Hair infections are conditions caused by the invasion of microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, or viruses into the scalp or hair follicles, leading to various symptoms such as redness, itching, swelling, and hair loss. Some common types of hair infections include:

1. Folliculitis

• Cause: Bacterial infection, often by Staphylococcus aureus.
• Symptoms: Red, inflamed, and pus-filled bumps around hair follicles, itching, and tenderness.
• Treatment: Topical or oral antibiotics, antiseptic cleansers, and good scalp hygiene.

2. Ringworm of the Scalp (Tinea Capitis)

• Cause: Fungal infection, often caused by Trichophyton or Microsporum species.
• Symptoms: Circular patches of hair loss, scaly skin, itching, and redness.
• Treatment: Antifungal medications (oral), medicated shampoos, and maintaining scalp cleanliness.

3. Seborrheic Dermatitis

• Cause: Overgrowth of a yeast called Malassezia on the scalp.
• Symptoms: Red, itchy, and flaky skin, often leading to dandruff.
• Treatment: Antifungal shampoos, corticosteroid creams, and regular scalp care.

4. Impetigo

• Cause: Bacterial infection, typically by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes.
• Symptoms: Red sores that rupture, ooze, and form a yellow-brown crust, often starting on the face and scalp.
• Treatment: Topical or oral antibiotics, good hygiene, and avoiding scratching.

5. Scalp Psoriasis

• Cause: Immune system disorder causing skin cells to multiply rapidly.
• Symptoms: Red patches with silver scales, itching, and possible hair loss.
• Treatment: Topical treatments (corticosteroids, salicylic acid), phototherapy, and systemic medications.

6. Head Lice (Pediculosis Capitis)

• Cause: Infestation by parasitic insects called lice.
• Symptoms: Intense itching, visible lice or nits (eggs) on the hair shaft, and small red bumps on the scalp.
• Treatment: Over-the-counter or prescription shampoos, combing out lice and nits, and disinfecting personal items.

7. Furunculosis (Boils)

• Cause: Deep bacterial infection in the hair follicle, usually by Staphylococcus aureus.
• Symptoms: Painful, pus-filled boils, redness, and swelling.
• Treatment: Warm compresses, drainage by a healthcare provider, and antibiotics.

Chickenpox (varicella) is a highly contagious viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It is characterized by an itchy rash and flu-like symptoms. Chickenpox is most commonly seen in children but can occur in individuals of any age.

Symptoms of Chickenpox

1. Rash: The rash typically begins as small, red spots that evolve into fluid-filled blisters and then crust over. The rash usually starts on the face, scalp, or trunk and spreads to other parts of the body. The spots often appear in waves, leading to different stages of the rash on the body at the same time.
2. Itching: The rash is usually very itchy, which can be quite uncomfortable.
3. Fever: Mild to moderate fever often accompanies the rash.
4. Fatigue and Malaise: Individuals may feel generally unwell, tired, or weak.
5. Loss of Appetite: Reduced appetite is common during the illness.
6. Headache: Some individuals may experience headaches.

Transmission

Chickenpox is highly contagious and spreads from person to person through:

1. Direct Contact: Touching the fluid from chickenpox blisters or the rash of an infected person.
2. Airborne Droplets: The virus can spread through coughing or sneezing, which releases droplets containing the virus into the air.
3. Contaminated Surfaces: Less commonly, the virus can spread by touching surfaces or objects contaminated with the virus.

Incubation Period

The incubation period for chickenpox is typically about 10 to 21 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms usually appear 14 to 16 days after exposure.

Diagnosis

Chickenpox is usually diagnosed based on the characteristic rash and symptoms. In some cases, especially if the diagnosis is uncertain or if there are atypical presentations, laboratory tests may be conducted:

1. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): To detect the varicella-zoster virus’s DNA in samples from blisters or other body fluids.
2. Direct Fluorescent Antibody (DFA) Test: To identify the virus in skin lesions.
3. Serologic Testing: Blood tests to detect antibodies against the varicella-zoster virus.

Treatment

1. Supportive Care: Chickenpox is typically managed with supportive care, including:
   • Antihistamines: To help alleviate itching.
   • Calamine Lotion: To soothe the skin and reduce itching.
   • Hydration: To prevent dehydration and maintain fluid balance.
   • Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen: To reduce fever and discomfort. Avoid aspirin, as it can lead to Reye’s syndrome, a rare but serious condition.
2. Antiviral Medications: In certain cases, antiviral medications like acyclovir may be prescribed, especially for individuals with a higher risk of complications, such as those with weakened immune systems or adults with chickenpox.
3. Prevent Secondary Infections: Keep the rash clean and avoid scratching to prevent bacterial infections of the blisters.

