26036 Pontiac Trail, South Lyon, MI 48178
Office Phone: (248) 479-2200
Office Fax: (248) 479-2682

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Our Services

From rashes to melanoma, South Lyon Dermatology is equipped to handle all your dermatological needs. To help you understand your options, we've included descriptions of some of our leading services on this page.

Acne

Acne is the most frequent skin condition seen by medical professionals. It consists of pimples that appear on the face, back and chest. About 80% of adolescents have some form of acne and about 5% of adults experience acne. In normal skin, oil glands under the skin, known as sebaceous glands, produce an oily substance called sebum. Read More »

Cysts

There are three main types of cysts found in the skin that are considered common. These include the epidermal (sebaceous) cyst, trichilemmal (pilar) cyst, and milium. There are also less common cysts.

  • An epidermal cyst is a freely movable nodule with essentially normal overlying skin. The most common locations include the face, ears, neck and back.
  • Trichilemmal cysts are bumps under the skin that mainly occur on the scalp and there may be multiple.
  • Milia are usually found on the face. They are small firm white or yellow lesions.

Cysts may resolve on their own and not require treatment. Cysts that are enlarging, becoming painful, red, hot and swollen may need treatment. Depending on the symptoms, you may require an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory medication or removal of the cyst through drainage or surgery.

Eczema

Eczema is a word for irritated skin. It happens when the immune system is working too hard and becomes too sensitive to every day life. Eczema usually develops in early childhood; however, many adults are affected as well. People get eczema for several different reasons. Sometimes it is part of a person’s genetic code and may be related to other medical conditions such as asthma and allergies. Eczema may be brought on by environmental and product exposure.

If you have eczema, try your best to stop scratching. Keep your skin moisturized with fragrance free creams. Avoid triggers that make your skin worse. Try not to get too hot or wear irritating clothing. Use fragrance free soaps and detergents. Try not to stress about your eczema. Dermatologists have the tools and therapeutic interventions if you eczema cannot be controlled with over the counter creams and good skin care.

Hair

Everyone's hair is different. It can be short, long, curly, straight, thick, thin, blond, black, brown, or red. Your hair comes from the genes you have inherited from your parents. Everyone loses hair. It is normal to lose about 50-100 hairs every day. If you see bald patches or lots of thinning, you may be experiencing hair loss.

There are many causes of hair loss. Some diseases and medical treatments can cause hair loss. The most common cause of hair loss is hereditary. About 80 million men and women in the United States experience this. Because so many other things that can cause hair loss, a dermatologist acts like a detective. Figuring out the cause requires a series of questions, a thorough examination of your hair and scalp and possibly blood work or a skin biopsy.

Treatment will depend on the type of hair loss you have. Common treatments include safe hair care, healthy lifestyle choices, shampoos, topical medication, oral medication, lasers and surgery.

Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition that causes excessive sweating. Many people who have hyperhidrosis sweat excessively from one or two areas of the body. Most often, they sweat from their palms, feet, underarms, or head.

A dermatologist can provide helpful tips to manage your excessive sweating. Using an antiperspirant at bedtime rather than a deodorant may help. Antiperspirants can reduce sweating. Deodorants mask or stop body odor, but allow you to sweat. Keep a journal of what brings out the sweating. Temperature, certain emotions, stress and different circumstances may worsen your sweating. There are several therapeutic interventions your dermatologist may recommend to control the sweating and improve your quality of life.

Infections

Humans are natural hosts for many bacteria and viruses that live on the skin. For the most part, our immune system does not allow for an infection to occur. Sometimes minor trauma, preexisting skin disease, poor hygiene or poor immunity can predispose you to an infection. Several common skin infections are discussed below. Please see the education portion of the website for more information.

