Acne is a frustrating skin condition associated with pimples, cysts, blackheads, and other blemishes. It is the most common skin condition to affect adults and teens in the U.S. Acne sometimes cause physical discomfort, but often also has an impact on confidence and self-esteem. The good news is a wide range of effective acne treatments are available. At Long Island Medical & Cosmetic Dermatology, in Hicksville and Huntington, NY, our dermatologists can develop an individualized treatment plan to help you achieve and maintain clearer skin.

Causes of Acne

The body contains millions of hair follicles. Each one has a pore, which is an opening onto the surface of the skin. Acne can occur when a hair follicle or pore becomes clogged. The sebaceous glands of the body release an oil called sebum, which moves along the hair follicles and out through the pores to moisturize and lubricate the skin.

As the sebum travels along with the hair follicles, it also collects dead skin cells and other debris and carries them away. However, if this process is interrupted, the dead skin cells and debris can get trapped in the hair follicle and clog the pores, causing acne to form. One factor that can interfere with the process of sebum carrying away dead skin cells and other debris is hormonal changes.

Acne Treatments

Many types of treatments are available for treating acne. The right treatment or combination of treatments can differ from one person to another. The experienced dermatologists at our Huntington or Hicksville dermatology practices can develop an individualized plan tailored to your needs. Common acne treatments include:

• Extraction — A procedure for removing whiteheads and blackheads using a small metal instrument to help extract blockages from inside the pores.
• Tretinoin — A common acne treatment method, this Vitamin-A derivative is highly effective at unplugging blocked pores and treating whiteheads and blackheads.
• Benzoyl Peroxide — A topical ointment that helps reduce blockages in the hair follicles. Benzoyl peroxide is often used to treat mild acne cases.
• Oral or Topical Antibiotics — Taken by mouth or applied directly to the affected skin, these medications target infection in the pores to help clear up acne.
• Hormonal Treatments — An option for adult women whose acne is due to hormonal fluctuations.

You don’t have to struggle with acne. A variety of treatments are available to suit different needs. For help treating your acne, schedule an appointment with one of our experienced dermatologists by calling Long Island Medical & Cosmetic Dermatology in Huntington, NY, at (631) 271-2769. Appointments are also available at our office in Hicksville, NY, by calling (516) 433-3200.

Rosacea is a skin condition that causes facial redness. It can affect anyone but usually middle-aged, lighter-skinned women experience the small, red, pus-filled bumps rosacea causes. Signs and symptoms may flare up for weeks to months and may be mistaken for acne, which is why you need to speak with the professionals at Long Island Medical & Cosmetic Dermatology in Huntington, and Hicksville, NY.

Signs and Symptoms of Rosacea

There are several symptoms that indicate you need a medical consultation:

• Facial redness
• Swollen, red bumps
• Eye problems
• Enlarged nose over time

What Causes Rosacea?

The cause is unknown, but it could be a combination of hereditary and environmental factors, not poor hygiene. If you're a female with a light complexion that's been damaged by the sun, are over 30, smoke, and have a family history of rosacea, then you have a higher risk than most of getting rosacea.

Factors That Trigger Flare-ups include:

• Hot drinks
• Spicy foods
• Emotions
• Exercise
• Drugs that dilate blood vessels
• Certain cosmetic products
• Alcoholic beverages
• Temperature extremes
• Sunlight or wind

Managing Rosacea With Help From Your Huntington, and Hicksville, NY, Cosmetic Dermatologist

The world of dermatology has come a long way but there still is no cure for rosacea. That being said, there are ways to manage symptoms.

1. Medicine

• Topical creams or gels reduce redness for mild to moderate rosacea like brimonidine (Mirvaso) and oxymetazoline (Rhofade) which reduce redness by constricting blood vessels.

• Oral antibiotics such as doxycycline (Oracea) are used for moderate to severe rosacea.
   
• Oral acne drugs like isotretinoin (Amnesteem and Claravis) help clear up acne-like lesions created by rosacea.

2. Other Therapies

Have you thought of a green tea and licorice facial to manage rosacea symptoms?

• Green tea is rich in antioxidants, which help reduce inflammation.
   
• Licorice is an herb from Europe and Asia with anti-inflammatory effects to help patients suffering from rosacea.

Need To Speak With A Cosmetic Dermatologist?

To learn more about rosacea and how to manage symptoms, call the Long Island Medical & Cosmetic Dermatology specialists in Huntington, NY, at (631) 271-2769, or Hicksville, NY at (516) 433-3200.

Is Botox treatment what you need to get a more youthful appearance?

Before you turn to our Huntington and Hicksville, NY, dermatologists Dr. Daniel Sherer and Dr. Todd Coven it’s important that you understand more about Botox and what it can, and can’t, do for your appearance so you can decide whether you would like to consider Botox treatment. Here at Long Island Medical & Cosmetic Dermatology, we offer a wide range of cosmetic services that can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Here’s what you should know about Botox:

What’s being injected into my face?

We think it’s only fair that patients fully understand what is in these injections so they can decide whether this is a treatment they feel comfortable with. Botox injections contain a purified, medical-grade form of diluted botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin that temporarily relaxes the muscles of the face.

How does it stop the muscles from contracting? When Botox is injected into muscle groups of the face, it temporarily blocks nerve signals that tell the muscles to contract. This immediately softens the appearance of lines and wrinkles that appear when making facial expressions. When performed by our team of licensed dermatologists here in  Huntington and Hicksville, NY, Botox is completely safe.

