Dermatology

What is dermatology?

Dermatology is an area of medicine focusing on your skin and the health of your hair and nails.

Your skin provides essential protection, keeping your inner tissues and organs safe from infections and injuries. It also serves a vital function in temperature regulation — for example, it helps you cool down by sweating.

Your skin also contains many nerves, giving you your sense of touch and warning you of potential dangers.

Your skin deserves the best of care, not just to keep you looking good but to ensure you stay healthy. That is where the dermatology services at Gulf Coast Medical Clinic can help.

What conditions does dermatology treat?

Dermatology covers all conditions that affect your skin, hair, and nails. There’s a vast number of these disorders, but some of the more common include:

Acne

Acne causes multiple pimples, often on the face, but it also affects other areas. The condition is painful and can leave permanent scars.

Contact dermatitis

Dermatitis develops when your skin overreacts to certain substances. It causes itchiness, flaking, and redness.

Cold sores

The herpes simplex virus causes cold sores — painful lesions that typically develop around the mouth and nose.

Warts

Warts are small, hard growths. They’re not dangerous but may be uncomfortable or unsightly.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder caused by an immune system malfunction. People develop thick white plaques caused by skin overgrowth.

Shingles

Shingles (herpes zoster) causes a blistering rash and can affect nerve function.

Allergies

Contact with substances like poison ivy can cause itchy rashes and hives (red lumps). The Gulf Coast Medical Clinic team diagnoses recurring skin allergies using noninvasive skin testing techniques.

The team also performs skin cancer screenings. These help to identify conditions like melanoma at the earliest stage before they spread and become life-threatening.

What dermatology treatments might I need?

There are many potential dermatology treatments, including creams, ointments, supplements, and medication.

If you have acne, the Gulf Coast Medical Clinic team offers an effective treatment plan to reduce pimples and minimize scarring. They can also remove moles and treat other skin problems that keep you from blemish-free skin.

Schedule a dermatology consultation by calling Gulf Coast Medical Clinic or book an appointment online today.