The Dermatology Center offers medical and surgical dermatological care. Dr. Hawkins treats a variety of general dermatological conditions. Skin Cancer Screenings and biopsy results usually back in 36 hours or less. According to the American Academy of Dermatology,“Skin cancer is the most prevalent of all types of cancers. It is estimated that more than one million Americans develop skin cancer every year.” The sooner preventative measures are taken the better your chances are it won't spread. Recognizing the Different Types of Skin Cancer: Skin cancer is not reserved just for those who spend weeks in tanning salons. In fact,many types of skin cancers develop as a result of cumulative sun exposure. Even those times when you were barely sun burned can be damaging. Named to reflect the layer of the dermis and types of skin cells they affect,the carcinomas are easily treatable and rarely advance into a state dangerous to your health. Melanoma,however,should be taken care of immediately because once it spreads it could lead to serious complications. Skin biopsies,such as mole removal,are the only way to truly diagnose a potentially cancerous portion of your skin. Skin Cancer Types and Symptoms Basal Cell Carcinoma looks like raised,smooth,pearly bumps around the head,neck,or shoulder areas. It often resembles a sore,but fails to heal. Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Resembles red,scaling,thickening patches of skin in sun-exposed areas. Melanoma: Melanoma appears as dark,either brown or black,lesions. Be observant of any moles changing size,shape,elevation,or color. Stating that acne is the most common skin condition doesn't make it any less frustrating to those it affects. Acne is a common problem experienced by a majority of adolescents and adults at some point during life. While not a serious health condition,the cosmetic symptoms of acne can be troublesome and untreated acne can also lead to physical scarring. The most common causes of acne include dead skin cells,excessive sebum production (usually caused by hormones) or bacteria growth. Sebum is natural oil produced by the skin's sebaceous glands. Blackheads— Appear as small black markings on the skin's surface. Blackheads usually form a plug that blocks sebum. Whiteheads— Appear as small bumps beneath the skin's surface. Whiteheads occur when the follicle becomes completely blocked with sebum. When a whitehead is present,the excess sebum production or bacteria growth causes the hair follicle to which the gland is attached to become inflamed and eventually rupture. Nodules— Appear as large,round bumps beneath the skin's surface. Nodules are caused by whiteheads that become severely infected and only respond to intense treatment. If not treated properly,this type of acne may cause acne scarring. Cysts— Appear as raised lumps beneath the skin's surface. Cysts are very similar to nodules and only respond to intense treatment and can cause scarring,except they are filled with pus. Rosacea— Often coined as “adult acne,” rosacea isn't actually acne at all. It's a chronic facial skin condition that appears as redness,inflammation,and irritation that looks similar to acne. Even though it's not acne,we do offer various rosacea treatments. Eczema is a very common,chronic skin condition that's distinguished by irritated,inflamed,and itchy patches of skin. Eczema is not life-threatening but can cause itching,which typically induces scratching that can produce infection—making the condition more serious than a regular rash. The causes of eczema can vary and there are many different beliefs about what causes this itchy skin condition. Eczema is believed to occur because of an overactive immune system response while other theories state that it's caused by an overly sensitive epidermis; however,the most common theori