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About Michael S. Fisher, <B>Ph.D., M.D.</B>
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
published over 50 articles on the subject.

You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Medical Specialists > Dermatology

Questions Answered By Expert Michael S. Fisher, Ph.D., M.D.
In Category Dermatology

Subject	Date Asked

stuck with a pencil in lip at age two....	10/6/2008
Q: Fisher, A dear lady I am acquainted with stuck a pencil right under the left side of her lip when ... A: I was stuck with a pencil in the 7th grade and still have what is called a lead tattoo in my right ...
Fitzpatrick Skin Type	10/6/2008
Q: I am interested to know what my skin type would be according to the Fitzpatrick test, but I find ... A: http://www.spa-medical.com/fitzpatrick_skin_typing_test.htm Go to the above web page. This is one ...
Skin problems	10/3/2008
Q: When rubbing in serums, creams, sunscreens, etc. do they have to be rubbed in completely? When I ... A: 1) The most thing that patients do is to apply to much cosmetics to their face. A pea size amount ...
Raised bumps on hands and fingers	10/2/2008
Q: Greetings Michael I am also on all experts under the massage therapy category. The question I have ... A: This type of skin lesion can be called Papular Urticaria. This can be caused by a bite ie spider or ...
new mole on head	10/2/2008
Q: Dr. Fisher. My name is Jayne. I have an 11 year old daughter. I noticed about three weeks ago, ... A: New moles can continue to grow during our life time. Growth of new moles is genetically determined. ...
acne scars	8/21/2008
Q: What is the best cream of treatment for removing old acne scars. Theyre all over my face and ... A: The best cream depends on what you mean by scars. If you are talking about red marks on your face ...
hands and feet	8/19/2008
Q: Fisher i have a question i have small bumps on a few of my finger tips with some dry skin the bumps ... A: You have what is called dyshidrotic eczema. This type of eczema comes on the hands and feet only. ...
Insect Bites Scars	8/19/2008
Q: I have a lot of dark spots on my arms and legs. They are caused by insect bites. When I go outside ... A: The dark spots are called postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. This means that the inflammation from ...
Help	8/18/2008
Q: I was on a medicine for my face and my niece waxed my lip against my descretion. The first layer of ... A: There is an over the counter medication called mederma which is used to help reduce redness and ...
Pores pussy around side of nose	8/17/2008
Q: Question Hi, I seem to have enlarged pores on my nose. When I apply pressure to them white puss ... A: As you stated, you have enlarged or dilated pores. When you squeeze the area dead skin cells ...
Red Bumps Everywhere	8/17/2008
Q: This all started 2 months ago with a couple of spots on my feet that I first thought were bug bites. ... A: Red bumps that develop white heads are usually folliculitis which is an inflammation of the follicle ...
celutitis	8/16/2008
Q: Two days ago, I had a pneumonia shot. Last night, I woke up with a 101 degree temperature. At the ... A: Cellulitis is an infection of the superficial layers of the skin. Most likely the antibiotic will ...
what is it?	8/16/2008
Q: I have a strange bump on my face that has been there for about 2 years. At first I thought it was ... A: The bump on your face could be many things: 1) a cysts which is a strucure in the deeper layers of ...
Are skin allergies always itchy?	8/16/2008
Q: Fisher, My daughter used a extra large Curad bandage on a sore on her leg, worn overnight with ... A: Your daughter could have had a reaction to the latex of the bandaid or to the sticky part of the ...
Spots on face	8/15/2008
Q: Hey I am an African American woman who has light colored spots on my face? The spots are around my ... A: The first consideration to consider is if you have a skin condition called vitiligo. This is ...
Skin discoloration and itching	8/15/2008
Q: Am a female Ugandan aged 32years married with 3 children living in the western part of the country ... A: The darkness you describe is most likely postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. This means that you ...
Sudden bump	8/15/2008
Q: Dr. Fisher, A little less than a month ago a bump suddenly appeared next to a flat mole on my left ... A: The most likely cause of your bump is some type of skin irritation. Examples would be a bite ...
Pregnancy Mask	8/14/2008
Q: I got pregnancy mask last summer when I was 7-9 months pregnant with my daughter. It faded over the ... A: You have a condition called MELASMA. This is related to hormones and is controllable but not ...
painful blister like sores on fingertips	8/14/2008
Q: My son has developed cyst/blister like bumps on the end of all of his fingers since he has started ... A: There are a number of possibilities. Your son could have an allergic reaction to something that ...
bump on palm of hand/rash??	8/13/2008
Q: since last night, I've had a rash on my right arm (about a dozen bumps, and some are pus-filled.) ... A: Pus-filled bumps are infectious as in bacteria or yeast or fungus. The most common infection is ...
Little bumps	8/12/2008
Q: Many little bumps showed up on my right hand elbow a couple weeks ago. It’s getting to my forearm. ... A: Keratosis pilaris is common on the upper arms and thighs. This skin condition is genetic and ...
digitate wart	8/12/2008
Q: Fisher, I have a wart on my upper forehead, close by scalp. I saw a dermatologist last week and did ... A: Freezing is a very effective method to treat warts. However if too aggressive you can have a white ...
Repeated Cryosurgery	8/12/2008
Q: I have keratosis, neoplasms and lentigo and one application of freeze drying does not seem to get ... A: This is common. The problem you have is if the liquig nitrogen (cryosurgery) is too aggressive. If ...
Itchy spot where earlobe meets head	8/11/2008
Q: I have 5 piercings in each ear and occasionally have problems with some of them, but never have I ... A: You could be developing an allergic reaction to the metal in the earings which is very common. The ...
lump at back of head	8/11/2008
Q: i have a lump grew on the back of my head on the right side low down near to my neck ;i have had it ... A: You most likely have a scalp cyst. I just removed two of them today in the clinic. These type of ...
face lift - lazer	8/10/2008
Q: I believe I need both a lift with the tucks behind ears a in hairline AND removing lines by a lazer ... A: I would do the face lift first and then the laser second. There are some doctors that will do both ...
Rash in breast	8/10/2008
Q: I'm 42, have rash in my nipples which broke out in the summer. Same case happened in 2005. Do not ... A: You most likely have what is called nipple eczema. The treatment for this is a topical cortisone ...
Red lumps on back with dark dots	8/10/2008
Q: I woke up this morning and my lower back was itchy. At first I thought it was a mosquito bite until ... A: Is there any pain or tenderness? If so you could have shingles! If there is an indentation in the ...
squamous cell carcinoma	8/9/2008
Q: I have a small redish/whiteish/scaly spot on my arm. I went in to have a biopsy done. It came back ... A: 5 weeks is not too long to wait but what determines the treatment is whether the SCC is invasive. ...
Itchy Bumps	8/9/2008
Q: About 4 days ago I noticed that my 2yr old son had several bumps around his wrist and questioned my ... A: There are a number of possibilities. Some type of insect bite is the most likely as in: Fleas, Fire ...
Rash in breast	8/8/2008
Q: Female, 42, rash in nipples, no allergies to anything, very itchy and irritating. I can’t scratch ... A: You most likely have nipple eczema. You can try over the counter Cortaid or cortisone 10. If you ...
Daughter's sunken scar	8/8/2008
Q: My daughter ( who is 4) fell about 1 year ago and now has a sunken scar between her eyebrows. We ... A: As your child grows the "sunken scar" can also grow. If you have surgery, the scar can also grow as ...
Patches of Crust after Sunburn	8/7/2008
Q: The skin on my cheekbones have seemed to develop patches of dry skin (or maybe crust). The skin ... A: The crusts on the skin is nothing more than superficial skin damage due to the sun. The crust is ...
raised huge scars	8/7/2008
Q: heyas, my ex-boyfriend used the blade of a razor to cut 4 massive slashes on my upper-arm. Stupidly ... A: You most likely have what are called Keloids. This is an overgrowth of scar tissue. If you cut the ...
tiny bumps ontop of hand and feet	8/6/2008
Q: I have tiny bumps on the top of my hand and on the top of my feet no where else this occurred after ... A: There are a number of possibilities for the bumps on your feet. In the heat this bumps can be ...
poison ivy rash	8/6/2008
Q: i was given clobex for poison ivy on my arm a few weeks ago...the bumps are gone but i still have a ... A: Clobex is very effective for Poison Ivy. I prescribe this topical all of the time. If the skin is ...
Weird sore on thumb	5/22/2008
Q: At the beginning of the week, I had started to develop little fluid filled pockets near the sides ... A: There are a number of possibilities for your skin lesions. There is a skin condition called ...
