skin conditions

Melasma

General Information. Melasma is a common skin problem. It causes brown to gray-brown patches, usually on the face. Most people get it on their cheeks, bridge of their nose, forehead, chin, and above their upper lip. It also can appear on other parts of the body that get lots of sun, such as the forearms and neck. Dr. Liana Abramova and her staff specialize in the treatment of melasma and will help you understand and manage the condition effectively. Call Dermatology of Virginia in Fairfax at (703) 828-7128 and schedule your appointment today

Hyperpigmentation

General Information. Hyperpigmentation occurs when the skin produces more melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. This can make spots or patches of skin appear darker than surrounding areas. Hyperpigmentation is a common skin condition. It affects people of all skin types. Some forms of hyperpigmentation, including melasma and sun spots, are more likely to affect areas of skin that face sun exposure, including the face, arms, and legs. Dr. Liana Abramova and her staff specialize in the diagnosis of hyperpigmentation and will help you understand and manage the condition effectively. Call Dermatology of Virginia in Fairfax at (703) 828-7128 and schedule your appointment today

Dry Skin

General Information. Dry skin is a very common skin condition characterized by a lack of the appropriate amount of water in the most superficial layer of the skin, the epidermis. While dry skin tends to affect males and females equally, older individuals are typically much more prone to dry skin. The skin in elderly individuals tends to have diminished amounts of natural skin oils and lubricants. Areas such as the arms, hands, and particularly lower legs tend to be more affected by dry skin.

Dr. Liana Abramova and her staff specialize in the treatment of dry skin and other skin diseases and will help you understand and manage the condition effectively. Call Dermatology of Virginia in Fairfax at (703) 828-7128 and schedule your appointment today

Hives

General Information. Hives are red and sometimes itchy bumps on your skin. An allergic reaction to a drug or food usually causes them. Allergic reactions cause your body to release chemicals that can make your skin swell up in hives. People who have other allergies are more likely to get hives than other people. Other causes include infections and stress.. Dr. Liana Abramova and her staff specialize in the diagnosis of hives and will help you understand and manage the condition effectively. Call Dermatology of Virginia in Fairfax at (703) 828-7128 and schedule your appointment today

Psoriasis

General Information. Psoriasis is a skin disorder that causes skin cells to multiply up to 10 times faster than normal. This makes the skin build up into bumpy red patches covered with white scales. They can grow anywhere, but most appear on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back. Dr. Liana Abramova and her staff specialize in the diagnosis of psoriasis and will help you understand and manage the condition effectively. Call Dermatology of Virginia in Fairfax at (703) 828-7128 and schedule your appointment today

Irritant Dermatitis

General Information. Irritant dermatitis occurs when a substance damages your skin’s outer protective layer. Certain substances include solvents, rubbing alcohol, plants, nickel, etc. Repeated scratching of the affected area can cause infections. Dr. Liana Abramova and her staff specialize in the diagnosis of irritant dermatitis and will help you understand and manage the condition effectively. Call Dermatology of Virginia in Fairfax at (703) 828-7128 and schedule your appointment today

Allergic Dermatitis

General Information. Allergic dermatitis is a red, itchy rash caused by direct contact with a substance causing an allergic reaction . This commonly happens when coming into plants such as Poison Ivy or Poison Oak. It can also happen when you are in contact with substances such as formaldehyde, airborne sprays, and certain personal care products. Repeated scratching of the affected area can cause infections. Dr. Liana Abramova and her staff specialize in the diagnosis of allergic dermatitis and will help you understand and manage the condition effectively. Call Dermatology of Virginia in Fairfax at (703) 828-7128 and schedule your appointment today

Rosacea

General information: Rosacea is a very common skin disease. If you have it, you live with good company. Many well-known people that you may know live with rosacea throughout their lives: our former president Bill Clinton, the British royal family including Prince Charles, Princess Diana, and their children, to name a few. Dr. Liana Abramova and her staff specialize in the diagnosis of rosacea and will help you understand and manage the condition effectively. Call Dermatology of Virginia in Fairfax at (703) 828-7128 and schedule your appointment today.

What are the Signs and Symptoms? It often starts with a tendency to blush easily around the nose, cheeks and slowly spread to the forehead, chin, ears, and even upper body like chest and back. It can also present with acne-like breakouts, visible blood vessels, skin thickening, bumps, or eye redness and irritation. Rosacea has 4 subtypes, including Erythematotelangiectatic (redness with visible blood vessels), papulopustular (redness with acne-like pimples), phymatous (thick and bumpy skin), and ocular (redness and irritation of eyes and eyelids). Rosacea is a chronic condition without a known cure. Flare-ups can occur even with treatments. Like acne, rosacea can leave a lasting emotional, social, and psychological impact on affected people if not understood or managed appropriately.

