Skin Conditions We Treat

  • Acne
  • Age Spots
  • Aging & Wrinkles
  • Alopecia Areata
  • Blemishes
  • Dandruff
  • Deficiency Disease
  • Dry Skin
  • Eczema
  • Fungus
  • Hair Loss
  • Hives
  • Lymphoma
  • Moles
  • Nail Disease
  • Pityriasis lichenoides
  • Pityriasis rosea
  • Psoriasis
  • Shingles or Herpes Zoster
  • Skin cancer
  • Vitiligo
  • Warts

 

 Acne Once thought to be caused by the foods teens ate, it is often treated today with oral antibiotics. The time-honored wisdom is returning, as dietary factors are again validated as contributing to acne through a variety of different metabolic mechanisms. I use supplements and techniques to help the digestive system to break down foods into non-allergic particles. When patients also change the types of fats they put into their bodies, which make they see a big difference in their acne.

 Age spots and blemishes Some of these spots can be lessened or prevented by the right creams and internal treatments.

 Aging and Wrinkles I am well-versed in the non-surgical and preventive techniques to help slow skin aging using supplements, vitamins, minerals, botanicals, enzymes, massage, relaxation, and inner focus techniques.

 Alopecia areata Patches of hair loss, sometimes associated with stress, have an underlying autoimmune cause. Finding what has thrown the body into a reaction against itself is the key I use to unlock the condition.

 Blemishes of the skin any notable discolorations, swellings, or marks on the skin, I treat holistically.

 Dandruff (seborrhea or seborrheic dermatitis) Flaking in the scalp, eyebrows and around face. When dandruff shampoos are not enough, it’s time to go for a deeper fix. Incidentally, I literally wrote the book on natural treatment of Seborrheic dermatitis, in the book Rakel’s Integrative Medicine.

 Deficiency disease This is due to nutrients lacking in your diet and I treat it holistically by finding the most absorbable forms of nutrients to nourish your body.

Dry Dry skin is a condition caused not only by bathing and what makes contact with the skin, but also with what you put in the body. If you have a problem which has truly not responded to all the best care with creams and lotions, you may want me to take a serious look at what is going on beneath the skin regarding your lipid metabolism.

 Eczema Unquestionably an allergic condition, with food being among the larger sources of foreign material suspect for causing outbreak, or throwing the immune system into allergic overload. Changing the balance of essential fatty acids has been documented in the medical literature to play a role in some patients in helping eczema.

 Fungus or ringworm may be related to exposure to people or animals with the same, and may be related to how much your body is exposed to molds, fungus, and yeast from inside and out. I’ve observed that integrating compelementary treatment with modern dermatologic treatment produces results superior to either method alone.

 Hair loss Many factors that influence hair loss are possible to alter. Searching for those factors and making changes can complement more conventional treatments, and sometimes yield benefit where more conventional diagnostics and treatment was unsuccessful. Hair regrowth can occur with stimulation of blood supply, supplying of growth factors, removal of substances toxic to the metabolism of the hair follicle and shifting hormonal patterns forcing hair loss. The combination of herbs, supplemental enzymatic co-factors, pharmaceutical products and other treatments, tailored to the specific individual, has an unsurpassed likelihood to make a difference.

 Hives (urticaria) An immediate immune response with moving red Wheals or hives. Often hives are a reaction to something entering the body orally or by inhalation. Antibodies cause histamine release when they meet the triggering foreign material or “antigen”. Some types of urticaria can cause swelling of the respiratory canal and lead to a fatal condition known as anaphylaxis. Conventional treatment includes antihistamines to reduce allergic swelling, and for more severe cases, administration of potent cortisone derivatives. Eliminating the cause is important, but the time and framework for good detective work is not usually available in a busy conventional practice.

 Lymphoma (early lymphoma of the skin) I have had some success in treating early lymphoma of the skin, characterized by dense accumulation of white cells on biopsy.

 Moles that are changing should always be evaluated carefully by a dermatologist, and I can include this in my evaluation.

Nails Nail diseases Slow growth and splitting may respond best to an individually tailored supplement and nutrition program. Fungus clears best when you change general diet and other environment factors favoring the fungus growth. When I combine this with medical and chemical treatment, results improve above the norm.

 Pityriasis lichenoides (PLEVA) I have had successes in treating this condition, which is conventionally considered to have no known cause.

 Pityriasis rosea I treat this and other diseases of patterned, scaly rashes.