Bumps on ears - 5 year old	5/22/2008
Q: We are in the process of adopting a 5 year old and of recent weeks we have noticed that he had a ... A: Bumps on the ears can be: 1) cysts or pseudocysts - the difference is that a pseudocyst has no ...
Hard white bump under Penis Glans	5/22/2008
Q: I'm a 25 year old sexually active (steady girlfriend) uncircumcised male with a dilemma. I've ... A: Most likely you have a type of cyst on the penis. Treatment of true cysts is surgery because true ...
Bumps	5/21/2008
Q: I have these painful tiny clusters of blister like bumps on both hands (not alot) but a few on ... A: You most likely have a skin condition called dyshidrotic eczema. This type of skin condition is ...
dry spot on lip	5/20/2008
Q: i have never had any problems with my skin, and in my 24 years i have never had a cold sore, but i ... A: There are a number of possibilities for the spot on your top lip. The spot could have been the ...
a patch on the neck's skin	5/19/2008
Q: My son is age 15 now, since age of 11 when his adolescence started; a pink-red patch appeared on his ... A: If you are worried about the lesion on your son, then I would get a small biopsy as in a 2mm punch ...
Micro dose continuous accutane	5/18/2008
Q: I have completed a course of accutane (120mg/kg) which has cleared my acne. I am currently on a ... A: I have never seen any abnormalities on low dose accutane(brand). That does not mean that you cannot ...
Possible hand eczema?!...	5/18/2008
Q: My Fiance has been having these attacks on his hands where they get very itchy and achy, and all the ... A: Your fiance's skin condition is genetic as you suggested. This skin condition can be controlled but ...
Blackheads	5/17/2008
Q: I have a serious problem with blackheads on my nose,chin and my forehead.I've been told my skin is ... A: There is a new prescription topical that is helpful and not as irritating called ZIANA. Ziana is ...
Pigment Loss with tiny red dot center	5/17/2008
Q: I was diagnosed with late onset Type 1 Diabetes. About 6 months prior to the diagnosis... I noticed ... A: What the doctor did was called diascopy. When you push on a skin lesion and the redness goes away, ...
BLOOD SPOTS???	5/17/2008
Q: i have noticed on my scalp little blood spots,but some are big aswell.i have quiet a few they feel ... A: There are "blood spots" that can come up on your skin called angiomas but if you traumatize these ...
Laser photorujuvenation vs. IPL	5/16/2008
Q: Fisher, What are the main benefits of, and differences between, laser non-ablative ... A: Before you decide on a laser you need a clear indication as to what you want to accomplish. One of ...
mole removal	5/16/2008
Q: i had a mole on my stomach for a long time and i wanted to have a dermatologist look at it,it didn't ... A: There is no right or wrong way to remove a mole. The method of removal is dependant on the doctor. ...
vinegar for rosacea?	5/15/2008
Q: I have a mild to moderate case of rosacea; much of the time it is mostly not noticeable, but at ... A: I have never head of vinegar helping rosacea. Vineagar does have anitbiotic properties and is used ...
mole with puss	5/14/2008
Q: My son has a mole on his stomach and it was itching,while he was scratching it puss started coming ... A: Your son's lesion is infected. I would go to a doctor and have the pus cultured to determine the ...
odd skin wrinkles?	5/13/2008
Q: I am 25 years old and have recently (past 3-4 months) noticed that I have developed deep wrinkles on ... A: There are a number of possibilities for the skin lesions that you describe. The lesions could be ...
nose sore	5/12/2008
Q: For several months i get what looks like, zits on the inside of my nose. They are so painful. If i ... A: You most likely have a staph abscess inside of your nose. This can be a common occurrence in some ...
Moles	5/11/2008
Q: I'm currently 19 years old and I have many flat moles on my face. I wanted to get them removed and ... A: I am sorry to tell you that there is no effective ways to remove your flat moles. There is ...
keloid skin and tattoos	5/11/2008
Q: i recently took out a piercing i had for about 5 months, a few weeks after having the piercing i ... A: If you have "Keloid Skin", the tattoo could cause the skin to keloid. I would not take the chance. ...
lips and skin	5/11/2008
Q: i used some lip balm that apparently affected my lips. i have developed some rashes that look like ... A: For itching there is an over the counter medication called Sarna. If you have cold sores the ...
little help?	5/10/2008
Q: how many centimeters of nerves are there in a square centimeter of skin? im studying to be a tattoo ... A: The number of nerves is dependent on the type of skin. On the finger there are more nerves per ...
skin rashes	5/10/2008
Q: My elbows red scales,my big toe dry itchy cracky,my fingers dry scaly itchy,my arms to.my fingers ... A: There are a number of skin conditions that could cause what you describe. There is eczema which is ...
Accutane	5/9/2008
Q: I'm a male, 35, from the Netherlands. I started taking accutane on 29th October 2007 and have 33 ... A: The correct dosage for accutane is 1mg/kg per day and for severe acne up to 2mg/kg. 80% of patients ...
Vidalago	5/8/2008
Q: my daughter was just diagnosed with vidilago, she is 8 years old. I know about the disease because ... A: Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder. This means that the body is fighting itself. Other autoimmune ...
Balanitis ?	5/8/2008
Q: I am a 24 years old male. I have had this lesions that will not go away for almost 3 years now. They ... A: Psoriasis can come on the penis. Balanitis is nothing more than inflammation of the glans penis. ...
facial redness/itching	5/7/2008
Q: I have been sufering from a facial rash for about 2 years now. Its really itchy and from time to ... A: There are topical medications that are non steroids like Elidel and Protopic that are safe and ...
pink bumps	5/7/2008
Q: I have been getting these pink bumps randomly on different parts of my body for years now. They ... A: Your doctor thought that you had what is called folliculitis. Folliculitis is inflammation of the ...
Dermatofibromas - regrowth after excision	5/6/2008
Q: I had what I believe was a dermatofibroma removed from my lower leg back in June 2007. It was ... A: There are two option of what has happened. 1) The doctor did not remove all of the dermatofibroma ...
Dry patch of skin on knee	5/5/2008
Q: I have had a thick dry patch of skin on my kneecap about the size of a quarter for months. It does ... A: The first thing to do is to get a diagnosis. The thick patch of skin could be psoriasis in which ...
Skin discoloration	5/5/2008
Q: i am 31/F living in a Gulf country where the temperature reaches 56 degrees Celsius. My face has a ... A: Your facial redness could be Rosacea. Go to the web page www.rosacea.org and look up the tripwires. ...
Itchy, burning hands	5/4/2008
Q: They are flaking, itchy, cut up, bleeding and red. She has tried prescriptions and over the counter ... A: When your mom washes her hands she needs to use Cerave Cleanser which will also moisturizer her ...
Tinea Capitis	5/3/2008
Q: My son if five, in October of 2007 he was diagnosed with Alopica (he had a few little clean bald ... A: From what you tell me, I doubt that your son has ringworm. After 4 weeks of griesoflulvin the ...
Hair Follicles & Pimples	5/3/2008
Q: I used to have very bad acne. I started going to a dermatologist about a year and a half ago and I ... A: If you acne is that severe, why don't you try accutane. Accutane is the most effective medication ...
sandpaper skin	5/2/2008
Q: My son also has the skin colored sand paper skin on the trunk of his body. They tested him for Strep ... A: There are a number of causes of "sand paper" like skin. There is a condition called keratosis ...
Flashlamps (intense pulsed light)	5/2/2008
Q: My daughter, 17, is having flashlamp treatments for dark hair(very fine like baby hair) on her upper ... A: In our practice we use the Gentlelase and we have never had any difficulty with increased hair ...
skin condition	5/1/2008
Q: I have (only on one hand) very small painful blister-like things on the pads of the fingertips only, ... A: You could have dyshidrotic eczema but this is just an unusual presentation. Vasculitis can also ...
Petecchiae & Sudden Red Rash	5/1/2008
Q: I am a 51 yr. old caucasion woman suffering from numerous condtions, incl.: fibromyalgia, ... A: The burning bright red rash could be the start of shingles. It could be a contact dermatitis which ...
Leprosy question	4/30/2008
Q: Good evening Doctor and thank you for your time. I'm doing some genealogical research and I'm ... A: http://www.stanford.edu/class/humbio103/ParaSites2005/Leprosy/index.htm ...
