Skin Conditions

Acne

Acne is a very common skin condition and most people are affected by it at some stage in their lifetime.  It can start at any age but most commonly associated with hormone changes and therefore puberty is an especially common time for acne to appear.

Often people learn to live with acne but treatments can work well and leave patients with clear skin.

Cysts

Cysts are benign (harmless), lesions that consist of fluid or semi-fluid material surrounded by tissue. They are usually common and there are many different types; epidermoid and pilar cysts are the most common.

Cysts are harmless and can often be left alone if they aren’t bothering you, however can easily be removed using local anaesthesia.

Eczema

Eczema is one of the most common inflammatory diseases of the skin that can affect all ages.
Eczema may be hereditary (atopic eczema) or non-hereditary (eg discoid eczema, stasis eczema, eczema craquele, allergic contact dermatitis). Generally, the skin is intensely itchy, red and dry and symptoms can range from mild to severe. Eczema benefits from early management as constant scratching can lead to skin infection.

Excessive sweating

Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) can be localised or affect the whole body. It is a relatively common condition affercting approximately 3% of the population. There are many different causes for hyperhidrosis and the recommended treatment plan will depend on the underlying cause of the sweating which includes overactive thyroid, diabetes, infections or the menopause.

Female genital skin (vulva) conditions

Genital skin problems are very common and are not necessarily related to sexually transmitted diseases.
The external genital organ of a woman is known as vulva. Vulval symptoms may include redness, itchiness, pain and ulceration. Common examples are; Candidiasis (thrush, Dermatitis (eczema), Herpes and warts, Vulvitis, Hidradenitis, Lichen sclerosis, Lichen planus, Lichen simplex chronicus, Behçet’s disease, Cancer

Moles

Moles (melanocytic naevi) are usually small coloured spots (groups of melanocytes) on the skin, they are usually flat and round with a smooth edge, but can be raised, smooth, rough and have hair growing from them.
Most moles are usually benign (harmless) but some are diagnosed as atypical (dysplastic). Dysplasia means that a mole has a certain degree of irregularity. There is a very small risk of a benign mole becoming a melanoma, which is a type of skin cancer. This risk is higher in dysplastic moles.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common inflammatory condition of the skin affecting about 2% of the population. It causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales and can occur on any part of the skin but usually affects elbows, knees, lower back and scalp.

There is no known cure for psoriasis but treatments can significantly improve the symptoms and appearance.

Rosacea

Rosacea is a rash that affects the central face. It is common in between the ages of 30-60 and mostly affects people with fair skin, blue eyes and Celtic origins.
It is a chronic condition that is characterised by redness, flushing, dilated blood vessels, small red bumps and in severe cases pus-filled spots. Rosacea may also affect the eyes and nose and is sometimes confused with acne.
There are a wide range of treatments available for rosacea.

Seborrhoeic keratosis

Seborrhoeic keratoses are benign (harmless), warty growths on the skin that are often pigmented and result from a build-up of ordinary skin cells. They are very common, increasingly so with age, infact it is estimated that over 50% of men and 30% of women will have at least one seborrhoeic keratosis.

Often they are considered a nuisance as they can itch, catch on clothing and become inflamed. Some also find them to be unsightly, particularly when they appear on the face.

Skin cancer

There are two main types of skin cancer: melanoma and non-melanoma.

The main non-melanoma skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the commonest type of skin cancer in the UK. BCCs rarely metastasise. Thus, although it is a skin cancer, it almost never poses a threat to life. It is still a locally invasive growth and can cause problems.
Most treatments are surgical removal of the melanoma, however the exact type of treatment will be discussed with dermatologist during your consultation

Skin tags

Skin tags are very common, soft, benign (harmless) small lesions that are attached to the skin and therefore often have the appearance of a wart. They tend to appear in skin folds such as the neck, armpits and groin.
As they are a benign they are often left unless they are bothering you. Treatments are simple and effective and include cryotherapy, diathermy and shaving/snipping.

Sun damage

Freckles (ephilides) are most often seen in fair-skinned individuals, particularly those with red hair. They are a result of melanin (dark skin pigment) build-up within keratinocytes (skin cells). In winter, freckles fade as the keratinocytes are replaced by new cells. Freckles usually become less noticeable with age. They can indicate that the skin is more susceptible to sun damage. Freckles do not usually need to be treated but if you are concerned please discuss with the dermatologist.

Urticaria

Urticaria (hives) is characterised by pink or white weals (areas of raised skin) that are often itchy and surrounded by redness. Urticaria is often accompanied by angioedema which is deeper swelling in the skin caused by dilated blood vessels. Usually the individual weals clear within 24 hours without leaving a trace, but new weals may continue to develop for a prolonged period which can last weeks.

Urticaria is a result of mast cells (cells involved in the immune system) releasing a substance called histamine which can be caused by an trigger.
Example triggers are infections, physical contact with an allergen (such as an animal), medication and sun exposure. In majority of cases urticaria is self-limited but may require treatment while active.

Viral warts

Viral warts are very common benign (harmless) growths of the skin caused by infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV). They can occur in many areas of the skin. HPV is infectious and it can spread via direct skin-to-skin contact to other parts of one’s body and to other people. A viral wart on the sole of the foot is also termed a verruca.

Viral warts are hardly ever a serious problem and treatment can be uncomfortable, yet the warts may cause pain or embarrassment. It can take time to get rid of wards so treatment options require patience and persistence.

Solar Lentigo

A lentigo is an area of skin that has more skin pigment than normal parts of the skin and thus looks darker. Solar lentigenes are due to damage from the sun or sunbeds and are usually age-related. They are found on the most sun-exposed areas of the skin, which tend to be the backs of hands, face and lower legs. They can be yellow, light or dark brown in colour. Solar lentigenes are harmless but may be a cosmetic nuisance.
Treatment options include cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen), hydroquinone containing creams and lasers.