  • Impetigo is a superficial skin infection caused by bacteria. The skin is usually red and has a yellow crust or scab. This is common is children, but can occur at any age.
  • Folliculitis is a superficial infection of the hair follicles. It is characterized by red bumps in hair bearing areas of the skin.
  • Cellulitis is a serious infection that extends deep into the skin. The skin is usually red, hot, swollen and painful. It can involve a large portion of the skin and can spread quickly.
  • Fungal infections can cause a red rash, peeling skin, redness, chafing, and inflammation. A fungal infection of the skin may include athlete’s foot, scalp fungus, nail fungus, jock itch and ringworm.
  • Yeast infections can affect the skin, nails, mouth and genitals. Yeast infections are common in those with a low immunity, diabetes, the elderly, and patients receiving antibiotics. The skin may become red, weepy, raw and painful. The mouth and genitals may develop white patches, become bright red and itchy.
  • Viral infections appear differently depending on what virus is causing the infection.
    • Herpes is a common viral infection that may affect the mouth, skin and genitals. The involved area will have recurrent episodes of red bumps, blisters and sores that often burn, itch or are painful. Herpes is a contagious condition.
    • Warts are common, benign viral infection that causes thick, rough bumps anywhere on the body. Warts appear on the skin after direct contact with the virus. Depending on the wart type, it can be contracted by skin-to-skin contact or from the environment.
    • Molluscum Contagiosum is a viral infection that most commonly affects children. It appears as shiny skin colored or red bumps on the skin. It occurs after skin-to-skin contact. Molluscum may spontaneously resolve; however, often require treatment to prevent spreading of the virus.

Infestations

  • Head Lice infest the head and neck and attach their eggs to the hair near the scalp. Head lice most commonly spreads from person-to-person contact. You cannot get human lice from dogs or cats. Lice are light brown and move quickly by crawling. The eggs are brown or yellow and look like tiny seeds attached firmly to the hair shaft. Both over the counter and prescription medications can be used to treat lice.
  • Scabies is a human mite that burrows into the upper layer of the skin where it lives and lays its eggs. The most common symptoms of scabies are intense itching and red bumpy skin rash. The scabies mite usually is spread by direct, skin-to-skin contact with someone who has scabies. There are prescription creams and oral medications treat scabies.
  • Bed bugs - Bedbugs are small, oval, brown insects that have flat bodies. They feed on the blood of humans and animals. Bedbugs may enter your home through luggage, clothing, used beds and couches, and other items. Bedbugs are active mainly at night and usually bite people while they are sleeping. The bite is usually painless, but later turns into itchy welts. Treatment of bedbugs mainly relies on ridding the infestation. This often requires pest control services. Control of the skin redness and itching is usually obtained through cold compresses, antihistamines and topical anti-inflammatory creams.
  • Flea Bites on humans usually come from dog fleas, cat fleas or human fleas. The bites are often seen in clusters and can looks like little red itchy bumps and blisters. Flea bites are often seen on the legs below the knee and arms. These are areas readily exposed to the fleas, especially after petting an animal.
    • Most flea bites can be easily managed at home. The most important part in managing flea bites is to rid the source. Treating the pet and vacuuming the floor and furniture could resolve the problem. Do your best not to scratch. If you have been bit, wash the area with soap and water. Cold compresses may help reduce the itch. If the itch is persistent, topical anti-inflammatory and anti-itch creams may be beneficial.
  • Ticks are small bloodsucking arthropods and the leading carriers of diseases to humans in the United States. One example of a tick-associated illness is Lyme disease. There are hundreds of species of ticks worldwide. A tick bite is usually painless at first, but may result in local redness, itching, burning, and pain. The tick may fall off the skin or bury itself entirely or partially into the skin.
    • The symptoms after a tick bite depend on the species, how long it was attached to the skin and whether or not it is carrying disease. Some side effects include fever, chills, upset stomach, diarrhea, rash, swelling, joint pain, confusion, weakness, paralysis and shortness of breath. If you have been bitten by a tick. Attempt to completely remove it from your body. If you develop any signs or symptoms mentioned above or if you are pregnant, seek medical advice from your dermatologist.

Moles (Nevi)

Moles are brown or black growths, usually round or oval, that can appear anywhere on the skin. They can be rough or smooth, flat or raised, single or in multiples. They occur when cells that are responsible for skin pigmentation, known as melanocytes, grow in clusters instead of being spread out across the skin. Generally, moles are less than one-quarter inch in size. Most moles appear by the age of 20, although some moles may appear later in life. Read More »

Nails

Fingernails and toenails are made up of keratin, a protein in our skin. They help us to scratch, peel, pick, rip, tear, grip, undo knots and open things. Proper care of your nails includes keeping them short and clean, moisturizing them and eating a healthy diet. Avoid biting or picking your nails. Do not push back or trim your cuticles and wear properly fitting shoes. There are several disease or malformations that can affect the overall health of your nail.

