COASTAL DERMATOLOGY
(732) 836-1600
Skin Cancer Screenings | Skin Allergy Testing | Phototherapy | Psoriasis | Eczema | Acne Treatment
Other Services: Surgical | Cosmetic
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. More than 900,000 cases of basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer, both of which are highly curable, are diagnosed annually. About 40,000 cases of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, are diagnosed each year. People with fair complexions, those who have had several blistering sunburns, individuals with a family history of skin cancer and those who have been exposed to coal tar, pitch, arsenic compounds, creosote, or radium are at risk and should be screened. It's important to pay attention to changes in your skin and contact us if you notice a change in the size or color of a mole or freckle; a new mole or lesion; or an area of scaliness, itching, bleeding, tenderness, or pain. If you suspect a problem or desire screening because you are at risk for skin cancer, we are here to help. We are specially trained to find existing skin cancers at their earliest, and most treatable, stages. If you desire skin cancer screening, a head-to-toe skin evaluation can be scheduled. If a problem exists, a specific evaluation can be performed. If a skin biopsy is needed, it can be handled immediately. A head-to-toe screening is recommended annually for adults.
Psoriasis affects approximately two percent of the U.S. population and 150,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that can occur over a large percentage of the body but is usually found on very characteristic sites such as the elbows, knees, nails and scalp. Although psoriasis is very common in some families, it is not a contagious disease; it cannot be passed from one person to another. The skin lesions are generally described as red (erythematous) plaques with thick white scale.
Atopic dermatitis (eczema) is a chronic disease of the skin. Often, the condition is seen in infants and children, but it can appear in adulthood. People with atopic dermatitis often complain of inflamed and itchy skin. However, with longstanding disease, the skin can become thickened, scaly, cracked, crusty and infected. Patients with atopic dermatitis can have remissions and flares (“comes and goes”). Atopic dermatitis also tends to run in families and may be associated with asthma and seasonal allergies. This means those patients (or their family members) who have any of these three diseases are more likely to have atopic dermatitis. Atopic dermatitis tends to worsen in the winter, and stress may also play a role in causing the disease to flare. There is no cure for atopic dermatitis and treatment of atopic dermatitis is multifactorial.
Acne vulgaris is a multifactorial disease of the pilosebaceous unit (which includes the hair follicle and sebaceous gland). Although much is known about acne, more about its exact cause continues to be discovered. Many variants of acne exist: comedonal and inflammatory acne vulgaris; acne fulminan; acne conglobata; acne excoriée; drug-induced acne; chloracne; and infantile acne. The treatment of acne requires a multifaceted approach that can involve the use of both topical and systemic therapies.