Nodular ezcema?	4/29/2008
Q: I am driving myself crazy trying to find the true diagnosis of my condition. I have become a true ... A: You may have a skin condition called Prurigo Nodules. Prurigo Nodules are caused by scratching the ...
pealing skin on my 3 year old hands and feet.(rash all over body as well..)	4/29/2008
Q: My 3 year old son has a rash on his body and this started about 1 month ago, all over including his ... A: Did you take your son to a dermatologist? Did you take your son to a pediatric dermatologist? Is ...
10 y/o son	4/28/2008
Q: my 10 year old has suffered from hives since the age of 3. he has been on zyrtec since then. he has ... A: Urticaria is a reaction to something that is systemic. Agents that cause urticaria are: thyroid ...
Multiple Bumps on Hands	4/28/2008
Q: I've had these bumps on my hands since Last Thursday. I am planning on going to the doctors tomorrow ... A: Red bumps on the hands can be a form of eczema called Dyshidrotic eczema which is controlled by ...
Unhealthy skin	4/27/2008
Q: I'm 14 years old and have red acne spots on face which won't fade (which is really embarassing ... A: Eczema is usually genetic. There are good cleansers which are over the counter that clean as well ...
stinging skin on arms and lower legs	4/26/2008
Q: I have started having stinging skin on my lower arms and legs. Also, I have noticed I am losing ... A: The first thing you should not is to visit your Internist and have blood work done to make sure ...
Cosmetics and Acne	4/26/2008
Q: I use concealer to cover up my red spots and blackheads etc. and apart from that I only wear a bit ... A: In some patients makeup can clog pores resulting in acne. Each patient is different and thus this ...
Skin cancer	4/25/2008
Q: I had a malignant melanoma removed in 2005 and have been carefull since but enjoyed the beach etc ... A: Once you have a skin cancer you are prone to get another one. Thus, you have to be very careful and ...
What acne product is best?	4/25/2008
Q: I have suffered from acne for 3 years now and I'm tired of looking at myself in the mirror. I have ... A: The products you need are based on the acne that you have. If you have black heads (comedones) then ...
Skin Condition	4/24/2008
Q: Is there a link between oily hair, dandruff and acne? Do they share the same cause? Does one ... A: There is a link between oily hair and acne but not oily hair and dandruff. Dandruff is caused by a ...
Help!!!	4/24/2008
Q: I am a 14 year old female in need of your help! About a year ago I had blackheads on my nose and a ... A: Acne can have many causes: diet, stress, hormones, genetics, and medications. Treatment of ...
neurodermatitis	4/23/2008
Q: My husband's aunt has been diagnosed with neurodermatitis. It seems she's had it for at least 30 ... A: There are the non-steroid creams and ointments like Elidel and Protopic which are prescripiton. You ...
anemia	4/22/2008
Q: I have heard that if you take a penny and run it on your face and it makes a mark, it's a sign you ... A: I am sorry to tell you that rubbing a penny on your face which leaves a mark is NOT A SIGN OF ...
Weird bumps manifesting all over body	4/22/2008
Q: I'm a 21 year old female and recently, I noticed small circular, non-itching bumps on my arms. They ... A: Since I cannot see your skin, in this case it is difficult to make a diagnosis. However, this rash ...
Focal Dermal Hypoplasia	4/22/2008
Q: In plian english (dermatology for dummies), what is FOCAL DERMAL HYPOPLASIA A: Focal dermal hypoplasia (FDH) is an uncommon genetic disorder characterized by distinctive skin ...
Feeling of swelled tongue	4/21/2008
Q: I have the feeling of a swelled tongue ONLY in the morning when I first get up. Breakfast is very ... A: Swelling of the tongue can be many things including urticaria. Urticaris is usually caused by a ...
My 3 yr.	4/20/2008
Q: My daughter had ehat looked like a small pimple on her thigh and I decided to put a band aid over it ... A: Your daughter has two issues. One is the allergy to the band aid. The other issue is the infection ...
tiny itching watery blisters that spread	4/20/2008
Q: Many years ago when I was in my 20's, I began having tiny watery blisters between my fingers and on ... A: You have a skin condition called dyshidrotic eczema. This condition is genetic and occurs on the ...
scalp sensitivity	4/20/2008
Q: I read a question with symptoms similar to mine from 2006 in your history of questions from a 55 yr ... A: When I answer questions the patients never send e-mails is to how they are doing. The only e-mails ...
tongue	4/19/2008
Q: I have a quick question but I will give a little background first. I have dated someone for about ... A: Since I cannot see your tongue, I cannot be sure of the diagnosis. However, you most likely have a ...
Rash on 4 year old	4/19/2008
Q: I have a four year old daughter. Today, we were outside enjoying the lovely spring weather (sunny, ... A: It appears that your daughter developed a rash from the sun or heat. There is a skin condition ...
Blackheads	4/17/2008
Q: I have a few black specks on my face just above my lip that look a little like blackheads, but they ... A: The lesions you describe could be blackheads or they could be tiny freckles or moles. Since I ...
mole removal	4/16/2008
Q: I have some concerns about getting treatment by laser for mole removal. I keep getting different ... A: The first issue is whether you have moles or freckles. If you treat freckles with a laser and then ...
Dark circles under and syringoma	4/16/2008
Q: I went to a dermatologist about sever dark circles under my eye. He told me I had syringomas and ... A: Syringomas are small cysts under the eyes and are not usually responsible for dark circles. Google ...
skin tags	4/16/2008
Q: Could you please tell me if it is possible for a dermatologist to remove a skin tag from a person's ... A: I remove skin tags all of the time. However, insurance does not usually cover the removal of skin ...
Constantly spotty forehead and back	2/14/2008
Q: I'm a 40 year-old female having skin problems for the first time in her life! For the past 6 ... A: From your description you most likely have acne. Acne can be caused by diet, stress, genetics, ...
Treatment for pigmentation loss from Aldara usage	2/14/2008
Q: I was prescribed Aldara which resulted in some pigment loss at the area of application. I have been ... A: Treating pigmentation loss is very difficult and we are not that effective at treating this skin ...
small lump on forehead	2/13/2008
Q: I've gotten a small bump on the left side of my forehead half way between the eyebrow and the ... A: The lesion you describe could be an epidermoid cyst which is a sac like structure which needs to be ...
intralesional electrodesiccation	2/12/2008
Q: Is equipment for intralesional electrodesiccation common to most dermatology practices. I have read ... A: The way I do intralesional electrodesication is as follows. I take the regular electrodesication ...
Itch with NO rash	2/12/2008
Q: I am a 21 year old white female who has suffered from extremely itchy legs with No rash since I was ... A: There are some things you can do. You can try topical cortisone as in prescription Clobex Lotion ...
moles&red spots	2/11/2008
Q: I lived in Latin America my whole life, I am 26. Over a year ago i moved to a Nordic country in ... A: The red dots you describe are most likely cherry angiomas. The can come any time in your life. I ...
laser treatment	2/11/2008
Q: Are there ways to lighten skin through laser treatment or anything like that if not what are all the ... A: Certain lasers can indeed lighten the skin but this is in specific sites and do to skin pigmentary ...
skin spots	2/11/2008
Q: I am have Round dry spots on my upper legs and hip area. they do not hurt at all. It almost looks ... A: You most likely have what is called nummular eczema which is nothing more than dry skin. Treatment ...
Seriously Chapped Lips, possibly "chelitis"	2/10/2008
Q: At a young age i had chapped lips, probably from the usual causes (dry-skin or whatever). Had i of ... A: By definition you have a condition called Chelitis which means inflammation of the lips. There are ...
Another question about the painful tumors under my skin	2/10/2008
Q: I recently wrote to you about my 6 year history of very painful lumps/lesions/?/ under my skin but ... A: By looking at the tissue the pathologist can tell the kind of tissue if it is obvious. However, if ...
Acne	2/10/2008
Q: Fisher, I am a teenager with mild acne. It's not horribly severe, but it's bad enough to make a ... A: The prescription medications are always stronger and more effective than the over the counter ...
subcu tissue/muscles/?/ lumps that can't be palpated by some physicians	2/9/2008
Q: Over the past 6 years, I started getting very painful from tender to a burning sensation under my ... A: There is a list of painful tumors under the skin. The list is as follows: Angiolipoma, Neuromas, ...
hi need help with skin	2/8/2008
Q: I'm just a teenager. i hope you can help me. i came to united state when i was 10 which is 4 year ... A: What you have described is not uncommon. I have seen this many times before. It usually occurs in ...
losing eyebrows	2/7/2008
Q: My husband is 41 yrs old and in good health. He has neurofibromatosis type 1 but really no problems ... A: Hair loss can be caused by many things: thyroid disease, oral medications, severe stress, systemic ...
swollen fingertips now red painful dots on hand	2/7/2008
Q: I was told I had raynauds no tests or anything were done, my fingertips one by one started getting ... A: If the lesions are palpable then you could have vasculitis. This is an antigen antibody complex ...
swollen fingertips now red painful dots on hand	2/6/2008
Q: I was told I had raynauds no tests or anything were done, my fingertips one by one started getting ... A: Raynauds is a fairly common disorder. I have diagnosed Raynauds in 4 patients within the last two ...
