Alta Dermatology – Serving South Orange County CA

Alta-Dermatology family-skin-care-South-Orange-County-CA

2016 Physician of Excellence by the Orange County Medical Association (OCMA) Honoree!

Dr. Wang Welcomes You to Alta Dermatology

Thank you for visiting the website of Alta Dermatology, your trusted source for quality dermatologic care. Our team brings years of knowledge and experience in the field of dermatology and works together to provide you with the highest standard of patient care available. It starts with a phone call to our office. You will be greeted by a live and pleasant receptionist and offered a same day appointment if desired. We are a provider for Medicare, Aetna PPO, Cigna PPO, Healthnet PPO, Blue Shield PPO, Blue Cross PPO, United Healthcare PPO, Mission Hospital Affiliated Physicians and Mission Hospital Medical Group. New patient forms are conveniently accessible on this website. Alta Dermatology is located at Laguna Niguel Medical Plaza off I-5 and Crown Valley Parkway, convenient to the communities of Laguna Hills , Mission Viejo, Laguna Beach, San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita , Lake Forest , San Clemente, Laguna Woods, Ladera Ranch, Costa Mesa, Coto de Caza, Foothill Ranch, Trabuco Canyon, San Joaquin Hills, Santa Ana Heights, Galivan, Las Flores , Corona Del Mar and Irvine. The building is relatively new and there is plenty of free parking. From the minute you walk through the sliding doors, you will be greeted by a soothing fountain. Take the elevator upstairs to Suite 201. Enter through the double doors and be greeted by our friendly receptionist. Relax in our bright office and to the sound of spa music. You will shortly be brought back by our helpful medical assistant and soon after, greeted by Dr. Wang. At Alta Dermatology, your skin is our priority. Whether you are looking for a dermatologist to provide thorough skin checks or you need someone to guide you in making your skin look its best, Dr. Wang is your dermatologist. She prides herself in connecting with her patients and listening to concerns as well as ensuring that patients come away feeling better about their skin health than when they arrived. Dr. Wang takes time to answer questions and is very knowledgeable, having trained and graduated top of her class at the most prestigious universities. A Dermatologist is a specialist who is trained to diagnose and treat conditions of the skin and improve its appearance. We have expertise in all aspects of skin care for all ages, including cosmetic procedures to improve the appearance of the skin, skin cancer screenings, and skin cancer surgery including Mohs surgery. Our top priorities in skin surgery are complete removal and excellent cosmetic outcome. Most importantly we do not just treat illness but strive to prevent disease by educating patients on how to protect their skin from the sun. We also pride ourselves in offering a complete skin care regimen conveniently available for purchase right at our office. These skin care products have been specifically picked by Dr. Wang and represent the most effective products available. Most of our skin care line is physician-dispensed products only, meaning you can only get these verified and branded items at approved medical offices like ours. Ask our friendly receptionist or medical assistant and Dr. Wang for skin care advice!

Cosmetic Dermatological Services

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels can be used to improve the appearance of the skin. The process of treatment involves applying a chemical solution on the skin which makes it inflamed, and the superficial layer eventually peels off. The treatment can be used on the face, neck or hands. The treatment is used in;

- Treatment of wrinkles resulting from aging and sun damage

- Reducing the fine lines under the eyes and around the mouth

- Improving the appearance of mild scars

- Treating some types of acne

- Improving the feel and the look of the skin

- Reduce freckles, age spots or dark patches that are caused by taking birth control or pregnancy

Areas that have been damaged by the sun can improve and even be less visible after the use of this treatment.

When the chemical peel treatment is done, the skin is more sensitive to the sun for a temporary period of time, so you should wear sunscreen every day. The sunscreen should be labelled ‘broad-spectrum’ on the label. This means that the sunscreen protects the skin from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. The SPF should be above 30 and ideally a physical sunscreen. Limiting the time you spend in the sun will help our skin. It’s important to limit exposure between 10 a.m. and 4. p.m. When going out during this time, it is important to wear a wide-brimmed hat.

