Dermatologist at the Korda Clinic

Melanoma, a malignant skin cancer, is now one of the leading causes of death among 30-40 year olds, often developing from an existing or newly formed mole or mole-like lesion. As melanoma metastasises very easily, prevention and early detection and diagnosis of the disease are of utmost importance. Regular examination of moles is therefore essential.

How often should you have your moles checked?
In general, annual check-ups are recommended, but if certain risk factors are present (such as fair skin type, large number of moles, previous melanoma, regular sunbed use), it is worth having them checked every six months.

Which moles are being tested?
During a general mole screening, the dermatologist will examine each mole thoroughly.

How is a mole test done?
During the test, you must strip to your underwear. The dermatologist will examine the moles with a dermatoscope.

How long does it take to examine the birthmarks?
Depending on the number of moles, the test can take 10-30 minutes.

Is a mole test painful?
This test method is completely painless and non-invasive.

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that most commonly affects the face, but can also occur on other parts of the body. It can appear at any age, but most commonly affects middle-aged adults, especially those aged between 30 and 50.

Symptoms of rosacea
The symptoms of rosacea vary and can vary in severity.

Facial erythema: Persistent reddish patches on the face, most commonly on the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin.
Pustules and papules: small, pus-filled lumps and nodules that can look like pimples but don't tend to become ulcerated.
Vasodilatation (telangiectasia): Thin, visible small blood vessels that may form superficial cobweb-like patterns on the face.
Burning and itching: People often complain that their skin feels tight, burning or itching.
Rhinophyma: A rare but spectacular complication in which the skin of the nose becomes thicker and more bumpy.

Causes of rosacea
The exact cause of rosacea is not fully understood, but hereditary factors are thought to predispose to its development. Faulty innervation of the facial blood vessels causes them to dilate, causing congestion in small blood vessels and resulting in persistent redness. Many factors can contribute to the development of the disease, such as gastric acidosis, the presence of certain bacteria in the stomach, mites multiplying in the hair follicles and environmental influences, among which the provoking, harmful effect of sunlight is important.

Treatment and prevention of rosacea
Although rosacea cannot be completely prevented, there are many ways for people affected to manage and relieve symptoms:

Medications: dermatologists often prescribe antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, or other specific creams and ointments to treat skin symptoms. In case of digestive complaints, a gastroenterological examination is recommended.
Lifestyle changes: avoid triggers such as strong sunlight, too hot or cold environments, alcohol and spicy, hot foods.
Cosmetic procedures: in the case of persistent vasodilatation, IPL (intense pulsed light therapy) and laser treatment are recommended.
Stress management: stress can contribute to worsening rosacea, so it is important to use healthy stress management techniques.
Rosacea is a chronic condition, but with proper treatment and following the advice of your dermatologist, symptoms can be relieved and well controlled.

Hydradenitis suppurativa, also known as acne inversa, is a condition involving inflammation of the sweat glands. The condition involves the formation of painful, inflamed abscesses in areas of the body where there are many sweat glands, such as the armpits or the thighs. Although there is currently no cure for the disease, the symptoms can be relieved with proper treatment, so there is no need to live with sweat gland inflammation!

It is important to note that hydradenitis suppurativa is not an infectious disease, but an inflammatory condition of the hair follicles of autoimmune origin. In this process, the immune system attacks its own hair follicles, causing inflammation and scarring in the areas covered by sweat glands. Although the exact cause is not known, a number of factors may increase the risk of developing the disease, such as excessive hair growth (hirsutism), fluctuations in sex hormones such as during menopause or puberty. Hydradenitis suppurativa is more common in women and genetic factors may also contribute to the onset of the disease. In addition, certain lifestyle factors, such as smoking and being overweight, may also increase the risk of developing the inflammatory disease.

What are the symptoms of hydradenitis suppurativa and how can it be treated?

This skin condition is associated with unpleasant and painful symptoms: hard lumps form under the skin and pus-filled, acne-like boils may also appear. Because of the progressive nature of the disease, symptoms can worsen over time, so it is important to diagnose and treat at an early stage. Symptoms are most commonly found in the folds of the body, such as the armpits, buttocks, groin, folds under the breasts, and around the waist and back of the neck.

The diagnosis of hidradenitis suppurativa should always be made by a dermatologist, as the symptoms can easily be mistaken for other infectious diseases. If you experience similar signs, consult your dermatologist! In the early stages of the disease, it can be treated with various anti-inflammatory creams and antiperspirant deodorants, but sweating treatment with Botox injections and laser hair removal can also be effective and may relieve symptoms in the long term.

Psoriasis is one of the most common skin conditions that develops due to abnormal skin cell function. The disease is characterised by intermittent flare-ups and, although it cannot be cured permanently, with appropriate treatment symptoms can be alleviated or periods of symptom-free relief can be achieved.

The impact and diagnosis of psoriasis

The symptoms of psoriasis, which are visible to the naked eye, cause many patients disturbing aesthetic problems that can have a significant impact on their quality of life and self-confidence. In addition, psoriasis can lead to more serious complications, such as deforming arthritis.

It is usually diagnosed by physical examination. During the consultation, the dermatologist examines the patient's skin surface, nails and scalp. As the characteristic symptoms of psoriasis are easily recognisable to the naked eye, there is often no need for further investigations. Psoriasis is usually a recurrent, fluctuating disease with no uniformly agreed treatment due to its variability.

Treatment of psoriasis

There is currently no permanent cure for psoriasis, and treatments aim to relieve symptoms and achieve lasting symptom relief. Finding the right treatment can be a time-consuming process that requires a personalised approach.

The type of treatment is influenced by a number of factors, such as the patient's gender, age, severity of symptoms and any co-morbidities. Topical ointments and preparations such as creams containing vitamin D, salicylic acid or corticosteroids may be used to treat milder skin symptoms. In moderate to severe cases, drug therapy, such as immune-system inhibiting drugs, may be necessary. In addition, treating certain diseases, such as coeliac disease, with an appropriate diet may also help to relieve symptoms.