Vitiligo	2/5/2008
Q: I have had extreme itching in my perineal area that started about two years ago.I would only itch at ... A: This is not vitiligo. This is a skin condition called postinflammatory hypopigmentation. This ...
decades of recurrent, mysterious "rash"	2/4/2008
Q: I am a woman in my fifties, and there's a problem I've been having regularly since I was in my ... A: Your "ass patch" could be a number of different skin conditions. If the patch comes up the same ...
oily head	2/3/2008
Q: My daughter is 11 years old and has oily hair she has dandruff also, the dandruff is only in the ... A: For oily hair you need to use a detergent shampoo to cut the oil on the scalp. Go to a salon or a ...
Upper arm skin rash	2/2/2008
Q: For the past week I have been getting a 4cm red area(not itchy or pimply) on my right upper arm near ... A: Without seeing the lesion it is difficult to make a diagnosis. However, there are a number of ...
Scars??	2/2/2008
Q: I wanted to get rid of the acne that I had so I used Benzac 2.5%. But, after three days, my face had ... A: The marks that you describe are from the acne--inflammation of the skin caused by acne. They ...
sunken scars	2/1/2008
Q: On Dec. 11, I had surgery to stabilize a broken arm. The pins are now out, but two of the wounds ... A: Topical Retin A can help the appearance of the scar. If you have Vitamin C Palmitate 30% compounded ...
burn	2/1/2008
Q: I recently suffered what I think is a deep partial thickness burn on my arm caused by a thermal ... A: This will heal but should take some time. The best treatment for burns is Silvadene Cream which is ...
Red mole-like spot	2/1/2008
Q: A dark red spot appeared overnight on my forearm. There is a lighter area in the middle. The spot is ... A: This type of skin lesion could be many things. If there is scale associated with he lesion this ...
Litchen Scerosis	1/31/2008
Q: Treatment for litchen scerosis for a 21 year old female. Thank you A: I would start with Protopic Ointment 0.1% used twice a day for 4-8 weeks. Then I would try Clobex ...
Wondering what these spots are	1/30/2008
Q: Dr. Fisher, Thanks for taking the time to read my question! I am a 35 year old male. About 3 weeks ... A: Fordyce spots are usually small white dots. Some patients do not realize they have them unless they ...
Dry skin	1/30/2008
Q: I have severely dry skin on my hands this winter. The palms are fine, but the rest of the hand, ... A: My wife likes Cutemol Cream because it is very thick. Cerave Cream is also helpful since it has ...
Wondering what these spots are	1/29/2008
Q: Dr. Fisher, Thanks for taking the time to read my question! I am a 35 year old male. About 3 weeks ... A: You have described a normal skin condition called Fordyce Spots and are on the border of the lip. ...
Hair Loss	1/29/2008
Q: I got out of the shower the other day and this sticky crust was exuding out of the my hair follicle ... A: The only reasonable explanation is that your scalp/hair is oily and things stick to the oily hair. ...
itchy area around my eyes	1/28/2008
Q: Gradually, over the past several months, the entire area around both my eyes peel & itch. It started ... A: You have a skin condition called eye lid dermatitis. This is an irritant or allergic reaction to ...
I want to become a dermatologist because...	1/27/2008
Q: Fisher, I am a 16 year-old teenager and I am looking forward to become a dermatologist. I live in ... A: You have a skin condition called Hyperhidrosis. Treatment can be with topicals like Glycopyrolate ...
Chickenpox like blisters	1/27/2008
Q: My 2 year old has had 2 blisters for over a week and the doctors thought it was chickenpox. When ... A: There can be many causes of blisters in children. This can be a bacteria called Bullous Staph in ...
itchy red spots	1/26/2008
Q: Between my ring and middle finger and my middle and pointer on my left hand is red, and itchy, and ... A: There are a number of possibilities. This could be hand eczema which is a form of dry skin. This ...
skin discoloration	1/26/2008
Q: My son used ambi above his eyes and woke up with no color on one side of his forehead and eye. His ... A: There are a number of causes for the skin discoloration. This could be a reaction to the cream that ...
peeling skin on my fingertips and toes	1/26/2008
Q: I have a question that was asked before and I found a lot familiar cases on the internet related to ... A: I do not know where you live. But where I live, I see this all of the time with patients. Causes ...
Dry skin & peeling on hands	1/25/2008
Q: about two weeks ago I started having a problem with my skin on my hands peeling, particularly on my ... A: From the picture it appears that you have hand eczema which is extremely dry skin. If you wash your ...
Scar on nose	1/25/2008
Q: About 3 months ago I scraped the bridge of my nose on a copper pipe at work.It left a really nasty ... A: I would try the real mederma as the generic is sometimes not as effective. Laser can reduce the ...
Prickly Itch with no rash	1/24/2008
Q: Fisher, My husband has been experiencing a prickly itch. It starts either on the top his hands or ... A: From what you describe, your husband has what is called a paresthesia. This means that there is no ...
brown spot on thumb	1/23/2008
Q: sorry for being so paranoid but my friend was recently diagnosed with skin cancer and now I am ... A: If the freckle has the following changes, you should see a dermatologist. If the freckle has more ...
Vasculitis	1/23/2008
Q: Two months ago I had a flu shot. I noticed a rash but it seemed to be fading. Then it kept ... A: Vasculitis is an antibody/antigen complex that depots in the skin usually the arms and legs but can ...
1% hydrocortisone cream on eyelids	1/22/2008
Q: I was wondering if it is safe to use 1% hydrocortisone cream on your eyelids for dermatits? My doc ... A: Protopic is fine to use on your eyelids but do not get it in your eyes. Protopic is safe and the ...
biopsy hasn't completely healed	1/22/2008
Q: i had some small lesions on my penis. A biopsy was taken and the lesions were diagnosed to be ... A: There are topical medications that can help the skin heal. I have used Benzaclin which can help the ...
rashes	1/22/2008
Q: One month ago, I developed a red rash on the front of both shoulders, about silver dollar size, ... A: The first thing to do is to go to the dermatologist. Your rash could be nothing more than eczema or ...
Rosecea	1/21/2008
Q: I have terrible rosecea and its getting worse. I've tried everything. Natural, ... A: Rosacea can be controlled but not cured. You may want to try the laser ie Fraxel which is very ...
itchy tiny bumps	1/21/2008
Q: Over a period of one or two weeks I have been experiencing an increasing number of tiny bumps. ... A: Where are the bumps as this makes a difference as far as diagnoses occurs? This could be eczema ...
red, itchy, inflammed skin	1/20/2008
Q: it seems like wherever my fiance kisses me i itch very badly. i get red and kind of swell up like in ... A: Agents that can cause irritation and passed from one person to another are: Soaps, detergents, ...
birthmark	1/19/2008
Q: Im 20 and have had a birthmark on my chest the whole of my life, its a grayish green/blue color ... A: Birthmarks are slightly more likely to change to melanoma than normal moles (5-6%). However, if the ...
non-itchy, painless rash on both legs !	1/19/2008
Q: *_.I am a 40 year old male who is in good health ; Developed an NON-ITCHY, PAINLESS RASH on both ... A: Rashes on the legs can be many things. This could be a drug eruption to medications or something ...
Itching legs only when cold	1/18/2008
Q: My doctor seems clueless on this problem. Ever since I hit puberty if I walk outside when it's ... A: What happens if you wear special long under wear during the cold? Will this stop the itching. Cold ...
soft, wrinkled skin	1/17/2008
Q: my mother is having a strange skin problem. it's compounded by the fact that that she suffered a ... A: There are a few possibilities. This could indeed be an irritant or allergic type reaction in which ...
Pityriasis alba	1/16/2008
Q: My daughter is 2.2 years old. She has a white spot or patches on her arm and leg. The pediatrician ... A: There are better medications than aquaphor for Pityrisais Alba. Let me give you a few: Elidel, ...
