Baton Rouge Dermatology

Experiencing skin problems? Sanova Dermatology in Baton Rouge can help!

As the largest organ of the human body, your skin works around the clock to shield you from environmental insults—from harmful bacteria to the sun’s harsh UV rays—all while eliminating toxins and waste. It’s a tireless job, and sometimes the system breaks down, resulting in painful, annoying, or unsightly skin conditions. Nearly everyone experiences some type of skin condition during the course of his or her life. Skin conditions can range from a mild sunburn to more serious skin cancer, varying greatly in symptoms, severity, pain and permanence. While some skin problems stem from situational causes, like diet or environmental exposure, others have genetic roots. Wherever your skin issue falls on the spectrum, you can trust that our Baton Rouge dermatologists will help identify the issue, offer information, present treatment options and guide you toward a path of relief.

Most common skin conditions fall into the following four categories:

Skin Reactions

Skin reactions such as allergic contact rashes, eczema, and dermatitis are very common and typically show up as bumps, hives, dry skin, itchy redness, swelling, weeping blisters, scaly or flaky skin, and changes in skin color or texture. Skin reactions can be caused by a number of irritants, such as illness (i.e. chickenpox or measles), environment (i.e. certain plants like poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac), outward exposure to irritants (such as allergies to soaps, laundry detergents, latex or animals), and by consuming known or unknown allergens such as foods or medications. After assessing the severity of your skin condition, your dermatologist may prescribe oral medications, topical creams or emollients to combat negative reactions and sooth the skin. Once the source of the irritant has been determined, it’s best to avoid exposure to the allergen to prevent future negative reactions. Contact Sanova Dermatology of Baton Rouge, Louisiana if you are experiencing skin irritation or unexplained skin reactions.

• Allergic contact rashes, also known as contact dermatitis, often presents as a rash, blisters, itching or burning. This type of skin reaction appears when the skin comes into direct contact with an irritant or allergen. Some of the most common items causing allergic contact reactions include: latex gloves, nail polish, metal jewelry, soaps, fabric softeners, laundry detergents, scented beauty products, and plants such as poison ivy and poison oak.
• Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic, noncontagious skin reaction that’s often triggered by exposure to allergens such as dust mites, pet dander, and changes to the weather, as well as beauty and hygiene products with added fragrances (i.e. lotions, soaps, detergents, etc.). It appears as dry, rough, scaly, flaky or itchy skin. Occasionally, the irritated area can become infected, resulting in small pus-filled bumps.

Dermatologic Conditions

Our dermatologists work with you one-on-one to treat a variety of dermatologic conditions, including acne, rosacea, athlete’s foot, hair loss, keratosis, psoriasis and nail fungus. We stay on top of the latest dermatological advances in medications, health and technology to offer you the most current skin care education; oral and topical medications and creams; and cutting-edge treatments like laser and light therapies, chemical peels, and cosmetic surgeries. Dermatologists at Sanova Dermatology in Baton Rouge treat all dermatologic conditions, a few of these include:

• Acne, also known as acne vulgaris, is a common dermatologic condition that occurs when hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells. Because acne is tied to unbalanced hormones, it’s most commonly seen in teenagers and young adults, though it can affect people of all ages. Symptoms include whiteheads, blackheads and pimples.
• Rosacea is a common dermatologic condition that often shows up as facial redness and swollen acne-like bumps on the face. This skin problem can occur at any age, but it most commonly affects middle-aged women— especially those with fair skin.
• Athlete’s foot is a common and contagious fungal infection that typically manifests as a scaly red foot rash. The rash can be contracted by contact with an infected person or by direct exposure to a contaminated surface, such as floors or shoes. Symptoms may include sensations of stinging, itching or burning.
• Hair loss and hair thinning, also known as alopecia areata, is an autoimmune disorder that causes hair to fall out in patches or clumps. While this dermatologic condition is often more pronounced in men, it can also affect women and children.
• Keratosis pilaris is a common, harmless skin condition characterized by dry, rough patches and tiny raised bumps. It is most common in young children, but can show up at any age.
• Psoriasis is a common, chronic skin condition that speeds up the lifecycle of skin cells, causing extra skin cells to form red patches and thick silvery scales that may be itchy or painful. Innovations in therapy have given dermatologists powerful medications to treat this unsightly condition.
• Nail fungus, also called onychomycosis, is a common dermatologic condition that may cause the toenail or fingernail to thicken, crumble and discolor to a yellow-brown hue. If left untreated, the fungal infection may spread from one nail to another.

Viral Diseases and Infections

Viral diseases and infections can manifest in a variety of skin problems, including genital warts, cold sores/ fever blisters, and impetigo. At Sanova Dermatology, our highly experienced dermatologists use the most modern and effective treatments to combat your particular skin problem, including anti-viral medications, excision, electrocautery, freezing, scraping, laser treatment and shots.

• Genital warts are a common STD and skin condition caused by certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). While genital warts are not dangerous, they are highly contagious and often spread from skin-to-skin contact with someone who is infected. They appear as small growths or bumps around the genitals.
• Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are a common skin condition that affects 90 percent of people at least once in their lifetime. Caused by the herpes simplex virus, cold sore symptoms often manifest as small bumps or blisters on the inside of the mouth and lips, and sometimes on the nose, fingers or cheeks.
• Impetigo is a common and contagious skin infection that typically presents as red sores on the face, hands and feet. While Impetigo is commonly found in infants and children ages 2 to 5, it can sometimes spread to adults. The infection is most commonly spread from contact with a contaminated item, such as clothes, towels and bedding.

Sun-Related Conditions

While the sun provides a great source of vitamin D, too much UV exposure can lead to a range of sun-related skin conditions—from small cosmetic blemishes (i.e. sun spots, lentigo, broken blood vessels, skin discoloration, certain moles), to unusual and possibly cancerous growths (certain moles, actinic keratosis, atypical nevus, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma). If you notice a new or suspicious skin mole that’s growing, varied in color, or has a poorly defined border, it may be an early sign of malignant melanoma. It’s important to consult your dermatologist immediately to determine whether or not the atypical mole may be cancerous.

No matter what your sun-related skin concerns may be, our Baton Rouge dermatology clinic can help with information, diagnosis, and removal. At Sanova Dermatology, our expert physicians practice cutting-edge treatments like cryotherapy, surgical excision, scraping, cauterization and Mohs Micrographic Surgery, the most effective and advanced treatment for skin cancer today, to help your skin stay healthy and radiant.  For those wishing to avoid surgery, we offer superficial radiation therapy to treat certain skin cancers without cutting or suturing.

For more information, or to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced dermatologists, please contact Sanova Dermatology of Baton Rouge today. Need a location closer to you? See our other Louisiana locations.