Dr. Alai is an actively practicing medical and surgical dermatologist in south Orange County, California. She has been a professor of dermatology and family medicine at the University of California, Irvine since 2000. She is U.S. board-certified in dermatology, a 10-year-certified fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, and Fellow of the American Society of Mohs Surgery.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
Recovery is usually very easy and uneventful. Overall,
resting as much as possible the first few days after surgery is generally
helpful.
Stitches (sutures) are usually removed at the surgeon's office anywhere from
four to 14 days from the date of surgery. Your physician will let you know what date
to return for stitch removal.
Most patients report no or minimal discomfort
after surgery and require no pain medication.
If there is pain, many patients find that they prefer to take something for
pain at the first hint of discomfort instead of waiting until the pain builds up
to an unbearable level. If you have mild or moderate pain, your doctor may
advise you to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or another pain reliever over the
counter. Aspirin or aspirin-containing pain relievers may cause increased
bleeding. Rarely, prescription pain medications may be required for severe pain.
Your physician will let you know what pain medications are recommended for
your specific condition.
Most patients are able to return to work or
school the same day or next day after Mohs. Avoiding heavy lifting, straining,
or strenuous exercise for seven to 21 days may be required depending on the area of
surgery. Your physician will need to let you know what activity precautions are
required based on the area and size of your procedure.
There are no specific strict sun
restrictions after Mohs surgery. You may go out in the sun with sunscreen and
protective hats and clothing. Overall, the sun is not your friend and should be
avoided in excess. Excess sun exposure has been linked to possible skin cancer.
Use of sunscreen or other coverup on the scar is very helpful for at least six
months after surgery to help minimize scarring. It is important to follow your
own physician's instructions for wound care and sun protection.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer
in humans. There are three main types of skin cancer; basal cell carcinoma and
squamous cell carcinoma (the nonmelanoma skin cancers), and melanoma.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer which begins in skin cells called melanocytes and affects more than 53,600 people in the United States each year. These melanocytes can grow together to form benign moles which, after a change in size, shape, or color can be a sign of melanoma. Caused by sun exposure, early detection becomes extremely important to avoid a spread to other areas of the body. Diagnosis is confirmed through a biopsy of the abnormal skin and treatment depends on the extent and characteristics of the patient.
A keloid is a scar that doesn't know when to stop. When the cells keep on reproducing, the result is an overgrown (hypertrophic) scar or a keloid. A keloid looks shiny and is often dome-shaped, ranging in color from slightly pink to red. It feels hard and thick and is always raised above the surrounding skin.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Signs and symptoms of penile cancer include a lump on the penis and redness, irritation, or a sore on the penis. Risk of penis cancer is higher in uncircumcised men, due to a higher risk of HPV infection. Other risk factors include being over 60, having phimosis, having poor hygiene, using tobacco products, and having many sex partners. Prognosis and treatment depend upon the tumor's location and size, the stage of the cancer, and whether the cancer was recently diagnosed or if it recurred.
Scar formation is a natural part of the healing process after injury. The depth and size of the wound incision and the location of the injury impact the scar's characteristics, but your age, heredity and even sex or ethnicity will affect how your skin reacts.
Sunburn is caused by overexposure to UV radiation from the sun. UV rays can also damage the eyes. Repeated overexposure to UV rays also increases the risk for scarring, freckles, wrinkles, and dry skin. Symptoms of sunburn include painful, red, tender, and hot skin. The skin may blister, swell, and peel. Sun poisoning (severe sunburn) include nausea, fever, chills, rapid pulse, dizziness and more. Treatment for sunburn depends upon the severity. Sun protection and sunscreen for an individual's skin type is recommended to decrease the chance of sunburn.
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