Services & Procedures

Isotretinoin Acne Treatment Actinic Keratoses Wound Care & Dressings Age Spots Cyst Removal Full-Body Skin Exams Dermatology for Mid-life Skin Changes Geriatric Dermatology Hair Loss Treatment Hypertrophic Scar Treatment Lipoma Removal Melanoma Treatment Mohs Surgery Mole/ Growth Checks Mole Mapping/ Full Body Photography Mole Removal/ Birthmark Removal Photodynamic Therapy Phototherapy Psoriasis Treatment Skin Flaps/ Skin Grafts Rosacea Treatment Skin Cancer Treatment Skin Cancer Reconstruction Scar Revision

Hair Loss Treatment

Hair loss can occur as a result of aging, heredity, medications or an underlying medical condition, and can affect men and women of all ages. It may leave you with pattern baldness, patchy spots or thinned hair. Most people are troubled by this undesired change to their appearance and may be frustrated that there is no cure available for this condition.

While many people are forced to deal with hair loss and let the condition progress naturally, there are several treatments available to help promote hair growth or hide hair loss. The best treatment option for each patient depends on the location and extent of the hair loss, but may include hair growth medications, wigs and hairpieces, and hair transplant or scalp reduction surgery. Dr. Prystowsky's office provides medication advice as well as Sunetics laser treatments to stimulate hair growth. She will refer patients to trusted colleagues for hair restoration surgery as needed.

Hypertrophic Scar Treatment

Scars are a natural part of the healing process for all humans. However, sometimes a scar becomes overbuilt for its purpose, red and raised above the skin. These hypertrophic scars are completely harmless and non-contagious, but on occasion can become itchy or slightly painful. They commonly form on the chest and back following surgery or injury to the skin.

Hypertrophic scars tend to improve in appearance with time and do not grow beyond the boundaries of the initial wound. These are different from keloids, which can grow in all directions and generally do not go away with time. It is also important to note that a hypertrophic scar is not a pimple, contains no pus, and should not be popped. Attempting to do so may only worsen its appearance and could encourage further scarring.

Even though hypertrophic scars are nothing more than collected fibrous collagen, they can present a significant cosmetic problem. Many options to treat these scars exist, including, but not limited to:

• Surgery
• Cryosurgery
• Dermabrasion
• Steroid injections

• Silicone gels
• Pressure/compression bandages
• Laser therapy

Although scars can be minimized, they can never be completely removed. If surgery is decided upon, additional treatments to minimize scarring should be planned in the post operative treatment to improve outcome.

Lipoma Removal

A lipoma is a benign soft-tissue tumor that can be found anywhere on the skin and is most common in middle-aged patients. Lipomas rarely become cancerous and are not usually a medical concern unless they become infected. However, many people are bothered by the appearance of lipomas and seek treatment to have them removed.

Lipomas can be removed through surgical excision, which removes the sac or lipoma wall, as well as the entire lipoma. This is done under a local anesthetic and closed with stitches. Most lipomas do not return after surgical excision.

Melanoma Treatment

Melanoma is a potentially life-threatening skin cancer of the melanocytes, the cells that make melanin (brown pigment). Melanoma has a fatality rate higher than those for basal cell and squamous cell cancers - it accounts for more than 80 percent of all deaths from skin cancer.

The causes are not yet known, although there are many suspected risk factors, including:

• Familial tendency to develop freckles or prominent or atypical (unusual-looking) moles
• Presence of many freckles, moles, large moles or atypical moles
• Family member with melanoma
• Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation, especially sunbathing
• Overexposure to sunlight before age 18
• Caucasian ancestry, with fair skin (although all races/skin tones are susceptible)
• Sun sensitivity / Poor tanning ability
• Immune system deficiency due to disease or organ transplantation
• Previous presence of melanoma

Treatment for melanoma depends on the tumor's location, thickness and progression as well as the patient's age, health, medical history and preferences. A biopsy is often performed to determine the extent of the cancer. Most often, the appropriate treatment is surgery, followed by adjuvant therapy (interferon, vaccines) for patients at great risk of metastasis (spreading of cancer throughout the body). Other common options are chemotherapy, radiation therapy and biologic therapy (interferon, cytokines, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines) to improve the body's self-defense abilities.

Early detection and treatment greatly increase the likelihood of total cure. Self-examination in front of a mirror is a helpful way to find melanoma early. However, many melanomas are very subtle in appearance. If you think you have melanoma, see a physician immediately.

To learn more about about the medical services provided by Dr. Prystowsky, please contact us today.

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