Spots On Penis	1/16/2008
Q: I have these flat spots on the head and under my foreskin of my penis that come and go away from ... A: The spots on the head of the penis can be from irritation. Naturally, cortisone can remove these ...
red spots	1/12/2008
Q: hey I'm 16 and i never really had any acne problems but all the sudden i have a ton on my back and ... A: From what you describe you are developing cystic acne. This type of acne can be controlled by oral ...
hives...	1/11/2008
Q: I am a 37 yr old white male 5'11" @240 lbs. For the past 5-10 yrs, I've been taking meds for hbp and ... A: Lipitor can cause Hives. Lisinopril can cause Hives. How do you know that that oral medications ...
bumps knots	1/10/2008
Q: The out side of the skin looks normal. But when I rub my fingers over her skin I feel bump or knots ... A: Since I cannot see the skin or feel the bumps, I cannot be sure of the diagnosis. However, these ...
possible mole on penis	1/8/2008
Q: Dr. Fisher, I noticed for the first time about 4 months ago a small, round, flat, brown lesion on ... A: This could be a mole. If the border is irregular, is the color is asymmetric, or if there are ...
red bumps pale center that peels	1/8/2008
Q: About 3 weeks ago I found a small red bump on the palm of my hand. A couple of days later the bump ... A: Without seeing the rash it is difficult to make a diagnosis. However, you most likely have what is ...
foot peeling	1/7/2008
Q: I'm a 33 year old female living in puerto rico for about a year now and i just noticed that my feet ... A: The peeling of your feet can be caused by: eczema or dry skin, fungal infections, yeast infections, ...
10yr old,red hands, feets, elbows, knees, knuckles	1/7/2008
Q: My 10yr old son had a flu like virus 10mths ago and a week later almost overnight had red palms, ... A: I am not saying your child has psoriasis but a strep throat can trigger the onset of psoriasis in ...
Acne	1/6/2008
Q: I have uterus didelphy and i have a problem with acne. My problem is trying to find a Birth Control ... A: Uterus didelphy is not the problem of your acne. This type of condition does not increase hormones ...
Black dot	1/5/2008
Q: I've had this dark dot on my helmet (penis) since i can remember. It is indented in the skin & not ... A: The first question to ask is what is the cause of the lesion. Is this a blood vessel? Is this a ...
Dark Blotches on /around neck	1/4/2008
Q: I am a 35 year old black male who mostly shaves with electric clippers, which afterwards I have few ... A: You most likley have what is called Pseudofolliculitis Barbae. The inflammation from the shaving ...
dry scalp	1/4/2008
Q: I have very dry scalp, not dandruff. I have it every season-not just in the winter. I've used ... A: I would try over the counter Nizoral Shampoo or T-Gel or T-Sal. If this does not work then you ...
cracked skin	1/3/2008
Q: I'm 14 and I have really bad skin on my knees. I think you call that cracked skin. People have skin ... A: If your skin is really that dry you need special moisturizers such as Prescription Keral Topical ...
Skin Care	1/2/2008
Q: Do you have any tips for me so I can get rid of my blackheads and acne? Plus, what can I do daily to ... A: Washing your skin is the least affective way of controlling acne. There is over the counter ...
Sudden rash and blisters	1/1/2008
Q: On new years eve I found I had a sudden red rash ( picture) , Torso, left arm and lower back the ... A: With the linear aspects of the rash, you most likely have what is called dermatographism and is a ...
Allergic reaction using Pro Active Solution	11/29/2007
Q: I'm from Philippines...I use Pro Active,then i get allergic..after a weeks...my face is so itchy..I ... A: You are correct in that you have an allergic reaction to Pro Active which is Benzoyl Peroxide. I ...
oily skin/acne	6/11/2007
Q: I am a 46 year old female still suffering with extremely oily skin and acne. It started in 3rd grade ... A: At the present time I have about 40 women on low dose accutane as that is the only treatment for ...
Strange red spots spreading	6/11/2007
Q: Fisher I would be so grateful if you could help me. I apologise for the length of this email but ... A: There are a number of possibilities for your rash. This could be a contact dermatitis which is ...
skin condition	6/10/2007
Q: I have a condition known as "seborrheic dermatitis" on the right side of my face. Can you give me ... A: Seborrheic dermatitis is a genetic condition than can be controlled but not cured. It is rare for ...
acne face and back	6/10/2007
Q: My question is if you recommend I use oral pills to cure my acne. condition: I have had acne on my ... A: The strongest acne treatment is Accutane which is oral and is finished within 5 months. The next is ...
Sebacious Cysts	6/9/2007
Q: I'm 24 and every 3rd month or so I get these sebaceous cysts on my face (only one at a time). They ... A: There are two types of medications that can help with the types of cysts that you describe. The ...
Spotty Body and Uneven skintone	6/9/2007
Q: I'm 22, female, of Mediterranean origin with light olive skintone. The skin on my face is pretty ... A: Hydroquinone cream normally works for this type of skin condition but you may have to have it ...
Red sores indented skin	6/9/2007
Q: I'm a 34yo WF with dx of connective tissue disease (or soft lupus). Since age 19 I've at one time ... A: The first thing that I would do is to get a biopsy of one of the sores to make a diagnosis. After ...
Tiny red dots	6/8/2007
Q: My one year old son has a cold. Not sure if that has anything to do with it but you never ... A: This can be a number of things. This can be a reaction to a virus. This can be a reaction to ...
skin	6/8/2007
Q: After having an hickie. I put toothpaste on my neck longer than expected and my that area has become ... A: You most likely have and adverse reaction to Neosporin. The best treatment is topical cortisone and ...
Red Moles	6/7/2007
Q: How are you? I am 24 yr old male. and i have a few red moles on my body, a very tiny one on my ... A: What you describe is a benign lesion called an angioma. Angiomas are nothing more than superficial ...
Whitening Pills	6/6/2007
Q: I'm a 14 year old Asian girl with medium dark skin. I was wondering if the permanent whitening pills ... A: I would not trust the superwhiteningpills. There are no scientific studies to show that they work. ...
puffyness under eyes followed by irritated lips	6/5/2007
Q: two weeks ago my left under eye started to become puffy. It was also tender, and itchy. after a week ... A: What you have is not psoriasis! You may have what is called a contact dermatitis,meaning that ...
Skin Sores- Shaving	6/5/2007
Q: I am a twenty year old female. Several years ago, I started shaving the light hair on my stomach. ... A: without seeing your skin, it is difficult to make a diagnosis. However, the most common problem ...
Red Spotted Rash- Hands and Feet	6/4/2007
Q: Dr. Fisher- I have a question about a rash that I periodically and sporadically get on my hands and ... A: Since I cannot see your hands, I cannot be totally sure of the diagnosis. From what you tell me, ...
seasonal hives	6/4/2007
Q: Fisher, Every summer in June, I break out in hives on my arms, legs, neck & chin. They last all ... A: You could have Solar Urticaria which is caused by the sun. There is another skin condition called ...
Benadryl use	6/2/2007
Q: What are the side effects of long term use of Benadryl? I use this frequently at night to help ... A: Major side effects include: nypotension, wheezing, convulsions, neuritis, hemolytic anemia, ...
Melanoma	6/1/2007
Q: My 34 year old boyfriend was diagnosed with nodular melanoma in November 2006. His mole was just ... A: The first place of spread of melanoma is the lymph nodes. Thus, the lymph nodes should be watched ...
Possible lupus skin disorder?	5/31/2007
Q: Treatment for large blisters developing on digits on both hands and large lesions on bottom of feet ... A: If you have lupus there is blood work called an ANA which would be positive. You most likely have a ...
folliculitis of the scalp	5/31/2007
Q: I have had reoccurring symptoms of folliculitis of the scalp for about 3 years (inflamed acne-like ... A: The first thing that should be done is to culture one of the pustular lesions to determine what type ...
Bumps on face	5/30/2007
Q: Background: I have always had perfectly clear skin. About 9 weeks ago, bumps appeared on my ... A: I believe that you have two skin conditions. One is dry skin from the topical medications that you ...
red rash	5/30/2007
Q: I went walking on my school track yesterday(Tuesday) and I noticed my legs seemed to have a blotchy ... A: Rashes that you describe can be caused by oral medications, systemic infections, allergies to foods, ...
Weird sore on my lips	5/30/2007
Q: I have a weird sore on the bottom lip, now- its not in the corner, it sort of spread from the middle ... A: I would recommend that you visit your local dermatologist and get a biopsy of the skin lesion. You ...
skin	5/30/2007
Q: I have a few little red bumps that itch a little bit on my chest, do you think its anything to worry ... A: Itchy bumps on the chest can be many things. This can be acne, this can be an allergic reaction, ...
