Being well-prepared for your appointment will ensure that the doctor has all of the needed information to provide the best possible care for you. It will also help alleviate any unnecessary anxiety you may be feeling prior to your first appointment. Educate yourself on your symptoms by reviewing the content on this Web site. Also, take some time to review our staff page and familiarize yourself with the doctors. We look forward to your first visit.

Insurance and Billing

We accept most traditional insurance plans. Please contact our office to verify acceptance of your plan. Qualifications for insurance coverage may differ due to the uniqueness of each procedure. We are happy to file insurance for your reimbursement as long as you are free to choose your own dermatologist.

We accept checks or credit cards. We also offer a flexible payment plan. Please contact our Financial Coordinator for details.

Where are you located?

Please visit our locations page, and select your office city to find directions. See our locations

What services do you offer?

We treat a wide variety of skin conditions, including but not limited to, rashes, skin lesions, skin cancers, acne, warts, hair loss, nail fungus, dry skin, rosacea, etc. See our treatments

After my mole removal, how long should I apply ointment for?

After cleansing, apply a coating of Vaseline or polysporin. Keep ointment on the wound at all times until the wound is healed. Apply bandages over the wound for the first five to seven days.

Moles are more likely to grow back if you have a shave excision, as the procedure won’t be attempting to remove the entire mole.

How can I speed up up the healing?

Keeping the wound moist after the mole removal is essential and may help it heal up to 50% faster. Keeping it clean, bandaged, and hydrated with over-the-counter ointments like Vaseline as well as changing the bandage once or twice a day will help significantly.

Can dark flat moles be removed?

Dark flat moles can be removed by Laser. Depending on the size of the mole, Laser mole removal may not remove the mole all at once. So, it may take more than one session to remove the mole.

Why do moles get crusty?

Moles that begin crusting or scabbing can be an indicating factor for melanoma. A scabbing mole may be especially worrisome if it is also bleeding and/or painful. Other factors such as size, shape, color, or itching, can also be used to determine the severity of the mole.

Should all suspicious moles be removed?

If it seems suspicious and abnormal, then you may need to have it removed. Removing a suspicious mole and then examining it for cancer cells is an important step in catching melanoma early because catching it early is when it’s the easiest to treat.

How can you tell if a rash is serious?

Signs of a serious rash: Pain, warmth, swelling, crusting over of rash bumps, yellow discharge, green discharge, a bad smell.

How do you cure rashes?

Some relief measures to heal a rash: Cold compress, aloe vera, moisturizing lotion.

How long do rashes last?

Rashes will last depending on the rashes cause. However, most rashes usually disappear within a few days.

When should I worry about a rash?

Go to the emergency room if your rash is spreading rapidly. If the rash is spreading slower but is spreading over your body, it’s still a good idea to get it looked at immediately.

How long does an itchy rash last?

Every rash is different, some may be longer-lasting and will require long-term treatment to keep the rash under control. Whereas some rashes can usually clear up within 48 hours.

What are signs of skin cancer?

The signs of skin cancer are often associated with growth or lump on the skin. As well as, excessive redness and new swelling beyond the mole. Color also spreads past the mole and onto the surrounding skin. Some other symptoms that can be associated with skin cancer could be: Itching, pain, tenderness, and if a mole is oozing, scaling, and bleeding.

What does stage 1 skin cancer look like?

Early-stage skin cancer may resemble a small spot or discolored blemish that is smaller than the size of a fingernail. Its color can be identified by a red or brown hue. Sometimes white with flaking skin surrounded by blotches of darker skin.

What are the symptoms of skin cancer?

The most common sign of skin cancer is associated with your skin changing. This can be associated with a growth, a sore that does not heal, or a change in a mole. Not all skin cancers look the same.

What happens if skin cancer is left untreated?

If skin cancer is left untreated, it can grow deeper into the skin and damage surrounding skin, tissue, and bone. It may even become aggressive and spread to other parts of the body and can become life threatening.

