Find out how to treat your rash at home, as well as when a rash may require medical attention.

Rashes come in all different shapes, sizes, textures, and colors. Some are intensely itchy while others may burn or hurt. While rashes are typically innocuous and self-limiting, certain rashes may appear as a result of a serious underlying issue. It’s important to recognize when it’s time to turn to our Rockville, MD, dermatologists for your skin rash.

Causes of a Skin Rash

There are countless issues that can lead to a rash. Some of them include:

• Allergies
• Insect bites and stings (e.g., tick bites)
• Bacterial or viral infections (e.g., shingles, chickenpox, measles)
• Heat rash
• Stress
• Certain skin problems (e.g., eczema, rosacea, yeast infections)
• Autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus)
• Drug reaction
• Scarlet fever (more common in children)

At-Home Care Tips

Most rashes will clear up on their own. Some simple ways to ease any discomfort you may experience with your rash include:

• Applying cold compresses to the area to reduce itching and swelling
• Soaking in an oatmeal bath, which can soothe red, itchy skin
• Not scratching the rash, as it could lead to infection
• Applying calamine lotion if your rash is itchy
• Applying over-the-counter anti-fungal cream to the rash if the rash is caused by a fungal infection (e.g., athlete’s foot, ringworm)
• Using a hydrocortisone cream to reduce inflammation and itching caused by eczema

When to See a Doctor

It’s important when to recognize that your rash needs more than just a little at-home care. It’s time to turn to our Rockville, MD, dermatologists if your skin rash:

• Covers the majority of your body
• Is very painful
• Develops blisters or sores
• Develops pus, swelling, skin that’s warm to the touch, and other signs of infection
• Isn’t responding to at-home care
• Is accompanied by a fever
• Oozes yellow or green liquid
• Continues to spread
• Is accompanied by tongue or throat swelling or trouble breathing (signs of an allergic reaction)

Our Rockville, MD, dermatologists have treated a wide range of skin rashes in patients from children to older adults. If a rash has you concerned, play it safe and call Shady Grove Dermatology today at (240) 246-7417.

Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer and will affect one in five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their life according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Thankfully, if caught early, skin cancers are generally curable. If you are affected by skin cancer, your dermatologists at Shady Grove Dermatology, LLC in Rockville, MD, are here to help. Continue reading to learn how to prevent skin cancer as well as what signs to look for to determine if you need to talk to your dermatologist.

How to Prevent Skin Cancer

One of the biggest rules that most people are taught at a young age is to always wear sunscreen when going outside, which is an important tip to follow. It’s extremely important to wear sunscreen not only during the summer but year-round. People underestimate the strength of the winter sun, but it’s still important to protect your skin even when it may not feel like the sun is doing much. You should be wearing at least SPF 15 to get the full benefits of sunscreen.

In addition to wearing sunscreen, it’s important to:

• Avoid the sun during the peak hours of 10 A.M. and 4 P.M.
• Wear protective clothing, such as a sun hat or clothing that covers your arms and legs.
• Avoid tanning beds.
• Check your skin regularly and be on the lookout for any irregularities.

Signs of Skin Cancer

Your dermatologist in Rockville, MD, will do the final diagnosing, but it’s important that you do regular check-ups at home. Skin cancer usually develops on any area of the skin that has been exposed to UV rays, such as the scalp, face, neck, chest, arms, or legs.

Signs to keep an eye out for are:

• A bleeding or scabbing sore that continuously returns.
• A firm, red nodule.
• A mole that changes in size, color, or bleeds.
• A small lesion with an irregular border.
• A large brown spot with dark speckles.

Call Your Dermatologist Today

If you are concerned that you may have any of the symptoms of skin cancer, it’s important that you call your dermatologist at Shady Grove Dermatology, LLC in Rockville, MD, at (240) 246-7417 today!

Warts are small, granular growths on the skin. Typically, they occur on the fingers and hands. They may also have an appearance of tiny black dots, which are due to clotted blood vessels. Warts are caused by a virus and can be transmitted through contact. If you have contact with the virus, it can take up to six months for a wart to appear. Warts are usually harmless can often resolve without treatment. The team of dermatologists at Shady Grove Dermatology in Rockville is dedicated to providing each of their patients with high-quality health care for all their individual needs, including treatment for warts.

Symptoms of Warts

Rockville residents may notice the following symptoms:

• Small grainy bumps on the skin
• Lumps may be tan, pink, or white
• Lumps feel rough to the touch
• Lumps may contain tiny black dots

How to Avoid Warts

Although common warts cannot be entirely prevented, you can reduce your risk of contracting the virus by:

• Avoiding biting your cuticles and nails.
• Not sharing, razors, washcloths, or towels.
• Not touching another person’s warts.
• Keeping your feet dry.
• Wearing sandals or flip-flops around a pool or in a public locker room.

