Medical

Cosmetic

Tele-Dermatology

Isolaz™ is powered by a breakthrough technology called Photopneumatics™ (Photo = light-based, Pneumatics = vacuum) which is the only therapy in the world that combines a vacuum with a painless broadband light to deep cleanse and purify your pores from the inside out. Isolaz™ is quick, easy and painless. In fact, many people have their treatments done during lunch without any downtime. Many patients have found their skin feels tighter and has a healthy radiant glow following Isolaz therapy.

Tele-dermatology is a new service that is available for busy individuals who need a dermatological consultation but do not have the time, or are unable to travel to our office.

Tele-dermatology does not take the place of a good, in person physical exam. However, there are times when a description of the malady, or a quality electronic photo via regular mail or email can be used to diagnose and treat a condition. For example, if you have a poison ivy rash and need immediate relief, this service would give you the luxury of fast treatment without the hassle of driving to our office, parking, and waiting to see the doctor.
With tele-dermatology, Dr. Carrasco would contact you personally at a pre-arranged time via telephone or email for a discussion about your condition.

Need a prescription refill and don’t have time to come into the office? If you have a medical condition that requires ongoing medication, tele-dermatology may simplify your life. For example, if you are using Propecia for hair loss, Valtrex for herpes simplex/fever blisters, or if you are treating your rosacea with antibiotics, typically an in person, annual consultation with the doctor would be required to continue your treatment. With tele-dermatology, we can usually discuss your condition over the telephone or via email and refill your medication without the trip to the office.

Certain growths such as skin tags and benign keratosis can be usually diagnosed via a detailed description and photo. If you have a mole that you are concerned about, an in-person evaluation may be necessary because these types of lesions require a detailed and magnified examination.

The fee for a tele-dermatology consultation begins at $200. Fees are based on the complexity of the issue, as well as time spent during the consultation. If Dr. Carrasco is unable to determine with confidence the diagnosis or the effective treatment of your condition over the telephone or via email, you will be given priority scheduling in the office. You would still be responsible for a tele-dermatology consultation fee of $100.

Tele-dermatology is a cash-only service, and it is not covered by insurance plans.

To schedule an appointment for a tele-dermatology consultation, please call our office.

Sculptra® is included in the category of fillers, but is better called a skin volume enhancer. The injected substance is poly L-lactic acid. The material is used to treat sunken hollow cheeks that results from the aging process or as a result of HIV disease. A series of injections over several months is required and the final improvement will take up to six months. The clinical benefit can also last up to two years.

Radiesse is a new injectable product for filling the nasolabial folds. The advantage of this product is the potential for a long lasting effect with results lasting in some patients up to two years. Radiesse consists of calcium hydroxylapatite suspended in gel (carboxymethycellulose). Because calcium hydroxylapatite is a normal constituent of bone, it should not elicit a chronic inflammatory or immune response. Additionally, the gel carrier doesn't require allergy testing such as required with other injectable fillers such as some collagens. Calcium hydroxylapatite has been used in humans for a long time in prosthetic implants in dental, facial, and orthopedic surgery. Animal studies and use of the injectable product in vocal cords and bladder neck areas have shown that the product remains soft without new bone formation when injected into soft tissue. The longest term studies come from Italy and suggest that Radiesse shows promise as a new agent for facial contouring with no serious side effects and reasonable efficacy and durability.

Restylane is a safe and natural cosmetic dermal filler that restores fullness to the skin and lips and smoothes moderate to severe facial wrinkles and skin folds, such as nasolabial folds (laugh lines) and for scar correction. As you get older, your face loses its shape. Restylane simply restores that fullness and provides a smoother contour to the face. Restylane is the first and only cosmetic dermal filler made of non-animal-based hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance that already exists in the human body and is used to provide volume and fullness to the skin. The hyaluronic acid in Restylane is crystal-clear gel called NASHA, or Non-Animal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid. NASHA is biodegradable and completely biocompatible with human hyaluronic acid. Unlike other hyaluronic acid-based products, such as those made from rooster combs, only Restylane is non-animal-based. This quality virtually eliminates any risk of animal-based disease transmission or allergic reaction. Restylane is completely degraded, leaving absolutely no traces of the injected material in the body and can last from 3–8 months.

