Medical Treatments

Actinic Keratosis

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an extremely effective treatment used to treat actinic keratosis in our patients. This treatment involves applying a photosensitizing medication to the skin and then using a light source to activate it. We have perfected the procedure and prefer to perform it with a laser. Our protocol involves applying one of the FDA approved photosensitizers (Levulan or methyl aminolevulinate) to the to the entire face or affected areas for 1-3 hours. Then, the Candela laser beam is precisely pulsed onto the areas where the medication was applied. The laser allows Dr. Woods to tailor the treatment more precisely. After the laser procedure, the medicine is washed off the face and patients may return home. It is important to avoid the sun for 48-72 hours after the procedure. Patients will experience redness for 1-3 days after the procedure and then the areas will peel for a few days

Skin Cancer Removal

Extensive training in Dermatology residency is required in order to identify suspicious spots, growths and moles that need to be biopsied or removed. Most people are familiar with the Common types of skin cancer such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. However, there are more rare forms of cancer that are serious and need to be diagnosed such as Merkel cell carcinoma, dermatofibroma sarcoma, and desmoplastic melanoma. Surgical removal of skin cancer such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma are daily procedures at our office. Dermatologist have the surgical training and equipment to remove these cancerous skin growths in the office with local anesthesia. Dr. Woods and her medical assistants are highly skilled in surgical procedures, and they have removed more than 5000 skin cancers. They take pride in their work, not only finding skin cancer but in removing it in a complete, safe

Warts and Skin Tags Removal

Warts and skin tags are skin growths that grow to the size of a few millimeters. Warts grow quickly, are bumpy, and are caused by the human papilloma virus. Skin tags, on the other hand, are simple overgrowths of flesh often found on neck, back, and in the armpits. Both warts and skin tags can be a cosmetic problem and may also become irritated as they rub up against clothing. Though some warts and skin tags go away or fall off on their own, it can take many months or years. Instead, many people choose to remove warts and skin tags during in a quick visit to a nearby urgent care center. Did you know… that between 7 and 10 percent of all people have at least one wart? Skin tags are even more prevalent, affecting 50 percent of all people at some point in their lives (usually during middle-age

Phototherapy

Phototherapy is the use of light to treat skin disorders. The phototherapy unit emits specific wavelengths of light proven to benefit patients with various skin disorders. Types of phototherapy are PUVA (Photochemotherapy) and UVB. Please contact us to schedule a consultation or to refer a patient. PUVA phototherapy uses UVA rays in conjunction with an oral medication, psoralen, which sensitizes skin to emitted light. UVB phototherapy uses UVB light rays without the use of an oral medication. Some skin disorders that both PUVA and UVB may be used to treat include: Atopic dermatitis / Eczema Psoriasis Pruritus (itching) Graft-versus-Host Disease Vitiligo Morphea Scleroderma Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis

Injections for Eczema and Psoriasis

Biologic drugs have transformed the lives of patients with severe eczema and psoriasis. In the case of psoriasis, these drugs also help arthritis as well. Biologics represent a class of medications that is distinct from conventional drugs. .A biologic is a protein-based drug derived from living cells cultured in a laboratory. Biologics are different from traditional systemic drugs that impact the entire immune system. Biologics, instead, target specific parts of the immune system. The biologics used to treat psoriatic disease block the action of a specific type of immune cell called a T cell, or block proteins in the immune system, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 17-A, or interleukins 12 and 23. These cells and proteins all play a major role in developing psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. There is now a Biologic drug available for patients with severe eczema. Some of these biologic drugs are given as injections in

Patch Testing

Patch testing is a common diagnostic tool used to identify the specific agent that triggers allergic contact dermatitis. This testing does not involve needles or injections. Common substances to cause allergic skin rashes include preservatives in cosmetics, cleaning solutions, detergents, and fragrance. Common symptoms of allergic contact dermatitis include redness, blisters, itching, rash, and hives. These symptoms can last for up to four weeks, and can usually be treated at home through medications and topical creams. The best protection against contact dermatitis is to identify the specific triggers that cause reactions, so that patients can avoid these substances as often as possible. A patch test may help identify the trigger. It does not require the use of any needles or injections. Most dermatologists use the TRUE Test. In order to identify specific triggers, your doctor will tape several patches that contain various potential chemicals to the skin on the back.

Wound Care

Do you have a cut, ulcer, or sore on your calf or foot that has not healed in 2-3 weeks? As part of our full-service care, Dr. Schmetterer and Dr. Susan Woods treat the most complex wounds caused by venous, arterial or lymphatic insufficiency, as well as unusual skin diseases. Dr. Susan Woods, Board Certified Dermatologist started the first Wound Care Center in Northeast Ohio in 1994. Together with Dr. Schmetterer, wounds are evaluated as to their cause, and a comprehensive array of advanced interventions, biological dressings and compression options for all types of disease are utilized. We perform a full range of procedures for the treatment of leaking veins as well as blocked arteries. If your wound has not healed after 2-3 weeks of standard wound care, come see Dr. Schmetterer or Dr. Woods for a comprehensive evaluation.

Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation

Venous reflux is the root cause of varicose veins, uncomfortable leg swelling, and even leg ulcers. Treatment has evolved greatly over the last two decades. The older procedure of vein stripping, in which the saphenous vein is surgically removed from the leg, is no longer performed. A patient with venous reflux of the superficial veins, namely the greater or lesser saphenous veins,may be treated by a procedudre called ablation, which seals off the vein by heating it from within. Elimination of vein reflux can alleviate the symptoms of venous disease, speed healing of venous stasis ulcers and eliminate visible varicose veins . The procedure is completed in our office under local anesthetic in under one hour. In this procedure, a small catheter is inserted into the problematic vein using ultrasound guidance. A local anesthetic solution (tumescent) is then injected around the vein to be treated preventing heat injury to surround

Candela V Beam

The Candela Vbeam® Laser is a pulsed dye laser, which delivers an intense burst of yellow light to the skin (wavelength 595 nm). This wavelength of light is absorbed by hemoglobin, which is in red blood cells. Because blood vessels are filled with red blood cells, laser light can be specifically absorbed in these areas, to diminish or fade the vessels, with minimal damage to surrounding tissue. The blood vessels are coagulated and reabsorbed by the body. The Vbeam® Laser has a unique cooling device, which sprays a cooling mist onto the skin with each laser pulse, protecting the epidermis (the top layer of the skin), and increasing comfort. In addition to hemoglobin, melanin, the pigment in the skin, absorbs the 595 nm wavelength of light. If lasering a pigmented brown spot on the skin is desired, a special hand piece is used. This hand piece compresses the blood away

VenaSeal

The VenaSeal closure system is the only non-thermal, non-tumescent, non-sclerosant procedure approved for use in the U.S. that uses a specially formulated medical adhesive that closes the diseased vein. The VenaSealclosure system treats symptomatic venous reflux disease in the lower extremity superficial veins, often the underlying cause of painful varicose veins. During the procedure, the medical adhesive is inserted into the VenaSeal closure system’s dispensing gun that is attached to a catheter. The catheter is advanced into the diseased vein under ultrasound guidance and the medical adhesive delivered precisely to the treatment area which is then briefly compressed. This closure system procedure is designed to minimize patient discomfort and reduce recovery time. After the procedure, a small bandage will be placed at the access site. Patients are able to rapidly return to normal activities.