It only takes a couple of minutes to administer Botox, which is another reason people turn to us for this cosmetic treatment. Patients don’t need to take time off work and they can return to their routine immediately after. We have even performed Botox during our patient’s lunch break or after work. While we can numb the area prior to administering the injections, the needles are so thin that patients easily tolerate them without any issues.

When will I notice results?

It takes about 3-4 days for patients to see smoother, younger-looking skin. Since the muscles are inactive, they can’t pull at the skin to create the formation of new lines or to make fine lines and wrinkles worse. Results typically last up to 6 months. If you love your results, you can talk with our team to find out how often you should come in for maintenance injections to keep your results looking new and fresh.

What type of wrinkles does Botox treat?

Botox won’t be able to treat all fine lines and wrinkles. It works best on wrinkles that develop due to muscle contractions (referred to as “dynamic wrinkles”). These are the lines and wrinkles that seem to pop whenever you smile, laugh, or squint. Botox is great for treating:

• Frown lines around the nose and mouth
• Furrow lines between the brows
• Crow’s feet (lines around the eyes)

If you are interested in finding out whether Botox treatment is right for you, turn to our Hicksville and Huntington, NY, dermatologists today for a no-risk consultation. To schedule an evaluation, call Long Island Medical & Cosmetic Dermatology at (631) 271-2769 or (516) 433-3200.

Knowing the warning signs of skin cancer.

As with any health problems, the sooner skin cancer is detected, the better. By catching the problem early on, you may be able to avoid surgery or more invasive procedures. Talking with our Hicksville and Huntington, NY, dermatologists, Dr. Daniel Sherer and Dr. Todd Coven, will also give you some idea of whether or not you are at an increased risk for developing skin cancer. Of course, even those who don’t have many risk factors can still develop skin cancer during their lifetime.

It’s important to really get to know your skin so when something changes, a new growth suddenly sprouts up, or an old mole starts to look strange that you know it’s time to schedule an evaluation with our dermatologists. Since skin cancer isn’t generally painful, you are more likely to detect its presence through a simple self-exam than you would just by feeling it. This is why regular self-skin exams are so important for everyone to practice:

Examining Your Skin

When you examine your skin, you want to check everywhere on your body, even areas that aren’t exposed to the sun. This includes under your fingernails and toenails, between your toes, and even the soles of your feet.

For hard-to-see spots like your back or scalp, you’ll want to use a handheld mirror or ask a family member to help you.

What to Look For

Understandably, examining your skin every month isn’t very effective if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for. It’s important to note that while everyone has moles on their body, these moles shouldn’t really change much over time. Warning signs of melanoma include:

• The development of a new growth or spot
• A spot that may appear in areas that aren’t exposed to the sun
• A lesion or spot that grows and changes quickly
• A spot that crusts or bleeds
• A red, pink, brown, or black lesion (sometimes they are more than one color)
• A raised, poorly defined or asymmetrical growth

These are all potential signs of a squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma (non-melanoma forms of skin cancer):

• A scaly, dry, or lumpy lesion that is often red or pale in color
• A lesion that is on sun-exposed areas of the skin
• A growth that is red, scaly, or thickens
• A growth that crusts over, ulcerates, or bleeds

Concerned? Give Us a Call

With offices in Huntington and Hicksville, NY, Long Island Medical & Cosmetic Dermatology makes it easy to get the proper skincare screenings that you need. Call us today at (631) 271-2769 for our Huntington location or (516) 433-3200 for our Hicksville location to schedule a screening.

TV commercials make acne treatment look easy—unfortunately, these advertised over-the-counter products don't work well for everyone. Accordingly, when your acne doesn't improve after using drugstore products, it's time to call Drs. Daniel Sherer and Todd Coven, your Syosset-area, NY, dermatologists at Long Island Medical & Cosmetic Dermatology in Huntington and Hicksville. Read on to learn how their expertise can clear up your skin!

What acne treatments do Syosset dermatologists offer?

Your treatment plan will depend on the condition of your skin and the severity of your acne but may include:

• Topical Prescription Medications: Over-the-counter medications aren't always strong enough to clear up stubborn acne. If none of the products you've tried have helped, your dermatologist may prescribe tretinoin, tazarotene, adapalene, or a different type of medication that is applied directly to the skin. These topical medications clear blocked pores and speed skin cell turnover, which can reduce or prevent new acne lesions.

• Antibiotics: Topical antibiotics may be added to your treatment plan if acne continues, despite using topical prescription medications. Combining topical medication and antibiotics may increase the effectiveness of the treatment. If topical antibiotics don't improve your skin, your skin doctor may suggest that you take oral antibiotics for a few months.

• Isotretinoin: When other treatment methods don't help, your skin doctor may recommend isotretinoin. This oral medication is only prescribed to treat severe or cystic acne, and it requires careful monitoring. When you take it, you'll need frequent follow-up appointments to ensure that you don't experience side effects.

• Oral Contraceptives: Hormonal changes can increase the production of sebum if you're a woman. The oily substance moisturizes your skin but can block pores if you create too much of it. Oral contraceptives decrease sebum production and may keep your skin clearer.

Need care? Give us a call

Do you need a little help with your acne? Schedule an appointment with Drs. Daniel Sherer and Todd Coven, your Syosset-area, NY, dermatologists, by dialing (631) 271-2769 for the Huntington office, or (516) 433-3200 for the Hicksville office.