Prevention

1. Vaccination: The most effective way to prevent chickenpox is through vaccination. The varicella vaccine is recommended for children and is also advised for susceptible adults who have not had chickenpox or been vaccinated.
2. Isolation: Infected individuals should stay away from others, especially those who have not been vaccinated, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems, until all blisters have crusted over.

Complications

While chickenpox is generally mild, complications can occur, especially in certain groups:

1. Secondary Bacterial Infections: Infections of the skin caused by scratching the rash.
2. Pneumonia: Can occur, particularly in adults or individuals with weakened immune systems.
3. Encephalitis: Inflammation of the brain, although rare.
4. Reye’s Syndrome: A serious condition associated with the use of aspirin during a viral illness, though it is less common with chickenpox.
5. Shingles: The varicella-zoster virus can reactivate later in life, causing shingles (herpes zoster), which is characterized by a painful rash typically limited to one side of the body.

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)

About Skin Cancer

What is it?

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the US, affecting around 20 percent of Americans. However, it does not have to be fatal, especially when caught early. That’s why you shouldn’t ignore unusual skin bumps, lesions, discolorations, and other irregularities when they appear. Although the causes of skin cancer vary, there are common risk factors to be aware of, which include chronic sun exposure, a family history of skin cancer, fair skin, multiple sunburns throughout your life, precancerous skin lesions, and sunny and/or high-altitude climates and locales.

What causes it?

Skin cancer is caused by mutations in the DNA of skin cells, which then spreads to adjacent cells. When the spread is rapid or uncontrolled, it can easily become malignant. Three types of skin cancer are prevalent. The first is squamous cell carcinoma, which is located in cells just beneath the skin surface. The second is basal cell carcinoma (the most common type of skin cancer) which develops in the layer beneath squamous cells. Lastly, there is melanoma, the most dangerous variant. Melanoma forms under the other two layers of cells. A precancerous lesion, actinic keratosis (AK), also is possible; it usually is not life-threatening, but it can become cancerous if ignored.

Common treatments

Our skin cancer experts have the experience and training to help you overcome this disease. We highly recommend regular skin cancer screenings, especially if you are prone to the above risk factors. If a carcinoma is found, we’ll discuss the best solution with you from among the following treatment options: excisional surgery, electrodesiccation and curettage (EC&D), cryotherapy, and Mohs micrographic surgery.

Providers

Our approach & expertise

We provide an assortment of treatment options that can be customized to suit your needs based on your goals, concerns, and opinions about which treatment is right for you. We’ll be with you throughout the process with compassionate care and support so you can have your life back and live it to the fullest. We understand that a diagnosis of skin cancer can be traumatic and painful, both physically and emotionally. As your community skin cancer specialists, we’re here to provide encouragement, advice, and answers to your questions should you ever receive such a diagnosis. What sets us apart is our focus on you as a person. Our warm, compassionate practitioners are ready to address your concerns to be here as an essential part of your support.

Eczema usually develops as a rash and typically appears dry and discolored on the surface of our skin. Scratching often leads to redness, crusting and scaly skin. Excessive scratching often results in more serious conditions such as skin damage, infection, and sleep loss. Eczema develops most frequently on the elbow and knees during the teenage and adult years. While patients have experienced it on the hands, feet, ankles, wrists, face, neck, and upper chest, these areas tend to be less common. There are several common types of diseases that may loosely be described as eczema, so it’s important to schedule an appointment and have us verify the condition. A few diseases which are commonly referred to as eczema, but may require different treatments, include:

Types of Eczema and Dermatitis

Allergic Contact Dermatitis

There are many chemicals in our environment which can cause allergic contact dermatitis. Examples include nickel, fragrances, hair dyes, preservatives, rubber, and latex products. The hallmark of allergic contact dermatitis is that only some people exposed to the allergen will develop dermatitis. If a rash that appears to be allergic contact dermatitis emerges, a careful history and physical may be all that is required to uncover the culprit. However in some cases, more extensive usage testing or patch testing may be needed in order to achieve an accurate diagnosis.