Chemical peeling as a technique has been around since Cleopatra used sour milk (lactic acid) for facial rejuvenation. Today, a chemical is applied to the face or other areas, causing the upper levels of the skin to peel away, leaving rejuvenated skin. Chemical peels work best in combination with an appropriate home-care regimen. The end result often depends on which type of peel is being used—the superficial (fruit acid, AHA), the medium-depth (combination peels) or the deep peel (Baker-Gordon, phenol). Superficial peels can improve some types of blotchy pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, overall skin texture and some sun-related scaling conditions. They need to be performed repetitively as a group to achieve the desired effect. The deeper peels offer greater improvement of photoaged skin, but also have more significant healing times. Chemical peels cannot improve certain types of acne scars (deep or ice pick scars), change pore size or remove broken blood vessels. They do not significantly improve gravitation-aging changes, which are best addressed by techniques such as laser skin resurfacing, a face-lift or eyelid surgery.

Juvederm™ is a smooth consistency biodegradable gel made of hyaluronic acid—a naturally occurring substance in your skin that helps to add volume and hydration to deeper wrinkles mainly, the smile lines and to enhance the lips. Approved by the FDA, Juvéderm™ injectable gel is a dermal filler that instantly restores your skin's volume and smooths away facial wrinkles and folds, like your “smile lines” or “parentheses” (nasolabial folds—the creases that run from the bottom of your nose to the corners of your mouth). Juvéderm™ injectable gel is the first FDA-approved hyaluronic acid dermal filler that is proven to be safe and effective for persons of color. The results last up to 12 months.

Dysport is an acetylcholine release inhibitor and a neuromuscular blocking agent indicated for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines associated with procerus and corrugator muscle activity in adult patients less than 65 years of age. With Dysport, there is little to no downtime after injection.

Purified botulinum toxin (botox) is used to soften facial lines and wrinkles and to treat excessive sweating under the arms or on the palms of the hands. Botulinum toxin works well for forehead lines, crow's feet, and frown lines. Purified botulinum toxin is injected into the muscle in these areas and works by weakening the muscle, which in turn lessens the lines of facial expression. The results last 3–6 months. By combining botulinum toxin with peels, daily alpha hydroxyacids, anti-oxidants like coffee berry extract in REVALE, and tretinoin cream, a patient can look years younger without surgery.

Alpha hydroxy acid is the term used for several naturally occurring acids found in fruits and other foods. These include lactic acid, derived from sour milk; citric acid, derived from citric fruit such as oranges; and glycolic acid, derived from sugar cane. Alpha hydroxy acids are helpful in treating a variety of skin ailments. They have proven to be effective in treating dry skin, acne, liver or sun spots, lessening fine facial wrinkles, and improving skin texture. Recent studies have also shown that alpha hydroxy acids can reverse precancerous skin lesions, which are due to long term sun exposure. These acids have been shown to increase skin thickness up to 15% in patients with sun damaged thin skin. This occurs through the stimulation of collagen production, the skins natural support protein. Alpha hydroxy acids also work by loosening and removing dead skin cells. Many people ask if alpha hydroxy acids are safe. It is important to point out that these acids are in many of the healthiest foods we eat and drink including orange juice. They are thought to be very safe when used correctly.Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) can be used in low concentrations as found in many cosmetics available over the counter, in medium and high concentrations which are available in doctor's offices. When used in high concentrations, they are best applied by a professional at intervals of three to six weeks. This is known as a series of acid peels. The alpha hydroxy acid used most commonly for peels is gylocic acid.

Phototherapy is exposure to nonionizing radiation for therapeutic benefit. It may involve exposure to UVB, UVA or various combinations of UVB and UVA radiation. Photochemotherapy (PUVA) is the therapeutic use of radiation in combination with a photosensitizing chemical. It currently involves the use of psoralens and UVA radiation. Treatment with these modalities may involve partial or whole-body exposure.

Tinea versicolor is a common skin condition due to overgrowth of a skin surface yeast. This overgrowth results in uneven skin color and scaling that can be unsightly and sometimes itch. The yeast normally lives in the pores of the skin and thrives in oily areas such as the neck, upper chest, and back. Also see: Fungal Infections

Description coming soon.

Description coming soon.

Lichen planus is an inflammatory disease that usually affects the skin, the mouth, or sometimes both. It may affect the genital skin as well. The cause of lichen planus is not known. There are cases of lichen planus-type rashes occurring as allergic reactions to medications for high blood pressure, heart disease and arthritis. In those cases, identifying and stopping the use of the drug helps clear up the condition within a few weeks. Some people with lichen planus can also have hepatitis C. Lichen planus affects men and women equally, and occurs most often in middle-aged adults.

