As a whole, the public is becoming increasingly knowledgeable regarding medical conditions due, in large part, to the growing availability of internet access. This factor alone has led to an unprecedented expansion of the medical industry. Largely impacting the Dermatology field, this heightened state of awareness is producing an annual swell of at least 2.5 percent in the number of patients seeking treatment for skin conditions. What once would have been disregarded as a trifling blemish with dire consequences down the road is now being recognized for the potential dangers it could entail.
A Dermatologist St Paul MN avails a wide variety of services, ranging from making minor cosmetic adjustments to treating potentially deadly forms of skin cancer. Still among the most commonly treated conditions, acne has been found to possibly be an indicator of more serious conditions, such as diabetes and hormonal imbalances, in adult patients. Dermatologists possess the knowledge and technology to determine if an acne outbreak may simply be a manifestation of clogged pores or symptomatic of a deeper illness.
The fungus known to cause athlete’s foot and ringworm is relatively harmless and easily treatable under normal circumstances. In patients with weakened immune systems due to AIDS, HIV and diabetes, though, failure to receive prompt medical care from a Dermatologist St Paul MN may result in unrelenting infection and, ultimately, loss of a limb.
As great technological strides have been made in detecting and treating skin cancer, the dermatology field is experiencing exponentially growing success rates in eliminating basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma, as well as melanoma. One such advance in skin cancer treatment is Mohs Surgery.
In this procedure, a Dermatologist St Paul MN removes extremely thin layers of cancerous skin. After being removed, these layers are closely examined. Additional layers are removed as necessary, until a layer of healthy skin cells is uncovered. In contrast to other skin cancer surgeries that remove the entire area of cancerous cells along with a minuscule amount of the healthy surrounding skin, Mohs Surgery extracts as little skin as possible. This surgery certifies complete removal of cancer cells with minimal damage to healthy skin.
Although Dermatologists still regularly treat skin rashes, contact dermatitis and hair loss and continue to remove moles, warts and other skin growths, they also provide a window to the detection and treatment of afflictions of a much more pensive nature.
