#1 Cosmetic Derm Laguna Beach, CA | Coast Dermatology & Laser - Glenn Goldberg

Coast Dermatology & Laser Surgery Center is located in Laguna Beach, CA servicing Laguna Niguel and Dana Point. Contact us for your next appointment

Medical Dermatology

Hyperpigmentation

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What Is Hyperpigmentation?

Hyperpigmentation is a common skin condition in which patches of skin become darker in some areas than the surrounding skin.   The skin darkening is a result of excess melanin forming deposits in the skin. This skin condition can affect the skin color of individuals of any race.

There are many different forms of hyperpigmentation, which may include:

  • Age or Liver Spots– this form of hyperpigmentation is common and is a result of sun damage. These small, dark patches are typically found on the hands and face.
  • Melasma or Chloasma Spots– these spots appear as similar to that of age spots, but usually affect larger areas of the skin. The skin becomes darkened as a result of hormonal changes, which can happen during pregnancy or as a side effect of taking birth control.
  • Outside Causes Leading to Hyperpigmentation- there are many conditions that cause certain areas of the skin to darken. Acne, freckles, and exposure to the sun can all lead to darker skin areas.

Hyperpigmentation Treatments

During a consultation with Dr. Glenn Goldberg at our Orange County office, your hyperpigmentation treatment options will be discussed. Dr. Goldberg has developed an exclusive line of skin care products that even the skin’s pigmentation while creating a more youthful appearance. After the dermatology examination a custom topical treatment plan, created from skin products only available in our Laguna Beach office, will be prescribed. Additionally, for more stubborn pigmentation issues a series of light pigment peels can be applied. Intense pulsed light lasers such as the Alma AFT Laser are used in the most severe cases. Dr. Goldberg is skilled at improving the health of your skin, evening its pigmentation to restore your self-confidence and well being.

Hyperpigmentation in Laguna Beach, CA

To find out more information about Dr. Glenn Goldberg and Coast Dermatology and Laser Surgery Center in Laguna Beach, CA, please contact our office today. We will answer all of your questions about our hyperpigmentation treatment options and help you to understand the treatment process.

Dr. Glenn Goldberg is a Board-Certified dermatologist with over 20 years of experience. To learn more about how you can address your hyperpigmentation quickly, safely, and effectively, contact us at 949-499-1389 today.

Mohs Micrographic Surgery

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About Mohs Micrographic Surgery

What is it?

Developed in the 1930s by Dr. Frederick Mohs, Mohs micrographic surgery is an extremely effective treatment for a variety of skin cancers. Due to its accuracy, high success rate, and cosmetically appropriate outcomes, Mohs remains the gold standard for skin cancer removal. The surgical specialists at our center are highly trained to perform this precise surgery with skill and technique refined through years of experience and study.

What to Expect

We are fortunate to have a large team of Mohs surgeons on our staff who have devoted all their attention to treating skin cancer patients. These specialists can remove all vestiges of the tumor so you can have your life back and live it to the fullest. With Mohs, elimination of a tumor is precise and success is immediate and long-lasting. Under the expert guidance of our surgeons, Mohs surgery can provide complete tumor removal, including cancerous cells that are unseen (and therefore left behind) during other skin cancer removal procedures. Once skin cancer has been eliminated from your tissues, treatment is complete and you’ll be 100% cancer-free, with no estimation or uncertainty.

After the Procedure

The Mohs procedure has a proven high success rate (studies have shown 5-year cure rates of over 99% for new cancers) and grants patients quicker recovery times (2-4 weeks) than other skin cancer procedures.

Providers

Our Approach & Expertise

We know that the physical and psychological impact of skin cancer can be traumatic and painful. As your community skin cancer experts, we’re here to provide you with encouragement, strength, and answers to any questions you may have about the condition. We’ll be with you every step of the way, from diagnosis to treatment and finally aftercare and recovery. We’ll remain an integral part of your inner circle of support throughout the process, as even for completely cancer-free patients, apprehension and emotional scars can still persist.
Healthy skin is our passion, so contact us today to learn more about Mohs micrographic surgery and how it can successfully treat your skin cancer.

