Dermatology information

The comfort and appearance of our skin, whether male, female, young or old is always important. The Dermatology Department at the Sterling Rock Falls Clinic understands this and is ready and willing to help with any problems or questions you may have.

Our physicians Dr. John Exner and Marc A. Stees and Physician Assistant, Mark Moran, are specialists in Dermatology and are here for your health care needs.

Please call their receptionist at (815) 625-4790 to schedule an appointment.

Dermatology at SRFC
The Sterling Rock Falls Clinic Dermatology Departmant.

Dr. John Exner, MD Sterling Rock Falls Clinic (815) 625-4790

Dr. Mark Stees, MD The Dixon Clinic (815) 284-1600

Mark Moran, CNP Sterling Rock Falls Clinic (815) 625-4790

ADULT ACNE

Acne is usually associated with the oily skin of adolescence. In fact, it is most common during the teen years. It is estimated that 20% of adults in their twenties through forties suffer from acne.

We see acne as blemishes on the skin. Actually the trouble starts long before - below the surface - in the hair folicles and their oil producing glands. Normally, cells that line the hair follicle are shed as new cells replace them. The dead cells mix with the oil and work their way up to the skin's surface to be washed away. Sometimes this process goes haywire. The folicles produce cells that stick together so tightly they never make it to the surface. These cells accumulate, mix with more oil and bacteria, and form a plug.

DRY SKIN

10 Dry Skin Do's and Dont's

DO

• Bathe just long enough to cleanse yourself.
• Use warm water. It's not as drying as hot water.
• Use hands to gently lather in circles.
• Pat yourself dry with a soft towel.
• Take a bath or shower only once a day. It's enough!
• Exercise. It increases the flow of nourishing blood and oxygen to the skin, which results in a healthy glow.
• Drink lots of water. The upper layer of your skin is about 10% water, while the deepest layers of skin are close to 60% water.
• Get your "beauty sleep".
• Eat a balanced diet. Fruits, vegetables, and fiber provide fluid and important nutrients to your skin.
• Make sure skin is well-moisturized - the best time to apply moisturizers is right after bathing, while skin is still damp. This helps to lock in moisture.

DON'T

• Bathe too long. Soap and water can cause skin to become excessively dry.
• Use water that is too hot.
• Scrub your skin with a brush or harsh sponge.
• Rub yourself dry.
• Shower or bathe too frequently.
• Avoid exercise.
• Skimp on drinking lots of water.
• Lose sleep. Fatigue can slow your circulation and impede delivery of oxygen and nutrients to your skin.
• Neglect your diet. This can affect your skin.
• Forget about seasonal dryness. Overheating your home in cool months and staying outdoors during warmer months can cause dryness.

SKIN CANCER

Cancer of the skin is the most common of all cancers. Almost one million cases of skin cancer occur in this country each year. A group of body tissues with special functions, the skin is actually the largest organ of the body. Cancer is really a number of diseases caused by the abnormal growth of cells. There are more than three different types of skin cancer, but the three listed here account for the majority of malignant skin tumors.

Basal Cell Cancer is slow growing and does not usually spread to distant parts of the body. If left untreated, basal cell cancer can spread to nearby areas and invade the bone and other tissues beneath the skin. It appears as raised, translucent, pearly bumps on the head, neck, and hands, or as red, scaly patches on the nose and arms.

Squamous Cell Cancers tend to be more aggressive than basal cell cancers and are more likely to invade structures beneath the skin. They are also more likely to spread to distant parts of the body. It appears as elevated, pink to red scaling bumps or patches.

Melanoma is less common but more dangerous than either basal cell or squamous cell cancers. If melanoma is detected in its early stages, it is almost 100% curable. However, melanoma is much more likely than the other forms of skin cancer to spread to other parts of the body.

For a large image of the Melanoma images above, click here (pop-up window).

ATOPIC DERMATITIS

Atopic Dermatitis is a disease that causes itchy, inflamed skin and typically affects the insides of the elbows, backs of the knees, and the face. Often however, it covers most of the body. AD falls into a category of diseases called atopic, a term originally used to describe the allergic conditions asthma and hay fever. AD tends to flare up when the person is exposed to certain substances or conditions. Suffers of AD always have very dry, brittle skin. The external layer of the skin acts as a barrier, protecting what lies underneath. When this layer cracks because of dryness, irritants can reach the sensitive layers below and cause a flare-up of Atopic Dermatitis. To prevent dry skin, the best and safest treatment is the use of moisturizers that are petroleum- based.

COLD SORES

It's important to remember that cold sores aren't just unsightly blemishes - they're a real medical condition that can be treated by your physician or dentist. Cold sores are caused by a virus called Herpes Simplex 1, a virus that hides in your body until it's triggered. Most people catch the cold sore virus from a friend or relative when they're children. Once you have the virus, it stays in your body forever and may cause outbreaks anytime. While you have a cold sore you can pass it on to others, in fact, you may even be contagious right before a cold sore appears.

Cold sores are triggered by many common things in your daily life such as:

• Stress
• Fatigue
• Common cold
• Fever
• Sun exposure
• Excessive heat or cold
• Menstruation
• Pregnancy
• Injury to the mouth from dental work or shaving

PSORIASIS

Psoriasis is raised red patches, often covered with silvery scales. The cause of psoriasis is not known, and the condition can progress through various stages of severity. The appearance of the patches may change also. Psoriasis affects millions of men, women, and children of all ages and races. All parts of the body can be affected. Sometimes psoriasis patches appear in certain areas such as elbows, knees, fingernails, face, or scalp. Psoriasis can be very uncomfortable. It does adversely affect appearance to the point that in some people it can be emotionally disabling. From this viewpoint, psoriasis can be a very serious disease. It is important to remember, that because there is no cure, some form of treatment will be required from time to time. The goal of psoriasis treatment is to improve skin appearance. Your dermatologist can determine the type of treatment that is right for you to ensure safe, effective psoriasis control.

ROSACEA

The doctor has determined that the redness and swelling on your face is caused by a skin disease known as rosacea (rose-AY-sha). The exact cause of this condition isn't known. At the start, usually in adulthood, rosacea may seem like merely a tendency to blush easily, a ruddy complexion, or an extreme sensitivity to cosmetics. Over time, small blood vessels and tiny pimples may appear about the reddened area, mainly on the forehead, the chin, and the lower half of the nose. Later symptoms may include thin red lines from the enlarged vessels on the skin's surface. In more advanced cases, rhinophyma may develop, characterized by an enlarged red nose and puffy checks. In addition to the drugs and counseling from your physician and nurse, a lot depends on your own cooperation and willingness to modify your lifestyle to prevent flare-ups of rosacea.

Intense Pulsed Light

The Sterling Rock Falls Clinic is proud to be first in the area to offer Intense Pulsed Light technology to remove the flaws that spoil your appearance. You don't have to live with sun-damaged skin, freckles, acne, or age spots any longer! Treatments are quick, safe, and effective. Call our dermatology department today for more information on this exciting new technology. Intense Pulsed-Light can be used for treating:

• Sun Damaged Skin
• Unwanted Hair
• Visible veins
• Birthmarks
• Age spots
• Rocacea
• Scars
• Acne

In addition to Intense Pulsed Light Technology, we offer a full range of Chemical Facial Peels to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and even out skin tones. Botox Injections can lesson the appearance of forehead furrows and sagging eye skin. Call (815) 625-4790 today and ask for the Dermatology department for more information on procedures to make you look and feel your very best.