Dermatology

Moles, Warts & Skin Cancer Removal: Monitoring your moles and other skin features is key to early detection of skin cancer and other skin problems in general, a normal mole is round or oval in shape and uniformly black, brown or tan in color with a sharply defined edge. A rapidly growing mole should be evaluated by a board certified dermatologist. Dr. Munyon removes benign growths, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

Acne: Stress, pollution and hormonal fluctuations can aggravate acne in predisposed individuals. Retin-A and AHA products help reduce breakouts by speeding up the exfoliation process - doing away with buildup of pore-clogging sebum and skin cells. Topical and oral antibiotics are best in some cases although they only work on the symptoms. Accutane is the only cure for acne. Accutane prevents the sebaceous glands from producing pore-clogging oil and is reserved for those individuals with inflammatory cystic acne. While Accutane has serious side effects and isn't for everyone, Dr. Munyon now offers DUSA (photodynamic therapy) and Blu-U treatments for acne in the Redwood Shores office. The San Mateo office has the N-Lite laser for painless, effective acne treatments.

   The Palomar LuxV dual band handpiece employs a broad spectrum of light to attack acne on two fronts:

• The LuxV's short wavelength (400-700 nm) is ideal for absorption by porphyrins; this destroys p. acnes bacteria for a quick clearance of current acne breakouts
• The longer wavelength (870-1200 nm) penetrates deeper into the hyperactive sebaceous glands and slows down their metabolism to prevent future acne from forming.

"The advantage of Palomar's approach to the treatment of acne is that it doesn't involve medication and can be performed in the office without relying on the patient's compliance at home. Use of the LuxV handpiece offers acne sufferers a non-drug, easy and effective alternative without the side effects commonly found with drugs. Patients have been extremely happy with the results and enjoy benefits of long lasting clear skin after just a few treatments."

Christine C. Dierickx, MD
Boom Laser Clinic, Belgium

"The vascular component, comprised of small to medium sized broken blood vessels, typically associated with sun-damaged skin can be effectively treated. It is obvious to see that immediately following the treatment the vessels are gone."

David Vasily, M.D.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

• The Palomar Lux1540™ Fractional Laser Handpiece delivers light in an array of high precision microbeams. These microbeams create narrow, deep columns of tissue coagulation that penetrate well below the epidermis and into the dermis, while sparing the tissue surrounding the columns from damage.
• The Palomar Lux1540 delivers its microbeams in one short pulse at a time with active contact cooling. Lux1540 treatments are significantly more comfortable than systems that deliver beams over longer periods of time.
• The 10 mm uses strong built-in cooling which protects the stratum corneum, minimizes discomfort, and enables practical use of high energies without anesthetic.
• The 15 mm head uses moderate built-in cooling, which protects skin between microbeams while allowing sufficient heat to affect more superficial indications.