Skin Cancer Prevention

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Reducing Skin Cancer Risks

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, over 3.5 million nonmelanoma skin cancers in over 2 million individuals are diagnosed each year in the United States alone. By 2015, it is projected that one in 50 Americans will develop melanoma during the course of a lifetime.

At our Laguna Beach dermatology office, Dr. Glenn Goldberg offers unparalleled surgical procedures to address skin cancers, such as the Mohs surgery. However, at Coast Dermatology and Laser Surgery Center, we encourage preventative methods to avoid the need for skin cancer surgery.

Ultraviolet (UV) rays reflect off of surfaces including water, cement, sand, and snow. As a result, it is crucial to protect yourself from UV radiation throughout every season, not just the summer. Typically, the hours of 10am and 4pm yield the greatest UV exposure outdoors in the continental United States.

Some recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for UV radiation protection include:

  • Wear clothing that covers your whole body, including arms and legs
  • Wear a hat to shield the face, head, ears, and neck
  • Wear sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays
  • Wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or greater. In addition, make sure your sunscreen offers both UVA and UVB protection
  • Avoid indoor tanning as it exposes users to greater UV radiation
  • Remain in the shade, especially during peak UV exposure hours

During a consultation with Dr. Glenn Goldberg at our Laguna Beach office, you can learn about more ways to protect yourself from UV radiation.

Dr. Goldberg and his team will educate you on self-examination of the skin and clinical signs of skin cancer. Self-examination is your first line of defense.

In addition, Dr. Goldberg will discuss additional early intervention methods to address photo damaged skin and precancerous skin conditions. Coast Dermatology offers a variety of photo rejuvenation and sun protection products.

Skin cancer is almost always curable if detected early. To learn more about how you can protect yourself from skin cancer, contact us today at 949-499-1389.

Rosacea

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About Rosacea

What is it?

Rosacea is characterized by persistent skin redness, the prominence of blood vessels, blotchiness, and reddish bumps or pimples on the face; it’s as if you have the inclination to blush or flush quickly and without reason. In particular, it commonly develops in the cheeks, chin, nose, forehead, ears, and neck.

What causes it?

The exact causes of rosacea are unknown, although genetics, problem blood vessels, and irregular immune system function are thought to contribute. There are, however, known common triggers that you should avoid, such as sun exposure, alcohol, spicy foods, and hot liquids.

Common treatments

There is no outright “cure” for rosacea and it is often unpredictable; even if you avoid triggers and follow a treatment plan that eliminates the symptoms, it can return without warning. However, the skin experts at our dermatology practice can help you manage the condition by minimizing symptoms as much as possible. For milder cases, topical medications can reduce redness while oral medications can shrink bumps and pimples. For more severe symptoms, laser or IPL (intense pulsed light) therapy is effective for improving blood vessels and/or reducing blushing and flushing.

Providers

Our approach & expertise

We understand the effects that rosacea can have on you, both physically and psychologically, due to characteristics that make you feel self-conscious. As your neighborhood skin experts, we have the experience and knowledge to provide support and encouragement as well as answer questions you may have about this bothersome skin issue. Because you always have a say in your treatment, we provide customized solutions to meet your needs and goals. We’re beside you every step of the way, addressing your concerns with advice and after-care guidance.
Contact an office today if you notice rosacea characteristics so that we can help you combat this condition.

Skin Cancer / MOHS Surgery

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Mohs Surgery to Address Skin Cancer

Mohs surgery is the most effective procedure used to remove skin cancers, the most common of which are squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell carcinomas. In fact, the Skin Cancer Foundation reports cure rates of 98% or greater with Mohs surgery.

With advanced fellowship training in Mohs surgery at a nationally respected institution, board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Kevin Patel, operating out of Laguna Beach, CA, is at the forefront of performing these medical dermatology procedures.

What is Mohs Surgery?