 Psoriasis is a condition of thickened red skin patches, especially over joints and pressure points, which can be highly resistant to treatment. It is caused by an extremely rapid overgrowth of the skin in the patches, which in turn has been caused by an immune reaction targeted in that area. The immune reaction is well recognized to be stimulated by specific streptococcus bacteria, in some cases. I work with patients to change the conditions which stimulate their skin to react and get thick and inflamed. Patients may still continue on light treatments with their regular dermatologist, while they work with me, if they chose.

 Rosacea is a chronic condition of redness and inflammation. I have had lots of success trerating rosacea as well as its underlying causes.

 Shingles or Herpes Zoster (and its occasional sequel, post-herpetic neuralgia), is a painful blistering rash on one segment of the body caused by chicken pox virus. I use modern anti-viral pharmaceuticals complemented by a regimen of supplements and vitamin injections to help against the virus, the target of stress, the inflammation, and the nerve pain, tailored to the individual. The sooner treatment is begun, the better, in this condition.

 Skin Cancer Prevention is the key here, and removal of skin cancer may give better results with supplements added to complement the wound healing and reduce the chances of new lesions.

 Vitiligo is an auto immune condition causing patches of loss of pigment in the skin. Looking for and working on removing possible causes of allergy against oneself can help. So can helping the pigment cells work better.

 Warts are a benign virus caused tumors which often can be kept under control by strengthening the immune system, in addition to removing them.

 

SkinPoint As a medical detective, I have had to solve problems for my patients and my family members, for which no solution was known to medicine. Where I have had dramatic success, I credit prayer and a network of collegues and consultants. The important question is whether I feel that I can work with the condition at hand, not how many times I have treated it successfully before. Each individual is unique in their genetic makeup, metabolism, and exposure experience. Had I required that answer of myself, I would not have been successful in helping many patients, friends, and family members. I applied the methods I know of going deeper into finding the underlying cause and fixing it. If I had only one method for fixing the cause for each specific disease, I would have been as unsuccessful as the doctor who tried before.

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Here is a complete list of the skin conditions I treat:

