Dermatology

Ochsner Dermatology Offers the Following Services

Aesthetic Skincare Retail Shop - Now Open

Ochsner Dermatology proudly announces the introduction of a new Aesthetic Skincare Retail Shop in the Dermatology Department at Ochsner Medical Center.  We offer superior sun protection products by eltaMD and advanced cosmetic skincare products by Obagi Medical and SkinMedica. Just like all our other services, you can be assured of the safest and highest quality products.

Adult Dermatology

Adults can have a variety of skin conditions that require treatment. Medical Dermatology Specialists treats everything from acne and psoriasis to rare and complicated conditions like bullous pemphigoid and cutaneous T cell lymphoma.

Sometimes skin diseases develop quickly and can lead to detrimental effects for people. As board-certified dermatologists, we have the skills needed to treat difficult skin diseases.

We strive to understand how a particular skin condition affects each adult dermatology patient as an individual. This helps us assess the situation, provide the appropriate treatment and ideally help patients reach better quality of life after working with us.

Medical Dermatology Specialists treat the following adult dermatology conditions:

• Acne
• Alopecia areata
• Arthropod diseases
• Atopic dermatitis (dry skin, itchy skin, skin allergies, chronic skin conditions)
• Autoimmune connective tissue disorders (lupus, dermatomyositis and scleroderma)
• Bacterial infections/diseases (impetigo, cellulitis, furuncles)
• Blistering diseases
• Cutaneous lymphoma (cutaneous B and T-cell lymphoma)
• Drug eruptions
• Erythroderma
• Eczema
• Fungal infections/diseases (nails, scalp, feet, body)
• Immunobullous disorders (bullous pemphigoid, pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus foliaceous)
• Infections - scabies, lice
• Insect Bites
• Keloid Scares
• Lichen Planis
• Molluscum Contagiosum
• Moles
• Nail Fungus and nail Health
• Panniculitis
• Patch Testing for Skin Allergies
• Psoriasis
• Physical and environmental dermatoses
• Pregnancy-related dermatoses
• Rashes
• Skin cancer
• Sun related maladies
• Tumors and malignancies
• Urticaria
• UVB Phototherapy
• Vascular diseases
• Viral infections/diseases
• Warts, Corns, Calluses
• Rosacea

The above list is not inclusive so if you have a skin condition that is not listed here please give us a call or contact us set up an appointment for evaluation.

Pediatric Dermatology

We treat children with routine and difficult-to-diagnose skin diseases.

We understand that children may be nervous or even scared to see doctors about their skin conditions. Sometimes children are more greatly affected by their skin conditions because they know it separates them from their peers.

We approach children with the utmost compassion and respect. Our goal is to not only increase their quality of life but to also help them improve physically and emotionally from treatment.

Some common skin conditions seen in children include:

• Acne
• Allergic Contact Dermatits
• Alopecia areata
• Atopic dermatitis (dry skin, itchy skin, skin allergies, chronic skin conditions)
• Birthmarks, hemangiomas and vascular anomalies
• Congenital or inherited skin disorders
• Dermatitis (rashes)
• Eczema
• Herpes
• Ichthyosis
• Nevi (moles)
• Pruritus
• Psoriasis
• Scabies
• Seborrheic Dermatitis
• Tinea (ringworm)
• Vitiligo
• Warts
• Other skin problems
• Molluscum Contagiosum

Medical Dermatology

Medical dermatology encompasses disorders that are chronic and progressive, oftentimes contributing to internal disease states and requiring aggressive management. Essentially it means treating issues that may start with the skin but can cause further health problems whether it be internally or externally. Medical dermatology services focus on treating individuals who may experience a demised quality of life due to skin manifestations.

Some conditions that would require medical dermatology expertise include:

• Immunobullous disorders
• Autoimmune connective tissue disorders
• Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis
• Cutaneous lymphoma

Oncologic Dermatology

Our oncologic dermatology services address localized skin cancer lesions as well as metastatic disease. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Skin cancers, if left untreated, can be harmful and disfiguring. However, with early detection and treatment, many can be cured.

