Ablative: When in reference to cosmetic lasers, ablative lasers remove the outermost layer of skin during treatment.
Accutane: Isotretinoin that is prescribed to treat very severe cases of nodular acne that will not respond to other treatments.
Acne: A common skin condition originating from problems in the sebaceous glands; characterized by pimples and comedones, commonly on the face, back, and chest, which in severe cases can result in scarring.
Acne Scar Excision: Surgical technique used to individually remove acne scars.
Acne Scarring:areas of fibrous tissue that forms in response to acne. Commonly occurs with very intense acne, such as cysts and nodules.
Actinic Keratosis: A skin condition that is believed to be a precursor to certain types of skin cancer and is marked by thick, scaly patches of skin that can eventually grow to be bumpy, tough, and wart-like.
Adipose Tissue: Also known as fat, loose connective tissue made of cells called adipocytes.
Age spots: Flat, gray, brown or black spots, also called liver spots, that develop with advancing age and are most common in sun exposed areas.
AlexTriVantage™ Laser: Laser that treats isolated areas of pigmentation such as tattoos, freckles, melasma, Dermal Nevi, and other birthmarks without damaging surrounding tissue.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis: Type of contact eczema, characterized by inflamed, irritated, or itchy patches of skin that is caused by allergens such as poison ivy. Allergic contact dermatitis can cause the skin to react with an inflammatory response with or without direct contact.
Allumera®: A topical photodynamic cream that works with light therapy to help patients achieve a clearer, brighter complexion.
Alopecia: General term for baldness or hair loss resulting from various causes, such as: heredity, hormonal imbalance, certain diseases, drugs, and certain hair treatments.
Alopecia Androgenetic: Hereditary hair loss or baldness, also known as female-patterned baldness and male-patterned baldness.
Alopecia Areata: Disease in which the body form antibodies against its own follicles causing sudden hair loss in smooth, circular areas on the scalp, beard, or eyebrows. This type of alopecia can be the result of stress, genetics, or immune system deficiencies.
Alopecia Totalis: Total hair loss from the scalp as a result of alopecia areata or similar condition.
Alopecia Universalis: Condition in which a person completely loses their hair either all at once, or within a short period of time.
Anesthesia: Combination of intravenous drugs injected to eliminate feeling and pain during medical procedures. General anesthesia or local anesthesia may be used depending on the extent of the procedure.
Angiomas: A benign growth made up of small blood vessels. Cherry angiomas are known as cherry red moles.
Antibiotics: Chemical substance in the form of an oral medication or topical solution that inhibits the growth of and/or kills bacteria. Our physicians often prescribe antibiotics derived from erythromycin and tetracycline to regulate acne.
Athlete’s Foot: Also known as tinea pedis, athlete’s foot is caused by a fungus called Trichophyton and is characterized by itching, scaling, flaking, and redness of the skin in the affected area.
Atopic Dermatitis: Type of eczema, or skin condition characterized by inflamed, irritated, or itchy patches of skin. This dermatitis is believed to be caused by genetics, environmental effects, the skin cell renewal process, or an overactive immune system. Commonly referred to as atopic eczema.
Atopic Eczema: See atopic dermatitis.
Autologous Fat Transplantation: Utilizes injections of a purified version of an individual’s own body fat to increase an area’s volume, usually in the face.
Axillary Hyperhidrosis: excessive sweating of the underarms.
Basal cell carcinoma: An early stage, easily treatable form of skin cancer that usually appears in the form of raised, smooth, pearly bumps around the head, neck, or shoulder areas — resembling a sore, but failing to heal.
Benzoyl Peroxide: The active ingredient in many over-the-counter acne medicines, this oxygen-releasing chemical works to kill acne-causing bacteria.
Biopsy: A medical test involving the excision or removal of cells or tissue for examination and more accurate diagnosis. Biopsy is used in the diagnosis of skin cancer.
Blackhead: Type of acne that forms a plug when the body produces too much sebum.
Body Mass Index (BMI): A number calculated from a patient’s weight and height, used to provide a general calculation of total body fat, though not always accurate.