Description coming soon.

Hyperhidrosis is a chronic medical disorder that results in the production of excessive sweat. A recent study determined that the condition - once thought to be rare - actually affects approximately 2.8 percent of the U.S. population, or 7.8 million people. Even more compelling, one out of three people surveyed with the condition said their sweating was intolerable or barely tolerable. Many sufferers said they were depressed and frustrated with daily activities, and they experienced interference with work and romance and had difficulty meeting people.

Description coming soon.

A skin condition presenting as brown patches on the face of adults. The most common sites of involvement are the cheeks, bridge of nose, forehead, and upper lip. Melasma occurs mostly in women. Only 10% of those affected are men. Dark-skinned races, particularly Hispanics, Asians, Indians, people from the Middle East, and Northern Africa, tend to have melasma more than others.

Description coming soon.

A highly unpredictable, autoimmune skin disease resulting in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere on the body.

Description coming soon.

Description coming soon.

Description coming soon.

Molluscum contagiosum is a common skin disease caused by a virus which affects the top layers of the skin. The name molluscum contagiosum implies that the virus develops growths that are easily spread by skin contact. Similar to warts, this virus belongs to the poxvirus family and enters the skin through small breaks of hair follicles. It does not affect any internal organs. Molluscums are usually small flesh-colored or pink dome-shaped growths that often become red or inflamed. They may appear shiny and have a small indentation in the center. Because they can spread by skin-to-skin contact, molluscums are usually found in areas of skin that touch each other such as the folds in the arm or the groin. They are also found in clusters on the chest, abdomen, and buttocks and can involve the face and eyelids.

The terms eczema or dermatitis are used to describe certain kinds of inflamed skin conditions including allergic contact dermatitis and nummular dermatitis. Eczema can be red, blistering, oozing, scaly, brownish, or thickened skin and usually itches. A special type is called atopic dermatitis or atopic eczema.

Herpes zoster, also known as shingles or zoster, is a viral infection caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. Anyone who has had chicken pox can develop herpes zoster. The virus remains dormant (inactive), in certain nerve cells of the body, and when it reactivates it causes zoster. About 20 percent of those people who have had chicken pox will get zoster. Most people get zoster only once.

The herpes simplex virus (HSV) causes blisters and sores around the mouth, nose, genitals, and buttocks, but they may occur almost anywhere on the skin or mucous membranes. HSV infections can be very annoying because they may reappear periodically. The sores may be painful and unsightly. For chronically ill people and newborn babies, the viral infection can be serious, but rarely fatal. There are two types of HSV — Type 1 and Type 2.

Description coming soon.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that is classically characterized by thickened, red areas of skin covered with silvery scales. The extent of skin involvement can range from discrete, localized areas to generalized body involvement. The joints, nails, and mucous membranes may also be affected with the disease. Some cases of psoriasis are so mild that people don’t know they have it. Severe psoriasis may cover large areas of the body. Dermatologists can help even the most severe cases. Psoriasis is not contagious and cannot be passed from one person to another, but it is most likely to occur in members of the same family. In the United States, two out of every hundred people have psoriasis (four to five million people). There are approximately 150,000 new cases that occur each year.

Warts are benign tumors that commonly involve the skin and other epithelial tissues. The etiologic agents for these infections are a class of double-stranded DNA viruses called papillomaviruses. Warts are generally classified by their clinical features and morphology (e.g., common, flat, filiform) or by location (e.g., genital, plantar, respiratory papillomatosis).

A common, potentially serious skin condition that may be characterized by rough, red, scaly patches, crusts or sores. AKs are known as the early beginnings of skin cancer.

A common skin disease that causes redness and swelling on the face. Often referred to as "adult acne," rosacea may begin as a tendency to flush or blush easily, and progress to persistent redness in the center of the face that may gradually involve the cheeks, forehead, chin, and nose. It also may involve the ears, chest and back. As the disease progresses, small blood vessels and tiny pimples begin to appear on and around the reddened area; however, unlike acne, there are no blackheads.

Plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples, and even deeper lumps (cysts or nodules) that occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and the upper arms. Acne affects most teenagers to some extent. However, the disease is not restricted to any age group; adults in their 20s - even into their 40s - can get acne. While not a life threatening condition, acne can be upsetting and disfiguring. When severe, acne can lead to serious and permanent scarring. Even less severe cases can lead to scarring. To avoid acne scarring, treating acne early is important.