin disease characterized by recurring reddish patches covered with silvery scales.
Ringworm – Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin, nails, and hair caused primarily by dermatophytes (a species of fungi), symptoms of which include inflammation, patching, and scaling of lesions.
Rosacea – Rosacea is a chronic disease of the skin of the nose, forehead, and cheeks, marked by flushing, followed by red coloration due to dilatation of the capillaries, with the appearance of papules and acne-like pustules.
Scars – Scars are the fibrous tissue that replaces normal tissue destroyed by injury or disease.
Shingles – Shingles are an acute infection caused by a herpes virus and characterized by inflammation of the sensory ganglia of certain spinal or cranial nerves and the eruption of vesicles along the affected nerve path. It usually strikes only one side of the body and is often accompanied by severe pain. Also called herpes zoster, zona, or zoster.
Skin Cancer – Skin cancer is a malignant growth on the outer layer of the skin. A malignant growth is one that has the potential to cause death. Skin cancers are often divided into two general groups: malignant melanomas and non-melanoma cancers such as basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer.
Skin Tags (Acrochorda) – Skin Tags (Acrochorda) are small benign tumors that form primarily in areas where the skin creases, such as the face, eyelids, neck, armpit or groin. Skin tags are harmless and typically painless, and do not grow or change over time.
Sun Spots – Skin Spots (hyperpigmentation) are an unusual darkening of the skin. Causes include heredity, drugs, exposure to the sun, and adrenal insufficiency.
Warts – Warts are small, benign growths caused by a viral infection of the skin or mucous membrane.