Café-au-lait birthmarks: Pigmented birthmarks of irregular and varying shapes and sizes that are light brown in color.
Cellulite: Subcutaneous fat deposits that give skin an uneven, bumpy texture. Usually found on the legs, buttocks, and hips.
Chemical peel: A skin care treatment to repair damaged facial skin by application of a chemical solution to remove the damaged outer skin layers.
Collagen: The main protein in animals and humans; can be isolated and used in facial fillers to smooth out wrinkles and add volume to the lips.
Comedogenesis: The clogging of pores.
Complexion: The overall appearance, tone, and texture of the skin.
Contact Dermatitis: Type of eczema, characterized by inflamed, irritated, or itchy patches of skin, that is caused by exposure to chemical substances (irritant contact dermatitis) or allergens (allergic contact dermatitis) that induce an inflammatory response with or without direct contact. Commonly referred to as contact eczema.
Contact Eczema: See contact dermatitis.
CoolSculpting®: Non-surgical fat reduction procedure which uses cold temperatures applied to unwanted, isolated areas of fat to evoke the body’s natural inflammatory response. Upon CoolSculpting treatment, the body will slowly dispose of the effected fat cells resulting in noticeable inch loss from the abdomen, hips, or thighs.
Cryosurgery: Skin cancer treatment with applies targeted liquid nitrogen to remove cancerous growths or pre-cancers (actinic keratosis).
Cryolipo: See Cryolipolysis.
Cryolipolysis: process during which the body’s lymphatic system disposes of the contents within unwanted fat cells through the application of well controlled, extreme cold. Also known as Cryolipo, this process is the driving change in reducing fat during Coolsculpting™ by Zeltiq™ treatment
Cystic Acne: Most severe type of acne, appearing as large, round bumps beneath the skin’s surface that only respond to intense treatment. Cysts are more likely to produce acne scarring than other forms of acne because they are filled with pus and often become infected.
Deep Chemical Peel: The most severe grade of chemical peel, containing phenol, and used to treat wrinkles, uneven pigmentation, blemishes, sun damaged skin and occasionally pre-cancerous growths on the face.
Dermabrasion: Performed under local anesthesia, this exfoliation method regenerates the skin’s surface via controlled abrasion that penetrates much deeper than microdermabrasion to remove skin imperfections, especially acne scarring.
Dermal roller: A roller device with a handle in which the roller is covered in small needles for needle dermabrasion treatments. Creates unnecessary epidermal damage due to the rolling nature which pulls out skin upon the needle’s exit.
Dermal Temperature Control: Unique feature of Exilis technology that controls the device’s temperature, keeps track of the skin’s temperature, and allows a technician to adjust the device setting for enhanced results.
Dermapen®: A device that safely and effective helps to increase collagen and elastic production to help eliminate wrinkles, scars, and stretch marks.
Dermatology: A specialized field of medicine dealing with the treatment of the skin, scalp, hair, and nails and associated diseases.
Dermatitis: Inflammation of the skin, otherwise known as a rash.
Dermis: The layer of skin cells under the epidermis that contains blood vessels, hair follicles, and sweat and sebaceous glands.
DualSculpting: Dual CoolSculpting® treatments. With two CoolSculpting machines, patients can receive treatment on two areas at once to decrease treatment time.
Eczema: A skin disease or inflammation of the epidermis characterized by skin dryness, rashes, redness, swelling, itching, crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing, or bleeding.
Electrolysis: A method of hair removal using a needle, which is inserted into the hair follicle and sends a current of electricity into each individual follicle to destroy its growth. Unlike laser hair removal, electrolysis is effective for light and gray colored hair.
Energy Flow Control: Unique feature of Exilis technology that controls how much energy or power is released by the device. This advanced feature eliminates unpredictable power peaks that could damage a patient’s skin.
Ephelides: Freckles that appear in response to sun exposure and fade with time (usually light brown or tan).
Epidermis: The outermost layer of cells that make up human skin; made up of squamous cells and basal cells.