Ingrown toenails - When your nail grows infer the surrounding skin. This can be extremely painful. Attempt cutting your toenails straight across and make sure your shoes fit properly. Soak your foot in warm salt water and seek medical attention if it persists. Do not try and dig it out yourself.

Injury - Injuries happen to your nails all of the time. Smashing them with a hammer, pinching them in a door, dropping something on your toe, running into an object or even repetitively pushing on your nails are just a few examples of how your nails may become damaged. Injuries can result in trapped blood under the nail, white smudges, dents, lifting of the nail and loss of nail entirely. Most nail injuries will grow out with time. Keep in mind that the fingernails can take up to 6 months and the toenails can take up to 1 year to grow out entirely. If the nail matrix (root) was damaged, permanent deformity may occur.

Infection - There are many different types of infection that can affect the nails.

  • Nail fungus is the most common type of nail infection. The fungus can cause your nail to turn white, yellow, green, brown or black. The nail may thicken and become brittle.
  • Paronychia is an infection along the edge of the nail. It is usually caused by bacteria. You may develop redness, swelling, drainage and significant tenderness.

Rough and discolored nails - There are a ton of things that affect the appearance of our nails. Sometimes dehydration, poor diet, frequent cleaning with harsh chemicals and lack of moisture may cause the nails to become dry and brittle. The use of nail polish and acrylic may cause discoloration. Smoking may lead to yellow brittle nails as well. Seek medical advice if your nails have unexplained discoloration, dents, pitting or changes in shape. This may be related to an underlying medical condition.

Pigmented Spots

Lentigos are brown or black flat spots on the skin. They are common on sun exposed areas such as the face, shoulders, upper back, chest, arms and hands. They are brought on by sun exposure over a lifetime and tend to occur in middle aged and elderly individuals. The majority of lentigos are benign and can be treated cosmetically and with the use of sunscreen.

Pigmented Birthmarks can grow anywhere on the skin and at any time. They are usually black, brown or skin-colored and appear singly or in groups. They can be moles (congenital nevi) that are present at birth, Mongolian spots, which look like bluish bruises and appear more frequently on people with dark skin, or café-au-lait spots that are flat, light brown or tan and roughly form an oval shape.

Red Birthmarks (also known as macular stains) develop before or shortly after birth and are related to the vascular (blood vessel) system. There are a number of different types:

  • Angel kisses , which usually appear on the forehead and eyelids.
  • Stork bites , which appear on the back of the neck, between the eyebrows on the forehead, or on eyelids of newborns. They may fade away as the child grows, but often persist into adulthood.
  • Port-wine stains , which are flat deep-red or purple birthmarks made up of dilated blood capillaries (small blood vessels). They often appear on the face and are permanent.
  • Strawberry hemangiomas , composed of small, closely packed blood vessels that grow rapidly and can appear anywhere on the body. They usually disappear by age nine.
  • Cavernous hemangiomas are similar to strawberry hemangiomas but go more deeply into the layers of the skin. These can often be characterized by a bluish-purple color. They also tend to disappear naturally around school age.

Vitiligo refers to the development of white patches anywhere on the skin. With this condition, pigment-forming cells (known as melanocytes) are destroyed by the immune system causing the loss of pigmentation in the skin. Vitiligo usually develops between the ages of 10 and 40. It affects both men and women and appears to be hereditary.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin condition that creates red patches of skin with white, flaky scales. It most commonly occurs on the elbows, knees and trunk, but can appear anywhere on the body. The first episode usually strikes between the ages of 15 and 35. It is a chronic condition that will then cycle through flare-ups and remissions throughout the rest of the patient's life. Psoriasis affects as many as 7.5 million people in the United States. About 20,000 children under age 10 have been diagnosed with psoriasis. Read More »

Rashes

"Rash" is a general term for a wide variety of skin conditions. A rash refers to a change that affects the skin and usually appears as a red patch or small bumps or blisters on the skin. The majority of rashes are harmless and can be treated effectively with over-the-counter anti-itch creams, antihistamines and moisturizing lotions. Read More »

Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that causes facial redness, acne-like pimples, visible small blood vessels on the face, swelling and/or watery, irritated eyes. This inflammation of the face can affect the cheeks, nose, chin, forehead or eyelids. More than 14 million Americans suffer from rosacea. It is not contagious, but there is some evidence to suggest that it is inherited. There is no known cause or cure for rosacea. There is also no link between rosacea and cancer. Read More »