Treating Warts

You can treat warts at home with over-the-counter wart peeling medication. If you have tried treating warts at home but they persist or reappear, or they become painful, you should consult a dermatologist. You should also seek medical advice if your warts change appearance, size, or color.

Your dermatologist can treat your warts with stronger topical wart medication or using cryotherapy or laser treatment.

If you are a Shady Grove resident and you would like to find out more about wart treatment or you are looking for a dermatologist, call Shady Grove Dermatology at 240-246-7417 to schedule an appointment.

Although acne commonly affects adolescents, pimples can affect anyone at any age. They can be particularly embarrassing when they pop up during adulthood. The team of dermatologists at Shady Grove Dermatology in Rockville, MD, can help you with your adult acne. Here are some tips for avoiding acne.

Reducing Your Risk of Acne

Rockville residents can keep their skin clear of pimples in the following ways:

• Cleanse your face: Washing your face twice daily with a benzoyl peroxide cleanser will kill acne-causing bacteria.
• Eat a healthy diet: Many medical experts agree that reducing your consumption of carbohydrates and sugars can help reduce acne. Keeping a food diary will help you figure out if certain foods trigger an outbreak.
• Wash your face after a workout: Sweaty skin can contain bacteria. Showering and washing your face as soon as you can after a workout will reduce this.
• Check your moisturizer: You should use a moisturizer specifically designed for your face on your facial skin rather than using body lotion. Choose moisturizers that contain hyaluronic acid or glycerine, which help your skin to retain moisture. Talk to your Rockville acne expert to find products that work for you.
• Check your makeup: If you’re prone to acne, you should use oil-free, water-based makeup.
• Don’t touch your face: Every time you do, you are transferring oil, dirt, and bacteria from your hands to your face, which can increase your risk of a breakout.
• Watch out when you shave: If you’re prone to acne and you shave your face, it’s best to use an electric razor. Shave in the natural direction of your hair growth.
• Don’t pop pimples: Tempting as it may be, it will only make the situation worse, and it can leave you with ugly scars.

If you live in Rockville, MD, and you suffer from adult acne, call Shady Grove Dermatology at 240-246-7417 to schedule a consultation.

You may have moles that differ in appearance throughout your body but they are generally nothing to worry about. However, there are occasions where a mole might be a sign that you are at risk for developing skin cancer, or already have skin cancer and not even know it.

In this light, if you spot a suspicious mole or growth anywhere on your body, you can visit us here at Shady Grove Dermatology, LLC in Rockville MD so one of our dermatologists can determine whether or not you should be worried.

Are You at Risk for Developing Skin Cancer?

Most Rockville moles, as mentioned above, are often benign or noncancerous. That being said, they could likewise be warning signs of the most serious type, yet the least common, form of skin cancer—melanoma. Risk factors typically involve:

• 35 to 75 years of age
• Blonde or red hair
• Light skin
• Light-colored eyes
• Severe sun damage
• Skin cancer in the family
• Consistent use of tanning beds

What Your Moles Can Tell You

A thorough skin examination by your Rockville moles dermatologist is the most surefire way to determine whether or not you have skin cancer. The reason for this is that it could be difficult to detect the signs of skin cancer, as they’re usually subtle during its earliest stages. The following are signs you should look out for:

• Any changes and differences in your moles. Melanoma may commonly appear like normal moles. But they could be distinguished and identified by certain characteristics with the use of the “ABCDE” method, as recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation:
• Asymmetry: The halves of the mole or lesion are unequal.
• Border: The borders or edges of the mole are unclear and irregular in shape. Benign moles, on the other hand, have smoother and more even edges.
• Color: Melanoma may have various shades of brown, black, or tan. As it develops, colors like white, blue, or red may likewise surface.
• Diameter: A normal mole’s diameter should not exceed six millimeters.
• Evolving: Changes in a mole or moles and unusual patches of skin that suddenly appear should be professionally checked out.
• Changes in your fingernails or toenails. Skin cancer could also develop in those areas. They may look like dark spots or marks under your nails.
• Prevalent pimples or sores. Skin cancer can occasionally appear like a red or pink bump similar to a pimple, although this bump does not go away. Other skin cancers can cause or look like ulcers and sores that don’t seem to heal.
• Scaly patches. Likewise known as actinic keratosis, this kind of patches is a common skin cancer warning sign.
• Persistent itchiness, tenderness, or pain. Do not ignore these sensations, most especially if the area of the surrounding skin changes in appearance.
• The difference in the surface of the mole, which could include scaliness, bleeding, or the emergence of a bump or lump.

For Concerns or Questions About Suspicious Moles, Reach Out to Us

Dial (240) 246-7417 to arrange a skin exam with one of our dermatologists here at Shady Grove Dermatology, LLC in Rockville MD.