What causes Rosacea? Millions of Americans are living with rosacea. Most are fair-skinned, from Celtic or Scandinavian ancestry, in family with rosacea/acne. No one knows for certain the true causes of rosacea but scientists have postulated many theories which range from inheriting genes for rosacea, having overreacted immune system, having a mite living on the skin or a bug infecting the intestines, to abnormal involvement of a protein in the skin.

General info on Rosacea Treatment: Rosacea can be correctly diagnosed by examining the skin and eyes. Different forms of rosacea need different types of treatment. There are many ways to keep rosacea under control but none to cure it completely. Treatment options range from topical creams and medicated wipes for mild cases to photodynamic therapy or laser for more severe cases.

Atopic dermatitis (Eczema)

General Information: Atopic dermatitis (Eczema) is a very common skin disease in children but rare for adults. It can cause dry, scaly and oftentimes itchy skin that can occur on face, forehead, cheeks, and scalp. The itch can induce rubbing or scratching the skin, which can lead to skin thickening or infection. Our dermatologist specializes in the diagnosis of eczema and other skin conditions. She can help you or your child develop a long-term treatment plan to control eczema and reduce flare-ups.

What are the Signs and Symptoms? Atopic dermatitis (Eczema) may appear different in different age groups. In infants, eczema can present as a dry, scaly, itchy patch of skin on the face or scalp where the patients constantly rub or scratch. Skin infections can occur due to skin break-down from constant scratching or rubbing. In children, itchy and scaly patches occur commonly in the creases of the elbows, knees, neck, wrists, and/or buttocks. Overtime, constant scratching makes the affected skin thickened, almost leathery. Bumps, knots, discoloration can occur on the affected skin. Eczema that starts in infancy/childhood tends to improve with time and get milder with age. About half of these affected children will continue to have milder eczema as adults. Eczema rarely starts in adulthood; however, it is most commonly seen in the creases of elbows, knees, neck, and/or face (worse around the eyes). Skin in adult-typed eczema can be extremely dry, scaly, and itchy.

What causes Eczema? Atopic dermatitis (Eczema) can affect people of all skin colors, mostly children but rarely adults as well. Of unknown reason, eczema is more common today than many years ago. Researchers believe that many things including our genes, our immune system, and where we live can cause eczema. For instance, having family members with eczema, asthma, or hay fever, living in a cold, developed country, being in higher social classes, or being a female are thought to increase a child’s risk of developing eczema.

General info about Eczema Treatment: Diagnosis of atopic dermatitis (eczema) will involve a full body skin exam, history of itchy skin, family history of eczema, asthma, or hay fever, and sometimes a patch test to check for skin reactions to minute amount of allergens. The patch test needs to be checked after a few hours, 24 hours, and 72 hours from the initial placement. Treatment can help to control eczema, relieve pain and itching, prevent skin thickening or infections. Dr. Liana Abramova will help develop a treatment plan tailored to the patient’s needs which may include medicine, skin care products, and lifestyle/behavioral changes.

Acne

General information. Acne is the most common skin problem in the United States. If you have the condition, you are not alone. About 40-50 million Americans have acne at this very moment. Acne can occur at any age. Although it occurs most commonly in teens, the number of acne in women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s is rising.

What causes acne? The exact cause of acne has not been completely understood. Hormonal changes and presence of overactive oil glands in our skin could be the contributing factors. Our skin contains pores, many of which we can see with our bare eyes. These pores can get clogged by dead skin cells. Sebum, our natural body oil, can exacerbate the condition by making the dead cells glued together and further obstruct the pores. Bacteria, trapped inside the clogged pores, can overgrow and cause the pores to become red and inflamed. If the inflammation goes deep into the skin, an acne cyst or nodule appears.

Why treat acne? Without treatment, acne can leave dark spots or permanent scars long after it clears. We understand that acne is sometimes a socially sensitive condition. Therefore, appropriate control of acne can help boost one’s self-image and confidence. Never let acne run its course!

What are the signs and Symptoms? Acne can present with one or more of many signs which include whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustules (pimples), nodules and cysts. Acne can appear more commonly in the face, neck, and upper body. If left untreated for a long period of time, acne can leave dark spots on the skin or permanent scars even after it clears. If you get acne early between 8-12 years of age, be sure to seek treatment from a dermatologist sooner. Permanent scars occur more often in patients with acne nodules and cyst; therefore, treating acne before nodules and cysts appear can prevent scars.

General info about Acne Treatments. A complete history and physical examination precedes any treatment of any condition, especially acne. Once the condition has been correctly diagnosed, you together with our doctor will create a treatment plan based on your symptoms, and use the latest research to determine the most effective therapies for you.

Currently, the cure for acne has not been found. However, to diminish or control acne breakouts, many treatment options are available dependent on the severity of the disease. These options include topical creams or cleansers which can be applied to the skin, oral medications such as antibiotics, retinoids, and birth control pills that can be taken by mouth, or direct intralesional steroid injection, cyst extraction, chemical peels, or laser therapy.

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