NEWS

Do you have nails that are thick and difficult to trim? Do they have white or yellow discoloration? 

If the answer to either of those questions is,’ yes’ then it is possible you have nail fungus. Nail fungal infections, known as onychomycosis, are extremely common. As people age, the odds steadily increase that a person will have fungus infection in one or more fingernails or toenails.

Tinea versicolor, which is also called pityriasis versicolor, is a common fungal infection that we see frequently in our clinics at Advanced Dermatology of the Midlands, especially in the summertime. The condition is caused by a type of fungus and involves an overgrowth of a yeast organism (Malassezia type) on the skin, which disrupts pigment production temporarily. Tinea versicolor that develops in people with dark skin may result in the loss of skin color, known as hypopigmentation. Depending on the person, skin may appear lighter or darker. This skin infection occurs frequently in teens and young adults, as well as those with weakened immune systems, on the torso, neck, and/or the arms. Though it is very common, the good news is that it is harmless. A common misconception is that it can affect the face when in reality it essentially never shows up in that area.

On two consecutive days in my dermatology clinic, I met two sets of married couples. They came in for full-body skin examinations. In both cases, the patient’s wife had concerns about a spot on her husband’s skin. She was the one who made the appointments. Without her efforts, the man would likely have never sought dermatology care.

These types of situations are nothing unusual in dermatology. Daily in all our clinics at Advanced Dermatology of the Midlands we see loved ones who have appointments together, frequently for skin checks or specific areas of concern. In most of those cases, one of the individuals is particularly concerned about the other. And as I pointed out, without this concern and the effort, it is very likely the appointments never would have been made.

In our last blog, we reviewed the top 10 most common skin spots that we see in dermatology (https://www.midlandsderm.com/top-ten-common-skin-spots/).  All of these can be removed.  Now we would like to share with you some more information about the options for unwanted skin spots removal, as well as the details on what these procedures entail.  Which procedure goes best for each spot heavily depends on the size and depth of the skin growth.

Advanced Dermatology the Midlands is pleased to announce our newest and second dermatology clinic location in Omaha.  Given the rapid northwest expansion of the metropolitan area and many of our patients already live or work in this growing region, we have decided to expand with a second Omaha location at 156th & Maple (15805 West Maple Rd, Suite 104).

The management of Psoriasis has made huge leaps forward over the last two decades. This has transformed our ability to treat this condition. The greatest health care advances have been in the realm of systemic therapy & biologic medications. These work by altering the immune system. They, therefore, are generally considered immune suppressants, weakening the immune system. Taking this into consideration, the best dermatologists worry about what this means for patients on biologic medicines for psoriasis during the time of the COVID 19 (Coronavirus) viral pandemic. Considering that, some patients are deciding to hold their biologic medication until the viral pandemic has ended.