Acne is an inflammatory skin condition that can affect the face, chest, back and shoulders and sometimes neck and upper arms. It can vary from mild, to moderate and severe. It Commonly affects patients in the teenage years, but it can be seen in younger children or can present as adult acne. The good news is that acne is a treatable skin condition and the treatment regimen needs to be individualised for the best outcome.

Prescription medications such as antibiotics can be combined with other treatments such as topicals, oral contraceptive pills for female patients, antiandrogen medications comedone extractions, superficial chemical peels, and a good skin care plan.

For severe acne, prescription medication Isotretinoin (brand names Roaccutane/Oratane/Accutane) is a safe and effective treatment.

A good skin care plan is paramount in acne management.

Rosacea is a very common and chronic skin condition that affects the face. It usually affects the cheeks, nose, mid forehead and chin (central face) and can co-exist with other conditions such as acne, seborrheic dermatitis and sun-damage. There are different type of Rosacea including:

1. erythematotelangiectatis Rosacea presenting with redness, flushing, visible blood vessels.
2. Papulopustular rosacea presenting with redness, swelling and acne type pimple and pustules.
3. Phymatous rosacea with skin thickness and changed skin texture more prominent on the nose
4. Phymatous rosacea with skin thickness and changed skin texture more prominent on the nose
5. Ocular rosacea with red and irritated eyes and blepharitis

Treatment options will include: Sun protection, avoidance of triggers, individualized skin care routine, prescription oral antibiotics and topicals, low does Isotretinon and laser treatment for telangiectasia and redness.

Eczema/atopic dermatitis is characterized by severe itch, redness/inflammation and skin dryness. Most of the time there is a genetic predisposition to get eczema and commonly there is family history or (personal history) of Eczema, asthma and hay fever. Eczema can affect patient of all age categories. Treatment varies depending on the extent and severity of the skin involvement, age and patient’s preferences. There are other types of eczema such as allergic contact dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis.

 General measures for eczema prevention and improvement of the skin barrier including avoidance of triggers and using soap free wash and moisturizer on regular basis. Treatment of the inflamed skin:

1. topical corticosteroids, other topical anti-inflammatory treatments such as Pimecrolimus (elidel) cream or Tacrolimus cream or ointment.
2. Phototherapy (light treatment)
3. Systemic treatments such as antibiotics and systemic corticosteroid for short term control of the inflamed skin and longterm management with immunosuppressant medications.

Psoriasis is a common and chronic skin condition that can affect the skin, scalp, nails, skin folds and in some patients, the joints. Pathophysiology of psoriasis is complex, and multifactorial with a genetic predisposition and environmental factors playing role in presentation of psoriasis. Unfortunately, there is no permanent cure available for psoriasis.

Treatment options include: Topical treatments, phototherapy and for more severe psoriasis systemic treatments including oral tablets and biologics given by injections.

Regular skin checks are important as new moles and changes to existing mole can be a sign of melanoma. Regular Skin checks either done by yourself, your partner or a doctor can discover suspicious moles on time.

Skin cancer is a common concern in Australia, but fortunately most skin cancers can be treated. Some types of skin cancers are more serious and skin cancer monitoring is important. Full skin checks, self-skin checking, early skin cancer detection and effective sun protection are all important components of skin cancer prevention and management.

Skin cancers can be broadly divided into two groups:

• Melanomas that originate from melanocytes and occurs as a result of cancerous changes to the Melanocytes. Early detection and  diagnosis of melanoma are associated with a greater chance of survival and in a very high cure rate.
• Non- Melanoma skin cancer that originate from other types of skin cells. The most common forms of Non- Melanoma skin cancers are Basal Cell Carcinomas (BCC), Squamous cell Carcinoma (SCC) and Keratoacanthoma (KA)

Treatment options for skin cancer will depend on the type of skin cancer, size, location and nature of the lesion and includes surgical excision, Moh’s Surgery, and radiation therapy. For low grade skin cancers and precancerous skin lesions treatment options such as: shave and curettage, curettage and cautery, cryotherapy, photodynamic therapy, topical treatment with 5- Fluorouracil or Efudix cream, Imiquimod or (Aldara) cream can be considered.

Sun damage is one of the most common skin problems that we encounter in Australia. Sun-damage spots can present as dry and rough skin (solar keratosis), redness and prominent capillaries, brown spots (solar lentigines), warty spots (seborrheic keratoses), angiomas(dilated blood vessels presenting as red spots)

We can treat sun-damage skin with a variety of treatment modalities including medical grade chemical peels and Laser, photodynamic therapy, fine wire diathermy and cryotherapy.

or hyperhidrosis is defined as a degree of excessive sweating that affects activities of daily life. Hyperhidrosis can affect any area of the body, but most commonly affects armpits (axillae), hands and feet (palms and soles).

Topical treatment:

There are some treatment options such as topical aluminum chloride hexahydrate roll -on or spray available at chemist. Compounded glycopyrrolate (0.5-3%) cream on prescription is another option but may no be effective in more severe cases.

BOTOX injections:

For primary axillary hyperhidrosis, Botulinum toxin type A (BOTOX A) injections are available under Medicare and PBS guidelines and up to 3 treatments per year are subsidised with a minimum of 4 months between treatment sessions. A referral from your GP is required.

 Oral Medications:

Anticholinergic tablets such as oxybutynin and propantheline bromide can be used but side effects such as dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, excessive drowsiness limits use of these medications.

Other treatment options include Iontophoresis (time consuming). Home units are available at some dermatology clinics. Endoscopic thoracic surgery (rarely considered due to potential side effects)