Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology What Is Dermatology? Recently, I received a very confusing message from one of the readers, I assume not a patient. This reader claimed that my column has been published every day, which is not the case. It is written and published once a week. The message also said that I must be a bad doctor, because I make patients come back more than once, which, in the words of the reader, means that I am not a good doctor as good doctors CURE patients and patients do not need to come back. And, it added, I treat just skin, so it should not be a big deal. I accept and respond to all the messaging, but this one gave me more thoughts and this column is an opportunity to come back to the most important educational message from me. So, first of all, like in every specialty, dermatology deals with acute and chronic diseases. Acute skin problems may be a reaction to some chemical in the form of a rash and, yes, those can be treated once and, with elimination of the chemical, they can 'cure'the problem. However, skin cancer cannot be eliminated with one visit. If you have basal cell or squamous cell cancer, depending on the size, depth, and severity, you may need a more extensive surgery, and this will not happen on the first visit. Secondly, people with these skin cancers tend to be older and more than likely will have another location for a similar skin cancer that needs to be treated. Doctors, including myself, must follow medical standard of care, which is sort of a bible for medicine, and the recommendation is to see patients with skin cancer every 6 months in order to evaluate their skin and identify early stages of cancer. Early intervention works. And finally, outside of skin cancer, 75% of skin related diseases DO NOT originate in skin. Skin is just a body's delivery method to say that something is wrong and show through the skin symptoms. Those problems originate in the immune system that happen to have outlets in the middle layer of skin. Psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, Dama eczema and many more are immune disorders that have NO CURE. They can be successfully controlled but they also must be monitored. If you tell any of my psoriasis patients that this is JUST skin, they will get very upset. Patients with chronic immune system disorders showing symptomatically through the skin suffer with no treatment. They really suffer. Physically and psychologically. They want to come back. They know to come back, because they were educated by myself and my staff on how to make sure they show no signs of psoriasis, but also that they are safe and monitored for any other health changes, possibly due to long-term use of psoriasis-controlling medication. And they are grateful we take care of them. No medical specialty stands alone these days. Dermatology is not JUST SKIN. It is your whole body. Immuneology and genetics entered all other specialties, probably more than 20 years ago. This is when we became involved in clinical research ourselves. We are lucky to have access to the most accurate and novel education and medical technology. If you are the reader and you do not know any of it, it is probably time for you to learn. You can do it by calling or coming in. We will not charge you if this is all you need. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology What Is Dermatology ? Recently , I received a very confusing message from one of the readers , I assume not a patient . This reader claimed that my column has been published every day , which is not the case . It is written and published once a week . The message also said that I must be a bad doctor , because I make patients come back more than once , which , in the words of the reader , means that I am not a good doctor as good doctors CURE patients and patients do not need to come back . And , it added , I treat just skin , so it should not be a big deal . I accept and respond to all the messaging , but this one gave me more thoughts and this column is an opportunity to come back to the most important educational message from me . So , first of all , like in every specialty , dermatology deals with acute and chronic diseases . Acute skin problems may be a reaction to some chemical in the form of a rash and , yes , those can be treated once and , with elimination of the chemical , they can ' cure'the problem . However , skin cancer cannot be eliminated with one visit . If you have basal cell or squamous cell cancer , depending on the size , depth , and severity , you may need a more extensive surgery , and this will not happen on the first visit . Secondly , people with these skin cancers tend to be older and more than likely will have another location for a similar skin cancer that needs to be treated . Doctors , including myself , must follow medical standard of care , which is sort of a bible for medicine , and the recommendation is to see patients with skin cancer every 6 months in order to evaluate their skin and identify early stages of cancer . Early intervention works . And finally , outside of skin cancer , 75 % of skin related diseases DO NOT originate in skin . Skin is just a body's delivery method to say that something is wrong and show through the skin symptoms . Those problems originate in the immune system that happen to have outlets in the middle layer of skin . Psoriasis , atopic dermatitis , Dama eczema and many more are immune disorders that have NO CURE . They can be successfully controlled but they also must be monitored . If you tell any of my psoriasis patients that this is JUST skin , they will get very upset . Patients with chronic immune system disorders showing symptomatically through the skin suffer with no treatment . They really suffer . Physically and psychologically . They want to come back . They know to come back , because they were educated by myself and my staff on how to make sure they show no signs of psoriasis , but also that they are safe and monitored for any other health changes , possibly due to long - term use of psoriasis - controlling medication . And they are grateful we take care of them . No medical specialty stands alone these days . Dermatology is not JUST SKIN . It is your whole body . Immuneology and genetics entered all other specialties , probably more than 20 years ago . This is when we became involved in clinical research ourselves . We are lucky to have access to the most accurate and novel education and medical technology . If you are the reader and you do not know any of it , it is probably time for you to learn . You can do it by calling or coming in . We will not charge you if this is all you need . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net