Chemical peel treatment usually works best for fair-skinned and light-haired people. Results can also be seen on people with darker skin tones, but it depends on the condition being treated.

Before getting the treatment, a patient will be asked their cold sore history and asked to stop using certain drugs. Alta Dermatology can also prescribe antiviral drugs prior to treatment. Dr. Wang will provide all the necessary details you need to know before the procedure.

Juvederm

The purpose of Juvederm is to reduce the effects of aging by diminishing facial wrinkles. By injecting hyaluronic acid dermal fillers folds and deep ridges can be smoothed out.

Juvederm is a smooth and consistent gel, which is different from other products that have a granular consistency. This is because it is developed using Hylacross technology that allow for a smoother gel. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring sugar found in the body. When a person is injected with the gel, it adds temporary volume and gives the skin a smoother appearance. Optimal results can be seen just after one treatment. There are also some injections that contain lidocaine, a local anesthetic to make the injection more comfortable.

The gel should not be used on patients who have cases of severe allergies with a history of anaphylaxis. The area to be injected should be avoided if it there is an active inflammatory process or an infection. A visit to Alta Dermatology will help you know if this procedure can be done. When the gel is being injected in the body, Dr. Wang will use a special technique to avoid injecting into blood vessels when necessary.

It is important for the patient to inform the Dr. Wang of any substances and medications they are using. This is because there are some medications and vitamins that can prolong bleeding or bruising. Some of these include ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen.

There are some cases where inflammation may occur on the area treated. Alta Dermatology will give you all the necessary information on the side effects of the process before the procedure.

Restylane

There are many different ways to get rid of wrinkles. The advancement in this field has made the procedure safe and faster. The fact that there are many different options to choose from gives you the option to go with the one that suits you the best, depending on the wrinkles and lines on your face.

Many of the procedures will take less than thirty minutes. They are usually not covered by insurance because they are for cosmetic purposes.

Restylane injections are one of the procedures that can be used to treat of lines and wrinkles. They have few adverse reactions when they are used correctly. The effectiveness of the injection will last for six to twelve months, where it will be absorbed into the body safely. The injection is easy to administer and has very minimal risks.

One reason why temporary wrinkle fillers are preferred to permanent fillers is that when the body ages, the soft tissues become more lax. Permanent tissues might end up going to the wrong part of the body years after. The injection is administered in areas where wrinkles appear, like the nose to the corner of the mouth, around the lips, and the corner of the mouth.

Restylane is a clear gel liquid made from hyaluronic acid, a substance that appears naturally in the body. It acts as a shock absorber and lubricant in the joints and keeps the skin plump. The biotechnology version has been used since 1996 and has been used to treat over a million people.

Restylane can be used in a complimentary fashion with Botox. The results are almost immediate. The patient can resume normal activities the next day.

Botox

There are many people who want to look their best and this means investing in what can make them look their best. There are different options to choose from, some are risky while others are not. Make sure you know what type of option you go with and the dangers involved. If you are not sure, call Alta Dermatology first.

One such option is Botox injection. This is a group of medication that uses various forms of botulinum toxin to paralyze the muscle activity temporarily.

The Botox injection is known for its ability to reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the face. The injections are also used in treating conditions like excessive sweating. There are also instances where they are used in preventing chronic migraines. The most common use is to relax the facial muscles temporarily. Some of the things that the injection can get rid of include;

- Frowning lines between the brows

- The lines that fan out from the corners of the eyes (crow’s feet)

- The horizontal lines on the forehead that form when the eyebrows are raised.

The procedure is relatively safe when it is carried out by Dr. Wang. There are some side effects that can be experienced. Side effects include bruising or swelling at the injection part, headaches or flu-like symptoms. There is a risk of other problems if the injections are not placed correctly. Some of the problems include a crooked smile, cockeyed eyebrows, eyelid droop, excessive tearing or dry eye.

