A skin tag, medically known as acrochordon, is a small, benign flap of flesh-colored tissue that hangs off the skin by a small, narrow connecting stalk. They are most often found where skin forms creases and rubs against skin, such as under the armpits, under the breasts, on the groin area, or on the neck and back. Skin tags can be up to half an inch long, though most are about the size of a grain of rice. They do not grow or change over time. Skin tags affect about 46% of the population, and are most commonly found in people who are overweight, have diabetes, and women who are pregnant.

Treatment:

Because skin tags are completely harmless and painless, treatment is not necessary unless for cosmetic purposes, or if they become an irritated by clothing, jewelry, or when shaving. If you desire treatment for your skin tags, Dr Bandukwala can perform several procedures. One option is to remove the skin tag by cutting it off with a scalpel. It can also be frozen off with liquid nitrogen, or burned off using electrosurgery, a way to burn the tag with an electric current. Treatment can be performed in Dr Bandukwala’s office, and is generally painless.

Special Offer : AED 249.00 Per Mole

(Depends on the size)

Moles, medically known as nevi, are growths on the skin that are usually brown or black. They can appear anywhere on the body, alone or in groups. Moles occur when the cells in the skin grow in clusters instead of spreading evenly throughout the skin. These cells are what give skin its pigment, so moles appear darker than the skin. Many moles will darker over time, when exposed to the sun, and during pregnancy. It is also common for hairs to grow on the mole. Individuals with lighter skin tend to have more moles than those with darker skin, and most people with moles have between 10 and 40. Moles are generally harmless, but it is important to know that melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, can develop in or around a mole, so knowing your moles is essential to catching signs of cancer early.

Moles On Body:

Sometimes the body can act as a host to several clusters of moles. Sometimes, you only have a few body moles. Removing moles from the body is always an easier job than removing a mole from the face.

Moles On Face:

Many people have facial moles that they would like to have removed. When having a mole removed from your face, the risk of additional disfigurement is always there. This is why many people use a home mole removal cream instead of surgery.

Moles On Neck:

Types of Moles:

There are several types of moles, and some carry greater risks of developing into melanoma than others.

• Congenial Mole: Congenial moles are moles that a person is born with. About 1 in 100 people are born with one or more moles. These moles range in size, color and shape. Congenial moles that are considered large or giant are larger than 20 centimeters, and have been found to carry a greater risk of leading to melanoma.
• Atypical Mole: Known medically as dysplastic nevi, atypical moles are usually larger than average (more than ¼ inch), and irregular in shape. They may contain uneven colors, or colors not typical of moles. Atypical moles tend to run in families, and they carry the greatest risk of developing into melanoma.
• Acquired Mole: An acquired mole is one a person develops after birth. They are generally harmless, but people who acquire more than 50-100 moles are at greater risk for melanoma.

Treatment:

If Dr Bandukwala tests a tissue sample and finds it to be cancerous, the entire mole and part of the tissue surrounding the mole will need to be removed. Or, if you would like a mole removed for cosmetic purposes, the same procedure will be performed. Mole removal surgery is very common and usually painless. There are two ways to remove moles, and both can be performed in Dr Bandukwala’s office.

One method for removing the mole is called “shave excision.” Dr Bandukwala will numb the area around the mole, and use a small blade to cut around and beneath the mole, removing it. This technique is generally used for smaller moles, and does not require stitches.

The other method is called “excisional surgery.” Dr Bandukwala will cut other mole and the surrounding area of skin with a scalpel. This technique is usually used to remove potentially cancerous moles, and does require stitches to close the skin.

Prevention:

The best way to identify potential problems is to know the pattern and placement of your moles, and to examine them often. When monitoring your moles, remember the “ABCDE” method of self-examination.

That is:

• “A” stands for asymmetrical shape. Watch for moles with asymmetrical shape, such as two very different looking halves
• “B” is for border. Look for moles with irregular, ragged or blurred borders. This is one of the characteristics of melanoma.
• “C” is for color. Look for moles that do not have the same color throughout, or contain shades of brown, black, blue, or white, or red.
• “D” is for diameter. Watch for moles that are larger than the eraser of a pencil.
• “E” is for evolution. Look for changes over time, such as a mole that grows or changes shape or color.

