Medical Dermatology | Granite Bay Dermatology & Laser Center
Maintaining your healthy skin is a lifetime commitment that begins when you’re young. From treating acne and warts to performing annual skin cancer checks, a highly qualified dermatologist can spot minor issues and diagnose severe or even life-threatening conditions before they affect your well-being. With medical dermatology treatments, our experts can help you achieve healthy skin and work with you to develop a plan to help you maintain it.
At Granite Bay Dermatology & Laser Center, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Scott Hearth and his expert team strive to diagnose and treat all medical conditions related to the skin, hair, and nails. Dr. Hearth specializes in innovative techniques and cutting-edge treatments for skin cancers, benign growths, acne, and more to help you maximize your health.
To get radiant, healthy skin in Sacramento, contact Granite Bay Dermatology & Laser Center at (916) 773-3376 or complete our online form to schedule your consultation.
What Conditions Do We Treat?
Approximately 40 to 50 million Americans struggle with acne. While acne can occur at any age, it typically affects teens and young to middle-aged adults. Though acne may be a response to excess oil production, clogged pores, bacteria, and inflammation, its exact cause is unknown. Typically, it affects the face and shoulders; however, acne can also occur on the trunk, arms, legs, and buttocks.
Acne treatments take approximately four to eight weeks to see significant improvement. Continued therapy is often necessary to maintain clear, breakout-free skin.
- Conventional remedies include topical or oral medications. Oral medications may include antibiotics or other prescription drugs that decrease the effects of hormones. Isotretinoin, or Accutane, is another systemic treatment used for severe, resistant, or cystic acne.
- Laser or light-based technologies, such as Blu-U light and photodynamic therapy, are helpful for mild to moderate acne. They are also an option for acne that doesn’t respond to topical treatments or for patients who are looking to avoid oral medications. These treatments eliminate bacteria that cause flare-ups.
- Microdermabrasion or superficial chemical peels boost the skin’s response to treatments.
- Acne extractions or cortisone injections may help quickly reduce or resolve stubborn lesions.
Actinic keratosis (AK) is a common precancerous growth caused by sun exposure that can develop into a skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. Frequently located on the face, scalp, hands, arms, chest, or other sun-exposed areas, AK presents as a dry, scaly patch or bump and can appear white, pink, red, or flesh-colored. The lesion may often be easier to feel than to see.
With many treatment options available, Dr. Hearth and his expert team may suggest combining different modalities based on the number of lesions, size, and location.
Common AK treatments include:
- Cryosurgery, or freezing with liquid nitrogen
- Topical medications
- Photodynamic therapy
- Chemical peels
- Laser treatments
After treatment, appropriate sun protection is crucial to prevent future damage and forming new AKs.
Cysts are a common benign skin condition that can cause pockets of soft, movable tissue filled with skin proteins, fluids, or other substances. They can appear anywhere on the body, especially on the face, back, chest, and scalp. Often, cysts are benign and asymptomatic, but they may become inflamed or infected, resulting in discomfort or pain.
If a cyst becomes inflamed or infected, it is important to see your doctor right away to drain or excise the cyst. Treatment varies, depending on the type of cyst, size, and location. Some inflamed cysts may require oral medication or cortisone injections.
Dermatitis is a generic term for many common skin irritations. With many causes and forms, dermatitis typically involves itchy, dry skin or a rash. During a dermatitis flare, the skin may blister, ooze, crust, or flake. Common types of dermatitis include contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, or seborrheic dermatitis.
While dermatitis isn’t infectious, it can be uncomfortable and cause self-consciousness and embarrassment. Dermatitis can have many triggers, such as soaps, fragrances, cosmetics, plants, jewelry, cold or dry weather, or other allergens.
Often, regular moisturizing helps control the symptoms of dermatitis. Treatments may include medicated topical ointments, creams, or shampoos.
Eczema is a general term to describe many skin conditions that usually manifest in dry, irritated, and itchy skin. It is common and can occur at any age. In eczema, the skin barrier dries, causing microscopic cracks. Without treatment, these cracks can worsen, become inflamed, and result in red, scaly, itchy skin.
Effective eczema therapy requires addressing acute flares and maintaining a treatment regimen for long-term control of the condition.
Remedies for eczema discomfort include:
- Topical treatments, including corticosteroids, immune-suppressing ointments, or anti-inflammatory medications
- Systemic treatment, if necessary, including antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, or antihistamine medications
- Ultraviolet light therapy
- Emollients
- Avoiding unique environmental triggers
Moles are a common type of skin growth. In most cases, moles are benign dark spots caused by pigment-forming cells called melanocytes. Moles can vary in appearance. They can be flat or raised, light-colored or dark, small or large, and some may contain hair. While most people develop moles during childhood or adolescence, some moles appear in adulthood. Sun exposure can cause moles to darken or increase in number or size.
