Helping Clermont Patients with Chronic Skin Problems
Urban Health is a complete primary care medical practice under the direction of Dr. Jaime C. Gonzalez. The healthcare team is committed to providing patient-centered care and are highly skilled at providing patients with personalized and informed care.
Urban Health’s dermatology team is involved in the diagnosis, investigation, and management of a variety of skin conditions. We provide patients with care and education concerning the treatment of wounds, injuries, diseases, and conditions of the skin.
Patients should work with the physician to diagnose and treat skin conditions. Some common skin conditions we treat in our office include:
Moles. Common growths on the skin. Moles have no symptoms but should be checked regularly if they grow larger, appear abnormal, or change in color.
Melanoma. Abnormal moles may lead to melanoma, which is severe life-threatening skin cancer. If moles have asymmetrical shapes, ragged edges, uneven colors, or change in size, a doctor should check them.
Rosacea. Erythematotelangiectatic rosacea causes the typical redness, visible blood vessels, and flushing. Ocular rosacea can cause red and irritated eyes, swollen eyelids, and symptoms that look like a sty.
Papulopustular rosacea causes redness, swelling, and is accompanied by breakouts that look like acne. Phymatous rosacea causes the skin to thicken and have a bumpy texture. Symptoms of rosacea can be treated to keep the condition in check.
Psoriasis. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder. Symptoms include patches of abnormal skin. The affected skin is red, scaly, and very itchy. The affected skin areas vary in size and severity.
Eczema. The condition is commonly found in infants and young children, though it continues into adulthood as well. Symptoms include rashes on the face, scalp, behind the elbows, or on the neck, wrists, ankles, or legs.
The rashes are very itchy and may become bumpy, change color, or thicken. Eczema is treated with medications and creams.
Basal Cell Carcinoma. BCC is the most common type of skin cancer in the U.S. BCC grows in the upper basal cells of your skin but rarely spreads and is curable. Commonly occur on the head, ears, nose, and neck.
They can look shiny, red, and scaly. Treatment for BCC may involve surgery, skin medicines for smaller areas, radiation for larger areas.
Shingles Herpes zoster results in a red, blistering rash that may wrap around your torso or appear anywhere on your body. A fever, fatigue, and headache may occur.
They are caused by the same virus as chickenpox. Seniors and people with an impaired immune system are at a higher risk of infection. Very painful but early treatment with antivirals like Valtrex can lessen symptoms.
Cold Sores (Fever Blisters) Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. Cold sores most often appear on the edge of the lip. The virus is dormant in the spinal cord nerve cells.
After specific environmental triggers like a sunburn or a cold, the virus travels along a peripheral nerve to the same skin site over and over again. The eruption is self-limited to about seven to ten days so that treatment is not required unless the eruption becomes too frequent.
Plant Rashes. In allergic people, the occurrence of a linear blistering eruption occurs within 24-48 hours of exposure to a member of the poison ivy or poison oak family of plants. The plant contains highly allergenic chemicals, and most people will become allergic after a single priming exposure.
The eruption will resolve within three weeks but will occur again the next time the skin comes in contact with the plant.
Acne is usually a noninfectious eruption of papules and pustules on the face and sometimes on the chest and back. Acne is mediated by hormones that circulate in puberty and excess sebum or oil production.
Acne usually resolves around the age of 20-30 but can produce scarring if severe and left untreated.
Warts. These small keratotic tumors of the skin are caused by one of about 200 members of the human papillomavirus group. They often go away by themselves, but stubborn warts may need medical treatment.
The successful treatment of these lesions mostly depends on the person’s immune response.
Seborrheic Keratoses. This is the most common type of benign bump that appears on people as they age. They appear as black, brown, or yellow bumpy lesions that give the appearance of being ‘glued” onto the skin.
These lesions usually do not produce symptoms.
Seborrheic dermatitis is the most common rash of adults. When it occurs in infancy, it is called cradle cap. The adult disease favors the scalp, skin behind the ears, forehead, brows, nasolabial folds of the face, mid-chest area, and the mid-back, producing an itchy, red scaling dermatitis.
The scaling in the scalp can be apparent, producing dandruff. The cause of this condition is not known. It responds well to topical steroids and topical antifungal creams. Medicated shampoos that contain tar, selenium sulfide, and zinc pyrithione are often useful. This condition commonly improves on its own but will recur. There is no cure, so the treatment must continue indefinitely.
Cellulitis is an infection that occurs when bacteria enter the skin and causes a dimpled look due to the presence of fatty deposits. Cellulitis may be potentially life-threatening, so call your doctor right away if you develop the condition.
The skin affected by cellulitis is swollen, red, and tender to the touch. It most often occurs on the lower leg, but other parts of the body may also be affected. Cellulitis may also occur on the arm, breast, abdomen, and other areas.
Cellulitis symptoms can include red, a painful rash with scabs and blisters, warmth on the skin, achy dull pain and tenderness, chills and fever, tender lymph nodes, and swollen glands, and skin swelling. Cellulitis infection is caused by bacteria that live on the skin and in the nose and mouth.
These bacteria typically do not cause any problems. However, all it takes is a cut to allow the bacteria to enter the skin. The bacteria then multiply and lead to infection and swelling. You must complete the antibiotic treatment that your doctor prescribes.
Exclusive Skin Care for the Elderly
The elderly require special skincare because their skin is thin and dry, and bacteria can enter. Care must be taken to prevent the skin from becoming too dry, so hot baths should be avoided as should frequent baths/showers.
Use a mild soap and apply moisturizers after a bath.
People who are bedridden need to avoid prolonged pressure on the ankles, heels, and buttocks as too much pressure can tear the thin skin and lead to bedsores.
Call Our Office for More Information on How We Can Treat Dermatological Conditions
At Urban Health, we treat skin-related wounds and all skin conditions that affect the elderly. There may be underlying medical conditions that can irritate skin conditions.
If irritation or other symptoms persist, make an appointment with our doctors. Examples of medical conditions that can affect skin integrity are diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, malnutrition, obesity, bleeding disorders, and adverse reactions to medication.
Dr. Gonzalez, the medical staff, and all the employees at Urban Health work every day to facilitate healthier lives for everyone in the communities we serve. For over 20 years, we designed our practice of primary care to better fit the complicated lives of today’s “on the go” type individual, while preserving more traditional elements for those individuals who can now afford a more leisurely pace of life. For a consultation, call our Clermont office at (352) 394-5535.