Atopic Dermatitis

Called “the scratch that itches,” atopic dermatitis is an immunologic disease of hyper-reactivity of the skin to many external substances. Scratching often leads to redness, swelling, cracking, blistering or “weeping” of clear fluid, and scaling of the skin. Atopic dermatitis is an inherited tendency and is associated with asthma and hay fever. Just as the appearance of eczema and the exacerbating factors vary from one person to another, so do the treatment options.

Hand Eczema

Any type of eczema that forms on the hands is considered hand eczema and may require a different treatment approach. Hand eczema is extremely common due to constant exposure to multiple irritants: air, water, harsh soaps, cleaning agents, chemicals and solvents.

Irritant Contact Dermatitis

Some compounds cause eczema on exposure because they are irritating and/or drying. Examples of these would be items such as harsh soaps, cleansers, or solvents. Unlike allergic contact reactions which only affect a small proportion of those exposed, a true irritant dermatitis will affect anybody who has adequate exposure to the chemical.

Neurodermatitis

This type of eczema starts as an itchy patch of skin that if scratched, can irritate the nerve endings in the skin. This increases the itchy sensation, eventually leading to the cycle of chronic itching.

Nummular Dermatitis

Nummular dermatitis creates coin-shaped marks which appear on the skin. Overtime, these spots become itchy and cause the area to become crusty or filled with pus. This chronic condition is usually experienced after a skin injury or insect bite.

Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Stasis Dermatitis

Stasis dermatitis arises when the skin becomes severely inflamed. The extreme skin inflammation is caused by the lack of blood flow in the veins of the leg. This can cause pooling of blood in the legs, which increases the difficulty of blood circulation to the heart. Those who suffer from stasis dermatitis will notice thin, brown areas of the skin, accompanied by itchy and swollen legs. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to get in touch with our expert dermatologists to determine the cause and help to narrow down your treatment options. Below are a few of the treatment options that we offer at Arizona Dermatology for eczema and eczema-related diseases.

No matter which type of eczema or dermatitis you have, it’s important to come see one of our board certified dermatologists to correctly identify the condition.  Based on your symptoms, budget and needs, we will work with you to find the best treatment option for you:

Corticosteroid Creams or Ointments

Corticosteroid creams or ointments are commonly used to relieve people from scaling and extreme itching. Topical corticosteroid creams and ointments are available with or without a prescription, but may cause harmful side effects if not used correctly. Speaking with a skin care professional at Arizona Dermatology is recommended so that we can suggest the best option for your specific needs.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are often used to treat bacterial infections, open sores, or cracking in the skin caused by frequent scratching. A skin care professional from Arizona Dermatology can prescribe antibiotics for a length of time based on the condition of your skin issue and your specific needs. Taking the required antibiotics for the recommended time will continue to prevent infections from reoccurring. This means longer lasting results for you and your skin!

Oral Antihistamines

Oral antihistamines are ideal for those suffering with severe itching. Certain types of medications make you sleepy, helping not only to eliminate itching itself but also helping anyone whose sleep is affected by the continuous sensation to scratch. Finally get a good night’s sleep and relief from scratching by taking a simple oral antihistamine.

Oral or Injected Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are used for extreme cases of itching. Oral corticosteroids prescription or simple corticosteroid injections, are performed to reduce inflammation and control the severe itching sensation. Although this treatment is effective for eczema, it is used as a short-term solution due to potential long-term usage side effects.

Immunomodulators

Immunomodulators (Elidel, Protopic) are a classification of prescription-only medications used to maintain a normal skin texture and reduce the flaring symptoms of dermatitis. Immunomodulators are used as a topical treatment to help reduce inflammation and redness of the skin without the side effects of traditional corticosteroids. Due to safety data, this is the treatment of choice for children over the age of 2 and rashes in sensitive areas such as face and genitals.

Phototherapy

Phototherapy uses light to treat the skin by helping to reduce itching directly and inflammation effectively. By increasing the production of Vitamin D in the skin, itchy skin is soothed. This simple treatment has been used to increase the defensive systems in the body that fight off bacteria to limit the risk of infection, you may generate from scratching.

RAST Testing

Another option to help find the cause of your eczema is through RAST (radioallergosorbent) Testing. We can administer a blood test to determine environmental and food allergies that can be contributing to skin sensitivity. Discovering the origin of a patient’s eczema through RAST testing is a treatment option many people who suffer from chronic itching rely on today.