Peeling hands and feet on 19-month-old	5/29/2007
Q: My 19-month-old son has peeling hands and feet, just the soles and palms. When he was 3 months old ... A: Their are a number of possibilities for the skin reation on your childs skin. This could be an ...
Persistent Scabies, please help	5/29/2007
Q: I need some advice, I am desperate. I was diagnosed with Scabies in Jan of 2006 and have since then ... A: You have been treated with the best medications for scabies. Ivermectin is the best and is 100% ...
skin around the lower part of the eye	5/29/2007
Q: Dr. Fisher, I sampled an eye gel from the Dead Sea Cosmetics company at a festival and the next day ... A: You have eye lid dermatitis caused by the Dead Sea Cosmetics. You can try over the counter Cortaid ...
top layer of skin of lips missing in sections	5/29/2007
Q: For the last 20 months the skin from my lips has been shedding leaving red "sores", they also appear ... A: The diagnosis is chelitis which is inflammation of the lips. The treatment that I prescribe for ...
strange rash that seems to puzzle doctors!	5/29/2007
Q: For about 8 years I have had red blotches on the lower parts of my legs. They are not raised and ... A: I recommend that you visit your local dermatologist and get a biopsy of the rash to be read by a ...
rapidly elevating area in old mole	5/29/2007
Q: Fisher, My 30 yo fiance has a ~5mm mole on his forearm that is light brown with slightly irregular ... A: You are correct that changes with melanoma usually occur gradually. I would recommend a biopsy of ...
chicken pox	3/23/2007
Q: Chicken pox-- My chicken pox have gradually begun to falll off, more easily so with the aqide of ... A: You ask a very difficult question. The only way to tell is time. Some patients heal without scaring ...
Keratosis Pilaris questions	3/22/2007
Q: I have two question first how do I prevent more outbreaks of Keratosis Pilaris? 2nd question is ... A: As stated before, patients with eczema have a greater tendency to get keratosis pilaris. This skin ...
Pimples at 27?	3/22/2007
Q: Hey Doctor, I appreciate you taking my question. I am 27 and am still experiencing acne. My forehead ... A: The first thing to do is to shave before you go to the shower with Benzashave 10% which is by ...
Skin condition	3/22/2007
Q: I know that smoking depletes oxygen from your skin and it effects the cells. Right now I have ... A: If you stop smoking your facial skin will partially recover. A good type of treatment for this type ...
White spots on face near hairline	3/21/2007
Q: I've noticed these white spots on my forhead near my hairline ever since I finally weaned my son - ... A: White spots of the face can be caused by sun damage, inflammation of the facial skin, depigmenting ...
I have scalp pimple? problem	3/21/2007
Q: Fisher, First of all thank you for your time, also please excuse my limited English. Sometimes, not ... A: You have an infection of the scalp. A culture of the pimples should be done to find the type of ...
sun damage.	3/21/2007
Q: I recently did a tca peel on my face to help with some minor brown spots (sun damge) I started to ... A: The cause of the spots you are talking about is sun damage. Even if you remove the spots by peels, ...
Skin Not Healing	3/21/2007
Q: Dr. Fisher, My girlfriend, who I have been seeing for about a year has a handful of red open soars ... A: She could have a skin condition called folliculitis which is a superficial infection of the hair ...
chronic dermatitis	3/21/2007
Q: Over the last 6 months I seem to have developed chronic dermatitis. The rash covers most of my ... A: When a rash does not resolve you need to have the rash biopsied to help find the cause of the skin ...
Keratosis Pilaris questions	3/21/2007
Q: I have two question first how do I prevent more outbreaks of Keratosis Pilaris? 2nd question is ... A: Keratosis Pilaris is genetic and can be associated with eczema. KP can come on the arms, thighs, ...
cysts	2/20/2007
Q: I understand that they will not go away until I have surgery, but if a few of them have already ... A: Cysts have a sac and unless the sac is removed the cyst will re-grow or continue to grow. If the ...
eczema herpetic	2/20/2007
Q: I am almost positive my nephew had an eczema herpetic flare. It cleared up in 3 weeks. Is there any ... A: There are no dangers to your nephew's skin. However, he may develop anothere flare of Eczema ...
Dark Spots	2/19/2007
Q: I am a black america with dark spots on my legs which was caused by insect bites 3yrs ago. What is ... A: You have what is called postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. This means that the trauma from the ...
Dermatitis Herpetiformis & Celiac Disease	2/19/2007
Q: Is it possible to have a skin biopsy of a lesion and have it test negative? If a lesion is DH, does ... A: In people with DH a test called Direct Immunoflourescence is more specific for the disease. In ...
cysts	2/18/2007
Q: I have also had these bumps on my head that continue to grow and are very tender. I was told they ... A: You have what are called Tricholemmal Cysts. The only way to remove them is surgical excision. ...
my face	2/18/2007
Q: I am 17 years old and do not have severe acne, but quite often i will get a zit on or around my nose ... A: The best treatment for pores is to use a prescription topical medication called Differin which a ...
fat deposit	2/18/2007
Q: I am 48,in good health but overweight. When I was about 40 I started to feel a small hard lump under ... A: If it is a lipoma which is nothing more than fatty tissue,these growths are genetic. The only way ...
Burn scar without a burn	2/18/2007
Q: My 14 year old daughter with no significant medical history developed a skin thickening in the area ... A: The only thing that I can think of is a keloid. Keloids are nothing more than excess scar tissue. ...
atopic dermatitis	2/18/2007
Q: Dr Fisher I appreciate your fast response. It was very helpful. I have two more questions to ask. ... A: You may want to get another opinion. Since I cannot see your skin, I cannot be totally sure of the ...
white spots on skin	2/18/2007
Q: I noticed that I have these white/less tan patches on my buttocks and I noticed there are some ... A: There are a couple of causes of your white spots. This could be a yeast like organism called ...
little white bumps	2/18/2007
Q: i have little white bumps on my scrotum it looks like swollen hair follicals,you can squeeze and pop ... A: The white bumps could be hair follicles. The scrotal skin is very thin and thus it is easy to see ...
White/Brown Skin on penis	2/17/2007
Q: I have noticed that on the head of my penis the overall skin close to the urethra and on the ... A: This could be a condition called postinflammatory hypopigmentation. This means that irritation of ...
red dots and pregnant	2/17/2007
Q: Im 24wks pregnant and have noticed a problem with my feet. The sole and sides of my feet are drying ... A: If the red spots are raised and you can feel them, then you need to go to the doctor at once as this ...
atopic dermatitis	2/17/2007
Q: Dr. Fisher I'm afraid this will be a long one. Three weeks ago I started having bumps and drying on ... A: From your description, you most likley have perioral dermatitis which is a varient of acne and more ...
Frequent Bruises on Back of Hands	2/17/2007
Q: I am a 66 year old male and for the last several years I get ugly bruises on the back of both hands, ... A: You most likley have what is called Batemans Purpura which is caused by sun damage. The sun damages ...
Red Patches on Face	2/17/2007
Q: I am a 43 year old male with olive colored skin. I've NEVER had a skin condition on my face before ... A: Without seeing your skin, it is difficult to make a diagnosis. However, you could have Seborrheic ...
red follicles??	2/17/2007
Q: Ever since I can remember, I have always had red dots on my legs and arms. These are not ingrown ... A: You most likley have a skin condition called keratosis pilaris. This skin condition is genetic and ...
how to darken skin	2/16/2007
Q: i am an african american woman and i light bright spots that has appeared on my face. i went to a ... A: You most likely have a skin condition called postinflammatory hypopigmentation. This means that ...
have a fungal nail infection	2/16/2007
Q: please, i have this three nails ( one on the last finger of my left hand and two on my right hand ... A: You have a nail disorder called onycholysis meaning the nail is eleved above the nail bed. You can ...
melanoma	2/16/2007
Q: My husband has a black mole and he also had what looked like a small blister with a dark spot in the ... A: If the mole is really dark and black it needs to be biopsied. The biopsy procedure is very simple; ...
new issue	2/16/2007
Q: I am a 48 white female who has already gone through menopause (finished 2 years ago) In the past ... A: Odor is usually due to the breakdown of sweat by bacteria. Thus, if you used a topical antibiotic ...
re: itchy and bump foot	2/16/2007
Q: I don't know when it all started, I started to notice there are bumps that sometimes it fill with ... A: You may have a skin condition called Dyshidrosis. This condition is genetic and occurs on the hands ...
