A lot of dermatological conditions are treated with non-invasive therapy and medication. However, some require invasive treatment or surgical intervention.
Dermatologists conduct these procedures in outpatient settings like in a doctor’s office, as well as during hospitalization.
Here are the methods a dermatologist will use to treat various dermatological conditions:
Biopsies
Dermatologists carry out skin biopsies to diagnose or rule your given skin conditions.
There are three common types of biopsies; Shave biopsies which entail removal of small fragments of the skin’s top layer, punch biopsies which involve removal of tiny circular sections that include the skin’s deeper layers, and excision biopsies that entail removal of entire parts of abnormal-looking skin.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peel entails the application of a chemical solution to your skin. The chemical causes you to shade a layer of your skin, leaving a regenerated and smoother layer underneath.
Dermatologists use this method to treat some forms of acne and sun-damage. This procedure is also used to address cosmetic complaints like lines under the eyes and age spots.
Cosmetic Injection
Dermatologists use injections to reduce wrinkles, lost facial fullness, and scarrings. A dermatologist can inject fillers like fat and collagen, or botulinum toxin therapy, in an office visit.
Results of cosmetic injections typically last for a couple of months, and therefore the injections are repeated periodically. Repeat treatments have become ineffective because some patients build up antibodies to Botox.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is standard and quick procedure dermatologists use to treat various benign skin conditions like warts. The method entails freezing skin lesions to destroy the infected skin cell, mostly using liquid nitrogen.
Dermabrasion
This procedure involves the use of a high-speed rotating brush. The dermatologist scraps of the outer layer of your skin, surgically scraping off scar tissue, tattoos, fine wrinkles, and precancerous skin patches.
Excision of Lesions
Skin lesions are removed for various reasons. They are excised for cosmetic reasons, to avert disease from spreading, to prevent recurring infections, for diagnosis, and to alleviate symptoms.
Depending on the severity of the lesion, general or local anesthetic may be used to insensate the area before the excision.
Hair Removal or Restoration
Loss of hair can be reversed with surgery to your scalp or hair transplantation. Besides, you can get rid of unwanted hair using electrolysis, or laser hair epilation. If you’re experiencing hair loss, it’s time to consult a Dermatologist .
Laser Surgery
Dermatologists often use a special beam of light to treat various types of skin issues. These include warts, tattoos, moles, tumors, wrinkles, birthmarks, scars, and unwanted hair.
Moh Surgery
This type of surgery is for skin cancer. Layers of skin are successfully removed and evaluated under a microscope for cancerous cells. More layers are gradually removed up the point where the surgeon can’t find any more cancer cells.
Moh surgeries are performed by specialized surgeons who’ve acquired additional medical training.
Psoralen Plus Ultraviolet A (PUVA)
Psoralen is a type of drug that increases the skin’s sensitivity to radiation. Dermatologists use PUVA in the treatment of severe skin diseases like vitiligo, dermatitis, and psoriasis.
Skin Flaps and Grafts
Dermatologists can use healthy skin from another part of your body to restore missing skin. The skin is grafted from a tissue that doesn’t have a blood supply of its own. Alternatively, a skin flap fashioned from skin tissues close to the area of skin loss is used.
Tumescent Liposuction
Dermatologists use tumescent liposuction to purge excess fat from your body. The process starts with an injection of large volumes of anaesthetic into the fatty tissues followed by fat being sucked from your body.
Tumescent liposuction isn’t a treatment for obesity, though, it’s a purely cosmetic procedure. Dermatologists also selectively break down fat cells using lasers and remove the tumescent fluid.
Vein Therapy
This form of therapy helps diminish superficial leg veins which are tiny dilated surface veins. They are also referred to as spider veins and are usually removed for cosmetic reasons.
Sclerotherapy is the preferred treatment option for spider veins. Dermatologists inject either a solution or foam into the vein; this spurs irritation which causes it to shut. The vein then disappears entirely or becomes less distinct.
To Conclude
If you’re suffering from common skin conditions like acne, if you want to reverse hair loss, or if you wish to have any other cosmetic procedure done, it’s time to find a dermatologist who’ll help you diagnose and manage your condition.