PBX: 2218-2929
2218-2929
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Integra Medical Center Building, 9 calle 4-52 zone 10, 6th Level.
WE ARE SPECIALISTS IN SKIN CARE
At Centro Clínico Cabeza y Cuello we have the best specialists in dermatology and skin care, do not hesitate to make your consultation and review with us
ACNE
Acne is a skin disorder that occurs when hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells. It causes whiteheads, blackheads, or pimples. Acne is most common among teenagers, although it affects people of all ages. The pimples and rashes heal slowly, and when one begins to fade, others seem to appear.
Depending on its severity, acne can cause emotional distress and scar the skin. The earlier you start treatment, the lower your risk of such problems.
Symptoms
Signs of acne vary depending on the severity of the condition:
Whiteheads (clogged pores closed)
Pimples (clogged open pores)
Red and small tender irregularities (papules)
Pimples (pustules) that are papules with pus on the tip
Large, solid, painful lumps under the skin (nodules)
Painful pus-filled lumps under the skin (cystic lesions)
Acne usually appears on the face, forehead, chest, upper back, and shoulders.
MELASMA AND SPOTS
Melasma is a skin disease, dark spots mainly on the face. It is suffered more by women, especially pregnant women. Only 10% of men suffer from melasma.
The pigmentation of the skin, due to the hyperproduction of melanin, is a defense mechanism to protect itself from free radicals produced by solar radiation. But there are cases in which this pigmentation becomes messy. There is an excess production and an irregular distribution of melanin that leads to the appearance of hyperpigmented spots
Dermatologists use a light, known as Wood's light, which indicates the type of melasma. The epidermal type is brown in color; the dermal, bluish-gray and the mixed one is of a grayish-brown color, a combination of the previous ones.
Causes of the appearance of melasma
Excessive sun exposure.
Pregnancy.
Ingestion of contraceptives that alter the proper functioning of melanocytes.
Ingestion of photosensitive medications.
Aging.
The phototype: Dark skin is more prone to the appearance of spots.
Depilatory waxes. After waxing, the possibility of spots appearing in the newly waxed area increases.
It usually appears in areas exposed to the sun: forehead, upper lip, chin, cheeks, neck and forearms.
The disease is classified as epidermal, dermal, and mixed melasma.
MOLES
A common mole is a tumor on the skin that forms when pigmented cells (melanocytes) grow in clusters. Most adults have 10 to 40 common moles. These tumors are usually found above the waist in areas exposed to the sun. They are rarely found on the scalp, breasts, or buttocks.
Although most common moles can be present from birth, they usually appear later in childhood. Moles continue to form in most people until about 40 years of age. In older people, common moles tend to disappear.
Although common moles are not cancerous, people with more than 50 common moles are at increased risk of melanoma.
You should tell your doctor if you notice any of the following changes in a common mole:
Color changes
The mole becomes smaller or larger without uniformity (unlike normal moles in children, which grow uniformly large)
The mole changes in shape, texture, or height
Surface skin becomes dry or flaky
The mole becomes hard or feels lumpy
It starts to itch
Bleeds or oozes
MELANOMA
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that begins in melanocytes. It is potentially dangerous because it can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs, liver, bones, or brain. The sooner melanoma is found and removed, the greater the chance that treatment will be successful.
Most of the melanocytes are in the skin, and melanoma can occur on any skin surface. It can result from a common mole or a dysplastic nevus, and it can also form on an area of skin that appears to be normal. In addition, melanoma can occur in the eye, in the digestive system, and in other regions of the body.
Generally, the first sign of melanoma is a change in the shape, color, size, or how an existing mole feels. Melanoma can also appear as a new colored area on the skin.
The "ABCDE" rule describes the characteristics of melanoma in an early stage:
Asymmetry: The shape of one half is not the same as the other half.
Irregular edge: The edges are often uneven, notched, or blurred in outline. Pigment can spread to surrounding skin.
Uneven color: Shades of black, brown and tan may be present. White, gray, red, pink or blue areas can also be seen.
Diameter: There is a change in size, generally an increase. Melanomas can be small, but most are more than 6 millimeters wide (about a quarter inch wide.)
Evolution: The mole has changed in recent weeks or months.
Melanomas can vary greatly in their appearance. Many show all the characteristics of ABCDE. However, some may show only one or two of the ABCDE characteristics.
DIAGNOSIS
The only way to diagnose melanoma is by removing tissue and checking it for cancer cells. The doctor will remove all or only part of the skin that looks abnormal. Generally, this procedure takes only a few minutes and can be done in the doctor's office, clinic, or hospital. The sample will be sent to a laboratory and a pathologist will look at the tissue under a microscope to determine if melanoma is present.
