Operating out of Seattle, Washington, Dr. Steven Greene most recently served as a dermatologist with the Group Health Cooperative and now retains over 30 years’ experience in caring for skin. At Group Health, he focused on helping athletes with various dermatological issues and conditions and on taking effective preventive measures.

Individuals involved in sports, regardless of what type, often encounter unique skin issues that require specialized treatments. Here are a few common conditions that may make a huge difference in performance if left untreated.

Athlete’s Foot: This condition is characterized by the growth of fungus in between toes and elsewhere, which can cause itching and pain. Individuals who believe they may have athlete’s foot should avoid walking barefoot in communal areas and should take on an antifungal washing regimen, which involves using a special cleaner and topical creams or sprays.

Blisters: Frequently arising from the use of ill-fitting footwear or specialized equipment, blisters are a common problem for active athletes. To help prevent such painful sores, athletes should always wear well-fitting, soft socks and the right size footwear. An individual already suffering from a blister should lance it, drain it, and then protect the skin with a soft and sufficient bandage.

Dr. Steven Greene recently worked as a dermatologist with the Group Health Cooperative in Seattle, Washington. Through membership in the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the Skin Cancer Foundation, among other professional organizations, Dr. Steven Greene remains up to date on the latest procedures and medical findings in dermatology.

While spending time in the sun can, in many ways, be good for the spirit, the sun’s ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays are not so beneficial for the skin. Overexposure to the sun is one of the main risk factors for developing skin cancer, and, as such, it is important for every individual to pay close attention to the signs and symptoms of the disease in order to identify it early and receive the most effective treatment possible. Early signs of skin cancer include the following:

1. A brown spot on the skin that is not uniform and/or contains dark spots and speckles.

2. Irregular borders on moles.

3. A flat lesion with a crusted or scaly surface.

4. Skin marked with one or several red, firm nodules.

Dr. Steven Greene, a clinical associate professor in the dermatology division of the University of Washington’s Department of Medicine, has discussed sports dermatology on numerous television and radio programs, as well as in interviews in print media.

For many people, the term sports medicine conjures up images of serious injuries sustained in athletic competition, pulled and torn muscles, strains and sprains, and broken limbs. One of the largest areas of sports medicine, though, has little to do with injuries sustained from exertion or contact, but is just as important: sports dermatology. This specialty deals with a broad range of skin disorders connected with athletic competition. Some, like foot blisters and ingrown toenails, can usually be prevented, but can be very debilitating if they occur. Others, like scabies and herpes, are very contagious. If an athlete contracts one of these diseases, steps must be taken to ensure that the disease cannot be spread, even if it means taking the athlete out of competition until the condition is cured or clears up. 

Most high school sports federations, as well as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), have specific standards for dermatological conditions in athletes. In many cases, medical certification as to diagnosis and treatment is required, and many teams engage the services of a sports dermatologist. In the case of bacterial infections, for example, the NCAA requires that an athlete may compete only if he or she has been taking antibiotics for at least 72 hours, has no moist, oozing, or draining lesions, and has not had any new lesions appear during the 48 hours preceding competition. If all these conditions are met, active infections may be covered; otherwise, the athlete is barred from competition.

Dermatologist Steven Greene maintains affiliations with the Skin Cancer Foundation, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. Throughout his career in dermatology, Dr. Steven Greene has treated skin disorders using a wide range of modalities, including phototherapy.

Phototherapy involves exposing affected skin areas to select frequencies of light. While it initially was a treatment for psoriasis, phototherapy has come to be used to address other conditions, including eczema, skin-based lymphoma, and itchy skin brought about by certain forms of liver and kidney disease.

The three most common types of phototherapy are ultraviolet B (UVB) therapy, psoralen and ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy, and laser therapy. UVB therapy often is used to treat psoriasis, and employs lower light frequencies that do not cause burning. PUVA therapy, also known as photochemotherapy, combines the topical or oral form of the drug psoralen with A-band ultraviolet light. Laser therapy is preferred when there is a desire to apply light to affected skin, but not to surrounding or non-diseased areas.

Dr. Steven Greene, a dermatologist with more than 20 years of professional experience, demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of laser treatment for scar tissue. As Medical Director of Advanced Dermatology and Laser Institute of Seattle, Dr. Steven Greene currently shares his expertise as clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of Washington Department of Medicine’s Division of Dermatology.

Scars, the unsightly result of wound healing, can present both functional and aesthetic challenges to the recovering patient. Over the years, patients and their physicians have addressed these issues with topical creams, surgical intervention, steroids, and even radiotherapy. However, recent improvements in technology have brought lasers to prominence as a high-potential option. Traditionally, laser resurfacing has worked like dermabrasion in that it removes outer layers of skin where scarring is most prominent. Newer and safer technology, by contrast, removes the underlying damaged tissue that leads to the growth and permanence of scarring. As this damaged tissue is removed, collagen and elastin tissues within the dermis grow to take its place. The result is healthy skin that replaces scar tissue.