The procedure should not be done on pregnant women and it is advisable to seek the advice of Alta Dermatology.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is a medical procedure that is used in the treatment of varicose veins and spider veins. During this procedure, Dr. Wang injects a solution on the affected vein directly. The solution result in irritation of the vessel’s lining causing it to swell and stick together. With time, the vessel will slowly start to sclerose and fade away from the view. The procedure has been used since the 1930s and has been very effective.

This procedure can be done at Alta Dermatology. First, the area to be treated is cleansed. The doctor then injects the solution into the blood vessels using very fine needles. The number of injections done can vary depending on the location and size of the veins. The overall medical condition of the patient can also affect the number of injections given.

The treatment has worked well for many patients. There is an estimate of between 50 and 80 percent of injected veins getting eliminated in a single injection session. Ten percent of patients do not respond to the injections at all. If this fails, then other options like laser therapy can be tried. The spider vein will take three to six weeks to respond to the treatment and the larger veins can take three to four months to respond.

There is an initial consultation done to determine if you are eligible for the procedure. Some people who are not eligible for this procedure include pregnant, bedridden or breastfeeding patients. The procedure can be done three months after a patient has delivered and nursed.

The insurance does not cover this procedure if it is done for cosmetic reasons.

Alta Dermatology will provide you all the details about sclerotherapy that you need to know before the procedure.

Medical Dermatological Services

There are many skin conditions that can affect your health. Here are just some:

Acne

Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)

Skin Cancer Screenings

Hair Loss

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer accounting for 75% of all cancer diagnosis. This can be cured when caught early, but the disease has become a major health concern because it affects so many people. The numbers of skin cancer cases are rising, despite the fact it can be prevented.

Skin cancer is more common in men by three times compared to women, and it increases with age. Many people diagnosed with skin cancer are usually between the ages of 45 and 54, although there are some forms of the disease appearing in younger people. If there are any close relatives with the condition, then you are at a higher risk of getting it. Race and geography have also been showed to contribute to the risk of getting skin cancer.

One thing that has made skin cancer easy to treat compared to other types of cancer is that it can be detected early in a curable stage. This is because the malignant skin tumor often becomes visible on the surface of the skin.

Skin cancer can be categorized into two main categories, namely melanoma and non-melanoma.

Melanoma can start in heavily pigmented tissue like a birthmark or mole. Melanoma can also arise from normal skin as well. It usually starts by appearing in extremities, back or chest. It can also appear on the sole of the foot, palm of the hand, mucous lining of the mouth, anus, vagina and even the eye.

Melanoma is a potentially aggressive cancer that is life threatening. It can be easily cured when found early because it usually is readily detectable, but its progression is fast compared to other types of skin cancer.

There are many different ways you can minimize the risk of getting skin cancer. You should contact Alta Dermatology if you have any questions.

BLU-U Light for Acne

The appearance of a person can affect their self-esteem. Many people want to look their best, and having acne can have a lot of effects. One thing that many people fail to consider is that around 80% of people around the world have had acne problems at one point.

Acne is caused by excess oil or sebum that is produced by a gland that surrounds the hair follicles. When this sebum and skin cells clog the follicles, they become inflamed an irritated which result in pimples, blackheads, whiteheads and other lesions. Acne can affect people of all skin types, but is more common in people with oily skin. There are different types of acne treatment – with the most recent being Blu-U.

Blu-U works to treat acne using blue light therapy. The blue light is high intensity and can combine with a topical solution known as Levulan Kerastick, which is applied on the face before treatment. The procedure takes only 17 minutes and it is not painful. It has minimal side effects, but it’s better than the having acne. One thing to know is that the treatment is not a sure thing, but it has worked most of the time. The treatment can be used for people of all skin types.