Is skin cancer curable?

If the skin cancer is found early, it is highly treatable. Often times a dermatologist can treat early skin cancer by removing cancer as well as the surrounding skin.

Does skin cancer hurt?

Skin cancers often time don’t cause bothersome symptoms until they have grown large. At that point, they do hurt and may be associated with an itch and bleeding.

When should you suspect skin cancer?

You should suspect skin cancer when a new, expanding, or changing growth, spot, or bump on the skin.

Can skin cancer appear suddenly?

Some skin cancer lesions appear suddenly, others may grow slowly over time. For example, the crusty, pre-cancerous spots associated with actinic keratoses can take years to develop. While skin cancer like melanoma can appear suddenly. The lesions can vanish and reappear.

How painful is skin cancer removal?

There isn’t much pain, in-fact the discomfort is minimal. There’s just the initial stick of the needle. You may feel a bit of pressure, but you oftentimes do not feel pain. Afterward, most patients only experience minimal pain.

How do dermatologist treat acne fast?

Treating acne is a relatively slow and stepwise process. Patience is key since there is no overnight remedy. Each patient will have a customized treatment plan depending on their acne type and severity, location, skin type, and lifestyle.

Which creams remove pimples?

Depending on the severity of your acne, there can be different topical ointments that may be recommended.

Can ice remove pimples?

Ice will not cure pimples. It can, however, decrease swelling and redness, making the pimple less noticeable.

Does drinking water help prevent acne?

Certain kinds of toxins and bacteria will clog the pores on your epidermis can cause issues like acne and pimples. Drinking more water will ensure that you won’t suffer from severe pimples and acne. The more hydrated your skin is, the less your pores will clog.

Is going to a dermatologist worth it for acne?

Yes, going to a dermatologist is well worth it. Going to a dermatologist for acne can be one of the best things for your acne condition. You will be given guidance, treatments, and you will be able to avoid the issues that come with acne such as scaring, and dark spots.

How do dermatologists treat acne scars?

Acne scar and dark spot treatments may be started to further improve the appearance of your skin. This may include cosmetic procedures, such as acne peels, micro-needling, etc.

What do dermatologists recommend for cystic acne?

There are a number of treatments for different types of cystic acne. Depending on the root cause for the cystic acne, it could be treated with a simple diet change with a topical ointment to potentially having extractions depending on the severity.

What medicines treat hormonal acne?

Some hormonally induced acne can be treated via Retin-A, Tretinoin, Differin, etc.

What vitamins help prevent pimples?

Vitamin A helps unplug the blocked-up content in whiteheads and blackheads.

What cream is best for psoriasis?

Topical corticosteroids creams and ointments so that the inflammation can be reduced.

Can psoriasis be permanently cured?

There is treatment that can help you feel better. You may need topical, oral, or body-wide treatments. Even with severe psoriasis, these methods are the best options to manage it. At this time there is no cure for psoriasis since it is a chronic skin condition.

Why do I suddenly have psoriasis?

The immune system and genetics play major roles in developing psoriasis but there are usually triggers that initiate flares. The autoimmune process causes the skin cells to shed at an abnormally fast rate, which causes the buildup of thick, red, scaly plaques. Some common triggers of psoriasis flares are illnesses that weaken the immune system like strep infection, stress, and physical trauma.

Is psoriasis stress related?

Stress can be a common trigger for a psoriasis flare. It can also make the itch worse. Stress management is particularly important if you suffer from psoriasis.

Can I spread psoriasis by scratching?

Psoriasis flare-ups are triggered by something. Scratching a psoriasis rash does not cause it to spread from one location to another. However, it may slow the healing process.

Is vitamin D good for you if you have psoriasis?

Yes, Vitamin D analogues: complements topical steroid treatments.

Is psoriasis worse in the summer or winter?