EpiLight: Intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment used in laser hair removal of unwanted face and body hair. Like most hair removal lasers, EpiLight requires several treatment sessions for optimal results.
Epinephrine: Hormone that is secreted into the bloodstream in response to stress or fear. This hormone is used in surgery as a heart stimulant, vasoconstrictor, and bronchial relaxant.
Excimer laser: psoriasis laser treatment that targets specific areas of psoriasis effected skin with a concentrated beam of UV light.
Exfoliation: The use of scrubs or microdermabrasion techniques to eliminate dead and damaged cells from the surface of the skin.
Exilis: Non-invasive fat reduction technology that uses the power of monopolar radiofrequency to breakdown fat cells and boost collagen production.
Facial: A facial cleansing spa treatment (commonly involving deep pore extractions) that exfoliates and nourishes the face to promote skin health.
Facial fillers: Also referred to as dermal fillers or injectables, facial fillers are injections of solution (usually containing collagen and/or hyaluronic acid) that is administered into specific areas of the face, most commonly for the treatment of wrinkles and lip augmentation.
Facial rejuvenation: Refers to procedures and services used to rejuvenate the youthfulness and look of the face, commonly involving wrinkle removing injectables.
Fat Transfer: Surgical procedure that removes fat cells from one area of the body for re-injection back into another area to re-plump areas thinned from age.
Female pattern baldness (FPB): A pattern of baldness found in females and characterized by hair loss or hair thinning in a rectangular pattern at the front of the scalp. Female pattern baldness develops more slowly than male pattern baldness.
Folliculitis: An infection of the hair follicles by bacteria, viruses or fungi resulting in itchy and/or painful bumps in and around your hair follicles.
Foto Facial®: Facial rejuvenation treatment which emits intense pulses of laser light to penetrate the skin’s layers and minimize the appearance of rosacea symptoms and unsightly, broken facial veins and capillaries.
Fraxel Re:store™ Laser: Laser treatment that produces thousands of deep, small columns of microthermal treatment zones to treat wrinkles, age/sun spots, melasma, undesirable skin texture , and acne scarring while keeping the surrounding, healthy skin intact.
Freckles: Areas of concentrated melanin that appear as flat, dark spots on the skin’s surface..
General Anesthesia: Combination of intravenous medications injected to induce unconsciousness during surgery and eliminate pain.
GentleLase: Long, pulsed dye laser used by Skin Medics™ Medical Spa for long lasting laser hair removal.
Gentlewave Laser: A yellow light source laser to aid in healing.
GentleYAG™ Laser: A non-ablative laser treatment for fine lines, wrinkles, deep blue veins on the face, and skin tightening.
Glycolic acid: mild chemical solution applied topically during a chemical peel to exfoliate dead skin cells contributing to acne and the appearance of acne scarring.
Gynecomastia: A cosmetic condition in which men suffer from an over-enlargement of glandular and fatty tissue in the breast area.
Hair Restoration: A surgical or non-surgical medical treatment used to regrow or replace hair in balding areas. Hair restoration options include: hair transplantation surgery, topical medications like Finestride or Minoxodil, or pharmacist compounded herbal supplements.
Hand Sanding: Advanced form of dermabrasion used for acne scarring treatments that is safe for all skin types.
Hemangiomas (red spots): Also known as red spots, hemangomas are red birthmarks, usually benign, that diminish in appearance over time.
HGM Krypton Laser: Laser for the treatment of small facial veins, small angiomas, brown and red freckles.
Hives: Medically referred to as Urticaria, hives appear as itchy, raised red and white patches of skin. They usually occur when an allergic reaction causes the body to release a compound called histamine.
Hyaluronic acid: Found in cosmetic injections to temporarily smooth wrinkles or plumping lips by adding volume under the skin.
Hyperpigmentation: Areas of concentrated skin color in which the surrounding tissue is lighter. Hyperpigmentation can be caused by sun exposure, hormone fluctuations, and certain medications.