If you notice any of the above irregularities in your moles, you should contact Dr Bandukwala right away. To further prevent moles from becoming cancerous, you should avoid the sun at peak hours, always wear sunscreen, and cover up moles with clothing when exposed to the sun.

Warts are skin growths caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). There are about 130 known types of HPV, some of which cause the skin to produce warts. HPV stimulates accelerated growth of cells o the skin’s outer layer, resulting in the wart. Warts are caused through direct contact with someone who has HPV, which is contagious. They can also be spread by an object used by the person with the virus.

Types:

• Common: A common wart is a raised wart with a rough surface that can occur anywhere on the body, but is most often found on the hands.
• Flat: Flat warts are smoother, flatter, and smaller than common warts, and generally occur on the face. This type of wart is more common in children than adults.
• Plantar: Plantar warts usually appear as flesh-colored or light brown lumps that are flecked with small blood vessels, which appear as black dots. Plantar warts occur on the bottom of the feet.
• Genital: Genital warts can appear in the pubic region, on the genitals, in or around the anus, and in the vagina. They look like small pink or red growths. Genital warts usually grow in clusters of two or three, and can spread and grow rapidly. Mild pain, itching and bleeding can occur. HPV can be transmitted through sexual intercourse, and is the most common sexually transmitted disease in North America. Some forms cause the genital warts, while other forms of HPV are responsible for causing cervical cancer.

Treatment:
Warts are generally harmless, but genital warts should be taken seriously. There are many treatment options for warts, although often warts reappear after treatment, and sometimes multiple types of treatment are necessary.
Some options include:

• Freezing: In this treatment, liquid nitrogen is used to freeze the wart. A blister forms around the wart, and the dead tissue falls off within about a week.
• Medications: Some medications can be applied to the wart to help it forma blister and fall off, such as Cantharidin. Other drugs, such as Bleomycin, are injected into a wart to kill the virus. Aldara is a prescription cream used to treat genital warts.
• Minor Surgery: When other treatments fail, minor surgery may be considered. The wart will be cut away, and then the base of the wart will be destroyed using an electric needle or by deep freezing (cryosurgery).
• Laser Surgery: This procedure uses an intense beam of light (the laser) to burn and destroy wart tissue

Fungi are single or multi-cellular organisms that cause skin infections. Fungi can be true pathogens, which cause infections in healthy people, or opportunistic pathogens, which cause infections in immune-compromised patients. A common type of fungus is yeast, which is already present in the human body, but when levels increase, can result in infection. Dematophytes are fungal organisms that grow on the human body and infect the top layer of skin as well as nails or hair. There are different types of fungal infections, and each can appear in different areas of the body. Some symptoms include: rash, itchy blisters, cracking of the skin, and skin irritation.

Cause:
Fungal infections can be caused by a variety of conditions and medication-use.
Some risk factors for developing a fungal infection include:

• Antibiotics:
  Antibiotics decrease the amount of helpful bacteria living in the body. When these levels are decreased, fungi have an opportunity to invade and colonize.
• Cortisteroids:
  Cortisteroids are often used to reduce inflammation and treat other skin disorders. They sometimes lower immune responses, and thereby create favorable conditions for fungal growth.
• Medical Conditions:
  People suffering from diabetes and some forms of cancer are more prone to fungal infections.
• Compromised Immune System:
  When immune systems are weakened, such as when a patient undergoes chemotherapy, or for those inflicted with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), fungi have better opportunities to grow, causing more infections.
• Environmental Factors:
  Fungi grow and reproduce in moist areas. Sweaty shoes and clothes can therefore help increase fungi production and lead to infection.
• Heredity:
  Some people are genetically predisposed toward fungal infections. They are more likely to contract a fungal infection when exposed to infectious conditions.