Acanthosis nigricans, Achrocordon- (Cutaneous papilloma, Cutaneous tag, Fibroepithelial polyp, Skin tag, Soft fibroma), Acne, Actinic cheilitis, Actinic dermatitis, Actinic keratosis, Acute and chronic urticaria, Adiposis dolorosa (Dercum’s disease), Alopecia areata, Androgenic alopecia, Angular cheilitis (perleche), Annular erythema, Aphthous stomatitis (canker sores), Barber’s Itch, Basal cell carcinoma, Bechet’s disease, Bee and wasp stings, Benign pigmented purpura, Biotin deficiency, Bowen’s disease, Callus (Callosity, Clavus, Corn, Intractable plantar keratosis), Candida, Candida intertrigo, Canker sores, Carotenemia, Cellulitis, Cheilitis, Chilblains (Pernio, Perniosis), Chronic actinic dermatitis (Actinic reticuloid, Chronic photosensitivity dermatitis, Persistent light reactivity, Photosensitive eczema), Colloid milium, Condyloma, Contact dermatitis, Coral cut. Cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia, Cutanouls streptococcal infection, Darier’s, disease, Demodex mites, Drug induced pruritis, Drug induced purpura, Drug-induced acne, Dyshydrosis, EBV- Epstein Bar Virus, Eczema, Endocrine, Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis, Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (Ofuji’s disease, Sterile eosinophilic pustulosis), Epidermal cyst, Erosive pustualar dermatitis of the face, Erysipelas, Erythema ab igne, Erythema migrans, Erythema multiforem, Erythema multiforme, Erythrasma, Essential fatty acid deficiency, Eyelid dermatitis, fibroepithelioma, Fissured tongue, Fixed drug eruption, Folic acid deficiency, Folliculitis, Food induced purpura, Foreign body reaction, Friction blister, Frostbite, Fungal folliculitis, Fungal infection of skin, Furunculosis, Gangrene, Generalized erythema, Geographic tongue, Glossitis, Granuloma annulare, Green nail syndrome, Growths under the skin, Guttate psoriasis, Hand eczema, Hangnail, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Head lice, Henoch-Schonlein purpura (Anaphylactoid purpura), Herpes simplex, Herpes Zoster, Hirsuitism, Hyperhidrosis, Hypervitaminosis A, Hypothyroidism, Hypovitaminosis A (Phrynoderma), Infantile seborrheic dermatitis, Intertrigo, Iron deficiency, Keloids, keratoacanthoma, Keratosis pilaris, Kwashiorkor, Kwashiorkor. Leiner’s disease, Leukoplakia, Lichen planus, Lichen sclerosis et atrophicus, Lipoma, Livedo reticularis, Lupus erythematosis, Lycopenemia, Lymphangitis, Lymphoma cutis, Lymphomatoid papulosis, Male pattern baldness, Maple syrup urine disease, Marasmus, Melanoma, Melasma (Chloasma faciei, Mask of pregnancy), Miliaria, milium, milia, Molluscum, Molluscum contagiosum, Morphea- localized, Mucinosis, Mucosal lichen planus, Myxedema, Nail deformities, Neutrophilic dermatitis, Nevus, nevus sebaceous, Niacin deficiency (Pellagra, Vitamin B3 deficiency), Nodular vasculitis, Nutrition related, Nutritional deficiency eczema, Onycholysis, Onychomycosis fungus of nail, Onychoschizzia, Palmar keratoderma, Panniculitis, Paronycchia, Perioral dermatitis, Photosensitive drug eruptions, Phytophotodermatitis, Pityriasis lichenoides chronica (Chronic guttate parapsoriasis, Chronic pityriasis lichenoides, Dermatitis psoriasiformis nodularis, Parapsoriasis chronica, Parapsoriasis lichenoides chronica), Pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (Acute guttate parapsoriasis, Acute parapsoriasis, Acute pityriasis lichenoides, Mucha-Habermann disease, Parapsoriasis acuta, Parapsoriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta, Parapsoriasis varioliformis), Pityriasis rosea, Pityriasis rubra pilaris, Pityriasis simplex capillitii (Dandruff), Pompholyx, Popular dermatitis, Post-herpetic neuralgia, Prurigo nodularis, Prurigo simplex, Pruritis ani, Pseudofolliculitis barbae (Barber’s itch, Folliculitis barbae traumatica, Razor bumps, Scarring pseudofolliculitis of the beard, Shave bumps), Psoriasis vulgaris, Purpura, Pustular bacterid, Raynaud phenomenom, Sarcoidosis, sebaceous hyperplasia, Seborrheic dermatitis (Seborrheic eczema), Segmental vitiligo, Selenium deficiency, Solar erythema, Squamous cell carcinoma, Stasis dermatitis, steatocystoma, Steroid acne, Steroid folliculitis, Stretch Marks (striae), Subcorneal pustular dermatosis (Sneddon-Wilkinson disease), Superficial pustualr folliculitis, Sweet’s syndrome, Sycosis barbae, syringoma, Telangiectasia, Telogen effluvium, Thrush, Tinea capitus, Tineas pedis, sensitivity to plants, chemicals, solvents, medications, sunscreens, poison ivy, Trench foot, Trichoepithelioma, tricholemmoma, Urticaria, Verruca plantaris (plantar wart,) Verruca vulgaris (common wart,) Vitamin B1 deficiency (Beriberi, Thiamine deficiency), Vitamin B12 deficiency (Cyanocobalamin deficiency), Vitamin B2 deficiency (Ariboflavinosis, Riboflavin deficiency), Vitamin B6 deficiency, (Pyridoxine deficiency), Vitamin B6 excess (Pyridoxine excess), Vitamin C deficiency (Scurvy), Vitamin K deficiency, Vitiligo, Xerotic eczema (Asteatotic eczema, Eczema craquele, Winter eczema, Winter itch), Zinc deficiency, Zirconium granuloma, Zoster (Shingles)

 

 

Important notice: This material is presented for information purporses only. It is not intended to be used to either diagnose or treat disease.


Success Stories & Testimonials from Patients

“Dr. Dattner is an extremely gifted physician who helped me recover from a painful and disfiguring skin disorder. When I first met with Dr. Dattner, my lips were dry, cracked, inflamed, and bleeding so extremely I had to wear a surgical mask. 

He was able to identify and treat holisticially the autoimmune damage from which I suffered. Within days, my skin improved so dramatically, I no longer needed to cover my face. Sleep was finally possible due to reduction of inflammation. 

Progress steadily continued due to Dr. Dattner’s extraordinary attentiveness and care. With gratitude and appreciation, I have only the highest recommendation for Dr. Dattner.”  -MK, New York

 


 

“Dr. Dattner’s vitamin regiment and acne diet really worked. My skin cleared completey. Thank you.” -DF, Connecticut

 


 

“I just want to thank you for the all you did for me. I’m totally healed. No bumps or lumps on my face. You did magic. My skin feels and looks so much better all over even on my body.

I’ve received amazing results from your treatment: my face is now clear of rosacea, perioral dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and the stubborn itchiness that affected me for years. I have absolutely no trace of any skin condition. Thank you so much for spending your time and energy to heal me. I’m very grateful.” -MP, New York

 


 

“I wanted to take the time to thank you for your herbal remedy to fight my severe acne condition.After my visit with you, I tried your herbal remedy, and I have seen a tremendous improvement in my skin. I had a lot of breakouts particularly on my nose, one of the most visible areas on the face on a weekly basis. Now, my face has cleared up tremendously, and I feel so much happier.