The Blue light works by killing acne causing bacteria in the overactive oil glands. The blue light is safe because it penetrates just enough into the tissue o reach the acne target. It has no radiation or UV rays and does no damage to the skin.

The face is usually cleaned with water and soap and patients should be make up free before the treatment. Makeup can be applied immediately after the treatment. Dr. Wang will provide you with the information you need to know in the consultation visit.

Mohs Surgery

Skin cancer can be targeted and eradicated by Dr. Wang using 'Mohs surgery'. It is one of the most effective treatments for this particular form of concern and is widely used. Patients are often unaware of how the process unfolds and this can be difficult to pinpoint. Let's take a look at some of the details associated with the process.

Assessment of Tissue

The first step in the process will entail an initial assessment of the skin and cancerous cells within the tissue. If the cells are manageable, Mohs surgery will be recommended as soon as possible. This will ensure the process goes through as needed immediately with a higher cure rate.

Removal of Cancerous Cells

The purpose of the surgery is to focus on cancerous cells within the tissue and ensure they are targeted and removed as soon as possible.

High Cure Rate

The cure rate is established as being high when this surgery is used. This is one of the first procedures recommended by Dr. Wang due to its intricate nature and how effective it has proven to be in the past and continues to be as techniques are refined. How successful is Moh’s surgery? It is known to have up to a 99% success rate with the numbers rising every year especially for smaller cases as needed. This attention to detail is a must as it ensures the patient is able to see an improvement in their quality of life moving forward.

Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy is a treatment using a certain type of drug known as a photosensitizer or photosensitizing agent and a type of light. When these photosensitizers are exposed to a specific wavelength of light, it produces a form of oxygen that kills the nearby precancerous cells.

The photosensitizer is activated by light of a specific length. The wavelength is responsible for determining how far the light travels into the body. This means the doctor will use a specific wavelength and photosensitizer to treat the different areas of the body with photodynamic therapy.

Apart from killing the precancer cells, PDT has been shown to shrink and destroy precancers in other ways. The photosensitizing agent can damage the blood vessels in the precancer. This will prevent the tumor from getting the necessary nutrients. PDT has also been shown to activate the immune system attacking the precancer cells.

The light being used can come from different sources, like laser Light Emitting Diode etc. These lights are used for surface pre cancers such as actinic keratosis. The procedure can be performed as an outpatient. It can be repeated and used alongside other therapies like chemotherapy creams and liquid nitrogen.

The light that is needed in the procedure cannot pass through more than several mm. The photodynamic treatment cannot be used to treat cancer in the advanced stages.

Patch Testing

Contact dermatitis is a skin rash caused by a substance coming into contact with your skin. It’s a common skin condition that affects 1 in every 5 people at some point in their lives. While the rash isn’t life-threatening and contagious, it can be very uncomfortable.

There are a number of substances that can cause contact dermatitis including soaps, fragrances and cosmetics. In order to treat the rash, you need to identify the offending substance. This can be done by patch testing for skin allergies. The procedure is administered by Alta Dermatology and the results interpreted by Dr. Wang. Patch tests are particularly effective at detecting delayed allergic reactions.

During a patch test, patches with different allergens are placed on your skin. In most cases, 35 substances are used to see whether they cause contact dermatitis. A hypoallergenic adhesive tape is used to keep the patches in place. The patches are worn on your back for 48 hours.

On the second appointment, usually a couple of days after application, the patches are removed. The arm or back is marked with an indelible marker to easily identify the test sites.

The marks must still be visible during the third appointment and fourth appointment, usually 3 and 7 days after application. The patches are removed and the test sites examined for any kind of allergic reaction. The results are carefully interpreted using a system that categorizes the reaction to a specific substance.

It is important to note that patch testing for skin allergies can lead to misleading or inconclusive results. This usually happens among patients with very active dermatitis. In such cases, further testing is necessary. Sometimes, only one allergen is used during a patch test to confirm a reaction.