IPL Treatment: Cosmetic laser treatment which utilizes intense pulsed light to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles, unwanted facial veins, and vascular lesions. Technology used in Foto Facial® treatments.
Irritant Contact Dermatitis: Type of contact eczema, characterized by inflamed, irritated, or itchy patches of skin that is believed to be caused by substances such as chemicals, soap, or laundry detergent that induce an inflammatory response.
Isolaz™: FDA approved laser treatment that reduces the appearance of acne, uneven skin tone, sun damage, veins, and unwanted facial hair with a suction that cleans and light therapy that heals. Treatment is safe for all skin types and requires no down time.
Keloid scars: Raised scars that are smooth, irregularly shaped, and purple or pinkish in color and form over a healed skin injury. Keloid scars are progressive and tend to enlarge with time so treatment is often required.
Keratin: A fibrous protein found in hair, skin, and nails
Keratosis Pilaris: : Pre-cancer marked by a bumpy, chicken-skin like, texture around the hair follicles of sun exposed skin.
Laser hair removal: The use of a hand-held laser device to emit light energy beams into hair follicles, destroying growth and ultimately removing unwanted hair.
Laser skin resurfacing: A laser treatment that directs short, concentrated pulses of light to the skin, removing damaged skin cells and improving the look of wrinkles, sun damage, acne scars, and blemishes.
Laser vein removal: The use of laser and light therapy to reduce the look of unwanted veins.
Latisse®: The only FDA approved prescription treatment for fuller, darker, and longer eyelashes.
LED Light Therapy: Light emitting diodes (LED) kill bacteria and dry excess oil to reduce appearance of acne through red and blue wavelengths of light. Appropriate for a variety of skin types.
Lidocaine: Local anesthetic used to numb the sensation of pain during smaller surgical procedures such as dermal injections.
Lipolysis: A biological process during which fat cells are broken down.
Liver Spots: Areas of concentrated melanin that occur due to sun exposure, also known as age spots, solar lentigines, and sun spots.
Male pattern baldness (MPB): Genetically linked balding in men exhibited by thinning and eventual balding of hair on the crown, sides, or front of the scalp. The most common form of hair loss, male pattern baldness can often be treated with topical Finestride (Propecia®) if symptoms have just appeared.
Medium Chemical Peel: A moderate grade chemical peel, usually composed of trichloroacetic acid (TCA), to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and smooth the tone and texture of the skin.
Medlite® IV YAG Laser: Laser primarily used for tattoo removal by breaking up the ink into small particles that are naturally absorbed into the skin.
Melanin: Pigmentation found in skin. Sun exposure increases melanin production, yielding a tanned appearance.
Melanocytes: Cells at the base of the epidermis that produce melanin. If melanocytes do not regulate melanin properly, age spots or freckles can occur.
Melanoma: The most serious and dangerous type of skin cancer; usually appearing as a dark, either brown or black, lesion.
Melasma: Discolored, dark, irregular patches of skin on the face, most commonly in women and pregnant women.
Micro Cannulas: Extremely thin metal tubes used to precisely remove fat from confined areas.
Microdermabraison: A popular skin treatment where the damaged, outermost layer of the skin is partially or completely removed by light abrasion; used in the treatment of sun-damaged skin, age spots, and acne/acne scarring.
Mohs Skin Cancer Surgery: Skin cancer removal procedure during which a dermatologist carefully excises cancerous tissue layer by layer to avoid harm to the surrounding skin.
miraDry: a non invasive, microwave treatment for excessive underarm sweating.
Mongolia Spots: A congenital birthmark, large, flat, and blueish-gray in appearance, found on infants, which tends to disappear with age.
Nail Fungus: A fungal infection in one or more of your fingernails or toenails, often causing discoloration, thickening, crumbling edges, unsightly appearance, and/or discomfort.
Nasolabial Folds: Wrinkles that look like parenthesis running from the sides of the nose and around the mouth that form in response to repeated facial expressions (smiling) and/or aging. The appearance of nasolabial folds can be reduced through facial filler treatment, laser skin resurfacing, or fat transfer procedures.