If you notice any sudden changes in moles, including asymmetry, irregular borders, uneven colors, or unusual texture, or if a mole becomes painful, itchy, inflamed, or crusty, it is important to see a dermatologist immediately as these changes can indicate skin cancer.
Depending on the type of mole, its size, and location, Dr. Hearth and his expert team use many removal techniques, including:
- Shave excision for superficial moles
- Excision with sutured closure for deeper moles
- Cryosurgery
- Laser treatment
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that is caused by an overactive immune system. It is characterized by thick, red, itchy, scaly patches of skin. Skin involvement can range from small, localized areas to generalized body involvement, including the joints, nails, scalp, and mucous membranes. Severe cases of psoriasis can be physically and emotionally debilitating.
Fortunately, the experts at Granite Bay Dermatology & Laser Center offer multiple effective treatments to help reduce psoriasis symptoms, even in the most severe cases.
- Topical medications, alone or in combination with other psoriasis solutions
- Ultraviolet light therapy
- Systemic treatments, including medications that affect specific aspects of the skin or immune system, such as methotrexate, acitretin (Soriatane), cyclosporine, or biologic agents like Enbrel or Humira
Rosacea is a common chronic skin condition that causes inflammation and redness on the face. It typically occurs in fair-skinned adults. While women are more prone to rosacea, men can exhibit severe cases.
Typically, rosacea begins as a tendency to flush or blush and progresses to a persistent redness of the nose and cheeks, extending to the forehead and chin over time. Other symptoms can include enlarged blood vessels around the nose and on the cheeks, acne-like eruptions, skin thickening, or textural changes. While there is treatment to help manage symptoms, there is no cure for rosacea.
Dr. Hearth recommends various treatments to reduce rosacea symptoms, including:
- Topical medications, alone or in combination with other treatments
- Oral medications, including antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications
- Laser treatments, such as V-Beam® laser or IPL
- Avoiding environmental triggers, such as sun exposure or stress
The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that 9,500 people receive a diagnosis of skin cancer every day. Unfortunately, one in five Americans will develop skin cancers in their lifetime, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma. While skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis in the U.S., it is also the most preventable type of cancer.
To help yourself avoid skin cancer, it’s vital to protect your skin from sun damage with an SPF of 30+ and protective clothing every time sun exposure is unavoidable. For early detection of skin cancer, it’s important to have an annual skin examination with a dermatologist and conduct monthly self-examinations. When caught early, skin cancer is very treatable. If a skin biopsy reveals cancer, Dr. Hearth will develop a treatment plan that uses one of many approaches or surgical procedures based on the type of cancer, its location, and your unique needs.
Skin cancer treatments may include:
- Surgical excision
- Electrodesiccation and curettage, which involves scraping and burning early-stage skin cancer with a curette and electrocautery
- Topical medications
- Mohs micrographic surgery, a specialized procedure to remove skin cancers
Skin tags are small, benign skin growths that often occur on the neck, underarms, or groin. While they are often asymptomatic, they can be unsightly or become easily irritated by friction caused by clothing or jewelry.
Dr. Hearth and his expert team can remove skin tags with:
- Excision
- Cryosurgery
- Electrocautery
Warts are a type of skin growth caused by the human papillomavirus. They can appear on many areas of the body and have a slightly different appearance.
Common warts appear on the fingers or hands. Plantar warts appear on the soles of the feet or toes and can cause discomfort when walking. Flat warts are small and typically appear in clusters on the face, the backs of the hands, or the lower legs.
Several treatments or combinations of therapies may be necessary to successfully eliminate warts, including:
- Cryosurgery
- Cantharidin application
- Immunotherapy, or topical preparations and injections
- Laser surgery
Take Care of Your Skin at Granite Bay Dermatology & Laser Center With Dr. Hearth
At Granite Bay Dermatology & Laser Center, we believe healthy skin is beautiful skin. Our goal is to help you maintain your skin’s health for as long as possible.
To achieve and maintain radiant, healthy skin in Sacramento, contact Granite Bay Dermatology & Laser Center at (916) 773-3376 or complete our online form to schedule your consultation.
Their team is so nice & provide excellent customer/patient service. Just know you will be taken care of properly. Dr Hearth is absolutely amazing. It's also a beautiful office with lovely art. Thank you all!