Treatments
The practice deals with all diseases of the skin including hair, nail and mucosal disorders. Being in South East Queensland there is a special emphasis on the early detection and cure of malignant melanoma and other forms of skin cancer. Treatment facilities include narrow band UVB, hand and foot UVB, lasers for treating vascular and other skin lesions, iontophoresis as well as allergy patch testing. Skin surgery for melanoma, skin cancer and other skin problems is performed in the practices dedicated operating suites. Mohs micrographic surgery is available for aggressive skin cancer. We have the ability to see new patients urgently if needed.
Here is a list of services that are available at South East Dermatology. Feel free to ask your dermatologist about what may be beneficial to you. Your dermatologist will endeavour to advise you on what is appropriate to your individual needs.
Please note that by using the links in the below sections, you will be directed to external websites.
Cryotherapy is a treatment using liquid nitrogen to freeze surface skin lesions. This may be used to treat solar keratoses, viral warts or seborrhoeic keratoses as well as some superficial skin cancers.
For more information click here.
Iontophoresis is a treatment used for excessive sweating or “hyperhidrosis”. Its effect is not permanent and needs ongoing use. The iontophoresis unit can be used on hands, feet and armpits. On the recommendation of our dermatologists, a unit can be loaned for a period of 2 months for a nominal fee. This is usually enough time to determine whether the treatment is effective and patients can then purchase a unit themselves.
For more information click here.
“Axillary hyperhidrosis” is the medical term used for excessive sweating of the underarms. A certain amount of sweating is normal for everyone but when it becomes excessive, it can become a major issue.
The first recommended treatment is the use of an antiperspirant containing aluminium chloride hexahydrate that can be purchased from your local supermarket. Your pharmacy has fragrance-free antiperspirants that can be applied before bedtime which is the time when it’s likely to work best. Another treatment option is iontophoresis (see above)
For patients with severe axillary hyperhidrosis that doesn’t respond to the regular use of these antiperspirants, Medicare provides a rebate for injections for the armpits with botulinim toxin up to three times in 12 months. Although it is not a cure, it can provide a significant reduction in sweating.
For more information on botulinum toxin, click here
We have a number of medical lasers, each designed to target different problems.
The 532nm KTP laser is selectively absorbed by blood in capillaries and melanin in skin, making it an ideal laser for treating problems such as broken capillaries and facial redness associated with rosacea and solar damage.
The 1064nm Nd: YAG laser is a deeper penetrating laser which can be used for deeper vessels and laser hair removal.
The carbon dioxide laser is used for a number of problems including correction of severe solar damage on lips.
Learn more about our Nordlys IPL system.
Also known as Mohs micrographic surgery is a surgical technique for the removal of certain skin cancers by taking special horizontal sections of skin tissue and examining them under a microscope. It was created by Dr. Frederic E. Mohs (a General Surgeon) and is microscopically controlled surgery used to treat common types of skin cancer. It is one of the many methods of obtaining complete margin control during removal of a skin cancer using frozen section histology. Mohs surgery allows for the removal of a skin cancer with very narrow surgical margin and a high cure rate.
For more information click here.
UVB is light with a short wavelength that can be used to treat psoriasis and can also be helpful in treating some other conditions including dermatitis. Phototherapy can be used for psoriasis that is widespread or for areas that is resistant to topical treatment. The treatment involves standing in a light box up to three times per week. The time can range from 30 seconds to up to 5 minutes. We also have a hand and foot unit for localised involvement. During treatment, our patients usually see the dermatologist once every two months and with improvement, treatment frequency can be reduced or stopped.
For more information click here.
This non-surgical procedure is used for the treatment of superficial basal cell carcinomas and solar keratoses. It involves three simple steps:
- Simple preparation of the lesion.
- Application of a light-activated cream to the lesion. We cream we use is registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for this purpose.
- Exposure of the lesion to a special red light or sunlight (in controlled conditions).
Several lesions can be treated at the same time and side effects such as redness and crusting are generally of mild to moderate intensity and usually resolve within several days.
Treatment of solar keratoses needs a single treatment and basal cell carcinomas will need a paired treatment.
For more information click here.
Sometimes dermatitis/eczema can be caused by the immune system reacting to substances that we physically come into contact with. This is called allergic contact dermatitis. This can occur as a result of an occupation or from substances encountered every day such as fragrances, preservatives in creams and jewellery.
Patch testing can enable us to identify the cause. A range of substances can be used for patch testing. These are applied to the patient’s back as a sticky panel and worn for 48 hours before removing on the second visit when a “reading” is done. The final reading is performed on the third visit two days later. These “allergens” have been previously tested to find the best concentration to demonstrate an allergic reaction without causing irritation to those who are not allergic to the material. Patch test results can sometimes be inconclusive or misleading and further testing may be necessary to pin point the skin condition. Your dermatologist will try to determine which test allergens are most relevant to your history.
For more information click here.
Quite often simple procedures such as skin biopsies, simple excisions or curettage and cautery of skin cancers can be performed on the day of consultation. Some of our dermatologists have dedicated surgical sessions for operations which range from simple excisions to more complex procedures. We have three dedicated surgical suites for this purpose. We also have two assistant doctors who visit our practice regularly to perform additional skin cancer surgery. If there are particular needs, all of our dermatologists are more than happy to refer their patients on to selected general surgeons and plastic surgeons.
For more information click here.
Your dermatologist may decide to prescribe a cream to treat your solar damage or skin cancers if they are of the appropriate type. The process will be carefully explained by your dermatologist or our nurses and the treatment is usually supervised during its first use. These treatments can cause a temporary inflammation of the skin for a number of weeks and patients using the treatment are encouraged to contact the practice directly if there are any concerns.
South East Dermatology also conducts clinical trials for different skin problems and treatments. Your dermatologist will discuss this with you if you were eligible for the study and if you decide to participate; this will incur no extra cost to you.
For more information on the different topical therapies available, click here.