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The Dermatology Center at Ladera specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin, hair and nail diseases. We provide our patients and their families with full-service, comprehensive dermatologic care. We want to help you get the best of what today’s medicine has to offer. And you can count on us to provide you with a smile, compassionate care and help understanding your skin condition and treatment options.
Some of the more common medical conditions we treat include acne, rosacea, cysts, moles, eczema, skin cancer detection and treatment, warts, hair loss, scalp disorders, pigmented lesions, rashes, skin allergies, nail problems, underarm sweating, vitiligo, melasma, and childhood skin diseases. As part of our preventative care, we perform very comprehensive skin checks with recommendations for full skin photography on a case-by-case basis.
We also specialize in the surgical removal of skin cancers, cysts, fatty growths, unwanted moles, and the repair of torn earlobes.
Please call the office to schedule an appointment for you or a family member at (949) 364-8411.
Acne is the term for the blocked pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples, and deeper lumps (cysts or nodules) that can appear typically on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and upper arms. Seventeen million Americans currently have acne, making it the most common skin disease in the country. While it affects mostly teenagers, and almost all teenagers have some form of acne, adults of any age can have it. Acne is not life-threatening, but it can cause physical disfigurement (scarring) and emotional distress. Treatment varies depending on the type and severity of lesions, skin type and the patient’s age and lifestyle, but on average results are visible in six to eight weeks. Options include:
- Topical Medications
- Oral Antibiotics
- Hormonal Therapy
- Accutane
- Chemical Peels
- Laser and Light Treatments
Patients with mild acne can supplement treatment at home by washing with warm water and a mild soap twice a day and/or using a topical over-the-counter acne medication.
Rosacea is a chronic skin disease affecting about 14 million Americans that causes redness and swelling on the face and also occasionally the scalp, neck, ears, chest, back and/or eyes. Although it can affect anyone, rosacea typically appears in light-skinned, light-haired adults aged 30-50. Symptoms range from red pimples, lines and visible blood vessels to dry or burning skin and a tendency to flush easily, but many people find that the emotional effects of rosacea – i.e. low self-confidence and avoidance of social situations – are more difficult to handle than the physical ones. It is not yet known what causes rosacea and the disease is not curable, although it can be treated in many ways, including topical and oral medications, laser therapy and laser surgery. Early detection and intervention are essential to achieve the most effective results, or to reduce the severity of symptoms if rosacea has already progressed.
Known as nevi (singular “nevus”), moles and other birthmarks are benign pigmented spots or patches of skin that range in color from tan, brown and black (moles) to red, pink or purple (vascular nevi, such as strawberry hemangiomas or port wine stains). Though most birthmarks are harmless, they may develop into cancer. Moles exhibiting any of the following warning signs should be examined by a professional immediately:
- Larger than six millimeters.
- Itches or bleeds.
- Rapidly changes in color, size or shape.
- Has multiple colors.
- Is located where it can't be easily monitored, such as on the scalp.
Depending on their depth, location and color, as well as the patient’s skin type, age and other factors, treatment for benign but unattractive birthmarks may take the form of laser or pulsed light therapy, microdermabrasion or surgical excision.
Eczema is a term used to describe a group of inflamed skin conditions that result in chronic, relapsing and very itchy rashes. About 15 million people in the United States suffer from some form of eczema, including 10 to 20 percent of all infants. Symptoms vary from person to person but often include dry, red, itchy patches on the skin which, when scratched, tend to break out in rashes. Objects and conditions that trigger itchy eczema outbreaks may include rough or coarse materials touching the skin, excessive heat or sweating, soaps, detergents, disinfectants, fruit and meat juices, dust mites, animal saliva and danders, upper respiratory infections and stress.
Treatment involves the restriction of scratching, use of moisturizing lotions or creams, cold compresses and nonprescription anti-inflammatory corticosteroid creams and ointments. If this proves insufficient, physicians may prescribe corticosteroid medication, antibiotics to combat infection or sedative antihistamines. Phototherapy is a common procedure to reduce rashes, as are tar treatments (though messy). For severe cases, drugs such as cyclosporine A may be recommended.
About a million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with skin cancer every year. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. According to current estimates, forty to fifty percent of Americans who live to age 65 will have skin cancer at least once. Although anyone can get skin cancer, the risk is if you have fair skin that freckles easily -- often with red or blond hair and blue or light-colored eyes.
The two most common kinds of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. (Carcinoma is cancer that begins in the cells that cover or line an organ.) Basal cell carcinoma accounts for more than ninety percent of all skin cancers in the United States. It is a slow-growing cancer that seldom spreads to other parts of the body. Squamous cell carcinoma also rarely spreads, but it does so more often than basal cell carcinoma. However, it is important that skin cancers be found and treated early because they can invade and destroy nearby tissue.
 Warts are normally noncontagious skin growths caused by viruses. Different warts respond to different treatments. Some go away on their own. Salicylic acid products (in the form of drops, gels, pads and bandages) can help self-treatment of many warts by dissolving the keratin protein that makes up the wart and the dead skin above it. Others can be removed via liquid nitrogen freezing or electrical stimulation. Surgery may be recommended for painful or large warts that do not respond to these treatments.
Hyperhidrosis is a disorder characterized by excessive sweating that occurs in up to 1% of the population. The excessive sweating can occur in the hands (palmar hyperhidrosis), in the armpits (axillary hyperhidrosis), or in the feet (plantar hyperhidrosis). Although nobody understands the exact cause of this excessive sweating in specific individuals, it is known that the sweating is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system.
The initial treatment for hyperhidrosis is usually medical and does not involve surgery. Another treatment is iontopheresis. This consists of a treatment of electrical stimulation, usually in the hands. A newer treatment for hyperhidrosis is BOTOX®. When a small amount of BOTOX® (Botulinum Toxin Type A) is injected into the armpits or palms, it stops those areas from getting clammy and sweaty. BOTOX® injections, however, are only temporary and have to be repeated two to three times a year.
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Medical Dermatology 