Skin Fungus	2/15/2007
Q: I forgot to mention that when the rash appears I detect an odor in this area. Is this typical of ... A: An odor is not typical for Tinea Versicolor. What can cause an odor is something called an ...
Itching	2/15/2007
Q: I am 28 years old, and I have had a problem of itching in the legs, the anterior and posterior ... A: Itching in the winter months is most likley caused by dry skin caused eczema. If your skin is not ...
Question regarding Rogaine	2/15/2007
Q: Fisher, I've using Rogaine with 5% minoxidil solution, but they could get pretty expensive. I'm ... A: The only thing I would tell you is to try the Kirkland and see if it is effective. In some cases ...
Scar-like sore on cheek	2/14/2007
Q: Major acne and skin problems runs in my family, so I'm used to getting pimples big and small. ... A: Scars should not continue to spread unless you are scratching or irritating the scar. Since this is ...
Ezcema	2/14/2007
Q: For the past few months, I have been experiencing excema on the very delicate skin underneath my ... A: If you have flaking on the eyebrows, behind the ears, in the ears and the side of your nose you have ...
athletes feet	2/9/2007
Q: My dad is 90 years old and has athletes feet to the point his toe nails are infected. He now gets an ... A: The only effective treatment for toe nail fungus is oral antifungal medication like Lamisil. The ...
Sun Damage	2/8/2007
Q: I had dark spots on my face due to sun damage for about 4 years now. I have tried a lot of on ... A: The laser will romove the dark spots but if you go out in the sun during the spring or summer the ...
white spots under skin	2/7/2007
Q: I will get white spots under my skin, primarily on my legs and occasionally on my arms....they look ... A: What you have described is a vascular issue. You have vasoconstricion of the blood vessels in the ...
hand rash??	2/7/2007
Q: On the palm of my hands I have these areas that get little clear blisters on them,when the blisters ... A: You have one of two skin conditions. You may have a skin condition called Dyshidrosis or ...
wet new skin	2/3/2007
Q: When skin is damaged and new skin is just growing, I understand that when wet, that new skin gets ... A: The transition time for a cell to get from the base to the outermost layer is about 30 days. In ...
Ear Lobe	2/2/2007
Q: Dr. Fisher; Thank you for volunteering for this service. I have a psoriasis patch behind my left ... A: The condition you describe could be Seborrheic Dermatitis which can affect the ear and behind the ...
scalp /burning pain, hair loss, brittle hair	2/2/2007
Q: Im suffering from a burning scalp coupled with hair loss and brittle dry hair. This happened out ... A: Burning scalp is indeed difficult to treat. The nerves in the scalp are inflammed leading to the ...
hypopigmentation	2/2/2007
Q: I have two areas on my forehead that have pigment loss due to co2 laser. An extrac sounds promising ... A: You can go to the web site for the Xtrac laser which is www.photomedex.com and there is an area ...
Red/burning face	2/1/2007
Q: All of the things that you listed have been completed. She has had the biopsy and the ANA testing ... A: Did you have a biopsy done? What were the results of the biopsy? You may want to visit a ...
Red/burning face	2/1/2007
Q: My 14 yr old daughter developed a red/burning face over 1 year ago. The red/burning is constant and ... A: There are a number of possibilities for your daughters condition. There is a condition called ...
red little dots	2/1/2007
Q: I'm a 25 year old woman, and, for as long as i can remember (at least since i was 15, i don't ... A: From your description you are correct in the diagnosis. You have what is called folliculitis. ...
Blush-Brush hair disappeared into my pore!	2/1/2007
Q: Ok, this will sound like a weird question but here goes: This morning after I took a shower, I ... A: If indeed the hair went down the follicle the body should expell it in time. The only thing you ...
Tattoos and keloids.	2/1/2007
Q: I have a question about keloids developing from a tattoo. I am an African American person and my mom ... A: Keloids can occur from any trauma to the skin. Thus, a tatoo could also cause a keloid on your ...
redness??	2/1/2007
Q: I have my redness in my face the other day.I don't know what happen cause i was shock when i look at ... A: The most likley cause of the redness on your face is the topical acne medication you are using. The ...
scalp itch and bumps	2/1/2007
Q: I noticed a bump about the size of a medium sized pimple on my scalp about 2 months ago. since then ... A: If the bumps are pustules then you have folliculitis of the scalp which is usually a bacterial ...
Dyshidrosis & Penicillin	1/31/2007
Q: I am a 36 y/o white male and started having symptoms of Dyshidrosis at age 35. This has been ... A: Dyshidrosis is genetic and there is only one medication that can make the condition worse and that ...
So many skin lightening products which to choose?	1/31/2007
Q: I am a brown-skinned black female and I would like to lighten my skin. There are so many products I ... A: Dermatologists use hydroquinone all of the time withou any problems. Lustra is a good product but ...
Skin rash on right cheek for the past week and now red and wont go away	1/31/2007
Q: I got my period last week, however before i get my period every other month i'll have bumpy itchy ... A: Some women have what is called hormonal acne. One week before their menstral cycle they can break ...
fingernails?	1/30/2007
Q: I read about an iodine of some sort that can help make nails stronger after removal of acrylic ... A: I have not head this about iodine but you have to be very careful about oral iodine. Since effects ...
mysterious rash	1/29/2007
Q: I visited the Philippines in the summer of 2005. A couple of months after I came back I gradually ... A: Itching can be caused by many things: drug reactions, infections, systemic disease, parasites, oral ...
red redish dry out bumps on face and head itichy head	1/27/2007
Q: I to have red itchy bumps that look like pimples but are not (nothing inside them such as liquid or ... A: What you describe is the cystic type of acne. Treatment of these types of lesions is with an oral ...
Penetrating Trauma to Nail Plate	1/27/2007
Q: Just to be sure, how often and how long should I soak my "finger in salt water or vinegar solution?" ... A: The strongest saline solution and the strongest vinegar solution should be used. I have my patients ...
Penetrating Trauma to Nail Plate	1/27/2007
Q: First of all, thank you for taking the time to read and answer this question. My question deals more ... A: The nail plate should eventually heal itself but this could take 6-10 weeks. The problem you could ...
Burning Scalp and Thinning Hair	1/27/2007
Q: On the left side of my head, I am having a burning, itchy and at times painful scalp condition with ... A: Since the area of your scalp hair loss is so specific, thyroid problems may not be the cause. ...
BODY LICE OR BED BUGS	1/26/2007
Q: Well I have done that. I have thrown away clothing. The clothing that I kept I washed in scalding ... A: Have a biopsy of one of the skin lesions to make sure of the diagnosis. Also try topical cortisone ...
BODY LICE OR BED BUGS	1/26/2007
Q: HELP. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR 4-5 MONTHS. MY HOME IS BRAND NEW AND I HAVE TREATED MYSELF ... A: Body Lice live in the lining of your clothing, thus treating your body is not much help. Scabies is ...
Bald spot on head.	1/25/2007
Q: Well this isnt a followup.. this is another question I have...and its been buggin me for about a ... A: If the hair loss was in the area of the nodule or "bump" then the bump caused the hair loss. I see ...
My eyes	1/24/2007
Q: I'm only 25 years old. I turned 25 in late september. I have a problem with the skin under and ... A: Without seeing your skin it is difficult to make a diagnosis or treatment. If your eyes are puffy ...
Perspiration	1/24/2007
Q: Hope you're well, My question is regarding sweating on the face. Basically when I get very hot or ... A: There are topical medications that can help control sweating called Hyperhidrosis. There is an oral ...
seborrhea dermatitis	1/24/2007
Q: I've had seborrhea dermatitis for sometime now and have tried many prescriptions. I'm right now on ... A: The problem with Seborrheic Dermatitis is not the pore size but a yeast like organism that colonizes ...
Mole removal	1/24/2007
Q: I am a man in his early 30's and have 3-4 largish moles on my mid and lower back. I have always ... A: The first question is how do you know that the mole is mildly dysplastic? Was a biopsy done? ...
Red spots on penis..	1/24/2007
Q: For the past 5 months or so I have had a couple red spots on my penis.. I think it started when I ... A: Psoriasis can come on the penis and that is a very common area for psoriasis to occur. Other ...
White spots on face and neck	1/24/2007
Q: I am out in the sun and saltwater ocean frequently. I have started to notice slight discolorations ... A: The white spots can be a number of skin conditions. There is Pityriais Alba which is a skin ...