It is worse in the fall and winter, the combination of dry air and colder temperatures with fewer hours of sunlight can worsen the symptoms of psoriasis.

Does exfoliating make psoriasis worse?

It can make it worse. Exfoliating with a scrub or loofah will get rid of dead skin cells and cause irritation to delicate skin that may cause new psoriasis patches.

What fabric is recommended if you have psoriasis?

The best fabrics for psoriasis would be: natural, super soft, lightweight, and breathable. Fabrics that are made from cotton, bamboo, and silk.

Is Mohs surgery serious?

Mohs surgery is generally considered safe, but there could be risks. Such as bleeding from the site of surgery. Bleeding into the wound from surrounding tissue. Pain or tenderness in the area where the skin was removed.

What’s worse basal cell or squamous?

Squamous is more serious because of its likelihood to spread.

Can I drive myself home after Mohs surgery?

If there was no cancer seen, the skin can be repaired, bandaged, and the patient is sent home cancer-free. The patient at that point will be free to drive themselves home if they feel comfortable.

Does insurance cover Mohs surgery?

Mohs surgery is covered by most plans, including Medicare.

What happens if basal cell goes untreated?

If left untreated, basal cells can become quite large, cause disfigurement, and in rare cases, spread to other parts of the body and even cause death.

What is the difference between excision and Mohs surgery?

Mohs exam processes 100 percent of the tissue margins, whereas in standard surgical excision only 1 percent of the margins are examined microscopically.

Best Mohs Surgery in Odessa, TX

Skin Cancer

November 23, 2022

The dermatologists at Summit MD are dedicated to the best Mohs Surgery in the Odessa, TX area. Mohs surgery is an extremely specialized surgical and pathologic procedure for the removal of non-melanoma skin cancers which involves the visible cancer and a small margin of surrounding healthy tissue. Mohs surgery was first performed in the 1930s by Dr. Frederic E. Mohs.

During Mohs surgery the cancer is removed from your skin. Layer by layer until all cancerous cells have been completely removed and examined until only cancer- free tissue remains. This surgery allows for absolute removal of skin cancer while minimizing the removal of healthy skin. Mohs surgery is mainly used for cancers that have a high risk or reoccurring.

Mohs surgery offers patients the highest cure rate for all non-melanoma skin cancers. Mohs surgeons are trained beyond their specialty in dermatology which contributes to this higher degree of tissue handling and expertise in tumor assessment.

Your dermatologist will determine if Mohs surgery is the right treatment for you based on numerous factors. From the type of skin cancer, location and your overall health. Preferably Mohs surgery is suited for the more sensitive areas like the face, along with high-risk non-melanoma skin cancers. Skin cancers are usually considered high risk if they meet the following criteria: recurring non- melanoma, tumors that are larger than 2 cm in size and that regrow following a previous treatment. Tumors that are in high risk areas, poorly defined borders, and in patients that are immunosuppressed.

There are many advantages of getting Mohs surgery, however it’s not the right treatment for everyone. Mohs surgery is usually done as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia. Patients stay awake during the procedure and it is highly recommended that the patient brings someone with them the day of their surgery.

Once the affected tissue is removed during surgery, a pressure dressing is placed over top of the wound. You will then have to wait for about 20- 45 minutes while the tissue is being processed, analyzed and examined carefully for remaining cancer cells. If the surgeon finds more cancer cells they will remove the tissue only in the area of the residual tumor and repeat this process until all tissue is free of cancer cells.

You will be given post surgery instructions based on the options suited for you. To experience a significant amount of pain is uncommon but can be resolved by taking acetaminophen for any discomfort or pain you may have. After surgery it is necessary for patients to have continued visits to their dermatologist as 50% of patients with non- melanoma skin cancer will experience further skin cancer within 5 years.

If you have any skin concerns or concerns about moles, contact us here at Summit MD Dermatology so we can help determine if the growth is cancerous or not.