Mohs surgery allows your surgeon to examine excised tissue under the microscope during the procedure, instead of afterward like other types of skin cancer treatment.

This critical procedural difference allows for small, thin layers to be removed and studied under a microscope to evaluate if cancer cells are present.

Once a layer is reached where the margins of the tissue are cancer-free, the surgery is complete. This eliminates any guesswork in the skin cancer removal process, which generates unparalleled therapeutic and cosmetic results for each patient. To learn more about Mohs surgery, please visit ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

By saving almost all normal, non-cancerous tissue during the process, repairing the area with facial plastic reconstruction produces far better results. Dr. Kevin Patel is an expert in facial plastic reconstruction following skin cancer removal and provides the highest quality cosmetic results.

What Skin Cancers Can Mohs Surgery Treat?

Mohs surgery is most commonly used to treat basal and squamous cell carcinomas and may be the preferred method in the following situations:

  • When a tissue-sparing procedure is needed to maintain healthy tissue for both aesthetic and functional purposes near the eyelids, ears, fingers, nose, lips, toes, and genitals
  • To remove large tumors, skin lesions with irregular borders, or skin cancer on the face
  • Treating a cancer that is at high risk for recurrence
  • Cancer that presents in an area with scar tissue
  • Cancer that is growing very quickly and uncontrollably

As a member of the American College of Mohs Surgery, Dr. Kevin Patel is passionate about delivering outstanding results with this procedure. His skill in removing tumors and providing a cosmetically acceptable result regularly exceeds patient expectations.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Kevin Patel at Coast Dermatology & Laser Surgery Center in Laguna Beach, CA, please contact us at (949) 499-1389.

What Can I Expect During My Treatment?

A Mohs surgeon performs this procedure step by step during a single office visit:

Step 1: We will numb the skin by injecting an anesthetic. This allows you to be awake throughout the surgery.

Step 2: Once the treatment area is numb, Dr. Patel will remove a very thin layer of tissue from the site for examination.

Step 3: Dr. Patel will study the tissue under a microscope to identify cancer cells within the sample.

Step 4: If Dr. Patel finds cancer during his analysis, he will remove another thin layer of tissue from the same site.

Step 5: The process continues until there is a sample in which no cancer cells are detected. At this point, Dr. Patel will determine the best way to close the wound to ensure the best possible cosmetic result.

How Long Does Mohs Surgery Take?

Mohs surgery is an unpredictable treatment in terms of time. Most patients will be finished with the procedure in less than four hours. However, some patients may take longer—even all day in some cases. We will instruct you to prepare to be at our office for several hours in case your procedure does take that long.

The good news about Mohs surgery is that you will know the results of your procedure when you leave our Laguna Beach office that day. Since Dr. Patel serves as both surgeon and pathologist during this treatment, he will ensure the cancer is fully eradicated from the treatment site before releasing you to go home.

What is the Recovery Plan?

The primary focus after Mohs surgery is to care for the wound to reduce the risk for complications like infection and ensure the best possible cosmetic result. Dr. Patel will bandage the site, which should remain for the first 24-48 hours. We will give you instructions on when you may remove the bandage and how to treat your wound when you do.

Ice packs are helpful in managing post-treatment swelling, and we will prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection during the early days of healing.

You may feel tired for a few days after your treatment. We recommend avoiding strenuous activities for the first several days. If you have sutures after your procedure, we will remove them after a week or two. You may not fully heal from the wound for 4-6 weeks, while the scar forms and continues to heal for up to a year.

How Effective is Mohs Surgery ?

Mohs surgery is considered the most effective way for treating some types of skin cancer, with a 99% success rate and the highest potential for a full recovery.

The procedure is favored even when the skin cancer has been previously treated through another method and has recurred.

Contact a Dermatologist to Learn More about Mohs Surgery

To learn more about our Mohs surgery at Coast Dermatology and Laser Surgery Center, please schedule a consultation with board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Kevin Patel at our Laguna Beach office. We are here to answer your questions.