You wish to improve your fine lines, remove signs of aging and address an acne scar or two. What cosmetic procedure can do all that? In Staten Island, NY, Dr. Patricia McCormack performs easy, quick and comfortable laser surgeries that improve skin appearance, color and texture.

Laser surgery and dermatology

Over the past decades, dermatologists have integrated small, handheld lasers into their medical and aesthetic practices, reports the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. At Dr. Patricia McCormack's office in Staten Island, NY, patients enjoy the many benefits and versatility of these sutureless, comfortable and quick treatments. There's little to no downtime afterward, too.

Dr. McCormack employs the PicoSure laser and other laser tools for a variety of aesthetic skin treatments, including:

• Acne pitting and other kinds of scars
• Tattoo removal
• Fine lines and wrinkles on the face
• Hyperpigmentation
• Birthmark removal
• Spider vein removal
• Dark spot brightening
• Toenail fungus treatment
• Stretch marks from pregnancy and weight loss

Your laser procedure

Dr. McCormack will evaluate your areas of concern personally. She will recommend the number of laser treatments you need for optimal results and maintenance of your skin goals.

Most patients refrain from sun exposure for up to four weeks before their treatments. The day of your surgery, your skin will receive a special cleansing and numbing cream.

The procedure itself lasts 30 minutes or more depending on your needs and the areas requiring treatment. Repeat procedures occur at intervals determined by Dr. McCormack.

As you relax in the treatment chair, you will feel a sensation of warmth. Also, some people report a mild snapping feeling as the doctor delivers short bursts of focused light to your skin surface.

Afterward, you can leave the office to rest at home. Most people go back to work the next day.

You may feel some tenderness, and your skin may look a bit puffy and red for a day or two. Some procedures require limited bandaging. Best of all, you'll see a noticeable improvement in skin color and texture and excellent clearance of tattoo ink, small blood vessels or whatever your particular skin defects were.

Find out more

In Staten Island, NY, patients of all ages enjoy the many benefits of medical and aesthetic dermatology with Dr. Patricia McCormack. Her laser surgery treatments produce excellent outcomes. Learn more by contacting one of our three locations. In Staten Island, phone (718) 698-1616. In Linden, call (908) 925-8877, or for the Point Pleasant Beach office, phone (732) 295-1331.

Some many conditions and problems could lead to itchy skin; however, if you’ve been exposed to poison ivy, sumac, or oak you must be able to recognize the symptoms. It’s possible that you came into contact with poison ivy or any of these plants while on your typical walk or you may not even realize that the plants are hanging in your garden. If you do come into contact with poison ivy, sumac and oak here are what you should know.

• Take cool, oatmeal baths to alleviate inflammation and itching
• Apply calamine lotions to the skin to temporarily alleviate itching
• Steroid creams (aka: cortisone cream) may also alleviate redness and inflammation
• Apply cold compresses to the area when symptoms flare-up
• Whatever you do, do not scratch your rash (this can lead to an infection)

• Pus develops on the rash
• You also have a fever over 100 F
• You experience severe itching
• The rash keeps spreading
• You aren’t sure whether the rash is caused by poison ivy, oak, or sumac
• The rash spreads to the mouth or the eyes
• Symptoms don’t improve within a week