Natural Growth Factors: Growth factors extracted from a patient’s own blood that can be used to stimulate soft tissue and bone healing.
Needling: Acne scarring treatment that uses tiny needles to break up scar tissue and promote collagen growth.
Nevus of OTA: A blue or gray patch of skin on the face, most commonly occurring in women.
Nodules: Severe form of acne that looks like large, round bumps beneath the skin’s surface. Caused by whiteheads that become severely inflamed, nodules only respond to intense treatment and may cause acne scarring.
Non ablative: When in reference to cosmetic lasers, non ablative lasers leave the outermost layer of skin intact during treatment.
Perfecta™ Laser: Micropulse laser technology used to treat the flushing and redness associated with Rosacea, port wine stain birthmarks, facial veins, hemangioma, angioma, venous lakes, and poikiloderma.
PHAROS EX-308 Excimer Laser: A laser light procedure that targets the specific areas of the skin with a concentrated beam of UV light in the treatment of psoriasis.
Photoaging: Damage incurred by the skin as a result of overexposure to UV radiation that often accelerates the aging process causing wrinkles, dark spots, broken blood vessels, and even skin cancer.
Photodynamic Therapy: Basal and squamous cell skin cancer treatment that injects a photosynthesizing agent activated by laser light to eliminate the cancerous tissues.
Poikiloderma: Lesions caused from sun damage over time and marked by reddish-brown discolorations.
Port wine stains: A birthmark consisting of capillaries in the skin and resulting in a “port wine” or reddish/purplish colored spot on the skin.
Post partum hair loss: Condition in which women who have recently given birth may notice increased hair loss due to the hair maintained by the slowed hair shedding cycle during pregnancy.
Prescription Compounds Compounds customized with medical grade active ingredients and prescribed to regulate skin conditions.
Propecia®: Brand name for topical medication Finestride proven to regrow hair on the scalps of balding men with regular application.
Psoriasis: A chronic, treatable yet incurable disease affecting the skin and scalp that commonly causes red, scaly patches to appear on the skin.
Punch Grafting: An acne scarring treatment technique that uses small skin grafts to replace acne scars.
RD-1200™ Ruby (QSR) Laser: Laser treatment used to remove freckles, brown sun spots, café-au-lait, Nevus of OTA birthmarks, and tattoos containing green, blue, and brown ink.
Retinoid: Type of chemical that is derived from vitamin A (oral or topical) to regulate mild to moderate acne by unclogging pores and preventing future breakouts.
Rosacea: Skin condition marked by reddish pink, bumpy patches of skin, raised puss filled bumps, or inflamed blood vessels. Rosacea commonly occurs on or around the nose, cheeks, eyelids, chin, and forehead. Occasionally, the condition will become visible on the neck or chest.
Salicylic Acid: Beta hydroxyl acid, commonly found in over-the-counter acne medicines, penetrates through the follicle and clears it of dead cells and other acne-causing debris.
Sclero-Plus™ Laser: A variable wavelength, pulsed dye laser for the treatments of warts and scars.
Sclerotherapy: A method of vein removal where a solution or sclerosing agent is injected into the targeted veins, cause them to shrink in size and appearance.
Sebaceous gland: Microscopic glands within the skin that secretes sebum, or oil. Problems with the sebaceous glands can be the cause of acne.
Seborrheic Keratosis: Treatable, non-cancerous skin growths that often develop with advancing age.
Sebum: an oily substance that’s secreted by sebaceous glands to prevent the skin from over-drying. An over-production of sebum can cause acne.
Skin Cancer: A cancerous skin growth, most commonly caused by sun damage, which generally develops on the outermost layer of skin (the epidermis). The three types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
Skin Cancer Body Check: Annual physical evaluation of sun-exposed areas of the skin by a board certified dermatologist to ensure that no cancer is present or to begin a skin cancer treatment plan.
Skin Cancer Screening: Please see “Skin Cancer Body Check”
Skin Type: A categorization system that determines your skin’s characteristics and can be used to choose a skincare regimen.
