Pathology Definitions

Acral Nevus:

Benign mole located on either the fingers or toes. No further treatment is necessary. If the mole does return, please contact our office for further evaluation.

Actinic Keratosis (AK):

Precancerous proliferation that develops within sun exposed skin. AKs need further treatment. Options are cryotherapy (treatment with Liquid Nitrogen), creams, chemical peels, or lasers. If left untreated, they could evolve into Squamous Cell Carcinoma which are types of skin cancer. Please contact our office to schedule an appointment if you don’t already have one scheduled.

Adverse Drug Reaction:

This is a form of rash that is caused by a medication reaction. Continue using the topical cream we had given you. We will discuss your results in detail as well as review treatment at your follow up appointment. Please contact our office to make an appointment if you don’t already have one scheduled.

Androgenetic Alopecia:

Female-patterned hair loss that can be caused by factors due to actions of hormones. Please follow up as discussed to review treatment options. As Dr. Tareen suffers from this condition, Tareen Dermatology has very effective and unique treatment options.

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC):

This is the most common type of skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma occurs most often on areas of the skin that are exposed to the sun, such as your head and neck, but can be found on other sun-exposed areas. Most basal cell carcinomas are thought to be caused by long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight. This always requires further removal to insure margins are clear, so please contact the clinic to schedule an appointment.

Blue Nevus:

Benign very deep pigmented mole. No further treatment is necessary. If any changes in size, shape, pigmentation, or if become bothersome, please contact our office for further Evaluation.

Cherry Angioma/Hemangioma:

Benign vascular growth. No further treatment is necessary unless if it becomes bothersome or if any changes occur with the size, shape, or pigmentation.

Compound Nevus:

Benign deep type of mole. No further treatment is necessary. If any changes in size, shape, pigmentation, or if becomes bothersome, please contact our office for further evaluation.

Congenital Nevus:

Benign deep type of mole. No further treatment is necessary. If any changes in size, shape, pigmentation, or if becomes bothersome, please contact our office for further evaluation.

Cyst:

Benign sac containing a collection of dead skin. No further treatment is necessary. It may continue to grow, and can be treated if it becomes bothersome.

Dermal Hypersensitivity Reaction:

This is a benign skin condition, that can be due to a broad range of skin conditions. These skin conditions include chronic hives, scabies, or adverse drug reactions. There are different treatment options for this that we can further discuss at your follow up appointment.

Dermatofibroma:

Benign scar-like growth. No further treatment is necessary. Given the depth of these lesions they often recur. If any changes in size, shape, pigmentation, or becomes bothersome, please contact our office for further treatment.

Fibroma:

Flesh colored benign growth. No further treatment is necessary. If any changes in size, shape, pigmentation, or if becomes bothersome, please contact our office for further evaluation.

Fibrous Papule:

Benign skin colored growth. They are commonly found on the nose. They may commonly recur. No further treatment is necessary, unless they become bothersome.

Folliculitis:

Inflammation of the hair follicles caused by an infection. Continue treatment if given, and follow up as discussed. Otherwise, if no treatment was given, please follow up to discuss treatment options.

Granuloma Annulare:

Inflammation of the skin that appears as raised, bumpy, or ring-shaped patches. There is no known cause to this condition. Please follow up as discussed to review treatment options.

Hyperkeratosis:

This is a benign thickening of the skin. No further treatment is necessary. If the area becomes painful or itchy, please give Tareen Dermatology a call.

Hypertrophic Actinic Keratosis: This is a variant of an actinic keratosis, and is treated in the same way with either cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen treatment), chemical peels, cream, or lasers. The hypertrophic part of the diagnosis is stating that it is a thicker collection of cells, and at a potential high risk to evolving into Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Please contact our clinic to have these further treated.

Interface Dermatitis:

A type of inflammation of the skin sometimes due to auto-immune, inflammatory, or medication reactions. This type of pathology needs further discussion about causes and treatment. If you do not already have an appointment set up to discuss, please schedule.

Intradermal Nevus:

Benign deep type of mole. No further treatment is necessary. If any changes in size, shape, pigmentation, or if becomes bothersome, please contact our office for further evaluation.

Junctional Nevus with Prominent Single Cells:

An atypical mole that is starting to spread from its normal margins. These may need further removal to prevent spread. If margins are clear, please continue to observe the area and of repigmentation occurs, please contact the office.

Lentigo:

Benign pigmented sun spot that develops on sun-exposed and sun-damaged skin. No further treatment is necessary.

Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus:

Chronic inflammatory condition of the skin that usually appears as white plaques. Please follow up as discussed to review treatment options.

Lipoma:

Benign fatty growth that lies deep beneath the skin. No further treatment is necessary. If any changes in size, or becomes bothersome, please contact our office for further evaluation.

