General Dermatology

Our board certified dermatologist, Dr. Lori Sanford, treats adults and children with common and rare diseases that affect the skin, hair and nails.

Before prescribing any treatment, our medical assistants take a detailed personal and family history. They will review your medication list and ask about symptoms.

Next the doctor preforms a thorough physical examination and will order the required tests or preform the needed procedure to help her arrive at the correct diagnosis.

Dr. Sanford Examining Patient

General Dermatological Conditions

  • Acne
  • Actinic keratosis
  • Autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), scleroderma, dermatomyositis and vitiligo
  • Benign growths
  • Birth marks
  • Bullous diseases or blistering diseases like bullous pemphigoid, pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceous
  • Contact dermatitis or skin allergies like poison ivy and poison oak
  • Cysts
  • Drug reactions
  • Eczema
  • Fungal Infections including ring worm and athelete’s foot
  • Herpes simplex or cold sores
  • Herpes zoster or shingles
  • Impetigo
  • Keloids
  • Moles
  • Molluscum
  • Occupational skin diseases like hand dermatitis and contact dermatitis
  • Pigmented lesions like post inflammatory hyperpigmentation or the dark spots on the skin that develops after acne
  • Psoriasis
  • Rashes
  • Rosacea
  • Scars
  • Seborrheic dermatitis
  • Sexually transmitted infections
  • Skin cancers like basal cell cancer, squamous cells cancers and melanomas
  • Skin infections caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi
  • Skin tags
  • Urticaria or hives
  • Ulcers
  • Warts
  • Dandruff
  • Hair loss conditions like hereditary hair loss which includes both male pattern and female pattern hair loss. They also treat hair loss caused by other factors like autoimmunity (alopecia areata), tight hairstyles (traction alopecia), hair products (chemical alopecia), infections (tinea capitis), stress (telogen effluvium) and scarring (central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia which is also known as hot comb alopecia).
  • Scalp conditions like psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, razor bumps (pseudofolliculitis barbae), lice, warts, itchy scalps, folliculitis and lichen planopilaris.
  • Excessive hair growth which is also known as hirsutism or hypertrichosis.
  • Fungal infections (onychomycosis)
  • Other dermatological conditions that cause discolored, thickened or disfigured nails like psoriasis, eczema, alopecia areata, malignant melanoma, ingrown nails and lichen planus.
  • Brittle nails which usually develop because of aging but can also be caused by dietary deficiencies. This nail condition can also be caused by excessively exposure of the nails to water or using nail polish which dries them.
  • Our dermatologists can sometimes tell you if your nail disorder is caused by a disease in another part of your body. Such conditions include nail clubbing which may be associated with lung disease, inflammatory bowel disease, liver cirrhosis, cardiovascular disease, cancer or HIV/AIDS. Terry’s nails or white nails can be a sign of diabetes or diseases of the liver, heart and kidney.
  • Other nail abnormalities

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    Dermatological Procedures Performed

    In addition to treating dermatological conditions our doctors at Hancock Dermatology also offer the following services:

    • Surgical removal of benign or non-cancerous growths on the skin like birth marks, moles, skin tags, warts, seborrhoeic keratosis, actinic keratosis, cutaneous horns, cysts, lipomas (fat collections), fibromas (fibrous tissue collections) and pyogenic granulomas.
    • Surgical removal of cancers including basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancers and malignant melanomas.
    • Skin biopsies are sometimes required to help make the correct diagnosis. This painless procedure involves the doctor numbing the area with the skin, hair or nail lesion and removing a small sample to send it to the laboratory.
    • Topical therapy including cryotherapy for dermatological conditions warts.
    • Systemic therapy for more severe dermatological conditions.
    • Medical photography which is taking clinical photographs to document skin findings in patients. This is done to aid making the correct diagnosis and to monitor the patient’s progress as they receive treatment.
    • Dermatoscopic evaluation of moles. This is a safe, non-invasive and painless procedure using a polarized light that is used to examine the color and symmetry or uniformity of moles. Pictures may be taken using this viewing device. Dermoscopy allows the monitoring of any suspicious features as well as any changes in the moles so that they can be treated before they become dangerous.

    General Dermatology Advice

    In addition to writing prescriptions, our skin specialists also dispense advice on how to prevent dermatological conditions:

    • Sun Protection. To reduce the risk of skin cancer and protect from UV induced skin conditions. Patients should use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a SPF of at least 30 each day. Reapplication of sunscreen should be done every 2-3 hours and after swimming. Patients should avoid the sun when the UV is the most intense which is usually between 10 am and 2pm. Sun protective clothing, especially hats, long sleeves, and sunglasses can be very helpful. Dr Sanford strongly recommends staying away from tanning beds! These recommendations should be combined with examining your skin regularly for new or changing lesions as well as keeping your appointment for your annual skin examination with our dermatologist.
    • Hair Care: Patients can help avoid hair loss by not wearing tight ponytails, hair weaves and corn rows to prevent traction alopecia. Use caution when utilizing chemical processes like coloring, bleaching, or perming your hair as these can cause a chemical alopecia. Some experts recommend eating protein rich foods like eggs, beef, beans, avocados and nuts to provide your body with the amino acids and essential fatty acids it needs to build healthy hair. Rapid weight loss, illness, or intense periods of stress can contribute to hair loss.
    • Nail advice: Seek prompt treatment for athlete’s foot and other fungal infections of the skin. Only visit nail salons that adhere to sanitation guidelines in their manicure stations and footbaths. Patients should not wear artificial nails to cover up nail problems like fungal infections or brittle nails.