Having battled acne for years, I had stress–and the acne gave me even more stress. You are the answer to my prayers. In the past I have tried many different remedies, going to other dermatologists who only prescribed antibiotics, which can be a health hazard over a period of time.

I feel so much safer taking herbal remedies.” -JoC, New York

 


 

“After decades of struggling with fatigue, colds, and muscle ache, I can finally say I have my life back. 

I came to see Dr. Dattner after seeking treatment from a dermatologist for a condition called piityriasis rosea, which appeared as red welts and is very itchy. A dermatologist tested me for allergies and other conditions and told me there was nothing to do except wait it out. In my case, nine months later, neither applied and I was miserable. It was so bad I couldn’t work.

Under the care of Dr. Dattner, within 3 weeks I was welt-free and itch-free. Dr. Dattner also helped other health problems I was experiencing for years: chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, gastritis, constipation and acid reflux. Because treatment has been so successful, I am now working once again. Even better yet I have eliminated naps, which were vital to my daily functioning. I have even escaped colds and flu I used to get throughout the winter season, without an annual flu vaccine.” -BV, New York

 


 

“Visiting Dr. Dattner was the best health decision I have ever made.

I had suffered with acne and skin problems for most of my life. Like many people, I have been to dozens of dermatologists and have been mistreated or misdiagnosed numerous times. Some doctors said I had Eczema, some said I had rosacea. I felt as though I was being treated like a “guinea pig” since with each visit I was given a different form of antibiotic or topical solution that made my skin worse.

I gave up hope and tried to do my own research. That’s when I came across Dr. Dattner’s holistic approach. After considerable thought I decided to make an appointment. This turned out to be the best decision I could have made, because in the one hour that I spent with him he diagnosed what others could not do for so many years. His holistic approach is top notch and I have no regrets. Now I am truly on my way to recovery! Thank you Dr. Dattner!!” -Anthony M. Bronx NY

 


 

“Dear Dr. Dattner, I’m feeling well these days–stomach is better, no skin eruptions for the moment.Thanks for everything. All best,” -GB, New York

 


 

“I used to have heartburn. I awoke with pain or had pain in the abdomen 2-3 times per day. Dr Dattner suggested that I take a particular herb, andI haven’t had abdominal pain since I began taking it.” -EL, New York 

 


 


About Dr. Dattner, MD

Dry

Alan M. Dattner, MD has been a pioneer for over 30 years in integrating nutrition, dermatology, Applied Kinesiology, and holistic medicine into the practice of dermatology.

Dr. Dattner is one of the founding members of the American Academy of Dermatology’s groundbreaking Task Force for Nutrition and Evaluation of Alternative Medicine and is a board certified dermatologist.

 

Education, Research, Professional Associations, Journal Articles, & Lectures

Medical School:

Residency:

Research:

Post-Doctoral Work:

Professional Memberships:

Past memberships:

Founding Member:

  • Task Force for Nutrition and The Evaluation of Alternative Medicine, American Academy of Dermatology
  • Founder and President HealthDataLink.com
  • Staff Harrington Memorial Hospital 1982-2000-Southbridge, MA
  • Staff Dermatologist-Day Kimball Hospital Medical Staff 1979-2000 Putnam, CT
  • Medical Staff Integral Health Services 1979-1982 Putnam, CT
  • Private Practice of Dermatology 1979-2000 Putnam and N. Grosvenordale, CT

In-Depth Bio:

Dr. Dattner has written several scientific articles on nutrition and herbal medicine in dermatology. He has lectured locally, nationally and internationally to both dermatology and CAM organizations, and has been quoted in numerous popular magazines and The New York Times regarding his work. He has a strong background in research methodology and 47 years of experience in the science of cellular immunology.

More specifically, he elucidated key concepts linking environmental factors to inflammatory disease, during 3 years of investigation of human lymphocyte recognition at the National Cancer Institute. Results of this work are published in peer review journals and were presented by Dr. Dattner at plenary sessions of the Society of Investigative Dermatology.