Mild Dysplastic Nevus:

This is a very early mole with atypical cells. It is considered benign and does not require further treatment. However, this does indicate that you are at an increased risk for melanoma so we would recommend good sun protection, monthly self-checks, and yearly full skin exams. If the mole should return, please contact our office for further evaluation.

Moderate Dysplastic Nevus:

This is an atypical mole. The cells of this mole are atypically enough that a majority of dermatologist do perform further removal if any part of the mole remains. This may indicate that you are at an increased risk for melanoma thus we recommend good sun protection, monthly self-checks, and yearly full skin exams. If the mole does recur, please contact our office for further evaluation. If the margins are clear, at least yearly full body exams are recommended. If margins are not clear, please contact our office for further removal.

Severe Dysplastic Nevus:

This is an atypical mole. The cells of this mole are more atypical than a mildly or moderately atypical mole. These always require further removal to make sure margins are clear. This may indicate that you are at an increased risk for melanoma thus we recommend good sun protection, monthly self-checks, and yearly full skin exams. Please contact our office to schedule for further removal.

Melanoma:

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. The exact cause of all melanomas isn’t clear, but exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight or tanning beds increases your risk of developing melanoma. We recommend limiting your sun exposure and always wearing daily spf 30 or more sunscreen. Melanoma can also be found in the eyes and internal organs. Melanoma can be treated successfully if it is detected early. Melanoma is always further removed, please contact our clinic for an appointment as soon as possible.

Molluscum Contagiosum:

A viral skin infection that causes pink raised bumps. It is more common in children than adults, and can easily be treated. It can be spread through direct contact of through water (ie: swimming pools). Please follow up as discussed to review treatment.

Nail Dystrophy:

Poor nail formation that may have been caused from trauma or other issues. Please follow up for further treatment recommendations.

Neurofibroma:

Benign nerve growth. No further treatment is necessary. If any changes in size, shape, pigmentation, or if becomes bothersome, please contact our office for further evaluation.

Onychomycosis:

Fungal infection of the toenail(s). Treatments include topical and/or oral medications. Please follow up as discussed to review treatment options.

Prurigo Nodularis:

Benign lesion that is often itchy. It may have resulted from active scratching, picking, or rubbing of the area over time. Please schedule further discussion for treatment and prevention.

Psoriasiform Dermatitis:

An inflammatory condition of the skin where there are histological features that resemble Psoriasis and eczema. Please follow up to discuss and review treatment options.

Psoriasis:

A chronic inflammatory condition of the skin where the life cycle of skin cells grow much more rapidly than normal skin cells as to why the skin forms thick, scaly plaques. There is no cure for psoriasis, but it can be well managed with different treatments. Patients with psoriasis will experience episodic flare ups and triggers such as stress, certain medications, and infections may cause these flare ups. Please follow up as discussed and review treatment options.

Residual Nevus:

Benign residual/recurrent nevus. No evidence of skin cancer. We advise you to have yearly full skin exams.

Scar:

Scars are benign (not precancerous or cancerous). Scars are typically, atypical cells are successfully all removed. Per the pathologist, the margins are clear. We advise you to be good with sun protection, do monthly self-checks, and have yearly full body exams. Please follow up as discussed.

Sebaceous Hyperplasia:

Benign oil gland overgrowth. No further treatment is necessary. If any changes in size, shape, pigmentation, or if becomes bothersome, please contact our office for further evaluation.

Seborrheic Keratosis:

Benign warty growth. You may get more of them as you age. No treatment is necessary. If ever bothersome, can be treated with cryotherapy (freezing) or other treatments.

Spongiotic Dermatitis:

This is a chronic condition that will come and go.This diagnosis encompasses many different causes, and at your follow up appointment we will further discuss. It can be improved with topical steroids and moisturizers, and may worsen with stress, scented soaps or detergents, scratching, dry skin, or changes in the weather. Please follow up as discussed.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC):

Squamous Cell Carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer. This is a fairly slow growing skin cancer. When caught early it is very easy to treat. Unlike other types of skin cancer, it can spread to the tissues, bones, and nearby lymph nodes, where it may become harder to treat. This type of skin cancer is always further removed to insure margins clear. Please contact our clinic to set up an appointment for further removal.

Telogen Effluvium:

A temporary type of hair loss that may have been caused due to triggers of stress, illness, medications, or other factors that may have caused a traumatic impact on your body. It will usually resolve within months. Please follow up as discussed to review treatment options.

Verrucous Keratosis:

Benign warty growth. If the lesion recurs or persists, we can treat with cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen). Please contact our office to schedule an appointment if you do not have an appointment scheduled already.

Vitiligo:

An autoimmune condition where the body attacks its own melanocytes (pigment making cells) resulting in depigmentation or white spots of the skin. Vitiligo is chronic and the severity and prognosis can vary. Please follow up as discussed to review treatment.