Scars

When your skin is injured your, your body works to repair the wound. The body heals by forming a scab over the wound to protect it from infection. Under the scab, the body is at work creating new collagen and patching up the broken tissue. â€¨When the injured skin is repaired; there may be a scar. Some scars fade over time, but you can never completely erase a scar. No treatment will return your skin to the way it looked before an injury. There are ways to make your scar less visible. Keep the wound moist with ointment and covered while healing. Do not pick the scab or over wash the area with peroxide or alcohol. Topical scar therapy may help reduce the appearance. Injections, lasers and surgery may be necessary to reduce larger scars.

Skin Cancers

Skin cancer is the most common form of human cancers, affecting more than one million Americans every year. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. Skin cancers are generally curable if caught early. However, people who have had skin cancer are at a higher risk of developing a new skin cancer, which is why regular self-examination and doctor visits are imperative. Read More »

Skin Growths

There are several growths that can occur almost anywhere on the body. If the growth is new or you are concerned with a growth on the skin, seek the advice of your dermatologist.

  • Seborrheic Keratosis is a common, benign (non-cancerous) growth that mainly occurs in middle aged and elderly people. It appears as a rough bump on the skin and can range in color from flesh color, white, black and all shades of brown. Some people get one or two and others may have hundreds of these.
  • Skin tags (acrochordons) are small, soft bumps on the skin that are benign. They are most frequently found along the neckline, under the breast, armpits and groin folds.
  • Actinic Keratosis - These precancerous growths on the skin are caused by overexposure to the sun over a long period of time. They are characterized as rough and dry lesions that appear on sun-exposed areas of the skin. The lesions may be red, pink, gray or skin colored. Lesions often begin as flat, scaly areas and develop into a rough-textured surface. If actinic keratoses do develop, they should be treated to prevent the development of skin cancer.

Sun Damage

There is no safe way to tan. Tanning is the skin's natural response to damage from the sun. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency proclaims that everybody, regardless of race or ethnicity, is subject to the potential adverse effects of overexposure to the sun. That's why everyone needs to protect his or her skin from the sun every day.

It is recommended that people use products with a SPF of 30 or greater and should be re-applied every 2 to 3 hours. Sunscreen is not generally recommended for infants six months old or younger. Infants should be kept in the shade as much as possible and should be dressed in protective clothing to prevent any skin exposure and damage.

Tanning bed use - According to the American Academy of Dermatology and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ultraviolet (UV) radiation from tanning beds, tanning booths and sun lamps are known carcinogens (cancer-causing substances). Exposure to UV radiation during indoor tanning has been proven to increase the risk of all skin cancers, including melanomas, squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell carcinomas. In fact, the risk of melanoma increases by 75 percent when indoor tanning devices are used before the age of 30. The UV radiation during indoor tanning also leads to skin aging, hyper - and hypopigmentation, immune suppression and eye damage, such as cataracts.

Therefore, the use of tanning beds, tanning booths and sun lamps is not recommended by dermatologist.

Surgery

The purpose of dermatologic surgery is to repair and/or improve the function and appearance of the skin. The majority of skin surgery only requires local or regional anesthesia. Examples of dermatologic surgery procedures include cosmetic treatments, injectables, Botulinum toxin treatments, acne scar correction, chemical peels, vein therapy, laser treatments and skin cancer surgery.

Warts

Warts are small, harmless growths that appear most frequently on the hands and feet. Sometimes they look flat and smooth, other times they have a dome-shaped or cauliflower-like appearance. Warts can be surrounded by skin that is either lighter or darker. Warts are caused by different forms of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). They occur in people of all ages and can spread from person-to-person and from one part of the body to another. Warts are benign (noncancerous) and generally painless. Read More »

Wrinkles

Wrinkles are a natural part of the aging process. They occur most frequently in areas exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck, back of the hands and forearms. Over time, skin gets thinner, drier and less elastic. Ultimately, this causes wrinkles - either fine lines or deep furrows. In addition to sun exposure, premature aging of the skin is associated with smoking, heredity and skin type (higher incidence among people with fair hair, blue-eyes and light skin). Read More »

SKIN CANCERS SCREENING
RASHES
ACNE & ROSACEA
Cosmetic