Patrick Bitter, Sr.

Dermatologist

450 Sutter Street Suite 800 San Francisco California, 94108 Show map

About
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About

Patrick H. Bitter Sr., MD, works for Epi Center Med Spa in San Francisco, which is the first LEED certified medical spa in the world. A trained dermatologist, he is also an attending physician at the Good Samaritan Hospital. Dr. Bitter has over 40 years of experience in dermatology with particular expertise in laser treatments, skin rejuvenation, and cosmetic dermatology. He studied medicine at The University of Groningen, which is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands, as well as one of its largest. He obtained his medical degree in 1960 and relocated to the United States, where he continued his post-graduate training. Board eligible for certification in dermatology, Dr. Bitter was included into the esteemed Who?s Who of US Dermatologists in 2013 for his outstanding work and passion for medicine.

Education and Training

University of Groningen

Board Certification

Board Eligible

Provider Details

MaleEnglish 65 years of experience

Patrick Bitter, Sr.

Patrick Bitter, Sr.'s Expert Contributions

My Answers

Why are my hands so itchy?
Many things can cause this. Depending where you live, cold climates cause itchy rashes of the skin, pruritus hiemalis. Lubricate often, wear gloves. READ MORE
What causes a toenail to curl?
Tight shoes are one common cause. The nails are multilayered and thus laminated. When tight shoes cause one layer to grow faster, the nails bend and, in this case, downward. READ MORE
What are the stages of basal cell carcinoma?
The three classic stages of basal cell carcinoma are: 1. superficial spreading 2. nodular 3. ulcerative. These are the most common classifications. Location is probably more important since these cancers around the eyes and lids can be more difficult to remove and need moh's surgery. The same can be said for overlarge tumors where direct closure is difficult. READ MORE
My daughter has a red mole that will be operated on. Does she need anesthesia?
Local anesthesia, yes, general anesthesia or sedation, no. Some offices use nitrous oxide inhalers. This is analgesia and not anesthesia. It relaxes the patient and is safe and easy. READ MORE
Does frequent tanning put me at risk for skin cancer?
Yes, sun exposure including tanning machines age the skin and can and do lead to skin cancer and aging of the skin. Many skin cancers are less common in persons of color because their pigment protects them. However, they are are not completely protected by their natural pigment. READ MORE
Is there a cure for darker pigmentation around my elbows and neck?
Depends on the cause. It could be genetic, in which case it could be difficult to treat. If caused by repeated trauma or rubbing, etc., then there may be a remedy. If it's a more rare pseudoacanthosis nigricans, then losing weight may help. Consult your dermatologist. READ MORE
Does drinking alcohol make acne worse?
If you have acne and are drinking alcohol, you may be underage for the latter. In general, acne is not worsened by drinking alcohol. It may be hormonal as is common in women in their late 20's and 30's. It could also be worsened by a general lack of skin care and certain makeups. READ MORE
What is the best cure for severe acne?
Accutane, which is an oral medication taken for about four months, is an absolute winner in many severe forms of acne. Consult your dermatologist or pediatrician. READ MORE
Why would a young guy have hair loss?
Unfortunately, some males start hair loss quite early in life. We have all seen males in their early 20's who have only peach fizz left on the top of the head. This form does seem to have a genetic component. The use of stem cells are in research, but not on the market yet. READ MORE
Are lasers the best treatment for rosacea?
Yes lasers and laser like devices such as intense pulsed light are excellent treatment modalities for treating most rosacea. However, good topical and oral treatment is not to be excluded in some cases. None are a cure, but can give satisfactory results when tailored to the patients specific condition. For severe cases where systemic antibiotics are objectionable there is a pill with minimum side effects called Rosadyn. You can find it on the Internet under Rosadyn.com. It may be a long term solution to chronic rosacea. You can also find an excellent book called Beating Rosacea (Dr Nase). The book is inexpensive and very informative and easy to read. Dr Bitter READ MORE
Steam burn on my palm, what should I do?
Blisters from a year-old injury often means look elsewhere for the diagnosis. It could represent an allergy to something applied to the area to treat the original burn such as neomycin. READ MORE
Why do lips peel?
Weather is often a cause especially. in cold climates. Frequent licking of the lips is often the cause for what ever the reason. Allergy to substances held on the lips such as nickel whistles or jewelry are an elusive diagnosis at times. dry white scaling of the lips can signify a precancerous condition from sun exposure (actinic cheilitis) READ MORE
What products best treat whiteheads?
Prevention is the best treatment for white heads. White heads are an accumulation of sebum produced by the oil gland. Osmic acid when exposed to air turns black, thus the name black head versus white head. The deeper pathology in latter. Control the oil secretion of the skin by salicylic acid and other washes and avoid lots of applied cosmetics or creams. READ MORE
What's the difference between rosacea and acne?
Most dermatologists don't have difficulty identifying the difference between acne and rosacea. A more severe form of rosacea has an acne component, thus the name acne rosacea. Most patients have mostly a flushing component only with no acne-like eruptions. READ MORE
How would I know if I have diabetic dermopathy?
Much discoloration on the lower par of the lower leg can be due to long-term veinous stasis (e.g., varicose veins, poor circulation, etc.). READ MORE
Permanent Weeping Rash!? Desperate for RELIEF, please help!
The toe nails appear unaffected this should rule out T. Rubrum fungus themost severe and persistent foot fungus. In the absence of eczema allergy should be considered. Ask your dermatologist about boot camp therapy. READ MORE
My skin around my groin area is becoming black. What should I do?
Not unusual.Often skin in the genital area is darker especially in certain persons of color. Most commonly in the crural (crease) and or on the labia in women. It also darkens in some due to friction eg bike riders. Don't forget to rule out "jock itch"Scrotum is usually unaffected. READ MORE
How are ringworm infections treated in babies?
Diagnosis is imperative here. Dermatitis in the skin folds called intertrigo may be due to recurrent yeast infection, but may simply be due the accumulation of moisture in the folds and its inability to evaporate because of the occlusion of skin touching skin. Often goes away spontaneously when the baby grows and loses the fatty folds. READ MORE
Can you suggest a medicated solution for dandruff?
Dandruff called seborrhea is often recurrent. Some special shampoos contain anti-fungal meds and others have cortisone cream. The standard prep contains zinc, but others may have selenium (Head and Shoulders vs. Selsum preparations). READ MORE
Can marks from chicken pox fade?
Most of these marks go away in time, but occasional sites on the face that are picked by the patient leave a permanent scar. Now more treatable than ever, micro needling, laser resurfacing, etc. READ MORE