Smoothbeam™ Laser: Laser technology used to treat acne, improve the look of acne scars, reduce skin oil, and stimulate natural skin collagen growth by targeting the sebaceous glands.
Société: A line of skincare products and peels formulated with your skin and the environment in mind.
Solar Letigines: Areas of concentrated melanin that occur due to sun exposure, also known as age spots, liver spots or sun spots.
Subcisions: Acne scar procedure for depressed and dimpled skin which uses a small blade to make incisions that cut fibrous scarring to promote wound healing for a smoother appearance.
SPF: Sun Protection Factor or measure of how long an individual can stay in the sun not wearing sunscreen without burning (approximately 10 minutes) versus how long an individual can stay in the sun while wearing sunscreen without burning. Sunscreen with 30 SPF means you can remain in the sun for approximately 300 minutes without burning.
Spider veins: Veins that are small in size and blueish, redish, or purplish in color; spider veins easily visible through the skin and commonly found on the legs and face.
Squamous cell carcinoma: An early stage, easily treatable form of skin cancer marked by red, scaling, thickening patches of skin in sun-exposed areas.
Stretch marks: The off-color scarring of skin as a result of rapid growth and/or stretching of the skin in that area.
Superficial Chemical Peel: The mildest available type of chemical peel usually composed of alphahydroxy acids, to refresh the look of the skin.
Sunburn: Red, painful skin after prolonged exposure to the sun; sunburn can increase risk of skin cancer and skin damage.
Sunspots: as of concentrated melanin that occur due to sun exposure, also known as age spots, liver spots or solar lentigines.
Sun Poisoning: An extreme case of sunburn characterized by skin redness and blistering, extreme pain, and swelling.
Syringomas: Non-cancerous tumors that are small, hard, and skin-colored or yellowish in appearance and form most commonly around the eyes.
Tattoos: Pigmented ink of vegetable or mineral origin injected underneath the skin for long-lasting decoration of the body. Because of the ink’s internal location, only laser tattoo removal can reduce the appearance of the markings.
Topical Chemotherapy:Prescribed cream or lotion used to destroy cancerous basal and squamous cells within the skin with regular application.
Traction Alopecia (Traction Loss): Hair loss due to traction placed on the hair usually in braids, ponytails, or other hairstyles that place constant tension on the scalp.
Ulthera®: A non-surgical ultrasound treatment used to help tighten and firm loose skin around the neck and chin.
Ultrafine™ Erbium Laser: A cold ablation resurfacing laser used to flatten and smooth raised edges of scars, syringomas, and raised moles.
Ultrapulse 5000C CO2 Laser: Laser treatment for facial skin resurfacing to improve the look of wrinkles, fine lines, scars, brown spots, and benign skin irregularities.
Ultraviolet (UV) Light: Electromagnetic radiation emitted from the sun and not visible to the human eye. Overexposure to UV radiation can cause sunburn, photoaging, and even skin cancer.
Ultraviolet rays (UV rays): Invisible radiation from the sun that cannot be seen by the human eye. UV-A rays promote plant life, while UV-B rays can cause sunburn and skin cancer and can accelerate premature skin aging.
Varicose veins: Large raised and/or swollen blood vessels that are visible through the skin and are commonly found on the legs.
Vein stripping: Also referred to as vein ligation, vein stripping is the surgical removal of unwanted veins. Modern techniques, including slerotherapy, are often preferred over vein stripping because it requires general anesthesia and can be painful.
Vein Treatment: Treatment of unsightly varicose and superficial telangiectasias (spider) veins consists of sclerotherapy, laser treatment, or Veinwave™ to reduce and remove the appearance of these veins.
Venous lakes: Spots characterized by a dark blue or purplish color commonly found in sun exposed areas of the elderly.
Warts: A small, rough nodule, bump, or tumor most commonly found on the hands.
Whitehead: small bumps just beneath the skin’s surface that occur when a hair follicle becomes completely blocked by sebum or bacteria growth.
ZELTIQ: See CoolSculpting®
