Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Child medication measurements confuse parents






Was it ½ a teaspoon or tablespoon?  This is a common dilemma we parents face when it comes to dosing our children’s medications. Do you know the difference between teaspoons and tablespoons?  What are mLs and how do they correspond to teaspoons and tablespoons. A recent article study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics tackled this conundrum.
Many parents don’t, according to a study published Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics, which found more than 10,000 calls to the poison center each year are due to liquid medication dosage errors.
The study says part of the reason parents may be confused is because a range of measurement units – such as teaspoons, tablespoons and milliliters – are often used interchangeably on labels for prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Parents who used the teaspoon and tablespoon dosage were much more likely to use kitchen spoons to measure their child’s medication and were twice as likely to make an error in medication, according to the study. Parents who measured their child’s medication in milliliters were much less likely to make a dosage mistake.

About 40% of parents in the study incorrectly measured the dose their doctor prescribed.
The problem with teaspoon and tablespoon measurements is that their names sound similar, and their abbreviations, tsp. and tbsp., look similar, study author Dr. Shonna Yin said.
Parents should always use the dosing device, such as the cup or syringe that comes with their child's liquid medication. Kitchen spoons are not a standard dosing device and aren’t safe to use, Shu said. Shu also recommends that parent's record the time and dosage of medicine they give their child, to make sure that they are not giving too much or too often. 

If you suspect you have given your child an incorrect dose of medication, call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/11/11/363024822/trouble-swallowing-pills-try-the-pop-bottle-or-the-lean-forward

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Happy Holidays!




We want to wish all of you a very happy holiday season with all of your loved ones. We look forward to what the new year will bring.  Florida Skin Center has a lot of exciting events coming up for 2015.  Please make sure to check our website and Facebook page to find out details on our upcoming events throughout the year.  Happy Holidays and New Year from all of us at FSC.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Aileen’s Journey to Clearer and Healthier Skin


Working in dermatology we see many patients struggling with acne.  We know this condition can be a very frustrating and embarrassing problem for many of our patients.  The good news is that you are not alone and that there are many effective treatments available to help clear your skin.  We will be featuring Aileen's Journey to Clearer and Healthier Skin every month.  Stay tuned in to see her progress over the next six months.  Here is what Aileen's skin looked like at the beginning of her journey.

 


Prior to Aileen being seen as a patient at Florida Skin Center she had tried numerous over the counter products with no help. Aileen was frustrated and tired of having acne, and is also worried about the scarring she is getting from it.Aileen and the providers at Florida Skin Center have decided to start her on a regimen using topical prescription medications and a good skin care regimen including:




LHA Cleansing Gel
Designed for aging skin prone to breakouts, SkinCeuticals LHA Cleansing Gel combines potent cleansing agents with LHA, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid to decongest pores, smooth irregularities, and brighten skin.

LHA Solution
Designed for aging skin prone to breakouts, LHA Solution is formulated with a triple combination of exfoliating agents to efficiently remove excess residue and surface cells to decongest pores.
  • Provides precise and even exfoliation to unclog pores
  • LHA diminishes surface signs of age including discoloration, fine lines, wrinkles, and rough texture
  • Helps improve skin tone and texture
  • Removes dirt, oil, and other cellular debris that lead to breakouts



Ultra Sheer Moisturizer
This light, oil-free formula effectively hydrates skin while antioxidant vitamins C and E protect against free radical damage while conditioning and firming the skin.


Vitamin C + E Complex
 This silky, fragrance-free formula with 15% stabilized vitamin C and E provides extraordinary antioxidant protection, helping to improve the appearance of skin tone, texture and firmness. Vitamin C and E promote cell renewal and increases collagen production.



TNS Recovery Complex®
This unparalleled patented treatment gel using the highest level of a combination of growth factors (TNS®) is clinically proven to enhance skin tone and texture, and improve wrinkles and elasticity. This Potent growth factor strengthens the skin's natural ability to regenerate itself, improves the appearance of age spots and improves firmness.



TNS Eye Repair
TNS Eye Repair is formulated with proteins, vitamins and peptides that work together to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes.
  • Helps reduce the appearance of dark circles
  • Hydrates the fragile skin around the eyes
  • Increases firmness
  • Suitable for all skin types





    Aileen will also start treatment with a series of chemical peels to help improve her acne, the texture and tone of her skin, and also help with the appearance of the acne scarring present. Please join Florida Skin Center and Aileen on her journey to clearer and healthier skin!


Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Give Your Skin the Extra Boost It Needs this Holiday Season






Cosmetic Fillers.  Have you ever considered doing Fillers, but were not sure what they could  for you or your skin?  Read below and it may leave you running for your dermatology office.
The skin is the largest organ in the body comprising about 15% of the body weight. Roughly 50% of the Hyaluronic Acid in our body is found in the skin. HA and Collagen are vital to maintaining the skin’s layers and structure. It is the collagen that gives the skin its firmness but it is the HA that nourishes and hydrates the collagen. Imagine the collagen as the stretchy fibers that restore the skin back to shape when stretched. Collagen is like a rubber band but stretch that rubber band a million times, like what we do with our skin and without any moisture. Eventually that rubber band gets overstretched (saggy) and dried out and will most likely break. This is much the same way the collagen in our skin reacts leaving our skin in need of moisture. 

Now imagine that same rubber band stretched a million times while under water the whole time. Chances of that rubber band drying out and breaking are minimal. Consider the Hyaluronic Acid as the water that keeps the collagen moist and elastic. Collagen is continuously surrounded and nourished by the gelatinous HA substance. 

Young skin is smooth and highly elastic because it contains high concentrations of Hyaluronic Acid, which helps skin stay healthy. As we grow older, the body loses its ability to maintain this same concentration in the skin. With decreasing levels of HA in the skin, so goes the ability of the skin to hold water. The result, the skin becomes drier and loses its ability to maintain it's hydration. Hyaluronic acid acts as a space filler by binding to water and thus keeping the skin wrinkle-free.