 

  • Seifter, E, Padawer, J, Dattner, AM, Levenson, SM Rettura, G: Vitamin A alters adrenal and thymus responses in stressed mice. 172nd National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, August, 1976.
  • Dattner, AM and Levis, WR: Specific clonal priming of human lymphocytes to microbial and chemical antigens, presented at S. I. D. Meeting, Washington, D. C., April 30, 1977. Clin. Res. 25: 528A, 1977.
  • Levis, WR and Dattner, AM: Hayry priming of human lymphocytes whith specific antigens. Federation Proceedigns 36: 1220, 1977.
  • Levis, WR and Dattner, AM: Histocompatibility requirement for specific immune recognition of dinitrochlorobenzene and other antigens: Identification of human immune response gene products. Clin. Res. 25: 663A, 1977.
  • Dattner, AM, Levis, WR, Shaw, JS, and Shearer, GM: Cytotoxic effector cells in contact sensitivity: Specificity for DNP and self determinants. Formal presentation, S. I. D. Meeting, May 1978. Clin. Res. Vol. 26. p. 569A, April 1978.
  • Levis, WR, Lincoln, PM, and Dattner, AM: Sperm induced lymphocyte transformation. Lancet I: 937, 1978.
  • Levis, WR, Lincoln, PM, and Dattner, AM: DNCB immune response (IR) gene function behaves like a lymphocyte defined (LD) function to ultraviolet light. Fed. Proc. 38: 1369, 1978.
  • Levis, WR, and Dattner, AM: Studies of clonal activation of human lymphocytes with specific antigens. Presented at the 12th International Leukocyte Culture Conference.
  • Levis, WR, and Dattner, AM: Effect of autologous and allogenic leukocytes on lymphocytes clonally primed to soluble protein antigens. Accepted for presentation at AFCR (Eastern Section) October 1978.
  • Prevention, November 2004, Fight Acne with a One-Two Punch, p. 69
  • The New York Times, December 8, 1998  Science Times, With Herbs, a Fuller Palatte for Skin Care
  • Dermatology Times  Mar 1, 2004, Resolving hard-to-treat disorders, by Rebecca Bryant
    • In treating patients with non-responsive conditions, it’s important to consider altering your method of inquiry, said Alan M. Dattner, M.D., FAAD. “I go beyond a clinical diagnosis to make an etiological diagnosis and treat on the basis of that.”
  • Alternative Medicine, September 2004, Natural Beauty section- Nails p 38
  • Alternative Medicine, June 2005, Zapping Varicose Veins, nutritional information
  • Bottom Line, Feb 1, 2005, Natural Acne Remedies
  • Medical Post, May 17, 2005, Volume 41 Issue 19 Doctor touts integration of natural medicine for dermatology ailments, by Susannah Benady
  • Biodiversity, May-June 2005, The Benefits of Treating Skin from the Inside Out
  • Natural HealthHerbal Fixes for Problem Skin, October, 2005, by Stephanie Scott
  • Cosmetic Dermatology, June 2005
  • Alternative Medicine, May 2005
  • Natural Foods Merchandiser, July 2000
  • Holistic Dermatology: Alternative modalities in your dermatology practice; environment, nutrition, immunology & the skin. New York University Medical Center Department of Dermatology Residents Lecture, June 28, 2011
  • Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Dermatology: Siverman Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University Jerusalem, Israel, April 5th, 2009
  • Herbal Medicine: presented at the section on Alternative Medicine and Dermatology at the World Congress in Dermatology in Buenos Aires, Argentina, October 5, 2007 
  • Integrating Natural Medicine into Dermatology: presented at American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting 2003, 2004, and 2005
  • Nutritional anti-inflammatory strategies for anti-aging of the skin
  • Integrative Dermatology: A New Paradigm for Medicine
  • Baruch College, NY Nov 2004
  • Healing Skin Disorders from Inside Out April 28, 2004
  • Complementary Therapeutics in Dermatology
    • Westchester Derm Society July 16, ‘03
  • Nutrional Medicine and Dermatology New York Medical College
  • Nutritional Medicine and Dermatology, Stanford University School of Medicine (twice) Dermatology Department presentation
  • Nutritional Medicine and Dermatology Hadassah University School of Medicine Jerusalem, Israel  September 2000
  • Society for Investigative Dermatology, Plenary Session,1978 &1979
  • “Immunotherapies” at the Comprehensive Cancer Care Conference: Integrating Complementary & Alternative Therapies, Moderator: Alan M. Dattner, MD
    • Presenters: Josef Beuth, MD, PhD; President, German Society of Oncology; Institut fur Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene der Universitat Koeln Arnold I. Freeman, MD; Chief, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Hadassah University Hospital Ralf Kleef, MD; Austrian Society of Oncology James McCoy, MD; Director of Cancer Research and Immunotherapy, Immunocomp Laboratory Commentator: Jeffrey White, MD; Director, Clinical Trials and Clinical Care Program, Metabolism Branch, National Cancer Institute.