Posts by Robert S. Bader, M.D., Dermatologist
Sebaceous Hyperplasia
What is it? Sebaceous hyperplasia refers to enlarged oil glands. It is a very common, benign condition seen in adults. Lesions can be single or multiple and look like yellowish, soft, small papules (bumps) on the face (particularly nose, cheeks, and forehead.) Some of the lesions can have tiny red blood vessels on the surface.…
Read MoreSeborrheic Dermatitis
This commonly occurring condition result in redness, flaking, itching, and/or a yellow greasy scale affecting the scalp, eyebrows, creases on the nose, smile lines, chin, chest, and/or armpits. Seborrhea is now believed to be caused by a yeast that lives in the oil glands. Although most people have this yeast living in their glands, most…
Read MoreMelasma (Chloasma)
Melasma is a benign process in which brown spots appear on sun-exposed areas, most commonly on the face. Areas that are subject to the most sun are most frequently affected, including the forehead, upper lip, cheeks, and chin, although other areas can be affected. Chloasma is melasma that occurs in someone that is pregnant. What causes…
Read MoreSeborrheic Keratosis
These commonly occurring benign (non-cancerous) tumors are believed to be hereditary in nature (run in families). These tumors can appear anywhere on the body, but commonly occur on the face, breasts, back, arms, and legs. Occasionally, these keratosis can arise from solar lentigines (age spots or liver spots). These tumors may appear white, tan, or…
Read MoreFreckles
Freckles are brown spots that commonly occur in sun-exposed areas on the skin that are harmless. As one gets sun exposure, the spots darken. When one avoids the sun or UV exposure, the spots lighten. The face is the most common area affected, but the arms and legs are common sites as well. It is…
Read MoreDysplastic (Atypical) Nevi
DYSPLASTIC NEVI (atypical moles) are common, benign (non-cancerous) moles that may look like melanoma. Typically, the margins are often faint or faded compared with the rest of the mole. Are Dysplastic Nevi (Atypical Moles) Cancerous?No. Atypical Moles are not cancerous, they are benign, although people who have them are at more risk of developing melanoma. Severely atypical nevi…
Read MoreShingles – Herpes Zoster
Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful, blistering skin rash that is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox. Causes & Incidence When someone gets chickenpox, the virus stays dormant (inactive) in certain sensory nerves for the remainder of their life, without any signs or symtoms. For most people, the virus just lays…
Read MoreBed Bugs
Bedbugs is a common household infestation that results in itchy, welt-like (hive-like), bumps on the body that are usually grouped together and often appear in a zig-zag pattern. It is not a serious condition and the bugs do not live under the skin, but bite and then jump off, similar to a mosquito. The American…
Read MoreAge Spots
What is it? A solar lentigo (plural, solar lentigines), also known as a sun-induced freckle or “age spot”, is a dark (hyperpigmented) lesion caused by natural or artificial ultraviolet (UV) light. These lesions are commonly referred to as liver spots, although they do not come from liver disease. They may be single or multiple. This type…
Read MoreAcne
Acne—Patient Information What causes acne? Acne is has three major components. For most, although not all, all three components play a role in acne. Pores can become clogged. Clogged pores are not caused by dirt! Pores get clogged because the process of skin sloughing (when dead cells fall off) does not occur properly. The dead cells,…
Read More