When appropriately suited, we work closely with our Mohs' micrographic surgeon who specializes in unique surgical techniques used in the eradication of skin cancer. Using this procedure, malignant skin lesions are removed in thin pie-shaped pieces and examined immediately under a microscope to determine if all malignant tissue was removed. This allows the surgeon to know right away whether or not treatment was successful when removing a tumor.

Ochsner Dermatology specialists treat the following oncologic conditions when affecting the skin and surrounding tissues:

• Basal cell skin cancer
• Squamous cell skin cancer
• Malignant Melanoma
• B cell lymphoma
• T cell lymphoma
• Angiosarcoma
• Kaposi's sarcoma

As a routine part of our exams, we look for irregularities in the skin that may look to be precancerous growths. By helping patients notice these areas early, treatment can be much more effective.

Mohs Micrographic Surgery Overview

Mohs micrographic surgery is the most effective and state-of-the-art procedure for skin cancer today, which offers the highest potential for cure - even if the skin cancer has been previously treated by another method and recurred.

Mohs Micrographic Surgery is an effective and precise method for treating basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers.

Mohs Micrographic Surgery is an advanced and effective treatment procedure for skin cancer available today. The procedure is performed by specially trained surgeons who have completed at least one additional year of fellowship training, which is accredited by the American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS), (in addition to the physician's three-year dermatology residency) under the tutelage of a Mohs College member.

Initially developed by Dr. Frederic E. Mohs, the Mohs procedure is a state-of-the-art treatment that has been continuously refined over 70 years. With the Mohs technique, physicians are able to see beyond the visible disease, to precisely identify and remove the entire tumor layer by layer while leaving the surrounding healthy tissue intact and unharmed. As the most exact and precise method of tumor removal, it minimizes the chance of re-growth and lessens the potential for scarring or disfigurement.

Because the physician is specially trained in surgery, pathology and reconstruction, Mohs surgery has the highest success rate of all treatments for skin cancer - up to 99 percent. The Mohs technique is also the treatment of choice for cancers of the face and other sensitive areas as it relies on the accuracy of a microscopic surgical procedure to trace the edges of the cancer and ensure complete removal of all tumors down to the roots during the initial surgery.

Why Does My Skin Cancer Need Mohs Surgery?

Mohs Micrographic Surgery is primarily used to treat basal and squamous cell carcinomas, but can be used to treat less common tumors including melanoma.

Mohs Surgery is appropriate when:

• The cancer is in an area where it is important to preserve healthy tissue for maximum functional and cosmetic result, such as eyelids, nose, ears, lips, fingers, toes, genitals
• The cancer was treated previously and recurred
• Scar tissue exists in the area of the cancer
• The cancer is large
• The edges of the cancer cannot be clearly defined
• The cancer is growing rapidly or uncontrollably

Aesthetic Services

We offer our patients the following aesthetic services and products:

Botox - a protein placed by our dermatologist into the facial muscles to improve the look of moderate-to-severe frown lines and can be effective between the eyebrows, on the forehead and around the eyes. This non-surgical treatment relaxes the muscles and helps eliminate frown lines with minimal down time.

Soft Tissue Sculpture - a smooth gel filler that helps diminish wrinkles around the mouth and nose. It can be used for multiple areas such as smile lines, marionette lines and vertical lip lines. In this non-surgical treatment, one of the dermatologists injects the filler which restores volume to areas that have lost structure over time causing wrinkles and folds.

The Vi Peel contains a synergistic blend of powerful ingredients suitable for all skin types, for dramatic results with virtually no pain, no skin preparation and little downtime.

The Vi Peel will:

• Improve the tone, texture and clarity of your skin
• Reduce or eliminate age spots, freckles, and hyper-pigmentation, including melasma
• Soften lines and wrinkles
• Clear acne skin conditions, reduce or eliminate acne scars
• Stimulate the production of collagen, for firmer, more youthful skin