Medical Procedures

Phototherapy

Phototherapy, or light therapy, is a treatment that involves the use of artificial ultraviolet (UV) light control certain types of inflammation of the skin. During phototherapy, skin is exposed to an ultraviolet (UV) light source for a set amount of time. Certain skin conditions respond well to phototherapy. Those diseases include psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo, and some skin-based lymphomas. Our practice offers phototherapy that can treat the entire body, as well as a device that can localize treatment to the hands and feet.

Full-Body Skin Exams

A full body skin exam is performed to screen for skin cancer. Typically, the doctor looks for any unusual lesions on the skin, such as skin cancer or atypical moles. If a suspicious lesion is detected on examination, a biopsy (skin sample) may be taken for microscopic evaluation.

Skin Cancer

The most common forms of skin cancer include Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC), Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), and Melanoma. Melanoma is the most concerning due to its ability to spread from the skin to other parts of the body fairly quickly. Early detection of a melanoma is critical. Inform your doctor if you notice any moles that are changing in size, symmetry, shape, or color. Also inform your doctor of any spots that bleed easily, fail to heal, or are persistently scaly. A full-body skin exam can be done to look for suspicious lesions.