Types:

• Tinea Pedis (“Athletes Foot”): Tinea pedis affects over 10% of the United State’s population each year, and 75% will contract it at some point in their lives. The fungus appears in between toes, characterized by skin becoming white, moist, and easily rubbed off. The tops may be red, dry and flaky. Tinea pedis generally occurs with hot, moist conditions, or if shoes are worn often and without socks.
• Tnnea Cruris (“Jock Itch”): As with tinea pedis, moist, sweaty conditions around the groin, combined with poor circulation from tight clothing leads to fungal infection in this area. Intense itching and burning are the usual symptoms. Redness, flaking and peeling on the inner thighs and scrotum may also occur.
• Tinea Corpora (Ringworm): Tinea corpora is caused by a microscopic fungus, not a worm as the name implies. The infected area spreads out slowly from the central point, creating a slightly raised, red ring surrounding a less red, flaky, itchy area. This “ring” gives the infection it nickname. Tinea corpora can spread throughout the body, and may appear in multiple areas at once.
• Candidiasis: This infection is characterized by brown-red itchy discoloration on the skin, generally occurring where there are folds in the skin such as under the arms, in the rectal area, and beneath the breasts. This type of fungus also caused vaginal yeast infections.

Treatment:
Treatment for fungal infections is generally antifungal creams, which can be bought over the counter, such as 1% clotrimzoel and 1% terbinafine. They are usually applied to the affect areas several times daily, and can take many weeks before all signs of the fungus vanish. If these creams fail, prescription antifungal creams such as econazole 1% may be recommended. For extreme cases, or when toenails are involved, oral terbinafine may be useful.

Prevention:
There are some measures you can take to prevent the skin of contracting a fungal skin infection. You should always keep clothes dry and clean, and wear loose-fitting clothes as much as possible. Avoid sharing hairbrushes, combs, and towels, as they may contain skin fragments with fungal colonies. Use alternative shoes every few days to avid athlete’s foot. Natural fabrics that allow the skin to “breathe,” such as cotton, should be worn as well.

Eczema refers to the inflammation or irritation of the epidermis or outer layer of the skin. It is a term broadly applied to a variety of skin conditions that cause skin dryness or recurring skin rashes. Symptoms of eczema are wide-ranging and may include: redness, swelling, itching, crusting, cracking, or bleeding of the skin. Eczema is non-contagious, affects 9-30% of Americans, and is particularly common among infants and young children. Some people outgrow eczema, while others experience symptoms on and off their entire lives. Though there is no known cure for eczema, proper treatment generally controls the disease for the majority of sufferers.

Causes:
Though the exact cause of eczema is unknown, it is linked to an overactive response in the body’s immune system to certain triggers. People with a history of other allergies or asthma are more likely to suffer from eczema.

Treatment:
Treatment for eczema aims to relieve and prevent itching, which can lead to infection. Because dry skin often makes skin itchy, applying moisturizer after bathing when skin is damp is recommended.

Other treatment options include:

• Medication: For mild eczema, creams and ointments such as corticosteroids are often prescribed to reduce inflammation. For severe cases, oral cortisteroids may be prescribed. When the affected area becomes infected, antibiotics may be necessary to kill the infection-causing bacteria. Anti-histamines, (anti-itch drugs), can also be effective in reducing the desire to itch and thereby eliminating the chance of infection.
• Light Therapy: Light therapy consists of exposing the skin to ultraviolet (UV) light. UV radiation is known to suppress the immune system and reduce inflammatory responses. However, this form of therapy is risky in that it opens up the possibility of the patient contracting skin cancer from exposure to the UV rays.
• Massage Therapy: Massages can be extremely therapeutic to patients suffering from eczema. They increase circulation to the tissues, thereby allowing the lesions and cracks in the skin to heal faster. “Hot stone” massages may be particularly effective in treating eczema, as the stones can be placed in specific areas to increase circulation.

Prevention:
While eczema itself cannot be prevented, outbreaks can usually be avoided or the severity lessoned by practicing simple guidelines. Patients are advised to abide by the following: moisturize skin frequently, reduce stress, avoid sweating or overeating, harsh soaps, scratchy clothing, sudden changes in temperature, and environmental triggers such as pollen, old or dust.