Brusing	1/23/2007
Q: I've had schambergs for about a year now. The pathches of purpura had been reduced from red to a ... A: The change in color following a cut or trauma is called postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. This ...
athlete´s foot and syringoma	1/23/2007
Q: What can be an effective remedy for athlete´s foot that can be found at home? What can be a ... A: White vinegar soaks can can control athlete's foot. Soak the affected foot 1-2 times a day for ...
Painful Bumps on Digits.	1/22/2007
Q: I remebered something else. I also will get these bumps on my elbows, as well. Could it be a ... A: Bumps on the elbows are completely different from bumps on the hands or feet especially is you have ...
retin-A and pregnancy	1/22/2007
Q: I just found out that I am pregnant (only 3 weeks or so) and I have been using Retin-A on my face ... A: There are no studies done to see if topical Retin A will affect the baby. No woman would allow such ...
skin under finger nails.	1/22/2007
Q: I don't know if you can help me, but I tried many sources to find an answer to my question but ... A: The reason the nails are white is that the nail is not attached to the bed. You nail may reattach ...
clearer skin	1/22/2007
Q: Im a young female in my early twenties and i want a treatment done that will help with my minor acne ... A: The first thing you have to do is to get rid of your acne. There are a number of treatments: the ...
red face + small veins	1/21/2007
Q: I can see small veins on the top of my nose also. It flared up when i was very stressed and under ... A: You most likely have what is called Rosacea. Go to the web site www.rosacea.org and look up ...
rash after bruising	1/21/2007
Q: I am a 41 year old female. I have lived in Arizona since 1997. In 1998 I broke 3 bones in my righ ... A: Your most likely diagnosis is stasis dermatitis. This can be treated with topical prescription ...
dark circles	1/21/2007
Q: I am suffering from dark circles around my eyes and I would like to know what sort of treatment ... A: http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/sym/dark_circles_under_eyes.htm Go to the above web site which gives ...
ideal skincare routine	1/21/2007
Q: I've read about how retinoids, antioxidants and AHA are shown to help in maintaining a youthful and ... A: If you have the finances there are two products that help your skin combat age. There is Tazorac ...
2 skin problem questions	1/21/2007
Q: I have two questions concerning two skin related issues. 1. My first issue are these little tiny ... A: The tiny black dots on your nose are black heads or open comedones. Treatment is with topicals like ...
What tto expect in the first visit to a Dermatologist?	1/21/2007
Q: I have an appointment with a dermatologist at the end of the month for severe dry skin to my face ... A: If you have not been you need a thorough skin exam, you need one. I have the men undress down to ...
face fungus?	1/20/2007
Q: the corners of my mouth and chin area is always dry and scaly. the skin is also a little reddish. i ... A: The skin condition at the corners of your mouth is called angular chelitis which is nothing more ...
Painful Bumps on Digits.	1/20/2007
Q: For several years, at times when I am feeling stressed, I get strange wart-like bumps on my fingers. ... A: You most likley have a skin disease called dyshidrosis. This skin condition is genetic and made ...
vitiligo	1/19/2007
Q: i asked a question in early december 06,i think i have vitiligo on the head of my penis,what could i ... A: There are two topicals that would consider using on the head of the penis to help resolve pigmentary ...
rash or acne	1/19/2007
Q: I have acne like bumps that start on my shoulders and follow were my triceps are, and start to ... A: There are a few possibilities for your rash. You could have acne and acne is not contagious ...
Red Splotches under skin	1/18/2007
Q: I have always had red/blue splotches appear under the skin. They happen at many different times. At ... A: There is a skin condition called Dermatographism where pressure causes the skin to redden and raise. ...
Red Dots	1/18/2007
Q: Its only on my right arm that the follicules seem inflamed. These Red dots appear to be under my ... A: This could be a drug rash to effexor. You are in the correct time frame for an adverse reaction to ...
Spironolactone	1/18/2007
Q: I desire softer skin of a women. What can I do to soften the skin besides shaving and epilating. I ... A: There is a new topical medication called NEOCUTIS. This product is sold at some doctors offices ie ...
solar lentigo	1/17/2007
Q: I have had a large lentigo spot on my right cheek bone ever since I became pregnant with my first ... A: Laser treatment is a good option. The laser I would use is the Fraxel as there is little down time. ...
hickey like mark	1/17/2007
Q: I have a hickey like mark on my shoulder blade and had one a couple weeks back on my neck, but know ... A: These types of marks are bruises in the skin. Causes can be medications that thin the blood. In ...
Baby Acne	1/17/2007
Q: Can the baby acne change the skin color. My daughter is a month and a half and has baby acne. it is ... A: There is a skin condition called postinflammatory hypopigmentation. This means that the ...
mole peeling	1/16/2007
Q: I have a mole at the hairline on my forehead that last week was hurting, but not bad, so I pretty ... A: I would visit your local dermatologist. Moles normally do not peel unless they are very irritated. ...
red on tip of the lip	1/16/2007
Q: i had a cold sore about a month ago, it healed, but im afraid i had irritated it by touching it many ... A: The redness you describe will go away with time but this may take a few months. There is a topical ...
androgel	1/16/2007
Q: Is it an acceptable practice or should it be an acceptable practice for a male patient using a high ... A: Androgel can have many side effects: acne, increased hair loss, heart failure, generalized edema, ...
skin problem	12/1/2006
Q: Could there be some internal mechanism going on that has been missed ... what diagnostics can be ... A: A skin biopsy with tell you exactly if this is an eczematous condition. When the skin is scaley ...
Sensitive , painful skin	12/1/2006
Q: I seem to have inherited a skin condition from my mother. Our skin is painful to the touch for ... A: There is a skin condition called "Atypical Pain Syndrome". The only treatment that I know for this ...
lesion on my scalp	12/1/2006
Q: I have a small area right in the center of my about where my head starts to slope back. I have had ... A: You most likely have one of two type of lesions. There is a Seborrheic Keratosis which is benign ...
hot cheeks	11/30/2006
Q: Recently I have been randomly getting hot cheeks. Sometimes I get them while I'm just sitting and ... A: You most likely have a skin condition called Rosacea. Go to the web site www.rosacea.org and look ...
skin problem	11/30/2006
Q: Years ago I was told I had dyshidrotic eczema. I cannot find much info on it & lately my skin is ... A: You most likely have what is called Hand Eczema. This is where the skin on the hand becomes so dry ...
laser treatment damage	11/30/2006
Q: I'm sorry I didn't explain myself properly. I was told that the damaged caused to my skin (not ... A: You are correct in your knowledge of protopic it can help reduce the inflammation caused by the ...
Scars	11/30/2006
Q: I have some scars from having laparoscopic abdominal surgery. I have medication (desoximetasone) a ... A: You can use the desoximetasone on the scars. This should help reduce the inflammation or redness. ...
laser treatment damage	11/29/2006
Q: I have the Protopic ointment 0.03, however I had been told that I would "create" hyperpigmentation ... A: I have never seen Protopic create hyperpigmentation. Protopic is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory ...
Dark Circles Around Mouth	11/29/2006
Q: I have these dark marks on the corners of my mouth on each side. I have went to the dermatologist ... A: Dark circles are due to inflammation of the skin causing increased pigmentation. Treatment is with ...
Hives?	11/29/2006
Q: I was going to mention that I was given a shot of Vicoprofen for pain for a pinched sciotic nerve ... A: Vicroprofen can cause hives per the PDR which is the bible for drugs in the US. Hives usually ...
Rosacea vs Sun Allergy	11/29/2006
Q: Approx. two years ago I developed a blotch itchy rash on my face while fishing in the Bahamas. I ... A: The medication that you are taking, lipitor, can make your skin more sunsensitive. But you need to ...
eczema	11/29/2006
Q: I've had eczema on my hand for almost a year now on small patches on my hands. It's now between my ... A: Your premise is totally incorrect that the Internet has just as much to offer as a dermatologist. ...
Hives?	11/28/2006
Q: I believe that I have hives. I've had theses itching red bumps for 3 weeks. They started out on the ... A: medications, infections and systemic disease like thyroid or lupus. The first thing to do is to try ...
sharp acute pain in tiny areas of the skin	11/28/2006
Q: Fisher, in advance, for answering my questions. I have three dermatology questions, and I suspect ... A: Painful lesions of the skin go under the headding of "LEND AN EGG": leiomyoma, eccrine spiradenoma, ...
laser treatment damage	11/28/2006
Q: I had a laser treatment on my arms to reduce sun damage and staining. Now my skin has rows of white ... A: You have what is called postinflammatory hypopigmentation. This means that inflammation from the ...
scalp issues - dandruff vs